Manaslu Circuit Trek – 15 Days

As you enter the stunning landlocked nation of Nepal, you are greeted with a breathtaking view of the Himalayas and enormous mountains. You land at Tribhuvan International Airport following a lengthy trip from your hometown. Our representative will receive you at the airport.

You’re going to travel to your lodging. You can relax and get ready for your journey there. You may also go on a quick tour and see the well-known Thamel streets. In the evening, you can unwind and make travel plans for the following day.

The day begins by visiting some culturally rich UNESCO World Heritage sites around the Kathmandu Valley. We first explore the complex wood and stone architecture of Kathmandu Durbar Square.

We then visit the iconic Buddhist stupa of Boudhanath, followed by Swayambhunath, an ancient complex of shrines and temples set atop a hill. We also spend some reflective moments amongst the cremation ghats beside the sacred Bagmati river at Pashupatinath temple.

Post-sightseeing, we engage in last-minute preparation for the trek, buying any missing gear with help from our guide.

Kathmandu is also famous for its nightlife – so if you have the energy, go clubbing at the many bars and pubs in the busy Thamel district. We spend the night at a comfortable 3-star hotel in Kathmandu, gearing up for the Manaslu adventure ahead!

You will take a drive from Kathmandu to Machhakhola to start the trip. To reach your starting site for your trek, you will travel through various mountainous terrain today. To begin with, you will travel directly to Maccha Khola from Gongabu Bus Park in Kathmandu between 6 and 8 a.m.

By public bus, it takes 8 to 9 hours to go to Maccha Khola; by private jeep, it takes 7 to 8 hours. On the route, the bus will stop for lunch and a bathroom break. If you want to upgrade to a private Jeep, you can stop wherever for lunch or a bathroom break.

This journey offers diverse views of hills, rivers, rice farm settings, and communities. The Gorkha district in mid-west Nepal is home to the Machh Khola. The route travels through several agricultural villages and towns, passing into warmer climates and following the Trisuli and Budi Gandakii rivers.

Your journey to Jagat will commence from Maccha Khola. You will continue your trek on a gradually ascending track after breakfast. You will begin your trek on the Budi Gandaki River’s bank as you cross the winding road. As you join the woodland route, a lot of langurs and monkeys will be seen.

You will be heading to the Gurung settlements, such as lower Khorlabeshi, after leaving the jungle. You will reach Tatopani, a natural hot spring, by following the route. This is where the difficult path begins on the trail. After there, the route winds through a forest to Doban, from where you may go down to the Budhi Gandaki River, which lies above the settlement.

After that, you will cross a suspension bridge and go toward Lauri. The name Jagat, a historic rural hamlet, comes from the Sanskrit word for “consciousness.” The 2015 April earthquake caused significant damage to the hamlet community.

You will trek to Salleri and then descend to Sirdibas the next day. There are many gompas and Buddhist prayer flags around the village to greet you. You will have your permits examined at Phillim, after which you will follow the river’s western bank.

The route then travels through a number of locations before arriving at riverbanks, where stunning natural scenery may be seen. You pass through Himalayan pine, rhododendron woods, and overhanging boulders atop towering peaks. These highlights enhance the trail.

As you continue, you pass the Siyar Khola bridge and come to an intersection where the route splits off from Tsum Valley to the right. The routes take you to Deng, where the snow-capped mountains are best viewed.

The cultural landscapes of the area, as well as the customs and way of life of the locals, will be explored by you. Before bed, you may spend the evenings with other trekkers and residents around the fireplace, sharing your experiences.

You will have breakfast and begin the day’s trek once the sun rises. You’ll ascend to Rana and Bihi Phedi through a suspension bridge. White-faced monkeys travel the path, stopping at settlements for free food.

You may reach basalt walls via certain narrow paths. As you go through the wheat fields and maze, you will come upon a few little waterfalls. The valley is widened by the northeastern paths, which cross a picturesque river via a suspension bridge. The path then passes through many landslide zones on its way to Ghap. You have to walk with additional caution at this point.

After passing through a vibrant forest of firs, oaks, and rhododendrons, you will reach Namrung village. Upper Nupri may be accessed through this amazing Tibetan village. Tibetan culture has had a considerable effect on the local way of life from the different landmarks such as chortens and Mani walls.

After breakfast, you resume your journey with the intention of arriving at Lho. You will begin the day by observing the Nubri people’s way of life. You will pass through Banjam, past cottages, verdant terraces, and many mani walls before entering the woodland of fir, rhododendron, and oak, and then ascend to Lihi and Sho.

Along with offering breathtaking vistas of snow-capped peaks like Peak 29 and Mount Manaslu, the trek also offers up-close views of the glacier from the lateral moraine. The Kani (gate arches) that you cross before Sho have some beautiful paintings in them. You will eventually arrive in Lho after making your way across the rugged hillside paths.

