Trip Details

  • Destination: Nepal
  • Trip Difficulty: Moderate
  • Trip Style: Trekking
  • Transport: Public Vehicle
  • Food: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse or Lodge
  • Group Size: 2-16
  • Max Elevation: Larkya La Pass (5106 m)

Highlights

  • Exploring the diverse ethnic communities of the Manaslu.
  • An opportunity to view the 8th highest peak in the world, Mount Manaslu and many other mountain ranges such as Ganesh Himal, Mount Himalchuli, Mount Annapurna and Larkay Peak & Himlung himal.
  • Crossing the Larkya La pass, the highest point of Manaslu Circuit Trek.
  • Following the trails of Budhi Gandaki River, one of the deepest rivers of Nepal.
  • Wild and remote trek where you will find less number of trekkers along the route.
  • The Manaslu Conservation Area.& Annapurna Conservation Area
  • Spectacular views of the Mount Manaslu glacier and Birendra lake ( ice lake).

Description

Short Manaslu Circuit Trek 10 days is becoming more popular like Annapurna and Everest trekking these days. This trek will take you to the high landscapes and beautiful mountain ranges of the Himalayan region. The breathtaking views of Mount Annapurna and Dhaulagiri will amaze you as you trek to the Manaslu Circuit.

It is a challenging trek where you will get a chance to explore the biodiversity and rich global heritage of the Manaslu region. Larkya La Pass is the highest point of the Manaslu Circuit trek which is at the altitude of 5160 meters. It is one of the most dramatic passes crossing the mountains.

The Manaslu is a restricted trekking area. You will need special trekking permits to trek the Manaslu Circuit such as Manaslu Restricted Permit, MCAP, and ACAP. It is necessary to take the permission of the trek before organizing the trek. Mount Mania can arrange such trekking permits if you want

10 Days Short Manaslu Circuit Trek Itinerary

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Today, you will head out to the starting point of your trek i.e. Machha Khola. You will take a bus from Kathmandu to Machha Khola. The route of the bus takes you along the Prithvi Highway. The road you through the middle hills till Malekhu. From Malekhu, a 30km road takes you north along the Trishuli river as you head towards Dhading Besi. A further 35-kilometer drive along a dirt road leads you to Arughat. As the road gets winding up to Gola Bhanjyang, you can see panoramic views Ganesh, Baudha and Manaslu Himal. A further 4 hours of ride leads you to Machha Khola. The bus ride countinue  to Machha Khola is 9-10 hours.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation: Tea house
  • Distance: 170km / 9-10 hrs
  • Altitude: 900m

After breakfast, you will head out on a 6-7 hour trekking journey to Jagat (1410 meters). After crossing Machha Khola, you will trek gently up to the tiny village of Khorla Bensi. From there, you will get to the natural hot springs at Tatopani. This trail is also quite challenging.

After crossing a short forested path, you will reach a single teahouse at Doban. Above the village of Dobhan, Budhi Gandaki river descends rather impressively to a series of rapids. The river is quite calm beyond this steep slope. A further trek from Dobhan leads you to Lauri, where you will cross the river on a suspension bridge. Finally, you will climb on a high path to the fields of Jagat, where you will spend your night.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation: Tea house
  • Distance: 22km / 7-8 hrs
  • Altitude: 1410m

After breakfast at a teahouse in Jagat, you will embark on your trekking journey. A gentle uphill trek followed by a trek along level fields takes you to a suspension bridge over Budhi Gandaki. After crossing this suspension bridge, you will get to Philim. Philim is a large Gurung village that is home to small serene monasteries, stupas and prayer flags. You will have your lunch in Philim.

