28 March to 21 April 2026, with a shorter option possible!
A wonderful and adventurous journey making a partial kora around Manaslu (8163m), the world’s eighth highest mountain, the “mountain of spirit“.
We explore the culturally Tibetan Tsum Valley, visit remote gompas, reach several 5000m passes on the Tibetan border before crossing the wildly spectacular Larkya La (5160m) to the north of Manaslu itself. This will be Lizzy’s 14th Manaslu Kora, her 14th crossing of the Larkya La, join her to find out why this high, wild place pulls her back again and again!
Our journey will be in the form of a fastpack, moving fast and light through this incredible landscape.
Happy days. I left some blood, sweat, tears, laughs and smiles out on those trails in the sky around Manaslu. Its Nepali name, meaning ‘Mountain of the Spirit’, comes from the Sanskrit word Manasa, meaning ‘soul’. It is without doubt a soulful place. Nepal never fails to shake me up and rub some corners off. But this time it was as though the winds had scoured me from the inside and completely emptied me out. I was refilled with the beautiful energy of the sun, of the deep-blue skies, of the thin air, and the awesomeness of the mountains. But thrown back into the very core of myself something had irrevocably changed. We shared some great company on those miles of high mountain trails. It was indeed food for the soul.
Shooting stars scudding across the canopy of the night sky; icy torrents; bubbling hot springs; deeply forested gorge valleys; mountain ridges etched against a sky of deepest blue; trails strewn with chortens and stupas; the sweat and honesty of a long, steep ascent; the controlled joyful abandon of a fast descent; gompas, those ancient bastions of Tibetan Buddhism; living, vibrant, welcoming monasteries; changing, clashing cultures; laughing children, smiling faces; precious moments shared in the thin air.
I felt my vulnerability and weakness in the face of such immensity of landscape, I again realised my insignificance. There was a rawness of emotion, and yet I felt a beautiful power and strength in body, mind and spirit.
Lizzy Hawker, excerpt from Runner, A Short Story about a Long Run (2015)
As a supported “fastpack” (see updated definition below!) we’ll carry our own personal gear. Accommodation is a mix between well appointed comfortable lodges and simpler monastery/homestays, and food will be varied and plentiful! We’ll guide you through every step of the way, we’ll organise all transport, food and accommodation, leaving you to focus on your own challenge and your own experience within this shared journey.
This journey offers you a very tangible physical and mental challenge, simply getting from A to B through some of the world’s highest mountains, but in this refuge from your everyday there will also space to reflect. You’ll see things from a different perspective, it will change you!
Just click on the links below to jump to that section!
Equipment list and joining info
What’s a “skydance“?
Well, this isn’t a race and this isn’t a traditional trek, it lies somewhere between. Outside of a traditional race format, and as a small group, we have total flexibility over our itinerary, and how far or fast we travel each day, and within the constraints of eventually getting from A to B, we have the freedom to explore. It’s likely we’ll compress several “traditional trekking camps” into one day, but at other times we might decide to stay longer in a village to explore for a day off the main route. We won’t be running but we will be moving fast, with some long days once we are acclimatised. Some might call this fastpacking, but this isn’t quite that either. Jamie McGuiness coined the term “Skypacking”, but it’s something a little different to that too.
And so, it seems, the best way to describe this is as a Skydance. This is how Lizzy termed her original attempt at the Great Himalaya Trail back in 2011. Her intention then was to keep as much as possible to the trails through the highest mountains (a pure route), moving fast and light, with minimal support.
We’ll have support, but the spirit of our journey is the same, to move fast and light around Manaslu! Join us for this journey along part of Lizzy’s GHT route!
This. Whatever else it becomes, it will be a “beautiful, rough, hard and unforgettable journey”. Not sure yet where this will take me. It is not simply about the physical challenge. This is my ‘kora’, a point to point journey across a country, but circling back to where I start, which is here and now. A journey inward to the core, and a journey outward to the edge of what I know.
Lizzy Hawker, in a facebook post before the start of her 2016 journey along the Great Himalaya Trail crossing Nepal from East to West
You love the mountains and wild places. You’re looking for a beautiful experience and magical journey shared with a small group of like-minded souls. You’re comfortable with doing without luxuries for a while, and you’re excited to have an opportunity to experience the ‘real Nepal’ off the beaten track, and to immerse yourself briefly in the traditional culture of some remote and thriving communities. You’re a runner or a hiker or a mountaineer, and to put it simply you love moving on foot through high mountains.
