Manaslu Circuit Trek

Arrival in Kathmandu (1,400m / 4,600 ft)

Upon your arrival in Kathmandu, our representative from Namaste Nepal Trekking & Research Hub will pick you up from the airport. He will be displaying a NNTR sideboard outside the airport terminal. Transfer to the selected hotel. In the afternoon pre-trip meeting will be holding at our office. During this meeting we will introduce your trek and or tour leader/guide, so please make sure that you ask all the questions and concerns. For the meeting please make sure you bring your passport,2 copies of passport size photos, and your travel insurance policy copy (if you haven’t sent it by email before).  And sign the legally binding trip form as well as the non-liability disclaimer.

sightseeing Tour of Kathmandu Valley (1,400m / 4,600 ft)

After breakfast, your sightseeing tour of Kathmandu valley will start. You will have a professional tour guide with a private vehicle. Today you will visit the following cultural wonders of Kathmandu valley:

Swambhunath Stupa/Monkey temple:

Is an ancient religious architecture atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley, Swayambhunath is among the oldest religious sites in Nepal. The Swayambhunath consists of a stupa and a variety of shrines and temples. A Tibetan monastery, museum, and library are more recent additions. And we can see the 360-degree view of Kathmandu valley. This will be a good way to start your day with

Pashupatinath Temple:

 Pashupatinath Temple is one of the most important and significant Hindu temples of Lord Shiva in the world. Located on the bank of the holy  Bagmati River near the airport. The major temple is strictly for Hindus only even though you are not allowed to go inside the main temple you can clearly see the temple and the activities from the other bank of the river. 

Boudhanath Stupa: 

Another UNESCO World Heritage site;  Boudhanath another holiest site of Kathmandu valley. It was built in the 5th century with pairs of eyes in all 4 directions keeping an eternal watch over the people and their doings.

Patan durbar square:

City of Fine Arts Patan; The ancient royal palace of Patan faces on to magnificent Durbar Square. This concentrated mass of temples is perhaps the most visually stunning display of Newari architecture to be seen in Nepal. The historic monument which describes the oldest architecture of Nepal is Patan durbar square, Temple construction in the square went into overdrive during the Malla period (14th to 18th centuries),

Kathmandu Durbar Square:

After finished sightseeing in Patan on the way to your hotel, our driver will drop you at Kathmandu Durbar Square (only if you are staying at Thamel) from where you can walk back to Thamel through the narrow and oldest open street market of Asan. In Kathmandu durbar square you can see the following: 

• - Pagoda style temples which were made twelve to eighteen centuries
• - An ancient royal palace with museum
• - Kashthamandap (which named to the city as Kathmandu)
• - Living Goddess Kumari
• - Black Bhairava (God of death)

Drive to Machhakhola (930m / 3,050 ft)

Our Journey to one of the best-kept secrets of Nepal began today, after an early breakfast we set up for a Himalayan ride to Machha Khola. We will drive through the countryside of Nepal, Many small towns, Green Hills and Riverside. We can also enjoy panoramic views of mountains like Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, Shringi Himal, and many more. Places like Dhading Besi, Aarughat, and Aarkhet will be the small breakthroughs of our 7 to 8-hour drive to Machha Khola.

Trek to Jagat Village (1,370m / 4,494 ft)

Our epic journey begins after breakfast in Machha Khola. Our trek goes Up and Down through various Landscapes including forests, rice fields, a cliff-face ridge, beautiful waterfalls, and rushing Rivers. Following the Budi Gandaki Gorge, we will ascend and descend through narrow trails. We will pass through small villages like Tharo Khola, Khlorabesi, and Tatopani where they have Natural Hot Springs – a perfect place to take a small break to rest your weary muscles in the hot water. From here we will climb over the ridge to arrive at Dobhan. We continue climbing through the deep forests, we keep an eye out for the Langur Monkeys with some other wildlife and Neat Gurung Village high above the jungle. We will climb over another ridge to arrive at the village of Jagat.

Trek to Deng (1,830m / 6,002 ft)

Today we will make our way through various landscapes and dense sub-tropical forests, Rivers, waterfalls, and small farming villages. We will cross the small farming village like Salleri, Sirdibas, Philim, Nupri/ Ekle Bhatti, etc. we pass through the beautiful trace landscapes growing Maize, Millet, Potatoes,& vegetables. We again trek through an uninhabited Gorge and the trails at the Bank of Budi Gandaki.

Trek to Namrung Village (2,540m / 8,331 ft)

We begin our day by ascending to cross the river and drops down to the Sringi Valley. As we climb up from the valley major peaks of this trek will start to appear in the distance. Along the trail today we see flat stones carved with intricate figures and stupas, many Mani-lined Walls, and Gumbas, We will trek through Pork village, the vintage point of snowcapped mountains with a beautiful scenario of Gurung village. This is an optional way to Namrung. The trail then follows the river upstream dense forests and leads to the narrow Gorge. We will cross the Budi Gandaki River several times then we take a steep climb at the end to get into Namrung Village.