After lunch, you will trek through a flat leveled path. This path is inside pine and rhododendron forests. During the trek, you will also cross a few bridges that overlook quaint villages afar. After trekking for 6-7 hours from Jagat, you will arrive at Deng (1080 meters). Deng is home to a few houses. You can also enjoy an amazing waterfall lying at a small distance from Deng. This is an agricultural village that is famous for its potatoes, and buckwheat, barley, wheat, cabbage, & spinach.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation: Tea house
  • Distance: 20km / 6-7 hrs
  • Altitude: 1804m

Deng is a village that is the point of entry to Kutang or lower Nupri (part of Tibet until the 1840s): It is a primarily a Gurung settlement with the culture of Tibetan Buddhism. They have their own language. The trail from Deng takes you along a winding path to Rana. After trekking past a series of uphills and downhills, you will get to a log bridge. After crossing a tributary from the bridge, you will get to an isolated water mill. Then you will descend gently along the trail to Bihi Phedi, which lies high above the river.

Beyond Bihi Phedi, the trail descends as you cross the Serang Khola. Then, you will trek along a winding path that shapes up like an S. The path lies between sheer basalt walls. You can also see huge rocky crags to the right. You will also have splendid views of the waterfall above the maize and wheat fields. As you trek towards the northeast direction, the valley broadens. After trekking past a bridge and mani stone walls, you will reach the attractive village of Ghap (2,250m/ 7,382ft). Past the village of Ghap, you will trek through bamboo, rhododendron and oak forests. On some days, you can also see birds like Impeyan pheasant (also known as Himalayan Monal)

This trail is above the steep descent of the river. For a short duration of time, you will trek to the north bank. Then you will head back towards the southern bank after crossing a bridge. After trekking for one hour from the bridge, you will reach Namrung. Namrung also has a police checkpoint for permits. Just before you get to Namrung, the trail overlooks Tum Khola from Tibet. This adds to the volume of water in Budhi Gandaki in the confluence. The trek from Deng to Namrung (2630 meters) is 7-8 hours long.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation: Tea house
  • Distance: 19.5km / 7-8 hrs
  • Altitude: 2630m

Namrung is a Tibetan village and serves as an entrance to Upper Nupri. As you trek past a mix of forest and barley fields, you will reach Lihi. You can see impressive chortens as well as great views of Himal Chuli (7,893m/25,897ft) and Ganesh Himal. The trail then descends before entering a valley as you cross the Hinang Khola. After crossing Hinanag river on a bridge, you will trek along a steep uphill to a chorten, which offers spectacular views of Ngadi Chuli (7,873m/25,831ft).

As you trek further up a steep ridge, you will reach Lho. You can also visit a large monastery called Ribung monastery in Lho. You will then trek down a steep uphill before you reach Damonan Khola tributary. After trekking past a plateau, you will get to Shyala village (3,520m/11,549ft). Shayala overlooks many beautiful peaks like Himal Chuli (7,893m/25,897ft), Peak 29 (Ngadi Chuli, 7,873m/25,831ft); and Manaslu (8,156m/26,760ft).

As you continue trekking, you will get to a bridge over Numla Khola. The trail then takes the left of Pungyen Gompa. After trekking for 6-7 hours from Namrung, you will get to Samagaon (3530 meters). Kargyu Chholing Monastery stands against a forested moraine around the edge of this village. From Samagaon, you can only see the upper sections of Manaslu and the Naike ridge.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation: Tea house
  • Distance: 18km / 6-7 hrs
  • Altitude: 3530m

The initial part of today’s trek descends towards Budhi Gandaki. The trail is in the north towards the lake. You will walk along the Base Camp trail as you encounter several mani walls as the valley widens. The trek is relatively easy and lies a shelf above the river. You will walk past the forests of juniper and birch which surround Kermo Kharka. The trail then descends to a wooden bridge as you cross the Budhi Gandaki river.

Then you will trek along a steep uphill to a ridge that lies above the confluence of Budhi Gandaki and Mayol Khola. You will encounter a stone arch, and fields before you get to the entrance of the village. Although the place is an attractive one, it is primarily a yak and goat herding area. The village only turned out as a settlement in the late 1950s when Tibetans fled Tibet.

