Manaslu Delight – Ponkar Tal and Bimtang Trek
This trek is for someone who is looking to get incredible close-up views of the mountains in a short amount of time, spend time off the beaten path. You will trek through prestine forests and marvel at the view from the stunning high altitude lake - Ponkar Tal (4091m). While this trek is also the end of the popular Manaslu circuit, we trek some off the beaten path trails and stay in tea houses that otherwise have few visitors. This gives you an opportunity to really get close to the hosts who are super welcoming and eager to share the best of this stunning valley with you.
- Starts In: Kathmandu/Pokhara
- Ends In: Kathmandu/Pokhara
- Duration: 8 Days
- Difficulty Grade: Demanding
Highlights
- Spectacular mountain scenery, with BIG mountain views!
- See everyday life as you trek through mountain villages
- Great off the beaten path trekking, combined with main trail tea house facilities
Itinerary
Day 01: Drive Kathmandu to Tilje [2260m]
We will leave Kathmandu early in the morning in a comfortable air-conditioned jeep that takes us to the town of Besisahar, which marks the start of the Annapurna Circuit trek. Here you will have some lunch and have the opportunity to get some fresh fruit and other snacks for the long drive. We will then continue the journey all together, in a sturdy 4WD and a very skilled driver will take us to Tilje from where we will start your trek the following day. If you expect a metaled road, don’t be fooled. Driving on this trail is a real adventure as it takes us along the old Annapurna Circuit trek through amazing gorges and meanders past (or even through) stunning waterfalls. We arrive in Tilje in the late afternoon and enjoy a good meal in a comfortable lodge.
Driving time: Approx. 9 – 10 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
Meals included:
Lunch, Dinner
Day 2: Trek to Karche [2700m]
We have a great first day ahead of us today. It is also a shorter day since we cannot go too far as we need to make sure we acclimatize before we get into the high altitudes. We have breakfast and leave Tilje by mid morning, following the river on a paved trail out of the village, we get to a jeep trail which climbs steeply for a few hairpin turns before continuing up the valley at a more gradual rate of accent. After a couple of hours we get to the little Gurung village of Gowa, where we will stop for lunch.
After lunch we continue climbing steadily, we go around a bend in the river where the gorge below us is particularly narrow. It is then downhill a little before a final almost level walk into Karche (Surki Khola) where we will be spending the next couple of nights.
Walking time: Approx. 4-5 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Explore the Suti Glacier Valley
This morning there is no need to pack-up our things as we will be back in our tea house here in Karche tonight. Today we do an acclimatization walk up the exciting side valley towards the Surti Glacier. We start early, so we can get up the valley as far as possible before we have to turn around and come back down for the night. We are very much off the beaten path now, the trail leading up this valley is only used by the locals to take their animals up the valley for gracing in the summer, no one else comes up here.
The start to the walk up the valley in in beautiful forest on a small trail but as we get high up we come out of the trees and into the open. As we get above the treeline the views also start appearing and about 4 hours from Karche the view of Manaslu 8163m really opens up. We might stop here for our packed lunch or continue further up the valley to get a better view of the glacier as well.
After lunch we return back down the valley and get back to our tea house before dark, well acclimatized to go up to Bimtang tomorrow.
Walking time: Approx. 7-8 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Trek to Bimtang [3590m]
We continue up the valley today, crossing Surti Khola as we leave Karche. As we gain altitude up through the valley, we slowly get better and better views of Manaslu north and Larkya peaks to the east. After a steep climb we get to Chauli Kharka and the two tea houses there, just above 3000 meters, we stop here for a tea and a rest, or if you are later in the day for lunch.
From Chauli Kharka, the trail climbs gently through forest but we continue to have amazing views, now also of the main peak of Manaslu. Near the cave at Hampuk the valley turns north and we start climbing a little more steeply to Haibu, where we have the chance of another cup of tea and a rest. A final steep climb brings us up over the tree line and we now have stunning mountain views everywhere we look as we cross the Dudh Khola and the lower glacial moraine. We continue to climb steadily along the moraine until we reach the valley behind the main wall of the moraine where Bimtang sits. This is our home for the next couple of nights and it is hard to find a more beautiful place!
Walking time: Approx. 4-5 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Explore Ponkar Tal [4091m]
This morning head out for a truly spectacular day higher up the valley. We continue up the main Manaslu circuit trail for a couple of kilometres, till the turnoff for the Ponkar Tal (Lake). From here the trails climbs steeply to the top of the glacial moraine, stop and rest often and enjoy the stunning view down the valley towards Manaslu!
