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Manaslu Circuit Trek 17 Days

Trip Facts
  • Trip Grade Strenuous
  • Destination Nepal
  • Max. Altitude 5,106 m
  • Trip Style Trekking and Hiking
  • Trip Type solo or group
  • Best Time spring and autumn

Highlights

 

  • One of the best offbeat trek routes in the Himalayas

  • Trek in the restricted Manaslu region and ascend to Larkya La pass

  • Explore the Manaslu Conservation Area and come across diverse flora & fauna

  • Spend nights in gorgeous villages and see the lifestyle of the locals

  • Go on adventurous side hikes like Manaslu Base Camp, Pun Gyen Gompa, Ruri La, etc

  • Witness breathtaking sceneries and mountain views

  • Observe rich Tibetan Buddhist cultural heritage

 

"Explore the beautiful Manaslu region and enjoy trekking in a restricted area in Nepal, visited by a handful of travellers on Manaslu Circuit Trek. Follow a trodden route through dense forests and remote villages, immersing into the rich cultural heritage of the locals and relishing stunning landscapes."

Manaslu Circuit trekking is one of the finest treks in Nepal if one is looking for off-the-beaten trails, a less-crowded trekking route, and a rich cultural heritage. The trail explores near Mt. Manaslu (8,163 m), the eighth highest mountain in the world. Manaslu region is a restricted area in Nepal and also includes the Manaslu Conservation Area. The thrill of trekking in a prohibited area close to the Tibetan border makes the Manaslu Circuit a very unique trek.

If you've already mapped the Annapurna Circuit and are looking for a furthermore challenging trek in the Himalayas, then the Manaslu Circuit trail is a great option. In recent days, the Manaslu trek has seen huge popularity, but because of the trodden trail and expensive permit, 10 times fewer trekkers trek in the Manaslu region. During the trek, you may come across the yak caravans. The trail is enriched with stupas, prayer wheels, and monasteries.

The hospitality of the locals and their lifestyle both are commendable. There are side hikes to Pun Gyen Gompa, Manaslu Base Camp (from Sama Gaun), and Rui La (from Samdo village). Likewise, the views of the Himalayan mountains like Mt. Manaslu (8,163 m), Mt. Kang Guru (6,981 m), Himlung Himal (7,126 m), Annapurna II (7,937 m), Gyaji Kang (7,074 m), etc, with diverse landscapes are phenomenal.

Manaslu Circuit trek route/package

The trekking period in our Manaslu Circuit trek itinerary is 12 days. The trek begins at Sot Khola (809 m) and ends at Dharapani. You can extend the trail to Tsum Valley. Because of the isolated location of Tsum Valley, it is one of the least explored places in Nepal.
 
The trail gradually ascends, following a snowy path to Larkya La pass, 5,106 m (next to the Tibetan border). It is the highest point of our trek. Trust us, the jaw-dropping mountain views from the pass are worth all the difficulties you face to reach this point. The descent from this pass may require micro crampons.
Like a push to a summit of a peak, we begin trekking towards the pass at 3 am to avoid the strong winds during the mid-morning. We then discover Kathmandu in the remaining time.

Manaslu difficulty

Exploring the lowlands through terraced fields of rice & millet, you walk along the gorges of Budi Gandaki. The trail passes by beautiful waterfalls and rural villages, crossing long suspension bridges & lush forests. You will be walking on average 15 to 20 km each day, which means 6 to 7 hours on minimum.
Likewise, gradually the elevation will increase, which makes the trek exhausting. There will be many steep and rugged areas with landslide-prone sections as well. You will also trek through a narrow gorge and snowy paths.

Altitude Sickness

As it is a high-altitude trek, all the team members will be at risk of altitude sickness during the trek. Manaslu Circuit Trekking is not an easy trek. It requires a perfect Manaslu Circuit Trek itinerary with ample rest days, proper planning, and professional guidance during the trek that you will get while trekking with us.
 

Below are the symptoms of altitude sickness:
           

  •   headache   
  • feeling and being sick

  • dizziness

  • tiredness

  • loss of appetite

  • shortness of breath

 

Booking

Join Manaslu Circuit trek Nepal with us to have a safe and smooth venture. We have the best cost for the Manaslu Circuit Trek 2022/2023, which covers all your accommodation, meals, and permits during the trek. We are very transparent with all of our prices and policy. There's no hidden charge or any hidden clause.

The Manaslu Circuit trek booking process is easy. You can do the booking for upcoming seasons through our site or contact us.

Here are some other off-the-beaten-path treks in Nepal; Annapurna Circuit Trek with TIlicho Lake, Makalu Base Camp Trek, Upper Dolpo Trek, and Upper Mustang Trek.

