Introduction
The Manaslu Trek (or Manaslu Circuit Trek) is a 14-day tea-house trek that starts in Arughat Bazaar and ends two weeks later in Besisahar, circumnavigating Manaslu, the 8th highest peak in the world. The trek has all the elements of the best treks in Nepal including both Hindu and Buddhist culture, protected wildlife, rhododendrons and wildflowers, raging rivers, precarious bridges and stunning mountain scenery.
Situated in Nepal's Gorkha District and rising an imposing 8,163 meters, Mt. Manaslu lies just at the east of the extremely popular Annapurna Region and shares a fringe with its northern neighbour, Tibet. Opened to trekkers as of late, Manaslu's top-notch excellence and rich social customs offer the committed trekker a fantastic experience. The highlight, however, is undoubtedly the spectacular unhindered views of Manaslu.
The trekking trails along this route have been greatly improved in recent years, particularly along the Budi Gandaki river gorge, making it much easier and safer. In terms of difficulty, it is comparable with the Annapurna Circuit Trek or Everest Base Camp trek.
Outline Itinerary
Day 1 Kathmandu to Soti Khola (710m)
Day 2 Soti Khola to Machha Khola (900m)
Day 3 Jagat to Deng (2095m)
Day 4 Deng to Namrung (2600m)
Day 5 Namrung to Sama Gaon (3390m)
Day 6 Rest day and acclimatization day at Sama Gaon (3870m)
Day 7 Sama Gaon to Samdo (3690m)
Day 8 Samdo to Dharmasala (4460m)
Day 9 Dharmasala to Larkya pas via Larkya pass (5016m)
Day 10 Bhimthang to Tilije (2300m)
Day 11 Rest day Tal
Day 12 Tal to Jagat (1300m)
Day 13 Jagat to Bahundanda (1310m)
Day 14 Bahundanda to Besi Sahar (760m) bus or private jeep
Day 15 Drive back to Kathmandu from Besishar
Day 1 : Kathmandu to Soti Khola (710m)
Arughat. The first four hours to Dhading Besi, the district headquarters of Dhading (1050m), is on paved roads, but for the section to Arughat, we will be driving on a rougher surface. From
Arughat we drive another 1.5 hrs to Soti Khola by public jeep.
Accomodation : Guest house
Day 2 : Soti Khola to Machha Khola (900m)
After crossing the Machha River and Khrolabesi, we will pass through the hot springs at Tatopani. The trail follows a forested area until we cross Dovan Khola. We then make our way to Budhi Gandaki Valley. As the elevation increases, the scenery undergoes a complete transformation, with white sandy areas along the riverside.
Accomodation : Guest house
Day 3 : Jagat to Deng (2095m)
Today we will scramble steeply up into a spectacular trail before descending to cross the river. We pass through some small settlements and then climb to an impressive valley. There we will encounter Mani stones (prayer stones) carved into wayside rocks - a sign that we are entering Tibetan territory.
Accomodation : Guest house
Day 4 : Deng to Namrung (2600m)
Today’s trail passes through Ghap (2380m). We will be walking through west of Budhi Gandaki and crossing some waterfalls and Sringri khola on a funky suspension bridge. The trail then climbs steeply and traverses above Budhi Gandaki. The trail passes through a Kani with intricate, well-preserved paintings. On the trail, we may encounter some colourful birds including Dhafe. The trail climbs alongside the river, past two long Mani walls and the waterfalls. As we cross the Rhododendron forest before finally reaching Namring, we will be able to spot grey Langure monkeys swinging from branch to branch.
Accomodation : Guest house
Day 5 : Namrung to Sama Gaon (3390m)
Beyond Namrung, the trek enters into upper Nupri where the dialect changes to a form of Tibetan style and most people dress in chubas, the Tibetan style of wrapping around cloak. The trail leaves the village through a Kani and makes a long sweep into a wooded canyon and crossing the Hiran Khola on a double span cantilever bridge. One can now capture a spectacular sight of Manaslu, Manaslu North (7157m) and Naike Peak (5515m). The trail will pass through Lho (3080m), Syala (3350m) and we will have to cross a ridge and trek in and out of the canyon of the Thosang khola. We will then descend onto a rock-strewn moraine and reach Sama Gaon.
Accomodation : Guest house
Day 6 : Rest day and acclimatization day at Sama Gaon (3870m)
Today we can visit the Pungyen Gumba. We'll enjoy the sight of thousands of mani stones with Buddhist texts and pictures and the Sherpa women clad in traditional clothes and ornaments. On a little hill near the Sama village is an old Gompa (Pungyen Gompa), a monastery with great views of the glacier.
Accomodation : Guest house
Day 7 : Sama Gaon to Samdo (3690m)
As we continue on with our trek, the valley begins to widen. The route is an easy trail on a shelf above the river past juniper and birch forests and the stone huts of Kermo kharka. From a stone arch, you will be able to see a large white Kani. It gives an illusion of being close but will take you a long time to reach the Kani before reaching Samdo. Samdo is at the junction of three valleys.
