Manaslu Circuit Trek is a famous off beaten trail in the Himalayas, is located in the west-central part of Nepal near the border with Tibet. The main objective of this trekking is to reach the vicinity of Mount Manaslu (8163m) which is considered the 8th highest mountain in the world belongs to the Mansiri Himal range and the term “Manaslu” stands for “The Spirit Mountain”. According to the folklore, the most compassionate and strong divine-being mysteriously dwells within its area. Manaslu Circuit trek can also be an alternative to the Annapurna Circuit Trek though quitter and relaxing as a few numbers of visitors travel to the area in comparison to the one who travels to Annapurna Region.
Manaslu Circuit Trek is considered as one of the strenuous treks that Nepal offers. It is a perfect blend of nature and culture. Most part of the area lies under the Manaslu Conservation Area Project where various species of rare flora and fauna are conserved. This is a culturally diverse trek finally ending up with the Tibetan cultures high in the Himalayas. You will have plenty of opportunities to interact with local people who are called Nupris while on the trail. You may visit various gompas, monasteries, and shortens. The trek starts as soon as we take a drive to Arughat Bazar which will take approximately 6 hours to reach. It is also the last place to buy any last-minute gears that are missed during the packing. Further, we will drive to Soti Khola. Ther trek generally starts from the sub-Tropical region at an altitude of 700 meters above the sea level. The itinerary is planned in such a way that it allows proper acclimatization to the trekkers gaining an altitude as you trek further. The trek paths follow the Budhi Gandaki River and its valley. The small streams, villages, steep canyons, mountains become the attraction. The main highlight of the trek would be a visit to the base of eight highest Mountain “Mount Makalu” and crossing the Larkya Pass which is considered as a difficult and dramatic pass.
Expedition Himalaya offers Manaslu Circuit trek to all the interested climbers. We have tried to keep the itinerary well planned so that we can minimize the hassle to the guests. While on the trek, everything shall be managed by us. We shall provide the trekkers with three meals a day (Breakfast/ Lunch / Dinner) with accommodations at the best available tea houses operated by the local entrepreneurs of the region. However, in Kathmandu, we shall arrange a hotel for your stay on the BB plan. This will allow you to explore Nepalese cuisine as well.
Manaslu Circuit Trek can be done during is recommended to be carried out during Spring (Mar-May) and Autumn (Sep-Nov) which are two best seasons for trekking in this region. Our team of professional leaders, experienced trekking guides, helpful porters and friendly staffs will be at your service to ensure a safe and enjoyable trek. We shall provide you with a guide and porter (Increases with increase in group size), assistant guide (for the bigger group) who will be accompanying you throughout the trip.
Our team representative picks you up at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, and transfers you to the hotel. Overnight at a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu.
Before leaving for trekking, we give a free day in Kathmandu to relax and rest. Or, you can also go for the last minute shopping in the vibrant markets of Kathmandu. Later in the evening, we gather to discuss the trek. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Leaving the Kathmandu valley, we drive to Soti Khola which takes about 9-hour to reach. We drive via Prithvi Highway in our private jeep enjoying the beautiful view of mountains, green hills, the flowing rivers, and the changing landscape. The road to Soti Khola may be bumpy after Dhading due to off-road track. Overnight at lodge.
We begin our first day of the trek by crossing the bridge over Budhi Gandaki River and ascending through a grassy ridge to reach Khursane. We continue to walk for a couple of hours to arrive at Lapubesi village inhabited by Gurung people. We then cross a suspension bridge before arriving in Machha Khola. Overnight at lodge.
Today we trek for about 7 hours to reach Jagat. Crossing a wooden bridge over Tharo Khola, we reach Khorlabesi. We then ascend through a ridge to reach Dobhan. From Dobhan, we cross a suspension bridge over Yaru Khola which leads us to Tharo Bhanyang. We move along the flow of Budhi Gandaki River to finally arrive at Jagat. Overnight at Lodge.
