Manaslu Circuit Trekking - 15 Days

The journey begins even before you land at the airport in Kathmandu. On clear days, the Himalayan peaks greet you from your plane’s window, with Mount Everest visible to the east. It is a beautiful sight referred to by the local Sherpa people as “The Mother Goddess of the Earth." Upon arrival, your Trekking Mart representative will welcome you at the arrival gate and transfer you to your hotel, and the rest of the day will be spent relaxing from your long flight. In the evening, immerse yourself in Nepal’s vibrant culture. You’ll be treated to authentic Nepali cuisine and cultural dance performances to experience the country’s distinct spirit.

Our second day features an easy tour of four amazing UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu City. After breakfast, a professional city guide will take you to four UNESCOWorld Heritage sites, including Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple), Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, and Patan Durbar Square. Swayambhunath is a Buddhist stupa perched atop a hill with a spectacular view of Kathmandu City and the surrounding mountains. Due to the numerous monkeys around its forested area, tourists popularly named it ‘Monkey Temple.' Moving on to Boudhanath, the largest Buddhist stupa in Asia, where you will have your lunch. After lunch, you will visit Pashupatinath. Pashupatinath is the holiest Hindu temple in Nepal and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Pashupatinath is situated on the banks of the sacred Bagmati River, where Hindu funerals are also performed. Patan Durbar Square is an ancient royal palace complex featuring beautiful royal palaces, courtyards, and temples in a very compact space. Patan displays the unique synergy between Hinduism and Buddhism. In the evening, we will prepare for the trek by checking our gear, reviewing the next day's itinerary, and making final preparations for the entire trek.

After breakfast, we start our adventurous journey to Manaslu. Today we drive to Machhakholagaon via Arughat and Soti Khola. Today will be a 9-10-hour drive through rice farms, villages, hills, and rivers. We cross the Trisuli and Budhi Gandaki rivers to reach Machhakholagaon in the Gorkha district and stop there overnight.

Today, we will start the trek early to cover around 22 km. A wide, straight way is rare in the hills and Himalayas, so we move forward through a narrow, snaky way with a bit of up and down. This winding route takes us across Tharo Khola, Khorlabesi, and eventually Tatopani (990 m). At Tatopani, there is a small hot spring. We climb further ridges and cross the Budhi Gandaki by a suspension bridge. The stone stairs up and around the river go to Yaru Khola and then to Tharo Bhayang. There, we follow along the west bank of the river and then climb up towards the village of Jagat, a Gurung village, for an overnight stay. The journey alongside the Budhi Gandaki River is exciting as this is truly a wild river with plenty of rapids and waterfalls.

Today's trek involves a mix of uphill and downhill along the Budhi Gandaki River. We pass through Salleri and Sirdipas before crossing a suspension bridge to Philim, a large Gurung village. The trail goes north along the millet fields of Ekle Bhatti and down to the bank of the Budhi Gandaki River. Upon ascending from the riverbank, we pass through bamboo forests, rhododendron and pine forests, and Deng Khola. A small village of Deng welcomes us as we cross the Khola. Overnight stay at a local tea house. The trail here rises high above the river. It is not uncommon to look down and see eagles flying from your high vantage point.

After breakfast, we will start our journey to Namrung. The trail starts with a steep climb followed by a gradual ascent passing through dense forests and small settlements like Prok. The village offers us a view of the majestic Siringi Himal. As we pass through the villages, we will encounter Buddhist mani walls. Along the way, we also have to be careful, as we have to pass through some landslide areas. We enter the colorful and aromatic forests of pines, oaks, and rhododendrons before arriving in the settlement of Namring for an overnight stay.

We’ll start today’s trek with a steep climb from Namrung village through dense forests towards Lihi, a place famous for barley terraces and chortens. From Lihi the trail passes through the valleys and villages of Sho, Lho, Shyala, and Sama. The Lho village (3,180 m) is the perfect place for a close-up view of Mt. Manaslu (8,163 m) and also has great religious significance, which is distinct from Ribung Gompa. While we are at Shyala village, we will be surrounded by mountains from 360 degrees, such as Manaslu (8,163 m), Himal Chuli (7,893 m), Peak 29, Ganesh (7,422 m), and many others. Today’s hike stops at Samagaun.

