Day 01 Manaslu Trek Itinerary

First day of Manaslu Trek Itinerary - Kathmandu to Soti Khola - Almost 9 Hours Drive

Looking far into northern territory of Gorkha - Manaslu Ranges

It was early in the morning we took a taxi (cab) from Hotel Encounter near Thamel, as it was very early in the morning we had some tea and local breads near local bus station to Arughat. It was starting of season time there were lots of people from Chekampar, Sama Gaun and Samdo on bus who are going back to open hotel lodges on Manaslu and Tsum. The first part of bus ride up to Dhading Beshi was good as we were on black topped road whereas onward from Dhading Beshi it is all bumpy off road. Road was damaged after crossing a small bridge on middle of steep uphill, we walk pass those uphill portion where as local people are pushing the bus to pass those damage section. From some part of trail we can see very good and close view of Mt. Manaslu but from different angle that makes us hard to believe Manaslu. Local people from Sama told us that Sama Gau is located north east of Manaslu and we were so excited to reach there. There was one two Korean on our ride who are also going for Manaslu Circuit Trek. Once we reach Arughat we decided to share a jeep to Soti Khola same day. I forget the name there was one small teashop where owner giver us contact details of one local four by four jeep driver and we call him. Fortunately he was on the way to Arughat. We just wait him for forty minutes and he appear on market. It had cost us around USD 45 or 50 for whole jeep from Arughat to Soti Khola and was six people in a group, one from Netherland, two from Korea and three we were Nepali. When we reach Soti Khola as far as I remember we had cross a small suspension bridge and stay overnight on left side of trail on one local small teahouse. Our Korean friends offer us their can food (was some delicious chicken). Room on teahouses is very basic however food was great all we had was local Dal Bhat. People were very hospitable and they talk with us about current situation of Larke Pass, nobody was able to traverse the pass because of snow. After this conversation hotel owner brought a menu and ask us to write down breakfast. After discussion with our Korean friends we decide to take breakfast around 7:00 o’clock in the morning then we go off for the bed. There was no Wi-Fi at that time however there was television for news but still no reception on usual mobile network however there was some V-SAT Phone.