Nepal is a country that has held an allure over me for many years now. A mecca for those who yearn to travel off the beaten path and a place to test ones-self mentally, physically and spiritually.
Before setting foot in Nepal there are some important questions to ask yourself, such as, what is the least amount of underwear you can make last 20 days? Or, should you invest in over-the-counter anti diarrheal meds or put your faith in the shelf stuff? And, is it a good idea to maintain a vegetarian diet or risk it for the love of protein? Amongst these pressing issues there is one question that requires attention above all else and that is, what is the perfect Nepalese trek? I can't vouch for much but I can say that the Manaslu Circuit was everything I hoped Nepal to be. Challenging, rugged and remote, this trek is far less developed than other routes and culturally enticing. It has a starting elevation of 600m and climbs it's way up to the Larkya La pass at 5163m while circling the 8th highest mountain in the world, the Manaslu Himal. The Tsum Valley branches out into ancient Tibetan territory, giving the circuit a unique blend of rural Nepali and Tibetan life styles. A real adventure that shouldn't be attempted by those who are unwilling to indulge in an icy bucket shower or spend a night in sub zero temperatures with a tent that has no zipper.
Anyway, I'll let my photographs do the rest of the speaking. These shots cover the first half of our 17 day trek which took us from Soti Khola (600m) to Mu Gumba (3700m) a Buddhist monastery at the end of the Tsum Valley.
