- 17 Days
- 5160m
Manaslu Circuit is the Eighth-Highest Mountain in the World at 8,163 mt above Sea Level. Samdo to Tibet Rouila Pass 5000 mt and trek here is still the dream of many trekkers around the world.
Before Knowing the Manaslu Circuit Trek, let’s first get some information about Mount Manaslu. Manaslu is the world’s eighth-highest peak and is above 8000m. Local People name this mountain Kutang. This Mountain is part of the Nepalese Himalayas. The name Manaslu has a unique meaning which is “Mountain of the Spirit”.
In the Mountain community, it is famous as a Killer Mountain. Manaslu is located in the Gorkha District of Nepal and is also the highest peak of Gorkha. It is about 64 miles east of Annapurna.
The Manaslu Region offers various Trekking options, and we focus here on the Manaslu Circuit Trek. The popular Manaslu massif skirt through the highest point Larkey Pass and pass down to the Annapurna.
This trekking Trail was opened in 1991, before then it was not allowed to enter the area. Manaslu Circuit Trek uses Restricted area permits and individual trekkers cannot enter the area Alone. Every Trekking should at least have a partner with him/her and a Guide/Porter.
The 177 kilometers of this Manaslu Circuit Trekking trail follows an ancient salt trading route along the Budi Gandaki River. Manaslu en route passes through 10 peaks over 6500m that are visible along the trip and a few 7000m peaks.
Manaslu Regions offers different trekking trails. Among all the trekking trails Manaslu Circuit Trek is the most famous and the best one. Manaslu Circuit Trek starts from Soti Khola and ends at Besishahar, also the starting point for the Annapurna Circuit Trek.
This two-week Trek takes you to the amazing valley and Mountains along with the Budi Gandaki River.
This route follows the ancient salt trading route. From Deng, the slope of the Ravines decreases, and the view of Snow Peak starts appearing from Lhi. After passing Lhi and reaching Lho the stunning view of Mount Manaslu appears.
Here onwards, you pass through the pine forest in Syala Village and to the Sama Gaon which is at the foot of Mount Manaslu. Reaching Samdo which is the highest village in the Budi Gandaki Valley. Samdo is mostly inhabited by the Bhutanese people. From the village, the valley looks stunning along with the Pangh Phuchi Village with the Tibetan border visible.
En route to Larkha La Cheo, Himlung, and Kang Guru Mountain are visible along with rare views of Annapurna Massif.
The conservation area of Manaslu is at the Sub-tropical Himalayan foothill to the Trans-Himalayan high pasture bordering Tibet. From Arughat to the Larkya Pass, the area covers 6 climatic zones. The Tropical and sub-tropical, the temperate zone, the sub-alpine zone, the alpine zone, and the arctic zone. All these zones differ in varying altitudes.
The precipitation in the Manaslu area is both Snow and rainfall. Above 5000m it is covered by a permanent snowline. In the climatic zone, the monsoon starts in June and till September. The Arctic zone comes under a permanent snowline area and has an annual temperature of much below the freezing point.
There are two ethnic people mainly inhabiting the area Nubri and Tsum. In the central region, Gurungs are the main ethnic group. Getting closer to the Tibetan border Bhutia people inhabit the area. Bhutias are similar to the Sherpa Groups of Tibetan ethnicity.
The Region of Manaslu is dotted with Monasteries, Mani walls, Chortens, and Buddhist religious landmarks.
Manaslu Valley is a sanctuary for many endangered animals Such as Snow Leopard and the Red pandas. Mammals found in the area are lynx, Asian black bear, blue sheep, Himalayan musk deer, Himalayan Thar, Himalayan goral, and many others. Birds with over 110 species and 11 butterfly species with 3 butterflies have been recorded to date.
If you are looking for Luxury accommodation during the Manaslu Trek then this trip doesn’t fit you. For accommodation in the Mountains, there are simple tea house lodges. Normally common bathrooms and Nights are scary cold, there will be extra blankets for you and the heating is only available in the dining area.
For Transportation, we do have private Jeep and Sharing Bus services. It will take you 6 hours to drive by jeep and 8,9 hours to drive by bus to reach the trekking starting point of the Manaslu.
The best time to do Manaslu Circuit Trek is in the best seasons of the year. Manaslu Circuit trekking in Winter and Monsoon is not very recommended as the weather at that time is very bad and difficult to pass. We recommend doing the Manaslu circuit trek during the high tourist season.
The best time to do Manaslu is in Spring and Autumn. Spring from March till May and Autumn from October till mid-December.
This trek is not as easy as you think. The first thing that makes this trek difficult is the altitude and the oxygen level. Another difficult part is Appetite, due to the higher altitude and less oxygen you might have difficulty consuming food.
So, it’s better to do some exercise before starting this trip. There are hundreds of rescues happening every day in the Mountains because of the medical condition of the travelers.
Info Nepal does have excellent offers for all of the travelers who are keen to enter this region. From Airport Pickup to drop, we have all the services that you require. You just need to contact us by sending us an email. Our reply response is super quick. Info Nepal will hear out all your requirements as soon as you contact us.
For other queries, feel free to message us on our contact page or do a quick inquiry.
In the evening group welcomes dinner in a nice authentic Nepalese restaurant with a cultural program to give you a glimpse of local culture with music and dance while having your dinner.
