Manaslu Circuit Trek

Duration: 15 Days    Based on 5 reviews
Photo Gallery Our team on the top of Larke Pass (5160m) A kani gate and Manaslu (8163m) in the background Magnificent view of Manaslu (8163 M) from Lho Village Shringi Himal seen from Sirdibas Mules crossing the Reshi Khola Chameleon Eklebhatti Village Naike viewpoint Birendra Tal      Video     Map Manaslu Circuit Trek map     

About Manaslu Circuit Trek

The Manaslu Circuit Trek takes you around the world's 8th-highest peak, Manaslu (8163 M). It is 2 weeks of pure nature and culture discovery. This pristine region was only opened up in 1991 by the government of Nepal for foreigners. Most of the trek lies within the boundary of Manaslu Conservation Area, which comprises low valleys to high alpine areas close to Tibet. Situated east of the Annapurna Region, many consider this trek an alternative to the classic Annapurna Circuit Trek.

Manaslu Circuit Trek - From low valleys to the high mountains

The Manaslu Circuit Trek is a complete trekking experience, with contrasting landscapes, culture, rich wildlife, and vegetation. The trek begins in the lowlands and ends in the high mountainous regions exceeding 5000 meters in altitude. You will walk through beautiful villages, terraced fields, splendid mixed forests, lakes, gorges, high passes, and thrilling suspension bridges.

The first 4 to 5 days follow the ancient salt trading route along the Budhigandaki River. Then, after about a week of walking, it concludes in the Annapurna region via the traverse of Larke La (5106 M). During the trek, you can see wild animals like the Himalayan Tahr, Himalayan Langur, Himalayan Marmot, Blue Sheep, etc. You will often pass by caravans of Yaks and mules as well.

The trek offers superb views of Himalayan peaks like the Manaslu, Annapurna, Himlung, Kangguru, Nemjung, Cheo Himal, Lamjung Himal, Ganesh Himal, Boudha Himal, Shringi Himal, and many more. Each day, you will be greeted with impressive mountain scenery, especially after reaching the higher villages. The serene views from places like Pungyen Gompa, Manaslu Base Camp, Lho, Shyala, Samagaun, Dharmasala, Bhimtang, Larke La, etc., cannot be expressed in words but only experienced.

An immersive and intimate cultural experience of the Manaslu

One of the beautiful aspects of the Manaslu Circuit Trek is the varied cultural experiences. The Gurung community inhabits the lower part of the Manalsu - the people around here practice Bon, which includes Shamanism and Animism beliefs. The upper part is inhabited by the Nubri people, who are close to Tibetan culture and practice Buddhism. Stupas, ancient monasteries, mani walls, prayer flags, and chortens can be seen in this region.

During the trek, one can experience the well-preserved culture and traditions. Each day, you will have the chance to interact with the locals and be a part of their lifestyle.

Manaslu Circuit Trek Itinerary

Our Manaslu Circuit Trek Itinerary is 15 days. It includes 10 days of walking from Machhakhola and ends at Tilje. However, this itinerary can be customized to suit your preferences, time frame, fitness level, budget, etc. Our experts will help you craft a perfect itinerary that ensures a top-notch experience with safety.

Note: The roadway has already reached Pangsing village, opposite to Philim village. From Machhakhola to Dobhan and from Jagat to Ghattekhola, you'll need to walk on the jeep track on several occasions. On the other side of the pass, the jeep track has arrived at Surki Khola. 

Manaslu Circuit Trek Cost

The Manaslu Circuit Trek Cost depends on factors like hotels in Kathmandu, vehicle transfer types, duration, size of the group, and inclusion/exclusion of porters, food, accommodation, etc, during the trek. We can organize the trek as per your budget. Just let us know, and we will provide you with the best option.  

