14 Days Manaslu Circuit Trek: Remote Trek in Nepal

Our team meets you at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfers you to your hotel in Thamel. After check-in, you can rest after your international flight or take a short walk around Thamel to explore the gear shops nearby.

Later, our guide will meet you for a full pre-departure briefing. The session covers the complete Manaslu Circuit Trek route, daily walking plan, permit requirements, packing needs, and altitude safety rules.

Your journey begins with an early departure from Kathmandu. The drive heads northwest along the Prithvi Highway, following the Trishuli River before turning north at Malekhu toward Arughat. The first half is on a paved road, but after Sotikhola, the surface transitions into a rough, unpaved track cut into the cliffside above the Budhi Gandaki River.

The remaining drive passes through terraced hillsides, cascading waterfalls, and small roadside settlements. By evening, you reach Machha Khola at 930m / 3,051ft, a small riverside teahouse village. This is the official trailhead where your trek begins the next morning.

Your first trekking day starts beside the Budhi Gandaki River. The trail crosses multiple bridges and moves through narrow valley sections where the walls rise steeply on both sides. You pass through Khorlabesi, Tatopani, and Dobhan before the route begins climbing toward Jagat.

The path rolling over ridges and drops onto sandy riverbeds along the way. Jagat at 1,410m / 4,625ft serves as the official entry checkpoint for the upper Manaslu trekking zone, where your permits are verified for the first time.

You begin the day with a climb toward Salleri, then descend to Sirdibas. The valley opens for a short stretch, with terraced fields, stone houses, and small settlements along the route. From there, you continue toward Philim, a large Gurung village and the main checkpoint on this section.

After Philim, the surroundings become narrower as the trail enters the Budhi Gandaki gorge. Near Ekle Bhatti, the route to Tsum Valley separates from the Manaslu Circuit trail. You stay on the main circuit and continue through quiet forest sections before reaching Deng at 1,860m / 6,102ft.

Leaving Deng, you cross the Budhi Gandaki River. The trail climbs toward Bihi Phedi through bamboo, rhododendron, and pine forest. Then, you pass quiet river sections, small settlements, and several uphill stretches before reaching Ghap at 2,160m / 7,087ft.

From Ghap, your route continues through forested terrain toward Namrung. Tibetan Buddhist cultural features become more visible along the trail, with mani walls, chortens, prayer flags, and stone houses appearing more often. Namrung at 2,630m / 8,629ft sits on a broad ridge with views of Shringi Himal at 7,187m / 23,579ft and Kutung Himal at 6,064m / 19,895ft.

You leave Namrung and climb through barley fields, buckwheat farms, and small mountain villages. The route passes Lihi and Sho before reaching Lho at 3,180m / 10,433ft. Lho is home to Ribung Gompa, a large monastery above the village, and gives you the first close views of Mount Manaslu at 8,163m / 26,781ft.

From Lho, the trail continues higher toward Shyala Village at 3,520m / 11,549ft. The village sits in a wide-open valley with mountain views in every direction. On a clear day, you see Manaslu, Ngadi Chuli, Himalchuli, and Naike Peak.

After leaving Shyala, you take the detour trail toward Pungyen Monastery instead of walking directly to Samagaon. The first section climbs steeply up stone steps and narrow mountain paths. After the climb, the trail opens onto a wide alpine plateau below the eastern face of Mount Manaslu.

Pungyen Monastery sits at 4,050m / 13,287ft, with the Pungyen Glacier rising behind the complex. The monastery area includes the main assembly hall, monks' quarters, and painted rock faces. After exploring, you descend back to the main route and continue to Samagaon. Samagaon is the largest Tibetan village on the circuit with teahouses, a police checkpoint, and a health post.

This is your acclimatization day at Samagaon. You stay at the same sleeping altitude, but take an active hike so your body adjusts before the route climbs higher. Depending on trail conditions, your fitness, and our guide's advice, you can choose Manaslu Base Camp or Birendra Lake.

The shorter option is a walk to Birendra Lake (3,691m / 12,110ft), a turquoise glacial lake near the Manaslu glacier. If you prefer a longer hike, you can continue from Birendra Lake along alpine and moraine trails to Manaslu Base Camp (4,800m / 15,748ft) before returning to Samagaon. This hike allows you to enjoy mountain views and prepare for Dharmasala and the Larkya La Pass crossing.

You leave Samagaon and walk north along the Budhi Gandaki River. The trail rises gently through juniper and birch forest, with wooden bridges, mani walls, and chortens along the way. This shorter walking day helps your body adjust before the ascent to Dharmasala.

The path passes Lela Kharka and Khermo Kharka before reaching Samdo at 3,860m / 12,664ft. Samdo is an isolated Tibetan refugee settlement and one of the highest permanent villages in the Manaslu region. In the afternoon, a short hike above the village helps with acclimatization before the climb to Dharmasala.

After breakfast in Samdo, you cross a narrow wooden bridge over the Budhi Gandaki River and begin the gradual climb toward Dharmasala. The landscape becomes drier and rockier as you gain altitude. Along the way, you pass the ruins of Larkya Bazaar, an old seasonal trade point once used by Tibetan traders.

Dharmasala at 4,460m / 14,632ft, also called Larkya Phedi / Larke Phedi, is the final stop before crossing Larkya La Pass. The setting feels cold and bare as you reach the base of the high pass. Facilities are very limited here, so the evening is mainly for rest, packing, and early sleep.

Departing from Dharmasala around 4:00 to 5:00 AM, you begin the most challenging day of the trek, following the trail with a headlamp before sunrise. The early start helps you reach Larkya La Pass before strong winds and afternoon clouds build up. The trail crosses cold moraine, frozen ground near glacial lakes, boulder fields, and open glacial terrain as daylight slowly spreads across the high mountains.

Prayer flags mark the top of Larkya La Pass at 5,106m / 16,752ft, the highest point of the trek. From the pass, you see Gyaji Kang, Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kang Guru, and Annapurna. The descent to Bimtang is long and steep, dropping over snow, scree, and loose gravel before the trail finally reaches the open meadows of Bimtang.

The hardest section of the circuit is now behind you. From Bimtang, the trail descends through alpine pastures before entering rhododendron and pine forest. You pass Gho village and continue down toward the Dudh Khola valley, where the landscape becomes greener and warmer with each hour of walking.

Tilje at 2,300m / 7,546ft is a traditional Gurung village known locally for apple brandy. From here, a short drive takes you to Dharapani, crossing the Marsyangdi River. This is where the Manaslu Circuit meets the Annapurna Circuit route, and the final permit checkpoint marks your exit from the restricted zone.

From Dharapani, your journey turns back toward Kathmandu by road. The first part of the drive is slow and rough as the vehicle moves through the Marsyangdi valley toward Besisahar. Lower down, the road improves, and the mountain scenery gradually changes into warmer hills, roadside towns, and farmland.

Before continuing to Kathmandu, you stop at a natural hot spring along the Dharapani-Besisahar route. After the break, the drive continues to Kathmandu. In the evening, you join a farewell dinner with the team to celebrate the end of the trek.

Your final day in Kathmandu is free until your airport transfer. Depending on your flight time, you have time for packing, breakfast, last-minute shopping, or a short walk around Thamel.

Our team transfers you from your hotel to Tribhuvan International Airport. The drive usually takes around half an hour, depending on traffic and hotel location.