When we crest the moraine, we get amazing views to the north as well, the mountains we see includes Nimjung and Himlung, both above 7000m and a whole host of 6000m peaks as well as lots of glaciers. We cross the moraine of a smaller glacier on a very distinct trail and climb onto the side wall of the Ponkar glacier. Soon after we get our first views of Ponkar Tal which sits in a little valley between the two glaciers.
We highly recommend doing the walk around the whole lake, the views along the western side from up on the Ponkar glacier wall are really something but equally great are the views from the other side of the lake! At the northern end of the lake there is a little temple to Shiva and at the southern end there is a good spot for a rest before we head back down the valley to Bimtang.
Walking time: Approx. 4-5 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Trek to Gowa (Gho) [2515m]
Today we leave Bimtang and the high mountains, to head back down the trail and into the forests. We might do the little side trip to the Milarepa cave near Hampuk on the way back down to Chaili Kharka, where we will stop for a cup of tea and a rest before continuing down to Surti Khola for lunch.
We continue on the easier trail down from Surti to Gowa where we will spend our last night up in the high mountains.
Walking time: Approx. 5-6 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Trek Karte [1830m] and Drive to Besisahar
Today is the final day you’ll be walking to the Manaslu trail. The gorge ahead marks the land of apple pie, cold beers, and hot showers – the Annapurna Circuit trail and almost the end of our trail. On reaching Tilje, we’ll take a little used but spectacular trail that stays high on the southern side of the valley. We reach the little Sangey Choeling Gompa, where we will stop for tea and see the gompa before continuing on a more up and down trail to Nache. The trail has spectacular views into the Marshyangdi valley and at Nache we will have lunch before the final descend into the valley to Karte. At Karte, we will load up the jeep for the drive down to our overnight destination, Besisahar.
Walking time: Approx. 4-5 hours
Driving time: Approx. 2 hours
Accommodation: Gateway Himalaya Resort
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Drive from Besisahar to Kathmandu
In the morning we say our goodbyes to the crew, load up the jeep and start the drive back to Kathmandu.
We hope you have had an incredible trek and we will be looking forward to trekking with you in the Himalayas again!
Driving time: Approx. 5 hours
Accommodation: None
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch
Gallery
Included In Price
- Tea house accommodation while on trek
- Meals as per the itinerary (all meals on trek, with filtered drinking water)
- Transport as per the itinerary in private vehicles. For groups of less than 4 pax, public vehicles will be used
- Your trekking guide and porter/s, with all their transport, equipment, insurance and including meals and accommodation
- A first aid kit appropriate for the group size and activities
- Trekking permits and registration fees
- Group departures guaranteed with 2 trekkers
Note: The local tea houses are basic but clean and they do not often have attached bathrooms or hot showers. The price is based on twin shares and does not include any extra charge that lodge owners may levy for single rooms, attached bathrooms, or hot showers (if these facilities are available) or for battery charging. We can’t know in advance what they may charge for such things in the different lodges along the way, so we prefer to leave this cost out, rather than pass along an estimated charge to you.
The meal inclusions on the trek are breakfast (one set breakfast and tea or coffee), lunch (one main meal and tea or coffee), and dinner (soup, main, and dessert with a tea or coffee)
Not Included In Price
- Services and activities not mentioned in the detailed itinerary
- International flights to and from Kathmandu
- Nepal visa fees and international airport taxes
- Any gear or equipment that you may need to rent/buy
- Any excess baggage charges
- Single room supplement – please ask if you would like to have a single room (these are not always available in tea houses, but possible in the hotels/guest houses)
- Comprehensive travel insurance that includes trip cancellation and rescue evacuation should this be
required for any reason (we require this as the minimum insurance cover); Rescue/evacuation costs
(to be covered by your insurance) - Additional nights, optional trips and sightseeing tours outside the detailed itinerary above
Personal expenses (eg tips, soft drinks/bar bills, laundry, telephone calls, postage, donations, extra
snacks, camera charges, etc) - Tips for your guide and drivers, please ask if you would like any guidance about this
- Costs incurred due to changes in programs and reservations due to unforeseen events (eg landslides,
strikes, natural disaster,s large increase in fuel prices, etc)
