Chulu West Peak Climbing

You may arrive in Kathmandu at any time. Upon your arrival, you will be greeted by one of our airport representatives. He will help you get transferred to your Hotel. There are no planned activities for the day, so you may check into your Hotel and relax. Overnights stay at the Hotel

Today, you will prepare for the upcoming trip. You can browse the many trekking and hiking shops near your Hotel that sell and rent peak climbing equipment. If you want, you can also have a tour of Kathmandu’s four major UNESCO World Heritage sites as well- the Pashupatinath Temple, the Swayambhunath Stupa, the Kathmandu Durbar Square, and the Boudhanath Temple. Having such heritage sites so close together in a city makes Kathmandu one of the densest cities in the world that features UNESCO Heritages. Overnights stay at the Hotel in Kathmandu.

You will begin your drive to Syange/Jagat early in the morning. It is a rather long trip to the village of Syange, and you will be driving through the countryside, passing Besisahar. The drive is filled with wonderful views of Nepal's countryside life, with vast mustard fields and terrace farms making appearances alongside coruscating rivers and green hills. The road to Besisahar is coal-tarred, so the initial part of the drive is smooth. After Besisahar, however, the road gets a little dusty and coarse, so you expect a rather bumpy ride. Nevertheless, the natural beauty of the changing landscape is a constant company on your journey today. Overnights stay at a guesthouse at Syange/Jagat.

Today’s trek begins early in the morning; following the trekking trail, you will make your way into the small settlement of Tal. The path goes through the region's low-lying alpine woodlands of pine, cedar, and maple, so the trip is relaxing and refreshing. Then, crossing smaller streams via suspension bridges clad in colorful prayer flags, you will continue to Kodo. The path also goes through many barley farms and terrace fields of potato farms. The land in this region is quite suitable for terrace farming, and the temperate climate also makes the woodlands be evergreen throughout the year. Finally, you will arrive at Dharapani, one of the biggest villages in the region. Overnights stay at Dharapani.

The trek from Dharapani to Chame is steep, but the beautiful scenery makes up for the constant up-and-downhill climb. The path takes you through the valley ridgelines, and the views of mountain peaks like the Lamjung Himal, Annapurna II, and Annapurna IV are spectacular from atop the ridge openings. There are small hot springs scattered throughout the trail, which add a sense of relief to a hard day's trek. Finally, you will reach Chame- the administrative center of Manang. Overnights stay at Chame.

Today's trekking trail along a steep and narrow pathway that goes through a very dense temperate forest. As you approach the forest clearing, you will be greeted by a dramatic curved rock face that rises 1,500 meters from the river below. As the trail starts opening up the further along the forest your descent, you will be surrounded by majestic Himalayan Peaks that line the forest horizons. As you continue along, you will find yourselves in a U-shaped valley of Manang. Two giant snowy peaks shadow this beautiful valley. Further ahead a few miles is Pisang. Overnights stay at Pisang.

The trek today will present you with a dramatic change in the landscape. Unlike the alpine woodlands that cover the hills, the terrain instead begins to dry out as you enter the Kali Gandaki River Valley. Passing the small settlement of Geru, you can enjoy heavenly sights of mountain peaks, such as the Annapurna, the Pisang peak, and several others. Ahead from Geru, the terrain turns cold and almost tundra-like (but not quite). The cold and dry climate here caters to a much harsher environment. Following the trekking trail, you will finally reach Manang. Once here, you can also pay a memorable visit to the Barge monastery, the largest monastery in the entire district of Manang. Overnights stay in Manang.

This day is set aside as a rest day and also for acclimatization. You can spend the day exploring Manang and paying a visit to the Bhojo Gompa. You can also hike up to Gangapurna Lake. A little distance away from Manang is a village called Vraga, which houses an ancient monastery. You can also make a short visit to the Himalayan Rescue Association from the village juncture, which is situated a few meters ahead. The village of Manang is situated in the broad valley of the Marsyangdi River. North of the village lies the Annapurna Mountain range. Since the village is situated on the mountain's northern slope, it tends to get the most sunlight and the least snow cover during winters. That is why the village harbors vast cultivation fields on the northern slopes, jutting out of the hills like terraces. The ethnic people here are the Manangi people, who follow Tibetan Buddhist customs. Overnights stay at Manang.

