Introduction
The Manaslu Trek (or Manaslu Circuit Trek) is a 18-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 Arrival in Kathmandu 1350 m/4,429 ft.
Day 2 Free day in Kathmandu
Day 3 Journey to Soti Khola 700 m/2,297 ft.
Day 4 Trek to Machhakhola 869 m/2,851 ft.
Day 5 Trek to Yaru Phat 1,170 m/3839 ft.
Day 6 Trek to Philim 1570 m/5,151 ft.
Day 7 Trek to Deng Village 1,860 m/6,102 ft.
Day 8 Trek to Namrung 2,540 m/8,333 ft.
Day 9 Trek to Lho 3,330 m/10,925 ft.
Day 10 Trek to Sama Gaun 3,390 m/11,122 ft.
Day 11 Acclimatization day
Day 12 Trek to Samdo 3690 m/12,106 ft.
Day 13 Trek to Larkya Rest House 4,460 m/14,633 ft.
Day 14 Trek to Bimtang 3,590 m/11,778 ft.
Day 15 We return to the forests as we continue to drop in elevation. We now trek along the Dudh Khola and we start seeing villages again. Our destination is the village of Gho where we find a tea house for the night.
Day 16 Trek to Dharapani 1,860 m/6,102 ft.
Day 17 Travel to Kathmandu
Day 18 Departure from Kathmandu
Day 1 : Arrival in Kathmandu 1350 m/4,429 ft.
The Manaslu Around Trek begins upon your arrival in Kathmandu where you will be taken by a representative of Buddha Treks & Expedition to your hotel. There will be time to rest as well as to explore around Kathmandu.
Accomodation : 3 Star Hotel
Day 2 : Free day in Kathmandu
Free in Kathmandu to prepare for the trek and/or sightsee. You can take the city sightseeing tour with us as an optional activity, and we can arrange the tour with a cultural expert tour guide and transportation by private vehicle.
Accomodation : 3 Star Hotel
Day 3 : Journey to Soti Khola 700 m/2,297 ft.
We leave Kathmandu by bus after breakfast and travel to Arughat Bazar on the Budhi Gandaki River. Here we transfer to a jeep and head to the end of the road at the village of Soti Khola, spending the night at a tea house.
Accomodation : Guest house
Day 4 : Trek to Machhakhola 869 m/2,851 ft.
The first day of trekking takes us along the Budhi Gandaki River. There are amazing rapids as the river swirls angrily over the many rocks along the way. The trail clings to the side of the river, sometimes rising high along the rock walls that help to form a canyon. Along the way, you will encounter donkey trains that bring goods in and out of the mountains. In the evening, spend the night in the delightful little village of Machhakhola at a tea house.
Accomodation : Guest house
Day 5 : Trek to Yaru Phat 1,170 m/3839 ft.
We rise early and continue to follow along the Budhi Gandaki, one of the major rivers in Nepal. We pass by the hot springs of Tatopani where hot water drips from the rocks onto the trail. We walk through the picturesque village of Dovan and others along the way. We will spend the night at Yaru Phat at a tea house.
Accomodation : Guest house
Day 6 : Trek to Philim 1570 m/5,151 ft.
We’ll cross the Budhi Gandaki twice today on a suspension bridge. Along the way, we will pass through the stone village of Jagat with its flagstone streets. There are a number of Mani Walls along the way. These are stones that are inscribed with Buddhist writings reflecting Tibetan influence. We will cross the Budhi Gandaki on a very long suspension bridge and then trek to the village of Philim where we will spend the night at a tea house.
Accomodation : Guest house
Day 7 : Trek to Deng Village 1,860 m/6,102 ft.
Today is a beautiful day of trekking. From Philim, villages become few and far between. The trail is carved into the cliff that is now high over the Budhi Gandaki River. We can see amazing waterfalls along the way as well as watch eagles soar the thermals high above the river. Partway through the day, we turn west and continue to follow the Budhi Gandaki. It has become narrower here as we make our way to the village of Deng. We have a great view of Mt. Manaslu and the other snow-covered peaks that surround us. Our destination is the village of Deng where we will spend the night.
Accomodation : Guest house
Day 8 : Trek to Namrung 2,540 m/8,333 ft.
We continue trekking westward and come to the Valley of the Tibetans. We are seeing more and more Mani Walls. There are also some very large waterfalls along the way as well as dense jungles with monkeys chattering in the trees. We will reach the village of Namrung in the evening.
Accomodation : Guest house
Day 9 : Trek to Lho 3,330 m/10,925 ft.
