Higher seasonal exposure: altitude (All year), cold (Nov-Feb), seasonal closure (Dec-Feb).
Bimthang is a group of lodges on a wide glacial meadow at roughly 3,600-3,700 m on the western side of the Larkya La. After the long descent from the pass it is where almost everyone sleeps, and the views back to Manaslu, Himlung Himal and Cheo Himal are a reward for the hard day.
The meadow lies beside the moraine of the Bimthang (Salpudanda) glacier. From here the trail descends through pine and rhododendron forest along the Dudh Khola to Tilije and Dharapani on the Annapurna Circuit.
Bimthang lies in Manang district, inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, and was a seasonal grazing ground and trading stop on the route between Nubri and the Marsyangdi valley. The lodges are run by families from villages lower down who move up for the trekking seasons.
Walk up the moraine
A short walk above the lodges gives views of the glacier and the peaks around the pass.
Descend to Dharapani
About 6-8 hours through forest via Tilije to the Annapurna Circuit road.
Forecast for 3,590 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Mar-May, Oct-Nov
Several lodges; some close outside the main seasons.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
On foot from Dharmasala over the Larkya La (8-10 hours), or up from Dharapani in about 2 days.
Nearest hub: Dharapani
Nearest hub: Dharapani (Manang). Times are typical ranges, not schedules, and vary with roadworks, weather and the season.
On footfrom Dharmasala (Larke Phedi)about 8-10 h8-10 h from Dharmasala over the Larkya La, or 1.5-2 days up from Dharapani via Tilije
Arrived at on foot over the Larkya La, about 24 km with roughly 650 m of ascent and more than 1,400 m of descent. It can also be reached from below, walking up from Dharapani via Tilije in about 1.5-2 days.
When to set off: leave Dharmasala before dawn; most parties reach Bimthang in the afternoon
Restricted-area permit
This stop is on the Manaslu restricted-area route. Permits are issued only through a registered trekking agency, for trekkers with a licensed guide; a minimum group of two has long been required, so confirm the current rule.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Department of Immigration: Trekking route and permit fee.
On the Manaslu Circuit.
What this place is typically exposed to, and when. These are seasonal patterns, not a report on conditions now.
Altitudehigh in a typical yearAll year
At roughly 3,590-3,720 m, thin air affects most people. General information, not medical advice: gain height slowly, build in acclimatisation days, learn the symptoms of altitude sickness (headache, nausea, breathlessness, broken sleep) and go down if they get worse. See a doctor before travelling and carry insurance that covers helicopter evacuation.
Coldhigh in a typical yearNov-Feb
Nights drop well below freezing and lodges here are seasonal.
Seasonal closurehigh in a typical yearDec-Feb
Heavy snow often blocks the Larkya La in deep winter and many upper lodges shut for the season, so the crossing is rarely attempted between December and February.
Snowmoderate in a typical yearDec-Mar
Snow lies in the Bimthang basin through midwinter and into early spring, and the Larkya La above holds it far longer.
Landslidesmoderate in a typical yearJun-Sep
The Dudh Khola descent towards Tilije and Dharapani runs through steep forested slopes that are prone to slips in the June to September monsoon.
Check current conditions before you travel
Roads, trails, passes and flights change with the weather and with roadworks, and nothing on this page describes conditions today. Before you set off, check the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology for weather and flood warnings, the Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal for incidents, and the local authority, police or your licensed operator for road, trail and flight status.
A restricted-area teahouse trek around Manaslu (8,163 m), up the Budhi Gandaki gorge through Gurung and Nubri villages, over the Larkya La (about 5,106 m) and down to Dharapani on the Annapurna Circuit.
The whole day from Dharmasala over the pass to Bimthang takes about 8-10 hours.
About 3,590-3,720 m, depending on the source.
It is in Manang district inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, so the ACAP entry permit is needed as well as the Manaslu permits.
Valley or region
A restricted Buddhist side valley of the Manaslu region, with monasteries, Milarepa's cave and villages near the Tibetan border.
Trek stop · 1,860 m
A small village at the head of the lower gorge on the Manaslu Circuit.
Trek stop · 4,460 m
The seasonal stop at the foot of the Larkya La, used the night before the crossing.
Trek stop · 1,340 m
A stone-paved village in the Budhi Gandaki gorge where the Manaslu restricted area begins.
Mountain pass · 5,106 m
The high pass of the Manaslu Circuit, a long glacial crossing from the Budhi Gandaki to the Marsyangdi side.
Trek stop · 900 m
A riverside village of lodges at the mouth of a side stream, the first night's stop for most Manaslu Circuit trekkers.
Trek stop · 2,630 m
The first village of Nubri on the Manaslu Circuit, among barley fields and forest.
Trek stop · 1,570 m
A large Gurung village on the lower Manaslu Circuit, near the turn-off for the Tsum Valley.
Trek stop · 1,900 m
A Marsyangdi valley village where the Manaslu Circuit joins the Annapurna Circuit road.
Valley or region
A restricted trekking region around the world's eighth-highest mountain, from the Budhi Gandaki gorge to Tibetan-Buddhist villages and the Larkya La.
Town or village · 3,519 m
A high stone village in the upper Marsyangdi valley below Annapurna III and Gangapurna, where Circuit trekkers stop to acclimatise.