Manaslu Circuit Trek- 15 days

As you arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport, our staff will be ready to pick you up and take you to your hotel. Once we check into the hotel, one of our representatives will brief you on the outline for the trek. In the evening, you will be joining the rest of the group for an introductory welcome dinner. The first night is all about bonding and resting up.

Highlights

• Hassle-free airport pick-up.
• A detailed explanation of the itinerary.
• Bonding welcome dinner with the full group.

We will begin our Manaslu circuit from Kathmandu. First, we will be taking a  4WD Jeep from Kathmandu to Arughat. The roads can be quite dusty as you leave the city; however, the views outside promise to make up for it. Once we leave the crowded capital, you will begin to notice how the greenery surrounds you.

The drive to Arugath will take about 7 hours. From there, we will be switching to a local jeep and heading off towards Soti Khola. This drive will take about 1.5-2 hours. At 700m, reaching Soti Khola will make you feel as if you’re right in the lap of these rolling hills. Once here, you can stroll or rest up to gather energy for tomorrow you will be starting your trek.

Highlights

• A comfortable 4WD drive from Kathmandu to Soti Khola.
• Plenty of rest stops for food and stretching your legs.
• View of beautiful rolling hills all along the way.

With the soft river sounds to act as your alarm, you will be enjoying a hearty breakfast at the teahouse. From here, we will commence our trek. This trek route promises to match your adventurous spirit with its narrow and rocky trails for a truly authentic experience.

The roads are uneven and slightly strenuous, but the countryside view and crisp, unpolluted air will surely boost your spirits. You will be walking through Sal forests, with their slim barks stretching up high to add shade to your journey. The trail will include tall cliffs, waterfalls, and rivers. Every moment promises to capture your attention, whether it is the nature itself or the scattered Gurung and Ghale inhabitants in that area.

As you trek on, you will reach Nyali Khola. This river is considered a religious site for some of the locals. Following the trail, there are stone ridges, sandy river beds, and suspension bridges, to tackle. You will be working up a sweat that makes reaching Machha Khola just that much more rewarding. This day’s trek will take you about 6 hours.

Highlights

• The trail is packed with natural beauty like the Sal forests, rivers, waterfalls, and so on.
• Walking by Nyali Khola, which is a religious site for locals.
• Challenging terrain for thrill-seekers.

On this day, you will take on winding roads and reach the bank of the Budi Gandaki river. The path you will be following is a forest trail. As such, you can expect to see many monkeys swinging around in their day-to-day shenanigans. The trail follows gentle inclines and will be relatively easy to follow.

You will also be walking by some Gurung villages and get a sneak peek of the shepherds and locals going about their business. If you start to feel sore, this trek even has a natural sauna built into the itinerary. We will be crossing Tatopani, which translates to ‘hot water,’ which is a famous hot water spring. You can relax in these waters and join the trail again with renewed energy.

Beyond this, we will cross a landslide and a ridge, leading to Doban. Crossing a wooden bridge and following the river flow, we reach Yaru. From here, we will be crossing one more bridge to reach Jagat.

Jagat is a small village tucked neatly into the lap of these rocky hills. The houses are packed close together as is the community, and you can immerse yourself in this close-knit feeling as you rest up for tomorrow.

You can expect about 7-8 hours of walking. However, the trail does not include abrupt ascends, so it should be relatively strain-free. Once you reach Jagat, you can enjoy the stunning mountain views that surround this village.

Highlights

• Gentle inclines for a relatively easy climb. 
• Wildlife, forest views, and rivers dot your journey.
• Relaxing soak at a natural hot spring.
• Beautiful mountain views from a cozy village.

Special Note

When you reach Jagat, you will need to verify your trekking permits. The check post here will check all your details as you are about to enter a restricted region.

Early morning, we will be heading out to Salleri. The trek here includes rocky ridges, which will then descend to the village of Sirdibas. This village might be small, but it packs a lot of visuals. Right from the get-go, you will see Buddhist prayer flags and religious gompas. Sirdibas is also an excellent place to try the local alcohol for a little detour if you’d like.

