The Manaslu Circuit itinerary utilizes the most varied trails in the region. It is a demanding trek that requires a high level of fitness. The route takes you to historic monasteries and Chorten through the spectacular Larkya La Pass. The Manaslu Base Camp sits at 5,106 metres (16,752 ft). Manaslu mountain is the 8th highest in the world at 8163 m (26,781 ft). The trails reward you with epic scenery and intimate encounters with the local culture. The best times of year to do this trek is March to May and September to December.
Manaslu Circuit Itinerary NMCT17
Itinerary
Day 1 Kathmandu (1,300m/4,265 ft)
Arrival day in Kathmandu. A representative will be ready to welcome you at the Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer you to your hotel. Later, join us for dinner where you’ll also have a short briefing about your adventure.
Day 2 Kathmandu
Kathmandu Valley sightseeing and trek preparation today. We’ll start our guided tour in the capital city, Kathmandu to explore the world heritage sites around the city. Explore Pashupatinath Temple, the largest pilgrimage place for Hindu peoples, Boudhhanath Stupa, the largest stupa in the world, and Swoyambhunath Stupa, the monkey temple. We will also visit the historical Kathmandu Durbar Square to view its many architectural features.
Day 3 Soti Khola (730m/2,395ft)
Drive from Kathmandu to Soti Khola for 7-8 hours. On the third day of the trek, we will take an early start by taking the drive of 6-7 hours in a private vehicle. We make our first stop at Arughat Bazaar, Gorkha. You can see that the town is spread out along both banks of Budi Gandaki. You can also go for any lastminute shopping to buy anything you require for the trip. We will continue our drive to Soti Khola where we will be spending the night.
Day 4 Machha Khola (930m, /3,051ft) 5-6 hours
Begin hiking to Machha Khola, also known as Fish River. A settlement with the same name is situated a little above the river. The village is the gateway to the great Himalayan trail that travels up the east bank of the river in the direction of Ganesh Himal.
Day 5 Jagat (1,410m/4,626 ft) 6 – 7 hours
Start today’s trek by taking a few steep ascents and descents. The trail will eventually lead us to the small village, Tatopani, after two hours of walking and crossing the Tharu Khola. Tatopani is famous for its natural spring where you can clean yourself in the hot water. After a short ascent, you will reach Doban. The path continues ascending through more rocky terrain, up and down ravines. We will reach the place with the official checkpoint, Jagat, which points to our stop for the day.
Day 6 Deng (1,865m/6,119ft), 6 – 7 hours
After passing the Jagat Valley, we will walk for an hour until we reach the village of Sirdibas. We will also cross the Budi Gandaki on a sizable suspension bridge and then ascend steeply to Philim. The trail makes its way down the hillside to reach Ekle Bhatti before crossing back over the river below the confluence of Budi Gandaki and Siyar Khola. We will then descend into a stunning gorge situated above the river. The trail will then ascend to the western side of the valley which will lead us to Deng, our stay for the night.
Day 7 Trek to Namrung (2,630m/8,629ft), 6-7 hours walking
We will approach the Buddhist-influenced region on this day. Continue through forest to Ghap, to see exquisite prayer wheel (mani) walls and paintings. We will eventually reach Namrung village after an arduous climb through the bamboo and rhododendron forest. Overnight in Namrung.
Day 8 Trek to Lho (3,180m/10,433ft), 4 – 5 hours
We walk for about 4-5 hours on this day taking some ascending, descending, and enjoying the beautiful view of the mountains. The valley widens after the Namrung village. The trail passes through the Tibetan town of Sho. We will then pass through the Lho Valley which offers a great view of Mount Ganesh I. We spend our night in the Lho Valley.
Day 9 Trek to Samagaon (3,530m/11,581ft), 5 – 6 hours
We will continue our walk on the river’s right bank from the Lho. We spend a few hours ascending through the jungle enjoying the view of Peak 29 before us. We will then reach the beautiful settlement, Shyala offering breathtaking views of Phungi, Manaslu, and Him Chuli. We will then arrive at Samagaon village, traversing a large pasture filled with several marmots. We stay at the camp overnight. The camp which is located at the top of the hamlet offers breathtaking views of Manaslu.
Day 10 Acclimatization day at Samagaon
We will take a day to acclimatize to the higher altitude. Samagaon is a beautiful place with an adjacent monastery and beautiful landscape. You can take the day as the opportunity to tour the area, enjoy the scenery, and explore the area. Invest the night at the teahouse.
Day 11 Trek to Samdo (3,860m/12,664ft), 3-4 hours walking
We will start the walk for the day from the Samagaon village that widens after we pass through juniper and birch forests on an easy walk to the stone huts at Kermo Kharka. We will continue the trek till we reach a bridge over a sidestream where the trail splits into the left and right forks. The left fork goes to the Manaslu Base Camp and the right fork passes by a number of mani walls that goes to the Larkya La. There is a white stone, Kani, indicating the entrance point for the Samdo village. We stay in the village of Samdo.
Day 12 Trek to Larkya Phedi (4,460m/14,632ft), 3 – 4 hours walking
On the 12th day of the trek, we will descend through fields to an old mani wall and stone arch. After this, we will then drop into the river and cross on a suspension bridge to begin our trek into the past. This place is famous as the legendary Larka Bazaar, which formerly included a thriving market. We will eventually reach another mani wall in the journey which is the marking point for the start of the climb to the pass where the trail begins. From this place, we can witness the enormous Larkya Glacier coming from Manaslu. The trail will progressively grow more difficult as it ascends the gorge’s wall to a viewpoint. We will arrive at Larkya Phedi, accommodating travelers crossing the Larkya La. We will spend the night at Larkya Phedi.
