A Complete Guide to Manaslu Circuit Trek

One of the most challenging yet worthiest treks is the Manaslu circuit trek. This trek will take you to the serine nature unspoiled by human encroachment. The beautiful valleys, alongside the river bank of Budi Gandaki, with the screeching birds on the woodland and the colourful rhododendron in the entire trail, makes the trek fun, momentous, lively and an absolute pleasure  inside the mesmeric nature.

This trek is the perfect alternative to the busiest and the most crowdest trek, the Annapurna circuit trek. This Manaslu circuit trek is the less crowded and secluded off the beaten trail, getting comparatively few visitors in comparison to Everest and Annapurna trek.

Though most of the treks are done inside nature they favour the large crowd and the gatherings, and because of it the actual excitement of the trek gets washed away and replaced by mere pleasure only. But this Manaslu circuit trek  grants you all, nature, culture, and some lone time in nature with the perfect untrodden trails. So, this trek is favoured by many nature lovers. Until now road expansion and other developmental activities have not affected the authenticity of this circuit, making it a perfect destination for collecting the rural countryside life experience.

Manaslu circuit trekking is considered an extreme trekking with wonderful mountain scenery and glimpses. The trails used in the Manaslu circuit used to be an ancient salt trading route alongside the river bank of the rumbling Budi Gandaki. What makes this trek unique is its pristine nature and the diverse ethnic groups. You can also get a taste of Tibetan origin during this trek which is something you can't get in the others.

Usually, the Manaslu circuit trek starts from the Maccha Khola and ends at the Larkey la pass. This involves the trails along the dense woodlands, multiple waterfalls, small hamlets, riverbanks, and hanging suspension bridges. The dramatic change of scenery once you reach the village of Loh is the most exclusive part of this entire journey. A feeling of complete ecstasy is the sole description of your immense pleasure once you spot the enriched geography. 

The itinerary for the Manaslu circuit trek can vary by personal strength, age, fitness and experience. Some may complete the entire circuit trek within 10 days while some may take 15 days to complete the same circuit. So, the ideal itinerary for the Manaslu circuit trek regarding all the age groups, fitness level and experiences are mentioned  below.

Manaslu circuit trek lies in the west central part of Nepal sprawled in the district of Gorkha and Manang, on the edge of the Budi Gandaki river. The highest elevation of this trek is the Larkey la pass which is an elevation of 5106 m. It is preserved under the Manaslu conservation area under the act of national life and wildlife conservation occupying an area of 1663 sq km. 

The major peak Manaslu is only 60 km far from the Annapurna peak in the east. This peak is a part of  the Mansiri Himal range. The great Budi Gandaki river separates this peak from the Ganesh Himal in the east. This is surrounded by the deep fissures of the Marshyangdi river in the west, The Gorkha town in the south and the Tibetan autonomous region of China in the north.

During this circuit trek, you will not only observe Mount Manaslu but also other major peaks such as Ngadi Chuli, Himalchuli and Boudha. In addition to this, 10 peaks above 6000m and several others above 7000m can be spotted during this trek. Also, Not only the mountain vistas are the only ones, but you will also get a great chance to explore the remote yet unspoilt mountainous villages in the same trek. So, joining this trek is worth every pain and penny.

Why would everyone like to join this arduous trek if it's not even justifying right? Yes, This Manaslu circuit trek is just more than worth it. It will garnish you with all the exquisite views of the great Manaslu and other supportive features of this region such as flora and fauna, small mountainous villages, breathtaking landscapes and meadows, large roaring waterfalls, and the diverse culture and traditions of various ethnic groups. Some of the detailed descriptions of these attractions in this Manaslu circuit trek are described below:

Dense woodlands

The most fascinating part of this trek is travelling through the lush green dense woodlands. In most of the trails, you could observe the Himalayan blue pine forests and the extremely beautiful Rhododendron forests. The vegetation here basically involves these two, though there are others too but as usual, the majority counts in the last. The bright red rhododendron welcomes you to the impeccable essence of the aura-generating nature while the aromatic pines spread vividness into the dull environment. Though the trek may have felt hard sometimes, once you encounter this immortal beauty all the pains will get replaced by tears of happiness.

