Pisang Peak Climb

After breakfast, depart from the hotel in Kathmandu for our travel of some 6 hours by car covering 173 kilometres or so from the capital, Kathmandu, to the village of BesiSahar, where the trek begins.

After a nourishing lunch, continue driving to BesiSahar (823 m) which is the capital town of Lamjung district. Till recent times this commercial town of 2000 people was known as Besigaon. However, since the opening of the road to Manang, in the late seventies, the village became a compulsory stop over for those who go trekking around the Annapurna and was renamed Besi sahar. There are several administrative offices here, as well as post-offices and a police check-post where your trekking permit will be examined for the first time.

Although there is a seasonal road from BesiSahar to Ngadi which takes about an hour, it saves us 4-5 hours of trekking as the trail takes us through the District Forest Office and ascend for about 150 meters towards Pam Khola (River) and up beyond Sanuti village and Bhalam village after which we cross the Khudi Khola on a suspension bridge to reach the first Gurung Village of Khudi (792m) from where it is another one thirty minutes to Ngadi where we shall stay overnight at Lodge.

Dinner and overnight at a lodge in Ngadi.

After breakfast, we start by moving north up to a suspension bridge crossing the Nagdi Khola.

At this point, the track on the right leads to the village of Utsa. The path going up towards Marsyangdi leads to the village of Lampata in the Manang District. The climb is quite steep and it takes about two hours to reach Bahundanda, a village sitting on the headline at a height of 1314 meters. Bahundanda means “Brahman’s hill” which explains the origin of the people. We stop here for lunch and to enjoy the view of Mount Phungi (6379m), towards the North.

From Bahundanda, after lunch, a steep descent for about thirty minutes brings us to the Dhule Khola and crosses over to the village of Besi. In about an hour’s time we see the magnificent waterfall at Syange-1136m flowing from the high plain hamlet of Ghulima. From here it takes about two hours to reach Jagat, a village along the ridge at a height of 1340m.

Dinner and overnight at teahouse in Jagat

We will be reaching bhatti in about forty-five minutes and ascend in the morning from where it takes thirty minutes to reach the village of Chamje at 1433m. Further from Chamje, it takes about one hour to reach the hamlet of Sattare or ‘top of the hill’ in Tibetan dialect. We take our lunch here since it’s the best spot to lunch at. The uphill walk begins after lunch for about an hour through a bamboo forest and along the top ridge of the hills, finally to reach Tal set amidst broad valleys at a height of 1707 meters. Tal is Nepali for ‘lake’. It takes two hours forty-five minutes from Tal to reach Dharapani (1943m), which is a ‘stream’.

Dinner and overnight at a teahouse in Dharapani.

It takes 45 Minutes to reach the village of Bagarchap (2164m), which literally means ‘the river bank’. It stands as a bar between the marshy valleys on the south to which we pass and the dry region of the Marsyangdi high. And it is clear that it is a part of the world where the influence of the monsoon is minimal as the landscape itself has changed. From the Bagarchap, it’s an hour’s journey to climb the hamlet at Dhanagya (2300m). Here we have lunch.

After lunch, it takes us about 2-½ hrs to 3 hrs through the hamlet of Thanchock and Besi Salla, which means “the Garden of Pines”, to reach Kodo, also called Koto, meaning ‘Millet’ and then to the village of Kyupar (2600m). Outside the village a police check post controls the passess to the Nar Phu Khola Valley which leads to Tibet. We have to show our trekking permits here again before proceeding to Chame (2713m), the District Headquarters of Manang District, which is another forty five minutes away.

Dinner and overnight at a teahouse in Chame.

We follow the river upstream and reach the village of Bratang (2919m), whose inhabitants are mainly Tibetan. We stop here for a hearty Lunch. En route, we pass through a splendid pine forest with views of Lamjung and Annapurna II and IV. We continue upwards through the pine forest, crossing over the Marshyangdi River again on top of Dhukur Pokhara for lunch. After lunch climb slowly towards the Upper Pisang village (3,700m)

Dinner and overnight at a teahouse in Upper Pisang.

Free day in Upper Pisang for rest and acclimatization.

Dinner and overnight at teahouse lodge.

After breakfast we will start our Climb towards Base Camp. The path ascends through sparse wood and pasture to a Kharka and takes around 5 hrs.

Dinner and overnight at Camp.

Today, we climbed to High Camp and established our high camp at an altitude of 5,400m. There will be seasonal snow at High Camp.

Dinner and overnight at Camp.

Today is a very early wake up for the summit. Our team will support us to fix the rope wherever it is needed. After the summit starts descent down to the High Camp and to Base Camp.

Dinner and overnight at Camp.

After breakfast, walk down to Pisang Village and continue trek towards Manang village via Hunde. After lunch at Hongdae, the valley widens, and we get to see the Annapurnas III and IV (7555m and 7525m) on the left and East and West Chulus (6584m and 6419m) on the right. Towards the horizon, the views of the highest peak of Mount Thorung (6481m) appear, and towards the east, the crown of Mount Pisang. From Hongde, we ascend up the historic village of Braga (3505m). We will take an opportunity to explore Braga to see this fascinating village with its flat roofed houses and to visit the Gompa; not only the biggest in the area but also the most wealthy with its fine array of Thangkas (religious scroll paintings) and prayer books. It is only forty-five minutes from here to Manang, which is on the plateau at 3530 meters.

Dinner and overnight at trekkers lodge.

After leaving Manang the path climbs up till we reach the hamlet of Tengi (3642m). From here it takes about an hour to reach Gunsang (3850m). From here it’s another one hour forty-five minutes uphill to Lattar 250m) for lunch. After lunch it is about 2/3 hours to reach Thorong Phedi means ‘foot of the hill”

Overnight at Tea house lodge.

Early morning wake-up and start ascending to Thorung la pass. We have to cross about twenty hills on the way to reach Thorong la the summit at 5,415 meters and take approximately 4 hours to make the main pass from Thorung Phedi. But if the previous night we had spent the night at High Camp, it would take about 2~3 hours. On the upward way, one gets to see a lot of prayer flags, many cairns or small heaps of rock. From the top we get to see the Yakgawa Kang or Thorungse (6481m) to the north and Khatung Kang (6484) to the south and the Annapurnas along with the Gangapurna to the southeast. In the horizon to the west, Dhaulagiri (8169m) and Mount Tukuche (6920m) are also visible. From the summit the descent to Muktinath (3802m) takes about three hours and the difference in altitude is 1600m. There will be another check post from where we will be able to present our trekking permits.

Dinner and overnight at lodge in Muktinath

Passing the hamlet of Ranipauwa, near Muktinath, the village of Jharkot (3612m) is populated mostly by Tibetans. Leaving rocky terrain and horse caravans, it takes about two hours to reach Kagbni (2807m). It will take us about two –three hours from Kagbeni which is also the administrative headquarters of the region to reach Jomsom(2713m). Here there is an airport with regular flights to Pokhara, a bank, post office, hospital and a few hotels.

Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Jomsom.

After an early breakfast transfer to the Jomsom Airport to board a 20 minutes flight to Pokhara and transfer to the Fishtail Lodge at the Pokhara lakeside for refreshment and rest. Spend a free afternoon relaxing around the lakeside bazaar in Pokhara and enjoy a hearty meal.

Overnight at a hotel in Pokhara.

After breakfast it starts at 6/7 hrs. drive to Kathmandu or transfer to the Airport to board the flight to Kathmandu.

Overnight at the hotel.

Free until final departure transfer to Kathmandu International Airport.