Manaslu Circuit Trek Variations

There are plenty of ways to do the Manaslu Circuit Trek, depending on your time frame. Below are some of the variations:

1. Manaslu Circuit from Barpak

This particular itinerary is 2 days longer than the usual one. The trek passes through the beautiful Gurung and Ghale villages of the Lower Manaslu region, like Barpak, Laprak, Gumda, Yamagaun, and Lapsibot, and joins the trailhead of the Manaslu Circuit at Machhakhola. The first village, Barpak, was the epicenter of the devastating 2015 earthquake, and all these villages were heavily affected. Trekking through this region offers beautiful panoramic views of Ganesh Himal, Shringi Himal, and Boudha Himal.

2. Rupina La and Manaslu Circuit

The combination of these two different treks takes around 20 days. For those who have plenty of time and are looking to do a bit of adventure, it's an ideal one.

The trek starts from Barpak and then heads west towards Boudha Himal, crossing the Rupina La (4720 M). Then, it finally joins the Manaslu Circuit Trek Trail at Nyak Phedi. The Rupina La Trek includes the remote and untouched region, which requires 6-7 days of camping.

3. Tsum Valley and Manaslu Circuit

If you have enough time, this is one of the best ways to explore the Manaslu Region. The trek takes 22 days, including 18 days of walking.

The trek starts from the Machhakhola and then heads to the Tsum Valley. After exploring the valley for a week, we trekked back on the same route and continued our journey on the Manaslu Circuit Trail.

Highlights

  • Breathtaking views of numerous peaks including the Manalsu (8163 M), the 8th highest peak in the world
  • Larke La (5106 M), a high altitude pass that tests your physical and mental capabilities
  • Ancient Buddhist monasteries and tranquil villages 
  • Varied landscapes, culture, wildlife, and vegetation
  • A restricted area trekking experience

Itinerary

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Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu (1350 M) and transfer to hotel

One of the members of our company will welcome you at the international airport terminal gate and take you to the hotel. You will have a few hours to rest. Later, in the evening, you will meet with the tour guide in your hotel lobby. He will brief you on the day 2 program.

  • B&B
  • 3-star category hotel
  • Kathmandu
  • 1350 M

After having breakfast, we will begin sightseeing in Kathmandu. we will visit places like Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhnath Stupa, Kathmandu, Durbar Square, Swayambhunath, and Patan Durbar Square. All of these places are part of world heritage sites. In the evening, you along with your trek guide will prepare for the trip and arrange all the gear.

  • B&B
  • 3 star category hotel
  • Kathmandu
  • 1350 M

After a quick breakfast, you will begin our drive toward Machhakhola. The route passes by Arughat and Sotikhola. You will drive on the blacktopped road until a little ahead of Arughat and from there you will go on a dirt road till Machhakhola. 

  • B,L&D
  • Lodge
  • Machhakhola
  • 869 M
  • 9-10 hours

After crossing the bridge over Machha Khola, you will have to walk on a rugged vehicle road until Tatopani. Here, you can take a short break and spend some time enjoying the natural hot spring. The trail then ascends and crosses Budhi Gandaki reaching Dobhan. From there, you gradually ascend through the landslide area to reach Thulo Dhungga, Yaruphant, then cross a suspension bridge and reach Jagat.

Elevation : + 894m / -446m 19km

  • B,L&D
  • Lodge
  • Jagat
  • 1340 M
  • 7 hours

Leaving Jagat behind, you will ascend towards Salleri and then reach Sirdibas walking on a rugged vehicle road. From here, you will pass by Ghatte Khola and cross a long suspension bridge. The trail then moves upwards to Philim and takes us to Ekle Bhatti. Further, you will reach Nyak Phedi and pass by pine, and bamboo forests. And after crossing several bridges, you'll reach Dang. 

Elevation : + 1013m / -451m

  • B,L&D
  • Lodge
  • Dang
  • 1860 M
  • 7 hours

The initial part of the trail will be narrow, on relatively flat terrain, and on a landslide area as well before reaching Ghap by crossing a couple of bridges. After leaving Ghap, you will again cross several bridges over Budi Gandaki River and walk along with the beautifully cultivated fields. After crossing the last bridge, you will ascend through the beautiful low alpine forest all the way to Namrung. Namrung is a beautiful highland hamlet inhabited by people resembling closely to Tibetans.

