Overview

DAY 1 Arrived Kathmandu 1340m

you will be met at the airport by a representative from Khamsang. They will bring to your hotel.

Day 2 – Kathmandu

A free day to explore the Kathmandu valley. Options: Climb the many step to Swayambhunath (The monkey Temple) with its commanding views of Kathmandu (at 1420m), its whitewashed stupas and its unique synthesis of Buddhism and Hinduism. The striking Buddha eyes of Boudhanath Stupa watch over a likely and colorful tibetan community and attract pilgrims from all over the Himalayan Buddhist realm. In the midst of traditional gompas and hung with long strings of multi-colored prayer flags, Boudhanath attracts Sherpas, Tibetans and tourist alike for daily circumambulations (koras) of the stupa. Durbar Square, one of the old capitals of the kathmandu valley ,is a synthesis  of Hindu and Buddhist temples, stupas and statues, and is often the site of the festival,marriages and other ceremonies Hindu Pashupatinath and its sacred temple complex on the banks of the holy bagmati river.Here,monkeys run up and down the steps of the burning ghats, and trident-bearing saddhus draped in burnt-orange and saffron sit serenely meditating – when they’re not posing for photos-for-rupees. 

We’ll have time for a bit of gear shopping in Thamel for anyone who needs to do this,and in the evening will head out for dinner.

Day 3  Drive to Rangrung Phedi 875m

We’re up early for our scenic drive from Kathmandu, mostly along the Trisuli River, to the starting part of our trek in the Gurung middle hills of Nepal several bumpy hours past the historic town of Gorkha. Gorkha was once the capital of a massive kingdom which included parts of lower Tibet, and is dominated by an impressive ‘Durbar’, or fortress palace complex, predominately Hindu with frequent animal sacrifices in the name of Durga or Kali in its several old Hindu temples. The fort is perched high up in the surrounding hillsides and reached by nearly an hour of hiking up worn stone steps, often with other Nepali Hindu pilgrims. We used to start our trek to Manaslu here but now continue on a newly built jeep road heading north past our old campsite at Arkole village, past vivid green rice paddies, over small rivers and past many road-side batties to the small hamlet of Rangrung. Rangrung Phedi, where we set up our first night’s camp of home stay, is far below tomorrow’s destination, the lovely Gurung village of Barpak. Take advantage of a chance for a sun-downer while we’re in Nepal’s steamy middle hills, and still low in altitude. You might want to bring some insect repellent for today as the midges bite …

Day 4 trek to Barpak 1915m

Have a good breakfast this morning as we have a long ,step climb ahead of us up to the incredibly scenic village of Barpak,situated perfectly on a green ridge overlooking the misty valley below.The new road started in 2009 built to connect Barpak,Laprak,Singla,Gumda & lower Manasalu with Gorkha travelers our trail for the first half of the climb,We have to travelers  this dirty road a few times as we climb through the dense forested hill side filled with rhododendrons,bauhenia and other large leafy trees.Along the way we will stop for a break at the gurung memorial ‘Chautaras’ or rest stops.These are specific to the Gurung & Ghale people both Buddhist/Bon with an animist/shamanistic bent.Two hours of climbing later we reach the local school at Mandray followed by an entrance gate and several small tea shops where we can stop for a cold drink or tea.

Barpak is a large gurung & ghale village,extremely clean,with a weekly market,wide valleys between the houses,grain and vegetables drying outside on the patios,several shops,new school,new Buddhist monastery ,earthquake memorial park ,a soccer field,viewpoints and flowers planted along the decks of these gurung houses.Many of its men joined the Gurkhas Army,returned to barpak with new wealth ,and have built lovely houses.The locally woven’ Bakkhu’ a sort of felted wool panchu which most men wear to keep the rain and cold away,and the men carrying hemp rope bags.The village is full of women weaving on wooden looms,spinning and carding.The village often organize ‘cultural shows’ the proceeds of which go to improving the village,so we might be treated to one in the early evening .Across the steep valley the hillsides are peppered with other terraced villages.We are turn over by Buddha Himal and high snow capped peak which makes for wonderful sunrise & sunset views.There are one thousand two hundred household in Barpak.People are friendly and nice.

Day 5 Trek to Laprak 2200m

After breakfast we’ll start on a picturesque climb right out of town towards a lovely pass,with Budhha himal providing a spectular back-drop to the sprawling,scenic Barpak as we ascend the narrow ridge,Starting on old stone steps and passing several chautaras ,we reach grassy grazing kharkas and look out at the tilled hillsides and impossibly reached gurung villages across the many deep valleys,Our trail is often stone steps,alternating with hard-packed dirt and stony trail,which meets the new road to Laprak near the ridge-pass(Gupsi Pakha) the Laprak La(2820m),which separates Laprak & Barpak village.From the viewpoint half an hour before the pass,with flocks of sheep grazing on the grassy hillsides,we are rewarded with panoramic mountain views which are better than at the actual pass itself.Buddha Himal,Siringi Himal,Ganesh Himal and the Langtang range all span the horizon.The rhododendrons are blooming brilliantly in may huge of white.pink,yellow and red,lovely forefround for photos with the snow-peaks in back bring a wind jacket as the clouds often move quickly up to this ridge,and it gets cold at the pass.another steep hours or two of trekking between tilled fields,past local kharkha and through the new ‘kane’ chorten brings us down to Laprak, a large,closely packed Gurung village of five hundred houses perhaps not quite as scenic as Barpak but just as interesting.villagers often offer some friendly indoctrination. you can explore the village below.Medicinal roots are often drying on the decks, and millet and barley are spread in low baskets.Again,many women will be on their standing or back strap looms weaving the long strips of wool for their bakhus or blankets.The villagers or friendly and there is a lots to explore in Laprak’s winding maze of lanes.

Day 6-Trek to Khorlabesi 875m

Today is a long and classic Nepali trekking day of eight hours,all spectular but a bit hard on the kness.We’ll have an early start to have plenty of time for all of us,including the porters,to reach Khorlabesi.Decending steeply on muddy stone steps through the maze of Laprak village,we pass old and young villagers out early on their decks,taking advantage of the morning sun,with wheat,barly fields to the river.After crossing the river ona new suspension bridge(next to the old,very rickety one),we climb equally steeply back up,past terraced fields of pink sorghum and rice,all the time far above the Machhakhola which we follow for most of the day.We contour around several hillsides on narrow trail,barely visible at times,up to a small chorten just below the village of Singla. From here we’re treated to views of Manaslu Himal,Kutang Himal and Shringi Himal to the north.We’ve still got a way to go as we trek through more tropical fields,climb and descend several dusty hillsides,climb on more stone steps and reach an extremely steep set of stone steps which leads to a long suspension bridge across the Nimrung Khola and to our campsite is just below the village,next to the Nimrung Khola,again providing great swimming holes.We will probably get a visit in the evening from this village’s cultural ambassadors and perhaps have another show.

Day 7 Drive back to Kathmandu 8-9 hours

Semi-tropical middle hills of Nepal.We’ll have a bumpy drive to Arughat ,Dhadingbesi ,the old start of the Manaslu circuit and Tsum valley and then continue driving for five (plus) hours back to Kathmandu,So we will try to head off early and will stop for lunch en route back.It is a different world back in the Nepali hills and gentle light sends us on our way back to the bustle of Nepali’s capital city Kathmandu.Finally back ate the Kathmandu guest house/hotel an real shower.A celebration is definitely in order tonight.

Day 8 A free day in Kathmandu for shopping

Day 9  Departure