Manaslu Circuit Trek

We will meet you at Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer to your hotel. When you have had your time to settle in and freshen up after your long flight, you will be invited to visit our office for a briefing about your program. You will have a meeting with your trekking guide and discuss the equipment needed for the trekking, and we will process for the trekking permits. During this visit, we will help you check your equipment and facilitate the processing of other necessary items such as National Park Permits, special permits, etc. If you arrive at night, we will have the same discussion in next day morning after breakfast.

The very next morning, after breakfast you will leave for a full day sightseeing tour around Kathmandu valley. You can visit sacred Pashupatinath Temple and Swyambhunath, very ancient, and mostly enlisted in UNESCO World Heritage sites. The biggest Buddhist Stupa at Boudhnath and the fine arts and historical architecture of Kathmandu Durbar Square, reflecting the ancient Nepalese culture, are highlighted on our guided tour. On return to your hotel, you will have time to explore the local area, have dinner, and perhaps take a stroll through the famous streets. Today we will prepare for a special permit for the trek; please note that we need your original passport and one full day Government working day for the trekking permit. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, an Dinner.

We have an 8-hour driving journey to Soti Khol. You drive along the Kathmandu-Pokhara Highway for the first part of the day till Dhading Bensi. From Kathmandu to Dhading Bensi (district headquarter of Dhading 1050m) for 4 hours is a comfortable drive, and from there to Arughat for another 4 hours, we will be driving on a rough road with the scenic view of landscape, villages, river, Mt Ganesh Himal and Manaslu. Overnight stay at a local guest house. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

The trail crosses the bridge and treks through beautiful Sal forests, then climbs up onto a ridge above the huge rapids of Budhi Gandaki and follows a path blasted out of the vertical rock to Khorsane (820m). The route gets a bit precarious as it passes over a big rock and crosses a stream. The rocky trail then weaves its way up and down through a large stand of nettles, passes tropical waterfalls, and again backs down to the bank of Budhi Gandaki. Some parts of the trail are particularly narrow and suffer from landslides and require extra care, especially when mule convoys are around. The path eventually makes its way down and past a few rice terraces on a steep rocky trail and down then up around to the Gurung village of LabuBesi.Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

The path climbs behind a rocky outcrop. The trail makes some minor ups and downs. Dropping to the sandy river bed at 860m from LabuBesi and climbing about 110m over a side ridge to bring you to Maccha Khola village (900m). Crossing Tharo Khola reaches to Khorlabesi and climbing over a small hill, make another steep climbing, the route reaches Tatopani (930m), which means ‘hot water.’ From the hot spring, the trail climbs over another ridge and crosses the Budhi Gandaki and climbs on a wide, well-crafted staircase over the hill to Doban. This place is situated at the confluence of 2 rivers, the Shiar Khola and Sarpu Khola. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

A ling suspension bridge carries the trail over the Doban Khola. The route stays low at first and then climbs on a rugged rocky trail to Duman. Crossing a 93m long suspension bridge over the Yaru Khola (1330m) and climbing some stone stairs, you reach to Tharo Bharyang. Trekking along the river for a while and climbing through small villages, you get to Jagat, which is a beautiful flagstone village. There is a good campsite in town and another below the village by the Bhalu Khola. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Climb over a rocky ridge to Salleri (1440m), where you have excellent views of Sringi Himal. The trail descends to Setibas (1430m), and then the valley widens a bit as the trail continues up to the stone houses of Ghatta Khola. Following the old path up to Pangsing, climb to Ngyak, one of the few large settlements on this route and home to the Manaslu Conservation Area Project office. From here, you can view Mt. Lapuchun (5,950m).

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, an Dinner.

The trail descends grassy slopes dotted with tall pine trees. The trek takes us through a heavily forested area in a narrow valley and finally widens, offering a pleasant walk through bamboo forest and a collection of rock as we reach the little settlement of Deng (1800m). A short distance beyond Deng crossing the Budhi Gandaki River, the trail climbs to Rana (1980m). After passing some houses, the trail climbs high above the river and drops into the Sringi Valley. The path makes further ups and down through the forest, giving us views of the Manaslu Massif before reaching Ghap.

