MANASLU CIRCUIT TREK 10 DAYS
MANASLU CIRCUIT TREK 10 DAYS
Are you looking for a remote and unspoiled off-the-beaten-track trek? The Manaslu trek maybe just the one. It is physically tougher than other treks as you trek for up to 8 hours a day. No pain – no gain as the saying goes! This trek compensates for the hard slog by rewarding you with spectacular scenery as you trek through high alpine passes while being surrounded by massive snow-covered peaks, with Manaslu (world’s 8th highest) at the center towering 8163 meters into the heavens. The Manaslu trek is considered a physically harder trek than the Annapurna Base Camp and Everest Base Camp treks.
You will follow a trail via the highest point on the trek, Larkya La Pass (5,106m). You will pass glaciers and be surprised at how close some of these giant peaks appear to you on the trail. Mountains, such as Mt. Himalchuli (7,893m), Mt. Ganesh Himal (7,422m), and Mt. Manaslu (8,163m) appear right in front of your eyes and look to be within throwing distance. In preparation for the higher altitudes we will spend several days of acclimatization at lower altitudes.
The appeal of the Manaslu trek is due to it being “off the beaten track”, and its unspoiled scenery, culturally rich villages, biological diversity, and out-of-the-way lodges/guesthouses. You will come across both Hindu and Tibetan-style Buddhist villages with their distinctive architectural styles and cultures.
The hard slog begins at Soti Khola and ends at Besisahar with the trail snaking its way through Budhi Gandaki Valley, across rivers, to the Pungen Glacier and onward to the ancient Tibetan settlement at Lho.
This trek will leave you captivated and spiritually enriched from visits to various Tibetan Buddhist and Hindu villages. You don’t have to have a super-human level of fitness to attempt this trek, but some prior training and a good level of fitness will make it that much easier. Manaslu, meaning “Mountain of the Spirit” is waiting for you. This is 10 days of absolute bliss!
You can also choose to combine the Manaslu Circuit with a side trip to the isolated Tsum Valley, where time seems to have stood-still and century-old Tibetan traditions still exist.
Sherpa Expedition & Trekking will take care of all permits, meals and accommodation on the trek.
ITINERARY
Day 1 : Drive from Kathmandu to Soti Khola (710m/2328ft) Duration: 7-8 hours.
At around 5:30 am your guide will pick you up from your hotel. We will then have an 8-hour road trip to Soti Khola. The first four hours are on sealed roads, but from Dhading Bensi (1050m) the road is unsealed and a little rough as it heads to Arughat and Soti Khola, the district headquarters of Dhading district.
Day 2 : Trek from Soti Khola to Machha Khola (900m/2952ft) Duration: 5-6 hours.
This morning we hit the trail and pass through the woods and head upriver along the banks of the Budhi Gandaki River, and then descend to the riverbed and follow a trail across the mountains with numerous views down to the river below.
Day 3 : Trek from Machha Khola to Jagat (1340m/4395ft) Duration: 6-7 hours.
Along the trail today we come to and cross the Machha Khola River and pass Khorlabesi (920m) before arriving at Tatopani, famous for its hot springs. We then head through a forested area as we make our way to the Dovan Khola (river) and into the Budhi Gandaki Valley. As we trek to higher altitudes you will notice a change in the vegetation right up until we come to Jagat Village.
Day 4 : Trek from Jagat to Deng (2095m/6871ft) Duration: 6-7 hours.
This morning we follow the trail through the valley to Sirdibas Village where we have a grand view of Shringi Himal. After crossing a suspension bridge we have a steep ascent to Philim, with numerous waterfalls cascading down on either side of the valley. The next village we come to is Ekle Bhatti and then to Pewa Village. We continue on this trail until we come out of the valley and arrive at Deng Village.
Day 5 : Trek from Deng to Namrung (2900m/9512ft) Duration: 5-6 hours.
This morning we give the lungs a workout on a steep ascent before we head back down to the Budi Gandaki River. We then follow the trail and pass through the valley and several small settlements. As we get closer to Namrung Village you will notice the many Mani stones (stones with carved with Tibetan mantras) a hint that we are getting further into Tibetan territory. This afternoon we will take a short detour to Prok village (2 hour round trip) and then return to Namrung.