Trip Itinerary




 

Outline ItineraryFull Itinerary
  • Day 1:Arrival in Kathmandu
  • Day 2:Sightseeing in Kathmandu and trek preparation day
  • Day 3:Drive from Kathmandu to Soti Khola
  • Day 4:Soti Khola to Machha Khola
  • Day 5:Machha Khola to Jagat
  • Day 6:Jagat to Deng
  • Day 7:Deng to Namrung
  • Day 8:Namrung to Lho
  • Day 9:Lho to Sama Gaun
  • Day 10:Acclimatisation day
  • Day 11:Sama Gaun to Samdo
  • Day 12: Acclimatisation day - side trip to Tibetan Border
  • Day 13:Samdo to Dharmasala
  • Day 14:Dharmasala – Larkya La pass - Bimthang (3,720 m)
  • Day 15:Bimthang to Dharapani 
  • Day 16:Drive Dharapani to Kathmandu

Our team picks you up at the international airport and guides you to the hotel. In the evening, we will meet you over a welcome dinner and introduce ourselves. We end the day strolling on the bustling streets of Thamel. We have kept this day free.
  • AccommodationOvernight in the hotel
  • MealsWelcome dinner

In the morning, we'll go on a guided sightseeing tour of Boudhanath Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu Durbar Square, and Swayambhunath. Our English-speaking guide will assist you during the tour. The tour offers a great presentation of Nepali art and culture. We explore royal palaces, courtyards, shrines, temples, and monasteries during the tour. 

We use the afternoon to prepare for the trek. We meet with the trek guide and pack our duffel bags. If anything is missing or needs replacement, we do last-minute shopping. 

  • AccommodationOvernight in the hotel
  • MealsBreakfast only

Duration: 8 hours

From Kathmandu, we drive to Soti Khola, following the Trishuli River. The drive is long and offers superb views of terraced fields, green hills, forests, villages, and mountains like Manaslu, Annapurna, Ganesh Himal & Langtang Himal. Soti Khola is the gateway to the Manaslu trek. 

  • AccommodationOvernight in the teahouse
  • MealsBreakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Max. Altitude730 m

 

Duration: 6 hours

Today is our first day of the trek. From Soti Khola, we head towards Machha Khola. The trail passes by waterfalls and crosses sal forest. After a few ascents and descents, we reach Khursani village and Labubesi before reaching Machha Khola.

  • AccommodationOvernight in the teahouse
  • MealsBreakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Max. Altitude890 m

Duration: 5-6 hours

Crossing Machha Khola, we ascend to Khorla Besi. The trail then winds via the natural hot spring of Tatopani. Walking through lush forests, we reach Doban and continue along an uphill stone-paved staircase to Thado Bharyang. The trail then crosses the west bank of the Budi Gandaki river and climbs over a ridge. From here, we follow a lovely trail to Jagat. 

  • AccommodationOvernight in the teahouse
  • MealsBreakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Max. Altitude1,340 m

Duration: 6-7 hours

Leaving Jata, we trek on an uphill route. The trail then passes by a flat path and crosses a long suspension bridge over the Budi Gandaki river. Further, the trail leads us to Philim, a big Gurung village. From here, we walk by forests of pine and rhododendron to Deng. On the way, we can see a captivating waterfall. 

  • AccommodationOvernight in the teahouse
  • MealsBreakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Max. Altitude2,095 m

Duration: 6 hours

The trail today passes by farmlands and crosses a suspension bridge over the Budi Gandaki river. We keep walking along a beautiful route and ascend to Rana. The trail then further ascends and continues west to Budi Gandaki valley. Trekking through lush forests and past mani stones, we reach Ghap. We pass by Prok village and continue walking towards Namrung. On the way, we can see the stunning view of Singri Himal. 

  • AccommodationOvernight in the teahouse
  • MealsBreakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Max. Altitude2,900 m

Duration: 5-6 hours

From Namrung village, we pass by the picturesque Lihi village. The trail then crosses a stream that originates from Lindanda Glacier. Further, trekking to Sho village, we move towards Lho. The views of Simnag Himal along the trail are stunning. Lho is a beautiful village with mani walls, chortens, prayer flags, and stupas. 

  • AccommodationOvernight in the teahouse
  • MealsBreakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Max. Altitude3,180 m

Duration: 4-5 hours

The trail from Lho passes through a forest, and we reach Shyala village. Here, we take a small break and continue trekking through terraced fields, crossing a small stream. Walking on a flat path, we reach Sama Gaun for the night's stay.  

