Manaslu Trek Update after Earthquake
Many of you might have been curious to know whether the Manaslu trek is safe or not, or keen to learn how many damages happened there in the area by the Nepal earthquake on 25 April 2015 that hit the Himalayan country badly, resulting in more than 10000 deaths and injuring more than 23,000. Hundreds of thousands of people were made homeless with entire villages flattened across many districts of the Himalayan country.
As the Barpak (also the starting point of the Manaslu Trek, many trekking companies offer lower Manaslu trek in compassing Barpak, Laprak, Singla & Gumda villages) village in Gorkha was the epicenter, which is very close to the Manaslu trekking Route, so we can see many damages, landslides, collapsed houses, and a public school building on the way.
But beyond Jagat, the trail is totally intact, and nothing bad is found in the northern part of the Manaslu trek. Manaslu trek has been a great alternative teahouse trek in the middle section of the Great Himalayan Trail, as Annapurna Circuit has been unpopular because of road access, which used to be one of the finest hiking destinations in the world just a decade ago.
We saw locals restoring the mountain trails, house, and teahouse on the way. Many lodges have already been repaired that had only minor damage. They can cater to about 20 – 25 trekkers in every place where we stop for an overnight stay. We have to walk through difficult and narrow off the main trail sometimes, through the landslides and big boulders, which requires stamina for walking 1-2 hours extra for the first 3-4 days each day. After the 5th day of our trek, the trail and lodges are totally fine. Also, locals are planning to reroute the starting point of the trail. It looks like the trek will be elongated by a day.
Regarding the Tsum Valley, it still has to repair the trail at Sarti Khola. As the river washed away the trail near Sari Gorge. Locals are walking a difficult trail there; they have fixed ropes and wood to catch and pass through the cliffs and rocks. But by this winter, all the trekking trails to Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley will be repaired, and it will be as it was before the tremor.
Following was our day-to-day itinerary, and the highlighted is the changes.
Oct 05 Day 01: Kathmandu – Arughat 525m/1722ft. 7-8 hours drive Normal
Oct 06 Day 02: Arughat – Sotikhola 710m/2329ft. 4-5 hours walk, Lodges look cracked, and some are restored. Lodges in places can cater to some 30 trekkers. The Trail is fine, easy, and flat.
Oct 07 Day 03: Sotikhola – Macha Khola 887m/2919ft. 5-6 hours walk.
Near Nauli Khola bridge at Lapubesi, the trail is washed away and needs to be repaired. Have to walk off the main trail for about 30 mins and rejoin the main trail later.
Oct 08 Day 04: Macha Khola - Jagat 1345m/4412ft. 6-7 hours walk.
A big landslide after passing Dovan, have to walk through the big rocks and boulders for about 15 – 20 mins. The trail is washed away by the Budhi Gandaki River at Yaru Bagar. There is a temporary wooden bridge made, and we have to walk off the main trail for about 2 hours extra, very carefully through a steep slope to join the trail coming to Jagat from Uhiya Village.
Oct 09 Day 05: Jagat – Dang 1960 m/6430 ft. 6-7hours. The tails and teahouse are very normal
Oct 10 Day 06: Dang - Ghap 2380m/7808ft. 5-7 hours walk Normal
Oct 11 Day 07: Ghap – Lho 3180m/6465ft. About 6-7 hours walk. Normal
Oct 12 Day 08: Lho – Samagaun 3520m/11546ft. About 5 hours walk, Normal
Oct 13 Day 09: Acclimatization and rest day in Samagaun. Explore and day hikes. Normal
Oct 14 Day 10: Samagaun – Samdo 3860m/12402ft. 3-4 hours walk. Normal
Oct 15 Day 11: Samdo – Larke Rest home/Dharmasaala 4460m/14532ft. Normal
Oct 16 Day 12: Larke Rest Homes – Bimtang 3750m/12300ft. via Lakrke Pass. Normal
Oct 17 Day 13: Bimtang – Goa 2560m/ 8397ft. 4-6 hours walk Normal
Oct 18 Day 14: Goa – Jagat 1300 m/4264 ft. 5-7 hours walk and stay overnight in lodge. Normal
Oct 19 Day 15: Jagat – Drive to Besi sahar overnight in Besi sahar, Normal
Oct 20 Day 16: Drive to Kathmandu by comfortable bus. Normal
Our conclusion: - This trek is very possible for young and reasonably fit people, requires previous trekking experiences in the Himalaya or the Alps of Europe, etc. We don't recommend this trip for keen, comfortable trekkers. Of course, your level of physical fitness and age are other things to consider. Some lodges on the route are very basic. But the trek offers great scenery, authentic Himalayan culture heritages, and local lifestyles. It is like the Annapurna Circuit back in the 80s. For more information, please kindly write us at journey2nirvana@gmail.com