We pass through some villages like Salleri, Sirdibas, and other few small villages accompanied by the view of Ganesh Himal range as we head towards Deng. We then continue to trek on the bank of Budhi Gandaki River to reach the village of Philim which is inhabited by the Gurung people. From Philim, we enter the forested trail full of bamboo and rhododendron and cross a wooden bridge over Deng Khola to finally reach Deng after 6 hrs of trekking. Overnight at lodge.
Today we trek for 7 hrs to reach Namrung. We cross a suspension bridge over Budhi Gandaki River and then follow a narrow trail that takes us to Rana. We continue to trek through pine forest to reach the village of Prok which offers a beautiful view of Shringi Himal (7161m). After crossing another bridge, we arrive in Namrung. In the evening, we visit Namila Gumba and explore the village of Namrung. Overnight at lodge.
We start our trek passing through the Tibetan influence area to reach a village called Lihi. From Lihi, enjoying the gorgeous view of the mountain in the background, we continue walking towards Sho village where we get an opportunity to witness Tibetan culture along with the superb view of Manaslu (8163m), Manaslu North (7157m), Himal Chuli (7893m), and others. After 7 hrs of the trek, we reach Lho. Overnight at lodge.
Relishing the stunning view of Manaslu (8163m) and Himal Chuli (7893m) in the background, we resume the trek with a steep descent. We continue to trek through an ancient trans-Himalayan trail which is only a few kilometers away from Tibet. After trekking for 4-5 hrs, we finally reach Sama village with classic Lama Settlements, the ancient monastery, and Mani walls. Overnight at lodge.
We spend this day exploring the areas nearby Sama Gaon, visiting monasteries and learning more about the culture from locals. We also take a short hike on a moraine trail to Manaslu Base Camp (4400m) which offers the mesmerizing view of Birendra Tal, Manaslu Glacier, and the valley along with a close-up view of the Manaslu range. We return back to Sama for the overnight stay.
Leaving behind Sama Gaon, we trek through yak pastures and ascend towards the valley relishing the incredible mountain views in the background. Passing the long Mani walls at Kemo Kharka, we descend towards Budhi Gandaki and reach the ancient herding settlement of Samdo. Samdo also used to be known as the trading point between China and Nepal a long time ago. Overnight at lodge.
Today we trek for 5 hours to reach Dharmasala. We move alongside Budhi Gandaki River and cross a wooden bridge. We come across several Chortens, Mani walls, and Buddhist prayer flags after crossing a couple of ridges. We also stumble across Larkya Glacier on our way to Dharmasala. Dharmasala is also popularly known as Larkya Phedi. Overnight at lodge.
Accompanied by the splendid view of Manaslu (8162m), Himlung Himal (7126m), Cheo Himal (6812m), Larkya Peak (6249m), and the other Himalayas, we resume the trek ascending through a ridge on the north side of Larkya Glacier that leads us to Larkya La Pass (5160m). After spending some quality time enjoying the breath-taking vista of surrounding Himalayas, we descend steeply towards Bimthang. Overnight at lodge.
We leave Bimthang for Tilije which is a 6 hours trek. We continue our trek further downhill that leads us to Sangure Kharka. Enjoying the extraordinary view of Manaslu (8163m), Cheo Himal (6812m), Lamjung Himal (6983m), Himlung Himal (7126), and other peaks, we enter the forested path to reach Karche. We then follow the flow of Dudh Khola to finally reach Tilije. Overnight at lodge.
Today we cross a wooden bridge over Dudh Khola to reach Thonje village. We then trek alongside Marsayangdi River that leads us to the village of Karte. From Karte, we trek for another one or two hours and cross a wooden bridge over Marsayangdi River to finally reach Tal. Overnight at lodge.
For our final day of trekking, we head towards Syange which takes about 7 hrs to reach. We trek through the densely forested path filled with rhododendrons and enter Marsayangdi valley. After trekking for a couple of hours through pine forest, we finally arrive in Syange. Overnight at lodge.
We drive back to Kathmandu city in a jeep which takes about 9 hrs to reach. Throughout the ride, we can enjoy the roadside view. We transfer you to the hotel in Kathmandu. You can check out the local markets and eateries in Kathmandu. Overnight at hotel.
We drop you off at Tribhuvan International Airport for your scheduled flight hoping to see you again.
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