Walking on, you will pass Ghatta Khola and cross a long suspension bridge that takes you to Phillim. From switching from the firm, rocky terrains to a long, albeit shaky walk over a fast-flowing river, this day’s trek packs it all. Once you cross over, you will immediately find yourself surrounded by rhododendron forests and Himalayan pine. With all this natural beauty around you, we doubt you will notice the 6 hours of walking at all.

Passing Ekle Bhatti post-lunch, we will be crossing the Budi Gandaki a couple of times and find our way to a wider trail. We will be passing bamboo forests that open up to reveal Deng Khola. Crossing this river, we will reach Deng village.

Highlights 

• Local scenery like prayer flags and gompas.
• Amazing fast-flowing rivers like Ghatta Khola, Budi Gandaki, and more.
• Walking over one of the longest suspension bridges.
• The lush natural beauty of bamboo and rhododendron forests.

Special Note

When you reach Phillim, you will once again have your permits checked. Since this is a restricted area, you might want to keep your permits handy for convenience.

Once you fill up your stomach early morning, we will set out to fill up your hearts as we rejoin the winding trails. Another suspension bridge greets us and will take us to Rana and Bihi Phedi. This part of the trail is famous for its white-faced monkeys using their adorable looks for free food. Try to keep your eye on the road!

The trail further takes you through forests and mani stones, leading you to Ghap. The way here goes through many landslide zones. Our guides are well-trained in these roads and will guide you effectively. As you head-on, there is another river that you must cross several times as it takes you through forests and gompas.

This trail will then lead you into Namrung, and the day’s journey will take you about 6-7 hours. Distinguished by its bright blue roofs, this village has a lot to offer. You will get everything, from tea shops and restaurants to a modern hotel that offers cappuccinos and wifi, to bring you a bit of a city reminder in this natural paradise.

Highlights

• The eerie beauty of walking by landslide zones.
• Exotic wildlife to marvel at along the way.
• Namrung village with its vast options of tea, rest houses, and cappuccinos.

On this day, you will continue ascending to Samagaon. This day’s trek will take you about 5-6 hours. Your trek will be dotted with Buddhist monasteries and prayer wheels. The geographical beauty from the snowcaps only enhances the glimpses into the cultural beauty at this elevation.

Samagaon is a village that is perfectly placed to give you the local experience while carrying that remote and untouched feeling. Here, you will be able to notice the impacts of Tibetan culture on the everyday lives of the villagers.

Highlights

• Cultural beauty of many Buddhist monasteries, prayer wheels, and prayer flags.
• Surrounded by snowy peaks on all sides.
• Mingling with villagers in the remote village and trying local foods.

This day we will be resting at Samagaon to get you acclimatized to high altitudes. Since we have to tackle much higher altitudes in the upcoming days, this is a preventive measure against any altitude sickness.

We will also be taking an acclimatization hike, which will be a mostly leisurely walk as it is a rest day for you. You can bring your lunch to munch on as you rest by a thriving river or on a high hilltop, raising a toast to the glorious view of Manaslu. This hike will take you to Birendra Tal and Manaslu Base Camp.

The trails here are steady and easy to follow. The altitudes are quite high, so we will pace you accordingly. If you feel a strain, there is no pressure to rush as this is a rest day, and the hike is only to acclimatize you for the upcoming days’ high altitudes.

Highlights 

• Leisurely hike to rivers, green pastures, and gorgeous views.
• Acclimatization hike to Manaslu Base Camp with stunning views of icy glaciers.

Special Note

Since Manaslu Base camp is at 4400m, there is a risk of breathing difficulty. You will want to make sure you are properly hydrated and maintain a slow pace. If at any time you feel strain, then you need to notify our guide immediately as we will have our medical kit handy. Rest assured, we will plan the hike with your utmost comfort in mind.

Now that you’ve charged up your energy, you are ready to head on to Samdo. Despite the acclimatization day, this is still a much higher altitude than you are used to. So you will want to walk slower. With that in mind, our itinerary includes only 3-4 hours of walking for this day.

This altitude does come with an array of bonuses as well, though. You will be seeing sprawling yak pastures and watch the mountains almost loom in closer to greet you. A wooden bridge will take you across Budi Gandaki and into Kani. A short walk from here will take you to Samdo.

