Manaslu Circuit Trek
Trip Overview
After Mt. Everest gained a bit of popularity all over the world in the ’90s, Manaslu was also experiencing an increased number of visitors as a result. Since the commercialization of Everest meant that roads were made and facilities were reaching once-untouched villages, this prompted the development of the Annapurna Circuit Trek and the Manaslu Circuit Trek.
The Manaslu region was not open to tourists until 1991 when it decided to commercialize the beautiful peaks, the stunning scenes, and the aesthetic villages of the region. Despite the recent popularity boom of the trekking scene in Nepal, most of the families in the region are still self-sufficient; they grow their own food and trade the surplus with the people of Tibet or villages in the lower region.
At the moment, the Manaslu Circuit Trek is the most authentic trek you can go for. Authentic in the sense that it is still mostly not influenced by the infrastructures and Western products. For instance, you will find modern products and tea shops infested tracks in most of the popular treks. Once it grows to become a popular track, businesses grow like weeds to provide the increasing needs.
Being the 8th highest peak in the world, the Manaslu region has seen growing numbers of tourists in recent days, but the fame has not had any unpleasant impact yet. It is truly a tea house trek.
The scenes you will see during this trek are very similar to those of the Annapurna trek but you will find a lot fewer people and a lot fewer buildings in this region. To give you a perspective of how less-traveled this trail is, the Annapurna circuit trek is visited by 160,000 travelers annually while the Manaslu circuit is traveled by only 2000 people a year.
Despite being the path traveled by a few, the trail is one of the most well-marked trekking trails in Nepal. It is one of those treks that is perfect in every sense.
Our Manaslu Circuit trek package is also another thing that’s perfect. This package offers the best value for service and we will make sure that you end the trek feeling fully content and satisfied. Let’s learn more about this package.
Transportation
Bus/Jeep
Per Day walking:
5 to 9 hours
Best Season
Oct-Dec / Late March-May
Group Size
2-14 Pax
Accomodation
Tea House
Trip Grade
Strenuous
Max Height
5106M
Start/End
Kathmandu
Trip Highlight
- The trek begins in lush lowland areas with terraced fields and subtropical forests before ascending into alpine terrain and glacial valleys. The varied landscapes showcase the incredible biodiversity of the Manaslu Conservation Area, home to rare flora and fauna.
- The Manaslu region is inhabited by diverse ethnic groups, including the Gurungs, Tamangs, and Tibetans. Trekking through traditional villages such as Soti Khola, Samagaon, and Samdo offers opportunities to interact with local communities, learn about their customs and traditions, and visit ancient monasteries and Buddhist shrines.
- This trek also covers Manaslu Base Camp (4,700m), nestled at the foot of the towering Manaslu Glacier. Surrounded by towering peaks and massive icefalls, the base camp offers breathtaking views of Mount Manaslu and its neighboring peaks, providing a sense of awe and reverence.
- En route to Manaslu Base Camp, trekkers pass by Birendra Tal, a serene alpine lake surrounded by snow-capped peaks. Nearby, the ancient Pungyen Gompa monastery, perched atop a rocky outcrop, offers panoramic views of the surrounding Himalayan landscape.
- The trek reaches its climax with the crossing of the impressive Larkya La Pass (5,160m), the highest point on the circuit.The breathtaking views of the Himalayas from the summit make it all worthwhile.
- Unlike more popular trekking routes, the Manaslu Circuit remains relatively untouched and uncrowded, offering trekkers a sense of solitude and tranquility amidst the pristine wilderness of the Himalayas. This sense of remoteness adds to the attraction of the trek, allowing for a deeper connection with nature and oneself.
- Completing the Manaslu Circuit trek, with its challenging terrain and high-altitude passes, is a remarkable achievement that instills a sense of pride and accomplishment.
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Detail Itinerary
As you arrive at the international airport in Kathmandu, we will already be there to pick you up. We will escort you to your designated hotel, where you should rest after a long day of traveling. Depending on your arrival time, you may have free time to roam around the adjacent street of your hotel. In the evening we will have a tour briefing and Q&A session before going to dinner.Please have your questions ready to ask.Right after this tour briefing session we walk to the local restaurent for the first taste of the various Nepali cuisines available.Â
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Welcome Dinner
Hotel
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Since you are in Kathmandu, you should not miss the Kathmandu Valley sightseeing tour, the city has a lot of attractions with interesting history that will make you a fan of those sites. Most of the sites that we will visit are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites and are protected by the local community while the government funds their renovations and maintenance.