Elevation : + 1210m / -428m

  • B,L&D
  • Lodge
  • Namrung
  • 2630 M
  • 7 hours

Trekking through Bhanzam, you will pass through many beautiful ethnic villages like Lihi, Sho, and Lho. You will visit Ribung Gompa in Lho village situated on the top of a hill with a magnificent view of Manaslu. From there, you will continue trekking through the pine & rhododendron forest to reach Shyala.

Elevation : + 1175m / -290m 13.7km

  • B,L&D
  • Lodge
  • Shyala
  • 3500 M
  • 5-6 hours

Today you will climb to discover Punggyen Gompa before trekking to Samagaun with packed lunch. You will trek through pastures and cross a river draining from the Pung Gyen glacier. From Pungyen Gompa, you can see a really impressive panoramic view of many surrounding peaks along with the eastern face of Manaslu. Then you will descend down the same way and join the main trail to Samagaun, the last largest village in the Manaslu region.

Elevation : + 620m / -580m

  • B,L&D
  • Lodge
  • Sama
  • 3520 M
  • 4 hours

Today is a day of rest day. You will take a short excursion to Birendra Lake for acclimatization. While hiking, you might also come across wildlife like Himalayan Thar.

  • B,L&D
  • Lodge
  • Sama
  • 3520 M

Passing by forests of birch and juniper, you will further trek through small villages. You will then cross the wooden bridge over the Buddhi Gandaki River and reach Samdo village, which is a small Tibetan refugee village.

Elevation : + 320m / -26m

  • B,L&D
  • 3-star category hotel
  • Samdo
  • 3875 M
  • 3:30 hours

You will cross a suspension bridge and continue to ascend gradually through the high pasturelands where you will encounter many yaks grazing with a beautiful view of Manaslu North, Larkya Peak, and Larkya glacier on the left side of the trail. And by crossing several rivulets and continuing the ascent you will arrive at Dharmasala.
Elevation: + 664m / -45m 5.93km

  • B,L&D
  • 3-star category hotel
  • Dharmashala
  • 4450 M
  • 4 hours

You will start early in the morning after breakfast. With a short climb, you will reach the north side of Larkya glacier. The trail then ascends through the steep path and takes you to the top of the Larke La Pass from where you will enjoy stunning views of Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kangguru and the huge Annapurna II, and many other mountains. Then you will descend down to Bimtang where you will be automatically in the Annapurna region of the Manang district. It's a long and challenging day compared to the other days.

Elevation: + 740m / -1490m 15.65km

  • B,L&D
  • 3-star category hotel
  • Bimtang
  • 3620 M
  • 8-10 hours

After having breakfast, you will pass the Kechakyu Khola Glacier and trek through the lush forest of rhododendron. On the way, you will get to see beautiful views of Mt. Manaslu. Further, you will reach Gho village and head towards Tilije. Tilje is a nice and old typical village inhabited by Gurung. You can find facilities for a hot shower, wifi, and electricity from here onwards.

Elevation: + 210m / -1635m 18.64km

  • B,L&D
  • Lodge
  • Tilije
  • 2300 M
  • 7 hours

From here, you will drive to Kathmandu via Besishahar. Upon reaching Kathmandu, you will move to your hotel. In the evening, you will have a farewell dinner organized by the company.

  • B&B
  • 3-star category hotel
  • Kathmandu
  • 1350 M
  • 9-10 hours

After having breakfast, one of the members of the company will escort you to the airport for your flight back to your home. 

  • B&B
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What’s Included

  • One porter for two people (maximum weight: 11 kg per client) and an assistant guide for group sizes above 4 people.
  • 3-night accommodation in a 3-star category hotel in Kathmandu on a BB basis.
  • Three meals a day (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and hot drinks) during the trek.
  • Lodge/ Tea House accommodations on a twin sharing basis during the trek.
  • Kathmandu-Machhakhola and Chamje-Kathmandu by private vehicle.
  • Rescue and evacuation arrangements in case of emergency. 
  • Kathmandu valley tour with a tour guide in a private vehicle.
  • Government taxes, service charges, and official expenses.
  • All staff’s salaries, meals, accommodation, and insurance.
  • All the necessary permits and paperwork.
  • Professional English-speaking guide.
  • Airport pick-up and drop-off.
  • Tips for the guide, assistant guide, porter, and driver (Tipping is expected).
  • Meal while you are in Kathmandu, Lunch, and Dinner.
  • Medical evacuation cost (In case of emergency).
  • Sightseeing/Monument entrance fees.
  • Your Travel Insurance (Compulsory).
  • Your personal expenses.
  • Nepal entry visa fee.
  • International airfare.

