Kanchanjunga South Base Camp

While your trekking permits are finalized, you can enjoy a half day of sightseeing around Bhaktapur and Kathmandu. You will do sightseeing at Buddhist and Hindu temples and shrines that reflect ancient local traditions. There may also be time for shopping, to explore the city’s many other places of interest on your own, or to take a rest. In the evening, you will have a trek briefing and enjoy a traditional Nepali welcome dinner with your trek guide. Overnight in Bhaktapur or Kathmandu

Before reaching Malekhu, we will turn north, taking the single track road to Dhading Besi and beyond to Arughat and Soti Khola—the last few hours on a dusty road. Because of the roughness of this road, we recommend a private 4WD rather than the local bus. You will also have the option of walking from Arughat to Soti Khola along a flat road while scenery of rice fields, waterfalls, and greenery unfolds as you pass through villages along the way. (3 – 4 hrs)

Soon after leaving Soti Khola, the trail enters a rougher part of the Budhi Gandaki and goes up and down with numerous rocky parts. We’ll see larger waterfalls cascading down the opposite side of the valley. Some parts of the trail are particularly narrow, or we must cross landslides, requiring extra care, especially when mule supply convoys are on the trail. Tropical vegetation adds its charm, along with the thrilling suspension bridges that are a regular attraction on this trek. Machekhola (“fish river”) is a pleasant village built on the slopes of the hill. (5-6 hrs.)

We will continue trekking up and down the valley walls along the western side of the Budhi Gandaki until we reach Tatopani. Tatopani is a tiny village of a few houses on the narrow trail between the gushing Budhi Gandaki and a tremendous cliff. As we pass Doban and approach Jagat, the valley opens up into a broad expanse with plenty of room to walk along the river bed in most seasons. Jagat is a very picturesque Gurung village with slate-paved streets. We’ll stop at the Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP) Office here to register our trekking permits and will be able to learn about MCAP activities in the region. (6 hrs)

The trail from Jagat descends to the pleasant village of Salleri. It also has a slate-paved main street and friendly villagers. About two and a half hours from Jagat, you reach Sirdibas (1,430 m), a compact village with nice stone houses and slate roofs. We then pass the small village of Ghote Khola before crossing the Budhi Gandaki on one of the longest suspension bridges of this trek, followed by a steep climb to Philim. Above Philim, the sheer scale is evident at every turn, and the feeling of being truly amongst the mighty Himalaya is evident at every turn. We cross the Budhi Gandaki once more, the trail hugging the cliffside and ascending and descending ridgebacks as we gaze across the valley at cascading waterfalls. Within two hours, the trail splits, with one route heading northwest up the Manaslu Circuit towards the Larkye La pass and our route heading northeast along the Syar River toward the Tsum Valley. After a steep climb through pine forest, the trail levels out, and we reach Lokpa, where there is a small teahouse on the main trail a few hundred meters below the village. (5 hrs)

Although we will only gain a few hundred meters of overall altitude today, it will be up and down all the way along the steep valley walls above the Syar River. We start by descending down to the river, then climb steeply and stay high above the river for a long stretch before returning to cross an old bridge to the north side. From here, it’s a steady climb up to Chumling, surrounded by open meadows and planted fields that contrast starkly with the deep forest on the opposite side of the valley. We will overnight at the spacious teahouse here with splendid views. Across the valley, we can spot the trail leading through Ripchet, an alternate route from Lok Pa (4 hrs).

After an easy start today along a gentle downward trail, we’ll cross the river again. From here, it’s mostly straight up for a few hours, first through a mix of pine and deciduous forest, then opening up to the arid terrain of the high plateau with broad meadows and squat shrubbery. As we crest the plateau about 15 minutes before reaching Chukkum Paro, the Tsum Valley opens up, and we see the full breadth and depth of this geological wonder. When we reach Chukkum village, you will be fully enveloped in the Tibetan Buddhist culture of the indigenous "Tsumbos." Small gompas dot the outskirts of the village, where solidly built, slate-roofed houses are packed closely together, like herds of yaks shielding themselves against harsh winter weather. During the trekking season, though, you can expect warm, sunny days with chilly evenings. (4 hrs).

It’s an easy hike along well-constructed trails and through quite primitive yet neat little villages toward the larger villages of Chule and Nile, which face each other on opposite sides of the Syar river at the base of the comma-shaped, steep valley leading up to Mu Gompa. A huge headwall with an icy waterfall dominates the background of Chule. About 100 meters above the village looms a 700-year-old Buddhist monastery that we can visit before or after crossing the river to the Nile, where we will stay in a comfortable and hospitable local home. This will be a relatively easy day, with lots of time in the afternoon for relaxation and exploration. (4 hrs)

We will start the trek early, along the Syar River, which leads up the valley to Mu Gompa. The trail steepens sharply as we approach the gompa after an hour or two of hiking. We will still be engulfed in the shadows of the deep valley, but we will see the monastery above us lit up brightly as the sun’s rays spill unfettered down another high valley to the east, as through a window. There will be plenty of time to explore the monastery complex and its gompa. The views looking back down the valley toward Ganesh Himal are spectacular. Depending on our trek pace and group interests, it may also be possible to explore other gompas and vistas in the mountains surrounding Mu Gompa. There are overnight accommodations at Mu Gompa, where we will have the option of staying or returning to Nile (one and a half hours away) for the night. (5 hrs)

As we start to make our way down the valley, you will have different mountain views, dominated by the broad face of Ganesh Himal. By now, you will have a new and more informed perspective on the region and its culture. Along the way, we will stop at Ranchen Gompa, a sprawling nunnery that hosts hundreds of Buddhist aspirants from around the world each year. As we approach Chumling, the terrain will once again be transformed, this time from arid high plains to verdant forests.