Day 6 : Trek from Namrung to Samagaun (3500m/11480ft) Duration: 5-7 hours.
You may feel that we have time-traveled to the past as we walk between the Mani stone walls of Lho Village. From Lho we can see the snow-covered peak of Ngadi Chuli (7871m aka Peak 29). We will take a short detour to the Pungen Glacier for a close-up view of Mt. Manaslu.
Day 7 : Trek from Samagaun to Samdo (3690m/12103ft) Duration: 4-5 hours.
This morning we head across the yak and cattle pastures before descending to the valley below, while having some grand views of the surrounding peaks, particularly Manaslu. The trail continues and we come to the remote Tibetan refugee village of Samdo, very close to the Nepal/Tibetan border. The afternoon is free for you to wander around the village and adjacent hills.
Day 8 : Trek from Samdo to Bimthang (3720m/12, 201 ft) Duration: 9-11 hours.
Today we head to Larkya La Pass (5106m), the highest point on the trek. At the pass, you can take in the views of Larkya peak, Mt. Manaslu, Ratna Chuli, Cheo Himal and other snow-covered Himalayan peaks. From the pass, we have a steep descent along a fairly rugged trail and pass an iced-over lake. As expected, it is much colder at this high altitude. We then continue along the trail until we arrive at Bhimthang.
Day 9 : Trek from Bimthang to Dharapani (1860m ) Duration: 6-7 hours.
Today we head downhill across a large pasture and then cross the suspension bridge over Dudh Khola and then through rhododendron and oak forests. In springtime, the rhododendron forest is alive with white, pink and red blossoms. We have a long trek of about 6 to 7 hours before we reach Dharapani in the Annapurna region. At this point the trail intersects with the Annapurna trail and if you wish you can extend your trek to include the Annapurna trek. We finally arrive at Dharapani.
Day 10 : Drive from Dharapani to Kathmandu (1400 m) Duration: 6-7 hours.
This morning we will have a long road trip to Kathmandu. By public bus, it will take around 8-9 hours, but if we choose a jeep it will shorten the trip to 6 to 7 hours. The drive to Kathmandu will take you through the lush green hills and past terraced farmlands. You will also have some pretty good mountain views. On arrival at Kathmandu, we will take you to your hotels in Thamel .
SERVICES
Costs Include:
- Transportation from Kathmandu to Arughat to Soti Khola By Public Bus and from Dharapani to Besisahar by Sharing Jeep & Besisahar to Kathmandu via public bus.
- All standard meals 3 meals a day (lunch, dinners & breakfast) during the trek.
- Best possible teahouses, lodge accommodation (generally twin share rooms)- during the trek
- Government licensed holder English speaking trek leader (10 or more trekkers an assistant guide) and porter to help carry your luggage.
- Strong, helpful Sherpa porters with proper safety equipment and walking equipment, his salary, food, accommodation, and insurance (one porter for two people).
- Guides and porters provided by Sherpa Trekking & Expeditions, including their meals, insurance, salary, lodging, transportation, and other necessary equipment
- Manaslu special permit to travel within the Conservation Area and Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) fees
- All government, local taxes, and official expenses
- Assistance in arranging rescue operations in case of complicated health conditions such as altitude sickness (funded by travel insurance)
- Sherpa Expedition and Trekking T-shirt
- Use of sleeping bag, down jacket, duffel bag, and walking poles (if you don’t have your own, to be returned after the trip is completed).
- Sherpa Expedition and Trekking’s certificate of appreciation & completion after the successful trek
- Oxygen meter to check your pulse and oxygen saturation and heart rate twice daily (Very useful to check Altitude Mountain Sickness(AMS) symptoms) which will ensure your health during the trek.
- Assistant guide for groups of 8 or more people
Costs Exclude
- Meals whilst you are in Kathmandu - lunch, and dinner.
- Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu
- Nepal entry visa fee (easy to obtain the visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport – Kathmandu). $30 USD for 15-day, $50 USD for 30 Days, and $125 USD for 90 Days visa.
- Personal travel and medical insurance.
- International airfare.
- Your personal expenses.
- All the alcoholic and nonalcoholic, soup, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, cocoa, mineral water, extra food, cold and hot drinks on trek ( i.e. those you choose to purchase along the way and during evenings in the tea houses)
- All desserts & sweet things like chocolate, cake, pie, pudding.
- Hot shower and battery charging at the tea houses.
- Tips for the guide, porter, and driver (tipping is expected)
- NOTE: If you return earlier from the trek due to sickness or any problem, the money you paid for the flight, hotel, mountain room, food, etc. is nonrefundable, and you will need to bear the expenses for the hotel, food, etc. in Kathmandu yourself.
EQUIPMENTS
The following information will give you some idea about what you need to bring for the trek. It is important you do not forget the essential items, as this will determine your comfort and safety on the trek. Equally important is that you do not burden yourself with unnecessary equipment on the trek.
General
- All season sleeping bag and down Jacket (we can provide if you need it, but has to be returned after the trek)
- Duffle bag ( Sherpa Expedition & Trekking provide duffle bag during the trek but has to be returned after the trek)
- A wind and waterproof thin layered jacket (a must-have for morning and evenings above 3,000m)
- Daypack
Upper Body- Head / Ears / Eyewear
- A pair of half gloves
- A warmer hat that covers the ears
- Sunglasses
- Neckwarmer
- Sunscreen (35 to 60 SPF)
- Headlamp and an extra set of batteries
Hands
- A pair of half gloves for walking poles(if you prefer)
- Warmer shell gloves and liner
Upper Body
- long sleeve t-shirts
- Thermal tops
- wool jacket or pullover
- Sports bras for women and girls
- Water and windproof shell jacket
Lower Body
- Thermal underwear (especially trousers)
- windproof and waterproof trousers
- warmer trousers
- Comfortable trekking pants
- Extra casual sport pants
Footwear
- A pair of good waterproof trekking boots
- Pair of sandals
- 4-5 pairs of woolen socks
- Sock liners
- Light shoes and sneakers
- First Aid Kits and Medicines
- Assorted adhesive bandages (fabric preferred)
- Blister treatment cream or similar
- Insect / anti-itch ointment
- Ibuprofen or other pain-relief medication
- Diamox (125mg to 250mg tablets for altitude sickness)
- Warps, splints, and wound coverings butterfly bandage
- Water purifying pills
(Note our company guide will carry the medicines and first aid kits during the trek. However, we recommend you bring your personal first-aid kit as well)
Miscellaneous - but must useful on the trek
- 4 passport size photos with original passport
- Water bottle & filter
- Flight details (please make a copy and leave one pic at our office in KTM because in case you want to change your flight date)
- Bathroom kit (conform, should be included toilet paper, plastic bags, hand wipes, towel, and soap, etc.)
Extra things
- Comfortable trekking poles
- Quality energy dry foods (up to you)
- Power bank and music players
- Camera (memory card, chargers, and extra batteries)
GOOD TO KNOW
Accommodation
You will be accommodated in 3-star hotels in Kathmandu. During the trek, we will be staying at lodges/ teahouses. You may find comfortable and better quality teahouses at lower altitudes. It should be noted that at higher elevations the quality of accommodation may not be as good, with more basic rooms with the bare necessities.
Meals during the trek
In Kathmandu, your hotel includes breakfast, whereas all meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) will be provided during the trek. A staple food in the mountainous regions is potatoes, oats, buckwheat, Sherpa stew and Tibetan bread. Sherpa’s’ started farming potatoes when the first seeds were introduced to the region in the early 90s. There is a limited choice of food at higher elevations and except many potato dishes. Potatoes are high in carbohydrates – an excellent source of energy needed at high altitudes.
