Manaslu Circuit Trek

Duration: 17 Days

Highlights of Manaslu Circuit Trek

  • Walking via paths following the bank of the calming river of Budhi Gandaki
  • Supernatural views of the Himalayans, which includes glorious snow-capped peaks such as Annapurna II, Ganesh Himal, Mt Manaslu, etc
  • Crossing longest passes in the Himalayas of Nepal, i.e., Larkya La Pass (5,106m), which is also the most elevated place in this trek
  • Featuring a wild and remote nature, this trek offers an exploration of rich flora and fauna, possibly encountering endangered species such as snow leopard, and likewise
  • Explore the unique living style and rich culture of people living in the Himalayas of Nepal
  • Overall, the Manaslu circuit trek is a more peaceful trek than other treks around the region, with an equally pleasing experience
Trip Duration

17 Days

Maximum Altitude

5,160m

Trip Grade

Tough

Group Size

2-30 People

Activity

Trekking

Accommodation

Hotel and teahouses on the trail

Manaslu Circuit Trek Overview

The isolated Mt. Manaslu Circuit trek lives up to its reputation as a remarkable open-air adventure. It provides all of the standard elements of a beautiful trek, including rushing rivers and steep routes, breathtaking views and subtropical forests, scenic mountain scenery, and a steady rise to a spectacular high pass.

The trekking route covers much of the circuit of Mt. Manaslu, the world’s eighth highest peak, reigning at an altitude of 8,163m. It is one of the most magnificent 8000m mountains, bounded on the west by the Annapurna Himalaya (8,091m) and the east by the Ganesh Himal (7,422 m).

Mt. Manaslu Circuit Trek
Mt. Manaslu Circuit Trek in Nepal

The Manaslu Circuit Trek commences at Soti Khola, an astonishing village by the Budhi-Gandaki River at 700 meters above sea level. Culturally enlightening, the trek offers exciting perspectives of the different cultural practices of the Gurung, Tamang, and Tibetan people.

The trek includes making our way through dense forest routes and along the Budhi-Gandaki river’s banks, rarely traveling far from the river’s waves and the soothing sound. Interestingly, suspension bridges on the trek are unrivaled in terms of length and height. The journey then heads towards the northern route, which leads to Larkya La Pass at an altitude of 5,167m, the highest position of the Manaslu trek.

The elevation of this point is high and can be a concern, but the view that the snowbound height offers will make the efforts worthwhile. Including a challengingly steep walk to an elevation of 5,167m, this trek demands top-tier physical fitness and is suitable for highly dedicated adventurers.

Moreover, our carefully designed Manaslu trek itinerary prioritizes proper acclimatization to make it more conveniently achievable.

While the nearly located Annapurna circuit is one of the most popular trek routes with trekkers pouring from all around the world, the Manaslu treks route provides you with a calmer and undisturbed trek. It is both culturally enlightening and scenically inspiring, despite its remoteness and physical demands.

Difficulty Level of Manaslu Circuit Trek

The Manaslu circuit trek is regarded as one of the challenging treks in Nepal. With the most elevated altitude being 5,106m at Larkya La Pass, the trekker should be open to the possibility of altitude sickness.

The route brings us through ups and downs and steep routes, and sometimes, hills that feel never-ending. Manaslu trek could be more difficult for first-timers. However, since no mountaineering or technical skills are required, people with average fitness levels and determination can achieve this trek.

Moreover, experienced trekkers have carefully designed the itinerary, considering proper acclimatization. About 5 to 7 hours of walks are expected at lower altitudes and about 3 to 4 hours per day. Considering that, the trekkers are required to train for the trek about a month beforehand by walking, exercising, and staying fit.

In general, the Manaslu circuit trek is physically challenging but can be achieved with proper practice, strength, planning, and determination.

Accommodation in the Manaslu Trekking

The package includes accommodation for 16 nights. We try our best to provide you with peaceful rest and sleep every night with the best possible facilities.

For Kathmandu accommodation, we will provide a 3-star hotel in the center area of Kathmandu, with an attached bathroom, a TV, electricity, and hot water.

The mentioned luxury cannot be promised in remote areas. We provide rooms with attached bathrooms for places in lower elevation wherever possible. But for spending the nights in places as remote as Deng, Samdo, Dharamsala, and so on; only standard rooms are available. This implies that standard rooms will be provided for nights in remote areas with higher elevations. Services like hot showers and Wi-Fi can be enjoyed with extra charges in possible areas.

Meals during the Manaslu Trek

Since we’ll be lodging in rural regions of the country at high elevations, the food there will be sufficient to keep us going for the entire journey. This implies that luxury meals will not be available during the trek. On the other hand, every meal will be promised to deliver you with adequate nutrition and be prepared hygienically.