Bring an adventurous spirit, a sense of humour and a willingness to be challenged. This will be a journey of the mind, heart and spirit as well as a journey for your physical body. You’ll experience life from a different perspective. Be prepared to be changed!
“To be stood at the hips of giants. To fastpack for hours each day and not see a soul on the trail. To be welcomed into Tibetan family homes as if a friend and to experience for a brief moment Tibetan family and village life, before it changes forever. To take the time to sit and just ‘be’, just observing the soaring peaks. This was a true privilege.” Nick Keen, 2022
Trip leaders
Our journey will be led by Lizzy Hawker. On foot whenever possible, as an elite athlete Lizzy held the world record for 24 hours on the road and won the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc an unprecedented (and unmatched) 5 times. A National Geographic Adventurer of the Year and now race director of the Ultra Tour Monte Rosa her passion for exploring is taking her far beyond competition to high, wild places often alone, and often in Nepal. Lizzy completed the Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) from east to west across Nepal in 2016 and 2017, this route follows part of her GHT journey. Her feet and heart know the lie of the land now, this will be her 14th Manaslu Kora, her 14th crossing of the Larkya La, join her to find out why this high, wild place pulls her back again and again! She’ll be happy to guide you through these high mountains, to share her experiences, and to create new memories and new dreams with you on this journey.
Our guide will be Laxman Khatri who has spent some years managing the vipassana meditation centre “Dhamma Pokhara” at Begnas Tal and will be happy to support you in the spiritual part of your journey as well the physical!
The organisers
The journey will be organised through our local partner Hidden Trails Adventures and through Kora Explore GmbH (organiser of the Ultra Tour Monte Rosa and the Kora Explore training camps / running tours). Hidden Trails Adventure is a Nepal based travel company and notably a pioneer of tourism in the Manaslu region. The Hidden Trails team has successfully organised the Manaslu Trail Race since November 2012 and the Mustang Trail Race since April 2013. The team has a wealth of experience in creating beautiful experiences in the high mountains of Nepal and enabling guests to realise their dream journey.
Write to us at info@koraexplore.com
The basic trip is from Saturday 28th March (arriving Kathmandu) until Tuesday 21st April (leaving Kathmandu). We’re happy to discuss the different options with you! And if you have extra time in Nepal we will be more than happy to suggest or organise another tour/excursion for you!
Cost: 3420 EUR
Group size: minimum of 2, maximum of 6-8. This small group size means that we can offer you a beautiful and personal experience.
Cost includes: everything from leaving Kathmandu to arriving back in Kathmandu: welcome dinner in Kathmandu, all necessary permits, all domestic transport (flights and jeep), accommodation and food (lodges, monasteries/homestays) for 21 nights on the trail, insurance and salary for our guide(s) and any other support we need.
Cost excludes: International Flights, Medical and Travel Insurance, Nepal Visa, Helicopter evacuation (should be covered by individual medical insurance), while on trek; additional meals, alcohol and bottled drinks, while in Kathmandu; all meals, drinks additional to those provided, Monastery donations, Equipment rental, Tips.
Extras: We will of course arrange for your accommodation in Kathmandu but we leave this as a supplementary cost depending on the number of nights you would like and if you prefer single or shared accommodation etc. Where possible we will book you into the beautiful family run Karwaan Bed and Breakfast who will look after you very well. Just let us know what you need!
Support: Through Kora Explore we already support some families in Nepal with educational costs. For this journey we’d love to make a contribution to the new school project at Serang (Nubri) Gomba. If, after your journey, you find you feel moved to help in some way then let us know and we can try to work out what could have the most lasting impact for a child/family/community. On a material level, good shoes and warm clothing (eg duvet jackets) are always in short supply, and if you have anything to bring or leave behind we’ll make sure it gets to someone who can use it!
Once you register we’ll send you a full list of gear/equipment that you will need to bring. We will also send you the “joining info” which will explain exactly how everything works once you reach Kathmandu airport, including orientating yourself to the craziness of Kathmandu, what happens while we are out in the mountains, and any useful tips that we can think of to tell you in advance!
You must have a travel or medical insurance that covers you fully against the costs of helicopter evacuation, hospitalisation, repatriation as required in case of injury or sickness. We will need a copy of your insurance details before you arrive in Kathmandu. Please make sure your policy covers you for trekking up to altitudes of 5200m. Thank you!
