Manaslu Circuit Trek

Duration: 15 Days    Based on 4 reviews

About Manaslu Circuit Trek

The Manaslu Circuit Trek is an incredible 15 days of authentic nature and cultural experience while encircling the world's 8th highest mountain, Manaslu (8163 M). The government of Nepal opened up this region to foreigners in 1991. Lately, this trek is getting popular as an alternative to the more busy Annapurna region. Most of the trek lies within the Manaslu Conservation Area, which comprises sub-tropical Himalayan foothills to arid Trans-Himalayan high pastures bordering Tibet.

The Manaslu Circuit Trek begins from the tropical lowlands to the high alpine regions exceeding 5000 meters in altitude. The initial 4 to 5 days of the trek follow the trail along the Budhigandaki River, an ancient salt trading route. Then after about a week of trekking, it concludes in the Annapurna region via the traverse of Larke La Pass (5160 M). The trek passes through numerous beautiful villages of diverse ethnic communities, terraced fields, pleasantly mixed forests, lakes, and plenty of thrilling suspension bridges. One prime example of the exciting suspension bridge is the cantilever bridge in Yaaru Bagar that connects the seven other northern villages of the Manaslu region. The fascinating sceneries of various mountains such as the Manaslu, Annapurna 2, Himlung, Kangguru, Cheo Himal, Lamjung Himal, Ganesh Himal, Boudha Himal, Shringi Himal, and many more during the trek please anyone who comes across it. Diverse wildlife is one of the chief features of this trek. Himalayan Tahr, Gray Langur, and Blue Sheep are common sightings along the trail. 

The people around here practice Bon (Pre-Buddhist religion) and Tibetan Buddhism. The lower region is inhabited by the Gurungs who are followers of the Bon, whereas the upper region people are closely tied to Tibetan culture and practice Tibetan Buddhism. Stupas, monasteries, mani walls, prayer flags, and chortens can be seen a lot in this region. On the trek, one can experience the well-preserved culture of these people. 

Our 15-day Manaslu Circuit Trek Itinerary starts from Machhakhola and ends at Tilje. If you would like to customize the itinerary according to your desire, physical fitness level, and time frame, please feel free to contact us. Our experts will help you craft a perfect itinerary that ensures a top-notch experience with safety.  

Manaslu Circuit Trek Brief Itinerary
Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu (1350 M) and transfer to the hotel
Day 02: Trek preparation and Kathmandu Valley sightseeing
Day 03: Drive to Machhakhola (869 M)
Day 04: Trek to Jagat (1340 M)
Day 05: Trek to Dang (1860 M)
Day 06: Trek to Namrung (2630 M)
Day 07: Trek to Shyala (3500 M)
Day 08: Trek to Sama (3520 M)
Day 09: Acclimatization day
Day 10: Trek to Samdo (3875 M)
Day 11: Trek to Dharmasala (4450 M)
Day 12: Trek to Bimtang (3590 M) via Larke La Pass (5160 M)
Day 13: Trek to Tilje (2300 M)
Day 14: Drive to Kathmandu (1350 M) via Besi Sahar (760 M)
Day 15: Final departure

How to get there and back to Kathmandu?
The Manaslu Circuit Trek starts from Machhakhola which is around 160km northwest of Kathmandu. You’ll take 8 hours of ride on a private jeep. Local buses take an hour or longer. The road is black topped till Taribeshi. From there it’s another 3 hours of a bumpy ride on a rough jeep track.

At the end of the trek, you will drive from Tilje to Beshisahar on a private Bolero Jeep which is 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 road after Taribeshi might get affected by the rain. However, we will keep you updated about the road conditions beforehand and plan your trip accordingly.

What permits are needed for the Manaslu Circuit Trek?
The Manaslu region is a restricted area controlled by the government of Nepal. To go there, you will need to have a special permit which can be obtained from the Immigration Department of Nepal. For that, you will need to go through a government-registered agency, take a government-certified trekking guide on the trek, and be at least 2 people doing the trip.

Along with the special permit, two other permits; MCAP (Manaslu Conservation Area Project) and ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project) are required as well.

How are the accommodation facilities in the Manaslu Circuit Trek?
Teahouses, Lodges, Hotels, and Homestays are available along the route, providing all the food and accommodation services. There are well-equipped hotels and lodges in some places. In Dharmasala, 4–5 people will need to share a single room in the high season (October, November, April, and May) because of limited accommodation facilities.

Drinking water is available in plastic bottles and can be easily bought in hotels, teahouses, and lodges. Tap water and other natural sources are also available along the routes. We would recommend you use a water purifier or boiled water because plastic bottles will only create more waste.

Toilets are mostly squat-down types located both indoors/outdoors and shared. There are attached western-style toilets in some lodges. Nowadays, most of the teahouses have a hot shower (gas geezer, solar, or boiled water) as well which costs a few dollars.

Is electricity, telephone network, and Wi-Fi available throughout the Manaslu Circuit Trek?
Recently, electricity has reached most places except Dharmasala and Bimtang. You will need to pay for charging your camera or smartphone in these places. So bringing a solar charger along with you will be very useful.

