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Manaslu Circuit trek offers the authentic taste of trekking in the Himalayas. The trekking route is getting popular as an alternative route to Annapurna Circuit trekking. The less crowded trekking route is on the bucket list of many trekkers. As trekking experts, we suggest that most trekking clients plan their trekking in the Manaslu region, especially the Manaslu Circuit route.
Manaslu Circuit Trek Highlights
- Experience the true wilderness and remoteness of the Jungle trekking route while exploring the Manaslu Base Camp.
- The challenging climb to the Larkya La above 5,100 meters and join the famous Annapurna Circuit trek trail at Dharapani
- Walk via the Buri Gandaki river gorge, encountering many suspension bridges, pristine Lakes, and waterfalls on the trail.
- Two acclimatization days (Sama Gaun and Samdo) while also visiting the Tibetan Border
- Experience the cultural blend of Nepalese & Tibetan Buddhism by the Magar and Tamang people in the highland while also exploring the Pungyen Gompa.
- Comfortable accommodation in recently built tea houses
- Avoid the crowd of other famous trekking routes and enjoy the better views of mountain vistas in complete solitude
12 Days Manaslu Trek Overview
Nepal has always been a hub for trekkers from all around the world. While some of the trekking routes of Nepal remain vibrant and crowded throughout the year, some other trekking trails have been remote and hidden. Manaslu Circuit Trek trial is one of Nepal’s best-kept secrets that recently caught tourists’ attention.
Manaslu, 8163 meters, is the world’s highest mountain in Nepal’s central-west part. The Manaslu region lies about 150 km West North of Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital—Nepal’s of the world’s most dangerous and stunning mountains. Our Manaslu Circuit treks circumference around the Manaslu Himal and bless you with some of the most spectacular views of mother nature.
Manaslu trek route was closed to foreigners until the 90s and remained one of the restricted regions of Nepal. If you wish to travel to the TSUM valley of Manasulu, you will still need the restricted area permit. The trekking route has been recently upgraded from the camping trek to the tea house trekking. Still, it is quieter and more peaceful than the nearby Annapurna trek route and the Everest trek. This Jungle trekking trail of Nepal gives the perfect blend of culture, remoteness, and comfort, making it one of Nepal’s most beautiful trek routes.
Manaslu circuit starts at the beautiful and happening town of Shoti Khola and moves upwards to the village of Jagat and Sama Gaun. From here, we visit the Manaslu Base Camp and Pungyen Gompa before getting to Samdo. We stopped in Samdo for a day to see the Tibetan border and then moved to Dharmasala. After crossing Dharmasala at Larkya Pass, we join the Annapurna circuit trek route at Dharapani. From here, we get a bus that drives us back to Kathmandu.
So are you ready to dive in for the further detail of the Manaslu base camp? Let’s get started.
Transportation: Let’s trek to Manasulu from Soti Khola, about 160 km and 7 hours of drive from Kathmandu. Per our budget, we shall ride in a private jeep or a public bus.
Similarly, on the return journey, we drive from Dharapani to Besishar on a private Jeep and then from Besishar to Kathmandu in a public bus or a tourist vehicle. The ride on the final day of the Manaslu Trek will be about 8 hours long.
Permit
Along with a visa to Nepal, you will need three permits for the Manaslu circuit trek.
Manaslu restricted area: You will need a restricted area permit to cross Jagat on Samagam. The Nepalese government has issued this restricted area permit to control the invasion of tourists into the local culture. Once the trekking region is determined, the trekkers cannot travel independently. They should be in a group of two people and must be accompanied by a licensed guide or travel agency like MyEveryTrip. A restricted area permit should be issued in Kathmandu.
Manaslu conservation area permit: The conservation of Manaslu starts at Philim, and you need to issue an entry ticket to get inside Manaslu. The conservation area permit can be given at an entry point or in Kathmandu.
Annapurna Conservation Area permit: At the end of the trek, i.e. from Dharapani to Besisahar, you will stay in Annapurna Conservation Area. Thus, one must issue an ACAP permit either at the entry point or at Kathmandu. Both Annapurna and Manaslu conservation area permits cost USD 30 each.
Accommodation
Manaslu trekking has now been upgraded to a tea house trial. This means you will stay in a local guest house each night. The guest house in Manaslu Region has a twin bed in a small cosy room, toilets available on sharing basis, and a central dining hall that serves good food. Although not luxurious, Manaslu circuit trek accommodation is quite comfortable.
