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Manaslu Circuit Trek 14 Days

Home » Nepal » Nepal Trekking » Annapurna Region » Manaslu Circuit Trek
Group Size
1-12 people
Trip Grade
Moderate
Accommodation
Tea House
Max. Elevation
5,160m/16,924 ft
Meals
B / L / D
Transportation
Local bus / Jeep
Best Season
Mar - May & Sept - Nov

The Manaslu Circuit Trek is a challenging and remote trekking route in the Nepalese Himalayas, circling Mount Manaslu (8,163 meters/26,781 feet), the eighth-highest mountain in the world. Located in the Gorkha District of Nepal, the trek offers stunning views, diverse landscapes, and an opportunity to experience local cultures.

Highlights of the Manaslu Circuit Trek

  1. Stunning Mountain Views:
    The trek offers breathtaking views of Manaslu, Himalchuli, Ngadi Chuli, and other peaks. The landscape transitions from lush forests to alpine meadows, glaciers, and high-altitude desert terrain.
  2. Cultural Diversity:
    The trek passes through traditional Tibetan villages, offering a glimpse into the lifestyle of ethnic groups like the Tamang and Sherpas. The region is influenced by Tibetan Buddhism, and you'll find monasteries, chortens, mani walls, and prayer flags along the way.
  3. Trekking Challenges:
    The Larkya La Pass is a highlight, but it is a strenuous and technical part of the trek, requiring good acclimatization and preparation.
    The weather can be unpredictable, and the trek requires crossing multiple rivers and dense forests and ascending and descending rocky trails.
  4. Manaslu Conservation Area:
    The trek passes through the Manaslu Conservation Area, which is home to rich biodiversity. You might encounter wildlife such as snow leopards, red pandas, and various species of pheasants and mountain goats.
  5. Remote and Less Crowded:
    Unlike the popular Annapurna and Everest regions, the Manaslu Circuit is less crowded, offering a more tranquil and off-the-beaten-path experience.

Tips for the Trek

  • Acclimatization: Spend time acclimatizing in higher altitudes to avoid altitude sickness.
  • Guide and Porter: While it’s possible to do the trek independently, hiring a guide and/or porter is recommended for safety and to help navigate the remote regions.
  • Physical Preparation: The trek requires physical fitness due to its length and altitude. Training in advance, such as hiking and cardio exercises, is beneficial.
  • Packing: Bring layers of clothing for changing weather, a good sleeping bag, trekking poles, and other essentials like a headlamp, a first aid kit, and a camera.

Permits Required

  • Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP)
  • Trekking Information Management System (TIMS) Card
  • Restricted Area Permit

Trip Outline

Day 01: Drive from Kathmandu to Sotikhola [710m/2328 ft] 8 - 9 hours
Day 02: Soti Khola - Maccha Khola [900m/2952 ft]: 6 - 7 hours
Day 03: Maccha Khola -Jagat [1410m/ 4625 ft]: 6 - 7 hrs
Day 04: Jagat - Deng [1,804m/5917 ft]: 6 - 7 hrs
Day 05: Deng - Namrung [2630m/8626ft]: 6 - 7 hrs
Day 06: Namrung – Samagaon [3530m/11,578 ft]: 6-7 hours
Day 07: Samagaon - Pungyen gompa / Manaslu Base Cam (Option) - Samagaon: 6 - 7 hours exploration
Day 08: Samagaon - Samdo [3860m/12,660 ft]: 4 - 5 hours
Day 09: Rest Day in Samdo
Day 10: Samdo - Dharamsala/Larkya Base Camp. [4460m/14, 628 ft]: 6 - 7 hours
Day 11: Dharamsala - Larkya la [5160m/16, 924 ft] - Bimthang [3720m/12, 201 ft]: 8 - 9 hours
Day 12: Bimthang – Tilije / Darapani [2300m/7544ft]: 6 - 7 hours
Day 13: Darapani to Besishahar
Day 14: Kathmandu: 8-9 hours

Detail itinerary

Your tour to Manaslu Circuit begins from Kathmandu. To start, you can take a direct bus at 6 am and 8 am from Gongabu Bus Park, Kathmandu, to Arughat. Or, you can take the bus to Dhading or Malekhu on the Prithvi Highway and take the local bus or jeep thereafter. Although the road is dusty and bumpy, you will catch the best landscape views from your window seat. En route, you can stop at many rests stops for short breaks and meals. Overnight at one of the teahouses in Soti Khola.

