Manaslu Circuit Trek

Trip Overview

Welcome to the trail with a thousand waterfalls! Well, too many to count, at least. Quietly nestled away in central Nepal along the Tibetan border, between two of Nepal’s more popular national parks is the protected Manaslu Conservation Area, home to the world’s 8th highest peak, Mt Manaslu (8,163m). Despite being situated above Nepal’s most historic city, Gorkha (origins of Nepal’s first king) and being home to its namesake Himalayan giant, Manaslu, few know the secret beauty of this region therefore it is only beginning to gain popularity for trekkers.

Unlike other more popular trails in Nepal, this trail begins close to sea level in a subtropical climate at 530m! We follow the Budhi Gandaki river upstream into Upper Manaslu via a deep and narrow gorge trail with countless cascading waterfalls that feed into the river in summer and autumn. The trail meanders through traditional Gurung farming villages and dense forests on both sides of the river, so we will cross suspension bridges on the way. As you trek on a warm day, you will be tempted to cool off under an invigorating waterfall, and then just keep on trekking – a magical experience.

We steadily climb into low and high alpine climates, to lands inhabited by Bhotia people (Tibetan descendants). In Sama gaon we take an extra day to acclimatise and explore Pung Gyen monastery or, for those feeling energetic, a day trek to the base camp of Mt Manaslu and a beautiful glacier lake.

We will then make a long traverse of Larkya La pass (5,106m) from which you will enjoy a panoramic vista including Manaslu, Cheo and Himlung. Over the pass, we walk out through the Marshandgi valley, following the Dudh river, now in the Annapurna Conservation Area in Manang, and through Magar villages.

The significant altitude range involved in this trek requires a good level of fitness. Some days include long steep ascents and descents. Prior trekking experience is recommended to join this trip. You won’t be disappointed. This trip is truly magical. Get your friends together and let us know your preferred dates, or join our scheduled departure, and we can make it happen.

Why join with Expedition Base?

Our goal is to ensure you have the best trip possible with our highly skilled and knowledgeable trekking guides, with a personable team, and with quality services. We do our best to ensure that your experience is in accordance with or better than your expectations. We want you to go home remembering an adventure of a lifetime with memories you will treasure for life. We have a strong reputation for high quality services and we seek to maintain our reputation with every trip that we do. To help keep our mission strong, we value your feedback at any time. It helps us to be better. When some companies keep you to a strict schedule, when needed and where you have time we work with you to adjust your timing to make your experience better. We are not selling ‘trips’ – we are offering great experiences, cherished memories, and personal challenges for you to value into the future. We provide services that many other companies do not offer – to us, they are a natural part of our service. To others, they can be add-ons at an additional fee, or not available at all. Our food offerings can be adjusted to suit your needs, season and area permitting. We have quality resources and a fun, experienced team. Our gear and equipment is fit for purpose. Our trekking guides are well-trained, experienced in leading trips and look after our clients well. We are pleased to have clients who come with us for their adventures time and again. Let us know what you are looking to experience and we will help to make it happen.

    Trip Highlights

    • Stunning views of Mt Manaslu
    • Beautiful gorge trek through subtropical forests
    • Buddhist culture of Bhotia tribes
    • Traditional farming villages of Gurung and Magar hill tribes
    • Manaslu base camp and Pung Gyen monastery
    • Crossing Larkya La pass

    Trip Facts

    • Price starts from

      USD 2,500

    • Moderate to Challenging Trekking

      Difficulty

      Moderate to Challenging Trekking

    • Duration

      20 Days, 19 Nights

    • Region

      Manaslu

    • Activity

      Trekking

    • Max. Altitude

      5160m

    • Group size

      12

    • Destination

      Nepal

    • Trip Start

      Kathmandu

    • Trip End

      Kathmandu

    Want to make it a private trip ?

    Book this trip as a private departure - for any group, big or small.

    Enquire for a private trip

    Trip Map

    Gallery

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    Difficulty level

    Moderate to Challenging Trekking

    Moderate to Challenging Trekking

    This trip involves medium-challenging trekking days at a slow place, on uneven terrain, with some hills, carrying a backpack weighing around 8-10 kg. Therefore, you want to have a good level of fitness, with cardiovascular exercise and own- body weight type exercises (or similar) at least 3-4 times per week for the period of around 4-6 months before this trip. Training on uneven terrain is recommended.

    Trip Notes

    View the printable version of the short itinerary and detailed trip notes here.

    View Trip Notes

    Detailed Itinerary

    Day 1

    Arrive in Kathmandu

    Day 2

    In Kathmandu

    Day 3

    Drive to Arughat (530m) -6 hrs

    Day 4

    Trek Arughat (530m) to Khursani Bari/Liding (860m) -6 hrs

    Day 5

    Trek Khursani Bari (860m) to Machha Khola (930m) - 6 hrs

    Day 6

    Trek Machha Khola (930m) to Dobhan (1,070m) -5.5 hrs

    Day 7

    Trek Dobhan (1,070m) to Philim (1,570m) -6 hrs

    Day 8

    Trek Philim (1,570m) to Deng (1,860m) -6 hrs

    Day 9

    Trek Deng (1,860m) to Namrung (2,582m) -6 hrs

    Day 10

    Trek Namrung (2,582m) to Sama gaon (3,525m) -6 hr

    Day 11

    Acclimatisation in Sama gaon

    Day 12

    Trek Sama gaon (3,525m) to Samdo (3,860m) -3 hrs

    Day 13

    Trek Samdo (3,860m) to Dharmsala (4,460m) -3.5 hrs

    Day 14

    Trek Dharmsala (4,460m) to Bimthang (3,610m) via Larkya La pass (5,106m) -8 hrs

    Day 15

    Trek Bimthang (3,610m) to Tilje (2,300m) -4.5 hrs

    Day 16

    Trek Tilje (2,300m) to Tal (1,707m) -4 hrs

    Day 17

    Drive Tal to Besisahar -5 hrs

    Day 18

    Drive Besisahar to Kathmandu - 6 hrs and in Kathmandu

    Day 19

    In Kathmandu

    Day 20

    Depart Kathmandu

    Note: Daily walking hours include a lunch break, and regular rest breaks.

    Package Details

    Inclusions

    Trekking permit fees including special permit required for this area, 4 nights in Kathmandu hotel equivalent to Hotel Tibet or Radisson (Lazimpat or similar), experienced trekking guides, team transport in Nepal, teahouse accommodation on trek, extensive high altitude wilderness first aid kit, all meals outside Kathmandu plus breakfast in Kathmandu, porters to carry personal/group equipment on trek, plus receive complimentary trekking duffel. (All accommodation is on a twin share basis - single share can be arranged on request at an additional cost).

    Exclusions

    International flights to and from Kathmandu, lunch and dinners in Kathmandu (allow USD $10- 15 per meal), aerated and alcoholic beverages, personal items (e.g. phone calls, internet, laundry), tips, travel insurance (incl. early departure, evacuation / rescue) and personal trekking gear.

    Meet Our Expert Team

    No matter what the enquiry, our commitment to exceptional service ensures that a helpful and knowledgeable staff member is on hand to assist you whenever the need arises.

    Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa

    Managing Director

    Lakpa Sherpa

    Consultant

    Chhiring Sherpa

    UIAGM / IFMGA Guide

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