The houses also have hot water, Wi-Fi, and electricity. However, you might need to pay a few extra dollars to use these services. You can also use a Ncell SIM card for the internet in Manaslu. :
Trekking Region: Manaslu and Annapurna
- Trekking duration: 14 days, 13 nights
- Maximum altitude: Larkya passes at 5,167 meters
- Accommodation: Tea house
- Trek difficultly: Hard
- Starting point: Soti Khola
- Ending Point: Dharapani
Manaslu Circuit Trek Itinerary
- Day 1: Drive to Soti Khola
- Altitude: 700 m / 2296 ft
- Duration: 7 hrs
We drive from Kathmandu early in the morning and move along the Trishuli river. After a short stop at Arughat, we take a different vehicle to Soti Khola. Since the roadway has now extended up to Maccha Khola, we can drive beyond Soti Khola and save us another day of the walk. We will go for about 8 hours from Kathmandu and crash at the tea house on the bank of Budhi Gandaki River at Soti Khola. : Overnight in Soti Khola
- Day 2: Trek to Maccha Khola
- Altitude: 930 m / 3051 ft
- Duration: 5-6 hours
After a beautiful stay at Soti Khola, we start Manaslu Trekking on a rocky, narrow path to Machha Khola. Walking on the countryside road, we are engaged by the view of the terrace farm and beautiful village. Passing the forest of Sal and encountering many rivers/ waterfalls, we stop at a few Gurung and Ghale villages. The villagers are often engaged in their fields, busy growing paddy, maize, and potatoes. From Nyali Khola, we walk on the hills’ rocky edge and riverbank, getting to Machha Khola by Hillsong. : Overnight in Mache Khola
- Day 3: Trek to Jagat
- Altitude: 1340 m /4396 ft
- Duration: 5-6 hours
Following the river, we climb north on the 3rd day of Manaslu trekking. Hiking through the larger villages of Korlabesi and Tatopani, we might encounter some langur monkeys along the way. We hike for another hour to Dovan and stop at Thulo Dhinga for cultural insight. Walking higher in the forested trial, we reach Jagat. In Spring, this part of the Manaslu route is decorated with rhododendrons of different colors. Jagat is the first village we encounter that the Buddhist culture has influenced.: Overnight in Jagat.
- Day 4: Trek to Pewa
- Altitude: 1804 m / 5918 ft
- Duration: 5-6 hours
In the morning, we shall first walk to Selleri. From Selleri, the trial goes to Sirdibas. This is a beautiful village decorated with many Buddhist prayer flags and monasteries. From here, we climb to Philim, where we get our permit checked and continue working on the unique sculpture of the river. We leave the river and enter the Himalayan Pine and Rhododendrons forest before walking to Siyar Khola. Here, you can see the trial that separates the TSUM Valley on the right. Manaslu TSUM Valley Trek is also popular among tourists, but it’s not our destination for this particular trip.
Walking to the left, we reach Pewa for the night. We stay in one of two basic tea houses in Pewa and enjoy the campfire in the evening Overnight in Pewa.
- Day 5: Trek to Namrung
- Altitude: 2630 m / 8628 ft
- Duration: 5-6 hours
On the 5th morning of the Manaslu Trek Itinerary, we walk north of Pewa in the bamboo forest to reach Deng. Crossing the suspension bridge on the river, we ascend to Rana and Bihi Phedi. If you are lucky, you can even see a white-faced monkey. The trial moves to the Ghap, where we walk in the landslide zone. After about one hour of walking on the rough trail destroyed by the landscape, we reached Namrung. At 2600 M, there are some quite impressive tea houses and restaurants in Namrung, an essential stop for Manaslu trekking: Overnight in Namrung.
- Day 6: Trek to Lho
- Altitude: 2957 m / 9701 ft
- Duration: 4 hours
In the morning, we visit the Namrung village to witness the rich culture and tradition of the Nubri people. A visit to their terrace farm and monasteries helps us understand the Nubri lifestyle well. Walking beyond the village, we see the local women making Tibetan dresses and fine paintings in the Kani. Hiking the rocky hillside, we cross Sho and walk for a few hours to Lho. From Lho, we get a clear view of Manaslu peak and Manasu north.: Overnight in Lho.