The next morning, you will enjoy a warm breakfast at the teahouse at Soti Khola while enjoying the scenic landscape. Then, you will start your trek of the day. Unlike other trekking trails, the road from Soti Khola to Machha Khola is rocky and narrow. Following the river trail, you will climb several ascends and descends across the winding road. On this day, you will encounter hundreds of mules on the route. So, you must be careful as you see them approaching you. You need to stand on the wall side of the road to prevent it from slipping down the hillside. With such experiences, you will reach Machha Khola to find many teahouses for a comfortable night’s stay.

The following day, you will start walking across the twisting road on the bank of the Budi Gandaki river. As you enter the forest trail, you will witness many monkeys and langurs. On walking further, you will reach Tatopani ‘hot water’, where you can take warm showers and relax your soaring body. After hot water relaxation, you cross a new suspension bridge over Bhudi Gandaki river to reach Doban. Following the waves, you will find the river flattening at Yaru, from where you cross a long cantilever bridge to reach Jagat, a neatly flagstoned Gurung village. Upon entering the village, you will have to verify your trekking permits at the check post. From this day, you will be walking in the restricted region.

The next day, you will walk to Salleri and descend to Sirdibas. The village welcomes you with several gompas and Buddhist prayer flags. You can also try the local alcohol at many stopovers on the route before you reach Phillim. At Phillim, you will have your permits checked, and then you will continue along the western bank of the river. Finally, you will reach Deng, the final destination of the day. There are only two teahouses in the region where they serve basic food and a night of cozy sleep.

After the sun rises, you will have breakfast and start the day’s trek. Before ascending the winding trails, you will walk across the bamboo forest to reach Deng. Moving further, you will cross a suspension bridge to climb to Rana and Bihi Phedi. On the trail, White Faced monkeys visit villages looking for a free feed. The trail then proceeds to Ghap through several landslide zones. At this point, you must be extra careful as you walk. Plus, you must be attentive to your guide’s instructions to maintain physical safety. After the landslide zone, you will follow the trail up to Namrung.

Witnessing the lifestyles of the Nubri people, you will start the day. Exploring their Tibet-influenced typical lifestyle, you will walk past several mani walls, lush terraces, and houses through Banjam to enter the fir, rhododendron, and oak forest before climbing to Lihi and then to Sho. You will walk across the easy trail to Shyala, passing through pine and rhododendron gully with moss and gin-clear stream. From Shyala, you will walk for almost an hour to reach Sama Gaun. Sama Gaun is the principal village of the Nubri people, which holds a large gompa, many shops, a health post, a heliport, telephone/wifi access, etc.

It is mandatory to have an extra night at Samagaun in the Manaslu circuit trek. The body needs more than 24 hours to adapt to the surrounding atmosphere. Your spare day can be spent in a varied way. We recommend ascending a few hundreds meter above the sleeping place. Manaslu circuit trek day trip, you may climb up to Manaslu base camp (4,520 m). Side trek to Manaslu base camp provides close-up sights of Mount Manaslu, the conch shape valley, and glacier. It is also the best viewpoint to admire the emerald Birendra lake. For an easy day, visit Nubri Pema Decho Ling Monastery and Birendra lake the discover the Sama village.

A trail to Samdo village is gentle ascending up on the mountain shrubs. The trail passes thru dwarf rhododendron, juniper, and birch forest with an exceptional view of Mount Manaslu. We spot blue sheep, musk deer, Himalayan pheasant, and Himalayan marmot. The samdo village is the highest elevated human hamlet in Nupri valley and is only a day trip to a nearby Tibetan village. The local crossing the Rui la pass and shopping provision from Tibet.