Day 13 Cross the Larkya La (5,135m/16,847ft), trek to Bimtang (3,590m/11,778ft), 7-8 hours
We will quickly arrive at the ablation valley on the Larkya Glacier’s left side taking an early start. We will begin the steady ascent to the Larkya pass peak as we move through the glacier moraine. The summit allows a panoramic view of Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kang Guru, and Annapurna II. We will follow the top of the moraine to the west. The trail will then traverses in a series of rugged, steep switchbacks before descending more gradually on snow to a grassy moraine. You are recommended to take crampons and an ice ax for the descent if the terrain is icy. The trail will become simpler to follow and we will then arrive at a little meadow and spring. As the trail descends to a vast meadow, passing a mani wall we reach the rest house at Bimthang. Stay the night in Bimtang.
Day 14 Trek to Tilje (2,300m/7,546ft) 5 – 6 hours
The trail will take us to a glacier stream at the Dudh Khola’s headwaters after we pass through the Bimthang’s pastures, over a wooden bridge. We will then fall into a pine and rhododendron forest that thoroughly takes us to the fenced fields of Karcher. We will then pass through a landslide and ascend steeply to a ridge covered in prayer flags before we descend to the riverbank at Gho. The route will take us through farms and sporadic oak and rhododendron stand until it reaches Tilje, a sizable Gurung settlement. We will sleep at Tilje tonight.
Day 15 Trek to Chamje (1,430m/4,691ft), 5 – 6 hours
We will leave the settlement into a stone arch, then proceed through the Dudh Khola, descending the scrub woodland. The residences of Dharapani can be seen from a distance as the walls of the Marsyangdi Valley get larger. Dharapani is located over a lengthy suspension bridge that spans the Marsyangdi after passing through Thonje and under a chorten-shaped arch. As we proceed through the most difficult section of the Marsyangdi gorge, the trail will now reverse the direction of the Annapurna Circuit. Sleep there the night
Day 16 Kathmandu
Drive to Besisahar for 2-3 hours and continue to drive to Kathmandu We will travel to Besisahar by local transportation through the Tal settlement as we follow the Marshyangdi River downstream on this day. The car will be waiting for you in Besisahar to pick us up. We will continue the drive to Kathmandu. After returning to Kathmandu, we will settle into our accommodation and spend the night relaxing.
Day 17 Departure from Kathmandu
You will have a whole day to do any last-minute souvenir or gift purchasing for family, friends, or relatives before your departure flight or drive. You can also go for any further adventures or activities, you may have planned with us. You will be transferred to the international airport if you are departing in order to catch a flight to another location. We wish you a wonderful Himalayan adventure with us!
High Altitude Climbing and Altitude Sickness
Climate and Weather
Nepal has two distinct seasons, a dry one, which lasts from October to May, and a wet monsoonal one from June to September. The traditional trekking season is October to May. During the trekking season the nights can be very cold in the mountains, but the bright sun makes for pleasant daytime temperatures up to about 25 degree Celsius, falling to 5 degree Celsius, at night, between 1000m and 3500m. At higher altitudes temperatures range from about 20 degree Celsius down to – 10 degrees Celsius. Mornings are usually clear, and then clouds can build up during the afternoon, disappearing at night to reveal spectacular starry skies. After May, summer (Jun, Jul and Aug) is monsoon so visibility and rain are an issue. Mornings are usually clear with cloud build-up occasionally bringing afternoon rain. Treks can last from two days to a month or more, and the first consideration will be to choose a trek that fits into your available time and physical condition. You’ll also need to strike a balance between trekking in the best weather for the area you wish to trek in and avoiding the crowds the good weather attracts.
Social Conventions & Customs of Nepal: Be careful to respect local customs:
- Never step over the feet of a person, always walk around.
- Never offer food and drink that you have tasted or bitten
- Never offer or accept anything with the left hand; use the right or both hands.
- It is considered rude to point at a person or statue with a finger (or even with a foot).
Often when people shake their head, it means ‘yes’. Footwear should be removed when entering houses, especially kitchens, or shrines. Do not stand in front of a person who is eating. Shaking hands is not a common form of greeting; instead press the palms together in a prayer-like gesture (Namaste).
Casual wear is suitable except for the most formal meetings or social occasions. However, bikinis, shorts, bare shoulders and backs may not be appreciated. Men only remove their shirts when bathing. Overt public displays of affection, especially near religious places, are inappropriate. Seek permission before entering a temple, and do not take leather articles inside them.
Photography: Always ask permission first. In general, it is allowed outside temples and at festivals, but not at religious ceremonies or inside temples; however, there is no hard and fast rule and the only way to be sure of not giving offense is to ask first and accept the answer.
A number of faiths and religions have merged in Nepal and exist simultaneously. Nepal is a country with “Unity in Diversity”. This diverseness in culture makes Nepal a unique country in the world with a lot of different customs and traditions. Traditions and rituals in Nepal have become an integral part of everyday life. Customs of Nepal are a major attraction for the tourists coming here.
Right from birth to death, a Nepalese keeps on performing various customs and traditions. Almost every occasion in Nepal (birth, engagement, marriage, death and so on) has a ceremony attached to it.
