Manaslu Trek with Serang Gumba - 21 Days

Welcome to Nepal!

Upon arrival, you will be greeted by Bodhi Adventures representative by marigold garland at the Kathmandu airport and transferred to your beautiful hotel. You will meet your qualified guide at 5 pm this afternoon and have a full briefing on your Kyimolung spiritual adventure.
Enjoy your dinner on your own this evening.

World Heritage Sightseeing in Kathmandu if you choose to, rest in your hotel, and prepare your equipment for the Manaslu Trek.

This day will mostly be riding. The bus trip from Kathmandu to Arughat Bazar takes about 7 hours, passing though the lower Ruby Valley. The bus runs until Arughat Bazar, when a jeep will take you the rest of the way to Soti Khola where you will spend the night

This is the first day of trekking as the trail follows along the Budhi Gandaki River. The trail rises upwards as it follows the river, with many high overlooks and glimpses of Manaslu on a clear day. You will pass by the hot springs at Tatopani. Machhakhola is a pleasant Gurung village with good guest houses and good food. Walking time is 6-7 hours.

Jagat is a pretty village on the west side of the Budhi Gandaki River. It has paving stone streets. Today we see Chortens and Mani walls about Tibetan Buddhism and feel entering into the Beyul. The trail passes through many picturesque villages. Trekking time is 7-8 hours.

The trail will cross the Budhi Gandaki River on a long suspension bridge and then up the side of the mountain to the village of Philim. From here, the villages become few and far between. The river continues to narrow until it comes to the confluence of the Siyar Khola from Tsum valley and Budhi Gandaki River from Nubri Valley, where Kyimolung Valley leads to the left Nubri Valley. Trekking time is 6-7 hours. The food and lodging at Deng is adequate, and the store here is well stocked.

This day is not far to get Gap. There is no tourist tea house lodge in Kwak village so we stay in Gap. We just cross the suspension bridge after Deng to get Rana, the small village then to Bihiphedi from where also get to Serang Gumba but risky trail because of rock falls. So we take from Kwak village, longer but safe.

This day is the hardest day trek to get Serang Gumba. Today after heavy breakfast we take pack lunch with tea on thermos to have on the way. There are no villages in between Kwak village and Serang Gumba. Dry fruits or snacks are really helpful. We advise to take enough water too. Lots of up and down today. You see many rock caves and retreat caves, beautiful Sringi Himal and on its lap beautiful Shangrila of Serang Gompa.

This day is special day for us, early morning we observe and participate in morning worship and Meditation in the main monastery of Serang Gumba with main Lama, nuns and monks. Then we may take time to interact with main Lama if he is in the Serang. We take a walk around the monastery, retreat centers. After lunch in monastery you can volunteer the students of Serang school run by monastery. In the evening even you can join the ritual learning by reciting prayers and playing instruments by school students.

This day after Morning Prayer we leave the monastery having breakfast. The Anis, monks, students will give us Khataks (sacred scarfs) to say good-bye and to visit again. We retrace the same trail back to Banrung Village. Trek time is 7-8 hours.

This is a full rest day so that you can wash your clothes, read your book, and take a warm shower. It is also recommended that you do an acclimatization hike to Pung Gyen Gompa (6-7 hrs) or Manaslu Base Camp (9-10 hrs). While hiking watch for Himalayan Tahr on the steep rock walls. Also explore the village of Samaguan and experience the local culture. See the many Mani walls, made of thousands of Mani (Jewel) stones inscribed with Buddhist prayers in Tibetan script and pictures.

Today’s walk is brief because of the excessive elevation, but with exceptional mountain scenery. The trailheads to north, passing through juniper and birch forests, and then gets tougher as we start the yak trails. We pass through an extensive valley with long Mani partitions, and many marmots keeping watch from their burrows or sunbathing in the afternoon heat. After passing the starting point of the Budhi Gandaki River, we enter Samdo village. Samdo is a Tibetan refugee village, under the Samdo Himal 6335m and Samdo Glacier. The main pass to Tibet is over the Lajyang La Pass 5098m, sloping up the right hand valley. The Larkye pass is ahead and left. The pass to Tibet is currently closed, but stocks of timber are being carried up to Samdo by yak, in expectation of change.

Begin the path slightly uphill to the mythical Larkya Bazar, and from here, people head right to Tibet through Lajyang Bhanjyang 4998m and Gyala Bhanjyang 5375m, which has a flourishing marketplace. The large Larkye glacier coming from Mt. Manaslu is visible on the left, and the trail starts to ascend to the pass. We cross the Athara Saya Khola, and then go along the Larke Khola. Along the way maybe spot some Himalayan Blue Sheep or Tahr grazing on the slopes. They are the main prey of the elusive Snow Leopard, which lives in the higher alpine regions. After continuing the climb upwards we reach the mountain facilities at Dharamsala.

After an early wake up about 3am and breakfast, we make a short climb to reach a valley on the north side of Larkya glacier with exquisite views of Larkya peak. We ascend the massive lateral moraine of the glacier, which becomes quite steep just before reaching the pass. Leaving early camp allows us to reach the pass before the strong cold winds come up towards the late morning. From the top of the pass we have breathtaking views of Himlung Himal 7126m near Tibet, Kanguru 6981m, Annapurna II 7937m range and other peaks. The descent is quite steep to begin with, and in the snowy months may require the use of crampons. After several hours the trail flattens out into a wide delightful valley - a descent of 1400m over 3-4hrs. It ends at the very scenic Bhimtang, where the exquisite view of Manaslu makes every step worthwhile.

After a great sleep and hearty breakfast, the trek starts and after 25m we pass the Kechakyu Khola glacier and enter the Rhododendron wooded area. If you are here in March and April you will see the incredible display of Rhododendrons bloomings in full display. The view of Mt. Manaslu is equally impressive. The trail eventually leads towards to the Gurung village of Gho 2515m, and on to Tilije where there are better accommodation choices.

Exit the village on a stone path and descend rapidly to the Marsyangdi Valley in Thonje. You will then join the new road along the main Annapurna Circuit route in Dharapani 1963 mtrs. Here you will catch a public jeep all the way to Besisahar and overnight at a hotel.

Besisahar to Kathmandu 1350m (6-7 hrs)

Besisahar is the district headquarters of Lamjung district. Here you will catch a private car, or public bus to Kathmandu and follow the Marshyangdi river, passing numerous Gurung, Magar and different villages to reach Dumre bazaar. Then follow along the Himalaya rafting Trishuli river to the capital. Be dropped off at your hotel, and have a good nights rest after completing the Manaslu Circuit Trek. Namaste.