Mountainous villages

The small hamlets in the lap of the mountains, nearby the dense woodlands with the perfect sunrise and sunset view are quite in the fantasy of many. And you can personally feel this in the trek of the Manaslu circuit. This is the only trekking spot which is still prevented from the modern outcast and the luxury lifestyles. Still, there are no modern houses in this region, all with traditional architecture and layouts. Here you could watch the half-bare children running around, old citizens involved in the handicraft, and the youths in agriculture, it's very unlikely to get these same vibes in any other region except for this trek. This is actually the typical Nepali village and can only be observed in the lower elevation of this circuit trek. As you ascend upwards you will get mesmerised by the Tibetan culture in the populace. All the rituals, practices, customs, norms and values differ here which is quite a sight to see and enjoy.

Birendra lake

One of the mesmerising picturesque sights of this wonderful Manaslu circuit trek is the lake of Birendra. The lake is named after the late king Birendra. This lake is a shallow turquoise lake lying low just below the mountains in the glacier of Manaslu nearer to the gompa in Samagaon. A trek to this lake is usually planned on the day of acclimatisation at the Samagaon village. This lake is only an hour's trek from Samagaon. This lake grants a tranquil environment with breathtaking scenery. You can see the shining armour-like mountain range crowning the lake and the sparse pine trees with some bushes edging the lake, and the entire trails covered with snow. This makes the environment extremely bewitching. And getting this all in front of your own eyes is something no one gets enough of. 

Landscapes and terrains

Apart from the ethnic communities, and the flora and fauna, this makes the trek even more intriguing. The drastic change in the surrounding once you reach the village of Loh is truly exceptional. At the start of your trek, you will pass through the various waterfalls, suspension bridges, barley fields, and small villages, which may feel quite similar to the other treks too. But once you lay your foot on the Loh village, you will know the trekker's real anticipation for the trek. You can watch the straddling Manaslu on the very top of the naked landscapes. Beneath it lies the dense coniferous forests on one side of the trail, rivers accompanying on the other side, and the waterfalls gradually merging into the rivers. Gazing at this all really perks the roller-casting emotions and makes the trek even more remarkable. 

Waterfalls, Monasteries and Chortens

During this entire trek, one thing never leaves you, which is ethereal-looking waterfalls. The very first waterfall you will catch on this trek is the Nyauli waterfall which lies on the way to Machhakhola. From here starts the series of waterfalls in this circuit. Before the trek you may think, there may be some waterfalls too in the Gorkha district but after the trek, you will definitely say Gorkha is the district of waterfalls, as there are plenty of them. Some  even take baths no matter how cold they are, so you are getting the excitement right? They are huge, pouring and look extremely fabulous that passing through them without even letting your hands soak into the chilly cold mountainous water is not something you can resist. That urge pulls you into it. Apart from this, there are multiple monasteries, chortens, crafted stones and landmarks in this region. As the upper region is close to the Tibetan border, they vastly share Tibetan practices, so you can watch many more of these in the higher elevation than in the lower one.

Culture and tradition of the ethnic groups

Nepal is a country rich in culture and tradition because of the large diversity in the ethnic groups. So, getting a subtle touch of new culture in the new region is easily predictable here. In the lower region, here resides the Tsum and Nubri, while in the higher one there is the majority of Bhotias, so basically Gurung and Magar. With the diverse ethnic groups come varied cultures and traditions. So you can experience these all during your trek to the Manaslu circuit. You can observe their cultural dresses, ornaments, folk songs, dance, prayer ways, patterns and many more which is really fascinating.

The detailed itinerary of the Manaslu circuit trek is described below. Go through it for further explanation.

Day 01: Drive from Kathmandu [1350 m] to Machakhola [930 m]

At. 06:30 AM: The formal beginning of the trek, but not the actual one as on this day you will not trek just drive. Today, You will get to Macha Khola from Kathmandu via Soti Khola on the drive. Don't worry about the transportation as the private vehicles will be arranged by us. It nearly takes 9 hours to reach Macha Khola by jeep. So, you can figure it out, almost a day passes by when you reach Machha Khola. Thereafter, you will have your dinner and rest for today in the hotel. 

