Manaslu Circuit Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival Day

Personal welcome at Kathmandu Airport and transfer to your hotel in the tourist district of Thamel. After a short briefing on our trip plans you will be able to go out to explore the local temples and markets.

Day 2 - Kathmandu City Tour

After breakfast we will tour the city, visiting many of the “City of Temples” historic landmarks including Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple, and the stunning Boudhanath Stupa.

Day 3 - Kathmandu to Soti Khola (700m) by Private Vehicle 

Today we will drive out of Kathmandu to the start of the Manaslu Circuit at the village of Soti Khola. Once we escape the hussle and bustle of the city we will have a nice scenic trip through the Himalayan foothills. 7 - 8 hours drive.

Day 4 - Soti Khola to Maccha Khola (860m)

We start our trek with a relatively flat and easy days walking along the trail that follows the valley up through a mix of beautiful forests, rice terraces and small settlements to the village of Maccha Khola. 6 hours trekking.

Day 5 - Maccha Khola to Jagat (1340m)

The trail continues up through farms and rice fields and as the valley widens and you will start to see some of the larger peaks appear ahead of us. You will get to cross the new cliff-face walkway that gives the local people better access to the upper parts of the valley even when the river floods during the monsoon season. We will stay at the small village of Jagat for the night. 7 hours trekking.

Day 6 - Jagat to Deng (1950m)

Todays walk continues through small rural communities and sections of forest as we climb higher up the valley A s the landscape becomes more dramatic we will get to cross some  equally impressive swing bridges and and mountainside trails that form the vital link between the remote Manaslu villages and the rest of Nepal. 6 hours trekking.

Day 7 - Deng to Namrung (2630m)

Today we  continue up the steep mountain valley following the river as it squeezes through narrow gorges and over big waterfalls. We climb up through beautiful dense forest and come to the village of Namrung where we stay for the night. Behind the village is a beautiful Tibetan monastery that we can visit. 6 hours trekking.

Day 8 - Namrung to Lho (3280m)

Our trek to Lho takes us through though sections of oak, fir and rhododendron forests as we climb higher up the valley to the altitude of 3280 metres. We will really start to feel effects of the thin alpine air so we will take our time and enjoy the views as we slowly climb higher into the mountains. 4 hours trekking.

Day 9 - Lho to Sama Gaun (3520m)

Today we will continue climbing up the valley and before long we will come to the high alpine pastures dotted with Yaks grazing across the mountainside.  We will come to a mountain stream that falls from from between the peaks above us and cross into the wide basin that is home to the Nubri people and the village of Sama Gaun. From our lodge we will have an impressive view directly up at Mount Manaslu that towers over the valley. 4 hours trekking. 

Day 10 -  Sama Gaun Acclimatisation Day

We will take a day here to acclimatise before we trek even higher up and over the Larke La pass. To help our acclimatisation we will climb up behind the village towards Manaslu Base Camp. This is a very beautiful route that takes us past the turquoise blue Birendra Lake and alongside the glacier and if we are felling good all the way to the Base Camp of the 8th highest mountain in the world with stunning views of the village and valley below. After our mornings walk we can visit the local Buddhist monastery or you can simply put your feet up for the afternoon and enjoy the beautiful scenery. 

Day 11 - Sama Gaun to Samdo (3875m)

Todays trek is nice and gentle as we follow the valley up to the Tibetan village of Samdo. Along the way we will pass through Birch forests and we will see a few Marmots running to hide from us in their little holes. We will have the afternoon to relax and enjoy the views from our cute little village. 4 hours walk.

Day 12 - Samdo to Dharmasala (4460m)

In preparation for our crossing of Larke La tomorrow we climb up to the small base camp of Dharmasala for the night. This is a beautiful place just to relax and enjoy the mountain landscape before our big day trekking up over the mountain pass. 3 hours trekking.

Day 13 - Dharmasala via Lake La to Bimtang (3590m)

Today we will cross the mountain pass of Larke La at 5100 metres. We will have a long day so we will leave at sunrise while the weather and views are at their best. Our trail climbing alongside the huge glacier that flows down from the mountain tops and slowing winds its way up to the top of Larke La. We will have a good rest here, taking a moment to acknowledge our awesome achievement before descending down into the valley ahead of us. The descent is steep so we will take our time but before too long we will we back down into the beautiful Yak pastures of the valley on the other side. The first village we come to is Bimtang where we will stay for the night. 8 hours trekking.

Day 14 - Bimtang to Tilije (2300m)

Todays trail is a nice and gentle as we slowly follow the glacial river down through the Birch forests into the valley below. After climbing upwards for the previous ten days walking down this beautiful path will feel so effortless and enjoyable. We will come across a few small villages as we descend further into the valley and will stay at the village of Tilije for the night. 6 - 7 hours trekking.

Day 15 - Tilije to Syange (1100m)

Today we reach the bottom of our valley and at Dharapani join the famous Annapurna Circuit trekking route. From Dharapani we start following the Dhud Khosi river until we reach the village of Syange. 6 hours trekking.

Day 16 - Syange to Besisahar (760m)

Today is our last days walking and we will be able to take our time and soak up the sun and the warm air down at this more hospitable altitude. We will again be crossing through the farming communities with their fields of wheat and corn that fill every useable patch of the valley before stopping at the trailhead village of Besisahar for our final night of the trek. 7 hours trekking.

Day 17 - Return to Kathmandu 

We will catch a bus back to Kathmandu. In the evening we will meet up for a nice dinner out together before we have to say goodbye. 6 - 7 hours bus ride.

Day 18 - Departure

Transfer to Kathmandu Airport

Note - If the above itinerary does not meet your needs we can easily adjust this to suit your travel requirements.