Manaslu Circuit Trek 16 Days

Welcome to Nepal! A Himalayan Dream Team representative will welcome you with a Nepali flower at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and facilitate your private transfer to the hotel. You can relax and recover from your journey at the hotel and, when you feel ready, enjoy a gentle stroll around the neighborhood to get your first taste of the city.
As an introduction to your journey, we would like to treat you to dinner at one of best restaurant, which is guaranteed to give you the best impression of authentic local cuisine and hospitality.

Following your breakfast at the hotel, your guide will take you on a full day exploration of the profound cultural and spiritual heritage of Kathmandu, taking you to multiple UNESCO world heritage sites.

Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple): You will start the day at this lofty Buddhist stupa resting on a hill with its eye catching views of the entire Kathmandu Valley. This site is one of the oldest by gaining importance as a relious center in Nepal where it is worshiped by Buddhists and Hindus.

Pashupatinath Temple: You will then proceed to Nepal’s most revered Hindu temple complex located on the banks of Bagmati River. Here, you will observe traditional cremation services and you will see sadhus (Hindu religious hermits) practicing their spirituality.

Kathmandu Durbar Square: You can take a walk at the serene old royal palace region of historic Kathmandu after lunch. This square is a living exposition of older temples and courtyards along with houses sculptured and wooden buildings in newari style architecture.

Local Markets Visit: To end the day, you can roam around kathmandu spice and vegetable markets which will allow you to experience the daily life of Kathmandan locals and provide opportunities for street photography.

Your Manaslu circuit journey begins with a scenice drive from Kathmandu to Machhakhola. After breakfast, we leave the Kathmandu valley and follow the Prithvi Highway alongside the Trisuli River. Along the way, enjoy beautiful views of terraced hills, rivers, waterfalls, and distant Himalayan peaks including Ganesh Himal and Mt. Manaslu.

After passing through Arughat and Soti Khola, the road becomes more rugged and adventurous as we continue toward Machhakhola. Upon arrival, you can relax at the lodge and enjoy the peaceful mountain surroundings before the trek officially begins the next morning.

Today our trekking begins with a descrend of hundreds of stone steps down to the BudhiGandaki. We cross it by a spectacular suspension bridge. We again follow the river which allows us to see the beautiful river valley and at the horizon the snow capped mountains lie like Buddha Himal and Sirangi Himal. On this day we formally enter the Mansalu Conservation area and finish up our overnight stop Jagat.

Today we will first trek over the rocky ridge reaching Salleri, head towards Sirdibas. From Sirdibas We continue with the trek passing a long suspension bridge reaching Philim where we need entry our special permits in the check post within philim. Next we cross the fields and reach Ekle Bhatti where we will have our lunch. The high suspension bridge can be seen from afar as we pass through the bamboo forest and cross a stream reaching Deng.

Our day begins with breakfast, and we will be following the trail upstream the river of Deng towards the tiny village of 4 houses. From here we walk through a newly built rock tunnel, avoiding the steep traditional climb. At Ghap, tibetan culture begins to influence our trail, as there are many mani stones and chortens scattered around. Mani stones are stone plates, rocks and/or pebbles inscribed with the six syllabled mantra of Avalokiteshvara (Om mani padme hum, hence the name “Mani stone”) as a form of prayer in Tibetan buddhism

Today is an especially splendid trekking day; on our way through the apparently deserted Nambachhe seasonal village with its barley fields and mani walls, we ascend through a cool, dense forest for half an hour. Again, we'll be crossing the Budi Gandaki on another wooden bridge, this time to Namrung at 2540 meters where we stop for tea at a lodge run by a Tibetan family. Above this village the valley opens out and gives us wide colored vistas. A few hours later, we reach the village of Lihi at 2840 meters, which is a substantial altitude gain. Our climb will be gentle from here, after crossing a large stream that flows down from the Lidanda Glaciers. We are aiming for the picturesque Tibetan village of Sho at 3000m where we will have lunch. Remember to check the upper deck for the bear claw and the old Tibetan Fort ruins across the river.

The sights of Himal Chuli from Sho are breathtaking, and moving on towards Lho, we get the views of Manaslu itself. That was an amazing afternoon! We stay overnight in Lho, a vibrant village with numerous prayer flags which is was a great location to watch the sunset and sunrise.

Today is one of the most scenic and rewarding days of the trek. After breakfast in Lho, we begin our walk with beautiful morning views of Mount Manaslu shining above the valley.

The trail gradually leads us through forests and open landscapes toward the peaceful village of Shyala, where the views of Manaslu and surrounding peaks become even more impressive. This is one of the best viewpoints of the entire trek, with wide mountain panoramas and a calm Himalayan atmosphere.

From Shyala, we take a scenic side trip to Pungyen Gompa (4000 m), an ancient monastery located below the Manaslu Glacier. Surrounded by dramatic alpine scenery, the gompa offers a quiet and spiritual setting, making it a special highlight of the day.

After enjoying some time at the monastery, we continue trekking toward Samagaun. As we approach the village, you will notice strong Tibetan influence in the culture, with traditional stone houses, mani walls, and colorful prayer flags.

Today is an important acclimatization day in Samagaun (3,530 m), allowing your body to adjust to the increasing altitude while enjoying the natural beauty of the region.

