Manaslu Serang Gompa Trek Overview

The Manaslu Serang Gompa Trek is one of the best routes that gives Manaslu + Serang Gompa trek experience in one Trek. You’ll get Larkya La adventure as well as the Buddhist culture of the Nubri people, and monasteries older than five centuries. This is what makes the Manaslu Serang Gompa Trek a unique and different trek in the from Manaslu circuit trek.

The Serang Gompa Trek follows the classical Manaslu Circuit route but takes a longer route through a valley to reach Serang Gompa, also called Serang Gumba. In the trail, you’ll see diverse terrain: subtropical forest near Machha Khola, traditional stone villages along the Budhi Gandaki River, pine and rhododendron forests on the hike to the monastery, alpine meadows near Samagaun, and finally the crossing of Larkya La Pass. You will walk for 13 days in the Manaslu region, and every day looks different.

As you know, this is a restricted area, and there is likely no large group to crowd the teahouses. The paths will be peaceful. The trekkers who have done Everest Base Camp or Annapurna Circuit say the Manaslu Serang Gompa Trek feels like what the routes that used to be EBC or ABC, before they became popular.

Serang Monastery in Kyimolung Valley

Serang Gompa is at an altitude of 3,050 to 3,900 metres on the southern slopes of Shringi Himal. To reach Serang Gompa from Bihi village, you must hike for four to six hours through dense forest. But when you see the valley and the monastery on the hillside, golden roof ornaments catching the light, you will feel the 2-day extra hike was worth it.

Serang Gompa is the main monastery of the Kyimolung Beyul, which Guru Padmasambhava prophesied as a valley in the eighth century. The valley is also called the 'Valley of Happiness' and 'Valley of Peace.' Of the twelve monasteries in the Kyimolung area, Serang is the main monastery of all of them.

Serang with Children - Manaslu Serang Gompa Trek

Monks travel far away to study at the Serang Shedra, a respected Dharma scripture college. Because of this, Nepali communities from across the region also invite Nubri monks to lead rituals and ceremonies.

You can stay inside the monastery. In the evening, monks gather for evening prayer. You can sit there inside the gompa, surrounded by silence and the sound of chanting.

The Serang Gompa is a Nyingma monastery with deep roots in Tibetan Buddhist tradition. It also holds festivals like Losar.

Kathmandu - Machha Khola - Serang Gompa to Larkya La Pass Route

The trek starts with a long bus drive from Kathmandu to Machha Khola which is seven to nine hours to reach Machha Khola. For the next few days, you will walk along the Budhi Gandaki River, passing through Jagat, Deng, Namrung, and Bihi Phedi. You can find Tibetan cultural in this route.

At Bihi village, you leave the main Manaslu Circuit trail and head into the side valley for Serang Gompa. This route adds two extra days to your itinerary, but it is the part most trekkers remember most. After your monastery visit, you rejoin the main circuit at Ghap and continue through Lho, Shyala, and Samagaun. From Lho, you’ll witness the views of Mount Manaslu. At Samagaun, we recommend you take the side trips to Pungyen Gompa, Birendra Tal, and even Manaslu Base Camp if you can add extra days to our trail.

From Samdo, you push toward the Larkya La Pass. At the top, you’ll witness a panoramic view of Manaslu, Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, and Annapurna II. After that, you’ll descend into Bimthang valley, and then continue down to Tilje, where a vehicle returns you to Kathmandu.

Which is More Difficult, Manaslu Circuit or Manaslu Serang Gompa Trek?

Both routes cross Larkya La Pass. Both cover similar distances. But adding Serang Gompa changes the difficulty profile in two different ways at the same time. In one way, it makes things easier. In another way, it makes things harder.

Acclimatization: The Serang Gompa Trek Actually Helps

In the Manaslu Serang Gompa itinerary, you can actually improve your acclimatization for Larkya La Pass.

The route to Serang Gompa from Bihi sits at 3,050 to 3,900 metres. You will spend two extra days in this elevation. This means by the time you reach Samagaun (3,525 m), Samdo (3,875 m), and Dharmasala (4,460 m), your body has had more time at mid-altitude. This makes your body acclimate properly before heading towards a higher altitude.

Compare this to the Manaslu Circuit Trek, where you sometimes feel the altitude effects more sharply because the elevation gain is high on short period of time. The Serang Gompa tour naturally acts as acclimatization. So if you are worried about how your body handles altitude, the Serang Gompa version may actually give you a smoother run at the pass.

Physical Demand: Yes, due to Extra Days Trek

But on the other side. Physically, adding Serang Gompa makes the trek more demanding, not less.

The climb from Bihi village to the monastery is steep and gains significant elevation over four to six hours. You are doing this after already trekking for several days. Your legs are not fresh. And after the monastery, you descend back to the main trail and carry on with the full Manaslu Circuit. So you are not replacing any sections. You are adding on top of an already long route.

The total trekking days go from 13 to 15. That means more days of walking six to eight hours, more teahouse nights, more physical wear on your joints and feet.

Manaslu Serang Gompa Trek vs Manaslu Circuit Trek

Not sure which route is right for you? Here is a side by side comparison of the two treks:-

Extend Your Trek to Rui La Pass (Tibet Border)

During the trek to Serang Gompa Trek, there is one more extended route where you can explore. From Samdo village, you can add a full-day hike to Rui La Pass at 4,998 metres. This is the Nepal-Tibet border, and it is one of the most remote places you can reach in the Manaslu region.

Rui La Pass is done as a day hike from Samdo on Day 11 of the Manaslu Serang Gompa itinerary. It works perfectly as an acclimatization day because you go up high and come back down to the same teahouse in Samdo. You sleep at 3,875 metres, but your body gets a few hours of exposure at nearly 5,000 metres, which is a good preparation for the Larkya La Pass hike.

What are the highlights of Rui La Pass Tibet Border?

• The Tibet Border Marker: At the top of the pass sits Border Pillar 35, the stone marker separating Nepal from Tibet. You stand at the edge of two countries, with the Tibetan plateau to the north and Manaslu's glaciers behind you.
• Ancient Salt Trade Route: The trail from Samdo to Rui La follows the old trade route that Tibetan merchants and yak caravans used for centuries to cross into Nepal.
• Larkya and Fukang Glaciers: On the hike up, the Larkya and Fukang glaciers come into clear view on your right. The scale of the ice is impressive, and the blue colour against the rocky moraine is one of the best photography moments on the whole trek.
• Shaligram Fossils: The slopes around Rui La are known for containing Shaligram, fossilised ammonite shells that Hindus consider a type of Lord Vishnu.
• Tibetan Village Views: On a clear day from the pass, you can see a motorable road on the Tibetan side and distant Tibetan villages. Sometimes you encounter Tibetan traders crossing with yaks.

How Long Does It Take for Border?

From Samdo, the hike to Rui La Pass takes four to five hours one way, making it a seven to eight-hour round trip. The trail heads north from Samdo, crosses the Athahra Saya Khola, then hikes steadily through meadows and rocky scree to the pass. There are no teahouses or settlements between Samdo and the pass, so our guide will manage a packed lunch and enough water.

Note: Chinese border forces are sometimes present near the pass and can restrict access on certain days. Your guide will check the trail conditions locally before you go to trek. If the pass is closed, an alternative viewpoint called Lajyung Bhanjyang at 5,098 metres is available to the east of Samdo.