Group Size
Min. 2 Pax
Trip Grade
Strenuous
Best Season
March, April, May, September, October, November & December
Accommodation
Hotel/Lodge
Max Elevation
5135 m, Larkya La Pass
Meals
Full Board on Trek
Transportation
Private Vehicle/Car/Jeep
Trip Route: Soti Khola - Jagat - Samdo - Lakya La Pass - Bhimtang - Dharapani - Jagat -Besishahar - Kathmandu
Trip Overview
- Best trail for moderately-hard trekking in the Himalayas
- View of the majestic Manaslu Mountain (8163 m), 8th highest in the world.
- Himalayan culture and tradition exploration in the western mountains of Nepal
- Making the Larkya La pass (5135 m)
- Witnessing Himalayan wildlife and vegetation from a close range
- Visiting some of the major Tibetan settlements nearing China before lying in the Trek.
- Natural scenery, Landscape and the snow-capped range view uniquely delightful from any other part in Nepal
- Gumbas, Shrines and Monasteries in the trail giving us the opportunities of witnessing Hindu and Buddhist traditions.
- Yak and Chauri Delicacies with the taste of the local cuisine
- Picturesque path and surrounding, a photographer’s paradise
- Adventure packed destination with unique trekking experiences.
Manaslu Circuit Trekking is a complete trek of the Manaslu region on central Nepal offering you comprehensive cultural, historical, scenic and trekking in the Himalayas experiences.
The Manaslu circuit trek is undoubtedly one of the most popular trails in the central Himalayas for people loving more than the usual trekking experience in the region. This medium-length trek is counted as a difficult trek due to the presence of multiple difficult sections and frequently troubled trails. However, it has been the recurring name to top the list of most adventurous trekking trails in Nepal. The topological variance in this trek will make you able to experience different shades of the Himalayas in the same trek. The majestic view of the Himalayas topped by Mt. Manaslu (8163 m), the 8th highest peak of the World, makes this trekking route worth your time.
Manaslu translates as the mountain of the spirit, and as its Sanskrit meaning signifies, Manaslu trek is genuinely a soul rinsing experience. Up and over some of the difficult ridges and passes will take you to the heart of Manaslu. Most of the villages here have influences mixed from upper hills and Tibet. Some of the known villages and settlements you can reach to experience the Himalayan lifestyle are Tatopani, Samoa gau, Samdo, Larke Bazaar, and many others. These villages and the locals residing in them will provide you with the warm hospitality and smiley faces to make up your day. Walking beside small streams and rivers, you will have a stepwise view of hills and the snow-capped Himalayas touching the horizon over it. The trail quickly goes from the lower foothills to high passes, so, slow and gradual rising and acclimatization is the key in the Manaslu region. Also, falling in the great Himalayan trail, this trail also overlaps in some of the original paths. The circuit trek enables us to do a complete cycle, and we don't visit the same place twice. Such is the beauty and advantage of the Manaslu circuit trek. Leaving the luxury of the cities, we’ll head deeper to nature in your next vacation of Nepal with the Manaslu circuit trek.
Solo travelers often hesitate to do these high-end treks but with a proper aid from Himalaya Pic Du Midi. The Manaslu region shows different shades of nature at a different time of a year. Each time nature and trekking experience here is entirely different. For making the best of your trek, you can avoid harsh winter and rainy monsoons here. The time of mid-September extending to November and also one from March to May is ideal for trekking in the Manaslu Region. So prepare for this ultimate trekking destination with Himalayan Pic Du Midi Treks.
Outline Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival in TIA, Kathmandu & Transfer to Hotel
Day 02: Kathmandu Valley Heritage Tour and Prepration for the Trek
Day 03: Drive to Arkhet Bazaar/Soti Khola (700m)
Day 04: Soti Khola to Machha Khola (870m)
Day 05: Macchekhola to Jagat (1340m)
Day 06: Jagat to Deng (1860m)
Day 07: Deng to Namrung (2630m)
Day 08: Namrung to Lho (3180m)
Day 09: Lho - Punggen Gompa to Sama Gau (3520m)
Day 10: Sama Gau to Samdo (3875m)
Day 11: Acclimatization and rest day
Day 12: Samdo to Dharmasala (4460m)
Day 13: Larkya La Pass (5160m) trek to Bimthang (3590m)
Day 14: Bimtang to Tilije (2360m)
Day 15: Tilije to Tal (1700m)
Day 16: Drive to Besishahar - Kathmandu
Day 17: Cultural Tour of Bhaktapur City
Day 18: Departure
Day to Day Itinerary
After your arrival in Nepal, our representative from Himalayan Pic Du Midi will approach you with a placard. After a brief introduction and Nepali style welcoming, we will transfer you to your hotel. Along the way of viewing the busy streets of Kathmandu, you will have a quick briefing about some basic norms and values of Nepal. After some snacks of reaching your hotel, head towards our office in Thamel. Here, we will introduce you with your guides and do a short orientation of the trek. In the evening time, you can visit the market for trekking gears and supplies. Overnight at a hotel in Kathmandu.
