Manaslu Circuit Trek

Day 01: Arrival: Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport (1 300m/4 260ft)

After completing passport, immigration and visa requirements, collect your luggage and exit the building where we will meet you. (Look for our Travel Nepal Himalays name board and your name). We will then transfer you to your hotel: afternoon free.  Evening: a welcome dinner, trek description and a check on essential gear. Overnight in hotel.
Transfer: car

Day 02: A Day in the City: Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing OR A Day at Leisure

Take a day tour that includes six heritage sites including Swayambhunath, the “Monkey Temple”; the historical Durbar Square with ancient temples, unique art, and the chance to see the Kumari (living goddess); Patan’s Durbar Square; the Hindu temple Pashupatinath and Bouddhanath, the world’s largest stupa. A guide, car and driver will take you to each site-entrance. The car will wait for you. (Entry tickets and lunch are not included.) OR: A day at leisure to follow your own interests.
Transfer: car

Day 03: Kathmandu – Arughat (670m/2,198 ft) – Machha Khola (890m/2,920ft)

Enjoy the scenic drive west through the middle hills to Malekhu before turning north, on a quieter road, to Dhading Besi and Arughat (centre of the region) on the Budhi Gandaki Nadi. The inhabitants are a harmonious mix of Gurung and Newar people. The road then undulates over ridges, past waterfalls, before dropping to rice paddies and the attractive Gurung village of Labubesi. Beyond, the new road follows the river before rising to Machha (Fish) Khola – with good views of the 7,000m Ganesh Himal.  Overnight at Machha Khola.
Transfer: 6-7 hrs drive

Day 04: Machha Khola – Dobhan (1,000m/3,280ft)

The river trail drops to the gravel bar before crossing the Thado Khola to a rocky ravine and Khorlabesi. There is a small hot spring at Tatopani. The trail then climbs a ridge before crossing the Budhi Gandaki on a suspension bridge and up to Dobhan. Overnight at Dobhan.
Trek: 6-7 hrs

Day 05: Dobhan – Philim (1,590m/5,216ft)

Trek along the east bank to a long suspension bridge over the Yaru Khola before rising to Thado Bharyang. Cliffs then force the trail back to the west bank and follow the river gently upwards to the attractive village of Jagat (and permit checks). Walk on to Salleri, via a cliff-side trail – with views of Shringi Himal (7,187m) to the north. Descend to Sirdibas; and the first signs of Buddhist culture. Another suspension bridge leads to the east bank, and a tiring climb up to Philim: a prosperous Gurung village and the Chholing Sandu Gompa, surrounded by fields of maize and millet. Overnight at Philim.
Trek: 6-7 hrs

Day 06: Philim – Ekle Batti (1 600m/5 250ft) – “New” Bridge - Bihi Phedi (2 360m/7 740ft)

The trail climbs gradually between rugged mountains to Ekle Batti (one house town): and a photo shoot! Ahead is a dramatic view of an enclosed valley surrounded by towering peaks (in cloud?) and a high waterfall to the right. The trail is partially visible, descending (perforce behind the waterfall) and on to curve out of sight near a fork that leads right (east) to the Tsum Valley and left (north-west) to ‘New” Bridge and the Manaslu trail.
Trek: 6-7 hrs

Day 07: Bihi Phedi – Ghap (2 250m/7380ft) – Namrung (2 660m/8 730ft)

Cross to the NE side of the gorge and continue up to the agricultural villages of Rana and Bihi Phedi beyond which it crosses the Serang Khola (far below the Serang Gompa higher up the valley). River and trail curve to the left before entering the attractive village of Ghap for lunch. Enter a bamboo forest, beloved by birds. Next, cross to the north bank past sheer rock walls that have constricted the river and forced it to flow, noisily, through a “burrowed” tunnel.