This is another day set aside for proper acclimatization. There are two options for us today. The option that we highly recommend is a hike, up the valley directly at the back of the Samdo village. This hike will take us to one of the trade passes to Tibet for excellent views of Mt. Manaslu along with other Himalayan ranges including Simrang, Hiunchuli, Ngadi, Larkye Peak, Cheo and possibly Kang Guru behind the pass. En route to these viewpoints we pass many seasonal herding settlements called doksas and sight some beautiful mountain birds like the Lophophorus (the national bird of Nepal), Lammergeyer and Himalayan Griffin soaring high above us. Another option for today could be a trip to the Gya La ('large pass') to the north of Samdo, a more frequently used trading route to Tibet. But, this is a rather longer hike (whole day) and hence could be a little tiring. Overnight in Samdo.

After breakfast, the trek begins, thru villages and buckwheat farm also passes beautiful carved stone and mani wall. Local supplies energy from Micro hydropower which was built near Buri Gandaki River. From here short steady climb up to Larkya Bazar, where often spotted locals selling Tibetan handicrafts. A small trail on the west bank of Buri Gandaki River towards Rui La pass, get way to Tibet. From here walk towards Dharamsala on barren ridge often spotted marmot and blue sheep on grassy terrain also get the stunning view of Larkya Glacier. Three basic lodges are available on Larkya Phedi. After room check-in and lunch short hike higher than Dharamsala for acclimatizing your body. After dinner goes early bed then pack your bag before sleep.

Awaited day in your Manaslu circuit trek, we crossing dramatical Larkya la pass (5,135 m). It is about 7-8 hours trek and covers 23 Km distance from Dharamsala to Bumthang. A walk contains solid up and steady descend on crumble and pebble trail. An entire path rewards amazing Mountain View also gets stunning sunrise over the Himalayas. The Larkya La is set between two mountains one of them is a popular trekking peak Larkya peak (6249 m). The larky pass summit is decorated with five color Tibetan flags also have singed board written Larkya la pass. On way down to Bimthang get a panoramic view of Annapurna mountain range and turquoise Ponker Lake. Bimthang is surrounded by greeneries on side of Ponker glacier.

The muscle might be tired and pain after a long walk on Larkya la pass. The glorious sunrise is seen over Mount Manaslu and Himlung Himal. Then after breakfast trek begins and walking down through pine and varied trees forest to Kharche. Our trail passes the historical cave of Tibetan poetry Milarepa. It is a romantic walk into the forest seldom hear birds chirping and encounter monkeys. We then passing dense populate Tilche and Goa village before the joint Annapurna circuit trek route at Dharapi village

The drive starts in the morning from Dharapani. It is a scenic drive on a bumpy road, it provides exhilarating waterfall sceneries on the canyon and rice field. From Besisahar drive continuously on a paved road which takes around 5 hours

The drive is often along the banks of the Marsyangdi and Trishuli rivers. We also drive by some beautiful villages with farming terraces on both sides of the road. In Kathmandu, we will be escorted to our hotel. The day in Kathmandu can either be spent in leisure or perhaps we catch up with some last minute shopping. To celebrate the successful completion of our journey, we will have a farewell dinner in the evening.Overnight in Kathmandu.

What's included?

  • All Transport
  • Trekker’s Information Management System(TIMS) card
  • All governmental procedure fees, all permits and local taxes and Porter
  • All meals and accommodation throughout the trek.
  • An experienced English speaking trekking guide possessing valid license issued by the government of Nepal.
  • Highly experienced trekking staffs.
  • Travel and rescue arrangements.

What's not included?

  • Visa fees/ international airfare to and from Kathmandu
  • Travel / medical insurance and emergency evacuation cost.
  • Hot and cold shower, battery recharge during Everest base camp trek.
  • Personal expenses phone calls, bar bills, extra porters, beverages etc.
  • Personal Everest base camp trekking equipments/gears.
  • Tips for guides, porters and drivers.
  • All others expenses not mentioned in “Trip Cost Includes” section

Elevation Chart & Map

Map of Manaslu Circuit Trek
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