We descend rapidly from the Tsum Valley today, with some challenging ascents and descents on the valley walls, before reaching Lok Pa, where we will have lunch. From Lok Pa, we soon meet the Budhi Gandaki river again. The trail splits off for the Manaslu Circuit route. Just below Lok Pa, at the confluence of the Syar and Budhi Gandakis. The trail hugs the cliffside, goes up and over a ridge, then backs down again to the river where the Syar Khola cascades into the Budhi. The trail flattens out, winds through a bamboo forest to Deng Khola, then into the Deng settlement itself (5–6 hrs).

Leaving Deng, we will again use the course of the Budhi Gandaki, crossing the river and following an uphill trail to Rana, before zigzagging past the little monastery (gompa) of Shringi and the religious motifs carved on Mani walls by the Shringi Khola suspension bridge, to Ghap—a pleasant lunch stop. We begin to head west, cutting through fields, and enter a dense mixed forest of conifers and junipers, teeming with birdlife and monkeys. The trail stays high above the river and involves another waterfall and a steep climb through trees to finally reach Namrung. (6- 7 hrs)

There is a marked sense of Tibetan influence in this area, with closely packed stone houses sharing a common flat roof and courtyard climbing alongside a Mani wall, through fields, and past first the village of Barchham, then Lihi. We then climb to Sho village, another cluster of stone houses. With altitude, the mountain views become more dramatic—Manaslu, Manaslu North, Himalchuli, Saula Himal, and Dwijen Himal rise either side of the trail. After a small ravine, we enter Lho, with a fabulous view of Manaslu. (4-5 hrs)

The climb resumes with a steep descent. Then, we will cross the Thusang Khola, another rock-strewn river. Manaslu and Himalchuli dominate the entire landscape. Further on, across the glacier-fed Numla Khola, the valley drops away to a moraine while we follow the ancient trans-Himalayan trail, now just a very few kilometers from Tibet. We then arrive in Samagaon, one of the region's classic lama settlements with monasteries, Mani walls, and all things totally Tibetan. (4-5 hrs)

We will take a rest and acclimatization day here with an optional hike to Pung-gyen Gompa, or the day can be spent immersing oneself in the daily life of Sama Gompa.

Passing by the foot of the great, white slide that is the Manaslu Glacier, we pass the trail that branches off to Manaslu Base Camp. Our path enters woodland, where we might see marmots in the birch and juniper bushes, before a final steep ascent brings us to the charming village of Samdo. The village has a well-established Tibetan refugee community, with Tibet being only a morning's walk away. (3-5 hrs)

After an easy first part, today we cross the Budhi Gandaki for a final time before the trail gradually rises through juniper and tundra with a viewpoint overlooking the Larkya La glacier. Climbing further, we arrive at the Spartan Larkya Rest House. (3-5 hrs)

An early morning start is needed for what is to be a particularly tough and extended day. a pre-dawn start to avoid gale force winds at the pass, which usually pick up strength after midday. After a long, gradual climb alongside a moraine, we make a short descent to a glacial lake and reach the head of the moraine (4,700 m), which we cross to climb to the ridge top. Four frozen lakes lie below, and then it is up to the crest of the Larkya La (5,100 m). The reward for these difficult trekking conditions is brilliant westerly views of Himlung Himal, Kanguru, and Annapurna II, as well as the looming omnipresence of Manaslu. On the steep descent, we will drop around 600 meters in less than an hour. Our trail then levels off onto yak pastures before finally reaching Bimtang, a collection of typical summer kharkas. (8-9 hrs)

We descend on easier terrain through meadows and pine and rhododendron forests until arriving in Hampuk. Then the path drops further, following the course of the Dudh Khola, crossing the stream fed by the snows of the Kichke Himal, and arriving at Karche, then onto the village of Gho, where rice is back on the menu and Nepalese "dhal bhat" is revisited. Keeping to the west bank of the river, the afternoon is one of gradual descent to the Gurung settlement of Tilije, which is famous for its apple brandy. (4 – 6 hrs)

Leaving Tilije, we cross to the eastern side of the Dudh Khola and match the gradient of the river down to Dharapani. Here is Dudh Khola’s confluence with the Marsyangdi and also our meeting with the Annapurna Circuit trail, which is ascending towards Manang. This is a comfortable downhill hike that occasionally crosses the new road. (6 hrs)

It’s a fairly long but easy downhill walk from Jagat. Because of the road that now crisscrosses the trails, you might prefer to take a rough jeep ride down to Besi Shahar to save a few hours. (6-7 hrs)

We return to Kathmandu by bus or private vehicle on good roads and arrive at our hotel before evening. There is also the option to travel via Pokhara with a return to Kathmandu on your preferred date by either bus or flight.

After breakfast and depending on the time of your departure flight, you can enjoy shopping or sightseeing in Kathmandu before transferring to the international airport.