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Manaslu Circuit Trek Only opened to a maximum of 400 trekkers in 1992, this trek still has the feel of a pioneering expedition. If you want to know what trekking the 1980s was like, the Manaslu circuit trek is a visual feast from start to finish, but you better be fit for the adventure.
Slowly, you wind North to the snowbound Larkya La Pass next to the Tibetan border. The altitude here is a problem but almost forgotten with the jaw-dropping views of Manaslu. At 5167 meters Larkya La pass is usually snow-covered and icy. Micro crampons are often used on the descent. Trekking to the pass requires a 3 am start to make the highest point before the winds come, usually around mid-morning.
From the pass looking back the way you have come gives a clear view but by far the most amazing view comes after you have left the pass and walk along a corridor to the west.
A great glacial cirque bursts into view. A stupendous wall created by Cheo Himal, Himlung Himal, Nemjung, Gyaji Kang and Kang Guru, casts down a stream of glaciers, while Annapurna II rises ahead. This view alone makes the trek worthwhile. The trek can be done on a teahouse basis unless you want to go off route where camping is the only option.
Manaslu Circuit trek difficulty is considered a moderately difficult trek. The distance of the Manaslu Circuit Trek is more or less 177km which is completed within 17 days, keeping an acclimatisation day. However, Trekkers need to walk 10-15 km each day to complete this journey, creating some difficulties.
Altitude sickness may become a threat as this trek begins from Sotikhola (710m) to Larky La Pass (5213m) above sea level. Next, walking in the rough terrains passing the mountain vistas, may be challenging for some excursionists.
September to November (Autumn) is Nepal´s peak and best time for trekking.
March to May (Spring) is the second-best season for trekking.
December to February (Winter) the sky is clear but it can get very cold and there is a risk of passes being closed due to snow fall.
Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you’ll be greeted by your guide who will transfer you to your hotel. This day is primarily for you to rest after your flight and recover from the travel. You’ll have some time to relax, explore the vibrant streets of Kathmandu, or shop for any last-minute trekking gear.
This morning, you’ll embark on a sightseeing tour to some of Kathmandu’s most significant UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Your first stop will be Swayambhunath, also known as the Monkey Temple, perched on a hill with panoramic views of the city. Next, you’ll visit Boudhanath Stupa, one of the largest and most sacred Tibetan Buddhist stupas in Nepal. Finally, you’ll visit Pashupatinath Temple, a sacred Hindu site on the banks of the Bagmati River. In the afternoon, you’ll meet your guide for a final briefing, ensure that your gear is ready, and prepare for the upcoming trek.
Drive Your destination to Manaslu Circuit Trek begins from Kathmandu. To start, you can take a direct bus at 6 am and 8 am, from Gongabu Bus Park, Kathmandu to Arughat. Or you can take the bus to Dhading or to Malekhu on the Prithvi Highway and take the local bus or jeep thereafter.
Although the road will be quite dusty and bumpy, you will catch the best landscape views from your window seat. En route, you can stop at many rests stops for short breaks and meals. Overnight at one of the teahouses in Soti Khola.
The next morning, you will enjoy the warm breakfast at the teahouse at Soti Khola while enjoying the scenic landscape. Then, you will start your trek of the day. Unlike other trekking trails, the road from Soti Khola to Machha Khola is quite rocky and narrow. With such experiences, you will reach Machha Khola to find many teahouses for a comfortable night’s stay.
The following day, you will start walking across the twisting road on the bank of Budi Gandaki river. As you enter the forest trail, you will witness many monkeys and langurs.
After the forest, you will walk to the Gurung villages, like lower Khorlabeshi. In the village, you will notice the shepherds clad in a typical smoke-browned cape called Bokkhu.
On walking further, you will reach Tatopani ‘hot water’ where you can take warm showers and relax your soaring body. After hot water relaxation, you will cross a new suspension bridge over Bhudi Gandaki river to reach Doban.
Following the waves, you will find the river flattening at Yaru from where you cross a long cantilever bridge to reach Jagat, a neatly flagstone Gurung village. On entering the village, you will have to verify your trekking permits at the check post there. From this day, you will be walking in the restricted region.
The next day, you will walk to Salleri and descend to Sirdibas. The village welcomes you with several gompas and Buddhist prayer flags. You can also try the local alcohol in many stopovers on the route before you reach Phillim. At Phillim, you will have your permits checked, and then you will continue along the western bank of the river.
The trail is beautiful with unique sculptures over the boulders on the river bank formed due to river water. Leaving the riverbank, you proceed through forests of rhododendron, Himalayan pine and the overhanging rocks on the towering peaks. These highlights beautify the trail. In the evening, you can gather around the fireplace and share your experiences with the fellow trekkers and locals before you go to bed.
After the sun rises up, you will have your breakfast and start the trek of the day. Before you ascend the winding trails, you will walk across the bamboo forest to reach Deng. Moving further, you will cross a suspension bridge to climb to Rana and Bihi Phedi. On the trail, you can see White Faced monkeys visiting villages on the lookout for a free feed.After the landslide zone, you will follow the trail up to Namrung.
After about 1hr on the uneven trail, you will climb a zigzag from the river to the neat village of Namrung (2660m). The place has some of the best teashops, a restaurant, and rest houses on the trek. A local businessman worked for over a decade in Hong Kong then returned to Namrung and built a restaurant and hotel that is modern.
Witnessing the lifestyles of the Nubri people, you will start the day. Exploring their Tibet-influenced typical lifestyle you will walk past several mani walls, lush terraces, and houses through Banjam to enter the fir, rhododendron, and oak forest before climbing to Lihi then to Sho. From the place, you can catch the stunning views of Manaslu (8163m) and Manaslu North (7157m). On this day, you will gain a quite high altitude, so you must walk slowly and check your body signs.
