Manaslu Luxury Trek
The Manaslu Luxury Trek is designed for those who wish to experience the grandeur of the Manaslu Himalayas without committing to a long and physically demanding circuit. In just eleven days, this journey brings you to the heart of the mountains, where towering peaks, ancient Himalayan Buddhist settlements, sacred monasteries, and the legendary Larkya Pass come together in one extraordinary experience.
Beginning with a scenic helicopter flight from Kathmandu to Samagun, the journey places you directly in the high Himalayas, allowing more time to experience the landscape rather than spend days travelling towards it. From Samagaun, explore the sacred Pungyen Gompa, the turquoise Birendra Lake, the traditional settlement of Samdo, and the dramatic high-altitude landscapes leading to Dharamsala and across Larkya Pass.
Designed with comfort and accessibility in mind, portions of the journey are undertaken on horseback, while private ground transportation completes the descent from the mountains. It is an invitation to experience the beauty, culture, and spirit of the Manaslu region at a gentler pace, for those who wish to go farther without having to walk every mile.
Twenty minutes on the glacier with the engine off. The guide asks for silence from the moment the rotors stop until they turn again, and the mountain does the rest.
A Drokpo guide from Nubri flies with you and stays with you at every landing
Four to five passengers per flight; private charter on request
The pilot decides. A grounded morning is flown again or refunded, never argued
- Highest point
- 5106m · Larke Pass
- Grade
- Gentle · no walking
- Best season
- Oct – Nov · Mar – May
- Starts and ends
- Kathmandu
Touring Information
- 🏔️ Experience the Manaslu Himalayas — Enjoy close views of Mount Manaslu and the magnificent peaks of the surrounding range.
- 🐎 Himalayan Journey on Horseback — Explore the high mountain trails by horse, offering a more comfortable alternative to long days of walking.
- 🛕 Sacred Pungyen Gompa — Ride to the remote and spiritually significant Pungyen Gompa beneath the towering Manaslu range.
- 💧 Birendra Lake — Visit the striking turquoise glacial lake nestled beneath the high Himalayas.
- 🏘️ Traditional Himalayan Buddhist Settlements — Experience the distinctive culture, architecture, monasteries, and way of life of Samagaun and Samdo.
- 🏔️ Cross the Mighty Larkya Pass — Journey across the spectacular Larkya Pass at over 5,000 metres, one of the defining experiences of the Manaslu region.
Arrive in Kathmandu and settle into the rhythm of Nepal, with time to rest and prepare for your journey into the high Himalayas.
Take a spectacular approximately 45-minute helicopter flight from Kathmandu to Samagaun, soaring above Nepal's hills and valleys into the heart of the Manaslu region. Arrive surrounded by magnificent Himalayan peaks and begin your journey from one of Nubri's most beautiful settlements.
Spend a gentle day acclimatizing to the altitude while exploring the village and its rich Himalayan Buddhist heritage. Take in the mountain views, walk at an easy pace, and allow your body to settle into the high-altitude environment.
Ride on horseback towards the sacred Pungyen Gompa, set against the magnificent backdrop of Manaslu. Spend time in this peaceful Himalayan sanctuary before returning to Samagaun.
Ride towards the turquoise waters of Birendra Lake before continuing through the dramatic upper Nubri Valley to the traditional village of Samdo. The changing landscape reveals an increasingly raw and magnificent side of the Himalayas.
Continue on horseback towards Dharamsala through rugged high-altitude terrain, surrounded by towering Himalayan peaks. As you approach the Larkya Pass, the landscape becomes quieter, wider, and more elemental.
Cross the mighty Larkya Pass, the highest point of the journey, and experience an extraordinary panorama of the surrounding Himalayas. Descend by horseback towards Bimthang, carrying with you the memory of one of the great crossings of the Manaslu region.
Descend on horseback through alpine meadows, forests, and traditional mountain settlements towards Tilche. From there, continue by private jeep to Besisahar as the high mountains gradually give way to the lower valleys.
Travel by jeep from Besisahar back to Kathmandu, watching the landscape transform from Himalayan valleys to green hills and bustling settlements. Arrive in Kathmandu with time to rest and reflect on your journey.
Enjoy a leisurely day in Kathmandu to rest, explore the city's cultural heritage, or simply savour the memories of your Himalayan journey.
Your Manaslu journey comes to an end as you depart Nepal, carrying memories of magnificent mountains, sacred places, ancient settlements, and a journey unlike any other.
Important Note: This itinerary may be subject to change due to weather, helicopter or road conditions, trail accessibility, altitude and health considerations, local circumstances, or other unforeseen events. While every effort will be made to follow the planned itinerary, the safety and well-being of our guests will always remain our highest priority.
- Shared helicopter seat, Kathmandu – Samagaun – Manaslu Base Camp – Kathmandu
- A Drokpo guide from Nubri on board and at each landing
- All meals during the journey
- Manaslu/Annapurna Conservation Area entry and restricted-area landing permits
- Horse riding facilities throughout the journey as mentioned in the Itinerary
- Transfers between your Kathmandu hotel and the airport
- Basic first-aid kits.
Prices exclude 13% VAT. Passenger and baggage weights are declared at booking; the aircraft carries four to five passengers by weight, not by seat. Private charters, extra landings and longer ground time are quoted on request.
About the flight
No. The flight does not enter the restricted area on foot, so neither the restricted-area permit nor the two-trekker minimum applies. A guide flies with you.
The flight goes in the morning because Himalayan weather closes in after about eleven, and if the ceiling is down it does not go at all. We hold the following morning where we can. This is the one part of the day nobody controls, and the honest answer is that a proportion of flights are postponed each season.
Yes — the aircraft is weight-limited at altitude, and we ask for everyone’s weight when booking so the load can be planned. It is not a polite question and we ask it anyway, because the alternative is finding out on the pad.
The landing is near Manaslu Base Camp at about 4,800 m, and you are on the ground for a short time — long enough to stand in it, not long enough to acclimatise. Going from Kathmandu at 1,400 m to 4,800 m in under an hour is felt: expect to be breathless, and tell the guide if it is more than that.
Every journey is shaped with you before it is booked.
Tell us your dates, your pace, and what you hope to leave behind. A Journey Designer writes back within two days.
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