Manasluलार्क्या ला
The high pass of the Manaslu Circuit, a long glacial crossing from the Budhi Gandaki to the Marsyangdi side.
Higher seasonal exposure: altitude (All year), snow (Oct-May), seasonal closure (Dec-Feb), cold (Nov-Mar), landslides (Jun-Sep).
The Larkya La is the highest point of the Manaslu Circuit at about 5,106 m and the crux of the trek. It crosses from the head of the Budhi Gandaki valley, above Samdo, to Bimthang and the Dudh Khola, which flows down to the Marsyangdi and the Annapurna Circuit. It is one of the longer pass crossings in the Nepal Himalaya, with a gradual approach over moraine and a steep, often icy descent.
Trekkers spend the night before at Dharamsala, also called Larke Phedi (about 4,460 m), a small seasonal stop with basic lodging, and set off well before dawn. The climb crosses moraine, scree and, depending on the season, snow, to a ridge hung with prayer flags. From the top there are wide views of Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kang Guru and the Annapurna II area. The descent to Bimthang loses well over 1,000 m.
Within the Manaslu destination, the pass is the link between the Tibetan-Buddhist upper Budhi Gandaki and the Marsyangdi valley; once over it, the route soon joins roads and the Annapurna region.
The pass was part of the network of trade and grazing routes used by the people of Nubri and Manang, including routes to Tibet. Prayer flags at the top are renewed by guides and trekkers, and many groups stop briefly for offerings or a photograph before beginning the descent. Teahouse trekking over the pass became possible only around 2010, when lodges opened at Dharamsala; before that, groups camped.
Cross the pass
Leave Dharamsala around 4-5 am, reach the top in roughly 4-5 hours and descend to Bimthang in another 3-4 hours.
Rest at Bimthang
Recover in the high meadows of Bimthang, with views back towards Manaslu and the pass.
Forecast for 5,106 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Apr-May, Oct-Nov
No accommodation on the pass; stay at Dharamsala (Larke Phedi) before and Bimthang after.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Reach the pass only on foot, after about 8-10 days walking up the Budhi Gandaki from Soti Khola with acclimatisation stops at Samagaon and Samdo.
Nearest hub: Samdo (Manaslu Circuit)
Nearest hub: Samdo. Times are typical ranges, not schedules, and vary with roadworks, weather and the season.
On footfrom Dharmasala (Larke Phedi)about 4-6 h4-6 h from Dharmasala, about 650 m of ascent from roughly 4,460 m to 5,106 m; 8-10 h in all to Bimthang
Reached only on foot, after about 8-10 days up the Budhi Gandaki with acclimatisation stops at Samagaun and Samdo. The ground is moraine and rock, with snow or ice depending on the season.
When to set off: parties normally leave Larke Phedi before dawn, so that the pass is crossed and the long descent begun early in the day
Restricted-area permit
The approach to the Larkya La is inside the Manaslu restricted area: foreigners need a restricted area permit through a registered agency, the Manaslu Conservation Area permit and, for the descent, the Annapurna Conservation Area permit.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Department of Immigration: Trekking route and permit fee.
On the Manaslu Circuit.
What this place is typically exposed to, and when. These are seasonal patterns, not a report on conditions now.
Altitudehigh in a typical yearAll year
At roughly 5,106 m, thin air affects most people. General information, not medical advice: gain height slowly, build in acclimatisation days, learn the symptoms of altitude sickness (headache, nausea, breathlessness, broken sleep) and go down if they get worse. See a doctor before travelling and carry insurance that covers helicopter evacuation.
Snowhigh in a typical yearOct-May
The crossing runs over moraine and rocky ground and, depending on the season, snow or ice; the descent to Bimthang is steep on loose rock and glacial ground.
Seasonal closurehigh in a typical yearDec-Feb
Heavy snow often blocks the Larkya La in deep winter and many upper lodges shut for the season, so the crossing is rarely attempted between December and February.
Coldhigh in a typical yearNov-Mar
Pre-dawn starts at nearly 4,500 m and a long day above 5,000 m mean serious cold and wind exposure.
Landslideshigh in a typical yearJun-Sep
The monsoon brings cloud, rain and wet snow at altitude as well as landslides in the Budhi Gandaki gorge on the approach, and the pass is rarely attempted then.
Check current conditions before you travel
Roads, trails, passes and flights change with the weather and with roadworks, and nothing on this page describes conditions today. Before you set off, check the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology for weather and flood warnings, the Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal for incidents, and the local authority, police or your licensed operator for road, trail and flight status.
A network of high and mid-hill routes about 1,700 km long that crosses Nepal from Kanchenjunga in the east to Humla and the far west, usually walked in sections, or as a through-trek of about four to five months.
About 5,106 m, though some sources quote up to 5,160 m. It is the highest point of the Manaslu Circuit.
Usually 8-10 hours from Dharamsala to Bimthang, including about 4-5 hours of ascent.
Snow often closes it from December to February, and early or late snow can affect crossings in November and March.
Yes. Plan acclimatisation days at Samagaon and Samdo and descend if symptoms appear.
Valley or region
A restricted Buddhist side valley of the Manaslu region, with monasteries, Milarepa's cave and villages near the Tibetan border.
Trek stop · 3,590 m
A meadow settlement below the Larkya La, the first stop after the crossing.
Trek stop · 1,860 m
A small village at the head of the lower gorge on the Manaslu Circuit.
Trek stop · 4,460 m
The seasonal stop at the foot of the Larkya La, used the night before the crossing.
Trek stop · 1,340 m
A stone-paved village in the Budhi Gandaki gorge where the Manaslu restricted area begins.
Trek stop · 900 m
A riverside village of lodges at the mouth of a side stream, the first night's stop for most Manaslu Circuit trekkers.
Trek stop · 2,630 m
The first village of Nubri on the Manaslu Circuit, among barley fields and forest.
Trek stop · 1,570 m
A large Gurung village on the lower Manaslu Circuit, near the turn-off for the Tsum Valley.
Valley or region
A restricted trekking region around the world's eighth-highest mountain, from the Budhi Gandaki gorge to Tibetan-Buddhist villages and the Larkya La.
Town or village · 3,519 m
A high stone village in the upper Marsyangdi valley below Annapurna III and Gangapurna, where Circuit trekkers stop to acclimatise.
.jpg){kind=link}
