17 Days Manaslu Circuit Trek

When you arrive at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, your guide will be expecting you at the airport and give you a comfortable ride to your hotel, where you can spend the rest of the day relaxing, or take in the local sights.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

In the morning, you will start your tour of the spiritual and historic sites of the Kathmandu Valley, several of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The tour includes the sites of the ancient Durbar Royal Square, in the city itself, as well as the Hindu Pashupatinath Temple, the monkey temple known as Swayambhunath, and the Buddha Nath, the Buddhist shrine that is among the world’s largest stupas.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

Your guide will pick you up early in the morning for the long 8-hour drive from Kathmandu to Arughat, which is on good roads up to Dhading Bensi, but then moves onto rough dirt and gravel roads for the rest of the trip. Once you reach Arughat, it is another 90 minutes to get to Soti Khola.

Stay overnight in Soti Khola.

Your trek will begin today, taking you along a rough and undulating path that leads through the dense woodlands, following the Budhi Gandaki River upstream. Then you will descend to the sandy riverbank to continue following the river all the way to Machha Khola.

Stay overnight in Machha Khola.

The trek starts today with a crossing of the Machha River and passing through Khrolabesi, the trek takes you past one of the stunning hot springs of the region, at Tatopani, with its hot pools of water giving off clouds of steam. The trail continues through the woodlands, crossing the Dovan Khola River and on into the Budhi Gandaki Valley. From the valley, it is a steep climb up the valley along the riverbank to Jagat.

Stay overnight in Jagat.

Today, your trail continues through the well-paved village of Jagat, and ascends from the valley to the village of Sirdabas, and then down the other side to the suspension bridge across the river gorges to Philim Village. Out of the other side of the village, the trail passes through several impressive waterfalls, and through Ekle Bhatti, and then on up to the next two suspension bridges, crossing back and forth across the gorge. Then it is up to the Pewa Pass, and on through the valley to the village of Deng.

Stay overnight in Deng.

The day starts with a steep climb up to the next part of the trail, and descending to cross the river in the valley below. The route then heads up along the valley, through several small hamlets, with Mani stones set into the rocks alongside the trail. These mani stones must be passed on the clockwise side, and show that you are nearing the Tibetan area of the region. After lunch, you can take a side-trip to the small village of Prok, and then back down the hillside to Namrung Village.

Stay overnight in Namrung.

Today the walk follows a trail that is lined with a long Mani stone wall near Lho Gaun, and then up the hillside to the ridge, and the Pungen Glacier. The glacier descends from the beautiful Peak 29, which can be seen clearly from the road around Lho Gaun, and you can get close-up views of the glacier from the lateral moraine, as well as great views of Mount Manaslu. Then it is Back to Lho Gaun for the night.

Stay overnight in Lho Gaun.

In the morning, you will head back towards the glacier, and follow the lateral moraine towards one of the most beautiful villages in the area, Samagaun. The village is small, but spread out, with mostly stone-built houses and a small monastery/temple.

Stay overnight in Samagaun.

Today is a rest and acclimatization day, or you can spend the day exploring the treks around the village of Samagaun, which include a half-day and full-day trek. The full-day trek takes you towards the Manaslu Base Camp, which lies at an altitude of 4,750 meters, and takes around 7-8 hours for the round trip. The half-day hike is a trek to either the glacier across the valley from Samagaun or to the Birendra Tal Lake.

Stay overnight in Samagaun.

After breakfast, you will trek across the surrounding meadows and then gradually descend to the valley below, facing towards Mount Manaslu as you head towards Samdo. This small settlement is a Tibetan refugee village, and is just a single day’s walk from the nearby Tibetan border. After lunch, you can explore the area of the village and surrounds.

Stay overnight in Samdo.

From Samdo, the trail crosses several streams to get to the trading village of Larkya Bazaar, which has thrived due to its long-running trade with the Tibetan people from across the border. After leaving the village, it is a steady climb up the hill to the site at Dharamsala.

Stay overnight in Dharamsala.

Today’s trek is a long one, walking for around nine hours, crossing the Larkya La Pass at 5,220 meters, and down through the valley to climb again to the summit of Cho Chanda, one of the smaller mountains in the region. Then it is on further up to the steep pass of the mountain, which gives some great views of the Himlung Himal (7,126 meters), Cheo Himal (6,820 meters), Kang Koru (6,981 meters), and Annapurna II (7,937 meters). After cresting the pass, and enjoying the view, it is a steep descent through the remaining glacial moraines to the village of Bhimphedi.

Stay overnight in Bhimphedi.

The day starts with a gentle climb up through the rice paddies of Bhimphedi and up to the Karcher La Pass, before descending through woodlands filled with fig trees and the vast rhododendron forest. After leaving the forests, the trail crosses some wide meadows to the small settlement of Tilje.

Stay overnight in Tilje.

The final day of the trekking takes you up over the small ridge from Tilje, and onto a stone-paved trail that passes through the small tribal village, and on to the bridge that spans the Dudh Khosi River. Then it is a climb up through a large arch, shaped like a giant chorten, and past the long Mani wall to the village of Thonje. As you leave Thonje on the other side, you step into the Annapurna Region, and then head on to the village of Dharapani, and the police checkpoint, where permits will be checked.

Then it is on down the hillside to the village of Karta, and across the suspension bridge over the Marshyangdi Khola River gorge. The trail along from the gorge to Tal Village is lined with small stretches of Mani walls, and ends at the waterfall above the village. After descending from the waterfall and through the village, the trail descends to the final destination at Chamje Village.

Stay overnight in Chamje.

Today you will leave the Manaslu Mountains behind, and take the long drive back to Kathmandu. From Chamje, you will be collected in a jeep, which will take you to Besisahar, from where you will head to Kathmandu in a normal tour vehicle.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

A few hours before your flight out of Nepal, our staff will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the Tribhuvan Airport, saying goodbye to the guide that has taken care of you for the trip.