Manaslu Circuit Trekking

We leave Kathmandu early and follow the Prithvi Highway west before turning north towards Arughat and Soti Khola. Beyond Arughat the road becomes rough and narrow as it follows the Budhi Gandaki river upstream, passing terraced fields and small villages. The day ends at Machha Khola, whose name means Fish River, a small village with simple teahouses. It is a long and bumpy drive, but it takes you straight to the start of the trail.

The first trekking day follows the Budhi Gandaki through a narrow, steep-sided valley. The trail climbs and drops along the river, crossing several suspension bridges and passing Tatopani, where natural hot springs feed a small bathing spot. After Dobhan and Yaru Khola we reach Jagat, a paved stone village where the Manaslu restricted area permit is checked. The lower valley is warm, so start early and carry plenty of water.

From Jagat the trail climbs to Salleri and Sirdibas, where the first mani walls and chortens appear. We pass Philim, a large Gurung village, and the junction where the trail to the Tsum Valley branches off. The gorge then narrows dramatically, with the path cut into cliffs above the river and bamboo forest on the slopes. After Ekle Bhatti and several bridges, we arrive at the small settlement of Deng, the gateway to the Nubri region.

After crossing the river, the trail climbs to Rana and Bihi Phedi, with Buddhist carvings and prayer flags becoming more frequent. We continue through forest and small villages such as Ghap, where you may catch views of Shringi Himal. The last section climbs through a lovely forest of rhododendron and fir to Namrung, a well-kept village with good teahouses, a small museum and a police checkpoint. On clear afternoons, Siringi and Ganesh Himal can be seen from here.

A shorter day that helps acclimatisation. The trail passes through Banjam and Lihi, with barley fields, stone houses and long mani walls showing the Tibetan culture of Nubri. The valley opens and the views grow bigger with every step. We stop at Lho, a village with a large monastery, Ribung Gompa, set on a ridge. From Lho, the sunset and sunrise views of Manaslu are among the best on the whole circuit, so have your camera ready.

After an early look at Manaslu glowing at sunrise, we walk to Shyala, a village surrounded by peaks including Himalchuli and Ngadi Chuli. The trail then crosses open pastures to Samagaun (also called Sama Gaon), the largest village in the upper valley. Samagaun sits beneath the glaciers of Manaslu and has a strong Tibetan character, with a monastery, yak herds and potato fields. The walk is short, leaving the afternoon free to rest and explore.

This rest day is important before going higher. Staying active helps acclimatisation, so we take a hike and return to sleep at the same altitude. Popular choices are the walk to Birendra Tal, a glacial lake at the foot of Manaslu, the climb to Pungyen Gompa with close views of the Manaslu glacier, or a longer, tougher hike towards Manaslu Base Camp (about 4,800 m). Your guide will suggest the best option based on the group’s energy and the weather.

An easy walk along the widening Budhi Gandaki valley, past juniper and birch scrub and yak pastures. After crossing a bridge, we climb a short way to Samdo, a remote village of Tibetan origin close to the border. The short day gives your body time to adjust to the altitude. In the afternoon, a short hike above the village offers views of the surrounding peaks and the route to the Tibetan border.

The trail crosses a stream and climbs steadily past the Larkya glacier moraine. The landscape turns barren and rocky, with blue sheep sometimes seen on the slopes. We reach Dharamsala, also called Larkya Phedi, a small group of basic lodges at the foot of the pass. It is the highest overnight stop of the trek, and conditions are cold and simple. Have an early dinner and go to bed early for tomorrow’s pre-dawn start.

The big day. We start around 4 am and climb gradually over moraine and past small frozen lakes to the prayer-flagged Larkya La. From the top, the views of Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kang Guru and Annapurna II are unforgettable. The descent to the west is steep and can be icy, so take care. The trail eases lower down and reaches the wide meadows of Bimthang, with Manaslu’s northern face and glaciers behind. This is the longest day of the trek.

We descend through pine and rhododendron forest, crossing the Dudh Khola and passing Hampuk, Yak Kharka and Karche. The greenery returns quickly and the air feels warm and rich after the high pass. Past Gho and Tilije, a Gurung village, the trail reaches Dharapani, where it joins the Annapurna Circuit in the Marsyangdi valley. Your ACAP permit is checked here. Enjoy a relaxed final trekking evening with the team.

We drive by jeep down the Marsyangdi valley past Tal, Chamje and Syange to Besisahar, the headquarters of Lamjung district. The road is rough in its upper part, with waterfalls and steep valley walls. From Besisahar we continue on a better road to Dumre and along the Prithvi Highway back to Kathmandu. It is a long travel day, and you will reach your hotel in the evening.

Your Manaslu journey ends today. Depending on your flight time, you may have a few hours for shopping or a visit to a heritage site such as Boudhanath Stupa. A member of our team will drive you to Tribhuvan International Airport about three hours before your flight. We hope to see you again on another Himalayan adventure.