One of the best remote treks in Nepal in addition to being an all-round great trek
Unspoiled trails situated far from the bustle of the crowds
The trail passes through the Manaslu Conservation Area, home to over 2000 species of flora and hundreds of unique birds and animals
Cross the 5160m Larke La Pass, the highest point of the trek
Amazing side trip options including Pungen Gompa, Birendra Lake and more
Experience genuine Newar, Gurung and Tamang culture as you pass through numerous villages
Magnificent views of Manaslu, Namjung, Ganesh Himal, Kang Guru and Larke among others
Enjoy an offbeat experience as you adventure through the remote valleys around Manaslu on the Manaslu Circuit Trek!
This 17 day Manaslu Circuit Trek takes you off the beaten path through tranquil valleys and windy passes around the world’s 8th highest peak, Manaslu (8163m). The scenic trail, along with the vantage point at the summit of Larke La, offer fantastic views of Himal Chuli, Himlung, Ganesh Himal, Annapurna and Manaslu among other peaks. The region, home to Hindus, Buddhists, Newars, Gurungs, Tamangs and Tibetans offers a diverse cultural experience in rural Nepal. Apart from the culture and scenery, the trail also offers opportunities to encounter Himalayan wildlife including herds of Blue Sheep and Mountain Goats, Pika, Snow Leopards and more.
The Manaslu Circuit Trek starts with a full day of driving from the capital to Soti Khola. Over the next few days, you will trek through plowed fields, lush forests and hillside trails with daily stops at Machha Khola, Jagat, Deng, Namrung, Lho and Sama. Following a fun exploration / acclimatization day at Sama Gaon, you will continue through Samdo to Dharmashala. One of the highlights of the trek is next with the crossing of Larke La Pass (5160m), where you’ll witness alluring mountain vistas. Enjoy your time at the summit and steadily descend to Bhimthang. From Bhimthang, further descend through Tilije to Chamje. The trek comes to an end as you catch a bus back to Kathmandu from Chamje.
Manaslu Circuit Trek Difficulty
The Manaslu Circuit Trek is a moderately strenuous trek that takes you through unspoiled trails and remote valleys. While technical climbing skills or prior trekking experience are not required for this trek, good physical fitness and stamina is a necessity. Some other factors you need to consider for the Manaslu Circuit Trek are:
Elevation:
With the trail starting as low as 700m and eventually climbing up to the spectacular glaciers at over 5000m, the Manaslu Circuit Trek offers a lot of variety in terms of landscape and ecosystem. You are at risk of altitude sickness during the latter parts of the trek, so always listen to your body. Also remember to schedule acclimatization days as needed, preferably at least 2.
Length:
A typical Manaslu Circuit Trek takes around 17 days to complete. During this time, you’ll cover a total distance of around 180km, which averages out to around 15km or so per day. The trail, especially on the later parts of the trek can be quite rough and uneven. So, we recommend preparing your body with running, HIIT or hiking itself, prior to the trek.
Best Season for Manaslu Circuit Trek
The Manaslu Circuit Trek can be performed all year round; however spring (March – May) and autumn (September – November) are the best time for the trek. These temperature during these seasons are moderate and skies are clear with outstanding views. The weather during monsoon tends to be unstable with the occasional downpour. As for winter, the temperature can drop quite low along with the possibility of snowfall severe enough to block off the pass.
Upon your arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport, complete all formalities and meet up with our representatives outside the terminal. They will be welcome you to Nepal and escort you to your hotel through a private vehicle. You can rest at the hotel or visit our office if time permits.
Today, you will head out for an interesting guided tour around the UNESCO world heritage sites of Kathmandu. We will pay a visit to Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Swayambhunath, Kathmandu Durbar and more. You will be able to explore the historical and cultural significance behind these landmarks. After the tour ends, your evening will be in leisure. You can explore the streets of Thamel and shop for any souvenirs or trekking essentials that you need. In the meantime, our staff will procure the Manaslu Restricted Area and Annapurna Conservation Area trekking permits that you will need for the trip.
In the morning, join the rest of the group for a pre trek meeting. Your trek leader will brief you regarding the journey and hand out your trekking permits to you. Then, have some breakfast and check out from the hotel for a 8 hour drive to Soti Khola, which is around 130 kilometers North West of Kathmandu. The journey will take us through the typical countryside roads and scenery and pass through Dhading Besi and Arughat.
The ‘trekking’ aspect of the Manaslu Circuit Trek finally starts today. Head out of Soti after breakfast and follow the sounds of Budhi Gandaki through the forested paths. The trail through the Sal forests will take you past Khursane and the Gurung village of Labhubesi. After some hours of trekking past old suspension bridges, pleasant streams and forested trails, we will reach Machha Khola, our stop for the night.
Head out after breakfast as usual and cross Tharo Khola and Thorlabesi to reach the hot spring village of Tatopani. Next, cross a few suspension bridges over the Budhi Gandaki and Yaru Khola. After a brief lunch break, head towards Dobhan and steadily climb some flights of stairs at Tharo Bharyang. Jagat lies just a short distance further past the west bank of Budhi Gandaki.
