Tour Overview

Trip Code
DE-0011
Starting Point
Kathmandu
End Point
Kathmandu
Max Altitude
5,106m / 16,752ft
Duration
18 Days
Country
Nepal
Trip Grade
Demanding
Activities
Trekking
Best Season
Spring and Autumn

Mount Manaslu is also known as the mountain of spirit due to the spiritual belief that lies within the mountain. It is the eighth-highest peak in the world, with a height of 8,163 meters above sea level. Trekking this stunning mountain is very popular among trekkers and people who wish to fulfil their spiritual journey by visiting the mountain of spirit. Here, we shall talk about the Manaslu Circuit Trek. It is a 18-day trek that covers the entire Manaslu, and you get to fully experience the beautiful views of the mountain while learning and experiencing new culture and food. This is normally a 14-day trek that is extended to 18 so that you don’t have to rush through anything, and you can take your time and enjoy your trek. The detailed itinerary of the trek will be discussed shortly. So, continue reading to find out more about Manaslu Circuit Trek.

Let us discuss the details of this trek.

Details

Manaslu circuit trek is considered comparatively less crowded than popular treks like Annapurna base camp and Everest base camp. This trek is an alternative to those treks, and the reason it is less crowded is not just due to its popularity but also due to permit issues. It is a restricted area in the Gorkha district of Nepal, making it an off-the-beaten-path experience that requires a special permit. This trek gives you the opportunity to experience the diverse local culture and traditions of the region with mesmerizing sceneries and snow peaks of the Manaslu Himalayan range. One of the best parts of this trek is you get to climb the Larkye La pass (5,106 meters) above sea level.

The Manaslu Circuit trek by Destiny Excursion starts and ends in Kathmandu. It is a challenging trek that is suitable mostly for Spring and Autumn since the weather conditions are not harsh during these times. We shall discuss the highlights of this trek, but before that, let us put this information in a table to help you understand it better.

But before we dive in, let’s quickly break down the key trek details in a simple table.

Max-altitude 5,106 m
Location Gorkha, Nepal
Transportation Drive to Sotikhola
Starts in Kathmandu
Ends in Kathmandu
Difficulty Grade Demanding
Duration 18 Days
Best Season Spring and Autumn

Tour Highlights

  • Experience local diverse cultures along the trails
  • Visit multi-ethnic villages nearby
  • View of roaring rivers, waterfalls and suspension bridges
  • Off the beaten path trekking
  • Buddhist monasteries, chhortens and mane walls
  • Journey over the Larkye La high pass (5,106 meters)
  • Witness the stunning Mount Manaslu (8,163 meters) up close

Points of Attraction

Itinerary

Elevation: 1,400m

Welcome to the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu! Upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, our representative will be waiting for you to welcome you and transfer you to the hotel. After check-in, spend the remainder of the day relaxing, refreshing, and unwinding after your trip. Whether you prefer to stay in your room or enjoy a night walk around the neighborhood, the evening is yours to do as you like.

Overnight: Hotel in Kathmandu

Meals: Welcome Dinner

Elevation: 1,400m

After breakfast at the hotel, your trek guide will visit you for a briefing and help you get ready for the trek ahead. They provide information about various aspects of trekking, such as trek itinerary, safety measures, expected weather, and necessary permits. After getting information about the required permits, you head out and get them from the Nepal Tourism Board. Depending on the circumstances, the process only takes around one to two hours, given that there are no major complications. Later, you will have dinner at a nice local restaurant to end the day comfortably.

Overnight: Hotel in Kathmandu

Meals: Breakfast

Elevation: 869m

Your adventure begins today officially with a drive of 8-9 hours from Kathmandu to Machhakhola on Prithvi Highway. The drive is through scenic valley rivers including Budi Gandaki. The road is a bit rough after Soti Khola to Machhakhola and takes 1.5-2 hours out of the total drive. After crossing Salyantar, the route offers stunning views of the Ganesh Himal range.

Overnight: Tea house

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Elevation: 1,600m

We begin the day following breakfast with a jeep ride to Nagjet village. The ride is about 3 to 4 hours and offers excellent scenery in terms of hills, rivers, and small mountain villages along the way. During the ride, we take a short halt at Jagat village, where we need to register and get the special permit to visit Manaslu Rural Municipality. Our trekking begins officially upon arrival in Nagjet. We start with a short and easy 1-hour walk to Philim village. We also eat lunch and relax here for a while. After lunch, we walk for 45 minutes to 1 hour more on quiet forest paths and peaceful scenery to reach Ekle Bhatti.

