Manaslu Circuit Trek

Itinerary in Details:

Day 01:Arrive in Kathmandu
Arrive in Kathmandu meet assist and transfer to hotel and brifing about the trek evening dinner greeting with Nepali culture programmes. O/n at Hotel,

Day 02: Sightseeing Kathmandu
We start the tour for discovering the extraordinary city. The program will be: Bhaktapur Durbar Square monuments with their wooden pagoda-temples, the Bodnath or Swayambhunath’s Buddhist sanctuaries and Pashupatinath, a holy Hindu temple where the cremations process of Hindu religion takes place, and, including many temples spread about along the crowded and busy streets of the antique city. O/n at Hotel,

Day 03: Kathmandu - Gorkha (1150m) :
After breakfast the early morning drive from Kathmandu to Gorkha is about 6 hours crossing 140 Km. An optional hike can be done to Old Palace of Gorkha, the palace of the King Prithivi Narayan Shah who conquered and unified all small countries to one and named Nepal. Camp is little bit down in very nice rice fields facing Manaslu and Annapurna range.O/n at Camp,

Day 04: Gorkha - Khanchok (1150m).
The walk is across rice fields and other crops fields as millet, mustard, all terrace fields carved into the hills. We cross Kharkhatang and Pndeko village and another hamlet below Chautara called Ahle, a village with school and small inn. From here to Taple the path becomes a gentle ascent. After Taple we will come to a pass and again descending down the steep slope by the well maintained path with stone steps here and there. We finally reach our camp site at Khanchok village. O/n at Camp,

Day 05: Khanchok - Arughat (700m). A descent continues further from Khanchok and you reach the stream, crossing steps made of stone, again climbing up you will come to Koyapani (950 m). After Koyapani it’s abrupt descend to the valley, crossing streams, walking by the bank of rivers and walking through the rice fields and in another hour to Shiraune Bash. We continue our walk overlooking the BuriGandaki later on cross the suspension bridge over the Brui Gandaki and finally come to Arughat Checkpost and have a short rest. Camp a little bit upstream near Kati Bazar alongside the Buri Gandaki river at Arughat. O/n at Camp,

Day 06: Arughat – Beyond Soti Khola 620 m
Now during 8 days we are going upstream the Buri Gandaki. Today you will ascent once through the rice paddies and farm fields and pass through small hamlet Kokethar. We come across to huge rock to your left and again walking down will come to cross the Amas Khola, we move again through the rice fields, pass through the forested area. After a while we reach to Kyoropani from here repeating ascents and descents you will be traversing until you come down close to the shores. We keep on moving along the river and soon come to Soti Khola and after Soti Khola walking few ascents & descents with the forested area about an hours away, in the most convenient spot, Korsanadera, O/n at Camp ,

Day 07: Korsanadera - Maccha Khola (900m).
Starting with rocky path, streams with small slope and crossing rice fields we come to the terraced field and Lapbesi (840 m). From Lapbesi we keep on walking farm fields and rice fields again and come to a village, later on the valley begins to widen and we can see Sringi HImal (7087) also known as Chamar far beyond the valley. The path gets down to the shore, after short descent you will reach Kani Gaon, big village with houses scattered. Crossing the village, again the path goes down to the shore and climb back on to the flank. In about an hour we come to sandy bed of Machha Khola. O/n at Camp,

Day 08: Maccha Khola – Jagat (1410 m).
We leave early in the morning as today’s journey is a long one. The cultivated area ends because the slopes become too steep and the rare remained fields are poor. We walk upstream the river caught between two cliffs till Tatopani, hot springs. The trail climbs up over another ridge then cross the Buri Gandaki on a suspension bridge. Now on the eastern side of the river the trail climbs on a wide well crafted staircase, then across a landslide area over a ridge to Dovan (1000 m), a village that have few small shops. Soon after Dovan cross the Dovan Khola using the suspension bridge and move on repeating ascents and descents. Continue traversing the slope, huge cacti, gaining altitude steadily, the Buri Gandaki here is a torrent that rushes down. We pass the steep ascent, the valley widens and the Buri Gandaki can be seen through the large sandy river shore. We keep on moving with level path, and come to Yaru Khola (1330 m), we cross the 93 m long suspension bridge over Yaru Khola and ascend a wide set of stone stair case, descent to the river and then climb again up more stone stairs to Tharo Bhanjyag. We cross the west bank of the Buri Gandaki, climb a ridge trek along the river and come to the close housed village of Jagat at 1410 m. Jagat has a check post (ACAP) office and few small inns. O/n at Camp,