As you trek past these fields, you will get to several sets of flags on a high ridge. Here, you can catch superb panoramic views of Samdo Peak (6,335m/20,785ft) and its glacial basin, the Sama Valley, Manaslu range, Syacha Glacier, Dharamsala, and Larkya La pass. After trekking for 4-5 hours from Samagaon, you will reach Samdo (3860 meters). Samdo is the last village before Gho, in the Manang District. Only informal kharkas (with lodges) lie between these villages.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation: Tea house
  • Distance: 7.5km / 3-4 hrs
  • Altitude: 3800m

You will trek past the fields in the northern village as you cross the Budhi Gandaki the final time. This will take place in the Larkya Bazaar site. The flow of the river takes it to the Pana Danda Valley in the north. You will then take the westward trail. You will trek past grassy slopes with scrub juniper, rhododendron and lichen covered granite. This trail is just above the Syacha Khola Valley. Along the way, you can also see the origin of Syacha Glacier, which descends from the Manaslu North ridge.

The trail works heads towards the Larkya Glacier. After trekking past the Larkya La Phedi, you will get to a settlement called Dharamsala (4460 meters). Today’s trek from Samdo to Dharamsala is 4-5 hours long. A short walk from your guesthouse will take to a place with better views of the Larke (6,249m/20,503ft) and Naike (6,291m/20,641ft) peaks.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation: Tea house
  • Distance: 6.5km / 8-9 hrs
  • Altitude: 4460m

Today you trek for 3-5 hours to ascend 800m/2,600ft to get to Larkya La Pass (5160 meters). You will then descend for 3-4 hours losing 1,500m/4,900 in altitude to get to Bimthang(3720 meters). If the wind blows, it can get really cold along the way. You have to be extra careful if you encounter ice and snow along the way.

The trekking trail from Dharamsala takes you along a gentle ascent to a ridge. Then will be a long gentle climb to the moraine. The trail along the northern moraine of the Larke Glacier is not quite steep. However, the trek is quite long and rocky. So you might find this a bit challenging. From the glacier, you can see the Larke Peak (Larke Himal) and Pawar Peak (Cheo Himal) on the south and north of the glacier respectively.

From the pass, you will trek uphill to an ablation valley. The trail then drops down to the first of four small scattered frozen lakes. As you trek uphill to the glacial moraine from the left, you will get to the first set of summit flags. The trail overlooks the Tibetan border ranges beyond Samdo Peak on the eastern side. There is a long moraine-ridge that is parallel to the Larke wall. A set of flags separates the Larke Wall. These flags are the markers of the border between the Manaslu and Annapurna Conservation areas.

This place is a wonderful point to see the various peaks like Pawar Peak (6,620m/21,720ft), Cheo Himal (6,820m/22,376ft), the Himlung pyramid (7,126m/23,380ft), Gyaji Kung (7,030m23,065ft), Kang Garu (6,981m/22,905ft) plus Annapurna II (7,937m/26,041ft).

After spending some time in Larkya La pass, you will start your descent begins from these prayer flags. The trail descends steeply from the moraine. Then you will get to a set of steep zigzags until you reach Dangboche Kharka (4,450m/14,600ft). The trail from Dangboche Kharka is not really steep. The trail winds along the lateral moraine of the Salpudanda/Bimthang glacier before getting to Bimthang Valley.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation: Tea house
  • Distance: 24.5km / 8-9 hrs
  • Altitude: 3720m

Bhimthang is a beautiful settlement that gives you views of the Kechakyu Himal on the north and Manaslu’s northeast face. Bhimthang serves as a settlement of the people of Samdo village in the summer season. It was also an important trading post before the border to Tibet closed down. It was also a center of the Tibetan Khampa warriors around 1970.

Today’s trek begins as you walk past the Bimthang Plain. You will descend along a trail to cross the stony glacier before heading up a moraine to enter rhododendron and pine forest. All along this route, you will get wonderful views of Larke, Manaslu, Nadi and Chuli Himals. As you descend further, you will get to Hompuk and Sangura Kharka before reaching Karche. From Karche, you will trek past terraced fields and a steep uphill until you reach Gho.

