Manaslu Circuit Trek

We start the trek after breakfast at 8 in the morning. The trail follows the Budhi Gandaki River, having us walk on dirt and stone paths. Soon enough, the trail passes through a subtropical forest where many sal and banana trees thrive. Monkeys cross this part of the path infrequently. After that, you have to climb over a small ridge at 1,000m. The path can be slippery at times, so we recommend wearing gripped shoes.

Following that, we have to walk through the village of Lapubes, going through a police checkpoint. There, we have to show our permits before continuing any further. We then cross a suspension bridge, it is about 50 meters long. Not long after, we arrive at Machha Khola riverside village, at around 2:00 PM. We stay in a wooden teahouse, have some locally prepared dishes, perhaps some thukpa and dal bhat. It’s important to dry our shoes near the stove before heading to bed.

Max. Altitude: 890m/2,920ft. (Machha Khola)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

Leaving Machha Khola after breakfast, the trail runs along the Budhi Gandaki River. The water is gray because of the heavy concentration of sediments and sand. Soon after, we have to pass through a dense forest where the path is narrow. En route to crossing the forest, we cross three wooden footbridges. Quickly moving through hazard-marked zones, we will pass a landslide-prone area. Signs of the debris show recent rockfall.

After a while on the trail, we pass the village of Shyangbu, featuring a school and a prayer wheel wall. From there, the climb to Doban is gradual. Day 3 of the Manaslu Circuit Trek gains us 180m, covering a total distance of 5.5 kilometers. The village of Doban sits at the confluence of two rivers. After arriving at around 1:30 PM, we will stay in a comparatively new teahouse.

Max. Altitude: 1,070m/3,510ft. (Doban)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

Starting the 4th day of the Manaslu Circuit Trek, the trail climbs steadily as we go over a series of stone steps. We soon pass through pine and oak forests, reaching 1,300m the trees are thinly covering the forests. After some time, open slopes appear on our right, and we cross a suspension bridge. This is the part of the trek where we enter the Nubri Valley. The landscape dramatically changes as we enter the valley. Stone houses replace wooden ones, with a monastery at 1,400m.

Soon after, we will reach our destination of the day, Philim, a large village with around 65 homes. We will stay in a family-run teahouse with rooms that have two beds each and a window facing the valley. Before heading to the tea house, we will have our permits checked at the village checkpoint. Potato stew and local flat bread are the main dishes of the village.

Max. Altitude: 1,570m/5,151ft. (Philim)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

Day 5 of the Manaslu Circuit Trek follows the Budhi Gandaki River upstream. The valley narrows as we gain more elevation, featuring rock walls that rise sharply on the left. We walk on a trail carved into the cliffside with some sections that are slippery after overnight moisture. We recommend using trekking poles for balance. Then, we pass through the village of Namrung, featuring a health post and some small shops.

In total, today’s trail climbs 290m over 6 kilometers of trekking distance, with an overall steady gradient. We will take breaks every 45 minutes or an hour to keep ourselves from being completely exhausted. You can see prayer walls with carved mani stones en route. The village of Deng sits in a wide part of the valley, featuring wooden houses with slate roofs. Most of the owners keep yaks and grow buckwheat.

Max. Altitude: 1,860m/6,102ft. (Deng)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

The following day of the Manaslu Circuit Trek itinerary starts with a trail that moves through a pine forest. Needle-shaped leaves cover the ground. After a short while, we have to cross a wooden bridge at 1,900m with a fast-flowing river below. The path climbs through open meadows and passes herders’ stops with flocks of cattle. We then enter a region with fewer trees and plants; shrubs and grass dominate the landscape.

We then walk past the village of Chhokate, featuring about ten homes and a Buddhist prayer flag pole. There are no teahouses in the village. Leaving Chhokate, the village of Ghap appears ahead. The teahouses in Ghap have solar power since hydroelectricity is very unreliable. You can charge your devices at the common table at a price. Our dinner will likely be vegetable curry, flat bread, and boiled potatoes.

Max. Altitude: 2,250m/7,382ft. (Ghap)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

Day 7 of the Manaslu Circuit Trek starts at Ghap. The trail climbs steadily through a dry, rocky valley, passing through pine and juniper forests. The wind can be strong in open sections. After some time, we have to cross several small streams over stone bridges, leading us to the village of Sho. It has stone houses and prayer wheels, offering a charming scene. We see mani walls along the trail as the path rises on a series of switchbacks.

We reach Namrung by mid-afternoon, sitting on a ridge, with views of Simnang Himal and Punggen Peak. We stay in a teahouse with solar-heated rooms for the night. The dinner for the night is likely going to be dal bhat with pickled or cooked vegetables.

Max. Altitude: 2,660m/8,727ft. (Namrung)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

We leave Namrung after breakfast, and the trail climbs through a high meadow. You might see ibex tracks near the ridge as the path follows the edge of a glacial moraine. We pass through the village of Lihi. It is one of the highest farming villages in Nepal. The locals of the village grow barley and rear yaks and other Himalayan cattle.

We continue the trek along a wide valley, heading west. The peaks of Manaslu and Ngadi Chuli dominate the skyline as we cross a stream at 3,000m. The trail ascends steadily as
Lho appears ahead, surrounded by boulders and prayer flags. The village has a small monastery, which we will visit briefly. You can eat noodle soup and drink ginger tea at the accommodation for the night. Oxygen levels are 70% of sea level, so we have to be careful about altitude sickness.

Max. Altitude: 3,180m/10,433ft. (Lho)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

Today, we leave the village of Lho and climb through a boulder field. We follow a single file path along the lateral moraine. Manaslu’s north face rises directly ahead as the glacier looms at 7,000m. We pass through Shyala, featuring one teahouse and a stone shelter. Wind gusts reach 40 km/h on exposed sections, so windproof layers are recommended.

