Manaslu Circuit Trek

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at your hotel this morning before embarking on a cultural tour of Kathmandu. This is one of the world’s great historic capitals, where a tremendous sense of history permeates each of its architectural and religious wonders. Everywhere you look in Kathmandu, you’ll find opulent palaces, priceless paintings, and ancient sculptures. We’ll visit several attractions recognized as UNESCO World Heritage sites today, including the Hindu temple complex of Pashupatinath and the former royal palace at Kathmandu Durbar Square. You’ll also get the chance to visit the enormous Boudhanath and Swayambhunath stupas: larger-than-life religious monuments held to be sacred by adherents of Buddhism and Hinduism alike. Make sure to visit some of the local markets to shop for handmade souvenirs and last-minute trekking supplies. When you’ve finished touring the city, you’ll return to your hotel to spend the night. Today’s breakfast is included.

You’ll get an early start on today’s cross-country drive to the town of Soti Khola. Your guide will pick you up at approximately 8:00 AM to begin this scenic trip, which takes approximately eight hours to reach your destination. This is a great opportunity to get a closer look at Nepal’s varied landscapes as you travel paved roads alongside terraced fields and forested hillsides. After reaching the headquarters of the Dhading District, you’ll continue on an unpaved road to the settlement of Aarughat. This is a good place to stop and stretch your legs before pushing on to make the final stretch to Soti Khola, which takes another hour and a half. When you arrive, make the most of the remaining daylight to enjoy the incredible views from Soti Khola’s steep hills before sitting down to dinner. You’ll spend the night at a local guesthouse; today’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Today’s trail begins by undulating gently through verdant woodland, leading you upstream alongside the Budhi Gandaki River. This waterway courses down from Manaslu itself; you’ll climb a ridge above its turbulent waters to gain a fantastic view of the entire river valley. On the way back down, you’ll traverse a wide, sandy riverbed before joining a winding mountain path overlooking the river. The scenery here is particularly gorgeous, with green rice paddies and cascading waterfalls. Continuing on, you’ll pass through the Gurung settlement known as Labubesi before reaching your stopping point for today: Machha Khola. You’ll spend the night at a village guesthouse; breakfast, lunch, and dinner today are included.

Today is a day of many river crossings. You’ll begin by leaving Machha Khola after breakfast, following a narrow trail and crossing the Tharo Khola. On the other side of this river, the trail ascends and descends alternately before passing through the village of Khorlabesi and arriving at the Tatopani hot springs. From here, a short climb along a forested ridge will lead you to a suspension bridge spanning the Budhi Gandaki. Follow a steep set of stairs on the opposite bank to locate your next river crossing: a suspension bridge over the Yaru Khola. After traversing this bridge and ascending another staircase, you’ll cross to the west bank of the Budhi Gandaki and follow the watercourse to reach the village of Jagat. All along the way, you’ll notice that the landscape changes dramatically as you steadily gain elevation. You’ll spend the night in one of the pleasant guesthouses here in Jagat. Today’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Enjoy an early breakfast this morning before leaving the sleepy little town of Jagat; there’s a lot of ground to cover on today’s agenda. Your trail first climbs a valley to the quaint village of Sirdibas, where you’ll find scenic streets lined with traditional stone-built homes. You can also get a great view of the Sringi Himal range from here; its highest peak is the mountain called Chamar. After admiring the view, you’ll descend to the Budhi Gandaki and cross a long suspension bridge to pick up the trail leading to Philim. This is a larger Gurung village surrounded by beautiful terraced fields. You’ll continue through Philim, passing by impressive waterfalls as you move through the river valley. Just past the settlement of Ekle Bhatti, you’ll return to the Budhi Gandaki and use suspension bridges to cross the river twice more. You’ll trek through the village of Pewa and continue through the valley past a small campsite before finally reaching today’s destination: Deng. This is a very small town with great views and lots of hospitality; you’ll overnight in a comfortable guesthouse here. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner today are included.

