Samdo Peak (6,335 m) — also called Samdo Ri — rises directly above the highest permanent village in the Nubri valley, a Tibetan settlement founded by refugees in the 1960s a day's walk from the border.
It is a straightforward snow climb graded PD, and it gives what is probably the finest summit view on the Manaslu Circuit: Manaslu, Himal Chuli, Ngadi Chuli, Cheo Himal and Himlung, with the brown Tibetan plateau running north.
The trip is the Manaslu Circuit with a 6,000 m summit in the middle of it. You walk a week up the Budhi Gandaki gorge from subtropical rice terraces to Tibetan villages, climb the peak from a camp above Samdo, and then cross the Larkya La (5,106 m) and descend to the Marsyangdi.
The Climb at a Glance
| Summit | 6,335 m |
| Grade | PD — short glacier, 35–40° slope, brief fixed section, broad crest |
| Duration | 21 days Kathmandu to Kathmandu — no flight |
| Base camp / high camp | 4,900 m / 5,500 m |
| Summit success rate | Around 80 to 85 percent |
| Permits | Manaslu restricted area — guide compulsory, minimum two trekkers |
| Also includes | The full Manaslu Circuit and the Larkya La |
| Price | From USD 3,650 per person |
We run it as a 21-day expedition. Larkya Peak is the step up from the same valley, and the two combine into a two-peak trip.
Why the Acclimatisation Is So Good
Ten days of walking before base camp, gaining height steadily from 930 m at Machha Khola to 3,875 m at Samdo, with acclimatisation days at both Samagaon and Samdo. By the time you reach base camp at 4,900 m the adaptation work is essentially done.
That profile is why the success rate is 80 to 85 percent on a peak higher than Island Peak. It is also why this is an underrated first 6,000 m climb — a short glacier, a 35 to 40 degree slope, a brief fixed section and a broad summit crest, reached on a thoroughly acclimatised body.
See our beginner's guide for how it compares with the Khumbu and Annapurna options.
The Route
Machha Khola to Samdo (930 m to 3,875 m)
A week up the Budhi Gandaki gorge through Jagat — where the restricted area begins — Deng, Namrung, Lho and Samagaon (3,530 m), with an acclimatisation day there. Then Samdo (3,875 m), the highest permanent settlement in the Nubri, founded by Tibetan refugees in the 1960s and still trading over the Lajyang La with Tibet a day's walk north.
Base camp and the summit (4,900 m to 6,335 m)
North of Samdo to base camp at 4,900 m, a training and acclimatisation day, then high camp at 5,500 m below the glacier and the summit day.
The Larkya La and out (5,106 m to 1,860 m)
Back to Samdo, up to Dharamsala, and over the Larkya La — a gradual 650 m climb to 5,106 m and then a 1,500 m descent to Bimthang. On a body that has just summited at 6,335 m it is a walk, and it is also the finest day on the Circuit.
What It Costs
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 1 climber | USD 4,450 |
| 2 to 4 | USD 4,120 |
| 5 to 7 | USD 3,910 |
| 8 to 10 | USD 3,800 |
| 11 to 14 | USD 3,700 |
| 15 and over | USD 3,650 |
For a twenty-one-day trip that includes a full Circuit, a restricted-area permit and a 6,335 m summit, it is among the best value climbing trips in Nepal.
What Is Included
- Airport transfers, a briefing, permit and equipment-inspection day in Kathmandu.
- Private transport Kathmandu to Machha Khola and Besisahar back to Kathmandu — no flight.
- Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu with breakfast, and teahouses throughout the Circuit.
- Tented base camp (4,900 m) and high camp (5,500 m) with mess, kitchen and toilet tents, and a cook and kitchen crew.
- Three meals a day throughout.
- Manaslu Restricted Area Permit, Manaslu Conservation Area Permit, Annapurna Conservation Area Permit and the NMA climbing permit.
- A government-licensed climbing guide and climbing Sherpas above base camp.
- Group climbing equipment and fixing of the steep section.
- A training and acclimatisation day at base camp, plus a reserve day.
- Porter and pack-animal transport of group equipment, NMA garbage deposit, summit certificate and all taxes.
What Is Not Included
- International flights and the Nepal entry visa fee.
- Travel insurance covering mountaineering to 6,335 m, with helicopter evacuation and repatriation.
- Personal climbing equipment, available to rent as an add-on.
- Personal clothing and a sleeping bag rated to -20 °C.
- Porter services for your personal duffel.
- Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu.
- Snacks, bottled water, hot showers, Wi-Fi, charging and drinks.
- Laundry, phone calls, souvenirs and personal expenses.
- Tips for the guide, climbing Sherpas, cook crew and porters.
- Extra costs if the Larkya La is closed and the group retraces down the Budhi Gandaki, or from weather or an early descent.