Mostly anywhere on the menu, you can get a mix of traditional local, Asian, and western food, but the menu will be limited as we get further. We highly recommend you drink more fluids at high altitudes such as soup, teas, and likewise. Our package covers a total of 16 breakfasts, 13 lunches, and 13 dinners.

Best season for the Manaslu Trek

First and foremost, before planning your trek, you need to be mindful of the seasons suitable and unsuitable for trekking in that particular region. Climate plays a huge role in succeeding rate and risk associated with trekking and thus should not be neglected.

As for the Manaslu Circuit Trek, the winter and rainy seasons are the highly opposed time of the year for trekking in the region. Winter lasts from December to February in Nepal, where the Manaslu region is swamped with heavy snowfall and the lodges at higher elevations are shut. The rainy season lasts from June to August. Due to the type of trails we need to follow during the trek, excessive steepness during the rainy season poses a huge risk to trek in that season.

The best seasons for the Manaslu trek are Spring and Autumn season.

Spring Season

The spring season lasts from March to May in Nepal. The weather during this season favors successful trekking. This season welcomes you with clear blue skies, breathtaking views, and vibrant rhododendrons, making your journey colorful. Even though the temperature stays warm during the daytime, the temperature at night might drop to a maximum of -4°C. All in all, trekking the Manaslu circuit during Spring offers the best of experience.

Autumn Season

The autumn season lasts from September to November in Nepal. This peak season for trekking, the Manaslu circuit offers you with stable temperature as high as 20°C during the daytime. Along with clear skies and magical views, the autumn season also welcomes visitors to the country during the major festival of Dashain and Tihar. Thereafter, the start of December welcomes light snowfalls and off-season for trekking.

Manaslu Circuit Trek Detail Itinerary


01
Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu and Hotel check-in

Alighting in Nepal is exactly when our journey together commences. Your flight will land at the Tribhuvan International Airport, where our representative will be standing by to greet and receive you, and then head towards the hotel.

02
Day 02: Explore the capital and trek preparation

Not just the Himalayas, but the cities in Nepal are also worth exploring. Nepal is famous for its rich culture and unique traditions. This richness is portrayed to some extent by our must-visit places in the capital itself, holding great history within itself.

In light of that fact, we have planned some capital exploration on the second day. On top of that, the places we have planned to visit today are also the ones listed by UNESCO under the World Heritage Sites.

The day starts with a quick tour of the Hindu temple, Pashupatinath. We go around the temple area to the Aryaghat area. Aryaghat area is one of the famous funeral sites in Kathmandu, which lies on the backside of the Pashupatinath Temple. There is a heightened area to sit and witness the rituals done while alive and after death by Hindus in Pashupatinath.

Observing and soaking in the chaos of people around the temple, while some are there to say goodbye to their loved ones’ bodies, others are there to worship God; the view overall makes you realize how short a person’s life is and how beliefs play a huge role in this short life.

Followed by Pashupatinath, we visit the Boudhanath temple. Boudhanath temple is a Buddhist stupa known for its peacefulness and positivity and is a must-visit place while in Kathmandu. After enjoying Boudhanath’s offerings, we head towards another stupa named Swayambhu, which is also famous as the monkey temple.

The word ‘Swayambhu’ means ‘self-occurring.’ There is a belief that the temple was built up from a river by a Bodhisattva, and the abundant number of monkeys were the Bodhisattva’s lice. The temple has quite fascinating mythology and holds a great history within itself.

After exploring the capital after a long day, we get back to Thamel for trek preparation. Thamel is the central tourist area of Kathmandu and provides you with every possible thing you might need for the trek.

03
Day 03: Drive from Kathmandu to Soti Khola

Road Duration: 6 to 7 hours

After preparing for the Manaslu Circuit Trek, we leave the capital this day. Following the infamous Prithvi Highway, we head towards Dhading. The road from Kathmandu to Dhading is quite good without bumps, and the occasional views of the Trishuli river make the journey more exciting.

But from Dhading, we follow a bumpy road to Arughat. Lying just beside the Budhi Gandaki River, this town gives you a hint of how the life of people in rural areas of Nepal functions. Our final destination for the day, i.e., Soti Khola, is 2 hours’ drive away from Arughat.

Even though the roads are rough, nature’s view throughout the way compensates for the possible inconvenience. The picture we catch on our way there and the excitement one feels throughout the way is just a trailer of the live magical experience that the Himalayas offers us during our entire journey.

As we reach our destination Soti Khola for the night, this marks the end of the driving part of our journey for the time being.