Day 09: Jagat - Philim (1700m).
Climb up over the rocky ridge to Salleri (1440 m)and the good view of “Shringi Himal”.is seen as you continue walking the side of the cliff. The trail then descends where several mani walls indicate now the region is entering to the Tibetan influence area, though Gurung are the dwellers around. We come to Ghatta Khola where several mills (Ghatta in Nepali) can be found. We cross the suspension bridge and climb up to the village of Philim, a Gurung village. Manaslu Conservation Area Project head quarter office is also in this large village. We camp here for the day. O/n at Camp,

Day 10: Philim – Dhing (2050m).
The trail ahead turns north just above the lowest house in the village and stays fairly level as it traverses millet fields to Ekle Bhatti (Serson) at 1600 m. there is alternative route to reach Ekle Bhatti, by passing Pangsing, climbing Ngyak village and descent & ascent over another ridge before rejoining the new trial. Now the trail descends, Buri Gandaki soon narrows to 5 meters wide , we cross the bridge , traversing around pine forest on the flank and you will see Shar Khola joining the Buri Gandaki on the opposite bank. We continue moving on repeating the ascents & descents and also with some of the banks of the river. The trail makes its way up the western side and the valley finally widens, offering a nice and pleasant walk through bamboo forests to the Dhing Khola. We cross Dhing Khola and reach Dhing Village where few numbers of houses are only built ,this is the village of Gurung, but it seems to have a strong Tibetan influence. O/n at Camp,

Day 11: Dhing - Namrung (2700m).
We start walking with small ascent, down the river shore, and again ascent little while along the Buri Gankdaki and cross the suspension bridge to the opposite bank. We will make short steep ascent and reach Rana village with few houses but no shops around. Now the trail becomes gentle ascent. We pass Unbae with a kanni and mani stones, the trail now goes down to the riverside. Ascent little bit on to the river terrace, and you will pass below the village Bhi. After Bhi, the trail crosses of two ravines and climb high above the river before dropping into the Sringi Valley, and Sringi Khola 91990 m) is opposite to the valley, we cross the river through suspension bridge, follow the level path of the flank for a while and you will reach the hamlet of Pur. As you are traversing through the forest, you are gradually approaching the Buri Gandaki and we come to the farm land and go through Kanni. Finally you are in Ghap (2095 m). We keep on walking by the banks and see Tom (Tum) Khola, which flows in a deep gorge form Tibet. The trail climbs along side the river past two mani walls to waterfall. We climb a large rock, enter the rhododendron forest, in the middle of the forest there is wooden bridge over Buri Gandaki. The trail now climbs on the northern side to a big rock cave, then cross the river again through the wooden bridge again. We continue climbing making a long ascent through bamboo and rhododendron forests and finally enter the Namrung village through a stone archway at 2700 m. village with lovely stones and with check post controls the access to the upper part of the valley. The campsite is down the small school house to the Thorang Khola. O/n at Camp,

Day 12: Namrung – Lho (3180 m).
The trail enters upper Nupri where Tibetan influences are obvious like wearing dress called Chubas, a Tibetan style wraparound cloak. We climb up many meadows and houses to Barsam village, then through the forests, rhododendrons, the path passes through stone arched, closely built houses of Lihi (2900 m), Lihi has a Gompa on the side of the trail. The trail again goes through a kani and path goes around heading for the Hinan Khol. Cross the Hinan Khola through the bridge, will come across another kani, go through it and you are in Sho Village (2960 m). Now the views open up and Naike Peak, Manalsu North (7157 m) and long waited Manaslu (8163 m) appears at the head of the valley. The trail crosses a small ravine to a big prayers wheel in the middle of the trail. After a while you will be in neighboring village Lho (3180 m), a large village with many houses, with a Gompa, rough stone archway at the entrance and a Tibetan style chorten and huge mani wall at the western end. The spectacular eye catching of view of Manaslu from the kani above Lho is marvelous. O/n at Camp,

Day 13: Lho- Sama Gompa (3500 m)
Descent down to the Damonan Khola, cross the wooden bridge near some mills, the start ascending again., you will see the peak 29 ahead of you. The trail heads along the stream and the path will fork into two. We take the trail to Sama via Honsanho Gompa. We cross the stream, forested area and after 3 minutes of ascent, we will reach Honsanho Gompa, the views from here are Manaslu North, Manaslu and peak 29. It takes 2 hours to climb Pungen Galcier, but it is highly recommended to those who are quite physically fit and can challenge this one unless well experienced guide is with you for this trip. Now you will be descending for some time coming to meadows and crossing form one Chorten to another. You will also see many potato fields before reaching Sama Gompa (3500 m). O/n at Camp,

