The Rupina La (4,720 m) crosses the ridge between the Daraudi and Budhi Gandaki valleys on an old herders' route that sees a handful of organised groups a season and no independent trekkers at all — because there is nowhere to stay between Laprak and Nyak.
From the Gurung village of Barpak — the epicentre of the 2015 earthquake, since rebuilt — the trail climbs through Laprak and up a long forested valley of summer pasture to a camp below the pass, with Manaslu, Himalchuli and Ganesh Himal filling the skyline as the trees give out. The pass itself is a rock and snow saddle with no lodge, no shop and, on most crossings, no other party.
Beyond it the route drops steeply north into the Budhi Gandaki at Nyak and joins the Manaslu trail for the walk out through the gorge. It is a short, hard, entirely self-supported trek for people who would rather camp on an empty pass than share a teahouse.
The Trek at a Glance
| Duration | 12 days Kathmandu to Kathmandu, 8 of them walking |
| Highest point | Rupina La, 4,720 m |
| Difficulty | Challenging — one very long pass day, four camping nights |
| Best seasons | April to May, October to November |
| Accommodation | Tents for four nights, teahouses on the Budhi Gandaki |
| Access | Jeep from Kathmandu via Gorkha to Barpak — no flight |
| Permits | Manaslu Restricted Area and Conservation Area permits |
| Price | From USD 1,650 per person |
We run it as a 12-day camping trek. It pairs naturally with the Manaslu Circuit — turn north at Nyak instead of walking out, and add about a week.
The Route
Barpak to the Rupina La South Camp (1,960 m to 3,500 m)
A jeep from Kathmandu via Gorkha to Barpak, about eight hours with the last two on rough hill road. Then a ridge day to Laprak, and two days climbing a long forested valley of summer pasture — Forest Camp at 3,000 m, then the South Camp at 3,500 m below the pass. The trees give out on the second of those days and the northern skyline opens up.
The pass day (4,720 m)
The crux, and a genuinely long day: three to four hours of climbing to the saddle, then a descent of over 1,500 m on scree, grass and forest trail to the north camp. Expect nine to ten hours. Your guide starts before dawn to be on the pass while the snow is still firm.
The pass does not always go. Your guide assesses conditions from the camp below and will wait a day rather than cross in fresh snow or poor visibility. If the Rupina La stays shut, the group retraces to Barpak — two to three days — and the trek ends there.
Nyak to Machha Khola (2,300 m to 870 m)
Down into the Budhi Gandaki at Nyak, where the route enters the Manaslu restricted area and picks up teahouses again, then three days out through Philim, Jagat and the gorge to Machha Khola and the jeep back to Kathmandu.
Difficulty and Conditions
Graded challenging. The altitude is not extreme by Nepali standards, but the pass day is long, the camps are unsupported, and there is no bail-out between Laprak and Nyak.
- Nine to ten hours on the pass day, with a 1,500 m descent at the end of it.
- Four camping nights with tents, a cook crew and a toilet tent at every camp.
- Four days with no mobile signal between Laprak and Nyak.
- No washing facilities for the camping days — a bowl of warm water in the morning, and wet wipes do the rest.
- A daypack of seven to ten kilos; porters carry your duffel, capped at 15 kg, plus tents, food and kitchen.
The crew carries all waste out from the high camps. Read our difficulty grades guide for how this compares with other pass routes.
What It Costs
The price reflects a full camp and kitchen crew for the unsupported half, plus the Manaslu restricted-area permit for the northern section.
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 1 trekker | USD 1,775 |
| 2 to 4 | USD 1,750 |
| 5 to 7 | USD 1,725 |
| 8 to 10 | USD 1,700 |
| 11 to 14 | USD 1,675 |
| 15 and over | USD 1,650 |
Restricted-area rules require a minimum of two trekkers on the permit. There are no ATMs on the route.
What Is Included
- Airport pickup and drop-off in Kathmandu.
- Private jeep transport Kathmandu to Barpak via Gorkha, and Machha Khola back to Kathmandu.
- Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu with breakfast.
- Teahouse accommodation on the Budhi Gandaki, and two-person tents, mess tent, toilet tent and all group camping equipment for the four camping nights.
- A cook and kitchen crew for the camping section.
- Three meals a day during the trek.
- Manaslu Restricted Area Permit and Manaslu Conservation Area Permit, plus trekking registration.
- A licensed English-speaking guide, group map, first aid kit, and all government taxes and service charges.
What Is Not Included
- International flights and the Nepal entry visa fee.
- Travel insurance including emergency helicopter evacuation.
- Personal trekking equipment and clothing, including a bag rated to -15 °C and an insulated mat.
- Porter services for your personal duffel, available at additional cost.
- Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu.
- Snacks, bottled water, hot showers, Wi-Fi, charging and drinks.
- Laundry, phone calls, souvenirs and personal expenses.
- Tips for guides, crew and drivers — the camping crew is larger than on a teahouse trek.
- Extra costs if the pass is closed and the group retraces to Barpak, or anything else outside the itinerary.