Overnight: Tea house

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Elevation: 2,130m

Today’s trek is of medium distance and takes about 6 hours. From Ekle Bhatti, following breakfast, we continue on a scenic trail through fine pine forests and cross a series of suspension bridges over the rivers flowing down below. After about two hours of hiking, we reach the peaceful village of Deng for lunch and a short rest, a good place to soak in the natural beauty of the region surrounding Manaslu. Then we ride for another 3 hours on forest roads and countryside villages with some small ups and downs. We arrive at Bihi Gaun, a small but stunning village by the late afternoon and overnight there. You can relax, take a short stroll, or simply appreciate the peaceful mountain atmosphere.

Overnight: Tea house

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Elevation: 2,630m

We start the day by walking a short 15 minutes from Bihi Gaun to one of the longest and most recent suspension bridges in the Manaslu region, about 180 meters long. Walking across the bridge is an adventure, with good scenery of the river valley below. We walk for 2 to 3 hours past the bridge through peaceful woods and villages, enjoying the mountain breeze and sounds of nature. We reach the village of Ghap, where we take lunch and rest briefly. Then the path heads upward and may seem a bit more challenging, but it is quite beautiful. Finally, we arrive at Namrung, a lovely village renowned for its apple orchards. You may, if you wish, savor fresh apples, juice, or even a homemade piece of apple pie.

Overnight: Tea house

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Elevation: 3,100m

After breakfast, we begin our 4 to 5-hour trek to Hinang Gumba. The trek initially goes through the tiny village of Lhi Gaun, whose new monastery is beautiful. It’s a peaceful stop with great views. Upon trekking uphill for about 2 hours from Lhi Gaun, we reach Hinang Gumba. This is peaceful and calm, perfect for meditation. Locals from surrounding villages often come here for religious retreats. There are two monasteries here, one in working and the other in construction. We can also witness the Himal Chuli (7,893m) from here.

Overnight: Tea house

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Elevation: 3,500m

After breakfast, we start our journey to Shyala village. We trek for a few hours and have lunch at Lho Gaun (3,180m). You can see Mount Manaslu, the 8th highest mountain in the world (8,163m), from here in great view. The trail from Lho Gaun to Shyala is surrounded by beautiful rhododendron forests, especially in the flowering season. The hike today takes a total of 5 hours.

Overnight: Tea house

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Elevation: 3,550m

Today’s trek is a bit longer compared to the days we had prior. Even though Samagaon is not that far from Shyala, we venture a little off course to visit Pung Gyen Gompa. The whole hike will take approximately 6 to 7 hours. You will enjoy the spectacular scenery of mountains and glaciers at Pung Gyen Gompa. You have a look at Pung Gyen Glacier, Manaslu Glacier, Mount Manaslu (8,163m), Himal Chuli (7,893m), Mt. Ngadi Chuli (7,871m), and other peaks of the Gurkha Massif. There is just one tea shop where you can enjoy tea and soup during the trekking season, but it’s better to enjoy a packed lunch from Shyala as the day will be long.

Overnight: Tea house

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Elevation: 3,550m

Today is a rest day to help your body adjust to the higher altitude. Spending a few days at a lower altitude will help prevent altitude sickness. You can take it easy by relaxing or choose a short hike in the area. Many people choose to visit Sama Monastery, which is a quiet place that reflects the local culture. For a quick hike, you can walk to Birendra Lake and enjoy the scenery and clean mountain air. Anyone looking for a more challenging hike can visit Manaslu Base Camp. You will be walking for about 8 to 9 hours during this hike. Since there are no tea houses, remember to bring a packed lunch from Samagaon.

Overnight: Tea house

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Elevation: 3,875m

Today’s hike will take around 3 to 4 hours as we go uphill through the forests and follow the sound of the river. Along your journey, you will pass by a Tibetan mani wall, which is a stone wall decorated with prayers and carvings. The higher we go, the more impressive and lovely the Himalayas look. The Samdo Ri peak is visible just near the Samdo village. Upon reaching the village, we will stop for lunch and spend the rest of the day relaxing and enjoying the calm mountain air.

Overnight: Tea house

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Elevation: 4,460m

We are going to spend a few hours today hiking uphill while admiring beautiful glaciers and taking in the wonderful views. After reaching Dharmashala, we will have a nice lunch and enjoy the beautiful surroundings for a while. Since the air is thin and cold at this height, you should bundle up, drink lots of hot fluids, and relax this afternoon. Later in the day, we will hold a briefing to go over the Larkya Pass crossing, and then we will eat dinner early to get enough rest.