Day 14: Rest day at Sama Gompa:
Explore around Sama Gompa like visiting chortens, Gompas and some holy lake. Or as said earlier one can try to Pungen Glacier, again if you are physically fit and determined to accomplish it, also if the guide is quite knowledgeable. O/n at Camp,

Day 15: Sama Gompa – Samdo (3900 m)
After Sama Gompa stay, we walk through flat land, meadows and bushes with some alternation of time. We soon descend by the shore of Buri Gandkai crossing the wooden bridge over the stream that comes from Manaslu Galcier. We even can hike for an hour to reach Manslu Glacier climbing over the stream and if we climb the ridge-like moraine we come up to cliff, overlooking the glacier lake. The amazing view of Manaslu from the glacier lake is magnificent. We enter in the meadows from the path of river shore and you will reach Krmo Kharka, looking up Manaslu right in front of you. Cross the Kharka, descend again to the river shore, cross the wooden bridge and climb up the steep slope to the terrace, go through the kanni, move on for a while and you reach Samdo, nestled behind the ridge at 3900 m. This village has a police check post but the concerned official may be headed to warmer place in winter. O/n at Camp,

Day 16: Samdo- Larkya B. C. (4450m).
Continue our walk down the gentle flank, cross the wooden bridge over Buri Gandaki and begin walking upward. We cross two streams and witness the Larkya Glacier. We go around the valley of the Salka Khola and climb up again and come to the stone guest house (4450 m) which is not a lodge but a kind of shelter called “Daram Shala”, also, know as Larkya Phedi. We camp here today and have a rest to prepare for tomorrows assault of crossing the famous and most awaited Larkya Pass. O/n at Camp,

Day 17: Larkya B. C. - Larkya Pass (5135m) – Bimthang (3800m).
It starts with a gentle and long climb from the Dharamsala, looking at Cho Danda in front on the right and Cho Dhana on the left.. Cross a small ridge, cross the side of the glacier lake and descend to the glacier. We gain the height from here climbing the ridge until you reach the top of the moraine at 5135 m. This is the top of the Larkya pass where the color prayer flags are flapping in the wind. The views of Cheo Himal (6820 m), Nemjung (7140 m), Gyaji Kang (7038 m) and Kang Guru (6981 m) are so clear and magnificent. Now the steep down descend starts from the top on the snow covered slope. After passing the scree section and then entering the ablation valley, you will reach Larcia, from here, keep on going down the path on the side of the moraine, andyou will come to Tanbuche (4450m), grassy moraine of small kharka. We continue to make descent from the kharka to the ablation valley, the trail becomes better and easier and heads down to a large meadow a mani walls and small rest house. This is Bimthang (3800 m). The Panoramic views of West Manalsu face and Phungi (6398 m) are in front of The village. On the opposite side Nemjing stands and looks gorgeous during evening & morning time. O/n at Camp,

Day 18: Bimthang - Tilje (2300m).
During a few hours we don’t know where to look: the Peri Himal massif, the huge west side Manaslu cirque... amazing! A fairy atmosphere through the forest: rhododendrons, very big trees, branches covered with leaches, glaciers on the background and the Dhudh Khola, an impetuous torrent, we are walking along. Camp in the playground of the Tilje school. O/n at Camp.

Day 19: Tilje - Tal (1250m).
Walking down along the Dhudh Khola till Thonje, where is the confluence point with the Marsyandi river, and we rejoin the Annapurna round trail. Camp 2h far away downwards Tal village, near Chamje.O/n at Camp,

Day 20: Tal - Bahudanda - Syange (800m).
The trail goes across terrace rice fields, then up to Bahudanda, a Gurung village on a hill, then drops to the confluence point of the Ngadi river and the Marsyandi torrent. A nice campsite near the bridge over the Ngadi. O/n at Camp,

Day 21: Syange - Besi Sahar (850m).
The Marsyandi valley opens and on its banks terrace fields and villages clung very high to the hillsides are the age-old work of the Nepalese farmers. We cross several interesting villages as Bhulbhule, Khudi. Then we walk on a flat part alongside the left bank of the Marsyandi. A last walk up for reaching Besi Sahar, a dusty and busy place which marks the end of our trek and the beginning of the civilization. Last camp around. O/n at Hotel,

Day 22: Besi Sahar - Dumre - Kathmandu.
Upon arrival in besisahar we will catch our bus to Kathmandu. O/n at Hotel.