04
Day 4: Trekking from Soti Khola to Machha Khola

Trek Duration: 6-7 hours
Starting Point Altitude: 730 m
Highest Altitude: 890 m

For us, the fourth day signifies the beginning of our Manaslu Circuit Trek. Waking up to a magnificent view of the Himalayas and the lush greenery, we have a long walking day ahead of us. Following a bridge crossing in Soti Khola, we continue through the Sal woods, ascending onto a hill above the Budhi Gandaki River to reach Liding (750m). We arrive at Khursane after passing through the picturesque village of Liding on a rough trail.

Nature presents us with a surprising teaser of the northeast view of the Ganesh Himal, keeping us motivated. We pass over a few rice terraces before arriving at Lapubesi, a tiny Gurung settlement. The Budhi Gandaki River’s dry banks guide us to the Nauli Khola, the next stop on our tour.
Following by crossing a suspension bridge from Nauli Khola, we arrive at our final destination for the day; Machha Khola.

05
Day 5: Trekking to Jagat from Machha Khola

Trek Duration: 5-6 hours
Starting Point Altitude: 890 m
Highest Altitude: 1,340 m

As we hike past gorgeous hills, cross bridges, and stroll along winding roads, the Manaslu Trek gets off to a fantastic start on the fifth day.

Our main route includes its ups and downs, which may be somewhat demanding. The route leads us through the woods, Tharo Khola, and Khorlabeshi, a tiny Gurung settlement.

After a nice walk, we proceed to Tatopani, a hot spring. Here, trekkers usually enjoy the hot water and take quick hot showers to calm the sore body. After that, we will climb another ridge, pass across a suspension bridge and make our way through the stone staircases to Jagat. Entering Jagat marks entering the restricted region, for which our permits will be checked.

06
Day 6: Trek from Jagat to Deng

Trek Duration: 6 hours
Starting Point Altitude: 1,340m
Highest Altitude: 1,860 m

The trail rises a rugged ridge with views of Sringi Himal after leaving from Jagat in the morning. We walk through Salleri, the fields of rice, and down to Sirdibas. The village welcomes us with numerous gompas and vibrant prayer flags. Further, we head towards Phillim, where our permits will be examined, and we will then proceed down the river’s western side.

The journey is fascinating, with remarkably amazing artwork carved into stones beside the river. We’ll go through vivid rhododendron and Himalayan pine woodlands after leaving the riverbed. Every detail along the way makes the journey more enjoyable. The route takes us to Deng, a little settlement that will be our target for the day.

07
Day 7: Trek from Deng to Namrung

Trek Duration: 6 hours
Starting Point Altitude: 1,860m
Highest Altitude: 2,660 m

Followed by a quick breakfast, we initially leave Deng to get to Rana and Bihi Phedi. We will have to traverse another suspension bridge to get there. The path then passes through multiple landslide regions on its way to Ghap. We must be particularly cautious as we walk through this region. After roughly an hour on the difficult route, we reach Namrung’s charming settlement.

08
Day 8: Trek from Namrung to Samagaun

Trek Duration: 6-7 hours
Starting Point Altitude: 2,660 m
Highest Altitude: 3,530 m

The eighth day holds quite an exploration of flora fauna and even the lifestyle of people living there. We witness a transition of culture and lifestyle of people in higher altitudes to Tibetan-influenced way of life. The day begins with an exploration of people’s lifestyles there. We will travel through multiple mani stones, beautiful fields, and cottages, into the pine, rhododendron, and oak forests, before ascending to Lihi and then to Sho.

Lho is reached after a good trek from Sho through rocky paths. Lho’s height allows us to see Mount Manaslu and Manaslu north from a much closer and more precise angle. The view accompanies us on our way to Sama Gaun.

09
Day 9: Trek from Samagaun to Samdo

Trek Duration: 3-4 hours
Starting Point Altitude: 3,530 m
Highest Altitude: 3,875 m

This fresh new day takes us to Samdo, a newer settlement. Due to the rise in elevation, we have scheduled a somewhat walk for this day to prevent any potential altitude sickness issues.

The untouched nature’s offerings make the Manaslu Circuit Trek a lot more fascinating, compensating for the efforts to get up to that point. We’ll wind our way past fields and up into the valley. We’ll be walking through pine and oak forests, admiring nature’s glories.

We will go through the forest area and ascend to a ridge crossing the Budhi Gandaki’s wooden bridge, leading up to White Kani. White Kani is a nearby Samdo village where yak-herding is practiced. We will arrive in Samdo and will stay the night there.

