This is a perfect trail for trail runners and hikers alike to discover nature and to allow for the discovery of self growth and strength. This route is near the Tibetan border and is about 100km north-west of Kathmandu. During this trek you’ll be following an ancient salt trading route, walking around the world’s eighth highest mountain, Mt. Manaslu. This trail is far less commercialised than the neighbouring Annapurna Trek, which means your accommodation will be a mixture of teahouses and tent accommodation. Our price includes most meals (as detailed in the itinerary), accommodation, domestic transport, welcome and farewell dinners.
Please note: Minimum of 2 people on this trek due to permit restrictions.
The adventure begins. You’ll be met in Kathmandu by our happy and professional team members, who will transfer you to your hotel. Be warned, our friendly guides do ask lots of questions. In the evening, our guides will brief you on the magnificent trek you are about to undertake. You will be excited about the adventure ahead. (No Meals included)
After an early breakfast you will begin the long journey by 4WD to the village of Sotikhola. The road follows the Trisuli River; you will enjoy the unique and beautiful scenery as you make your way to Sotikhola. Your accommodation will be at a teahouse. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Your day will begin by trekking on a rough track, which takes you down to the village of Lapurbesi. You will enjoy seeing the mules working, carrying supplies to remote villages in the region. After lunch at Lapurbesi, you will run/walk along the Budhi Gandaki River and will stop at Lapurbesi for a lunch break. Overnight in tented accommodation, which is attached to a teahouse, this style of accommodation is common as there are restrictions in this region to the number of tea houses that can be built. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Today it will be an early start. You begin the day by running/walking uphill along the Buddhi Gandaki river, it will not be the easiest of days as you will be running/trekking along challenging terrain. After an uphill walk, you will enjoy a well-earned lunch at Tatopani before making your way to Jagat. Tonight you will sleep in tented accommodation, which again is attached to a teahouse. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Your surrounds change today as it becomes more remote, you will notice the Buddhist influence in your surrounds. Be prepared to cross suspension bridges today and to also climb ladders before making your way to the small settlement of Deng. As with the previous couple of days, your accommodation will be in a tent. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
A big day of trekking. Today you will trek uphill, crossing suspension bridges and trekking up rocky pathways before arriving for lunch in the village of Ghap. Today you will have views of the Sriningi Himal and Ganesh Himal. You will notice a change in vegetation today; this is due to the change in altitude. You will sleep in tented accommodation tonight. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Today you will enjoy running/walking alongside the river and through pine forests. You will walk uphill and will have incredible views of surrounding peaks; you should be able to view Mt. Manaslu. You will enjoy lunch in the village of Shyala before making your way up to the village of Samagaon. Tonight your accommodation will be in a teahouse. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
It will be a full day today as you acclimatise. You will trek up the beautiful monastery of Pungyen Gompa: this is a very special experience, as Pungyen Gompa is surrounded by spectacular scenery. Breathe it in and enjoy being amongst some of the world’s highest mountains. Your accommodation will be in the same place as the previous night, in a teahouse. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Today you will walk through glacier moraines as you make your way to the small village of Samdo. You will gain a deep understanding of the Buddhist culture and traditions. The views today of the Himalayan mountain ranges are breathtaking. Your accommodation will be in a teahouse. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Today you will trek uphill, passing small streams and witnessing beautiful mountain views before making your way to Dharamasala. You will see the incredible Larke Glacier today, what an experience that will be! Tonight your accommodation will be in a teahouse. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
A big day of running/trekking ahead of you today. You will trek up to the top of Larke Peak and from there, you will have perfect mountain views of some of the most famous Himalayan Mountains, including Himlung Himal, Annapurna and Manaslu. Although this is the most challenging day of the run/trek, it is also the most exciting, as you will cross the Larke pass. There will be no lunch stop today, as there are no tea houses in this region. One you cross the pass, it will be a nice descent down to the village of Bhimthang. Your accommodation will be in a teahouse in Bhimthang. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Today the scenery changes, if you run/trek during April, you will walk through beautiful rhododendron forests. You will be trekking downhill, as you make your way to Dharapani. Your lunch stop will be at Surke. This is your last day of trekking. Your accommodation will be in a teahouse. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
On your last day in this region, the option is available for runners to run to Besisahar. If you choose this, runners will have a very early start and will enjoy a lovely 45km descent down to Besisahar, where you will meet the 4WD there. If you choose to take the 4WD from Dharapani, the first leg of your journey will be from Dharapani to Beshishar, after lunch in Besisahar you will enjoy a long and bumpy journey back to Kathmandu. (Breakfast and dinner included)
We’ve said our farewells and it’s time to depart Kathmandu. We look forward to sharing more of our beautiful country with you, on future treks and trails.