It’s uphill today as we rise in elevation. We are entering the heart of the Tibetan area of Nepal and visit villages with stone houses packed tightly together. These houses surround by a communal courtyard. The animals live on the ground level with the people upstairs. The views of the mountains have become more dramatic as we gaze upon so many snowcapped peaks. Lho village is our destination with its important Tibetan monastery where there is a Lama school with 80-90 scholars studying. It takes 20 years of study to be a lama. We will spend the night at a tea house here.
Accomodation : Guest house
Day 10 : Trek to Sama Gaun 3,390 m/11,122 ft.
Today’s trekking begins with a steep descent and a crossing of the raging Thusang Khola (river). Mt. Manaslu and Mt. Himal Chuli will dominate the mountainscapes today with their brilliant white peaks piercing the deep blue Himalayan skies. We are just south of the Tibetan border and in some places, we can actually see into China. Sama Gaun is one of the classic Buddhist monasteries here with amazing Mani Walls. We will spend two nights here in Sama Gaun.
Accomodation : Guest house
Day 11 : Acclimatization day
The high elevation of the Tibetan homelands requires us to take a day to allow our bodies to adjust to the thinner air. The Himalayan air is thinner up here. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is a real problem in the mountains for trekkers, and the best way to avoid it is to allow your body a day to adjust to the thinner air. It won’t be a day of sitting around, as we will take some short day hikes to Pung-gyen Gompa or spend the day experiencing life with the scholars at Sama Gompa.
Accomodation : Guest house
Day 12 : Trek to Samdo 3690 m/12,106 ft.
The day begins with a trek past the massive Manaslu Glacier. We pass the trail that leads off to Manaslu Base Camp. We pass through birch forests as well as by juniper bushes and rhododendron trees. Our destination is the village of Samdo which is inhabited by a large number of Tibetan refugees who escaped from the Chinese invasion of their homeland over half a century ago. We will overnight here at a tea house.
Accomodation : Guest house
Day 13 : Trek to Larkya Rest House 4,460 m/14,633 ft.
We have been following the Budhi Gandaki River for most of the trip, and today we will cross it for a final time. The river has become quite narrow but still retains plenty of energy with an ongoing series of rapids. There are ancient stone Mani Walls along the way as the forests give way to just juniper bushes. We are above the tree line when we reach the overlook of the Larkya La Glacier. There are no villages up here, but we do find a guest house at Larkya. It’s rather basic, but offers good hot local cuisine and opportunity to spend a night resting at this high elevation.
Accomodation : Guest house
Day 14 : Trek to Bimtang 3,590 m/11,778 ft.
We start after an early breakfast today in order to climb the pass of Larkya La. We see frozen lakes as well as a fascinating moraine today. The vegetation is low to the ground because of the high elevation. We want to reach the pass early on as the winds here pick up in mid-afternoon. The view from the pass is truly outstanding as we can look in so many different directions. To the north is Tibet, the west are the famous Annapurnas and to the south is Mt. Manaslu. Several of the highest peaks in the world are visible from Larkya La. The pass stands at 5,213 m/17,103 ft. This is the maximum in elevation as we see Annapurna II, Himlung Himal, Kangurru as well as Manaslu. The trail after the pass quickly drops around 650 meters (2,133 ft.) in around an hour. Our destination is the little summer community of Bimtang, known for its kharka where local farmers graze their flocks in the high summer pastures. There is a small tea house here where we will stay.
Accomodation : Guest house
Day 15 : We return to the forests as we continue to drop in elevation. We now trek along the Dudh Khola and we start seeing villages again. Our destination is the village of Gho where we find a tea house for the night.
We return to the forests as we continue to drop in elevation. We now trek along the Dudh Khola and we start seeing villages again. Our destination is the village of Gho where we find a tea house for the night.
Accomodation : Guest house
Day 16 : Trek to Dharapani 1,860 m/6,102 ft.
It’s our final day of trekking as we reach the village of Dharapani. Along the way, we will pass through the Gurung village of Tilije, noted for its famous apple brandy that this particular village is famous for. The Gurungs are a mountain people, famous for their bravery with the Gurkha Units of the British Army. We will spend our last night of trekking at a tea house here.
Accomodation : Guest house
Day 17 : Travel to Kathmandu
Our trekking has ended, but the adventure continues. We take a jeep to Bhulbule Village where we pick up a bus to return to Kathmandu. We pass through several valleys with beautiful rivers and mountain scenes, arriving in the evening at our hotel for a hot meal and a hot shower.
Accomodation : 3 Star Hotel
Day 18 : Departure from Kathmandu
Check out in the morning and we'll take you to the airport to catch your flight to your next destination. Before leaving, be sure to discuss other trips in Nepal and the surrounding countries with your friends at Buddha Treks & Expedition.