Today’s trek begins with a river crossing and a steep ascent through lush greenery. Traveling westward, you’ll enjoy sweeping valley views and pass through a few small villages. As the trail continues, you’ll begin to see mani stones along the path. Each stone is inscribed with a Buddhist mantra and is an indication that you’re now entering a region influenced by Tibetan culture. Consider stopping for lunch in the nearby village of Prok; you’d be hard-pressed to find a better spot to take your meal while reveling in outstanding views of the Sringi Himal. After lunch, you’ll cross the Budhi Gandaki a few more times and follow the river to the village of Namrung. You’ll know that you’re getting close when the dense forest starts to thin out and the trail begins its final ascent to Namrung. You’ll spend the night in a guesthouse here. Today’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

You might be tempted to linger over breakfast this morning; on a clear day, Namrung offers splendid views of the Sringi Himal and Ganesh Himal. You might also spot Himalchuli to the south, which at over 7,000 meters is one of the mightiest peaks of the Mansiri Himal range. Once you leave town, you’ll hike along a forested trail to reach the picturesque village of Lihi. This is a pleasant spot to take a break; the town is surrounded by terraced fields and pine-clad hills dotted with chortens and colorful prayer flags. Continuing past Lihi, you’ll keep ascending through the forest to reach the village of Lho Gaun. Best known for its hilltop monastery, Ribung Gompa, Lho Gaun also offers extraordinary views of Manaslu and Ngadi Chuli (sometimes called Peak 29). From town, a small detour to the nearby Pungen Glacier will reward you with stunning up-close views of Manaslu. You’ll return to Lho Gaun to spend the night in a local guesthouse; today’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Departing Lho Gaun, you’ll earn spectacular mountain views as you ascend steadily to reach a plateau, where you’ll come across the village of Shyala. Cross a ridge here before descending to a rocky moraine leading to Pungen Glacier. From here, your path continues to the pastoral settlement of Samagaon. Regarded by many travelers as the most beautiful village on the entirety of the Manaslu Circuit Trek, Samagaon’s slate-roofed, stone-built houses are clustered beneath some of the biggest peaks in the region. If the weather is clear, the village enjoys remarkable views of Manaslu. There are a handful of cozy guesthouses in this little village; you’ll spend the next two nights at one of them. Today’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Today is set aside for acclimatization; as you ascend to higher altitudes with less oxygen in the atmosphere, your body needs time to adapt. For the same reason, our itineraries are designed to embrace a well-known trekking maxim: climb high, sleep low. However, there are a few interesting sights to see around Samagaon that can easily keep you busy for the day. One option is to visit the Pungyen Gompa, a monastery located near the village of Sama. You can also trek past Sama to reach Birendra Tal, a glacier-fed lake famous for its turquoise waters. The Buddhist guru and saint Milarepa is said to have meditated in a cave north of the lake; ask your guide to help pinpoint its location.

If you’re up for a more challenging hike, you can make a full-day excursion to Manaslu Base Camp instead. The camp is located at 4,750 meters, and the round trip from Samagaon takes approximately seven or eight hours. Of course, you can always just kick back in Samagaon and enjoy the day at your leisure. Watching the town’s traditionally attired villagers going about their day against a backdrop of mani walls and chortens is a pleasant way to spend the afternoon. This evening, you’ll return to your guesthouse to spend the night. Today’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Sit down to a final breakfast in Samagaon as the sun rises over the majestic massif of the Mansiri Himal. When you’re ready to begin your morning hike, you’ll cross sprawling pastures and gradually descend to the Budhi Gandaki river valley below town. You’ll pass a number of mani walls as you hike through forests of birch and juniper here. Mountain views are also excellent on this part of the trail; Manaslu looms directly ahead as you approach the village of Samdo. This remote settlement is populated by Tibetan refugees and is located just a day’s walk from the Tibetan border. You’ll spend the night in one of the guesthouses here, but you should have plenty of time to explore the village before turning in. Climbing the hills behind Samdo will reward you with a good look at the Himalayan peaks of Hiunchuli and Ngadi Chuli, among others. Today’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Today’s trek begins by taking a wooden bridge over the Budhi Gandaki and beginning to climb, crossing a couple of smaller streams near the massive Larkya Glacier. It’s here that you’ll find the seasonally active little community of Larkya Bazaar. Thanks to its location near the border, the town was once an important center of trade and commerce between Tibet and Nepal. After passing through the village and beginning a steady climb along the Sarka Khola valley, you’ll arrive at Dharmasala. Also known as Larkya Phedi, Dharmasala consists of little more than a basic guesthouse and an assortment of campsites—but it also has a few interesting mani walls, and its views of Larkya Peak and Manaslu are hard to beat. After admiring the scenery, you’ll spend the night in the guesthouse here. Make sure to get lots of rest tonight; you’ll be reaching the highest point on the entire Manaslu Trek tomorrow. Today’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