The trail from Gho takes you through farmlands to Tilje (2,300m/7,546ft). From there, you will descend rapidly towards the Marsyangdi Valley in Thonje (1,965m/6,447ft) You will then join the new road along the main Annapurna Circuit route in Dharapani(3560 meters). Today’s trek is 5-6 hours long.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation: Tea house
  • Distance: 23km / 7-8 hrs
  • Altitude: 1860m

Today, you will head back to Kathmandu. You will follow the Prithvi Highway en route to Kathmandu. To reach our destination, we need to drive for about 7-8 hours by jeep and 9-10 hours by local bus. On the way, you can view natural waterfalls, rice-field, local house, forest, and streams.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
  • Accommodation: None
  • Distance: 200km/ 9 - 10 hrs
  • Altitude: 1320m
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What to Expect

Cost Includes

  • Airport Pickup and Drop
  • Teahouse accommodation during the trek
  • Three meals a day (9 Breakfast, 10 Lunch, and 9 Dinner) during the trek
  • Local Bus Ticket (Kathmandu to Soti Khola)
  • Local Bus Ticket (Dharapani to Kathmandu)
  • English Speaking Trekking Guide with Insurance, Transportation, Food and Accommodation
  • All Trekking Permits (ACAP, MCAP and Manaslu Special Permit)
  • Use of sleeping bag & Duffel bag (if you don’t have your own, To be return after trip completed)
  • Daily seasonal fresh fruits after dinner 
  • A first aid kit carried by the guide (Oximeter to measure your oxygen and pulse in high altitude) 
  • All Government and Local taxes

Cost Excludes

  • International Flight Ticket and Nepalese Visa Fee
  • Hotel & Meals in Kathmandu
  • Extra night accommodation in case of early arrival, late departure, and early return from the trek (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary
  • Personal expenses (WiFi, Phone calls, Laundry, Bar bills, Battery Recharge, Water, Shower, and Tea / Coffee)
  • Other costs not mentioned in 'Cost Includes' section
  • Travel and Rescue Insurance
  • Tips for Guides, Porters, and Drivers

Optional

  • Private jeep Kathmandu to Machha khola USD220$
  • Private jeep Dharapani to Kathmandu to USD250$
  • Kathmandu Hotel Per Night Twin Sharing On BB USD 60$

Before departure to the trip, there will be a group meeting with the trekking guide at the office. He/She will answer all the queries that you have on your mind.

Meeting Location: Mount Mania Treks & Expedition P. Ltd., Samarpan Marg, Banasthali, Kathmandu, Nepal

Note: If you find difficult to come to our meeting location, send us the hotel details via email. Our guide will come to meet up with you individually.

Useful Information

Manaslu Circuit Trek Difficulty

The total length of the Manaslu Circuit trek is around 177 kilometers. You will be trekking for 10 days covering a distance of 15-20 kilometers every day. 

Another factor that determines the difficulty of this trek is the uphills and downhills you will encounter along the way. Many times as you trek along the Budhi Gandaki river, the trek can be harrowingly steep. The trek up to Larkya La Pass is also quite challenging.

Guide on Manalsu Circuit Trek Difficulty

Manaslu Circuit Trek takes you to the highest altitude of 5,213 meters in Larkya La Pass. The altitude is high enough to incite altitude sickness. The trails also can get quite breezy making the trails quite cold. 

Taking all of these things into consideration, the Manaslu Circuit Trek is a strenuous trek. As a result, you will have to be quite fit in order to complete this trek. 2-3 months of physical preparation will be necessary for you to complete this trek. 

Manaslu Circuit Trek Best Time

Autumn (September, October, and November) is the most popular time for the Manaslu Circuit Trek. Autumn offers the most beautiful views of Manaslu as well as other mountains in the Annapurna Range.

Spring (March, April, and May) is the second most popular time for the Manaslu Circuit Trek. The rhododendron forests of the Manaslu Conservation Area light up beautifully in this season. The low rainfall in this season is another reason for the popularity of the spring season.