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The mistake many people make, is having too much stuff. There is nothing worse than carting clothing and equipment with you (at altitude) in Nepal and ultimately not having needed it. The below list outlines the standard clothing we recommend you take for trekking in the mountains.
If you do not already own these items, we highly recommend that you purchase or hire these items in Kathmandu. They are made to a high quality and it’s always great to support the local economy. Another option is to hire a sleeping bag and jacket at a cost of approximately AUD$50 for each item for a period of 14 days.
The short answer is yes. Nepal is safer than most countries around the world, possibly due to the religious nature of the people and their natural kindness. Over the past 10 years Nepal has enjoyed a growth in visitors, from all over the world. The people are very hospitable. The Nepalese accept that tourism is a mainstay of the economy and are very welcoming.
Yes. You can obtain your visa prior to departure through the General Consulate of Nepal. Please visit their website to download the details and relevant form Nepal Australian Consulute
Alternatively, you can obtain the visa upon arrival at the airport in Kathmandu. You will be applying for a tourist visa. If you choose this option, we advise you should have 4 passport sized photos ready and AUD or US dollars in cash to pay for the visa. The cost for a 30-day visa is between $30 and $50. There is an EFTPOS facility at the airport, but this is unreliable and we recommend you have cash ready to avoid any issues that could arise. The process at the airport is straightforward and easy. Please download the visa application form, fill it in and take it with you in your hand luggage, this will save you some time at the airport.
Please see attached a scanned copy of the visa application form, this form gives you an idea of the information they require upon arrival. We recommend that when you disembark from the airplane that you don’t dilly dally, head straight for the visa applications, fill it out and get in line! Sometimes there can be quite a line up (I’ve been caught out a few times!) but that may not be the case as you are travelling in the off season.
Travel Insurance is compulsory if you wish to participate in the program. We will require a copy of the insurance certificate and you must also bring a hard copy of your insurance certificate with you to Nepal. Nepal does not require any vaccinations in order to enter the country. However, we strongly recommend that participants consult with a doctor before departing for Nepal for information about immunisations and advice on how to stay healthy while traveling.
Nepal has four distinct seasons. Spring lasts from March to May and is warm with rain showers; temperatures around 22°C. Summer, from June to August, is the monsoon season when the hills turn lush and green. Temperatures can get quite warm, up to 30°C. Autumn, from September to November, is cool with clear skies and is the most popular season for trekking. Temperatures are not too warm, with daily maximum about 25°C and cool nights with minimum of 10°C. It usually does not rain for more than one or two days during the autumn and the winter season. In winter, from December to February, it is cold at night with temperatures sometimes below zero. However, the maximum temperatures can still reach up to 20°C. Then the mountains are covered with snow.
You do not need to learn Nepali. Prior to departure, we will provide you with a document of key words and phrases in Nepali, in order for you to be prepared. On your first day in the village, you will be given a lesson in Basic Nepali. We are encouraging the village children to learn English, as this is the key to better opportunities for them in the future. The children are keen to learn and to practice their English with you.
You will have access to the internet and telephones in Kathmandu and in Chitwan. We encourage you to open a Skype account, to reduce the costs of calling from Nepal to Australia.
In the village your team leader will have a reliable phone connection, you will be provided with his number prior to departure, to leave with family members who may wish to contact you during your time in the village. We encourage volunteers to distance themselves from internet and technology, as this allows for a more authentic village experience.
You will need to book your own flight and travel insurance. You’ll be met at the airport and transported from there to your accommodation in Kathmandu.
Upon acceptance into the program you will be sent a comprehensive Preparation Pack, this will outline all that is required to be fully prepared for your exciting experience. It will include a list of items that we encourage you to take with you to Nepal.
The water in Kathmandu and Chitwan is unsafe to drink, we will provide you with free bottled water. In the village, the water is clean and safe to drink but it will be treated to ensure your protection against any water borne issues.
Make sure you wear an old, trusted pair of reliable and comfortable trekking boots or shoes. If purchasing a new pair, do so a minimum of 4 weeks prior to departure, to allow time to break them in properly. It is so important to avoid the possibility of getting blisters, something as simple as that could negatively impact on your trek. We recommend you wear woolen socks when trekking, as they keep your feet warm and dry.