This morning, you’ll begin the most epic day of the Manaslu Circuit Trek. Your goal is to reach the village of Bhimphedi by crossing the high-altitude pass called Larkya La; the route should take approximately eight or nine hours to complete. You’ll begin by ascending a ridge, earning great views over the valley. Larkya Peak and Cho Danda are especially magnificent from this vantage point. As you continue to hike, you’ll start to cross the moraines of the Larkya Glacier. This path will lead you directly to the incredible Larkya La. The pass itself is located at an altitude of about 5106 meters; from here, you’ll enjoy a panoramic view of multiple 7,000-meter mountains. Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, and Annapurna II are just a few of the snowcapped giants visible from the pass. When you’ve finished admiring this unbelievable landscape, you’ll begin the steep climb down from Larkya La. Your descent will take you across additional moraines before bringing you into lower-altitude pastures, where you’ll find the village of Bhimphedi. Also known as Bimthang, the town is situated on a flat meadow surrounded by towering mountains. You’ll overnight in a guesthouse here; today’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

After enjoying breakfast with sunrise views of Manaslu, Cheo Himal, and Lamjung Himal, you’ll start today’s hike by descending through wide pastures to the riverbed of the Dudh Khola. Cross the river on a wooden bridge; the trail soon begins to climb alongside terraced paddies before reaching Karche La. This mountain pass is perhaps not quite as spectacular as Larkya La, but it does afford excellent views of the path you’ll soon be taking. From here, you can see the Marsyangdi river winding through a forested valley far below. Descending from Karche La, you’ll pass through this forest of rhododendron and fir trees. You’ll soon spot the village of Tilje nestled against a steep hillside. This will be your stopping point for today’s hike. Overnight at a guesthouse here; breakfast, lunch, and dinner today are included.

Your last day of hiking on the Manaslu Circuit Trek begins with a climb over a small ridge just past Tilje; the trail here is paved with stones as it leads you through a beautiful village. You’ll take a bridge across the Dudh Khola river before passing through a chorten-shaped archway and following a mani wall to the village of Thonje. After crossing the Marsyangdi river, you’ll ascend to the village of Dharapani, where your trail merges with the traditional Annapurna trekking circuit. You’ll register with a police checkpoint here before moving on through the nearby settlement of Karta. Past the town, you’ll need to cross the Marsyangdi one more time before reaching another village called Tal. Situated at the foot of a large waterfall and lined with mani walls, Tal is a scenic place to take a break; in fact, many trekkers choose to spend the night here. You’ll push on a little further to descend to Chamje village instead, which allows you to escape some of the crowd. You’ll overnight in a guesthouse here in Chamje. Today’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Your unforgettable journey along the Manaslu Trek has now come to its conclusion. After breakfast in Chamje, you’ll be transported to Besisahar. This bustling town serves as a trekking gateway to the Annapurnas, so it’s likely that you’ll encounter more than a few fresh-faced hikers getting ready for their own adventures here.

From Besisahar, you’ll enjoy transportation in a private vehicle back to Kathmandu. This route descends through the Marsyangdi river valley and joins the main road connecting Kathmandu with Pokhara. The entire route should take approximately eight or nine hours, and it’s a great opportunity to get one last look at Nepal’s timeless rural landscapes along the way. When you’ve arrived in Kathmandu, you’ll check in at your hotel to enjoy a hot shower and well-deserved nap. This evening, you can visit the restaurants and markets of Kathmandu for a final time. Today’s breakfast and lunch are included.

We hope you’ve enjoyed your time on the Manaslu Circuit Trek during your visit to Nepal. This morning, you’ll have one last included breakfast in Kathmandu before it’s time to say farewell.

A representative from Nepal Hiking Team will take you to Tribhuvan International Airport approximately three hours before your flight’s scheduled departure. We can’t wait to welcome you back for your next adventure!