Today will be a trek preparation day for you as you will spend your spare time visiting the UNESCO heritage sites of Kathmandu. Start your day visiting the Bashantpur/(Kathmandu) durbar square near to your hotel. Visit the ancient monuments in the square. You can also try some snacks here. The second destination for today lies about 5 km west of Kathmandu, the Swyambhunath stupa. Visited by both Hindu and Buddhist devotees, Swyambunath is also called "The Monkey Temple". You can have an amazing view of whole Kathmandu Valley from here. In the late afternoon, we’ll head towards the major Hindu Shrine of Pashupatinath. Spend the evening in the Stupa of Boudhanath and experience the delights of Tibetan Buddhism from one of the rooftop restaurants here. Return and rest in your hotel. Overnight at Hotel Thamel, Kathmandu.
After early morning breakfast, we will pick you up from your hotel. You will exit the valley and head westwards by the Prithvi Highway. The scenic drive besides the mighty Trishuli River will be an amazing hill driving experience. We will take occasional breaks in the small villages in the way and try some local snacks. After you turn right from the Malekhu Bridge, we will drive further to Calendar and Arughat Bazaar. Arughat is an essential commercial center for the people of these areas. It is also the junction separating remote Dhading with the Manaslu region. From here an hour of a further drive will take you to the Market Bazaar. We will then have options either a hike (1 hour) or drive to the Soti Khola village. Most people like to hike there, but the alternative is yours to choose. Overnight at a lodge in Soti Khola.
After your breakfast, be ready for the first day of your hike to Maccha Khola. Today will mostly be a plain walk midst of lush sub-tropical forests. After leaving the Soti Khola, you will follow the Budi Gandaki River. The trail quickly narrows down into a typical jungle as we head towards the valley side. Passing some villages in the way, we will make our way to Lapu Besi. The trail widens as we walk between the terraced hills farmlands. After walking about an hour, we descend steeply beside the river bed and continue a small path to a steep valley side. Towards the end of today's hike, we will have a gradual rise reaching Macchakhola at 870 meters. Overnight at a guest house in MacchaKhola.
Our stretch of the trek today will give you the best taste of the lower Himalayan region in the Manaslu region. Most of our walk will be beside the mighty Budi Gandaki River. Starting early we will head towards the village of Khorla village. You can have your breakfast here or walk further to Tatopani where the hot spring lies. Stopping briefly at Tatopani, we will continue our journey to Jagat. Switching the banks of Gandaki by steel suspension bridges, we will stay in the exposed and somewhat challenging trail to Doban. We will have our lunch here and push further to Lauri. In the final part of trek today we will have a steep hike from Lauri crossing the suspension bridge to reach Jagat.
After our breakfast, we will have our permits of the Manaslu region checked before starting the trek at Jagat. After a quick descend to the riverside, we will have an uphill hike. After some further hiking, we will reach the hill of Salleri popular for the fantastic Sringi Himal 7187 m view and refreshing breeze. We will cross the Gandaki River once again and continue our way up to the gorge. Crossing the river three more times ascending from one hill to another. The difficult trail continues and a steep uphill to Philim then to Ekle Bhatti. After covering the ridge section here, we will reach the village of Deng at an altitude of 1860 meters. Overnight at a lodge in Deng.
The views of the majestic mountains start to open up as we begin our trek early from Deng. Once we cross the Lana Village, we will meet many Mani walls and Buddhist chortens along the way. As we head further north, we will find more Tibetan influence in the lifestyle of the people living in these areas. We will have a good uphill climb most of the way today. We will cross many small settlements as we make our way to the hilltop village of Ghap. The cultural tour from Ghap to Ghorepani in the Annapurna region starts from here. After a brief time here and a quick village tour, we will continue our walk alongside the Budi Gandaki River.