Day 02: Trek from Machakhola [930 m] to Jagat [1410 m]

At. 08:00 AM: The second day of your trek starts with a warm breakfast in the hotel and you will trek upwards. On this day, you will trek up to the Jagat. This marks the start of your trek. This is a slow, and easy trek through the fields into the villages of the Gorkha district passing the various suspension bridges, rivers and staircases. It is just fun and basic as there is not that much variety here. Reaching the Jagat, you will unpack your backpack and spend the night here. 

Day 03: Trek from Jagat [1410 m] to Deng [1804 m]

At. 08:00 AM: Starting your day with warm tea and coffee, today you will cover a total of 20 km from Jagat to Deng. The trail is not that difficult, so you will not face any hardships during your trek. First, you will pass a suspension bridge, ascend some staircases and then get into the village of Philim. Here, you will have your launch and trek onward. In a nearby distance, you will see the beautiful Deng village. From here you will hike through small teahouses, and eventually reach the village of Deng. This will be all for your third day.

Day 04: Trek from Deng [1804 m] to Namrung [2660 m]

At. 08:00 AM: Among the last 3 days, this day is more fun and vivid. Today You will go through the forest of wild cannabis, multiple monasteries, landmarks, Chortens, and the Mani walls.  You will hike along the river edge, into the woodlands, Suspension bridges and then eventually the Syarang gumba. You could spare some time and make a tour around this gompa. This Gompa is large and placid all surrounded by multi-coloured prayer flags. Also, you can see children playing in the meadows and getting excited whenever the trekkers approach them. At some distance there lies the village of Namrung. Here you will stop the trek for today and rest.

Day 05: Trek from Namrung [2660 m] to Loh [3010 m]

At. 08:00 AM: The new day begins from Namrung. Today you will notice the gradual change in scenery. Not only through the suspension bridges and the rivers, today you will walk in the dusty bumpy trails marched by the mules and horses. You will be walking beside them, so try not to disturb them and walk at your own pace. Climbing some staircases, you will get into the new domain with very sparse habitation and vegetation. Also, you could see naked landscapes on the opposite side of the trails and the very first glimpse of Mount Manaslu. Namrung is very close to the Tibetan territory hence you could observe the Tibetan culture prominent here. Hiking some more you will reach the beautiful village of Loh. Here, You will have dinner and rest for the night.

Day 06: Trek from Loh [3010] to Samagaon [3525 m]

At 08:00 AM: A drastic new dimension opens after you reach the village of Loh. From here you will feel that the actual trek has started now as you will be trekking observing the Manaslu peak. Here also you will pass through the staircases, and the narrow trails dusted by the mules and other mountainous beasts. Additional to this, you will spot multiple water taps in most of your trails where the animals are seen quenching their thirsts. Also, the prayer wheels, prayer flags, crafted stones, and the monastery are found in the ascend. There is no descent here, so you will have to go a steep ascend resulting in the village of Shyala. After the Shyala village, you will hike more to reach Sama gao. After getting to Sama Gao, you will have your meal and rest tonight.

Day 07: Acclimatisation day at Shamagaon [3691 m]

At 08:00 AM: Today you will practise acclimatising as going to a higher elevation without the practice can be lethal sometimes. Most of the trekkers go to the nearby gompa while some of them choose to hike up to  Birendra lake or the Manaslu base camp on this day. These all hikes are not mandatory, it totally relies on you, if you want, go, otherwise just rest in the teahouse. Talking about the jaw-dropping Birendra lake, it is a placid lake with gorgeous mountain backdrops, which also includes mount Manaslu. Most of the trekkers choose this over all the others during their day of acclimatisation. If you don't want to join this lake trek, you can opt for the Manaslu base camp trek or just play some poker and enjoy good times with your friends.

Day 08: Trek from Samagaon [3691 m] to Samdo [3850 m]

At. 08:00 AM: This trek is the shortest trek in the entire Manaslu circuit trek. Though the trek is short, it is definitely not the easiest one as it will pull your leg real hard. Here you are more likely to walk over the snow if you get there during winter seasons. All the peaks start to get more visible from here, and shortly after ascending you will reach the Samdo village.

