16 Days of Manaslu Delight Trekking Tour Nepal

A Nepal classic among treks, though off the beaten tracks of the most congested treks in this country, the Manaslu Delight trek thrives on an epic mountain scenery, cozy teahouse accommodation, the typical thrill feast of crossing Nepal’s treacherous suspension bridges, and everything climaxing upon reaching the 17,000 ft high mountain pass overlooking the vast and the splendid! It is circumambulating the world’s eighth highest peak we are talking about, the magnificent Mount Manaslu, via Larkya La pass, perched above the clouds like the abode of the warden of the sky, and the thrill quotient in this one is just never-ending and exponentially rising on this 15-day tour. The 177 kilometers trek route round Manaslu skirts the massif over the pass and descends down to Annapurna, the long ridges and the valley glaciers of the mountain offering feasible and deliciously challenging sections to cross on the trekking spree. The trail is known to follow an ancient salt-trading route right along the Burhi Gandak River, to which the Nepalese Government permitted to access only by 1991.

The Manaslu Delight trek brings to vision at least 10 magnificent recognizable peaks en route, unveiling a brilliant panorama of soul-enriching mountain vistas. When you have accomplished the hard-earned summit of Larkya La, look out to spot the Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kang Guru, and Annapurna II tucked away in the blue eternity. Descending from Lakya, the trail will take you to Manaslu Base Camp, now meeting the outbound flank of the Annapurna Circuit Trek route.

Highlights of Manaslu Delight

• Circumambulating the eighth highest mountain in the world, coursing through the beautiful Mansiri Himal range of the Himalayas.
• A sufficiently challenging trek, accomplishing the maximum elevation of 16,752 ft at Larkya La Pass within 15-days.
• Homely accommodation in easily available teahouses all along the route in Nepal’s remote mountain hinterlands, saving the trouble of bringing tents and food on part of the trekkers.
• There will be no issue with regards to reaching the trailhead as domestic flights to the regional airstrips are not required. One can reach Soti Khola, from where the trek flags off, by roadways from Kathmandu.
• Staying at local-run teahouses is great fun and gives an exposure to indigenous life, local cuisine, and the inside story on the simplicity and hardships of the mountain people.
• A greatly diverse topography, the scenery changing from subtropical jungles at the lower reaches, to the thick jungles in the Himalayan foothills, the acutely challenging hike up to Larkya La veering above 17,000 feet taking one into deep snow.
• Following the trail of the Buri Gandaki, a windingly long river gorge dotted with numerous suspension bridge crossings.
• The sheer joy of getting to enjoy a high mountain trail in Nepal that equals the Annapurna Circuit in terms of epic mountain vistas, comfortable teahouse accommodation, and a diversified natural setting, minus the overwhelming traffic. The Manaslu circuit is still a lesser-known gem in the deep reaches of Nepal.
• The bonus of getting to visit the mountain capital of Kathmandu on day 1 and 2 of this trek, checking off Kathmandu’s spectacular cultural highlights.

Plenty of little pleasures on the Manaslu Delight trek, from visiting the hot spring at Tatopani, climbing on top of the wild rapids of Budhi Gandaki river, stopping over at the exquisite Gurung village of Labubesi, looking towards the snow capped Shringi Himal from the Manaslu region ethnic village of Prok, and a well-timed relaxing rest cum acclimatization day at the ethnic Sherpa hamlet of Samgaon, among a handful of some more delights.