Manaslu Circuit Trek – 16 Days

After you arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will have to go through customs formalities. Outside, you will be greeted by our representative, who will be anxiously waiting for you with a placard displaying your name in his hand. You will be transferred to a 4-star category hotel in a private vehicle, accompanied by our representative.

As you check into the hotel, you can take a rest and refresh. After a brief refreshment, you will receive a briefing on the Manaslu Circuit Trek itinerary and be introduced to your crew members, guide and porter, and fellow trekkers joining you on the Manaslu Circuit Trek trip. Enjoy a welcome dinner in the evening, where you can taste an authentic Nepali dinner. Stay overnight in a hotel in Kathmandu.

In the morning, after breakfast, a half-day sightseeing tour will be organized, during which you will be taken on a memorable UNESCO Heritage Tour. The day’s tour begins with a visit to Nepal’s holiest Pashupatinath Temple. After visiting the sacred Hindu temple, we’ll take you to Nepal’s largest Boudhanath Stupa.

After visiting the stupa, we will return to the hotel. If you have missed any items required for the trek, you can go shopping at the evening. Not to mention, if you need assistance with shopping, our guide will be happy to help. Additionally, be prepared with all your packing, as we’ll leave Kathmandu the next morning for our adventure.

Leaving Kathmandu early in the morning, we will head west on the Prithvi Highway before turning north towards Dhading. The first part of the drive is along a paved road, winding past terraced hillsides, local bazaars, and traditional villages. We will head northwest from Dhading Besi and take another 35km drive to reach Arughat Bazaar, which is separated into two sides by the Budhi Gandaki River.

Now the dirt road starts from Arughat along the western bank of the River. We will make it to Soti Khola (River), continue driving beside the Budhi Gandaki River, which will take us to Doban, and then to the final destination of the day, Jagat. Stay overnight in a local teahouse.

The fourth day marks the beginning of our trekking journey to the Manaslu Circuit. However, it’s a short trek day, so we take it easy and start late in the morning. Leaving Jagat, you’ll walk through a path that climbs via lush subtropical forests, waterfalls, and terraced fields. We need to present our trekking permit at the office in Jagat before entering the Manaslu Conservation Area.

Moving through the conservation area, we will reach Salleri from where we will descend to Sirdibas before climbing to the village of Philim. Sirdibas is a small Gurung village with Buddhist chortens and prayer flags. You’ll cross a suspension bridge after Sirdibas. After the bridge, we’ll get to our day’s destination, Philim, where we’ll have our dinner and overnight stay.

After the morning meal at Philim, we’ll pack our backpacks and make our way towards the day’s destination. The Manaslu Circuit trek trail drops down from Philim. We will follow the stone steps down to the river. We will climb from the river bed to Saguleri, which greets us with a distant view of Sringi Mountain (7,187 meters). After going through a series of ups and downs, we will make it to the bridge over the Budhi Gandaki River. Moving further, we will cross another bridge over the Ghata River and climb uphill to the pretty, tiny villages of Aga and Lokwa.

Lowering down from Lokwa, we will reach Ekle Bhatti, existing close to the Shiar River. At the Ekle Bhatti, we can take a short break and have our lunch. After lunch, we will continue our walk, taking in the views of the surroundings. A highlight of this section is the diversion to Tsum Valley. Passing through the villages of Nyak and Pewa, through the forest, and to the eastern edge of the river will take us to the Deng village. Stay overnight in Deng.

We’ll continue our journey to the Manaslu Circuit after having breakfast at Deng. As we start our trek from Deng, the trail ascends gently through forests of pine and rhododendron, following the Budhi Gandaki upstream. The route features multiple crossings of suspension bridges and sections carved into the cliff sides with stunning views of the river gorge below. A couple of hours of walking through this amazing valley will take us to Ghap village, where we’ll stop for lunch.

After lunch at Ghap, we will walk past the colorful alpine forest and meadow full of lush green vegetation. Crossing the river with its origin at the Lidana glacier, we will be greeted with views of the Kutang Mountain range, Saula Mountain (6235 meters), majestic Manaslu Mountain, Simang Mountain range, and other peaks and mountains. The trail increases uphill from here on to the farm village of Namrung. We’ll stay overnight in Namrung.

Early in the morning, we finish our breakfast and get ready to continue our journey in the Manaslu region. From Namrung, the trek route climbs through forests of fir, rhododendron, and oak, passing picturesque villages. Crossing the river, we will follow the path through the forest and the gorge. The trail takes us through a steep path to Namrung. Climbing steadily, we will reach Lihi. There, we can enjoy the close-up view of Ganesh Mountain and Simnang Mountain.

Moving further, we will reach the Sho village. This village allows a soaring view of the open valley. Climbing through the steepest section, we will reach Lho, where we can stop for lunch and a break. After lunch, we continue for about 2.5 hours through the beautiful forest, and a slight uphill takes us to the Shyala village, where we stay in a teahouse.

We start our day with a trek to Pungyen Monastery, the best viewpoint to look over Mt. Manaslu and other peaks. The trek to Pungyen Monastery from Shyala villages takes approximately 2.5 hours. After visiting the Gompa, we will proceed down the main trail to Samagaun. We will follow the scenic path with a picturesque view of the valley to Samagaun.