- Day 7: Trek to Sama Gaun
- Altitude: 3530 m / 11581 ft
- Duration: 4 hours
This is an easy and relaxing day of Manaslu trekking with the view of Mount Manaslu before us. In the morning, the path goes to Shyala as we head north on the forested field of moss and Pines. Sama Gaun is only about an hour’s walk from Shyala. Although we cannot see Manaslu village, we can still witness a spectacular view of yak pasture and beautiful settlements. This village is the center of the Nubri people, home to many large Gombas. We can also visit the health post, Helipad, and local restaurants in Sama Gaon. : Overnight in Sama Gaon
Day 8: Visit Manaslu Base Camp and Pungyen Gompa
Although this is a rest day in Sama Gaun, we plan to hike toward the Manaslu Base camp. On the north of the village, we get to Manaslu Base camp on the path of Birendra Tal. Since the altitude of the Manaslu base camp and glacier is 4400 M, make sure that you walk steadily and slowly. Instead of hiking to the Manaslu Base Camp, you can also trek to Birendra Tal, which is only a few minutes from the village. This might help you acclimatize to the altitude.
Instead of hiking to the Manaslu base camp, trekkers also hike south of the village to Pungyen Gompa. The two-hour walk to the Monastery will help you better understand the local culture. If you like exploring all these places, you might add one day to the Manaslu Trek Itinerary and stay in Sama Gaun for three days. : Overnight in Sama Gaun
- Day 9:Trek to Somdo
- Altitude: 3865 m / 12680 ft
- Duration: 3 hours
After a beautiful day in Sama Gaon, we head further deep into the Manaslu region, hiking towards Samdo. This is only 2 to 3 hours of walking on the accessible yak pastures. We start the walk quite late in the morning and cross the Buri Gandaki River to reach White Kani. From here, we get to the futuristic village of Samdo in a few hours. After some rest in the town, we walk to Samdo Peak. We can see Larky La pass on the left and the trail to Tibet over the slope from the mountain. We return to the hotel in Samdo for the night and enjoy a wonderful evening. Overnight in Samdo
Day 10: Trip to Tibet Border
Today, we stopped for the rest at Samdo village. We hike toward the Tibetan border in the daytime to see a vast plateau. You might also be able to cross the border to witness the large yak caravan of Tibet. In the south, we can see the Samdo Glacier, which is a picture-perfect setting. We might also be able to capture some photos of blue sheep and Marmots in the warm season. Overnight in Samdo
- Day 11: Hike to Dharmasala
- Altitude: 4460 m / 14632 ft
- Duration: 4 hours
This is another relaxing day at a higher altitude. We only hike for 3 to 4 hours to cross the Samdo village and head towards Dharmasala. Since we keep gaining lengths, you must stroll on the rocked trials of Manaslu. Dharmasala has a few hotels for our night stay: Overnight Dharmasala.
- Day 12: Trek to Bimthang via Larkya Pass
- Altitude: 3590 m / 11778 ft
- Duration: 10 hours
This is the most challenging and vital day of our Manaslu circuit trek. We leave Dharmasala early in the morning and head toward Larkya La pass at 5160 m above sea level. If the weather is unstable, we might stop at Dharmasala until we can hike again. Walking to Larkya base and then to Larka pass will take 6 to 7 hours of strenuous climb; we shall reach the top only in the evening. We see Himlung ( 7126 m) and Kang Guru( 6981m) on a clear day. Also, we can see the beautiful Annapurna range in the north.
In the evening, we walk downwards to the Bimthang village. The descent along the icefall will be tricky, but once we reach the town, we shall have a comfortable night Overnight in Bimthang.
- Day 13: Trek to Dharapani
- Altitude: 1970 m / 6463 ft
- Duration: 7 hours
Ready for the final day of work in the Manaslu region? We walk across the Dudh Koshi River via the lush forest decorated with extraordinary flora and fauna. In a couple of hours, we reach Karcher, our night stop. Walking on the land destroyed by the glacial flood, we drop to Gurung Gaon. This will be the first village you can see after Samdo. As you see more farms and fields, we walk further north to Tilije. In a few moments, you will reach Dharapani Overnight in Dharapani.
- Day 14: Drive to Kathmandu
- Altitude:1400 m
- Duration: 8 hours
Your journey to the beautiful Manaslu route ends today. From Dharapani, we hop on a private jeep that brings us to Besisahar. Then, we shall drive along the Marsyangdi River to Muglin. With impressive views of lush hills, we ride on the bank of the Trishuli River to reach Kathmandu.
Back in Kathmandu, you will have some time to shop and have a farewell dinner to celebrate our journey together. After many nights, you will enjoy a luxurious stay in Kathmandu Overnight in Kathmandu.
Final words,
So that was the end of the article. You can read other Manaslu Circuit trek guide articles about food accommodation and Manaslu permits on our website to learn more details. If you have any more queries, please comment below or email us.
If you are planning to trek to Manaslu anytime soon, we will be more than happy to assist you.