Trek to Lho Village (3,180m / 10,430 ft)

We wake up earlier today to encounter the beautiful sunrise view over the Sringi Himal, Ganesh Himal, and Buddha Himal. The village of Namrung marks the beginning of the region of pure Tibetan inhabitants. Passing through forests, villages, many stupas, and barley Farm the trail drops and crosses the side of the valley of Simnang Himal, with Ganesh Himal in another side. The first stunning glimpse of Manaslu gets visible once we arrive at Lho village where we stay overnight; hear you enjoy the sunrise and sunset view from your Guesthouse window.

Trek to Samagaun (3,390m / 11,120 ft)

It’s not a big day, but a busy day! The Extraordinary views of Manaslu, visiting the famous Ribung monastery, Shyala Village, Himal Chuli, Peak 29, Ganesh Himal with beautiful Hanging Glacier will make you busy to embark them and take many photos. Once we arrive at Samagaun we can see women weaving wool into the gowns or Chinese brandy on sale. About more than 500 years of settlement in this village of Samagaun will give you the idea of how these people are surviving nowhere on the lap of the giant Mountains for a long time! We can take a small walk above the village where they have a monastery, on the way back we can see the lifestyle of the locales!

Acclimatization and Rest in Sama Gaun with Side Trip to either Pungyen Gompa, Manaslu Basecamp or Birendra Tal.

After a few days of a significant gain in altitude, you'll take today off to relax and acclimatize. There is an optional walk up to the ridge below to Manaslu Base Camp (4,500m / 14,763 ft) or Pungyen Gumpa and Birendra Tal on the lap of Manaslu Massive offering great views of Hanging Glassier and 8,000-meter peak towering above you.

Trek to Samdo (3,860m / 12,660 ft)

After the acclimatization day up in Sama Gaun, you'll be ready to hit the road to Larke La Pass again. As you leave Sama Gaun, you'll catch an outstanding glimpse of the Himalayas, we will descend down to Budi Gandaki again then we climb up to the small village of Kane. We will pass several Mani walls as the valley begins to widen. It’s an easy trek to Samdo, the village of 200 permanent Residents, also known for traditional yak herding and it represents the traditional Tibetan Buddhist lifestyle, Breeding sheep and goats, training horses, and planting barley.

Trek to Dharmasala (4,460m / 14,629 ft)

We Begin our day after breakfast at Samdo. Crossing the wooden bridge over the Budi Gandaki we come across the Larkya Glassier, Long the way we will see many Mni Walls and Monastery with a stunning view of mountains. We will head around the valley of Sala Khola and climb up again to Dharmasala. The base of Larke La pass, where we take shelter for the night.

Trek to Larkya Pass (5,213m / 17,099 ft) to Bhimtang (3,720m / 12,202 ft)

Finally, it’s a day to cross a Larke La pass, which is widely believed to be one of the most dramatic pass crossing the Himalayas. a short climb will lead us to the north side of Larkya Glassier. The trail upwards is very gradual but we will trek slow and steady to avoid the altitude. It takes about 5 hours to kick the pass, The spectacular mountain scenery on the west is something you will never forget- Himlung Himal (7,126m / 23,379 ft), Chap Himal, Gyaji Kang, Kang Guru (6981m / 22,903 ft), and Annapurna II (7,937m / 26,040 ft) and many more. The strenuous descent from the pass is very steep across ice and scree as we follow the glacier. Progress is slow and careful but eventually, we enter the valley of the Burdin Khola and it’s an easy trail that continues to Bimtang.

Trek from Bhimtang to Tilje to Dharapani (1,860m / 6,101 ft)

It’s another scenic day of our trek. Views of Manaslu, Lamjung Himal, Himlung Himal, and Cheo Himal with the inspiring forest and valley below are again spectacular. From Bhimtang, walk through a rhododendron forest and follow a trail through a narrow valley until you reach the highest cultivated land of the valley at Karche. Pass through lush fields before making a steep climb over a ridge. The trail comes off the ridge in a big, sweeping arc to the river bank. A short distance beyond is the village of Gho and Tilje, Where some trekkers choose to stay the night, but we will continue walking until we get to Dharapani for the night.

Drive to Besisahar to Kathmandu (1,400m / 4,600 ft)

After the morning breakfast, we will take the best available public jeep to get back to Beshisahar, by the time we arrive here our private tourist vehicle will be waiting for you. You will take a small break here then we will drive to Kathmandu. Transfer to the selected hotel. In the evening to celebrate the successful completion of our journey farewell dinner will be served in the traditional Nepali restaurant with a cultural program.

Departure from Kathmandu

Your adventure to Nepal comes to the end today! It’s time to say goodbye to Nepal until the Next Time! Enjoy your last moments in Kathmandu, a city stroll, and-or souvenir shopping. NNTR representative will meet you at your hotel and drive you to the airport for your return flight home. On the way to your home, you have plenty of time to plan your next adventure in the wonderful land of the mystic Himalayas.