 Samagaun is a large village with an ancient monastery, chortens, and Mani walls. Building chortens is believed to keep the evil spirits out of the village. A close-up view of Manaslu can be seen from the village of Samagaun. Similarly, it is one of the largest villages in this region, where people grow crops such as buckwheat and potatoes as staple foods. We can also visit the Sama Gompa Monastery in the evening to learn about the local culture and traditions. Stay overnight in Sama Gaon.

As you are already above 3,500 meters, it is necessary to rest and allow your body to adjust to the changed environment. So, we have included an acclimatization day on the ninth day. Taking rest at Sama Gaon helps in acclimatization. On the day, we don’t stay idle; instead, we will take a day hike to a nearby viewpoint that allows us to follow the golden rule of the Himalayas: “Climb high, sleep low.”

Birendra Kunda/Lake, an ice lake situated below Manaslu Base Camp, is our destination for the day’s hike. It is a stunning glacial lake located just a short hike from Samagaun. The day hike on the Birendra Lake not only allows us to adjust to the changing temperature but also provides a chance to relax by the lake’s serene waters.

While we have the option to undertake the Manaslu Base Camp trek, it is not suitable for everyone due to the high altitude. However, we will attempt to reach almost halfway to the base camp to facilitate better acclimatization. After the hike, we will return to our accommodation in Samagaun for an overnight stay and spend the afternoon exploring the village.

This day feels more energetic than other days due to yesterday’s acclimatization. We leave Samagaun after breakfast at the teahouse. Leaving Samagaun, the route takes a gentle path along the Budhi Gandaki River, passing yak pastures, mani walls, and juniper forests. The valley widens, showcasing sweeping views of surrounding peaks, including Manaslu, Ngadi Chuli, and Himal Chuli.

As we gain elevation, the landscape becomes more barren with fewer trees and more alpine shrubs. Similarly, we’ll pass the junction leading toward the Manaslu Base Camp route before continuing northwest. Passing the junction, we’ll reach our day’s destination, Samdo, a traditional Tibetan refugee village just a day’s walk from the Tibetan border. We’ll stay overnight at Samdo.

After an early morning tea, we will walk along the Mani Wall to the river. Crossing the river over a wooden bridge, we will follow the ascending path to another river. The area allows a sweeping view of the Larkya Glacier and surrounding snow-capped peaks, including Manaslu North and Naike Peak. As we walk through the valley, we will reach the Salka River, from where we will proceed to the stone rest house known as Dharamshala. The location is well known by the name Larkya Phedi.

The village of Dharamshala has only three teahouses. It is also one of the remote locations in the Manaslu region that serves as the base point of Larkya La Pass. Here we prepare ourselves for the next day’s challenging adventure. The day’s dinner and overnight stay are at Dharamshala’s teahouse.

Today is the hardest and most-awaited day on the Trek to the Manaslu Circuit. This day takes us to the highest point of the Trek, Larkya La Pass (5,106m / 16,752ft). Thus, we start very early in the morning, about 3:30 AM from Dharamshala. On the day, we will take a long and gentle climb through the moraine. On the way, we enjoy the views of Cheo Mountain and Larke Peak. As we walk through the Larkya glacier, we will reach its northern edge. Moving further, we will make a slow climb to the top of Larkya Pass.

Standing at one of the highest passes in Nepal, Larkya La is an amazing experience that leaves a sense of accomplishment. From the top, we can witness the views of Himlung Mountain (7,126 meters), Cheo Mountain (6,820 meters), Kangguru Peak (6,680 meters), and Annapurna II (7,937 meters). Along with mountain views, we get a view of glaciers and rocky slopes. After a brief rest, we will head down to Phedi and continue to the Bimtang, where we’ll stay overnight after a long day of walking.

From Bimtang, we will follow the path along the glaciated river to the wooden bridge. Crossing the high pasture, we will descend to the Burdin River valley. Climbing the ridge, at 4150 meters, we will be rewarded with an astonishing view of Manaslu Mountain, Annapurna II Mountain, and other peaks and mountains.

Lowering down through the Dudh River, we will walk past the rhododendron forest. Likewise, as we continue to descend through the narrow valley, we will reach the Karche Valley. Walking along the riverbank, we will advance through the rhododendron forest to Tilje. Our overnight stay and dinner for the day will be at the tea house in Tilije village.

Today, we leave the Manaslu area and say goodbye to the Manaslu Circuit adventure. We will leave Tilje early in the morning after breakfast on a local jeep drive on a dirt road. The road winds downhill through Dharapani and Chamje village, which follows the Marsyangdi River. The route is bumpy and narrow, with sections, but the view of waterfalls, deep valleys, and terraced farmland will appeal to your eye. It is approximately a 4-hour drive from Tilje to Beshisahar.

After reaching Besisahar, we’ll have lunch, then take a bus to Kathmandu. The driving route is smoother compared to the mountain roads, traveling along the Prithvi Highway beside the Trishuli and Marsyangdi rivers. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, our representatives will escort you to your hotel. Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

This is a rest day and an additional day. Spend the day as you like. You can go shopping in Thamel, where you can buy souvenir items. Upon your interest, we can also arrange for a guided sightseeing tour. Farewell dinner will be served in the evening. You’ll stay in Kathmandu for the last time on this day.

Day 16 marks the final day of the Manaslu Circuit Adventure and the last day in Nepal. As per the departure time you provide, we’ll pick you up from your hotel and drop you off at the airport for your departure. We bid you farewell with a heavy heart and hope of meeting you again. We wish you a safe journey.