Pass a few houses and three streams in a forest of big fir alive with birds, including Danphe (national bird of Nepal). The trails make a severe and long climb through bamboo and rhododendron forests crossing the river several times. The trail crosses the Budhi Gandaki twice on wooden bridges above beautiful gorges before entering Namrung through a stone archway. Namrung is a Buddhist village where there are monasteries, a water turbine, hydro electricity powerhouse, Mani walls, chortens and prayer flags which can be seen fluttering in the sky. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

You trek over a winding path which moves through the inner Himalayan range enjoying mountain views of Rupina la pass, Mt. Manaslu, Gorkha Himal, Dwijen Himal, Saula Himal, Lajing peak, and many other snow-capped mountains and peaks. Climbing through a forest of firs, rhododendrons, and oaks, the trail enters the carefully packed houses of Lihi (2900m) and several Buddhist villages along the way. The Tibetan culture has influenced these areas due to its proximity to Tibet, and as a result, you will find many monasteries, chortens, and mani walls. Having over one hundred and fifty houses, Samagaon is surprisingly large and bustles with the energy of remote village life. From Samagaon, you can see Mt. Manaslu and the Kutang Himal Massif. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, an Dinner.

It is recommended to rest in Samagaon for more than one night for acclimatization, enjoying the village and a short trip to Manaslu Base Camp or Punggen Gompa. Surrounded by mountains in a peaceful forest, you can hike to Manaslu Base Camp for excellent views of Samdo (Pang phuchuli); Nagdi chuli, Simnang Himal, Manaslu glacier, Manaslu icefall. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

You trek gently uphill to Samdo through a desert path and windy valley. From Kargyu Chholing Gompa, the route passes the juniper and birch forest and the stone hut of Kermo Kharka. It climbs gradually towards Samdo, and just before entering the village passes through the point where the Budhi Gandaki starts – at the confluence of Larke Khola and the river coming from Samdo Glacier. Samdo is the site of a Tibetan refugee camp and affords you a rare glimpse into the lifestyle of the Tibetan people. This is an excellent viewpoint for Mt. Manaslu, Samdo (Pang phuchuli), Nagdi chuli, Simnang Himal, Manaslu glacier, Manaslu ice fall, and several other majestic peals. Stay at a local guest house. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, an Dinner.

Descend on a full, gentle trail from Samdo past many fields to a large Mani wall and stone archway. The trail is rocky and zigzags to your destination. The thundering Buri Gandaki trickles to a stream as we continue to follow its course ever upwards, surrounded by spectacular mountains from all sides. After crossing to the east bank of the river, we reach the last permanent settlement in the valley, which is called Sumdu. Above the village, we cross the stream, which runs down from the Gya La (Pass), the pass to Tibet. We come to the ruins of an abandoned village, known as Larkya Bazaar. The trail rises high above the Larke Khola leading to Dharmashala, where the trail finally meets the river. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

The trail becomes rocky as it goes along a moraine and reaches a beautiful turquoise lake that reflects the surrounding snowy mountains. The path becomes somewhat tedious as it climbs on numerous rocky moraines hills surrounded by rocky cliffs and snowy ridges beyond. This is a more strenuous day as having to cross over the Larkya Pass (5213m). The impressive Larke Pass is followed by a steep tiresome descend through a slippery trail towards the moraine of Salpudanda glacier. The path then becomes gradual as it goes along the moraine and parallel to Bimtang glacier towards Bimtang. From here, there are tremendous views of Himlung Himal (7126m), Cheo Himal (6820m), Gyaji Kung (7030m), Kang Guru (6981m) and Annapurna II (7937m). Bimtang is a broad and level ablation valley with several Mani walls and deserted houses. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

The trail drops from Bimtang and crosses a glacial stream, the headwater of Dudh Khola on a wooden bridge. Make a gradual descent through rhododendron and pine forest seeing the north face of Manaslu along the way. You reach the highest cultivated land in this valley of Karcher at 2785m, and walking down, you cross a stream through fig tree and rhododendron forests to reach Tilje. We will make camp in the apple orchards of Tilje. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Crossing this high pasture, you descend the valley of the Burdin Khola to the area of the Base Camp for the West side of Manaslu. You trek over a fallen path along the bank of Dudh Khola (river) and Marsyangdi River. Another bridge takes you over the Marsyangdi River to Dharapani (1920m), where you join the Annapurna tourist highway and start missing the quiet days in Manaslu, where you had Nepal almost all to yourself. It takes half a day to continue to Tal where the river appears like a lake and make camp next to a waterfall going down the Marsyangdi river trail. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

The down part of the trail has road now so we can take a local jeep or bus to Besisahar, and from there the bus to Kathmandu, we can stay overnight at Besisahar and can drive to Kathmandu also next day. Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch.

Today is free or last minute you have a few hour personal shopping for your relatives. If you have more time, you can do some shopping or sightseeing. We will drop you to the International airport to catch your flight back to your home and wish for your Safe journey.

Meals included: Breakfast.