Please do also take out a trip cancellation policy in case of injury or illness before our departure. We are keeping costs for you to the minimum which means we have a big loss if one participant is unable to come at short notice. We will ask you for a 800 EUR deposit to hold your place.
Saturday 28 March
Arrival in Kathmandu. We will meet you from the airport and provide transport to your hotel in Kathmandu. See the “joining” info on how to orientate yourself to the craziness of Kathmandu. Lodging: Hotel
Sunday 29 March
We’ll meet after breakfast for a briefing on the adventure ahead and to check kit, answer questions etc. It’s important to keep weight to a minimum (to enjoy the journey to the fullest), so Lizzy will demonstrate the contents of her rucksack and give any advice you need. Anything that you don’t need to take around Manaslu can be left in Kathmandu for your return. Following this you are free to enjoy the day! We’ll give you some suggestions of how you might like to spend the day, whether that’s gear shopping in Thamel, enjoying a spa or massage, or exploring some of the heritage sites of Pashupatinath, Durbar Square, Swayambunath and Boudhanath. We’ll meet in the evening to enjoy a good meal together. Lodging: Hotel
Monday 30 March
We’ll take an early morning jeep from Kathmandu to Dobhan / Jagat (1340m) on the banks of the Budhi Gandaki River. Lodging: Teahouse
Tuesday 31 March
Dobhan/Jagat to Ekle Bhatti (1600m). Lodging: Teahouse
Wednesday 1 April
Ekle Bhatti to Chumling/Domje (2460m). Today we enter the incredible beyul of Tsum valley. Lodging: Teahouse
Thursday 2 April
Chumling/Domje to Nile (3361m). Lodging: Teahouse
Friday 3 April
Nile to Mu Gompa (3706m). A short hike to the monastery allows us time to explore further north. Lodging: Monastery
Saturday 4 April
Mu Gompa to Chhokang Paro (3032m). Lodging: Teahouse
Sunday 5 April
Chhokang Paro to Gumba Lundang (3200m). Lodging: Monastery
Monday 6 April
Gumba Lundang to Chumchet (3200m). Lodging: homestay
Tuesday 7 April
Chumchet to Dorjan Kharka (2740m). Lodging: homestay
Wednesday 8 April
Dorjan Kharka to Serang Gompa (3100m). Lodging: Monastery
Thursday 9 April
Serang Gompa to Namrung (2630m). Lodging: Lodge
Friday 10 April
Namrung to Hinang Gompa (3100m). Lodging: Monastery
Saturday 11 April
Hinang Gompa to Samagaon (3520m). Our journey today takes us via Pungyen Gompa, imagine a wide open meadow as large as an airfield at 4000m sitting below the mighty summit of Manaslu more than 4000m higher, it’s an incredible place to experience. Lodging: Lodge
Sunday 12 April
Samagoan (3520m). A test for our lungs today as we make the beautiful day hike to Manaslu Base Camp at 4400m. Lodging: Lodge
Monday 13 April
Samagoan to Samdo (3875m). Lodging: Lodge
Tuesday 14 April
Samdo (3875m). Exploratory walk to the Rui La (4998m) on the Tibetan border. Lodging: Lodge
Wednesday 15 April
Samdo (3875m). Exploratory walk to the Ljyung La (5120m) on the Tibetan border. Lodging: Lodge
Thursday 16 April
Samdo to Bhimtang (3590m). A long day crossing the 5160m Larkye La, for the brave this is the third ~5000m pass in 3 days, a huge effort! Lodging: Lodge
Friday 17 April
Bhimtang to Tilije. Lodging: Lodge
Saturday 18 April
A spare day that we will keep in hand in case of bad weather, rest day or if everything goes well we’ll spend it in the mountains!
Sunday 19 April
Jeep journey part way back to Kathmandu, resting the night in the beautiful Gorkha Gaun with views of Manaslu and allowing you time to rest and reflect before the hustle of the city.
Monday 20 April
We’ll reach back to Kathmandu by jeep by early afternoon, leaving you some time to explore, buy souvenirs, eat well!
Tuesday 21 April
International departures!
We usually advise to keep an extra “free” day in Kathmandu at the end of your trip in case of delays but in this case we are splitting our return to Kathmandu into 2 days, so you are sure to make a flight on 21st April. Of course if you would like to stay a few days extra we are happy to give you some recommendations within and near Kathmandu for a beautiful end to your trip.