Since we had a short day’s trek, you will have plenty of time to explore neighboring villages. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also hike up to Samdo Peak for picturesque mountain views.

Highlights

• Only 3-4 hours of walking.
• Enjoy views of high-altitude yak pastures and snowy peaks.
• Extra time to mingle in the neighboring villages and try local foods.

This day’s trek, too, covers high altitude walking. You will only be walking for 3-4 hours, but make sure to pace yourself as you are at an altitude of 4460m. The altitude sickness is not the only condition trying to take your breath away as the peaks around you flaunt their snowy coats. The rugged terrains will then lead you to Dharamsala.

Highlights

• Only 3-4 hours of walking.
• Stunning views of the Himalayas.

This day is the most exciting day of the trek, as you will be reaching the highest point of this trek. You will need to head out early as you will be walking to Larkya La Pass, which stands at 5106m. The trail is quite challenging, and the high altitude makes the walk trickier. However, our guides will be right there, ensuring that your safety is never in question.

Around you, you will see famous peaks like Himlung (7126m), Kand Guru (6981m), and Annapurna II (7937m). Any number of pictures you take will not seem enough as you try to capture this spectacular view to take home.

Once you’ve had your fill, we will begin the descent towards Bintang. The massive icefalls are bound to make you feel small, and the white snow will dominate as far as your eyes can see. You can also get glimpses of glaciers like Pongkar and Saludando.

Highlights

• Reaching Larkya La Pass at 5106m and enjoying up-close mountain views.
• Seeing peaks like Himlung, Kand Guru, and Annapurna II.
• Pristine white snow, icefalls, and glaciers all around you.

Special Note:

This day’s trek reaches very high altitudes, and you will be walking for 8-10 hours. If at any point, you feel the need to take additional rests or need any medication, our guides are ready to tend to your needs. Do not hesitate to voice your concerns as your comfort will be our top priority. 

On this day, you will head out to a descent. Lush forests greet you as you turn your back on the mountains and walk towards familiar rhododendron bushes. We will be crossing the Dudh Khola and stopping at Karche for lunch.

This trail treats you to narrow valleys that display the remains of a glacial flood. The track can get quite rough, but it simply adds to the beauty of what you’ve just conquered on this trek. We will continue our descent to the village of Gurung Goa. This day’s trek will take you about 6 hours.

As you leave the icy lands behind, you will once again be welcomed by the lush vegetation of agricultural fields and oak forests. You will be walking on until you reach Tilije, where we will be stopping for the night.

Highlights

• Crossing the Dudh Khola, which translates to the Milk River, owing to its rapid white flow.
• Lush rhododendron and oak forests.
• Trekking through rough roads and remains of a glacial flood.

This day’s trek first takes you across a small ridge. After this, you will be following stone-paved trails until you greet the Dudh Khola once again. On your way, you will be passing Mani malls that lead you to Thonje village. The trail becomes easier to follow as it is mostly downhill to reach a gushing waterfall at Tal village.

Once you’ve refreshed your energy in the clean, flowing waterfall, you are ready to move on. You will be trekking through the Marsyangdi valley. As far as your eye stretches, you see terraced fields and village houses, tucked in neatly between the rolling hills. The trail will further go through rhododendron and pine forests until you reach Syange village.

Highlights

• Walking by the fast-flowing Dudh Khola.
• Tal village and its gorgeous waterfall.
• Breathing the crisp air around Marsyangdi valley and its terraced fields.

We will be taking a comfortable jeep back to Besisahar. You can take this time to sit back and enjoy the views outside your window, take a nap, or regale stories of your successful trek with other travelers. This journey will take about 4 hours. Once we are at Besisahar, we will be taking a bus back to Kathmandu. The drive to Kathmandu will take 6-7 hours, with plenty of rest stops in between.

Highlights

• Comfortable jeep and bus ride back to the city.
• Plenty of rest stops for eating and stretching out your legs.

On the final day, our staff will be dropping you at Tribhuvan International Airport. Bidding you a safe journey, we hope to see you again and hope you will choose us for any future trekking needs.