The Larke La Pass (5106 m) and Thorong La Pass (5416 m) are high – altitude mountain passes of Nepal. Both of these passes are located in the different trekking regions of Nepal. One is the highlight destination of the Manaslu Circuit Trek and another is the highlight destination of the Annapurna Circuit Trek. Lots of people make inquiries about the decision to make between these two trekking trips. Please note that both of these trekking routes have their own significance and peculiarities. Today’s blog is all about finding out various comparisons on Larke La Pass vs Thorong La Pass.
Travelers should not forget that these two passes are the part of the famous trekking trips in Nepal. Let’s find out more about these passes before comparing these two in terms of various factors. We have tried to compare these two passes in terms of location, trekking difficulty, availability of facilities, trekking experiences, best season, cultural exposure, visibility of mountains, and trekking duration.
Larke La Pass vs Thorong La Pass: An epic comparison of two mountain passes of Nepal
Before comparing these two mountain passes of Nepal, let’s find out more about these passes.
What is Larke La Pass?
At an altitude of 5106 m, the Larke La Pass connects the Manaslu region of Nepal and the Annapurna region. It is one of the longest mountain passes of Nepal. The crossing activity of the pass starts from Dharmasala and ends in the village of Bimthang. It is the ultimate point of the Manaslu Circuit Trek.
What is Thorong La Pass?
The Thorong La Pass (5416 m) is the most popular mountain pass of Nepal. It is in the Annapurna Circuit Trek route and divides the Manang Valley and Mustang Valley of the Annapurna region of Nepal. Trekkers start the crossing activity of the Thorong La Pass either from Thorong Phedi or from Thorong High Camp and ends in Muktinath. The pass is more commercial than the Larke La Pass. Let’s go deeper into comparing these two mountain passes: Beside Thorong La Pass, you visit the world’s highest Tilicho Lake, then toward Thorong La Pass.
Comparison of Larke La Pass and Thorong La Pass
We have identified the following factors to compare these two passes. Finding out the various parameters in the Larke La Pass vs Thorong La Pass is always challenging yet we have dared to write our perspective on this.
Location and Region
The location of the Larke La Pass is inside the Manaslu Circuit Trek covering the Gorkha and Manang districts of Nepal. The highest altitude is 5106 m and it is in the remote parts of Nepal with less accessibility to roads and amenities present in the outside world.
Similarly, the Annapurna Circuit Trek is the home of the Thorong La Pass. It spans from Manang district to the Mustang district of Nepal. The altitude of the pass is 5406 m from sea level. In comparison, the Thorong La Pass Trek is more accessible to the outside world than the Larke La Pass.
Trekking Difficulty
While comparing the difficulty of crossing these two mountain passes, we should look into the technical challenges, need for acclimatization, and prior experience requirement. The journey of the Larke La Pass is moderately difficult with long, steep ascent and descent in a roacky terrain. It is recommended to have a prior experience for Larke La Pass Trek. However, a beginner with good level of physical fitness level can also complete the journey.
The Annapurna Thorong La Pass is less technical but very arduous due to high altitude. The presence of better infrastructure for proper acclimatization make this pass more accessible than the Larke La Pass. Therefore, the verdict is that the Thorong La Pass is less difficult than the Larke La Pass.
Hikers must not underestimate the difficulty level of these two passes despite differences. All should know that both of these passes are above 5000 m altitude from sea level. The oxygen density and uphill – downhill trails make it harder for trekkers to easily walk on these trekking routes. Make sure that you are well prepared physically and mentally.
Permits
You need four permits to do the Larke La Pass Trek. They are Special Restricted Area Permit, Annapurna Conservation Area Project Permit, Tsum Nubri Rural Municipality entry permit, and Manaslu Conservation Area Permit. The cost of the ACAP and MCAP is similar as trekkers have to pay NRs. 3000 to foreigners and NRs. 1500 to SAARC nationals. The RAP costs 100 $ for autumn and 75 $ for other months. It is valid for only 10 days with an extra charge for additional days.
Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) is enough to do the Thorong La Pass Trek. Therefore, Thorong La Pass is better in terms of permits comparison. Before, trekkers had to take the Trekkers’ Information Management (TIMS) card permit but it is no longer in use.
Overall Trekking Experiences
More remote and fewer trekkers make the Larke La Pass route tranquil and raw. In addition, the trail condition is wild and less maintained in some sections. The scenery is rugged with lots of glaciers rivers and Tibetan villages.
The trekking trail of the Thorong La Pass is well trodden and well maintained. It is more popular and crowded. The presence of diverse forests, desert, high mountains, and Hindu – Buddhists temples make this the vibrant trekking trail.
Accommodation and Meals
Few years before, the accommodation and meals facilities in the Larke La Pass Trek were bare minimum. However, it has changed drastically now! You can find lots of different styles of tea houses and eateries in the Manaslu Circuit Trek route as well. However, in fewer sections, you may struggle to get rooms especially during the peak season. The Thorong La Pass Trek route is rich in infrastructure and availability of tea houses and eateries.
Weather and Best Time
The best time to cross the Larke La Pass is during the months of spring (March – May) and autumn (September – November). It is same with the Thorong La Pass. People tend to visit the Manaslu Circuit Trek during the months of spring season more than the autumn season. The main reasons behind this is that the spring season is the time of blooming flowers and lush green vegetation. Similarly, people think that the Thorong La Pass becomes more vibrant during the months of autumn season. Lots of people living in the Annapurna Circuit Trek follow Hinduism and Buddhism simultaneously. During the autumn season, Nepal celebrates its two iconic festivals. They are Dashain and Tihar.
Mountains Seen From the Top
Relish the scenery of mountains like Manaslu, Himalchuli, Cheo Himal, Himlung Himal, etc. while crossing the Larke La Pass. Trekkers can enjoy the scenery of mountains like Annapurna II, III, IV, Gangapurna, Dhaulagiri, etc. while crossing the Thorong La Pass.
Besides mountains, these two mountain passes are the vantage point to observe various glacial lakes and high – altitude river valleys. The landscapes seen from the top of these passes are similar.
Cultural Exposure
Meet Tibetan origin Tsombos People on the Larke La Pass Trek route! However, in lower sections, you get a chance to see different ethnic communities ranging from Brahmins, Chhetris, Dalits, to Mongolians (Gurung, Magar, Newars, & Tamang). The Thorong La Pass is the home of Thakali, Magar, and Gurung People.
Both of these trekking routes are vibrant in terms of understanding and immersing into the traditions of the local people. There are many iconic ancient villages on both trekking trails where you get to know about ancient history, culture, and deep connection to the spiritual world. If you are looking to understand deep into finding out the culture of Nepalese people who follow traditional Tibetan traditions, then the Manaslu Circuit Trek is an ideal choice.
Trekking Duration
Travelers must allocate 10 to 19 days to do the Manaslu Circuit Trek (Larke La Pass) depending upon the route that you choose for the trekking. Similarly, the Annapurna Circuit Trek takes about 12 to 21 days itinerary depending upon the route. The classical Annapurna Circuit Trek takes lot more days than the modern Thorong La Pass Trek. It involves trekkers in the Ghorepani Poon Hill Area too. The addition of the Tilichol Lake, Muktinath – Tatopani section and the Ghorepani Poon Hill (3210 m) increases the duration of the trek. On another side, the addition of the Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek itinerary can also increase the number of days for the Manaslu Circuit Trek significantly.
I hope that the Larke La Pass vs Thorong La Pass blog has helped you to understand about these two mountain passes of Nepal. While doing the comparison, it is also about the comparison between the Manaslu Circuit Trek and Annapurna Circuit Trek in Nepal.
The Nepal High Trek and Expeditions Pvt. Ltd. is the leading trekking agency for both of these trekking regions. Therefore, you can contact our travel experts, planners, and bloggers about any kinds of lingering questions related to the Larke La Pass vs Thorong La Pass. We are here to quench your thirst of information about these trekking trips. Whichever trekking trip you choose, it is guaranteed that you will have the wonderful and momentous high – altitude trekking experiences.
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