After crossing a suspension bridge over the river, we will reach the village of Namrung today.The shortest day of the whole Manaslu circuit trek will give you some of the most scenic and mesmerizing memories till date. After an early breakfast, you can go for a village walk before the trek. You will trek pass Lihi and continue your way crossing the Hinang river. After some distance, you will start your climb to the settlement of Sho. Taking a quick break here and enjoying the views that this noble path has to offer you will continue your walk to Lho. Nearing Lho, you will be welcomed with Mani walls and chortens that surround the village. Lho is the perfect place in this circuit to understand the influence of beautiful Tibetan culture in these mountain regions. Overnight at Lho.
You will start your day with a warm Tibetan tea at Lho and continue your way towards Samagaon today. As you begin your day today, you will have a quick descent followed by the trail along the right bank of the river. Today you will have a close view of Peak 29 with many other ones too from the path. After walking some time, we will take a detour from the original trail leading up to the Honsansho Gompa, Punggen glaciers, and to Punggen Gompa. From a viewpoint here, you will have a beautiful view of the Peak 29 and Manaslu mountains. Returning to the trail, you will walk for an hour to reach the village of Sama or Sama Gaon. Overnight at guest house in Samagaon.
Today will be comparatively easy trekking as you will only have a couple of uphill climbs. The trail is mostly dull and small as we walk alongside the ridges. We will then pass through a windy desert valley close to Tibet (only 4 kilometers away). This stretch provides the best view of the mighty Manaslu Mountain. After walking for an hour or so we will reach the Tibetan refugee village and the village of Samdo. Some of the significant highlights of Samdo include the breathtaking view of Manaslu (Glacier, icefall and the mountain itself), Samdo or Pang Phuchuli Mountain, Nagdi Chuli, Sonam Himal and many more. Overnight at a lodge in Samdo.
Acclimatization is a crucial factor in easy and effective trekking in the Himalayas. In a short amount of time, we go from the plain valley of Kathmandu to Samdo at 3690 meters. Samdo, being a lively village with multiple short hiking options, is the priority of the travelers to stay for the day. It is strategically the midpoint of the upper range of elevation of the trail, hence is a perfect village for acclimatization. In the afternoon, you will have an option to hike up to the Manaslu Base camp and enjoy the view from there. You can wake up early and hike to one of the many beautiful hills surrounding Samdo and enjoy the view of the rising sun over the Himalayas. After returning, you can go in a short village tour of Samdo and surrounding settlements. People also like to try village style laundry in small streams beside the village. Rest and prepare for the long climbs to come in the upcoming days at Samdo. Overnight at Samdo.
Today you will have a short, scenic and challenging hike to the Dharmasala. Most of the trail, as you elevate, has high contents of snow and is steep so one must be careful and follow their guide. Starting from Samdo, early in the morning, you will hike through sparse Himalayan vegetation leading to the rocky uphill climb. The scene of the Himalayas is pristine from the path, and one can just gaze at the beauty of nature in every small interval. Passing through multiple small pasture lands, you will reach the lively Larkhya bazaar. From here it is only some minutes of walk to Dharmasala which is the last point of the trek today. Overnight at a hotel in Dharmasala.
Today will be the longest trekking day of this whole Manaslu Circuit. We will cover a significant distance today moving up and over the Larkhya La pass to the beautiful village of Bimthang. You will start your day early from Larkhya La pass and start your uphill climb to the Larkhya La pass. The trek begins with first with a steep uphill climb followed by gradual ascend in a clear trail. You will pass multiple small glaciers moving up to the pass. The path becomes windy and partly rocky nearing the pass, and one must continue with caution here. From the top of the Larkya La pass you will have a feeling of satisfaction and pride sighting the magnificent Himalayas. We will take some photographs here of the background with Mt. Manaslu, Ratna Chuli, Cheo Himal, and many other small and big snow-capped mountains of this region. After you take your packed lunch here, start your descent to the Bimthang Village. The decline is slow and gradual followed by some of the steep sections. Once reaching Bimthang, you can rest and plan for the upcoming long drops. Overnight at a guest house in Bimthang.
The trek today is mostly descending with some steep sections. You will re-enter the subtropical forest region passing rhododendron forests in the way. As you start the day, you will descend to Purdin Khola and view the western base camp of Mt. Manaslu. From here, you will have an option to take a short hike to one of the ridges for a majestic view of Manaslu and Annapurna ranges. Follow the original trail to the Dudh Khola and walk through a narrow path surrounded by rhododendron. After a couple of hours, the valley of Karche comes to sight. Karche is also the highest cultivable land of the Manaslu region at an altitude of 2785 meters. Continuing your walk downhill, you will cross a small stream and finally reach the village of Tilije. You can help yourself with fresh apples straight from the orchards of the village. Overnight at a guest house in Tilije.
