Trip Highlights:
- Enjoy the local activities in the close shade of Manaslu and Ganesh Himal
- Immerse within village social works of traditional farm life and its cultures.
- An excellent way of knowing the inner depth of Nepalese age-old traditions.
- Various programs to get engaged in the harmony of scenic surroundings.
- A great way to explore and to experience rural villages of great cultural interest.
Trip Facts
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15 Nights & 16 Days arrival to departure
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12 Nights & 13 Days with drives both ways
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Moderate with ups and downhill walks
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At Laprak village 2,100 m/ 6,888 feet high
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Exciting drives with volunteer work and hikes
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Nepal Far North Mid-West around Gorkha district
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Hotels in Kathmandu and in local standard to basic, simple lodges with Home Stay cottages.
Itinerary
Altitude: 1,350 m/ 4,428 feet. Overnight at Tourist standard hotel in Kathmandu.
Includes: Welcome Dinner in a nice typical Nepalese Restaurants.
On first arrival in Kathmandu at Nepal International Airport received by our staff and guide, with warm Nepali traditional welcome. After, getting organized and then a short transfer to your hotel in the heart of Kathmandu city.
At the hotel check into your lovely rooms with refreshing rest after a jet-leg. Then join in with other members of the group, for briefing at meeting halls or garden.
Our guide and leader will provide you with useful information regarding the trek, standard of lodge, foods and so on. If in doubt, can ask questions to make yourself at ease, after briefing enjoy the dinner in a typical Nepalese Restaurant.
Altitude: 1,060 m / 3,476 ft. at Gorkha Bazaar.
Drive approx. 8 hours by public Bus or private cars as per group size.
Includes: Breakfast. Lunch & Dinner. Overnight at local lodge / Guesthouse.
Morning after breakfast and getting ready for an overland journey as per size of group. Either in private cars, coach on in the comfort of Tourist Bus, for an interesting drive to Nepal Mid-West. Reaching a historical hill town in Gorkha, located on a hill, a historical town of old Shah Dynasty palace.
Towers above Gorkha town, from here the King Prithivi Narayan Shah started conquest of the country’s different smaller kingdoms and unified into a single nation to one Nepal.
After a refreshing stop at main town and headquarter of Gorkha district, journey continues heading downhill. Following a river for a while through several small farm villages and then a slow uphill into a forested trail. Then reaching Masel village our main destination of the journey for volunteering service to the villagers of Masel communities.
At Masel either in Home-Stay in local huts and simple cottages or in tented camps depending upon the group size.
Altitude: Approx. 1,260 m / 4, 134 feet at Masel village.
What can you do during a weeklong volunteering?
Engaging in farm life and teach as well learn the modern and old traditional ways.
Painting the school and its class rooms, as well teaching young children the art and skill of paintings and drawing. Reading story books and helping them with English vocabulary and pronounces, planting sampling trees, creating a community nursery, bringing fresh water from nearby stream or creeks.
As well playing with children different good games for physical exercise, singing dancing, as well having music western or local folk songs.
On this volunteering activities you will be learning as well the art of farming, milking cow, buffalo or goats. How to make curd, and Nepali simple dishes using fresh organic vegetables.
Altitude: 1,920 m / 6,297 feet at Barphak. Approx. 02 hours drives.
Includes: Breakfast. Lunch & Dinner, Overnight at Guesthouse or Home-Stay.
A pleasant morning, having breakfast and bidding farewell to the villagers.
The village community, organizes a traditional farewell with garland or Khada / silk scarf. After farewell ceremony a drive on rough dirt country road with few ups and down to Barphak village. Afternoon after getting organized in a local lodge or in Home Stay huts. Afternoon explore the interesting village of Barphak with views of sunset, reflecting on high snow-capped peaks.
Altitude: 2,100 m/ 6,888 ft. at Laprak village. Approx. 05 hours walks.
Includes: Breakfast. Lunch & Dinner. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Morning after breakfast, a short tour of Barphak interesting village, the main epicenter of the massive earthquake. Which was on the month of April and May 2015, the whole villages is returning back to normal life. After a mass destruction from the earthquakes, the village is near of completion of its restoration.
Walk leads to Basukang, where two trail branches off, where one leads to high Rupina La Pass. The trail follows continues towards our overnight destination at Laprak, another lovely hill village which is a fantastic symbol of unity here.
Arriving at Laprak by late afternoon before dusk, transfer to a nice cottage which is part of Home Stay program.
Altitude: 930 m/ 350 ft. Approx. 06 hour walks.
Overnight at Guesthouse / local lodge.
Meal Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
After a pleasant overnight at Laprak village, morning walks to Khorla Besi begins with a steady descent to a suspension bridge. From here short trek to the village of Singla for possible lunch stop, with grand views of Manaslu and Ganesh Himal range. After lunch trek continues downhill towards Budhi Gandaki River and then on main trail of Manaslu route as the path joins of Arughat and Macha-Khola.
Walk carries on with few short ups and down to reach a small farm village of Khorla Besi, located on a low warm area of semi-tropical climate.