You can request to visit certain places, and we will let you know if we can get it done since we have to get to other sites as well. Be sure to bring your phone or camera with you because we are sure you will be taking a lot of photos. We will be traveling the next day, so make sure that you are well-rested.
Breakfast
Hotel
On the 3rd day, we will finally begin traveling. First, a bus ride will drop us off at Arughat, the starting point of our trek. It will take us about 7 hours, covering 130 km, to reach Soti Khola, from where we will trek for 13km to Soti Khola.
Arughat is a small village in the Gorkha district of the Gandaki province inhabited mostly by Gurung people. This village is the gateway to the Manaslu Circuit Trek as well as the Tsum Valley side trek.
Soti Khola is a small village northwest of Arughat, which serves as the starting point of the Manaslu circuit trek.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
7-8 hours drive
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On the 4th day, we will walk for only 5 hours and reach our stop for the day, Machha Khola. It is only 10km away from Soti Khola and is located on the bank of the Budhi Gandaki River. The village of Machha Khola is full of terraced farms covering most of the nearby hills.
We will be staying at Maccha Khola for the night, where you can try different local dishes.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
The following day, we will cover a great distance (22.2 km), trekking for about 6 hours to reach Jagat. Jagat is a traditional Gurung village located in the Lamjung district of the Gandaki province. The majority of the people there are Gurungs and people of Tibetan ethnicities.
The village falls within the protected area of the Annapurna Conservation Area and has a ton of alluring natural scenic spots. The village of Jagat also falls in the Annapurna Circuit Trek route.
Jagat is a scenic village full of beautiful houses, some of which are stone houses. Stone houses were popular in the past because wood was hard to get, flammable, rot-able, and easy to damage, compared to stones. Stones, on the other hand, would set in place once put and so they became a popular material for building.
Though the village seems rural, you can still access high speed internet and other modern basic amenities. You will get a warm bed to sleep plus delicious meals to recover your tiredness.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
The next morning we will have an energizing breakfast and make our way towards the village of Deng. This day will require about 7 hours of trek, covering a distance of 20 km.
First, we will climb a ridge to reach Sirdibas, following which we will cross Ghatta Khola. After a while, we will have to cross a suspension bridge to another Gurung village named Phillim.
Ultimately, we will reach the Budhi Gandaki bridge after which we will walk along the west bank of the river. We will have to go through a bamboo forest, after which we reach Deng Khola.
Crossing the Deng River takes us to the village of Deng, where we will be spending the night.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
From Deng to Namrung, it will take us about 7 hours of trekking, wherein we will cover 19.5 km in total. Namrung is yet another Gurung village on the Manaslu Circuit trek trail. The village of Namrung is full of terrace fields and Rhododendron trees, the national flower of Nepal.
Namrung offers an aesthetic view of the surrounding Himalayas paired with the beautiful waterfalls around the village. It is an important stop for most trekkers.
The village provides basic lodging facilities that are often referred to as tea shops. Most of these tea shops provide private rooms bus some also have dorm-like sleeping settings. Some also have shared kitchens where trekkers stopping for the night share the same space and eat the local dishes prepared using locally available ingredients.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
After spending a night at Namrung, we will be making our way towards Lho, a village 11km away. On the 8th day, we will be walking for only 5 hours in total.
Located in the Gorkha district, Lho is an untouched village nestled in the remote upper-hilly region. The culture there is heavily influenced by Tibetan practices, which explains the existence of monasteries and stupas in the village.
Ribung Gompa, a major monastery for the followers of Buddhism lies in this village. Every year fair amount of visitors and devotees visit this monastery to offer their prayers. Most of the people in the region are very religious and most of the kids in the region are studying Lama, the school for becoming monks.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
Spending a quiet and rejuvenating night at the village of Lho, we will make our way to Samagaun. After having local breakfast, we will start our trek, which will last for 5 hours. We will cover 17 km and reach Samagaun.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
Samagaun is a popular village of the region at the foot of 8th heighest peak in the world Mount Manaslu(8163m) offering a panoramic view of the surrounding Himalayas and valleys. We will be stopping at Samagaun for the day since we have been traveling for more than a week.