Today will be a rest day, essential after the challenging trek to Samagaun to allow our bodies to adjust to the rising altitude. Trekking Mart understands the dangers of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) and by taking an acclimatization day, we can avoid any problems associated with the thinner mountain air.

Beginning the day with breakfast, we’ll then explore some of the places. Samagaun is highly influenced by the Nubri culture and Buddhism. These people fled Tibet centuries ago to escape unrest. Here, they found good land for farming and alpine views. We can explore and enjoy the cultural values, lifestyle, mani stones, and many gompas there. Mani stones consist of Buddhist slogans, texts, and drawings. Near the next hill to the village is an old monastery called Pungyen Gompa, and it is the perfect place to view the glacier. We can hike to the Gompa. Or we can explore other places such as Birendra Lake and Manaslu Base Camp, which travelers enjoy as journeys of nature and history.

A new day of the Manaslu journey starts with a descent to the Budhi Gandaki River. The distance to Samdo is short, but because we gain a higher altitude, we walk slowly. On the way, we encounter yaks and many mani walls as the valley begins to widen. This trail to the Kermo Kharka is covered by birch and juniper forests. After crossing the Budhi Gandaki River, we ascend towards a large White Kani made of stone arches. Then we pass Kani to Samdo (3,862 m) for a night.

This is another day for proper acclimatization. We are really gaining elevation and as we prepare for the journey across Larkye Pass. While at Samdo, we have two options to choose from today. Either we can go hiking to a valley behind Samdo, or we can make a trip to Gya La (i.e., a large pass) in the north. The hike will take us to the historic trade passes to Tibet and offer us sterling views of Manaslu (8,163 m), Himalchuli (7,331 m), Simnang (6,251 m), Larkye Peak (6,249 m), Cheo, and many more. On the way, we pass many seasonal herding settlements called doksas and have the opportunity to observe mountain birds such as the Lophophorus (national bird), the Lannerger, and the Himalayan Griffin. Another option will be a trip to Gya La, a more frequently used trading route to Tibet. The first alternative is suggested, as the hike is easier than the others.

For the day, we start our trek downhill. The descent ends by the Budhi Gandaki River. This is our final crossing of the river, and the trail ascends after we cross the wooden bridge. We arrive at Larkya Bazaar (4,090 m), the Salka Khola valley, after traversing two streams and seeing the Larkya Glacier. The fantastic Larkya Glacier lovingly welcomes us and motivates us to climb up. There, we find Dharamsala, a type of guest house that is more of a shelter than a lodge. The place is also called Larke Phedi. Night stay in Dharamsala.

Today we will start as early as possible, as today is the longest and most challenging day of our Manaslu Circuit journey. We first ascend up to Cho Chanda, followed by a steep uphill to the pass. Situated at 5160 m/16,929 ft, Larkya La rewards us with the breathtaking view of Himlung Himal (7,126 m/23,379 ft), Cheo Himal (6,820 m/22,375 ft), Gyagi Kung, Kang Kuru (6,981 m/22,903 ft), and Annapurna II (7,937 m/26,040 ft). We cross the steep slope descending towards Bhimthang village, where we will stay at a guesthouse overnight.

Today, we descend to cross the Dudh Khola through a lush rhododendron forest. We will come across Gurung Goa, the first village after Samdo. As you move along, the village grows greener and more agricultural. We will cross Tilije before arriving at Dharapani for an overnight stay.

After breakfast at Dharapani, we will take a jeep to Beshisahar. From Beshisahar we will drive back to Kathmandu, marking today as the last day of the journey. It takes around 6-7 hrs to reach Kathmandu from Beshisahar. By the evening, we’ll reach Kathmandu and transfer to the hotel, and our beautiful journey to Manaslu will come to an end.

Approximately three hours before your scheduled flight, we will transfer you to the airport for your onward flight. Before you leave, be sure to talk to your friends at Trekking Mart about other amazing adventures. As your sacred journey in the Himalayas comes to an end, Trekking Mart wishes you a safe journey ahead and hopes you depart with unforgettable memories of the mountains, trails, local people, local food, and the wonderful experience overall.