Trek continues with a climb towards Machha Khola for an overnight stop, a small farm village with teashops and nice simple small lodges for an overnight stay, where Maccha means Fish hence it is named Machha Khola (stream).
From here walk upstream towards Bensi village a place with a natural hot spring known as ‘Tatopani’ in Nepali.
A walk continues where the valley becomes turns narrow and crossing over a bridge to reach Doban located on a high shelf of Burigandaki River, with refreshing stops walk leads across Lauri stream to cross again over bridges and then descends into an open valley of Yara Khola, then walk for another hour to reach Jagat village for an overnight stop.
Jagat a nice-looking farm village of moderate size after Arughat; people are of mixed race with Magar, Chettries, Brahman, Manaslu Bhotia (Tibetan-looking tribes), and some Newar people.
After Philim walk leads around farm terraces of golden agriculture fields of wheat, and barley, as the climb leads above a rocky ridge within a forest of bamboo to reach Dyang village for an overnight stop.
After Ghap enters into alpine woodland as the trail meanders to climb as the valley opens out and crosses a large stream flowing from Lidana peak glacier.
On walks views of Manaslu the local name is Kutang (Manaslu) with Pang Phuchin 6,335m, Saula Himal 6,235m with a range of unnamed peaks, walk from here on a slow uphill as altitude gains slowly heading past farm village to reach Namrung for overnight stop, this village with another name as Sho Namru.
From here walk leads to a high and scenic valley to Lo-Gaon a nice village for an overnight stop, and an attractive village of high Manaslu valley, at Lo-Gaon enjoy close views of towering Manaslu North Face.
At Lo-Gaon, visit the village’s old interesting monastery with numerous corten and Mani walls facing views of Ganesh Himal in the east.
Walk for a few hours further as the day ends on reaching at Sama-Gaon a village, with super close views of Mt. Manaslu.
The local villagers are still active with trade and bartering across the border with Tibet taking a few days to reach the frontier of Nepal and Tibet, actually located on the old Trans Himalayan Salt Trade route of the two countries.
As the walk continues finally ending at Samdo village with a short climb to reach a small flat plateau where the village is located, a moderate size village of more than forty houses with about two hundred villagers living in this highly harsh country.
A walk continues crossing a few icy streams to reach Larke Phedi means the bottom of the pass, also known as Dharmasala means ‘travelers’ rest house/shade’, where in early days also called Larke Bazaar, (where trade and bartering were held between merchant-traders of Gorkha-Manaslu-Manang people and Tibetans on this remote isolated spot).
At Larke, Phedi afternoon is free for short walks and preparations for the next early morning long climb and descent crossing the high Larke-La pass to reach Manang areas.
From the top of Larke-La panorama of Himlung, Cheo Himal, Kang Guru, and Annapurna II include a series of Manaslu peaks and then descends back into tree lines through Larcia, as walks lead on moraine ridge to Tambuche at the bottom of Larke-la pass, where a short walk takes you at Bhimthang for overnight.
Bhimthang is a wonderful spot situated on a wide green valley with several lodges adorned with prayer Mani walls, surrounded by green tall trees of rhododendron pines and oaks.
From Tilje shortstop climbs for short while after crossing over a bridge to reach the nice village of Dharapani located on the junction of the popular Annapurna and Manaslu circuit route with the district of Manang.
After the refreshing break at Dharapani drive following Masrsyangdi River downstream to reach the low warmer farm area and a large area of Besisar, a headquarter town of Lamjung district with overnight stops in a nice lodge and hotels.
Start Date | End Date | Availability | |
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25 Aug, 2024 | 7 Sep, 2024 | OPEN | Book Now |
Manaslu Trekking is in a Restricted area so you will require the Restricted area permits to do this trip. In total there are 5 permits you will require during Manaslu Circuit Trek. Manaslu Conservation Area Project permits Annapurna Conservation Area Permit, Manaslu Restricted Area Permit, and TIMS card.
Manaslu Trek requires some gear so it will be much easier for you to do this trip. Gears such as Hats, Sunglasses, Down Jackets, Hiking Boots, Medicines, Water bottles, Trekking poles, Crampons, Trousers, Tshirt, Thermal sets, and hiking socks are mostly required during the trip.
We have been asked a lot of questions regarding altitude sickness during Manaslu Circuit. It is not recommended for those who have any kind of Medical condition. People with sugar, diabetes, Asthma and other related disease are risked doing this high-altitude trekking. Even normal people are severely affected by the high altitude.
Nausea, Vomiting, Headache, Less appetite, Dizziness, diarrhea, and dehydration are the main symptoms of high altitude sickness.
Prevention for high altitude sickness is not that hard. Drinking a lot of water, taking good rest in the tea house, choosing food wisely, avoiding alcohol and cigarette, and in the last situation taking the medicines such as Diamox will help you get better with the high altitude.
No, in most cases you won’t need oxygen during Manaslu trekking. In case you need Oxygen during this Trek, there will be oxygen in the tea house.
Children can do this trip as long as they do not have any medical conditions. For pregnant women, it is not recommended to do this trip.
As it is stated earlier monsoon and winter are not good reasons to do this trip but if you still insist then we recommend Winter over monsoon.
In winter you need to put on a lot of clothes, gears are very much necessary.
In Monsoon if you are doing Manaslu Circuit Trek then we do recommend bringing rain gear.