We will utilize this spare day by visiting the famous Mt.Manaslu Base camp from Samagaun which will take about 4 hours to get there and another 3 hours to get back to your base.
You can also explore the village for the time being, visit tea shops and have a chat with the locals, or anything else that you find interesting.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
After a much-needed rest day, we will travel for 7 hours from Samagaun to Dharamsala and stop by Samdo on the way. We will be covering 19 km, reaching the 2nd highest point of our trek.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
After spending a re-energizing night at Dharamsala, we will feed on local breakfast that is sure to fuel us for hours. We will ascend to Larkya la Pass (5160 m), the highest point of our trek, before descending to Bhimtang. We will be covering the most distance today, a whooping 24.5 km descent, trekking for 9 hours (approx.).
Make sure to sleep early and catch the sunrise the next morning.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
On the 13th day of our Manaslu Circuit Trek, we will be leaving the beautiful village of Bhimtanga and making our way to Dharapani. After 7 hours of trekking, covering 16 km, we will reach Dharapani, where we will spend the night.
Dharapani is a vibrant village in the Manang district known for its typical Nepali architecture houses.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
After an early morning breakfast, our Jeep will be waiting for us to drop us off at Besisahar. Besisahar is a hotspot for most travelers, a small town that serves all the modern facilities one can need. In addition to that, the village also offers a typical Nepalese living experience.
We will not be trekking this day. The Jeep will drop us off after a 6-hour ride.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
6 hours jeep
The next day, we will travel to Kathmandu by Jeep, which will be the end of our trekking journey. You will be staying at your designated hotel while we will be responsible for providing meals. You can spend the rest of the time here exploring Kathmandu as much as you can.
Breakfast,Lunch
Hotel
7 hours drive
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All good things come to an end, and so does this trek.After your morning breakfast at the hotel we wwould like to hear your trekking experience and your valuable feedbacks.After this depending on your departure flight we will be dropping you off at the airport, which will be our last interaction on this trip.Â
Breakfast
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What's Included In The Package
- All (international and domestic) airport transfers on a tourist /Private vehicle.
- Twin-sharing/double accommodation in hotel for 4 nights in Kathmandu and Besisahar including breakfast.
- Kathmandu valley sightseeing tour fees/Guide/Transportations.
- Transport to Aarughat and transport from Besisahar to Kathmandu.
- Twin-sharing guesthouse accommodation during the trek for 12 nights in the mountain region.
- All your standard meals during the trek (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner), with a cup of tea.
- Experienced, first-aid trained, government licensed, English-speaking trekking guide.
- All the necessary permits (Manaslu Area special permit, Trekking permit & Local authority permits)
- Porters during the trek for carrying luggage (1 porter for 2 clients with Max 22 kgs weight limit in total).
- All administrative expenses and government taxes.
- Wages, accommodation, meals, gear, insurance for all staff.
- Evacuation assistance in case of emergency.
What's Excluded In The Package
- International air fare.
- Nepal Visa.
- Emergency Evacuation/s and medical treatments.
- Upgrade of accommodations.
- Travel Insurances.
- Change in Itinerary due to cancelled flight or unavoidable delays on route i.e. landslides,local strick or political unrests etc.
- Personal Expenses.
- Some meals, all kind of bottled drinks, Internet services, hot showers etc.
- Tips for the guides, porters and drivers.
Fixed Departure Dates For 2024/2025
Essential Information
Before booking
- Choose the right trip, considering your health, physical ability, and experiences.
- Read the terms and conditions properly.
- Make sure the payment is delivered to ensure the final confirmation.
After Booking
High-altitude activities in Nepal are not just physically demanding, they are a test of your fitness. It’s not a suggestion, it’s a necessity to ensure you’re physically ready for these adventures. By committing to physical training, you’ll not only be prepared, but you’ll also be confident and ready to take on the challenge.
For Trekking
- For multiple days of trekking at high altitudes of over 4000m-5000 m, ensure you have trained yourself well. Box jump, circuit and resistance training, and endurance training like hiking, running, cycling, or swimming can be beneficial.
- Feed on the right nutritious food rich in protein, healthy fat, and carbohydrates.
- Keep yourself focused and determined, which helps to strengthen your willpower for the next challenge ahead.
International Flights arrangements:You are responsible for arranging the international flight ticket and travel insurance, which can cover emergency evacuation and medical treatment. Our package doesn’t include this service.
Route Map