After Khorla Besi on gradual path to Tatopani a place with natural hot spring, time permitting enjoy the hot refreshing bath. From Tatopani few hours of good walk to Macha Khola for last overnight around Gorkha area.
Altitude: 1,350 m. / 4,428 feet at Kathmandu. Drive approx. 06 hours on private jeep or Bus. Overnight in Hotel at Kathmandu.
Meal Included: Breakfast and Lunch.
Leaving Macha-Khola having early breakfast as drive leads past Soti-Khola farm village to Arughat town. From here with options of two routes either drive the short way through Dhading Besi or by Gorkha Hill town.
Taking the best shortest route heading towards Dhading district, as drive leads on winding ups to Dhading Besi town. From here on winding road down to Trisuli River reaching Malekhu town on the main busy highway.
Journey continues with uphill to the valley rim of Kathmandu city, and then drive amidst the busy road. Then reaching the city and back to hotel.
After a great wonderful experience on Lower Manaslu Hike & Volunteering Program.
Includes: Breakfast.
Last day in Kathmandu and Nepal, after a great memorable experience on Lower Manaslu Trek & Volunteering Program. Our staff transfer you to the international airport terminal, and then bidding farewell to the guide and staff. As you head for the smooth flight homeward bound.
Includes
- Airport pick up, drop by private vehicles.
- 02 night’s standard twin- sharing accommodation in a 3 starts hotel in Kathmandu.
- 8 days volunteering activities in village.
- 13 nights twin sharing accommodation on the mountain.
- Local Transportation Jeep/ Bus.
- (If you want private vehicle also available on additional cost).
- Three meals a day, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Tea/ Coffee in during the meals time.
- One highly experienced, helpful and friendly license holder guide. His food, accommodation, salary, equipment and accident insurance for all staff.
- Four seasonal sleeping bag. (if necessary)
- Company Duffle Bag, T- shirt.
- A volunteer certificate & trip certificate.
- A self-sufficient medical first aid Kit containing vital medications.
- Company branded 01 water bottle.
- Local and government taxes.
Excludes
- All kind of beverage.
- Personal travel and health insurance, insurance for helicopter evacuation.
- Porter service. Do you need a porter? Inquire to our trek expert.
- Tipping to staffs.
- Personal mountaineering gears
- Optional trips if extended
- International airfare.
- Visa fee, you obtain a visa easily upon your arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport Kathmandu,
- Extra expenses due to flight delays, strikes, weather condition or any event out our control.
Best Seasons:
The best seasons for wonderful Lower Manaslu Area visit for social activities and volunteering are spring and autumn, spring begins from March to May. Autumn starts from September to November, and the spring season with longer days due to much sunlight hours.
Days are mostly bright with sunshine for clear views and pleasant walking can get cloudy in the late afternoon. Chances of light rains and snowfall around higher elevations sometimes, and the temperature drops in the early morning and night times.
During springtime, the hills are bright with wildflowers in bloom especially the rhododendron, the national flower of Nepal.
The next best season is autumn from September to November, days are much clear for views and walks. But days are much short due to sunlight hours, pleasant and peak times for trekking around the Himalayas.
Much colder morning and late afternoon till night time, chances of snowfall on higher elevation sometimes.
Culture, Religion & History:
The lower warm areas of the Manaslu around Gorkha district are of mixed tribes of hill people. Gurung, Magar, Hindu Bharamins, Chettries, and Newars with some Bhot migrated from high Manaslu and Tsum areas.
The culture and religions are mixed with Hinduism and Buddhism around low land to mid-hills around Barphak and Laprak villages.
Around high hills villages mostly populated by the Gurung, the main tribes of Gorkha, and around Annapurna and Lamjung Himal, Gurung is interwoven to strong Buddhism religion. Follows the ancient heritage and culture and as well practices Shamanism is a cult, that worships nature and mountain spirits.
Overall Company Rating:
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Interesting Volunteering activities A great program and thanks for organizing such a meaningful and interesting volunteering activities. Enjoyed helping and as well learning the Nepali culture also, this types of programs will be received by all travelers to Nepal. Hope this type of Hiking and Volunteering will continue by Manaslu Circuit Trekking every year.
Sheila Ruth Parker and friendsfrom United States (US) -
fun and enjoyable immersing It was fun and enjoyable immersing into local culture and learning the ways of Nepalese simple farm life. Never expected it would be so interesting and wonderful on hiking and with some days of helping the local villages. We have gained much experience and willing to come back with more friends to support the volunteering program in Nepal. Thanks to MCT making a wonderful volunteer program and organizing around Lower Manaslu. Bill Atkinson and friendsfrom United Kingdom (UK)
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LOWER MANASLU HIKES & VOLUNTEERING PROGRAM The whole team of volunteering activities were well received by the happy villagers, it was great and interesting. Knowing the local culture and custom was the best of volunteering, learning more than we could give. The volunteering program was well organized and managed by MCT. Thank you very much for showing us the rural farm life of Nepal along with fantastic views of Himalayan peaks. Dr. Bruce Patterson,from United Kingdom (UK)
