Manaslu Circuit Trek

You may arrive in Kathmandu at any time. Upon your arrival, you will be welcomed by one of our airport representatives. He will help you get transferred to your Hotel. There are no planned activities for the day, thus you may check into your Hotel and relax. Overnight stay at the Hotel in Kathmandu.

This day is reserved for a sightseeing tour of Kathmandu city's World Heritage Sites. You will visit the holy Hindu temple of Pashupatinath, the Bouddhanath shrine, the Swayambhunath Stupa, and the Kathmandu Durbar Square. Each of the sites holds revered religious and historical importance, presenting amazing artwork and architectural integrity. Each of the sites is built in a traditional style and is crafted with beautiful woodworks, stone masonry, and metal moldings. They provide deep insight into the historical and religious context of Nepal. After the tour, you will then be dropped back at your hotel where you can prepare for tomorrow's trekking trip. Overnight stay at the Hotel in Kathmandu.

Driving on a dirt-laden road towards Sotikhola, you can get fleeting glimpses of the countryside life of Nepal where vast fields are cultivated into mustard farms. As a result, the environment is mostly painted in a bright yellow tincture due to the mustard flowers. Green terrace rice farms also uplift the terrains along the ravines. Finally, you will reach Sotikhola, a small settlement that is the starting point of the circuit trek. Overnight stay at the guesthouse at Sotikhola.

The trekking trail from Soti Khola is rather rocky and narrow. The path winds through the stunning countryside where you will be following the trail as it passes through Sal woods. You will cross many small rivulets, streams, and waterfalls, trekking onwards until you finally reach the small village of Ghale Gaon. Further from the village lays the Nyali Khola that flows through the edges of tall mossy cliffs. Following the river trail, you will then ascend across hillocks and walk past pastures. Finally, you will reach Machha Khola. Overnight stay at the guesthouse at Machha Khola.

Today, you will trek on the winding dirt pathway that will take you to the banks of the Budi Gandaki River. The path enters cedar and pine forests where you can spot many Langur Monkeys. Once the forest clears, the path materializes out towards the village of Khoralbesi, a small Gurung village situated on the lower ridgelines of the valley. You can see many locals clad in traditional attires, called Bakkhu. Continuing, the path then takes you to Tatopani where a natural hot spring is located. You can have a short respite here and have a dip in the hot waters. The path follows the river from here, and you will trek across a suspension bridge over the Budi Gandaki to reach Doban. Finally, you will reach Jagat, a village of flat stoned houses with thatched roofs, occupied by the ethnic Gurung people. Overnight stay at the guesthouse at Jagat.  

Today, you will be trekking towards the village of Salleri, one of the first villages after Jagat. From Salleri, the trail descends towards Sirdibas where you can see several Gompas and Buddhist Mani walls. You can also try the local alcohol here that people ferment barley. The path then branches further out towards Philim, which is where you will have to show your trekking permits. As you traverse along the river, you can see many unique sculptures crafted from the boulders by the local people. You will then ascend towards the valley hills covered in rhododendron blossoms to finally reach Deng. Overnight stay at the guesthouse at Deng.  

Passing through beautiful bamboo groves, you will follow the path as it winds along the ridges towards Rana and Bihi Phedi where panoramic views of the valley below can be seen. You will find that there are lots of monkeys here that like to sit atop village rooftops, making mischief. Trekking through several landslide-prone zones, you will reach Ghap, a small settlement made out of old rustic houses. Overnight stay at the guesthouse at Ghap.  

From Ghap, the landslide areas give way towards Namrung. You can witness the unique lifestyle of the Nubri people here; they get their influence from neighboring Tibet where traditional practices and costumes are concerned. Namrung has many Mani walls as well, and the village is surrounded by lush terrace farms and Fir woods. Further from Namrung, you will reach the Banjam settlement. Passing through forests of oak, you will finally reach Lihi. Further still from Lihi, the path takes you to Sho. Along the journey, you can see many local people clad in traditional Tibetan dresses. The path also passes under gorgeously decorated Kaani (gate arches). Finally, you will reach Lho, from where the views of the Manaslu Peak are quite mesmerizing. Overnight stay at the guesthouse at Lho.  

You can get mesmerizing views of Mount Manaslu throughout today's trip. Walking slowly because of the altitude, you will follow the path through grasslands and pastures towards Shyapla. From there, the village gives way to pine and rhododendron gully with moss-covered trees drained by sparkling streams. After an hour's from Shyapla, you will reach Samagaon, a village surrounded by yak pastures. This is the traditional home of the Nubri people. Overnight stay at Sama Gaon.  

This day reserved for acclimatization. You can choose to trek to Pungyen Gompa today. It is located east of the Nubri valley. From the hilltop near the Gompa, you can get breath-taking views of the Manaslu Peak. The cliffs and pastures also harbor the Himalayan Thar and wild yaks. On the other hand, you can also choose to hike to the Manaslu Base Camp, which is located north of Samoa Gaon. Following the trail from Birendra Tal, you can steadily climb the hillock towards the base camp (4,400m), passing by the Manaslu glacier. After exploring the terrain, you will then return to the village. Overnight stay at the guesthouse at Sama Gaon.  

Today is a short trek towards Samdo. You will follow the path that goes through alpine woods where a wide variety of avifaunal life makes the atmosphere lively. The forest also clears towards a yak pasture where you can see a long Mani stone wall. Leaving the tree line, you will climb to the ridge and walk under another Kaani towards Samdo. Overnight stay at the guesthouse at Samdo.  

This is an arduous day of trekking as you will be trekking through the lower ends of the mountain pass. You will wake up early in the morning and make your way towards the foothill of the Larkya La Mountain Pass. Today's trip presents breath-taking views of the sprawling valley below. The view of the Manaslu Peak, the Himlung Himal near Tibet, and the Kang Guru Peak in the distance are also quite amazing. You will then descend the terrain, slowly trudging along the trail that is steep and rocky. After a steady 3 hours descend, you will reach the Larkya Guest House at the foothill of the mountain pass on the other side. Overnight stay at the guesthouse at Larkya Rest House.  

From the Larkya Rest House, you will make your way to Bhimtang, passing glaciers and waterfalls. The terrain is embedded with beautiful features and various water-bodies. The views of the mountain peaks also make the trip a pleat journey. Overnight stay at Bhimtang.  

This is one of the final trekking trails within the Manaslu region. Climbing downhill from Bimtang, you will walk through beautiful trans-Himalayan woods back to Dudh Khola passing by the settlement of Karche. From here, the trail becomes a little rough as it descends towards Gurung Goa, a large village compared to other smaller settlements. Staying on the northern bans of the river, the path finally reaches Dharapani. Overnight stay at the guesthouse at Dharapani.  

Trekking through the vast pasturelands, you will follow the dirt trail towards Bahundanda. You can get amazing views of the Manaslu Peak that decorates the skyline today. The view is quite surreal as the peak seems to rise vertically from the ground, forming a serrated ice wall that looks like it's hanging from the sky. The path to Bahundanda is leveled and pleasant. Overnight stay at the guesthouse at Bahundanda.  

You will be bidding the Manaslu Peaks goodbye for the last time today as you make your way towards Besishahar. The trek is downhill and includes some beautiful Kaani arches and pastures. Overnight stay at the guesthouse at Besishahar.  

With a pleasant drive along the Marsyandi and Trisuli Rivers, you will make your way back to the city. Upon reaching Kathmandu, you will be dropped off at your Hotel. Overnight stay at the Hotel in Kathmandu.  

Approximately three hours before your scheduled flight, you will be dropped off at the airport for your departure.