Physical fitness
Some days can be challenging where you often have to walk 6-8 hours a day. You don’t need past experience of hiking or trekking but if you have done any kind of trekking activities then it is always a plus! We have met people from all walks of life, shapes, and sizes who have completed the trek. The only difficult part is when altitude sickness strikes and the effect that it can have on your body. Before leaving for Nepal it is good if you can prepare yourself physically by increasing your stamina and oxygen intake.
Best season to travel
The Manaslu Circuit Trek is usually done in autumn (Sept. to November) and spring (March to May) when you are much more likely to get to have crystal clear views of the mountains and can also enjoy the lush vegetation in the lower regions of the trail - particularly during spring..
Remember – The better prepared – the more enjoyable your trek!
Transportation
We use a private car for sightseeing and for the airport to hotel pick and drop off. We take the bus from Bensisahar to Kathmandu. In the past Aarughat used to be the starting point of the trek but nowadays, due to better road conditions we can travel by bus direct to the Soti Khola. We will travel along secondary (rough) roads all the way to Soti Khola by local bus and from Dharapani to Besishahar we will be traveling by private jeep
Guide and Porter on the trek
We provide you trained & certified trekking guides and porters who will take care of all logistics and a porter for every two trekkers who will each carry about 20 kg ( 10 kg for each trekker). An experienced guide and porter will be the difference between success and failure. They will also save you from taking unnecessary risks during poor weather conditions.
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FAQS
What is the Manaslu Circuit Trek?
The Manaslu Circuit Trek is a popular trekking route in Nepal that takes you around the majestic Mount Manaslu, the eighth highest mountain in the world. It is a remote and challenging trek, offering stunning mountain views, diverse landscapes, and a unique cultural experience.
How long does the trek take?
The Manaslu Circuit Trek typically takes around 9 to 16 days to complete, depending on the itinerary and the pace of the trekker. This duration includes acclimatization days and allows for a more enjoyable and safe trekking experience.
Is a special permit required for the trek?
Yes, a special trekking permit and a restricted area permit are required for the Manaslu Circuit Trek. These permits are obtained through a registered trekking agency, and you must be accompanied by a licensed guide.
What is the level of difficulty?
The Manaslu Circuit Trek is considered a moderately difficult trek. It involves long and steep ascents and descents, high altitudes, and rugged terrain. Previous trekking experience and a good level of physical fitness are recommended.
What are the highlights of the trek?
The highlights of the Manaslu Circuit Trek include breathtaking views of Mount Manaslu and other snow-capped peaks, crossing the challenging Larkya La Pass, exploring remote villages, experiencing the rich local culture of the ethnic communities, and encountering diverse flora and fauna.
When is the best time to do the trek?
The best time to do the Manaslu Circuit Trek is during the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) seasons. These months offer stable weather, clear skies, and favorable trekking conditions.
Are tea houses available along the trekking route?
Yes, there are tea houses available along the Manaslu Circuit Trek route. However, the infrastructure is less developed compared to other popular trekking regions in Nepal. It is recommended to carry some cash and be prepared for basic facilities.
Is a guide necessary for the trek?
Yes, hiring a licensed guide is mandatory for the Manaslu Circuit Trek. It ensures your safety, helps with navigation, provides cultural insights, and supports the local economy.
Latest Traveller’s Reviews
Travel experiences of our clients who recently returned from their trips.
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Based On 14 Reviews
Kayden
Italy
January 1, 2024
A wonderful Manaslu Trekking
This trekking gives you a perfect mixture of rural Nepalese life, Tibetan culture and spectacular mountain views. An absolute must for real trekkers.
Vincent
Australia
December 14, 2023
Great Trek
Great experience. If you don’t mind somewhat basic lodging conditions, you'll not be disappointed. Landscapes are so dramatic, with beautiful little villages and fewer trekkers. Do it before it becomes too popular!
Rylee
Australia
December 4, 2023
A PERFECT TREKKING AROUND THE MANASLU
It was a completely sorted-out trekking with extraordinary lodges. Kind guides. Also, most significantly we were extremely happy that we had two guides. The view and nature are actually incredibly great. Beyond imagination. It is more than worth it, despite all the trouble. Trek along and Change your Life.
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