As you will trek to an altitude of more than 5000 meters in the Manaslu Circuit Trek, the trek can be quite cold in the winters (December, January, and February) with temperatures going as low as -20 degrees C. In the summer season (June, July, and August), the trails can be quite wet with the monsoon. So you will have to pack and prepare extremely well to trek in these two seasons.

Customer Reviews

Trip AdvisorTripadvisor
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    Ally C
    United Kingdom

    A Breathtaking Adventure on the Manaslu Circuit Trek

    My partner and I had the most amazing experience on the Manaslu Circuit Trek in April 2024. We can't thank Mount Mania team enough for taking us on this truly unforgettable adventure. Over 14 days, we journeyed through the Nepalese Himalayas and crossed over the Larke Pass at an elevation of 5106 meters!

    The trek had some of the most stunning landscapes we have ever seen. Each day brought new vistas even more breathtaking than the last. The panoramic views from the Larke Pass were a highlight, offering an unparalleled sense of accomplishment and awe. One of the most enriching aspects of the trek was the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the local culture. The teahouses provided a cozy and authentic experience, with delicious home-cooked meals and a chance to learn about the local customs and way of life.
    The trek was challenging but incredibly rewarding. The trail was varied, with some steep ascents and descents, river crossings, and suspension bridges. And let's not forget our mountain friends - the beautiful mules, we passed many on this trek. The gradual acclimatization was well-planned, ensuring we were well-prepared for the high altitude of the Larke Pass. Our guide, Ganesh, was knowledgeable and supportive, providing us with invaluable information about the region and ensuring our safety and comfort throughout.

    Tips for Future Trekkers:
    • Physical prep: Make sure to be in good physical condition before attempting the trek. The altitude and duration require a reasonable level of fitness.
    • Packing: Pack light but ensure you have essential gear for cold weather, particularly for the higher altitudes. A good pair of trekking boots is a must.
    • Acclimatization: Take this process seriously to avoid altitude sickness. Listen to your guide and your body.
    • Guided vs. Independent Trekking: We highly recommend going with a guide. Mountain Mania are a wonderful team and their knowledge and support are invaluable, particularly in remote areas.

    The Manaslu Circuit Trek was a life-changing adventure that exceeded our expectations. The combination of natural beauty, cultural richness, and the sense of achievement made it an experience we will cherish forever. If you're looking for a challenging yet incredibly rewarding trek in Nepal, the Manaslu Circuit should be at the top of your list!

    TripAdvisor
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    Cristina E
    United States

    Amazing Manaslu circuit in 8 days!

    Nepal is an amazing country full of contrasts! You will encounter a huge diversity of mountains, forests, rivers, flowers, animals, climates, and people.

    Our family (Mom, Dad, and 16-year-old son) only had a limited amount of vacation time so we compressed the Manaslu Circuit into a challenging but rewarding 8 days of trekking. We had a day before of private jeep transfer from Kathmandu to start and a day back (highly recommend the private jeep vs the bus).

    We were all in pretty good shape but I would highly recommend taking a couple extra days to acclimate if time allows. The short circuit made each day very challenging. We started our hike in hot humid temperatures (25C) and did Larke pass on a crisp, bright, -12C morning. The views are stunning along the whole trail!

    Ganesh, our guide, and Sangan, our porter were both wonderful. Ganesh picked us up from the airport, picked up microspikes for us (definitely needed on the pass), assured we always knew the plan for the next day, and got us great rooms with a view at the tea houses. They gave us our privacy but where there whenever we needed anything and were super helpful when our son had some altitude sickness. They always made sure we had enough food and Ginger/Lemon/Honey tea which they helped prepare and serve. Their support, encouragement, and supply of Oreos and Snickers at just the right time were invaluable!

    Rupak was our main contact with Mount Mania and his communication and logistical help were perfect. It was reassuring to have a great trekking company supporting us along the whole way!

    We would highly recommend Mount Mania!

    TripAdvisor
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    Olga R
    Australia

    Most amazing trek thanks to Mount Mania!