Your trekking fee covers most of your costs, including all of your meals, accommodation, permits and the flight in and out of Lukla (where this destination is included in your trek). However, the costs of “luxuries” are not covered (such as coffee, sweets, alcohol and other souvenirs you may wish to purchase along the way). We recommend you budget approximately $20 per day, to comfortably cover any additional expenses you may encounter.
This can happen due to weather conditions. If your flight in or out of Lukla is delayed, you may end up having to wait 1-2 days for another flight. We recommend that you allow an extra couple of days, when booking your flight out of Nepal, to allow for such an occurrence. The additional time spent in Lukla or Kathmandu will be a personal expense to you, but we will be very happy to organise any logistics, such as your accommodation in Lukla or Kathmandu. Another option is to use a privately chartered helicopter. The cost for this is high, but it’s a guaranteed way to ensure you meet any deadlines you may have.
We’re different to most other trekking companies, in that our porters are often female (to empower and provide employment), and we set the limit at 15kg for our female porters. Our recommneded load for male porters is 20kg unless they choose to carry more, we don’t encourage this but some of our porters are used to carrying heavier loads; we don’t allow any team members to carry more than 30kg’s. 10kg is plenty for your trek and you would also be carrying your personal daypack, which generally weighs 5kg.
You will have reliable Internet access in most places. Many lodges on the Everest Base Camp Trek have Internet access, but you must purchase usage. On other treks it varies, but overall, coverage in Nepal is reasonable but slow. Our team has access to satellite phones during treks, to call for support in the event of an emergency.
Yes, please famialise yourself with our detailed terms and conditions and our cancellation policy. Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have. We’re always happy to help!
If you’re in doubt about whether or not you would be able to undertake the trek, we recommend that you visit your doctor for a health check. Overall good health and determination, combined with good coordination and balance, will all work in your favour.
Your safety is our number one priority. Our professional guides are skilled and experienced when responding to emergencies. Take on Nepal have a comprehensive risk management document, that ensures most possibilities have been carefully addressed and plans put in place. Our guides are all trained in First Aid and through their experience and knowledge, know when to call a helicopter for an emergency evacuation. With Take on Nepal, you are in safe hands.
At altitude, sickness can set in at any time. We pace our treks to allow your body to adjust to the change in climate and our team monitoring your wellbeing, throughout the trek. The most common form of altitude sickness is actually called “Acute Mountain Sickness” (AMS). It’s the least dangerous form and symptoms include a light headache, nausea, loss of appetite, insomnia and fatigue. To prevent this from happening we highly recommend that you see your doctor to discuss the medication “Diamox” Diamox works to prevent you suffering from the very real risk of AMS, we want you to make it to Base Camp and highly recommend that you take this medication, it works! If your condition worsens, you will be evacuated out of the region by helicopter, to receive medical treatment at a hospital.
As a female, Nepal is generally very safe. Many of our team members are female and much of our work centres around empowering young women and girls. Most, if not all of our treks, will have a female staff member on board, who will give you strength and inspiration as you trek through the mountains of Nepal.
You will trek for between 4 and 7 hours every day. Our treks are moderately paced, it is not a race. We want you to enjoy the experience and to learn about your surrounds from your guide.
Most accommodation during your treks will be in trekking lodges; the lodges provide basic sleeping facilities and tasty meals. Local families usually operate the lodges. Your evenings will be spent chatting to your guides, porters and fellow trekkers. Unless you have paid an additional charge for a single room, you will share your room with 1 or 2 other trekkers of the same gender. Couples will share a room of their own. Again, the lodges are basic; do not compare them in your mind to any accommodation you have stayed in in Western countries.
On the more heavily touristed trekking trails, such as Everest Base Camp and the Annapurna treks, you will be able to choose from menus with quite a few choices. You will eat dinner and breakfast at the lodge you are staying in, lunch will be at another lodge along the way. Daal bhaat is guaranteed to be on the menu at every stop off, and you can be sure this will be what you guide and porters will be eating. Daal Bhaat isn’t just the most popular meal in Nepal, for many Nepalis it’s the only meal they ever eat. Twice a day, every day of their lives and they don’t feel they’ve eaten properly without it!
All our leading guides undergo a training course to receive their license. We do not allow our clients to trek without an experienced, licensed guide leading the way. Our guides also do first aid training and will be offered every opportunity to attend mountaineering, hiking and biking courses wherever possible.