The next morning, you will start with a day trip because of the altitude reasons. On walking, the picturesque view of Mt. Manaslu accompanies you. You will walk across the easy trail to Shyala on passing through pine and rhododendron gully with moss and gin-clear stream. From Shyala, you will walk for almost an hour to reach Sama Gaun.
Sama Gaun is the principal village of the Nubri people which holds a large gompa, many shops, a health post,
This is the day of acclimatization at Sama Gaon to prevent altitude-related illness. And, as an acclimatization hike, you will walk to Pungyen Gompa on the east of the Nubri Valley. On this acclimatization hike, you can bring your lunch and take it at the rest stops for energy. Like other days, you will walk across the roaring river which keeps you engaged for around 2 hours on the trail.
hike to Manaslu Base Camp which is in the north of Sama Gong. You can follow the trail past Birendra Tal and turn left onto the base camp track.
You will climb the steady trails; however, the altitude may cause breathing difficulty. So, you need to maintain body hydration and walk slowly. Proceeding slowly, you will walk to the north of Manaslu glacier to basecamp at 4400m then return.
On this new day, you will reach to the newer destination Samdo. But, as you are in high altitude, you need to walk slowly so, this is a short-day trek. You will notice extended yak pastures up a broad valley with long mani walls, with a variety of birds.
From there, you will leave the tree line and climb to a ridge across the wooden bridge of Buri Gandaki before you reach white Kani. It is a neighboring village to Samdo, a very picturesque village dedicated to yak herding.
you can explore the nearby villages or you can hike to Samdo Peak. The Larkya La trail is on the left above the valley. You can also see the main track for Tibet over the Larjyang La forming slopes on the Larkya La trail.
Once at the border, if you look towards the south of Samdo Glacier you will get excellent photos with a huge serac near the top of the glacier. You can also frame Blue Sheep, Pica’s, and Marmots in season.
This is another adventurous day in the high altitude. So, you must watch your body signs properly. Enjoying the scenic views of the chain of Himalayas you will walk slowly across the rugged terrains of the trek before you reach Dharmasala.
This is a special day as you will walk to the highest point of the trail. You will walk to Larkya La Pass (5160m) on this day. In bad weather and in the snow, the walk could be quite challenging yet, it is doable. You will cross the pass before afternoon so you need to wake up early and leave the teahouse quite early. This is the challenging part of the trek but if you walk steadily, you can walk to the pass successfully.
The stunning views you will witness once you stand at the pass make the trip more enlightened. You will catch views of Himlung (7126m) near Tibet and Kang Guru (6981m) and Annapurna II (7937m) in the Annapurna Range.
This is the final day you will be walking on the trails of the Manaslu region. On climbing downhill, you will walk through the lush forests full of flora and fauna including rhododendron bushes.
The valley becomes more agricultural and lusher as you pass fields and corpses of oak and rhododendron, staying on the north (true right) bank until Tilije. From there, you will continue your stroll towards Dharapani.
You will take a jeep from Dharapani to Beshi Sahar. From there, you will take a ride back to Kathmandu. After the 6 to 7 hours drive from Beshi Sahar, you will get to rest in one of the sophisticated hotels in Kathmandu.
Enjoy a free day to explore Kathmandu at your leisure. You can do some shopping for souvenirs, visit more of the city’s landmarks, or simply relax before your departure.
After a memorable manaslu circuit trek in the Manaslu region, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight home or to your next destination.
The Manaslu Circuit Trek is a popular trekking route in Nepal, circling the Manaslu Mountain (8,163 meters), the eighth-highest peak in the world. It offers stunning views of snow-capped mountains, remote Tibetan villages, and a chance to explore unique cultures. The trek includes crossing the Larkya La Pass, one of the highest trekking passes in Nepal, at 5,160 meters.
The Manaslu Circuit Trek is considered a moderate to difficult trek due to its high altitudes, challenging terrain, and steep ascents. The trek is more physically demanding than classic routes like the Annapurna Circuit, but it is accessible for trekkers with good fitness levels and prior trekking experience, especially at high altitudes.
The Manaslu Circuit Trek offers a unique combination of natural beauty, cultural immersion, and remote wilderness. Unlike more popular routes like the Annapurna or Everest Base Camp treks, the Manaslu circuit is less crowded, allowing trekkers to experience a more authentic and serene atmosphere. The trek also provides a diverse range of landscapes, from subtropical forests to alpine meadows and high-altitude deserts.
Due to the remote and restricted nature of the trek, you must trek the Manaslu Circuit with a guide and porter. Independent trekking is not allowed, and it is required to obtain permits through a registered agency. The guide is essential for navigation, ensuring safety, and facilitating cultural exchanges with local communities.
You will first travel from Kathmandu to Soti Khola by private jeep or bus, which is the main starting point of the trek. The drive takes around 6 to 8 hours. From Soti Khola, you will begin your Manaslu Circuit Trek.
Mobile network coverage is available in lower-altitude villages like Soti Khola and Arughat, but coverage becomes increasingly limited as you ascend. In remote villages like Samagaon and Larkya La, there is little to no network coverage, so it’s advisable to inform family or friends about your trekking plans before you go.
You need standard high-altitude trekking gear such as sturdy boots, warm layered clothing, a down jacket, trekking poles, gloves, sunglasses, and a sleeping bag for cold temperatures.
No, technical equipment like ropes, ice axes, harnesses, or crampons is generally not required since it is a trekking route, not a mountaineering climb.
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