The trail descends slightly before the final climb to Samagaun. We cross a wooden bridge over a glacial stream where water flows year-round from the Milam Glacier. We arrive in Samagaun by 2 PM, where houses have slate roofs and prayer flags on rooftops. We stay at a teahouse with running water and hot showers available. We eat dal bhat, boiled eggs, and some sides of veggies.

Max. Altitude: 3,530m/11,581ft. (Samagaun)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

After a filling breakfast at 8, we pack light for the one and only acclimatization hike on the Manaslu Circuit Trek itinerary. We hike to near the glacier viewpoint at 4,000m, which takes 2 hours round-trip. We will move slowly, stopping every 20 minutes or so to breathe and rest. You can see crevasses and ice seracs on the glacier. The terminal moraine is 500m wide.

Back in Samagaun, we will have a relaxing lunch and rest for the time being. You can drink lemon tea with honey, have some local dishes, and just make the most of your time in the mountains. Unlike the previous days, wind speeds are low there and will remain the same for the next two days. You might have to use sleeping bags rated to -10°C, as the blankets might not be enough.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

Day 11 of the Manaslu Circuit Trek starts with a trail that climbs through a glacial valley. We walk on compacted dirt and rock, over a path that follows the right side of the Buhi Gandaki River. Soon enough, we will pass chortens with faded mani stones, where prayer flags line the ridge above. You will get to see Manaslu’s west face throughout the hike today and also cross a high ridge at 3,700m. To avoid being extremely spent, we will take short breaks every 30 minutes.

We descend slightly to the village of Chhoku. It has two teahouses and a small shrine; you can refill your water bottles at the village. Continuing the trek, we will get to the village of Samdo after about 45 minutes. This village sits below a steep cliff and has many stone houses and yak pens. We stay in a teahouse with a tin roof, where we will be served vegetable thukpa and dal bhat.

Max. Altitude: 3,875m/12,713ft. (Samdo)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

We start the day 12 of the Manaslu Circuit Trek at around 7:30 AM. The trail ascends a wide valley as we walk on moraine debris and gravel. The air thins quickly, and we take a break every now and then to keep the ascending pace safe. We pass the last tree line at 4,000m, after which no vegetation grows. Crossing three small streams, the trail continues ascending.

After a while, we reach the final climb of the day. This part of the trek is very steep, gaining us 400m of elevation in just 2.5 hours. We have to climb up slowly and maintain a steady rhythm. Dharamsala is a seasonal settlement where a couple of teahouse operates during trekking season.

Max. Altitude: 4,480m/14,698ft. (Dharamsala)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

Today, we need to cross the Larkya La Pass before the afternoon winds. Day 13 of the Manaslu Circuit Trek climbs for a total of 5 hours. By the time we reach the top, we gain 680m in elevation. The path is steep and icy in sections. We might have to use crampons and trekking poles to reach Larkya La Pass at around 11:00 AM. The summit has prayer flags and a stone cairn.

You can see Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, and Annapurna II from the top. The visibility is about 10 km during the trekking season. Clouds begin forming to the east as soon as the afternoon winds come in, so we descend 1,440m to Bhimtang shortly after reaching the top. The first 2 hours are on glacial moraine, featuring loose and slippery trails. Eventually, we will reach Bhimtang, a grassy meadow with a couple of teahouses.

Max. Altitude: 5,160m/16,929ft. (Larkya La Pass)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

The next day on the Manaslu Circuit Trek itinerary, we have to leave Bhimtang and descend through a pine forest. This part of the trail requires us to walk on packed dirt and stone steps. We cross the Bhimtang Khola on a metal footbridge while water flows fast from snowmelt. Not long after, we will pass through Tilje at 3,000m, where a health post and a school can be seen. You can refill water bottles at a tap stand.

Leaving the village of Tilje, the trail drops steeply through rhododendron and oak trees. We recommend using trekking poles to reduce knee strain. Soon after, we reach Gho at around 2:00 PM. This village has about 30 homes and a monastery.

Max. Altitude: 3,720m/12,205ft. (Bhimtang)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

The next day on the Manaslu Circuit Trek, the trail descends along the Marshyangdi River. We follow a well-marked stone path and pass through pine and rhododendron forests. The density of the tree increases as we drop in elevation, crossing several suspension bridges. The longest one en route is just 60 meters. Then, we walk through the villages of Karte and Chamek. Each of the villages has some small shops and water taps.

We see a health post in Karte, which serves three surrounding villages. Leaving Karte, the trail is steep in some sections, requiring us to use trekking poles to reduce strain on our knees. We will arrive in Dharapani at around 2:30 PM. The village has about 50 households, and we will stay in a concrete teahouse after many days of wooden floors and walls.

Max. Altitude: 2,550m/8,366ft. (Gho)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

Today is the last day on the Manaslu Circuit Trek itinerary. We will leave Dharapani at 9:00 AM by jeep. The road is gravel and narrow, keeping us on the tracks for about 2 hours. On the way down, we will pass through Jagat and Tal. These villages have stone houses, health posts, and small schools. You can see the Marshyangdi River widen as we get closer to Besisahar.

From there, we board a private vehicle at around 1:00 PM and drive 8 hours to Kathmandu. The route follows the Prithvi Highway, and we will stop twice for fuel and food. We arrive in Kathmandu at 9:00 PM, check into a hotel, take hot showers, and call it a night after dinner.

Activity: 2 hrs drive

Max. Altitude: 1,910m/6,266ft. (Dharapani)

Meal: Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel