19-Day Manasalu Circuit Trek

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Today, you'll spend a day exploring Kathmandu including a drive to several UNESCO World Heritage sites by private car, including Kathmandu Durbar Square and Swoyambhu Nath stupa. In the late afternoon and evening, you'll be free to do whatever you wish.

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Today, you'll trek from Arughat to Soti Khola (710 metres) which takes 5-6 hours. After completing all the paperwork in Arughat (the starting point for most trekkers), the trek begins after breakfast. The initial terrain of the circuit is a flat, easy ground, which is followed by crossing a river than a steep flight of stone steps clinging to a hill. Once you reach Soti Khola, you'll check into a hotel and stay overnight.

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Today, you'll trek from Soti Khola to Machcha Khola (900 metres) which takes 6-7 hours. You pass through beautiful Sal forests before crossing a ridge above huge rapids on the Budhi Gandaki to reach Khursane. The rocky trail then weaves up and down, past two tropical waterfalls on a steep rocky trail clinging to the side of a cliff. The rocky trail then weaves up and down and once you pass through the rice terraces, you'll reach the Machha-Khola village where you'll spend the night.

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Today, you'll trek from Machchha Khola to Jagat (1410 metres) which takes 6-7 hours. After some steep ascents and descents, walking past tobacco and buckwheat fields, across handmade wooden bridges through edgy landslide areas, you'll reach Tatopani. Taking a suspension bridge to the right side of the river, you'll reach Doban. To reach the village of Jagat from there, you have to cross to the west bank of Budhi Gandaki, climb over a ridge and trek across the river.

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Today, you'll trek from Jagat to Deng (1804 metres) which takes 6-7 hours. You'll resume hiking to Sirdibas. Another short walk takes you to the longest suspension bridge of the trek and on the other side is the Gurung village of Philim. The trail then turns north and stays in level as it traverses millet fields to Ekle Bhatti. Then the route enters a steep uninhabited gorge to an intersection where the Tsum-valley trek and Manaslu trek meet.

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Today, you'll trek from Deng to Ghap (2165 metres) which takes 3-4 hours. After crossing another suspension bridge at Deng, you take a steep path with handmade wooden steps and curvy slopes that take you to the windy Bhiri Phedi. After a few hours walk, the path bends slightly to left towards Ghap. You can make a side trip to visit the Tibetan Gompas in Prok and then stay overnight at Ghap.

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The trail follows the river upstream through a dense forest. Then, you cross the river you have a pleasant climb till you reach a steep ascent to reach Namru. You get to see the Himal Chuli peak from here and again moving steadily in the shade of a forest, you reach Lchorihi, a village with many chortens, mani walls and barley terraces. The trail drops further, crosses the side valley of the Simnang himal and after climbing a steep slope you reach Lho with houses that are lined up on a ridge.

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Today, you'll trek from Lho to Samagaon which takes 5-5 hours. From Lho, you'll follow a small tributary in the shady fir forest. After a short climb to a plateau, you reach the Shyala village surrounded by Himal Chuli, peak 29 and Manaslu and glaciers straight ahead. From Shyalal, the valley opens up to a wide area with the view of Samagaon at the foot of the Manaslu Mountain. The final walk across the plains is easy and you reach the remote village of Samagaon with about 1000 inhabitants.

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You'll spend the day at Samagoan for acclimatisation. You can walk to Pungyen Gompa, a renowned monastery from where you can enjoy the great views of the glacier. You'll spend the day exploring and immersing oneself into the daily lifestyle of the village.

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Trek from Samagaon to Samdo (3860 metres) which takes 4-5 hours. After descending the Budhi Gandaki, the trail leads to the Manaslu Base camp. The Larkya pass consists of many mani walls as the valley begins to widen. The trail is an easy one on the shelf above the river passing through juniper and birch forests of Kermo Kherka. Once you cross the wooden bridge and climb onto a steep promontory, there is a stone arch with the view of a Kani. You reach Sambo after crossing the Kani.

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Trek from Samdo to Dharmashala (4460 metres) which takes 4-5 hours. As you continue your walk down the edge, cross the wooden bridge over Budhi Gandaki and walk upwards to cross two streams, you can witness the Larkya Glacier. Once you go around the valley of Salka Khola and climb up again, you come to a stone guest house which is actually a shelter called Dharmashala, also known as Larkya Phedi. You'll camp here to rest and prepare for the next day’s crossing of the famous Larkya Pass.

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Today, you'll trek from Dharmashala to Larkya la (5100 metres) and Bimthang (3720 metres) which takes 8-9 hours. After a short climb, you reach the ablation valley on the north side of the Larkya Glacier where you can see the Cho Danda and Larkya Peak. Finally, you walk across the moraines of the glacier, making a gradual ascent which becomes steeper towards the last section of the pass. From the pass, one can enjoy the outstanding views of the huge Annapurna II.

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Today, you'll descend the valley of the Burdin Khola as you cross the high pasture. You cross the bridge over the Dudh Khola while entering a pristine forest of pine and rhododendron. You follow a trail through a narrow valley to the Karche as you pass the fields making a steep climb over the ridge to the river bank. After a short while, you'll reach a tiny village of Gho to spend the night.

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You'll start from Gho to Dharapani passing through the village of Tilije along the stone-paved village. You cross the Dudh Khola walking along the river bank until you again pass over the wooden bridge to the northern side of the river. You pass a chorten-shaped arch and Mani Wall to the village of Thonje and continue towards Dharapani where you will rest for a night.

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Today, you descend to the Marsyandi River and cross the suspension bridge to climb away from the river. You hike through a broad, flat valley to the village of Tal (1,675 metres), situated at the foot of a great waterfall. The trail continues as you recross the river once again at Chyamje and descends through forests of rhododendron and pine to finally reach Syange to spend the night.

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The trail gets much wider and easier as lodges, inns and Tibetan houses become more common. You cross the Marsyangdi River as you walk towards the west side of the Syange. You walk through cultivated fields, passing Chhetri and Gurung villages en route before tackling a sheepish climb to Bahundanda. You descend towards the Marsyangdi River and follow the eastern flank of the river before ending your last day of the trek at Bhulbhule.

You'll take a 7 to 8-hour long exciting drive to Kathmandu along the banks of the Marsyangdi and Trishuli rivers. You'll enjoy the splendid views of green hills, mountains, farming terraces and villages as you drive back to Kathmandu. Once settled, you'll stroll around the city to explore it one last time before you leave. In the evening, you'll go for a farewell dinner.