Accomodation : Guest house
Day 8 : Samdo to Dharmasala (4460m)
The trail descends into a wide, gentle land from Samdo, past many fields to a large Mani wall and a stone archway. After more than an hour of walking the trail becomes indistinct. We will be staying high on the trail that crosses the top of the two large ravines. Watch for the unique blue sheep as the trail gets steeper and climbs the side of a ridge to about 4460m.
Accomodation : Guest house
Day 9 : Dharmasala to Larkya pas via Larkya pass (5016m)
The trek today will test one's endurance level and patience. We will trek to Bhimthang by crossing the Larkya pass. It might take 4 to 5 hours from Dharmasala to Larkya La and it is recommended to make an early start in order to cross the pass safely. It can be extremely cold and windy during the climb. However, the views are tremendous. The peaks seen to the west of the pass are Himlung (7030m), Kanggure (6981m) and Annapurna Second (7937m). The trail then descends along the top of a moraine to the west and drops steeply and traverses screed slopes to alongside a set of steep, rough switchbacks. Once off the top the trail crosses the moraine and descends more gently. The trail becomes easier, descending along the grassy moraine to a small meadow. The trail heads down to a large meadow, a Mani wall and a small rest house; we reached Bhimthang, which in Tibetan means “Plain of Sand”
Accomodation : Guest house
Day 10 : Bhimthang to Tilije (2300m)
The trail descends from Bhimthang and crosses a glacial steam. The next two days’ walk follows on an ancient salt-trading route. We will be climbing over the side of the moraine and descending into a beautiful pine and rhododendron forest. The trail cuts across fields before making a steep climb over a ridge decorated with prayer flags. We will be proceeding through fields over a clear stream, past houses and more fields interspersed with rhododendron and oak forests. We will leave Tilije and walk up to Tal.
Accomodation : Guest house
Day 11 : Rest day Tal
The day trek of about 5 hours follows the trail downstream of Marshyangdi River, passing through the scattered villages to reach Tal village. We will be climbing over the side of the moraine and descending into a beautiful pine and rhododendron forest. The trail cuts across fields before making a steep climb over a ridge decorated with prayer flags. We will then head through fields over a clear stream, past houses and more fields interspersed with rhododendron and oak forests. We will leave Tilije and walk down Jagat.
Accomodation : Guest house
Day 12 : Tal to Jagat (1300m)
Today the trail runs gently downstream of the river passing the village of Chamje and Himal Pani We then cross the bridge over Dudh Khola and climb up through a chorten-shaped arch, pass a mani wall and reach the Thonje village. At the village, we go through a police checkpoint and continue to Dharapani. We have entered the Annapurna circuit section from Dharapani. Further down, we come across Karte village and after quite a bit of walking we cross a bridge over Marshyangdi Khola. We also come across some mani walls before reaching the village of Tal, situated at the foot of a large waterfall.
Accomodation : Guest house
Day 13 : Jagat to Bahundanda (1310m)
From here the road-building is full-on, so we'll continue as far as we can get, and hop in our jeeps. But before then, one more steep descent through the woods, looking across the river to large waterfalls, leads us to the lovely cobbled village of Jagat, situated on a shelf which juts into the precipitous Marsyangdi valley. Descending steeply, we arrive at the small, somewhat wild-looking village of Bahundanda. We have a bumpy drive to Besisahar where we set up our last campsite and get ready for our last night's party with the staff and porters in the evening!
Accomodation : Guest house
Day 14 : Bahundanda to Besi Sahar (760m) bus or private jeep
The trail runs gently downstream of the river passing the village of Naadi. From Naadi, the trail takes you to the bank of Marshyangdi River and a town of Bhulbhule, Khudi all the way to Besisahar We will walk up to Besi Sahar and take a ride to Besi Sahar
Accomodation : Guest house
Day 15 : Drive back to Kathmandu from Besishar
From Besi Sahar we will take a bus ride to Kathmandu.
Accomodation : -
Features Included on Manaslu trekking 14 night 15 days
Features Not Included on Manaslu trekking 14 night 15 days
Things To know
Requirement
Head
- Sun hat or scarf
- Light balaclava or warm fleece hat
- Sunglasses
- Head torch
Upper Body
- Cotton t-shirts or thermals
- Fleece jacket
- Waterproof jacket
- Down jacket
Lower Body
- Lightweight cotton long pants
- Waterproof pants
Feet
- Thin inner socks
- Thick, warm wool hiking socks
- Comfortable hiking boots
Hands
- Gloves
Accessories
- Sleeping bag rated to 0°C
- Trekking bag/duffel bag
- Large plastic bags (for keeping items dry inside trek bag)
- Trekking poles (optional, recommended)
- Water bottle or camel bag
- Toiletries
