Manaslu Circuit Trek

Your Manaslu Circuit Trek begins with your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Our representative will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. After check in, you can rest and recover from your journey while our team completes the necessary preparations for the trek.

Later in the day, there will be a trek briefing covering the route, permits, altitude precautions, equipment and the daily walking schedule. Kathmandu is also the place to make any final preparations before heading into the remote Manaslu region.

Today you leave Kathmandu and travel toward the Manaslu region by road. The journey passes through the changing landscapes of central Nepal, beginning with busy urban areas before following winding mountain roads through hills, rivers, terraced farmland and small settlements.

The road gradually enters the Budhi Gandaki corridor, bringing you closer to the trailhead. Depending on road and traffic conditions, the drive takes most of the day, and the final sections can be rough and uneven. Machha Khola is a small riverside settlement and the starting point for the main trekking section of the circuit.

Distance: Approximately 157 km by road

The first full trekking day follows the Budhi Gandaki River through a constantly changing landscape of narrow valleys, forests, rocky sections and small mountain settlements. The trail crosses suspension bridges and passes through traditional villages while gradually gaining altitude.

You will also reach Tatopani, which is well-known for its hot springs, after passing Khorlabesi (920m) and the Machha River. After that, the trail passes through a wooded area on its approach to the Budhi Gandaki Valley and the Dovan Khola.

You will encounter waterfalls, exposed cliffside paths and sections where the river cuts deeply through the valley. As the route continues north, the surroundings become more rugged and the villages more distinctly Himalayan. Jagat is an important settlement on the Manaslu trail and marks a clear transition into the higher and more restricted sections of the journey.

We travel the trek down the valley to Sirdibas, which offers breathtaking views of the Shringi Himal. The trail continues through the narrow Budhi Gandaki Valley, crossing suspension bridges and moving between forested slopes, waterfalls and steep rock faces.

The route passes through several small settlements and follows sections of the river where the valley becomes noticeably deeper and more dramatic. You have to make a difficult ascent to Philim after crossing a suspension bridge. You then continue up through the valley, passing via Ekle Bhatti and Pewa Village before arriving in Deng Village, where we will spend the night in a guesthouse.

As you gain elevation, the landscape gradually changes and the influence of Tibetan culture becomes more visible. Deng, also known as Dyang, is located in a more remote part of the valley and provides an important overnight stop before the route climbs toward Namrung and the upper Manaslu region.

The trek to Namrung involves a steady climb through increasingly mountainous terrain. The trail follows the Budhi Gandaki through forests and steep-sided valleys, with sections passing beneath impressive cliffs and across traditional suspension bridges.

As the altitude rises, the vegetation changes and the villages begin to show stronger Tibetan influence.  You will return to Namrung for our overnight stay at a teahouse after making a little diversion to Prok hamlet in the afternoon, which will take two hours.

Today the trail enters the high mountain environment of the Nubri Valley. From Namrung, the route climbs through forests and open mountain terrain, passing traditional villages, cultivated fields and stone-built settlements shaped by Tibetan Buddhist culture.

The surrounding peaks become increasingly impressive as the route approaches Lho. On clear days, there are excellent views toward Mount Manaslu at 8,163 m and the surrounding Himalayan range. The snow-covered summit of Ngadi Chuli, also known as summit 29, is visible from Lho.

Lho is one of the most scenic and culturally important villages on the circuit, with its monastery, prayer flags, mani walls and traditional houses providing a strong sense of the region’s Tibetan heritage. The village feels like you are traveling back in time.

The landscape opens dramatically as you continue higher toward Samagaon. The trail passes through forests and alpine meadows before reaching the broader upper Budhi Gandaki Valley, where the views of Manaslu and surrounding peaks become more dominant.

Along the way, you pass through smaller settlements and areas of cultivated land before reaching Samagaon, the largest village in the upper valley. Its traditional stone houses, mani walls and Buddhist structures reflect the strong Tibetan cultural influence of the region. Samagaon is also an important acclimatization stop before continuing toward Samdo and the Larkya La pass.

Today is set aside for acclimatization before the trek moves into higher elevations. Rather than spending the entire day inactive, a gradual hike helps your body adjust to the thinner air while allowing you to explore the remarkable landscape around Samagaon.

Depending on conditions and your guide’s recommendation, you may hike toward Birendra Lake, Pungyen Gompa or Manaslu Base Camp overlooking the Manaslu glacier and surrounding mountains. The exact activity can be adjusted according to weather, fitness and altitude response. The aim is to gain some elevation during the day and return to Samagaon for the night.

Distance: Approximately 5 to 8 km depending on the acclimatization hike

After acclimatization, the trail continues through the upper Budhi Gandaki Valley toward Samdo. The route is shorter today, allowing for a gradual gain in altitude as you leave the more developed landscape around Samagaon.

The trail crosses open alpine terrain with increasingly barren slopes of Larjyang La , long mountain ridges and views of glaciers and high Himalayan peaks. Samdo is one of the highest permanent settlements along the circuit and has a distinct Tibetan character because of its location close to the Nepal Tibet border region. You will see Larkya La trail on the left side of the valley.

Today you enter the final high altitude section before the Larkya La crossing. The trail climbs gradually from Samdo across open mountain terrain, following a route shaped by glacial valleys and high Himalayan ridges. Before reaching Larkya Bazaar, a settlement that serves as a commercial hub for traders traveling down from Tibet, we will need to cross Budi Gandaki river and few seasonal streams.

After that, we must ascend a tough yet short trek to reach Dharamsala (Larkya Phedi), where we will spend the night in a guesthouse. Because of the altitude, today’s walk is deliberately shorter, allowing you to rest and prepare for the demanding crossing the following morning.

This is the highest and most challenging day of the Manaslu Circuit. You will begin early from Larkya Phedi and climb gradually toward Larkya La Pass at 5,167 m, where altitude, cold temperatures, wind and possible snow can make the crossing physically demanding. In order to reach the high, snow-covered pass, we must first ascend to Cho Chanda.

The views of the numerous nearby peaks are very breathtaking. From the pass, it is easy to see the Himalayan mountains of Himlung Himal (7,126m), Cheo Himal (6820m), Gyaji Kung (7,030m), Kang Koru (6,98m), and Annapurna II (7,937m). After that, we traverse moraines and descend a rocky trail till we reach Bhimthang Village, where we will spend the night in teahouse.

After the demanding pass crossing, today’s trail follows a long descent through increasingly green surroundings. You leave the high alpine landscape behind and walk through forests, open meadows and river valleys as the altitude drops.

The route passes through traditional settlements and continues along the Marsyangdi Valley side of the circuit. Tilije is a well known stopping point with a mix of Tibetan influenced and lower Himalayan culture, and the lower elevation makes this a much more comfortable evening after the previous day’s high altitude crossing.

Your Manaslu Circuit Trek officially comes to an end today. Depending on your flight schedule, Top Trail Nepal will arrange your transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your onward journey.

This final day is kept free of trekking or long road travel  after completing the Manaslu Circuit and crossing Larkya La. You can buy stroll around the Kathmandu UNESCO sites or make a last-minute shopping before heading home.