 

Overnight in the teahouse

Meal: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

  • AccommodationOvernight in the teahouse Meal: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
  • MealsBreakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Max. Altitude3,530 m

Duration: 5-6 hours

Today, we’ll spend the rest day in Sama Gaun. We'll go on a side hike to Manaslu Base Camp or Birendra Lake (3,450 m). Later, we visit Pungyen Gompa. Pungyne Gompa is situated south of Sama Gaon, and it's a two hours hike. The hikes are fantastic and offer superb mountain views. We then spend the remaining day resting and observing the lifestyle of the locals. 

  • AccommodationOvernight in the teahouse
  • MealsBreakfast, lunch & dinner

Duration: 3-4 hours

The trail is interesting today. We cross pastures and ascend to the valley. Walking through lush forests of juniper and birch, we continue descending to the Budi Gandaki river. The trail then crosses a wooden bridge over the river and ascends steeply across the river. The view gets fabulous as we approach Samdo. Samdo is a Tibetan refugee village. 

  • AccommodationOvernight in the teahouse
  • MealsBreakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Max. Altitude3,875 m

Duration: 7-8 hours

Today is our second rest day in Samdo village. We have the option to hike to Ruri La or Tibetan Border. The hike will be adventurous and offer stunning scenery. Hiking to the Tibetan border lets you explore the ancient trade route. You may come across yak caravans. 

  • AccommodationOvernight in the teahouse
  • MealsBreakfast, lunch & dinner

Duration: 4-5 hours

The trail from Samdo descends through fields and mani walls. We cross a wooden bridge over the Budi Gandaki river and walk past the Athahra Saya river and Larke river. On the way, you can see mani walls and prayer flags. The next part of the trail today crosses the Larky Glacier and walks around the valley of Salkha Khola. We ascend to a stone guesthouse, known as Dharmasala.

  • AccommodationOvernight in the teahouse
  • MealsBreakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Max. Altitude4,480 m

Duration: 7-8 hours

It's the biggest day of our trek. We'll cross the Larkya La pass today. We begin trekking around 3 am in the dawn to reach the top of the pass, avoiding the strong winds of mid-day. The trail from Dharamsala continues crossing moraines and descends to a small lake. From here, we walk on a rough and unclear south steep grassy slope. Walking alongside moraine, we keep ourselves on the edge and descend to four frozen lakes. A steep route from here takes us to Larkya La. 

After enjoying the heavenly view of Annapurna II, Himlung Himal, Kang Guru, etc, we begin walking to the top of the moraine and steeply descend to a grassy moraine. The trail gradually gets easier, and we reach a small meadow. From here, the valley begins to widen and passing by mani walls & small houses, we finally reach Bhimtang. 

  • AccommodationOvernight in the teahouse
  • MealsBreakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Max. Altitude5,160 m

Duration: 7-8 hours

It's a long descent to Dharapani, but the trail has quite a gentle pace. Passing by meadows and terraced fields, we drop down. We further trek through small villages and dense woodlands to Dharapani, where the trek ends. 

  • AccommodationOvernight in the teahouse
  • MealsBreakfast, lunch & dinner

Duration: 8 hours

We take a long drive from Dharapani to Kathmandu. The drive offers beautiful landscapes. Upon reaching Kathmandu, we drop you at the hotel. Take your time and enjoy the last day in Kathmandu. We meet you in the late evening over farewell dinner. 

  • AccommodationOvernight in the hotel
  • MealsBreakfast and farewell dinner

It is our regular itinerary if you are looking for a personalized or planning an offline trip. Please, feel free to share our travel experts.

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Trip Map

Manaslu Circuit Trek 17 Days map

Cost Details

What's IncludedWhat's Excluded
  • Airport pick up and drop.
  • Guide and porters.
  • All food (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) in trekking.
  • Tea house/lodge accommodation.
  • Hot drinks (Tea and coffee) 3 times a day.
  • All land transportation.
  • TIMS (Trekking information Management System) card.
  • All require national park and entry Permit.
  • All food, drinks, Lodge, salary, Insurance, medical equipments, for guide and porters.
  • Sightseeing with guide and  transport.
  • All government taxes.
  • Any bar bills (alcoholic drinks, mineral water, and cold drinks), cigarettes, client’s personal insurance, any kind of unforeseen expenses.
  • Lunch and Dinner in Kathmandu.
  • Tips for Guide and Porter (Tips are not compulsory but expected).

Essential Info

Best time

Spring and autumn is the best time to go on Manaslu Circuit Trek 21 Days. The stable weather, moderate climate, and clear views make these two seasons the peak time of the year to traverse the Himalayas. The trail blooms with numerous species of flowers in the spring, and in autumn, you will get to observe the biggest festivals in Nepal. Along the adventure, you will get to feel the essence of purity and divinity in the air.

Winter is the off-season for Manaslu Circuit Trekking. Trekking in winter is not recommended. The temperature falls below -20 degrees C, and heavy snowfall at Larkya La Pass blocks the route. Likewise, the tea houses also get closed because of the harsh cold, and locals descend to lower elevations to spend the season. And the monsoon makes the trail slippery, muddy, and full of leeches. 

Accommodation

Manaslu Circuit Trek is a tea house trek. The teahouses in the Manaslu region are very basic. As the area is very remote, the facilities in the teahouse get limited and expensive. You will get twin-sharing rooms with a common/private washroom. 

The rooms are small with a bed and a few other pieces of furniture. It is not warm. Therefore, you have to carry a good-quality sleeping bag with you. You might get a hot shower and charging services at some places, and chances are high that you have to pay a few extra bucks to use these services. 

Food

Meals are served as per the menu of the teahouse. You will mainly see Tibetan and Nepali dishes on the menu, with a few Indian and Continental dishes. With the increase in elevation, the food option will decrease. Dal bhat is the best meal rich in carbohydrates & other nutrients, delicious, filling, and affordable. 

Likewise, there will be options of toast, cornflakes, porridge, pudding, egg, meat, veggies, mashed potatoes, sandwich, noodles, thukpa, Tibetan bread, dhido, thenduk, bakery items, etc.  

Travel Insurance

You need travel insurance that covers emergency air evacuation and medical bills for Manaslu Circuit Trek. It is a demanding trek packed with hurdles and possibilities of unseen events. Our experienced guides take care of the group during the trek. But on the off chance, if any medical emergency occurs beyond the care of first aid, we have to air evacuate you and therefore travel insurance is very important. 

Child policy

Trekking with your child in the Manalsu region can get very difficult because the trail does not have infrastructures like the famous Annapurna base camp or Everest base camp. The terrain is challenging, and crossing a high pass may not be bearable for a kid. For more information, we recommend you talk to one of our representatives and share your plan. 

Group/private joining

Join our group departure if you are a solo traveller or trek privately in the upcoming trekking season in Nepal. Do not forget that the Manaslu Circuit trek requires at least two trekkers in a group (guide and porters are not counted in the group). Solo trekking is not possible in the Manaslu region, and you have to trek with a local trekking company. 

If you have a group, then contact us to book the trek. We collect all the necessary permits on behalf of you and do reservations. We also organise tailor-made Manaslu Circuit Trekking as per our guest's requirements. 

 

FAQs

  • Q1. Do you need a guide for Manaslu Circuit?

    Yes, you need a guide for Manaslu Circuit trekking. Solo trekking is not allowed in the Manalsu region. It's a restricted area. As per the rules of the Nepal government, the trek must be organised by a locally registered trekking company and accompanied by a licensed guide. Also, there have to be two trekkers in a group, not including a guide/porter.

  • Yes, the Manaslu Circuit is difficult. It is one of the most challenging treks in the Himalayas and also has the least tourist infrastructure.

     

  • To reach the trailhead of the Manaslu Circuit from Kathmandu, you have to drive 126 km (80 miles) to Soti Khola. It's eight hours plus drive on a public bus with beautiful scenery and mountain views.

     

  • Manaslu base camp is located above Sama Gaun. We may go to this base camp for a day hike during our acclimatisation in Sama Gaun. Manaslu base camp is the lap of the eighth highest mountain in the world, Mt. Manaslu, located in the west-central part of Nepal in Mansiri Himal.

     

  • Yes, we organise a short Manaslu Circuit trek upon the request of our guests. We tailor-design the itinerary as per the needs of our guests. There can be a change in the package cost if you custom design the itinerary.

     

  • Manaslu region houses some of the most exotic flora and fauna in Nepal. The Manaslu Conservation Area protects more than 33 species of mammals, 110 species of birds, 3 species of reptiles and more than 2000 species of flowering plants. The region also protects the natives and their rich cultural heritage.

     

  • The electricity and internet on the Manaslu Circuit trail are decent. There can occasionally be a shortage of electricity because of technical issues or weather, but you'll get ample opportunities to charge your device. Likewise, wifi is only available in a few villages at lower elevations. Using cellular data is the best option. The network may not be stable all the time in the upper part of the route.

  • Given the hurdles of the Manaslu Circuit trail, we do not recommend this trek to beginner trekkers. The trekker has to be strong both physically and mentally for Manaslu Circuit trekking. The trail is remote and offbeat.

Duration: 17 Days Rare trekking experience
Price from€795
We offer group discount
  
1 - 2 Pax€895
3 - 6 Pax€765
7 - 12 Pax€825
13 - 20 Pax€725

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