 

Departure Note

If the departure dates do not match your time frame, leave us a message. And we will customize the trip according to your desire and availability of time.

Useful Information

Insurance

Travel insurance is mandatory for undertaking any kind of trip with us, whether it is a tour, trekking, peak climbing, or mountain biking. A comprehensive travel insurance policy should cover general medical bills, rescue, evacuation, accidents, death, trip cancellations, baggage loss or theft, extended accommodations, and other expenses due to canceled or delayed flights.

Getting there and back to Kathmandu

The Manaslu Circuit Trek starts from Machhakhola, 160km northwest of Kathmandu, and 8 hours of ride on a private jeep. Local buses may take an hour or longer. The road is black-topped till Salyantar. From there, it’s another 3 hours of a bumpy ride to Machhakhola.

At the end of the trek, you will drive from Tilje to Beshisahar, mostly off-road. From there, you will take a private vehicle to Kathmandu. It takes around 9-10 hours in total.

Note: If you are trekking during the monsoon, the rain affects the roads. However, we will update you about the road conditions beforehand and plan your trip accordingly.

Manaslu Circuit Trek Permits

The Manaslu region is a restricted area. Therefore, a special permit can be obtained from the Immigration Department of Nepal. For that, you must trek with a government-registered agency, take a government-certified trekking guide, and be in a group of 2 people. Along with the special permit, two other permits, MCAP (Manaslu Conservation Area Project) and ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project), are also required. 

Accommodation on the Manaslu Circuit Trek

Teahouses, Lodges, and Hotels are available along the route on the Manalsu Circuit Trek. There are well-equipped hotels and lodges in some places. In Dharmasala, the last stop before the Larke Pass, 4 to 5 people will need to share a single room in the high season because of limited accommodation facilities.

For drinking water, you can buy mineral water bottles in hotels, teahouses, and lodges. Tap water and other natural sources are also available along the routes.

Toilets are mostly squat-down types located both indoors and outdoors and are hard. Nowadays, there are attached Western-style toilets in most lodges. A hot shower is available throughout the entire trek except in Dharmasala. Usually, it costs a few hundred rupees.

Electricity, Telephone Network, and Wi-Fi on the Manaslu Circuit Trek

Electricity is available in all places except Dharmasala. However, we still recommend you bring solar chargers and power banks as there are possibilities of power cuts.

The telephone network works till Samagaun. It works in Samdo as well but you'll need to walk to the edge of the village facing Samagaun to get the network reception. After the pass, the phone network starts working from Bimtang. We recommend you use an NTC sim, as it has better coverage in most rural areas of Nepal.

As for Wi-Fi services, the lodges and teahouses in most places have started pay-per-service except in Dharmasala. You can expect frequent problems, mostly in the higher parts of the route.

Note: Our guide will always be equipped with a Thuraya satellite phone to communicate during emergencies.

Manaslu Circuit Trek Difficulty

The Manaslu Circuit Trek is a moderate to demanding trek depending on your fitness and previous trekking experience. You will be walking above 5000 meters altitude. During the day of crossing the Larke Pass (5106 m), you will walk around for 9-10 hours, starting early in the morning around 4 to 5 am. Chances of getting Acute Mountain Sickness during the trek are possible if not well prepared.

A normal healthy person with previous trekking experiences will not have any issues. We recommend doing cardio exercises like cycling, running, swimming, hiking, etc., for at least a month before the trek if you have no previous trekking experience.

Know everything about altitude sickness.

When is the best time to trek the Manaslu Circuit?