The same goes for the telephone network as well. Before the Larke Pass, the phone 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 to work from Surkikhola which is 3-4 hours of walk from Bimtang. We recommend you use an NTC sim, as it has better coverage in most of the rural areas of Nepal.

And 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.

Our guide will be equipped with a Thuraya satellite phone to communicate with us in case of emergency or bad weather.

How difficult is the Manaslu Circuit Trek? Do I have to worry about altitude sickness?
The Manaslu Circuit Trek is a physically demanding trek because you’ll need to walk above 5000 meters altitude. During the day of the Larke Pass (5160 m), you will walk around 12 km for 9-10 hours starting early in the morning around 4 to 5 am. There are chances of getting high-altitude sickness at an altitude like this. If you have already done treks like Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit, or any other high-altitude treks, then it will not be a problem. For people with no previous experience of trekking, taking cardio exercises like cycling, running, swimming, hiking, etc., for at least a month before the trek is highly recommended.

Our Manaslu Circuit Trek Itinerary is well crafted and planned adequately with a rest day for acclimatization which will help your body to adapt to the increasing altitude ensuring you a safe and successful completion of the trek. Moreover, our professional guide with wilderness first aid training will be equipped with a Thuraya satellite phone and an oximeter for your safety.

Know everything about altitude sickness

When is the best time to do the Manaslu Circuit Trek?
The ideal time to do the trek is in autumn (Late September to Late November) and spring (Late March to May).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 for trekking.

In spring, you will be welcomed by trails with colorful rhododendrons. It will start to get a little hot by mid-May. The skies may be blocked 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 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. 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 amazing mountain scenery. Be ready to face the extreme cold in the higher regions. And in most of the winter, 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 the Manaslu Circuit Trek possible to do solo without a guide?
As mentioned above, the Manaslu Circuit Trek is forbidden without a guide affiliated with a government-registered agency. In the case of a single visitor, there is a way where you can do the trek solo with a guide. For that, you’ll need to pay for an extra permit and the agency will prepare another extra permit which is called a ‘Ghost Permit’.

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 ways to do it: 

1. Manaslu Circuit from Barpak
This particular itinerary is 2 days longer than the usual one. The first 2 days of the trek pass through the beautiful Gurung and Ghale villages of the Lower Manaslu region like Barpak, Laprak, Gumda, Yamagaun, and Lapsibot, also popularly known as the epicenter trail, and join the trailhead of 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 plenty of time, this is one of the best ways to explore the rich culture, natural beauty, wildlife, and vegetation of the Manaslu Region. The Tsum Valley and the Manaslu Circuit Trek are around 22 days including 18 days of walking. The trek starts from the Machhakhola, then on the same trail till a suspension bridge a couple of kilometers after Eklebhatti. Then from the bridge, we take the right trail to the Tsum Valley. And after exploring the valley for a week, we trek back from the same route and continue our journey on the Manaslu Circuit Trail.   

Highlights

  • Manaslu Conservation Area, home to a variety of wildlife such as Snow leopard, Lynx, Musk deer, Red fox, Jackal, Brown Bear, Blue sheep, Himalayan Tahr, Himalayan Serow, Wooly Hare, Himalayan Marmot, etc, and diverse vegetation
  • Encircle the 8th highest peak of the world, Manaslu (8163 M) starting from the low valleys of Budhi Gandaki river all the way up to the Annapurna region
  • Less explored trekking trail which is lately becoming popular as an alternative to the more busy Annapurna and Everest region
  • Magnificient views of Manaslu, Annapurna 2, Himlung, Kangguru, Cheo Himal, Lamjung Himal, Ganesh Himal, etc
  • Larke La (5160 M), the highest point of the trek provides stunning mountain sceneries

 

Itinerary

Open All Days Close All Days

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 : + 972m / -507m

  • 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
  • 6:30 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 : + 1244m / -374m

  • B,L&D
  • Lodge
  • Shyala
  • 3500 M
  • 5 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 : + 250m / -150m

  • 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: + 649m / -35m

  • 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: + 744m / -1508m

  • B,L&D
  • 3-star category hotel
  • Bimtang
  • 3590 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: + 173m / -1601m

  • B,L&D
  • Lodge
  • Tilije
  • 2300 M
  • 6-7 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
  • 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

What’s Included

  • One porter for two people (maximum weight: 12 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 and Dinner, hot drinks) during the trek.
  • Lodge/ Tea House accommodations with 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 salary, meals, accommodation, and insurance.
  • All the necessary permits and paperwork.
  • Professional English-speaking guide.
  • Airport pick-up and drop.
  • 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.

 

Useful Information

The roadway has reached a hill across Philim village. From Machhakhola to Dobhan and from Jagat to Ghattekhola, you'll need to walk on the jeep track. After the pass, the jeep track starts from Goa. And in Dharmasala, a single room is needed to be shared by 4 to 5 people because there are only 3 to 4 basic hotels. 

Client Reviews

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