The trek from Manang to Ledar is steep but steady. You will gain a steady amount of elevation as you continue on your journey. The scenery changes from terrace fields to open slopes as you make your way to Leder, and during autumns- the blazing fall colors blanket the hills. As you ascend above the tree line at 4000 meters, you will find fewer and fewer trees, and even if you do find one, the trees are lonesome, standing on their own. The villagers here use pack horses for transport and to herd the cattle. Ahead of the tree line is Yak Kharka- a small settlement that the villagers use during the winter for herding their cattle. A few miles upfront from the pasturelands is Ledar at 4,200 meters. Overnights stay at Leder.

The trek uphill towards the Chulu West Base Cam is a journey filled with barren and rocky terrain. The higher the elevation to go, the more snowier the landscape gets. Because the terrain is dry and rock-strewn, you will hardly find any vegetation today. Only the occasional streams of the Gandaki River mark the terrain. Steadily making your way up the valley, you will finally arrive at the Chulu West Base Camp. Overnights stay at camp.

The trek from Base camp to Camp I is not technical, but you will be gaining elevation. Today's trip is beautifully decorated with wonderful views of mountain peaks like the Annapurna and the Dhaulagiri, including the Lamjung Himal, the Manaslu Peak, and the Gangapurna Himal. The rocky terrain is also decorated with patches of snow the higher up you trek. Overnights stay at Camp I.

This is another day set aside for acclimatization. You can spend the day letting your body catch up and building your stamina. You will need the strength in the upcoming days. You can also spend the day with your guide, learning about properly using the pea climbing equipment and getting yourself familiar with the climbing strategy. Overnights stay at Camp I.

Leaving Camp I, you will continue climbing the rock band towards Camp II. While the route is not that technical, you may still have to use ropes, crampon, and ice-axes. You will set up Camp II at about 5,530 meters. While you can attempt the summit directly from Camp I, it is not recommended that the climb is relatively straightforward from Camp II until the summit. Thus, it is better to make an overnight stay at Camp II for rest and acclimatization. Therefore, overnights stay at Camp II.

Steadily making your way to the top using climbing equipment and following your guide, you will summit the Chulu West Peak. You will start the climb early in the morning, before dawn. It is a magnificent feeling of conquering the peak, and the vast panorama of the valley below and of the surrounding mountains from the top is quite incomparable. After enjoying the scene from the top, you will make your way back down to Camp I. Overnights stay at Camp I.

From Camp I, you will steadily descend the hills back towards Leder. The descent down the valley is much easier than the climb up. Once again, you can notice the change in the terrain as you make today's journey. Overnights stay at Leder.

This is a contingency day, set aside for cases where you cannot do the climb for any reason. The weather in the mountains can be unpredictable, and if you cannot do the climb for any reason the day before, you can use this day. On the other hand, if everything goes according to plan, you will not need this day.

The trail from Leder to Thorong Phedi is tranquil. The eerie quiet of the landscape seems almost alien-like. Hiking through relatively flat fields, you will be presented with incredible mountain views. On occasions, you can also spot local horses roaming around. There are not many lodges along the trail, but you can find many local homes. The small residential houses of the mountains appear nearly tent-like and nomadic, like the yurts of Central Asia. The trail from here on out is an extremely easy gradual uphill towards Thorong Phedi. Overnights stay at Thorong Phedi.

The trip today involves a lot of up-and-downhill climbs. From Thorong Phedi, you will steadily make your way up the mountain pass of Thorong La. The climb can be a bit strenuous, but the mountain views from the top of the pass are quite a sight! You can see panoramic views of the Gandaki valley and the Annapurna Mountains from the top of the pass. Small cairns and Mani stones also line the trail, decorated with colorful prayer flags. From the top, you will then descend downwards towards Muktinath. The temple of Muktinath is a revered holy site for both the Hindu and the Buddhist people of Nepal. You can pay a visit to the temple and light a camphor oil. Ahead of Muktinath is the Kali Gandaki Gorge. You will follow the gorge and the river towards Jomsom. Overnights stay at Jomsom.

From Jomsom, you will take a short quick flight towards Pokhara. The short flight presents you with a panorama of the vast Kali Gandaki Valley, with the gorge and the river. Upon arriving in Pokhara, you will be transferred to your Hotel. You can also spend the rest of the day enjoying a boat ride at Phewa Lake and visiting the Tal Barahi Temple. Overnights stay at a hotel in Pokhara.

You will bid the mountains goodbye today and make your way back to Kathmandu. The drive is about 6 to 7 hours, and you can once again enjoy the fleeting glimpses of Nepal's countryside life. Mustard and barley farms roll the fields, and small rivers and streams decorate the journey. Upon arriving in Kathmandu, you will be taken to your Hotel. Overnights stay at the Hotel.

You will be transferred to the airport for your final departure today.