Manaslu Circuit Trek from Pokhara - 11 Days

Your official trek starts today. Machha Khola to Jagat trek distance is around 8–10 km, and today you will hike for around 5–6 hours. After having breakfast in the tea house, you will start to leave. You will follow the Budhi Gandaki River through lush forests and small villages. The trail is mostly gradual uphill through the lush forests filled with rhododendron and pine trees.

On the way, you will pass through the small villages where you can see traditional houses and interact with friendly locals. Crossing a few suspension bridges over the river and terraced fields, enjoying the waters, you will stop in the middle of the trek to enjoy lunch. After lunch, the trek continues through scenic forests and gentle hills until you reach Jagat (1,300 m). Once you reach Jagat, you will check in at the tea house and spend the night here.

Activity

Trekking

Trip Duration

5-6 Hours

Max Altitude

1,370m / 4,495ft

Meals

Breakfast, Tea Break, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation

Best Available Lodge/Teahouse

You will hike about 20 km from Jagat (1,340 m) to Deng (1,860 m) in 7–8 hours on this day. The walk goes through beautiful Himalayan villages, including Salleri, Philim (a well-known Gurung village), Ekle Bhatti, and Lokpa, where you can see how people live and learn about their culture.

You will walk along the Budhi Gandaki River, pass a few suspension bridges, and go through bamboo and woodland trails. You will see Buddhist Mani walls, chortens, and prayer flags along the journey. These are all part of the region’s Tibetan-influenced culture.

You can see Shringi Himal (7,161 m) and Lapchun Himal (5,996 m) for the first time from Nyal Phedi. There are some steep parts of the trail, as well as going along the riverbed and through the forest. As you go up, the scenery changes. You will sleep in a teahouse in Deng, where you may recover and get ready for the higher altitudes that are coming up.

Activity

Trekking

Trip Duration

7-8 Hours

Max Altitude

1,830m / 6,004ft

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation

Best Available Lodge/Teahouse

On Day 4 of the Manaslu Circuit Trek, you’ll walk from Deng (1,860 m) to Namrung (2,630 m) in about 7–8 hours, covering about 13–19 kilometers. This part is a beautiful but exhausting hike up the Budhi Gandaki River, crossing it multiple times on suspension bridges.

Along the route, you’ll pass through charming villages like Bihi Phedi, Ghap (a fantastic place to stop for lunch with views of the river), and Prok, where you’ll get your first clear views of Siring Himal.

The walk goes through beautiful rhododendron, oak, and pine forests, terraced fields, and waterfalls. Along the way, you’ll see many Mani walls, stones, and monasteries that show the Tibetan-Buddhist culture of the area.

The final push to Namrung is a gradual climb, so it’s a good place to get used to the altitude. After a long day of hiking, you can relax and sleep at Namrung’s teahouses or lodges. The mountains are peaceful and beautiful.

Activity

Trekking

Trip Duration

7-8 Hours

Max Altitude

2,540m / 8,333ft

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation

Best Available Lodge/Teahouse

On Day 5 of the Manaslu Circuit Trek, you will trek from Namrung (2,630 m) to Sama Gaon (3,530–3,620 m). This will take about 4–5 hours. The trail goes through picturesque towns, including Syogaon, Lhogaon, and Lho Gaon.

It starts out easy and flat, but then it gets steeper as it goes into Sama Gaon. You will pass by monasteries, Mani walls, and other Tibetan-Buddhist sites that will give you a taste of the Gurung Buddhist culture in the area. You will also be able to see the beautiful mountains of Mt. Manaslu, Himal Chuli, and Ngadi Chuli.

Syogaon is a key junction that links the Manaslu Circuit to the Himal Chuli Base Camp route. Sama Gaon is an important place to pause and get used to the higher altitude. Take your time walking, look around, and enjoy the peaceful mountain beauty as you prepare for the higher elevations ahead.

Activity

Trekking

Trip Duration

4-5 Hours

Max Altitude

3,390m / 11,122ft

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation

Best Available Lodge/Teahouse

On Day 6 of the Manaslu Circuit, you will be acclimatizing in Sama Gaun, which is about 3,530 m high. You have two wonderful hikes to choose from today that will help your body get used to the high altitude while you enjoy the beautiful views.

The Manaslu Base Camp (MBC) walk is the first choice. It takes you up to roughly 4,400 m. It’s a full-day hike (6–7 hours round way) that includes walking on glaciers and getting up close to Manaslu’s north face, glaciers, and the valley. This is perfect for hikers who want a hard and beautiful day.

The Pun Gyen Gompa climb, which goes up to about 4,050 m, is the second choice. It’s a shorter, gentler hike to a magnificent monastery with serene views of Manaslu and the valley around it. This is great for anyone who desires a more relaxing day or wants to learn about a new culture.

The “climb high, sleep low” rule applies to both hikes. You go up to a higher altitude during the day and then sleep in Sama Gaun, which helps keep you from becoming sick at high altitudes. You can also see Birendra Lake, a beautiful turquoise glacial lake, or learn about Tibetan culture and the monasteries in Sama Gaun on the way back.

Activity

Acclimatization and Rest Day

Max Altitude

3,390m / 11,122ft

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation

Best Available Lodge/Teahouse

On Day 7 of the Manaslu Circuit, you will go from Sama Gaon (3,520 m) to Samdo (3,875 m). This is a short but beautiful hike of about 8 km (5 miles) that takes 3–4 hours. The path goes down at first to cross the Budhi Gandaki River, and then it goes up slowly through forests, empty hillsides, and yak barns (Lela/Kyonggma Kharka).

Along the route, you’ll be able to see Mt. Manaslu, Himal Chuli, Ngadi Chuli, and other peaks in the area. You could also encounter animals like blue sheep and marmots. And you will pass by Mani walls and other Tibetan Buddhist cultural landmarks.

Samdo is a little village where Tibetan refugees live. It is also the starting point for more acclimatization climbs, which give trekkers a chance to rest and get ready for the higher elevations ahead.

Activity

Walking

Trip Duration

3-4 Hours

Max Altitude

3,860m / 12,664ft

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation

Best Available Lodge/Teahouse

On Day 8 of the Manaslu Circuit, you will hike from Samdo (3,860 m) to Larke Phedi (Dharamsala, 4,460 m). This is a short but important uphill hike of around 4–6 kilometers (2.5–3.7 miles) that takes 3–4 hours.

This part is very important for getting used to the tough Larke La Pass. After an early breakfast in Samdo, the trek starts. It goes down for a little time to cross the Budhi Gandaki River on a suspension bridge, then up through the Salka Valley, where you can see frozen streams and beautiful mountain vistas.

Before going west to Dharamsala, you’ll pass Larke Bazaar, where trails lead to the Tibetan border. Larke Phedi is a temporary community of basic stone lodges and teahouses in a wide, empty valley. It’s a nice place to stop.

The afternoon is a great time to relax or do a short acclimatization hike while taking in the views of the Larke Glacier and the peaks around it, such as Himalchuli. Trekkers should get some sleep early so they are ready for the early start in the Alps needed to cross the Larke La Pass the next day.

Activity

Hike

Trip Duration

3-4 Hours

Max Altitude

4,460m / 14,633ft

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation

Best Available Lodge/Teahouse

Day 9 of the Manaslu Circuit is the hardest but most rewarding day. You hike from Dharamsala (Larke Phedi, 4,460 m) to Bimthang across the Larkya La Pass (5,106 m). You will get up early, about 3 AM, and use a headlamp to keep the fierce midday winds and snow at bay.

The walk to the pass is steep and hard, as it goes over rocky moraines and snowfields. But when you get to the top, you can see Manaslu, Annapurna II, Himlung Himal, and other peaks in all directions, with prayer flags flapping in the wind.

Once you get to the pass, you have to be careful because the trail might be icy or slippery. It goes down about 1,500 m to Bimthang. We strongly suggest that you bring trekking poles, warm clothes, waterproof layers, and microspikes.

Depending on the weather, this hike normally takes 6 to 9 hours. It’s important to walk carefully, drink plenty of water, and bring snacks. Crossing Larkya La is a real test of endurance. The views of the Himalayas are breathtaking, and the sense of accomplishment makes the effort worth it.

Activity

Trekking

Trip Duration

4-5 Hours

Max Altitude

5,106m / 16,752ft

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation

Best Available Lodge/Teahouse

On Day 10 of the Manaslu Circuit, you’ll hike from Bimthang (about 3,500–3,700 m) to Dharapani (about 1,860 m). This is an amazing variation in both elevation and scenery. The trail starts with a steep, rocky descent from the Bimthang area, from where you can see the remnants of glaciers.

As you go down, you will pass through alpine meadows and beautiful rhododendron forests. As you pass through small villages like Gho and Tilije, you’ll see beautiful panoramas of Annapurna II, Himlung Himal, and Cheo Himal. This is a long day of hiking that can take nearly from 6 to 8 hours, depending on how fast you walk and how the trail is.

It is an important day since it marks the end of the hardest part of the Manaslu Circuit and takes you from the harsh, high-altitude scenery around Larkya La Pass to the more pleasant, greener Marsyangdi Valley. After that, you will drive back to Kathmandu.

Activity

Trekking

Trip Duration

6-7 Hours

Max Altitude

1,860m / 6,102ft

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation

Best Available Lodge/Teahouse

On Day 11, your Manaslu Circuit trip ends with a long drive through beautiful scenery from Dharapani. First, you take a jeep or bus to Besisahar, following the Dudh Khola River through gorgeous valleys. This normally takes 3 to 5 hours, depending on how the roads are.

You can either drive to Pokhara from Besisahar (around 3–4 hours) to rest by the lakeside and enjoy the sights before heading to Kathmandu, or you can take a Jeep or local bus directly to Kathmandu (a total of 7–10+ hours from Dharapani). You can relax, think about your trek, and enjoy the beautiful scenery as you make your way back from the mountainside to the lowlands and end your adventure on this day.

Activity

Drive

Trip Duration

3-5 Hours

Max Altitude

830m / 2,723ft

Meals

Breakfast & Lunch