A wooden bridge eases the trekker’s route. A steep hour’s climb then leads to the attractive village of Namrung – with some great lodges. Look out for glimpses of the Tum Khola that flows into the Budhi Gandaki. This river rises in Tibet and is one of several that have continued to cut their way through the rising Himalayan massive as it has risen over the last million years or so. Overnight in Namrung.
Trek: 6-7 hrs

Day 08: Namrung – Lho (3 180m/10 430ft)

This is the entrance to ‘the western mountains’ of Upper Nupri, peopled by former Tibetans who speak a unique language that is not understood by the Tibetan Gurungs – with whom they live in harmony. The trail climbs gently through maize and barley fields to Barsam, then more steeply to Lihi (where homes are clustered under shared roofs). The trail then enters a side valley, climbs steeply to a detailed chorten before the clustered fields and orchards of Sho. Good views continue on the rise to Shrip. From Shrip, the trail curves upwards towards Lho: and reveals the 8 th highest peak, Manaslu (8 156m/26 760ft) – ‘Mountain of the Spirit’. A steep climb ends on the ridge in the attractive village of Lho. The stone houses are shingled and many have distinctive wooden decks. A mani wall, behind the village, leads to a viewpoint that is worth exploring. The Budi Gandaki flows far below.

Above the village is the large Ribung Monastery. Overnight in Lho.This is the entrance to ‘the western mountains’ of Upper Nupri, peopled by former Tibetans who speak a unique language that is not understood by the Tibetan Gurungs – with whom they live in harmony. The trail climbs gently through maize and barley fields to Barsam, then more steeply to Lihi (where homes are clustered under shared roofs). The trail then enters a side valley, climbs steeply to a detailed chorten before the clustered fields and orchards of Sho. Good views continue on the rise to Shrip. From Shrip, the trail curves upwards towards Lho: and reveals the 8 th highest peak, Manaslu (8 156m/26 760ft) – ‘Mountain of the Spirit’. A steep climb ends on the ridge in the attractive village of Lho.

The stone houses are shingled and many have distinctive wooden decks. A mani wall, behind the village, leads to a viewpoint that is worth exploring. The Budi Gandaki flows far below. Above the village is the large Ribung Monastery. Overnight in Lho.
Trek: 4-5 hrs

Day 09: Lho – Samagaon (3 530m/11 580ft)

The trail descends from the village to cross a river tributary then follows the stream upwards through glorious mixed forest. A short final climb leads to a plateau: and Shyala. Impressive peaks rise in all directions: Manaslu and glaciers ahead. Later, cross a bridge over the Numla Khola that drains Manaslu’s Pungyen Glacier. Beyond is a trail to the left that leads, over a ridge, to the glacier and the Pungyen Gompa on the glacier. Pass this turnoff and saunter down the broad and attractive valley, past a school, extensive barley and potato fields to a large chorten. Enter Sama through a Kani (decorative gateway) and pass an old gompa (smothered in mani stones) past clustered low stone houses to lodges further on. Upper Manaslu and the Naike ridge can be seen. The large Kargyu Chholing Monastery lies further up the valley: sadly, badly damaged in a fire in 2015.
Trek: 5-6 hrs

Day 10: Sama, Rest and exploration day: Birendra Tal / Manaslu Base Camp options / Pungyen Gompa

1. A short walk beyond the Pema Chholing monastery to the Birendra Tal (lake, 3 450m) – snow melt from the glacier above. View it from a hilltop or scramble down to a stony beach with numerous small stone chortens and striking views of the terrain. 1½ hours.
2.  A demanding trail above the far side of the lake stream climbs ~1 200m past the glacier’s snout to the Manaslu Base Camp. Views back down the valley and upwards are good.
3. A trek to the Pungyen Nunnery (3 870m) on a ridge above the Pungyen Glacier: it offers superb views of the Nadi ice ridges and Manaslu towering over the Gompa. To get there, return on the trail back past the school to the turnoff (right). Head over a ridge then drop onto the Pungyen glacier. Walk to the Gompa on its ridge ( ~2½h there = 5-6+ hrs). Above the complex is a cave – with even better views. The route can be very cold and slippery; dress warmly, take refreshments and your guide.

Day 11: Sama – Samdo (3 860m/12 660ft)

Head north, passed the lake and several mani walls. Birch and Juniper stands cover the hills above the, now, north flowing Budhi Gandaki. A stone wall across the valley separates the Sama and Samdo herds. Further on, a spur rises above the confluence of the Budhi and Sonam Khola off the Sonam Glacier NE of the trail. Cross on a wooden bridge. Climb steeply up the spur to a stone arch, amid fields. Walk up to Samdo: a clustered village and a yak and goat herding post on the trade route to Kyirong in Tibet. It is the last village in Gorkha.