Day 09: Trek from Samdo [3850 m] to Dharmasala [4460 m] (Larke Phedi)

At. 08:00 AM: Samdo is a small mountainous village with a few teahouses. You can’t find luxury stays here. After having the basic meal in Samdo, you will head towards the Larke Phedi which is also called Larke Dharmasala. Today you will walk just across the snow as you will be trekking on the mountain edges. All the trails are paved with bright snow flurries and walking over them is quite slippery and hard. Hiking some more you will reach Dharmasala and rest here for the day.

Day 10: Trek from Dharmasala [4460 m] to Larkey la pass [5106 m] to Bhimthang [3800 m]

At. 08:00 AM: The main motto and the heart of the trek is the trek up to this pass, Larkey la pass. This is the highest point of the Manaslu circuit trek and one of the longest passes in the Himalayas of Nepal. Trekking to this pass is indeed a pleasant memory but be sure to wear some warm clothes as the temperature here drops drastically. You have to walk on the snowy trail for your entire trail this day. After getting to the Larkey la pass, you will descend down to Bhimthang. This pinpoints the final ascent of the Manaslu circuit trek.

Day 11: Trek from Bhimthang [3800 m] to Tilje [2300 m]

At. 08:00 AM: As you have already reached the Larkey la pass, you will be brimming with happiness and satisfaction, but you can't live there, just like that, you have to trek downwards too. And this day is exactly about that, today you will trek downwards from Bhimthang to Tilje. Through the changing landscape from the snow land to the woodland, you will trek down to the village of Tilje. After reaching Tilje, you will rest for the day, have some nice meals, bid bye to the exhausted body and get to bed.

Day 12: Trek from Tilje [2300 m] to Dharapani [915 m], drive to Kathmandu [1400 m].

At 08:00 am: The last day of this 12 days Manaslu circuit trek, is this, the trek to the Dharapani. Once you reach Dharapani, you will get into a jeep and drive back to Kathmandu. Your arrival in Kathmandu marks the end of your 12 days trek on the Manaslu circuit. After the end of your trek, you will be pleased with the achievements you have gained, as this trek is not as easy as people think.

Spring and Autumn, these two seasons are the best seasons to make a trek around one of the tallest peaks above 8000m in the world, Mount Manaslu. In Nepal spring falls under the month of March, April, and May and Autumn falls under September, October, and November. And this is the same for the Manaslu circuit area too.

The spring season is the most ideal time as the days are neither too hot nor too cold. During this time the environment practically blooms, providing unparalleled beauty to the lavishing nature. If you did the Manaslu circuit trek this time, You will definitely get lost in the dense rhododendron forests, and here when I mention the word ‘lost’, it's not about getting away from the trail and in the middle of nowhere, here it  is paraphrased as total immersion in the scenic beauty. Trekking during this time will be an absolute pleasure for anyone, so try to plan your trek during this period. 

Apart from spring, autumn is the next favourable time for the trek of the Manaslu circuit. In this period especially weather will support you as the skies will be clear and the atmosphere will be more vibrant granting outstanding visibility. You will get an unobscured view of all the snow capped peaks and the other blessings of beautiful nature wide open this time. The trails will be clear, a little dusty and overall good. So, this season is the next ideal time for the Manaslu circuit trek. 

Winter and summer, these two periods are best not to visit for the Manaslu circuit trek. This season includes the months of June, July, August, December, January, and February respectively. In the winter there happens heavy snowfall with extreme coldness and in the summer there will be heavy precipitation which results in the lingering threat of landslides.

As you may already know, everything comes with a price. This same rule gets applied to the Manaslu circuit trek too. There is no doubt saying that trekking to the Manaslu circuit grants you an amazing lifelong memory but it will also cost you some harsh hassles in-return. Some of them are discussed below:

High Altitude Sickness

This is the major difficulty faced by many trekkers during their trek to the Manaslu circuit. The circuit trek takes you to the highest elevation of 5106 m. As the elevation rises, the atmospheric air becomes more thin and thin resulting in less oxygen level in the upper air. So the trekkers face difficulty in breathing mostly. It's not just all about breathing as there will be a drop in barometric pressure at the higher altitude, which results in kicking the body really hard, mainly on the joints. So, not only difficulty in breathing is the only symptom of this high altitude sickness, there are several others such as headaches, nausea, chest pain, dizziness, sleepwalking, joint pain, extreme fatigue and many more.

