Manaslu Circuit Trek – 17 Days

Arrival at Kathmandu International airport where our representative will be waiting to welcome you at the arrival gate. For your convenience, our representative will be holding your or your company’s name card. You will then be transferred to your hotel where you can rest and freshen up before we meet at the reception area to discuss trip details and any other information as required.

Overnight in hotel.

The Manaslu Circuit Trek takes us through a restricted area that requires multiple permits and securing these permits must be done in Kathmandu with your original passport. While we arrange the permits, you explore Kathmandu’s many wonderful restaurants and sights.

After breakfast in Kathmandu, we hit the road early in the morning. The drive is initially along the Prithvi Highway, offering splendid views of green, terraced hillsides and of the Trishuli and Marshyangdi River valleys. We then turn north and onto a dirt road for the final stretch. We can begin walking in Arughat or catch a local bus a bit further to SotiKhola, our final destination for the day.

Overnight in tea house.

Following breakfast, we begin by crossing a suspension bridge over the SotiKhola and walking through the sub-tropical forest. Soon we take the village of living, before ascending, descending and ascending again! We pass through Lapubesi, an ethnic Gurung village, and continue on. We descend to cross a long suspension bridge, then over a bluff, and back down. We cross sandy river flats to arrive in MachhaKhola, our final destination for the day.

Overnight in tea house.

We enjoy breakfast and hit the trail, and not long after wandering into Khorlabesi, where we can enjoy some coffee from coffee trees grown right here in the village. We press on as the valley narrows, passing through a small settlement Dovan, and continue on to climb to the settlement of Yaruphant, where we will gain some of the most dramatic views of the Budhi Gandaki, and traverse a new walkway hugging the cliffs above the river. We cross one last suspension bridge and spy the handsome check- post village of Jagat, our final destination for the day. Overnight in tea house.

We finish a warm breakfast, and depart Jagat, crossing a lengthy suspension bridge and descending to near river level on an exposed trail. We soon pass Saleri where you can glimpse a traditional very local tea house, and then climb for grand views up the valley toward Siridibas and Philim. We lose all the altitude we gained, climb, and then descend again, before arriving at what is claimed to be the longest suspension bridge in Nepal. We cross and ascend a steep path to Deng our final destination for the day.

Overnight in tea house.

We devour breakfast and begin our walk by ascending a trail just outside of the village. We climb, taking in the wild grasses and narrow gorge of the Budhi Gandaki below. We pass more waterfalls before ascending again to Ekle Bhatti, and then steeply descend all the way to a short suspension bridge crossing the Budhi Gandaki, coming ever closer to Manaslu. After a long final push, we pass through a village archway and spy Deng across the tributary river. A final bridge crossing, and we pull into Deng, our final destination for the day.

Overnight in tea house.

We enjoy breakfast and checkout early, soon after crossing a bridge and climbing to BihiPhedi. We proceed to arrive at a section destroyed by a landslide and cross carefully. Pressing on, we pass through Ghap, crossing a bridge and continue on up valley into forests of blue pine, oak, and rhododendron that remain with us. We cross the river two more times before arriving at a relentless uphill climb only to descend into Namrung, our final destination for the day. Overnight in tea house.

We wake to Namrung’s beautiful, lush landscape, enjoy breakfast and begin walking. We pass Lihi and then Sho, a village with very old traditional houses and villagers still adorned in their traditional clothes. If Manaslu’s signature summit cloud is not present, as we approach Lho we have full views of Manaslu’s twin peaks, framed by the colorful fields of millet surrounding this large village. We climb through Lho and carry on through beautiful oak forests, past Shyala, and leisurely stroll into Samagaon, an ancient Tibetan trading post and home to a centuries-old Gompa. Samagaon is our final destination for the day.

Overnight in tea house.

Can you believe we have gained 3000m since departing Arughat? Today therefore is a “rest” day, a full day for our bodies to adjust to the higher elevation before we proceed to the next stage of the trek. While “rest” means we will not trek to our next stage today, it certainly does not mean we cannot explore the surrounding delights. Following an early morning breakfast, we can hike to Manaslu Base Camp (4800m), enjoying expansive views of the valley, Birendra Lake, and NgadiChuli (7871m), Himalchuli (7893m), and much of the MansiriHimal. We can also take a more leisurely walk to Birendra Tal.

Overnight in tea house.

We enjoy a warm breakfast, and set out on an easy day’s walk, first passing the remnants of the moraine of the east Manaslu glacier. We continue on a largely flat trail set in the valley, always accompanying the now much smaller Budhi Gandaki. Shortly, we cross a bridge for a short, steep ascent to a chorten that marks our arrival in Samdo. Samdo sits at the confluence of valleys, and strong winds from the Tibetan Plateau. We can do afternoon hikes if we have the energy. Samdo is our final destination for the day.

Overnight in tea house.

After a hot breakfast, we saddle our packs and hit the trail for high camp. We cross the river to arrive at the spot of the Larkya Bazaar—an ancient trading spot, and continue west. After about 1hr, we can gain a northern view of Manaslu and the north massif. Superb! As we walk on, we can see in the distance the small high camp of Dharmasala. We continue along the ridge to arrive in the bustling high camp, our final destination for the day. Afternoon hikes are an option. Overnight in a tent.

Today we wake long before the sunrise, for an early breakfast, and begin walking no later than 4:30 am. We walk west, at the base the Larkya glacier’s moraine, passing a beautiful high-altitude lake, and ascending a steep trail. We emerge on top of the moraine where we follow a meandering, challenging path, passing more shallow lakes. Pushing on, we arrive at the base of the high pass for one final, slow-going ascent to arrive at Larkya La. We enjoy the views of our successful effort and begin a long descent. As we pull into the meadow home to Bimthang, we savor some of the most spectacular views of the entire trek! Bimthang is our final destination for the day.

Overnight in tea house.

We enjoy a wonderful breakfast with magnificent views and begin walking. We descend to cross a bridge over the fledgling DudhKhola to enter a forest of cedar, blue pine, oak, birch, and rhododendron, said to be more than 1000 years old! We pass through meadows and the villages of Kharche, Gho, and Tilije, a bustling trade village, and Thonje before crossing a suspension bridge and passing an ancient Mani wall that marks our arrival in Dharapani, a village at the juncture of the Manaslu Circuit and Annapurna Circuit, and our final destination for the day.

Overnight in tea house.

Early morning after breakfast from Dharapani we take Jeep or bus to Beishar. which takes 4-5 hours. We spend our last night of the trek at Besishar.

We savor our final breakfast on the trail and then grab transport back to Kathmandu, or Pokhara per your preference. Overnight in the hotel.

Final Departure – Today our incredible trip together comes to a close, and we send you off at the International Airport.