The next is Gho in the Manang District, in the Annapurna region, beyond the Larkya glacier. The vegetation is now only alpine: low grasses, rhododendron and juniper scrub. After lunch, follow yak trails up the spur above the village for magnificent 270 o views. To the east Sonam Peak and glacier. Ahead the Sama Valley and ranges south of Manaslu (hidden behind a rocky peak). To the west, tomorrow’s route to the (improved) Dharmsala high camp and Larkya glacier. Overnight in Samdo. Trek: 6-7 hrs

Day 12: Samdo – Dharamsala/Larkya Phedi (4 480m/14 700ft)

Descend, past the animal pens, to a final crossing of the Budhi Gandaki before climbing gently towards the snout of the Larkya Glacier beyond (the hidden) Larkya Phedi. To the south, below, the Syacha Glacier flows around the massif hiding Manaslu. Its upper route becomes visible along the trail. Continue gently up to Larkya Phedi: and the new lodges. Overnight in Dharamsala. Trek: 5-6 hrs

Day 13: Dharamsala – Larkya La (5 160m/16 930ft) – Bimthang (3 720m/12 200ft)

Larkya La involves a gradual 800m, 3-5hr ascent (when snow free) and a 1 500m descent to Bimthang. It can be bitterly cold if windy; snow and ice will demand more time. Snow poles mark the route which is not difficult or steep, but is everywhere rocky underfoot. Breakfast and a pre-sunrise start begins with a gentle ascent to a ridge before a long ascent to the jumbled moraine field. Walk past the first of four small lakes. Then a steady pull curves towards Larkya and the first group of summit flags. The Cheo and Larkya Himal ridges block views to the north and south. Ahead, a moraine ridge leads for ~30 min, to a second set of summit flags (and the boundary between the Manaslu and Annapurna conservation regions).

They also overlook astounding views into a huge semi-circular basin ringed by a mix of ice peaks and rocky walls. Three glaciers flow towards the south west corner to form a single glacier. A steep and treacherous 700m zigzag descent over loose gravel leads to the Taboche Kharka. Beyond, a more gradual descent leads to the confluence of the glacier moraines and turns into the attractive Bimthang (plain of sand) Valley – and welcoming attractive lodges. Overnight in Bimthang. Trek: 7-9 hrs

Day 14: Bimthang – Gho (2 560m/8 400ft)

The eastern view of Manaslu from Bimthang is very different to the classic aspect. Cross the Bimthang plain and stony glacier, then climb the far moraine to enter pristine oak, rhododendron and pine forests. Descend along the Dudh Khola’s west bank to Hompuk’s rock shelter, Sangura Kharka and, more steeply, to cross the Suti Khola at Karche for lunch. Follow the river’s S-bend then climb a ridge past terraced fields to the charming Gurung village of Gho. Overnight in Gho.
Trek: 5-6 hrs

Day 15: Gho – Dharapani (1 920m/6 300ft) – Tal (1 700m/5 580ft

After breakfast, descend through farmlands to the old paved village of Tilje. Continue the descent into the Marsyangdi Valley through scrub forest to Tonje. In Tonje, cross the descending Marsyangdi Khola – from Manang on the Annapurna Circuit route. Join the new road to Manang and walk down to bustling Dharapani for lunch. Below Dharapani, cross to the left bank of the Marsyangdi Khola and descend through Karte to Tal. Overnight in Tal.
Trek: 5-6 hrs

Day 16: Tal – Besi Sahar (760m/2 500ft) – Kathmandu (1 300m/4 260ft),

After an early breakfast cross the river to the road and take a jeep for the rutted descent, past the completed hydroelectric scheme, to Besi Sahar and then the long drive back to Kathmandu. Farewell dinner. Overnight in your hotel in Kathmandu.
Transfer: 7-8 hrs drive
Food: breakfast, lunch, farewell dinner
Accomodation: Hotel

Day 17: Final departure

Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your flight to your next destination. (If you have the time, we recommend you book an extra day in the city: in case of delays on the return.) Also consider driving from Besi Sahar to the attractive lake city of Pokhara, south of the Annapurna Range, for a day or two. Then drive or fly back to Kathmandu before for your departure.)
Transfer: car