Take on Nepal believe that a well-trained team of professionals, will guarantee positive outcomes. We are also one of the only companies that fly our young trainee guides into Lukla, to begin their journey as trainee guides/porters. Most companies hire their team at Lukla as it reduces their flight expenses.
You will be able to purchase bottled water all along your trekking route. As a general rule, the cost increases the more isolated you are. We highly recommend you take water-purifying tablets with you, or a water-purifying pen. These can also be purchased in Kathmandu. During your trek, it is crucial that you drink plenty of water, if you don’t, the risk of becoming unwell is much higher.
Travel Insurance is compulsory if you wish to participate in the program. We will require a copy of the insurance certificate and you must also bring a hard copy of your insurance certificate with you to Nepal. You need to ensure that the travel insurance purchased insures for helicopter evacuation above 5500m.
Nepal does not require any vaccinations in order to enter the country. However, we strongly recommend that participants consult with a doctor before departing for Nepal, for information about immunisations and advice on how to stay healthy while traveling.
The mistake many people make is having too much stuff. There is nothing worse than carting clothing and equipment with you for 2 weeks (at altitude) in Nepal and ultimately not having needed it. The list below outlines the standard clothing we recommend, for trekking 14 – 15 days in the mountains.
Your packing list should include the following equipment:
If you do not already own these items, we highly recommend that you purchase or hire these items in Kathmandu. They are made to a high quality and it’s always great to support the local economy. Another option is to hire a sleeping bag and jacket at a cost of approximately AUD$50 for each item for a period of 14 days.
Jeans, Jumpers / Sweaters, Dress Shirts, Dress Shoes, Dresses or Hair Dryers.
We organise all this for you. All the costs are included in the cost of your trek.
All seasons have their pros and cons, but as a general rule, the best time to trek in Nepal is from February to May, when the temperature has warmed after Winter. September through to December is also a fabulous time to trek, during these months the clouds start lifting after the Monsoon rains of June and July, which often leaves you with spectacular views of the Himalayas.
Yes! If you are physically fit, if you love the outdoors and if you have a positive attitude, you will make it. Altitude sickness or injury can end your trek, but this only affects a small percentage of people who trek. Being amongst the tallest peaks in the world is a feeling that cannot be described in words and we recommend that you undertake some basic fitness training, prior to your departure, to ensure it is a positive experience for you.
You can go it alone, but we can assure you it would be a vastly different experience. Our guides bring with them knowledge and experience; this becomes a bridge between the two cultures. You are guaranteed to learn so much more about Nepal and the terrain through which you are trekking, when you are guided. You are also providing employment to people who rely on tourism to survive, they are passionate about their work and we are sure your guide will soon become a friend to you.
In the mountain villages of Nepal, opportunities for women are few. Many young girls have little or no education, and marriage at an early age is still common. Take on Nepal and Friends of Himalayan Children Charity have been working to change this, for many years.
As Take on Nepal has grown, we’ve begun hiring young women and girls from Batase, first to work as porters and then as guides, roles that up to now have been seen as exclusively male. For young village girls, early exposure to paid work as porters and the experience of interacting with Western women, is an eye opener. It provides them with a glimpse of other possible futures, futures far different from the lives their mothers lived and to the lives they may have thought they were going to live.
The trekking industry in Nepal is a male dominated environment. Women guides are unheard of, which is surprising when you consider that a huge proportion of Western trekkers visiting Nepal are women. Spend a few nights staying at various lodges on the trails and you will see that 60% of all trekkers are women, many coming from European countries. At Take on Nepal, we’re all about empowering women, giving the village girls the opportunities that their brothers have and opening their eyes to the possibilities of a larger world.
It is becoming quite common for families to trek to Everest Base Camp together. Children aged 9 and upwards have trekked comfortably to Everest Base Camp and why not take your parents too! Age should not be a barrier to undertake this experience, as long as family members are fit, healthy and have a positive frame of mind, it is a possibility. We can tailor a trek specifically for the needs of your family, as we do recommend adding a few extra days on to the trek.
This is highly recommended as the fitter you are, the more you will enjoy the experience. We offer a helpful training program for you, once you have booked, and we’re always on hand to answer your questions. Our team will support and encourage you throughout your trek. Our treks are paced to allow plenty of time for you to reach your daily destination. However, if you choose to undertake the trek without prior training, you will be fine, as long as you have great willpower and plenty of stamina to get you through the tough times.
from $2650 AUD
* Please note: Minimum of 2 people on this trek due to permit restrictions.
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