The best time to do the Manaslu Circuit Trek is in autumn and spring. In autumn, the skies are clear, providing beautiful mountain sceneries. The weather is not cold nor too hot. The number of trekkers is also high during this time, as it is the peak season.

In spring, you will be welcomed by colorful rhododendrons. It will start to get a little hot by mid-May. The skies may be covered by clouds as rainfall is expected sometimes. The number of trekkers is a little bit less than in autumn.

If you would like to avoid the crowd, trekking during the winter and monsoon season will be better.

In the monsoon time, the trails look lively with lots of greenery everywhere. But trails and roadways in the lower regions could be affected by heavy rainfall. The mountains are not visible most of the time due to clouds. And beware of the Leeches as well.

In winter, the skies are crystal clear with superb mountain scenery. However, tea houses in Dharamsala are closed. So you may have to trek directly to Bhimtang from Samdo via the traverse of Larke Pass. You may even need to return or wait a few days if there is heavy snowfall.

Is it possible to do the Manaslu Circuit Trek solo without a guide?

The Manaslu Circuit Trek is not possible without a certified guide. As per the rule, there should be at least two people in the group. In the case of a single person, you will need to pay for double permits as a single permit is not issued by the Department of Immigration. Like this, the agency will create another trekker's permit with a valid visa, which is also known as a 'ghost permit. ' In this way, you can trek solo with your guide.

Client Reviews

Rating:  
Review by : jocelyne GUILLEMOIS, France

Exceptionnel

Magnifique trek de 18 jours . Organisation au top. Guide et porteur très compétents et attentifs. De la bonne humeur et des sourires.Ne pas hésiter à faire confiance. J’ai le projet de repartir avec yak ru adventure.

Rating:  
Review by : Duane Huguenin, France

Superbe circuit avec Sujan, du pur bonheur / Great trek with Sujan in some of the most beautiful mountains on Earth

Deux semaines de trek autour du Manaslu à 2 avec Sujan pour nous guider, une expérience formidable dans des paysages exceptionnels. Le programme est top, laissant du temps pour aller voir tous les plus beaux endroits du circuit et profiter de chaque jour. La montée est progressive et sans difficulté autre que l'altitude et Sujan est un super guide, drôle, dynamique et attentionné, qui connaît parfaitement la région et sait partager son amour des montagnes népalaises. Je ne sais pas quand je pourrai revenir au Népal, mais j'ai hâte et je serais ravi de refaire confiance à Sujan et son équipe ! A two weeks trek around Manaslu with Sujan. It was a pleasure every day to hike with a fu, attentive and experiences guide like Sujan. The trek was great with breathtaking landscapes and many cultural discoveries with both hindu and buddhist influences. The hike is not much difficult except for the altitude and Sujan knows how to have a slow and regular pace that ensures everyone is OK. You will see the most beautiful sceneries of the Manaslu and have every time you need to admire them. Can't wait to come back to Nepal with all the Yak Ru team.

Rating:  
Review by : Robert Verhelst, Belgium

Manaslu trek évaluation

Wonderful adventure around the Manaslu ! Thanks to the expertise of our guides , Suresh and tchandra and our four porters !! Wonderful landscapes and scenery going through typical nepalish villages , interesting contacts with the population , very well organised trek going up safely to 5200m A big and warm Thanks to all our guides and porters and to Yakru organisation Bob

Rating:  
Review by : Sabine Thoma, Germany

Great Time

Sujan is a very professional trekking guide on whom you can rely for more than 100%! He has very good experience in Culture and Nature and we might have missed a lot along the way without his fabulous view, animals,plants, cultral sites. In every situation he takes best care for his clients in his natural and kind way. As this was only one of several treks with Sujan I can recommend him as a very good and responsible guide with experience in each region he treks! Be sure you will have an unforgetable time and a lot of fun with him!

Rating:  
Review by : isabelle buffet, France

Gumda

beautiful trek in the middle of the rice fields, leaving unveiled the mountains. Sujan and his team guided us from villages to villages, meeting the locals . Visit schools, rebuild homes, stigmata of the 2015 earthquake, a lot of emotions in these villages without escape in case of disaster