Overnight: Tea house

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Elevation: 3,590m

Today is both an exciting and tough day for us on the trek. We have an early breakfast and then climb for a short distance to the valley just north of the Larkya Glaciers. Here, we can enjoy the beautiful sights of Cho Danda and Larkya Peak. We keep following the path across the glacier and the climb gradually gets steeper as we get near Larkya La Pass. It takes about 3 hours to hike to the peak of the pass which is 5,106 meters above sea level. The views from up there are truly amazing. Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kangguru and Annapurna II will be visible all around you. If you are fortunate, you could see footprints of snow leopards, blue sheep or Tibetan snow cocks while on the trail. After enjoying the views, we make our way down to Bimthang which will take several more hours. Today’s trek covers about 7-8 hours of walking, so it’s a long but memorable day for us.

Overnight: Tea house

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Elevation: 2,300m

We begin the day with steaming hot tea and breakfast, and start going downhill on foot along quiet forested slopes and river valleys. The Bimthang to Tilije trek is picturesque, through forests of all kinds of flora and vegetation, including rhododendron bushes and thorny wild sea buckthorn with orange-colored fruit. After a couple of hours of trekking, we take lunch at the secluded village of Suti Khola, where you can relax and relish nature. From there, we continue along the river downstream through small villages and a trail in the forests. After a cumulative 5 to 6 hours of trekking, we finally arrive at Tilije, an original and quaint Gurung village famous for its friendly people and traditional highland culture.

Overnight: Tea house

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Elevation: 760m

We begin our descent back to a lower elevation after breakfast. There is a jeep waiting for us below Tilije and will take us to Besisahar, the district headquarters of Lamjung. The drive is scenic and approximately 3 hours, traversing a hilly landscape, terraced farms, and villages. Once we reach Besisahar, we will get into our hotel, refresh ourselves, and have lunch. The rest of the day is otherwise yours to laze around after the trek, explore the town if you wish, or simply rest and enjoy the better climate at a lower altitude.

Overnight: Tea house

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Elevation: 1,400m

After breakfast at the hotel, we have our belongings packed and say goodbye to the local crew who accompanied us throughout the journey. We then begin our drive back to Kathmandu. The trip takes about 6 to 7 hours, driving along the Prithvi Highway with picturesque rivers, terraced hills, and rural villages. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, we check into our hotel and you can spend the remainder of the day relaxing, showering, or exploring the city one last time. It’s a good chance to enjoy a farewell Nepali dinner or last-minute souvenir shopping before departure.

Overnight: Hotel in Kathmandu

Meals: Breakfast

Elevation: 1,400m

This is your last full day in Kathmandu, so enjoy it to the fullest. It’s all about relaxing, and as the title of this day suggests, you can do pretty much anything you want to relax, such as visiting a spa, strolling down the alleys, or simply relaxing in your hotel room. At night, you take a hearty farewell meal and head to bed, replaying the wonderful memory of the trek in your mind.

Overnight: Hotel in Kathmandu

Meals: Breakfast

Elevation: 1,400m

It is the final day of your Manaslu Circuit Trek journey. This day is about going back home and getting back into your routine after a mind-cleansing, nature-connecting experience at Manaslu with Destiny Excursion. Pack your bags, and our team shall drop you off at the airport, depending on your flight schedule, delays and destination. You leave Nepal with an amazing trekking experience along with the new culture and food you experience along the way.

Overnight:

Meals: Breakfast

Trek Route

What's included

  • Welcome dinner on the first evening
  • Hotel accommodation in cities on bed and breakfast basis
  • Tea house or lodge accommodation during trekking
  • Daily meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) on the trail
  • Domestic flights for clients and crew
  • Private vehicles for transfers and travel routes
  • Experienced licensed trekking guide and porters with meals, flights, accommodation, and insurance
  • All permits, conservation area fees, and national park entry passes
  • Group medical kit for emergencies
  • Single room supplement if required

What's excluded

  • International airfare, Nepal visa, airport taxes, and excess baggage fees
  • Comprehensive insurance policy
  • Extra activities or services not in the package itinerary
  • Personal trekking gear and clothing
  • Personal expenses (beverages, snacks, laundry)
  • Lodge fees for hot water, Wi-Fi, or charging
  • Tips or donations to guides, drivers, and porters
  • Unforeseen costs from flight cancellations, weather issues, or natural calamities

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Starting From:

US$2106

No. of peoplePrice per person
1 Pax$ 3276
2-3 Pax$ 2106
4-5 Pax$ 1961
6-7 Pax$ 1946
8-9 Pax$ 1826
10 Pax$ 1822

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