Leaving Tilije early, you will start an uphill climb of about 45 minutes to reach the village of Dharapani. Continuing our walk we will cross the suspension bridge in the way over the Marsyangdi River. From here you will leave the circuit of Manaslu and official trek in the Annapurna trail. We will resume our walk after a brief snack break and head towards the Khotro or Katre village. We will take on the last stretch of this Manaslu trekking circuit as we make our way to the village of Tal. The green hills and beautiful waterfalls falling in the way will make our day even more satisfying. Reaching the village of Tal in Marsyangdi valley, rest and take a short village tour too. Overnight at a guest house in Tal.
You have to options in the Manaslu circuit trek from the village of Tal. One can either take a four to five hours of Jeep ride to Besisahar or can have an extended two days trek to reach there. We will choose the first one as it is the best way to cover the distance viewing the scenery. You can also hike there, and we are compatible with the possible changes that one can make during the Trek. We will reach Besisahar at lunchtime from a jeep ride commencing in Tal. Once there you will have a quick break and head towards Kathmandu comfortably. A scenic drive in the hills of about five hours will take you back to your hotel in the late afternoon. Rest and head towards the street markets of Thamel after reaching your hotel. Thamel is the best place to buy some authentic Nepali souvenirs from all over the country. You can also enjoy the lively nightlife here before returning to your hotel.
After your breakfast today, we will drive to the city of Bhaktapur. Bhaktapur is only about 45 minutes’ drive from your hotel. The first site of today will be the Historical Bhaktapur durbar (palace) square. The Palace was the ruling palace of Malla Kings before Kathmandu city. The golden gate temple, Palace of Fifty-five windows, and the Nyatapola temple square are some of the major attractions in and around the Palace. You can visit the painting schools here, view the Thangkas, and artforms around this fantastic city. You can taste the local Newari cuisine and the famous king curd (Juju Dhau) in Bhaktapur. Return to your hotel and stroll around Thamel in your evening today. Overnight at Kathmandu.
Today after a parting breakfast with Himalayan Pic Du Midi, You will have some time to spare. You can visit the nearby monument in this time of which the most important one is the Bashantapur Durbar square. Spending some time here return to your hotel and prepare for your departure. Our vehicle/cab will take you to the airport a few hours before the departure for your next destination or home. We will stay in connection for your feedbacks and experiences of this venturesome trek.
What's Included/Excluded
Accommodation
- Four-nights Hotel in Kathmandu with B/B basis
- Teahouse Accommodation while on the trek
Meals
- Welcome and farewell dinner at Nepali Kitchen
- All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea/coffee) while on the trek
Transportation
- Airport pick-ups and drops in a private vehicle
- All ground transportation on a comfortable private vehicle as per the itinerary
Extras
- Full day sightseeing in Kathmandu/Entrance fee
- All necessary paperwork and Special Manasalu Restricted Area Permit, Manasalu Conservation Area Project, Annapurna Conservation Area Project/TIMS
- Professional & government licensed holder English Speaking Trekking Guide
- Entrance fee of all Monastery & Museums while on the trek
- Porter service (2 trekkers: 1 porter)
- Staff costs including their salary, insurance, equipment, food, Transportation and accommodation
- Warm clothing and other required trekking gear for staff including porters woolen hat, gloves, shocks, shoes & sunglasses etc…
- Trekking Map
- Medicine Box for Guide/Porters
- All government and local taxes
Not Included
- International Airfare and Nepal Visa fee
- Travel & Health Insurance
- Emergency Helicopter Rescue Insurance
- Lunch & Dinner in Kathmandu: $10-15 Per Meal
- Any Alcoholic Drinks, Mineral water, and deserts in Trek
- Hot Shower Battery Charges, International call, WIFI & internet on Trek
- Unforeseen Cost such as Flight Cancellation
- Tips for guides and porters
Notes
* Your big Luggage should be 12 kg each without your Carry bag (small bag). You have to carry 4/5 kg with a small bag during you walking on the Trekking. Your small bag should be over 30 to 40L.
* You have to bring personal medicine box for the mountain. You have to good physical condition is necessary to travel in Nepal. It is recommended to go to doctor for a checkup before coming to Nepal.