For those looking for a more active day, there is an optional hike to Manaslu Base Camp (4,800 m). This rewarding hike offers incredible close-up views of Mount Manaslu, along with surrounding glaciers and dramatic high-altitude landscapes. It is a challenging but unforgettable experience for strong trekkers.

For a more relaxed option, you can take a gentle walk to Birendra Lake, a stunning glacial lake located just below the village. Often partially frozen, the lake’s turquoise color and peaceful setting make it a perfect place to enjoy the scenery and rest.

You may also spend time exploring Samagaun village, observing local life, visiting monasteries, or simply relaxing and preparing for the higher elevations ahead.

After your chosen activity, we return to the lodge in Samagaun.

Today after breakfast, we start with an easy 3 hours trek. We pass the long mani walls at Kermo Kharka, from where we spot the entrance chorten of Samdo high up on a bluff. From the viewpoint we descend back to the Bhudi Gandaki and cross a small bridge followed by a short climb to the ‘kane’ entrance of Samdo. Look back down valley for great views. The villagers of Samdo crossed over the border from the village of Riu after 1959 and built their new village here at their old herding settlement. Samdo village is a collection of houses and lodges at 3850 meters, The colder mountain air is very noticeable here, and the warm stove inside the lodge becomes especially welcoming and a wind from Tibet is battering the windowpanes. Get out and take a walk around the village, where the inhabitants live an essentially Tibetan yak, sheep and goat herding, horse training and barley planting lifestyle.

This day we will be following the old trade route to Tibet and we will continue to hike through the remnants of Larkya bazaar; one of the markets that flourished in trade. After two hours of climbing through glaciers, which is accompanied by stunning views, we reach the campsite at Dharamsala where we feast on lunch and admire the views. The altitude and cold will definitely be felt here; hence we recommend a more relaxed afternoon, ensuring warmth.

The most memorable highlights of the trip are perhaps unto today, when we go to the highest point of the trek. After a moderate climb from the campsite, we arrive at the ablation valley on the North side of the Larkya Glaciers where we first see Cho Danda and Larkya Peak. We traverse the moraines of the glacier where we do a gentle climb which only becomes steeper toward the end of the pass. The panoramic views from the pass are magnificent. Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kangguru and the gigantic Annapurna II range are all in the line of vision. The region is a habitat for Bharal (Blue Sheep) and Snow Cock, and with new snow on the ground there might be Snow Leopard tracks from the night before. And I mean the views literally, the height of the Larke La Pass is 5,106 m and they are simply mind-blowing.

As we hang the Tibetan prayer flags and chant ‘Ki ki so so lha gyalo’ (may the Gods be victorious), we prepare for a trail with a steep slope followed by a glacial Moraine. There’s an ‘ankle bothering’ drop that is slippery if snow covered, so ensure you have your ‘Yak Tracks’ ready. Trekking poles are a must. The descent is boulder-strewn so make appreciate the views around you as they lead to Bimtang. This brings us to our overnight stop at Bimtang. Every now and then you can catch a glimpse of Manaslu in the distance succumbing to the evening mist. It's a sight that I couldn't get enough of.

We will start our day rough in a ridge in Bhimtang which gives us stunning views of Mt. Manaslu, Lamjung Himal, Himlung Himal and Cheo Himal. After a break, we move down through high pastures (Sangure Kharka) and cross a bridge over the Dudh Khola. The ‘Rhododendron’ forest is one of the featured spots on the trekking trail along with a narrow valley which guides us to Karche at 2,785 meters, the highest cultivated land in the valley.

We make our way passes to fields and make a steep climb over a ridge which descends in a sweeping arc to the river bank at the altitude of 2,580. As we approach Dharapani, we spot a police check point, a town developed in the Annapurna Circuit. We are now able to view the snowcapped mountains and can stay overnight here.

As part of the package with Himalayan Dream Team, on the final day of the Manaslu Circuit Trek, we will scenic drive from Dharapani to Kathmandu. After having breakfast, we will go through the town, tip our guides and porters and board the private Jeep. The drive takes roughly four hours all the way to Besishar, where the road is sealed from . There is also a direct road from Duharpani to Besishar blocked in the beginning.

While traveling by car along the Prithvi Highway, you will be met with new sites like luscious hills, deep mountain valleys, open meadows, and steep gorges. The drive will take an approximate 7 to 9 hours. After reaching Kathmandu, you will be accommodated at a downtown hotel where you can unwind and contemplate your remarkable trekking adventure.

After an epic experience in the Himalayas, you can sit back, relax and enjoy this day on your own. From this point the tourist hub of Kathmandu is in your walking distance. If you walk through Thamel, you will notice Handicrafts, Singing bowls, Pashmina shawWe’ll have breakfast and then head to the international airport, alternatively if you have a later flight you can leave your baggage at the hotel and do some last minute sightseeing in Kathmandu, in which case we would then take you to the airport after sightseeing.ls, Prayer flags, and a number of other items available for a serious bargain.

Grab this last chance to purchase items that will serve as wonderful and meaningful memories for you. The mountains, culture, and your journey can be distilled into small mementos which you can cherish for life.

Feel free to explore, grab a snack with a cup of Nepali tea from a local restaurant and enjoy your last full day in this amazing city.

We’ll have breakfast and then head to the international airport, alternatively if you have a later flight you can leave your baggage at the hotel and do some last minute sightseeing in Kathmandu, in which case we would then take you to the airport after sightseeing.