Fluctuating Weather

Weather is the main majesty behind every trek and tour. Either it will make your trek a literal boon or destroy it to the ground. So, good weather is a blessing for the Manaslu circuit trekkers too. But unfortunately, the weather in this region is very unpredictable. Sunshine a moment ago turns into havoc within a second, and because of this trekkers face much difficulties on the trek. Sometimes, they may even have to halt the trek too. So, this can also be regarded as one of the trekker's difficulties in this circuit trek.

Accommodation and Food

Manaslu circuit trek does not receive as large no of visitors as the Annapurna and Everest trek, and one of the main reasons behind that can be this, accommodation and food. In this circuit trek, there are only some lodges and majorly the teahouses, not advanced hotels and restaurants. So, you can’t expect any luxury here, as there will be very basic amenities with a serving of typical Nepali food, rice and lentils. Getting basic food and amenities is not a big deal here, you can adjust for some time but the major deal is the unavailability of rooms in the peak season. If you don't get it booked in advance, you will have to stay without a roof. Also during the winter months, most of the tea houses are closed, so if you trek at that time, it will be very difficult to get one. So, this is another crisis trekkers face during the trek.

Distance of the trek

The total Manaslu circuit trek is 177km. So, on the first  hand, you have to trek more every single day which makes it kinda difficult. On the other hand, there comes the trail.  The trails on this circuit are not that easy either. In the beginning, you have to go steep downhill along the river bank of Budi Gandaki river, and once you reach a certain elevation, you will have to trek uphill. This makes the trek even more difficult.

Sprains, Strains and Blisters

Because of the diverse trails on the circuit, a lot of trekkers face the problem of sprains and strains. The trails are somewhere muddy, somewhere dusty and somewhere slippery, and because of this, some may end up bending their legs. Also because of the friction by the constant long walks, some may get blisters too which will only make the trek even worse. So, this can also be taken as one of the difficulties in the Manaslu circuit trek faced by fellow trekkers.

Mainly three permits are required for the Manaslu circuit trek. They are Manaslu restricted area permit, the Manaslu conservation area permit and the trekker's information management system card. The cost for the restricted area permit is seasonal, as it will vary according to the peak season. Other than these, the other two permits bear the same cost year-round. You can get these permits from the Nepal tourism board, Bhrikutimandap and the immigration of Nepal.

Restricted Area and MCAP Permit

TIMS Card

The total cost for the Manaslu circuit trek is USD 1920 per person. The inclusion and exclusion of this cost are briefly discussed in the package itself. Similarly, there are other various packages too in the same Manaslu region, which are the Manaslu Tsum valley trek, the Manaslu Annapurna three passes trek and many more. You can join it too if you like.

List of the trekking

1. Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek [USD 3000 Per Person]

2. Manaslu Annapurna Three Passes Trek [USD 1900 Per Person]

3. Manaslu Circuit Trek [USD 1920 Per Person]

4. Manaslu Annapurna Circuit Trek [USD 2350 Per Person]

All the required tips, necessities, packages, and costs are discussed above. So, you could take a reference from there. Except for that, there is something you need to keep your mind on while planning for this Manaslu circuit trek. Those additional guides for this trip are covered below:

1. Always pack your backpack as lightly as possible (for the trek  backpack guide you can take the reference from here: Nepal Trekking essentials and gears).

2. If you feel the acute symptoms of altitude sickness, get to the lower elevation as soon as possible.

3. Respect the community rules and regulations.

4. Since you are trekking in a restricted zone be sure to take a local licensed guide and always travel in a group.

5. Don't expect lavish luxury accommodation, as tea houses are the only option you have got.

6. You can join the Annapurna circuit trek directly from this trek if you like to, from Dharapani.

7. Rather than planning the whole trip on your own, assign it to some trekking agency as they will handle all the paperwork, transportation, accommodation, food and just everything you need for the trek, and it will be much easier for you. We Altitude Himalaya would be more than happy to help. 

8. Carry some Nepalese currency for some personal expenses as there is no access to networks and money transfers in this region.