Manaslu Circuit Trek – 17 Days

You’ll enjoy stunning views of the valley, the Himalayas, and the lush greenery below as you take off for Kathmandu. A representative will be there to help you check into your hotel and navigate the initial cultural shock of Kathmandu’s twisting, winding streets.

At 6 and 8 in the morning, there are direct buses from Kathmandu to Arughat. As an alternative, you can take a bus down the Prithvi Highway to Dhading or Malekhu, where you can then change to a local bus or jeep to continue your trip.

The route travels through rural areas, little towns, verdant hillsides, and green terraces. You’ll start to glimpse vistas of the southern slopes of Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, and Langtang Himal as the road ultimately turns into a rutted dirt trail. You will spend the night in Soti Khola which lies in the Bhuri Gandaki Valley.

The route starts with a bridge crossing, followed by a hike through a forest and a climb up to a ridge overlooking the Budhi Gandaki River’s raging rapids.

You’ll start this challenging ascent and descent via a variety of woodlands, rice terraces, a cliff-face ridge, a raging river, and numerous stunning waterfalls. After that, a rugged trail will take you to Khursane.

You will reach the lovely Gurung settlement of Labubesi after gradually descending past a few riding paddies. You will continue to ascend from here close to a rocky outcrop where the valley widens adjacent to the river. To go to Machha Khola, you will then cross another suspension bridge.

Today, you will begin crossing the winding road on the Budi Gandaki River’s bank. Many monkeys and langurs can be seen as you go along the forest trail. You will reach Gurung communities after the forest.

You can take warm showers and unwind your flying body at Tatopani “hot water,” which is accessible after a short distance of trekking. To go to Doban, you will then have to cross a brand-new suspension bridge over the Budi Gandaki river.

You will proceed over a mountain, stroll alongside the river, and then descend in the direction of the town of Jagat after crossing the Budhi Gandaki’s west bank. You will begin walking in the prohibited area as of this day.

As you leave Jagat, you will traverse a mountain that leads to the settlement of Salleri. From there, you will descend to Sirdibas, cross the Budi Gandaki River on a big suspension bridge, and then abruptly ascend to Philim.

You will then reach Ekle Bhatti (“lonely teahouse”) after navigating a mountainside and before making another river crossing.

The trail then enters a breathtaking section of the gorge that is topped with orchids. You will pass through bamboo trees on your way to the Deng Khola river as the trail widens along the valley. You’ll arrive at the tiny settlement of Deng after crossing the river.

From Deng, you will travel past numerous Tibetan mani walls, which are artistically hand-carved stone walls covered with Buddhist literature.

To begin, you will cross the Budi Gandaki river and climb the bridge. From there, continue climbing to connect a trail that comes from Bhi.

Then you will turn west and ascend the valley, passing through verdant forests, alpine plants, and charming settlements that are home to Manaslu region ethnic groups. You will follow the Prok Trail.

The route then ascends the river through a thick forest and arrives at a small gorge. One final hard ascent will eventually get you to Namrung village.

You will begin the day by observing the Nubri people’s way of life. You will pass by several mani walls, verdant terraces, and cottages as you explore the people’s usual way of life in this region of Tibet.

From Banjam, you will then enter a forest of fir, rhododendron, and oak trees before climbing to Lihi and finally Sho.

You will eventually get to Lho after navigating rugged hillside paths. From there, you may enjoy breathtaking views of Manaslu (8163m) and Manaslu North (7157m).

You may explore the renowned Ribung Gompa in the morning and take in the breathtaking Manaslu views from Lho. then you will head towards Sama Gaun.

You will cross the straightforward route leading to Shyala after passing through a pine and rhododendron valley covered in moss and with a gin-clear brook.

You have to walk for around an hour from Shyala to Sama Gaun. While walking, you can enjoy a stunning view of Mt. Manaslu.

Mountain vistas will diminish as you approach the village, but you’ll be drawn in by the yak pastures and conventional settlements.

Today is the rest day to adjust physically. While traveling to higher altitudes, you must be cautious of altitude sickness and try not to overdo yourself.

So, you will acclimate yourself on this day. You can spend the day touring the area, taking side trips to Pun Gyen Gompa or Manaslu Base Camp.

You may visit thousands of mani stones bearing Buddhist teachings which are on display, along with images of Sherpa women wearing traditional attire and decorations.

You can also visit Birendra Taal (lake). However, each of these side journeys takes almost a full day.

Today you will travel alongside the Buri Gandaki River and pass through juniper and birch forests until you arrive in Kermo Kharka.

The trail then dips and crosses a wooden bridge before leading you through the White Stone Kani to Samdo.

When you get to Samdo, you have two options: walk to Samdo Peak or tour the local communities. Above the valley, the Larkya La route is on the left.

On the Larkya La trail, you can also observe the primary route for Tibet crossing the Larjyang La creating slopes.

Today, you’ll stop in Samdo for a rest day and take a day trip to the Tibetan border. Parts of Tibet and Nepal can be seen from the border. If you’re lucky, you might even see the Yak procession cross the border.

At the border, you can gaze south towards Samdo Glacier for stunning images of a massive serac near the glacier’s summit. Marmots, Picas, and Blue Sheep are other seasonal subjects for framing.

After eating breakfast in Samdo, you will pass the Larke Bazaar, a temporary Tibetan bazaar. Then you will descend to the Budi Gandaki River. You’ll pass by a lot of traditional monasteries along the way.

As you ascend uphill while spanning two streams and seeing the Larkya Glacier, you will cross the wooden bridge.

You will travel around the Salka Khola Valley and then ascend once more to reach Dharamsala, also known as Larke Phedi.

Today, a strenuous walk, though not a technically challenging journey, is required to cross the Larkya La at an amazing 5160 meters.

As you travel to the pass from Larkya Phedi, you will cross the glacial moraine and pass by four frozen lakes.

The journey will take around five hours. Incredible views of Himlung Himal (7,126m), Cheo Himal (6,820m), Gyaji Kung (7,030m), Kang Guru (6,981m), and Annapurna II (7,937) can be seen from this location.

You will start descending the trail along a rocky gully. The route eventually runs out and disappears into a more flat section of the grassy moraine.

As you continue to descend to Bimthang, the valley widens, and this is where you’ll spend the night.

Today, you will be using the trails in the Manaslu area for the last time. You will pass through lush forests full of flora and animals, including rhododendron bushes, as you make your way downhill.

You will see several signs of a glacier flood in the hour that follows, such as bank erosion and split tree trunks. The going will also get rather tough.

Until Tilije, you will remain on the north (true right) bank. You will then carry on your journey towards Dharapani.

After breakfast, you’ll take a local hi-ace van or bus to Beshisahar and connect for the trip to Kathmandu.

It will be a long day of driving. You can travel comfortably to Kathmandu by thinking about staying an extra night in Besi Sahar.

Take the day before returning home to discover Kathmandu’s cultural highlights. Visit Boudhanath Stupa to appreciate its serene atmosphere after visiting Pashupatinath Temple for spiritual enlightenment.

Take a traditional Nepali lunch while taking in the vivid sights of Kathmandu Durbar Square. End the day by taking a trip through Thamel’s busy streets to check out gift shops and relax in attractive cafes.

The thrilling and exciting Manaslu Trek has come to an end today. Our representative will help you by escorting you to the international airport. We sincerely hope that you made the most of your vacation and created lasting memories.