While trekking in the Enchanting Manaslu Circuit with Larkya (Larke) Pass, make the journey more adventurous and exciting by climbing Larkya Peak! The starting point of Manaslu Circuit Trekking is Khorlabeshi; reached by a long jeep ride from Kathmandu. Once the trek is started, it leads into remote mountain villages and canyons far from any hustle and bustle of the modern town. Since a special permit is required to trek here, there is a relatively less crowd of tourists. The famous Manaslu Mountain at 8163 meters is one of the 14 peaks above 8000 meters. It’s also one of the most popular peaks to attract climbers in the 8000-meter category.
Larkya Peak stands right north of this giant mountain and south of the well-known Larkya Pass. Check out the exact location by visiting the Himalayan Peak Profile by the Nepal government here. Larkya Peak is a suitable mountain for climbers who want to experience mountain climbing at a 6000-meter level, which is like an entry-level mountain in the context of Himalayan Peak climbing.
You can reach Larkya Peak base camp by trekking the Manaslu circuit right near the Larkya Pass. Only at base camp and advance camp, you will need to spend the night in the tent otherwise local tea houses set along the trekking trail offer comfortable accommodation. There are two Larkya peaks viz: Larkya Peak Main (Thulo Larkya 6416 meters) and Larkya Peak Small (Sano Larkya 6100 meters). The challenges, cost, and trip duration will differ based on which one you choose.
Is Larkya Peak Suitable for You?
If you love mountain climbing and want to experience the thrill of climbing small or medium around 6000 meter peaks in the Himalayan region, then Larkya Peak can be suitable. At Larkya, there is no crowd like in Island Peak in the Everest region. You will reach the summit in collaboration with your climbing guide. Trekking to Larkya Pass, the base camp of Larkya Peak is already an exciting journey. You can enjoy the beauty of trekking the area and climbing the peak in a more peaceful and serene setting. The beautiful and expansive view of the nearby mountains from the summit of Larkya Peak is of course an unforgettable experience.
Preparation for climbing Larkya Peak
To climb Larkya Peak, it is necessary to have general knowledge about climbing and to be in good health. Before climbing, you can prepare yourself through regular physical exercises like cycling, running, and jogging. It is not necessary to undertake expensive or formal training for climbing knowledge though. Previous experience walking on snow and glaciers or doing some sort of climbing activity will be a great asset. Our climbing guides also provide general training on the climbing techniques used on Larkya Peak at base camp.
Procedures and materials required for climbing Larkya Peak
The required documents for climbing Larkya Peak are the Climbing Permit and Manaslu Trekking Permit which are obtained by our agency on your behalf. The agency also manages the travel to the base camp and arranges tents, food, and group equipment for staying at the base camp or advance camp. You will need your climbing equipment. Personal climbing equipment includes a helmet, harness, a few carabiners, an ice axe, climbing boots etc. If you have all or some of these equipment, it is a good idea to bring them along.
Materials that are not available to you are easily available for rent in Kathmandu. Besides climbing equipment, you will certainly need warm clothing to protect yourself from cold and icy environments. We will provide the packing list of clothing equipment on request.
Which Larkya peak is right for me?
Larkya Peak Main can be a great fit for experienced climbers. For this, it is necessary to set the middle camp above the base camp. From there you can plan your journey to the summit. For Larkya Peak Sano, the journey to the summit can be from the base camp itself. Since there is no need to set up a camp in the middle, 2 days less time is enough for the Larkya Peak Sano than for the main one. Therefore, while a Larkya Peak main is suitable for experienced climbers with enough, courage, time and budget, and Larkya Sano is suitable for climbers with limited experience or no experience and also limited time and budget.
How long does it take to climb Larkya Peak?
Manaslu Circuit Trekking requires about two weeks of time from Kathamndu back to Kathmandu. Adding 3 days to climb the Larke Peak sano will be plenty. Similarly, if we add 5 days, it will be enough time for the Larkya Peak main. This means the Larkya Peak sano climbing can be completed in 18 days whereas Larkya Peak manin can be done within 20 days from Kathmandu.
What kind of schedule and activity to expect from base camp and above?
After enjoying the Manaslu circuit trek and acclimatizing to avoid the problem of high altitude issues (AMS) and after reaching the base camp, set up near the Larkya Pass, your journey shifts from trekking mode to climbing mode. After settling in your own tent, the guide tells about the schedule of climbing. If necessary, one more rest day is recommended. In the case of Sano Larkya, on the day of climbing, one has to climb from the base camp to the summit starting at 2 am.
In the case of a Larkya Peak main, one has to go from the base camp to the middle camp and spend one night there. From middle camp climbing towards the summit starts early on the next day. In any case, the climbing team aims to reach the summit by around 9 a.m. You can return to the base camp on the same day. From base camp, again your journey changes to trekking mode and proceed towards Bimthang after passing Larkya pass. From there you can return to Kathmandu in the next three days.
When is Good to Climb Larkya Peak and Manaslu Trekking?
Spring (March to May) and Autumn (September to November) are good times for climbing and trekking. In these months, there is not much snowing, and the chance of a clear sky is very high. Also, these months are considered less fragile for avalanches in the mountains. However, if you like technical climbing and want to experience climbing in different seasons, then you can come to climb the peak even at other times of the year.
How much does it cost to climb Larkya Peak?
Various prices are found on online sources. It is very important for anyone who engages in risky and specific activities like mountain climbing to ensure that their activities have a positive impact on the local community and environment. So it may not be wise to go after the cheapest price. Also, spending unnecessarily high prices does not mean that you will get good service. Depending on the group size, USD 2200 to 2,600 for a Sano Larkya climb and USD 2600 to 3500 for a Larkya peak Main can be reasonable and recommendable.
Larkya Peak and Manaslu Circuit Trekking Orientation Map