10
Day 10: Acclimatization Day in Samdo

For the acclimatization day in Samdo, we have two options.

The first alternative is to hike our way up the valley. This hike takes us to one of Tibet’s trade networks. This hike offers us magical views of Mt. Manaslu as well as other Himalayan ranges, including Simrang, Hiunchuli, Ngadi, Larkye Peak, Cheo, and likewise. This hike can be expected to explore rich flora and fauna in that region.

The second alternative to spend the day would be trekking to the Gya La pass. Since the pass lies at an elevation of 5,300m, we do not recommend this alternative on an acclimatization day.

11
Day 11: Trek from Samdo to Dharamsala

Trek Duration: 3-4 hours
Starting Point Altitude: 3,875 m
Highest Altitude: 4,480 m

Another exciting day at a high altitude awaits us. We have a quite walk planned for us today to comfort our bodies to the higher altitudes we reach each day. We will trek gently over the difficult terrains of the Manaslu area, taking in the spectacular vistas of the Himalayan range.

Our ending for the day will be the Dharamsala. Dharamsala is a stone guest house, not a lodge.

12
Day 12: Trek from Dharamsala to Bhimtang via Larkya La pass

Trek Duration: 7-8 hours
Starting Point Altitude: 4,480 m
Highest Altitude: 5,160 m

Since we have the trek’s highest point as a stop destination for the 12th day, this is the most memorable day of the Manasu Circuit trek. We will walk to Larkya La Pass on this day (5160m). We depart early to prevent severe weather and to return to Bhimtang before the end of the day, so we’ll be crossing the pass before midday. This day’s trip may be the most difficult, but cautious walking and persistence will get you there.

The breathtaking vistas we will see from the pass will make this entire process much more worthwhile. Views of Himlung (7126m) in Tibet, Kang Guru (6981m), and Annapurna II (7937m) in the Annapurna Range await us.
After soaking the magical aura of the Himalayas, we descend for around 3 hours to reach Bhimtang for the night.

13
Day 13: Trek from Bhimtang to Tilje

Trek Duration: 5-6 hours
Starting Point Altitude: 3,720m
Highest Altitude: 3,720m

The morning at Bhimtang provides us with spectacular views of Mount Manaslu, Mount Lamjung, and the Himalayan range. We arrive at the Dudh Khola river after riding past farms and bridging the river on a wooden walkway. We then proceed through vivid rhododendron and pine trees before arriving at a ridge covered with colorful prayer flags. We descend to the riverbed at Gho, where the route winds past rice fields, rhododendron, and oak woods, before arriving at our day’s goal. We reach Tilje by dawn for the night.

14
Day 14: Trek from Tilje to Tal

Trek Duration: 3-4 hours
Starting Point Altitude: 2,300 m
Highest Altitude: 2,300 m

From Tilje, the trail crosses the Dudh Khola River and follows its banks until it reaches Dharapani, where it descends through woodlands. The trail now follows the Annapurna Circuit backward, passing via the Marsyangdi River and the village of Karte. The destination for the day, i.e., Tal, is reached after a short rocky stairway.

15
Day 15: Trek from Tal to Syange

Trek Duration: 3-4 hours
Starting Point Altitude: 1,700 m
Highest Altitude: 1,700 m

On day 15, the path descends gradually throughout the valley, passing the Marsyangdi River once again before arriving in Chamje. After that, we follow a rough trail through the jungle to reach Jagat. Then we cross through a stone pillar and drop about 150 meters to Syange (1080 meters), where the hiking portion of our expedition comes to an end.

16
Day 16: Drive from Syange to Kathmandu

On this day, we bid our goodbyes to the Himalayas and commence our way back to the capital. After 6-7 hours of drive, we reach Kathmandu. We get ourselves some time to freshen up and walk around Thamel.
Our team will organize a farewell dinner for you on your last night in Nepal, celebrating a successful journey together.

17
Day 17: Final Departure

Our agent will drive you to the Tribhuvan International Airport in readiness for your return trip.

Cost Includes
  • Pickup/drop at international airport and transfer to the hotel
  • 3 nights 3 star hotel in kathmandu with Breakfast 
  • All meals Breakfast, Lunch and dinner during the Trekking 
  • Guide and porter 
  • Medical kit bag
  • Basic tea house lodge accommodation during trekking 
  • Kathmandu to Sotikhola by Jeep 
  • Manaslu conservation area permit 
  • Manaslu Restricted area permit 
  • Annapurna Conservation area permit 
  • Syange to besishahar to kathmandu By jeep and Car
Cost Excludes
  • Travel insurance
  • Guide and porter Tips
  • Any emergency management expenses 
  • Cold drinks

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