In the small community of Lho, there is a sizable Gompa where over 150 kids learn Buddhist philosophy and elementary schooling. The breathtaking vistas are accessible from the vantage point above Gompas, and climbing to every peak is unnecessary.

When you wake up the following morning, Mt. Manaslu’s breathtaking panorama will greet you. You will traverse the gentle path to Shyala, traversing through mossy pine and rhododendron gullies alongside a crystal-clear stream.

The Shyala hamlet features many wooden resting areas and is encircled by agricultural fields. There’s a moderate route that leads uphill to the Pungyen Gompa. You will trek to several locations along the path in order to reach Samagaon.

The large mountain settlement Samagaon is situated along the path that leads to the Tibet border, as well as to the Manaslu Base Camp and Larkya-la Pass.

You acclimate to the thin air at Samagaon throughout the trek since you will have ascended to a higher height. Acclimatization to the treks does not entail idleness. But even on these days, you will wander for a while. You’ll stay in Samagaon and take in these breathtaking vistas.

You will also trek to Pungyen Gompa, which is east of the Nubra Valley, as part of an acclimatization trip. You must bring a packed lunch for this acclimatization hike. At the top, you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of Mount Manaslu. Many Yaks and Himalayan Thars may be seen grazing nearby.

After that, you may explore a number of monasteries in the area, such as Labrang Gompa and Kargya Chholing Monastery.

You will arrive at the more recent location, Samdo, on this fresh day. However, this is a short day trek because you have to go slowly due to the high altitude. A wide valley with tall mani walls and various birds may be seen, accompanied by lengthy yak pastures.

Along the base camp track, the trek starts with a descent towards Budhi Gandaki. After there, the route descends to a wooden bridge via juniper trees. After that, you’ll stroll through a variety of desolate areas while taking in breathtaking vistas of snow-capped mountains, including Siachen Glacier, Dharamsala, Manaslu, and Samdo Peak.

Prior to Lakrya La Pass, the Samdo village was the biggest, most picturesque, and tallest settlement, where you may investigate the habits, traditions, and culture of the area while taking in the breathtaking view of the Manaslu Himalayas from a monastery.

Another exciting day at the high altitude is here. Therefore, pay close attention to your body language. You will stroll gently across the rough terrain of the Manaslu area, taking in the picturesque vistas of the Himalayan range, until you arrive at Dharmasala.

After crossing the Athahra Saya River, you will stroll alongside the Larke River. The Mani walls and the prayer flags that are strung along the path to indicate how near the Larkya La Pass is will be visible to you.

Next is Larkya Glacier, which is breathtaking. You trek around Salkha Khola Valley and ascend again to reach the stone guest house while taking in the vista. The stone guest house, sometimes called Dharamsala or Larkya La Phedi, is a sort of communal dormitory rather than a lodge.

You are in for a thrilling adventure when you travel around the Manaslu circuit and pass the 5,100-meter Larkya La Pass. You will depart from Dharamsala after an early breakfast because the trek will be lengthy.

After descending to a tiny lake, you first have to traverse a moraine. As you traverse a high grassy hill to the south, the route becomes undefined and uneven. From the pass, You may take in the breathtaking vistas of snow-capped mountains, such as Gyaji Kung, Cheo Himal, Kang Garu, Himlung Pyramid, and others.

After crossing the moraine once again, you slowly drop to a second grassy moraine at 4,450 meters. As you approach the vast meadow, the Mani walls, and the few cottages, signifying that you have arrived at Bhimtang, the valley starts to broaden.

Begin the day by getting up early for the mesmerizing sunrise view over mountains like Manaslu and Lamjung Himal. As you start the trek, the route follows the way down to wide pastures, ultimately leading to the Dudh Khola riverbed.

Hereafter, traverse a wooden bridge, making your way up, passing through terraced farmlands, and arrive at Gho.

This day ends the Manaslu Circuit Trek with a walk to Tilije. Afterward, a local jeep will take you to Besisahar, and you can get on a private vehicle to reach Kathmandu.

Upon arriving, check-in at the hotel and freshen up to cope with the long drive. To celebrate your successful trek, you can rejoice by trying different cuisines or visiting cafes and bars to enjoy to the fullest.

Today is your final day in Nepal, a wonderful nation full of Himalayan beauty. Your voyage ends today, but the memories you create will endure a lifetime. You’ll be ready to say goodbye to a country that gave you an amazing opportunity to explore Manaslu Circuit.

On the way home, you’ll have plenty of time to plan your excursion and enjoy some of Nepal’s most spectacular mountain vistas.