    Mount Mania organised my Manaslu Circuit Trek and I cannot recommend this enough! We had an amazing guide and porter. Rupak and his team were so friendly and helpful. We decided to go for a 14 day itinerary. This gives you a bit more time to take in all the beauty and to make sure you at times feel like you’re the only tourist there. We had an excellent briefing from Rupak and our guide Indra in Kathmandu before we left. During the trek we always felt very safe and taken care of. The Manaslu trek is very diverse in terms of landscape and culture. The views are absolutely stunning. It’s already quite developed, but that also means you’ll have nice tea houses to stay at along the way. Our guide really knew the area and the culture well and explained everything we wanted to know. His English was excellent and his sense of humour too! What else can I rave about? Just book this trek at Mountain Mania! You’ll have a journey of a lifetime! Thanks Rupak and team!!

    TripAdvisor
  • noimage
    JRWong
    Malaysia

    Memorable and Well-Planned Manaslu Circuit Trip with Mount Mania

    My Manaslu Circuit Trek with Mount Mania was between 7-18 May 2023. (I have chosen these dates as it's towards the low season with less trekkers and I get to enjoy the trek more when there's less crowd).

    I went with Mount Mania because of the good reviews and they didn't disappoint! Binod and his team have done a tremendously great job from the start to the end of the trip. As I was quite pushed for time and had a narrow timeframe for the trip. I told Binod I would arrive at Kathmandu on 6 May (Saturday), a public holiday in Nepal and will be leaving on 19 May. Binod and his team managed to get all my hiking permits approved before my arrival to ensure my hike can start on 7 May, despite the passport is usually required for the permit application. For that, I am already impressed by the meticulous service arranged to ensure I can start the trek on time.

    Binod has been very attentive to message and email questions and is always patient in answering the questions and not being pushy. This is my second time doing a hike in Nepal and I have had experience with pushy tour company. So this would be a plus point I give to Mount Mania.

    Ganesh was assigned as my guide for the trek. He welcomed me from the airport and dropped me off at my hotel. Ganesh and Rupak explained and briefed me on things to take note of for the trip on the night of 6 May and my Manaslu Circuit Trek started on 7 May.

    Of the 12 days hiking trip in the Manaslu region, Ganesh has been a very helpful, informative and experienced guide. He reminded me of things to take note of during the hike. Like how to pace a 7 hours hike and not to overstretch myself, extending the walking pole while going down hill and shortening it while going up, etc... During the hike, he has also pointed out to me of all the possible dangerous parts of the trek, like shaky rocks, slippery black ice, uneven surfaces, narrow path at landslides area and to watch out for my head at forested area. For that, I am grateful to have him as my guide, sharing his skills and knowledges to ensure my safety.

    Ganesh is also very caring, knowing that I have developed quite a bad cough in the mountains and was looking for lozenges to smooth the throat. He got me a strip of it after I have just asked him to check out whether it was available in Samagaun. He always checked in to ensure I sleep well and eat well and sent me blanket to keep warm knowing that my sleeping bag didn't function as intended. As we ascend towards Larke Pass, Ganesh was aware that I didn't have enough layers to keep myself warm, so he spared one of his jacket to me, with that I got 6 layers of protection for the hike at - 10 degree celcius. Ganesh has gone above and beyond as a guide with his hospitality at many occasions. I'm grateful he has guided me safely throughout the whole Manaslu Circuit Trek. The trek was challenging, coming from a 28 years old that workouts rigorously 4 to 5 times a week. But, the views in the Manaslu region are (out of this world) stunning, the people I met along the way are kind and friendly, the culture is rich and colourful and the experience I gained will remain with me for years to come. It's indeed a once in a lifetime experience, something not to be missed if you're into hiking in the Himalayas. To me, it's an adventure that left me with beautiful and fond memories.

    To end, I want to say thank you to Ganesh, Binod and Rupak, for making this trip possible and left me with great memories of the Manaslu mountains and Nepal. Thank you.

    TripAdvisor