Accomodation : -
Features Included on Manaslu trekking 19 night 18 days
Features Not Included on Manaslu trekking 19 night 18 days
Things To know
Requirement
Important documents and items
- Valid passport, 2 extra passport size photos, airline tickets
- Separate photocopies of passport, visa form (easily obtained at Kathmandu airport), proof of insurance
- Dollars, pounds or Euros in cash for purchasing Nepalese visa at Kathmandu airport, for paying for restaurants and hotels, for gratuities, snacks, and to purchase your own drinks and gifts
- Credit cards, Bank/ATM/Cash machine cards for withdrawing funds from cash machines (bring a photocopy of your cards), traveler's checks, etc.
Head
- Bandana or head scarf, also useful for dusty conditions
- Warm hat that covers your ears (wool or synthetic)
- Headlamp with extra batteries and bulbs
- Sunglasses with UV protection
- Prescription sunglasses (if required)
Upper Body
- Polypropylene shirts (1 half sleeve and 2 long sleeves)
- Light and expedition weight thermal tops
- Fleece wind-stopper jacket or pullover
- Waterproof (preferably breathable fabric) shell jacket
- Down vest and/or jacket *
- Gore-Tex jacket with hood, waterproof and breathable
Hands
- 1 pair of lightweight poly-liner gloves.
- 1 pair of lightweight wool or fleece gloves
- 1 pair of mittens, consists of 1 Gore-Tex over mitt matched with a very warm polar-fleece mitt liner (seasonal)
Lower Body
- Non-cotton underwear briefs
- 1 pair of Hiking shorts
- 1 pair of Hiking trousers
- 1 pair of lightweight thermal bottoms (seasonal)
- 1 pair of fleece or woolen trousers
- 1 pair of waterproof shell pants, breathable fabric
Feet
- 2 pairs of thin, lightweight inner socks
- 2 pairs of heavy poly or wool socks
- 1 pair of Hiking boots with spare laces (sturdy soles, water resistant, ankle support, “broken in”)
- 1 pair of trainers or running shoes and/or sandals
- Cotton socks (optional)
- Gaiters (winter only), optional, “low” ankle high version
Sleeping
- 1 sleeping bag (good to -10 degrees C or 14 degrees F)*
- Fleece sleeping bag liner (optional)
Rucksack and Travel Bags
- 1 medium rucksack (50-70 liters/3000-4500 cubic inches, can be used for an airplane carryon)
- 1 large duffel bag *
- A small daypack/backpack for carrying your valuables, should have good shoulder padding
- Small padlocks for duffel-kit bags
- 2 large waterproof rucksack covers (optional)
Medical
- Small, personal first-aid kit. (simple and light)
- Aspirin, first-aid tape, and plasters (Band-Aids)
- 1 skin-blister repair kit
- Anti-diarrhea pills
- Anti-headache pills
- Cough and/or cold medicine
- Anti-altitude sickness pills: Diamox or Acetylzolamide
- Stomach antibiotic: Ciprofloxacin, etc. Do not bring sleeping pills as they are a respiratory depressant.
- Water purification tablets or water filter
- 1 set of earplugs
- Extra pair of prescription glasses, contact lens supplies
Practical Items
- 1 small roll of repair tape, 1 sewing-repair kit
- 1 cigarette lighter, 1 small box of matches
- 1 compass or GPS(optional)
- 1 alarm clock/watch
- 1 digital camera with extra cards and batteries
- large Ziplocs
- 2 water bottles (1 liter each)
- 1 small folding knife
- Binoculars (optional)
- 4 large, waterproof, disposable rubbish sacks
Toiletries
- 1 medium-sized quick drying towel
- Toothbrush/paste (preferably biodegradable)
- Multi-purpose soap (preferably biodegradable)
- Deodorants
- Nail clippers
- Face and body moisturizer
- Female hygiene products
- Small mirror
Personal Hygiene
- Wet wipes (baby wipes)
- Tissue /toilet roll
- Anti-bacterial hand wash
Extras/Luxuries
- Reading book
- Trail map/guide book
- Journal and pen
- iPod
- Travel game i.e. chess, backgammon, scrabble, playing cards (to help you pass the time at teahouses and/or camps)
- 1 modest swim suit
- Binoculars (optional)
- Voltage converter (from 220 to 110)
- Plug adapter (2 round pegs to 2 flat pegs)
- Lightweight pillow case (in case your teahouses provide you with pillows) or use your own stuff as a pillow