Manaslu Circuit Trekking—that circles the massif of Manaslu or often called the Gorkha massif where Mt. Manaslu 8,163 m/26781 ft peak is located – is a wonderful trekking experience in the secluded Manaslu region and Nubri Valley of the Nepal’s central Himalayas. The trek leads along the Budhi Gandaki River Valley to enter the spectacular Nubri Valley in the Manaslu region. Manaslu Circuit Trek is one of the most enjoyable in the Himalayas, given the lowest number of visitors so far.
The High Himalayan Pass at an elevation of 5,160 m/16929 ft namely Larke La Pass, is the major highlight of the Manaslu trek. Several days of traversing the beautiful mountain trails and walking past wonderful villages with diverse cultures gives a real experience of richness in Nepal. The trekking throughout the Nubri Valley adds spiritual charm on top of the natural beauty and lifetime experiences.
Arrival in Kathmandu. Meet with our friendly representative at the arrival terminal of only International airport. And, then you will be transferred to your hotel. You check-in at your Hotel and then after short rest you can go to explore market area of Thamel – where you can eat your supper, change money, buy some stuffs from supermarket, or buy trekking gears – if you need to do. Later we take you to our office for the trip briefing. Overnight at your hotel. Delay of any kind will postpone the events for next day according to feasibility.
Early morning after breakfast, you start the day by long drive – yet enjoyable and adventurous – to Sotikhola, the gateway to Manaslu trekking. We drive on a highway that stretches on the central hills of Nepal and boasts spectacular views. About 8 hours long drive goes past several small towns and dotted villages where you will come across with full of rural Nepalese life. We drive alongside beautiful River Trishuli for some distance and drive across it to go towards Sotikhola via Arughat Bazar. Overnight local lodge.
The first day of your exhilarating and memorable trekking trip in this pristine region of the Himalayas begins with a breakfast at your local lodge. You prepare all your backpacks along with crew for the trekking and then start to walk along Budhi Gandaki into a dense forest with rich flora and fauna. Throughout the trail you will witness beautiful waterfalls, terrace faming and beautiful settlements with warm people living. You walk across village of Labubesi, which is a ethnic Gurung settlement. Once you reach Maccha Khola you rest for the day and spend your night at the local lodge.
From Machha Khola, start your second day of walk early to complete the trail. You will walk past Kholabesi to further reach Tatopani – literally means hot water in Nepali language where the natural hot spring pool is located and famous among Nepali for healthy bath. The day will be definitely adventurous and full of suspension bridges – if you scare of crossing will definitely add the adventure to you. The trek will be tiring given the hill landscape and uphill track. You will walk along Budhi Gandaki to reach Jagat. Overnight will be spent at a local lodge.
Today is comparatively short day of the trek. From Jagat you walk towards Salleri village. Depending on the weather conditions the visibility of mountains varies. If you are lucky enough and walking in a beautiful day then you will witness the grandeur view of the Sringi Himal from Salleri. You then climb all the way up to Sirdibas village. On your way you will cross a suspension bridge and after a final ascent you reach your destination of Philim. Overnight will be spent at local lodge.
From Philim you walk quite long hours and long trail to reach Bihi Phedi. You eventually walk past the view of the Sringi Himal and the track will be flat for the first part with gradual downhill till you reach the intersection of two paths; one leads to Tusm Valley and the other towards the Manaslu circuit – your trail. You then walk further towards Nyak and Deng and with a final climb, you will make it to Bihi for overnight stay in the local lodge.
You will be greeted by the beautiful view of the Kutang Himal as soon as you start the day. The trail for today is long but very adventurous and eventful and even informative. You walk past lots of Buddhist Mani walls, Chortens and prayer flags. On your way, you pass the Ghap village with detectable Buddhist culture. You spend your night at the local lodge at Namrung village.
You begin the day early and walk your way up to Lihi village. This place brings you with beautiful view of the surrounding mountains. The uphill trek does not end here, you will then walk all the way up to Lho passing Shyo. The trek is short and only takes four hours, nonetheless full of adventures and splendid view of the mountains. You officially enter the height of 3,000 m – the height you need to be careful with altitude sickness – from Lho. You spend overnight at the local lodge.
After breakfast you start the trek with a downhill trail. However, once you reach Shyala the uphill trail begins. Along the way, you witness breathtaking views of mountains and beautiful sceneries. You will pass through isolated valley of Nubri now. Samagaun will be your destination for the day. Overnight will be spent at local lodge.
This day is separated for acclimatization purpose. For the adjustment of height you will travel to Kharka (4,400 m/14435ft). You can enjoy the serene view of the lake Birendra Tal – named after the former King of Nepal Birendra Bikram Shah – along with the view of the mountains. After the hike of about four hours you relax for the day at the local lodge.
After beautiful time spent at Samagaun you will be heading towards Samdo. Enjoy your morning breakfast at the lodge and start your day early. You are now exposed with herds of Yaks and donkeys on the way as you walk past a yak pasture. Once you reach Samdo after some five hours of walk, you will be as excited as ever because of the view of beautiful peaks: Samdo and Pangboche. Overnight will be spent at local lodge.
You will trek to Dharamshala today, also known as Larke Phedi – base of the Larke Pass. The trekking will take approximately five hours. You will now enter barren landscape but still beautiful and exhilarating. You will be able to observe the north face of Mt. Manasalu before reaching Dharamshala. Overnight will be spent at the local lodge.
This day is your most memorable day and highlights of your trip. The trail is difficult comparatively but very adventurous and breathtaking. You leave Dharmashala early in the morning and trek along a windy trail up to the Larke La Pass. Once you reach the top you can view the spectacular range of Himlung Himal, Gyaji Kang, Pang Phuchi, Annapurna II, Kang Guru, Namjung Himal and many more. You spend some time at the top of the pass and soak in all the moment before slowly heading down to Bhimthang. Although downhill, the trail is difficult and requires careful attention throughout. Once you reach Bhimthang where you spend the overnight at the local lodge.
After an adventurous day this day might be a lot easier and interesting to walk through after the pass. You trek your way to reach the destination of Tiliche. On the way you will witness mountains including Mt. Manasalu, Lamjung Himal, Himlung Himal and many more. You pass through Sangure Kharka and Dudh Khola on your way and even get to cross the suspension bridge. You walk past Gho village and finally reach Tiliche. Overnight will be spent at the local lodge.
You will start your day early in the morning and walk past with beautiful mountain ranges and rural settlements. Once you reach Jagat you celebrate your success with the crew members. You will definitely have a relaxing end to your trip along with lots of memories to look for. You spend overnight at the local lodge.
This list outlines the required things to bring during the trekking tours. There are various selections and brands that you can choose as per your interest. All required trekking equipments can be bought or even hired easily at a reasonable price in Kathmandu.
General
Upper Body - Head / Ears / Eyes
Hand
Core Body
Lower Body – Legs
Feet
Medicines and First Aid Kits
(Please note our guide will also carry the first aid kit bag during the trek. However we still recommend you to bring your personal first aid kit as well)
Miscellaneous
Optional
All garments should be kept dry using waterproof stuff sacks or large puncture resistant plastic bags.
Mountain Delights made our Manaslu Circuit Trek very memorable. The guide and porter we had were extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and accommodating. They always had our safety in mind, which made us feel very secure. The food was excellent and very filling. The views were absolutely stunning, and we were able to experience the culture and history of the area. We would highly recommend Mountain Delights to anyone looking for an unforgettable experience in the Himalayas.