The trail today takes us through suspension bridges, gorges, rivers and forests. First, scale the rocky ridge to Salleri and continue past Sirdibas and Ghatte Khola. Cross a suspension bridge to reach the Gurung village of Philim and stop for lunch there. After a while, resume on the trail past a desolate gorge towards the Budhi Gandaki River. Follow the river along its east and west banks to reach a bamboo forest. Deng village lies a shortly further.
Set out early as there is a lot of ground to cover today. The trail will take you through Rana, Bhi and Ghap up to Prok, from where you’ll be able to view the Siringi Himal. Encounter the Budhi Gandaki on a few more occasions today as you trek through the forested paths to the Buddhist village of Namrung. From Namrung, you can also view Ganesh Himal and Himal Chuli along with Siringi.
After the lengthy and exhausting treks of the past few days, a nice change of pace with today’s short trek. Trek leisurely through the pleasant forested paths towards Lihi. There are a number of chortens to explore at Lihi. The trail to Sho village offers refreshing views of Ganesh and Simnang Himal. Lho, which lies a short distance further, also offers pleasing views of Manaslu. An afternoon visit to the Ribung gompa in your leisure time is recommended.
Another short trek means another easy day for us. Enjoy views of Himchuli, Ngadi, Manaslu and Ganesh Himal around you on the trail to Shyala. From Shyala, it is a short trek further to Sama where we’ll be staying for the night.
The easy treks of the last couple of days means your body will be well rested. You have a number of options to choose from, as to how you’ll spend the day. The short and easy trek to the Pungyen monastery nearby offers great views of the Manaslu glacier. If you are looking for more stimulating / rewarding treks, then hiking to the Manaslu Base Camp or Birendra Lake are excellent options as well.
Following the enjoyable rest/exploration day from earlier, we will resume back on the main trail today. Follow the Budhi Gandaki River north along its river bank and cross a bridge over it. You’ll arrive at the intersection, where the left trail leads to the Manaslu Base Camp. Hence, continue through the right one instead, on the Larkye La trail to Kermo Kharka. Samdo lies a bit further ahead.
Head out after breakfast as usual. You can trek leisurely today to cover the short distance to Dharmashala. Trek past a few streams to get the first sighting of the Larkya glacier. Then, contour the Salka valley to arrive at Dharmashala, also known as Larke Phedi or the Larke Base Camp. The overall journey won’t take more than a few hours. Rest early to prepare for the tough trek tomorrow.
Today will be one of the highlights of the trek as we ascend to the trek’s highest point, Larkya La at 5160m. The summit offers fantastic views of Annapurna II, Himlung, Kangguru, Cheo peaks and. Our journey through the pass will lead us to the valley on the northern end of the Larke glaciers. Steadily descend towards Bhimthang. Treading through the moraines, you can also catch sights of Larke peak and Cho danda nearby.
Sleep in all morning if you need, to recover properly from the exhausting trek of yesterday. Then, have some breakfast at the lodge and head out for a leisurely trek towards Tilije. We’ll descend over a thousand meters today as we first head towards Dudh Khola. Pass through the pastures at Sangure Kharka and the farms at Karche to eventually reach the village of Gho. The well-equipped settlement of Tilije lies shortly further ahead.
Today will be the last day of trekking on the Manaslu Circuit. After breakfast, walk through the stone paved path to Thonje village. From there, continue through the police checkpoint at Dharapani to enter the Annapurna Circuit trail. Trek through the villages of Karte and Tal and cross the Marshyangdi River to eventually arrive at Chamje. In the evening, enjoy some local delicacies to commemorate the success of the trek.
With the trekking now over, we will have a full day drive back to the capital today. This 215 kilometer drive will take around 8-9 hours. Drive past the typical countryside scenery of lush hills, quaint villages, serpentine roads and roaring rivers to eventually arrive at Kathmandu. In the evening, you will then be escorted to a restaurant for a farewell dinner, where you’ll be served delicious traditional Nepali cuisine.
Enjoy the last morning in Kathmandu with breakfast at the hotel. Spend your free time in leisure and check out of your hotel a few hours before your flight. Then, one of our staff will escort you to TIA and bid you farewell. It was a pleasure working with you and we hope to see you again!
Accomodation:
Meals: B
Cost Includes / Excludes
Cost Include
Airport pickup and drop off services
One day cultural tour in Kathmandu with licensed driver
All the hotel and lodge accommodation as per the itinerary
Domestic air tickets and taxes
Bus transportation tickets
An experienced English speaking trek leader, assistant trek leaders and guides as well as one porter per 2 people (2:1)
Down jackets, tented camps and other necessary equipment
All necessary trekking permits and governmental documents
All food costs (B,L,D) as included in the itinerary
Emergency medical supplies and first aid kit
Cost Exclude
Nepal entry visa fee
International airfare
Extra food costs (B,L,D) outside of those mentioned in the itinerary
Tips for drivers, guides and porters
Personal trekking equipment and clothing
Personal expenses (Phone calls, extra food and showers, laundry, water)
