Manaslu Circuit Trek

Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you will be greeted by a representative from Manaslu Tours who will transfer you to your hotel. To start your journey on a high note, we will be hosted for a welcome dinner in the evening, featuring authentic Nepalese cuisine and a warm welcome drink.

• SWOYAMBHUNATH, also known as the monkey temple, is climbed by a long set of steps and has great views of Kathmandu.
• BOUDHANATH STUPA has many traditional Gompas hung with strings of multi-colored prayer flags; it attracts many Sherpas and Tibetans for the circumambulations of the stupa (koras)
• PASHUPATINATH is a Hindu temple with burning Ghats on the banks of the Bagmati River.
• KATHMANDU DURBAR SQUARE, which is one of the old capitals of the Kathmandu valley, has a blend of Hindu and Buddhist temples

After a nutritious breakfast, set off on a 5-hour drive to Gorkha Bazar. During the journey, marvel at the picturesque landscapes, cross over sparkling streams and follow the winding banks of the Darundi Khola. In the evening, embark on an excursion to the historic Gorkha Durbar, located on a hilltop. From this vantage point, take in panoramic mountain views and bask in the warm glow of a breathtaking sunset.

After having a big breakfast this morning, embark on a trek to Barpak. Drive along the Darundi Khola and Ranglung Khola to reach the village. The drive from Ranglung Khola to Barpak is steep, but the destination is worth it. Barpak is a stunning village located on a green ridge with stunning views of the misty valley below. In the evening, you may have the opportunity to experience a cultural show organized by the villagers, with proceeds going towards improving the village. The towering Bouddha Himal, a high snow-capped peak, provides a beautiful backdrop for sunrise and sunset photos.

Start the day early with a scenic climb up the narrow ridge, with Bouddha Himal providing a magnificent backdrop to the sprawling Barpak. After an hour or so of trekking, take a small stone trail to the right of the main path. After three hours of climbing, reach Momche Dada (2,950m), a pass that separates Laprak and Barpak. The summit offers breathtaking panoramic mountain views, including Bouddha Himal, Sringi Himal, Ganesh Himal, and the Langtang range, as well as herds of sheep grazing on the grassy hillsides. During the spring season, the surrounding rhododendrons bloom brilliantly in various hues of pink and red, making for great photos with the snow-capped peaks in the background. Another hour or two of steep descent leads to another large Gurung village, Laprak. Spend the afternoon exploring the village, including taking a walk down the hill and viewing the houses with their symbolic mud-brick wall murals.

We traverse Laprak's maze of village paths and reach the Jyabru Khola. After crossing a suspension bridge, we ascend steeply and passing terraced fields of pink sorghum. The narrow trail, often obscured, winds around hillsides and leads us to a small chorten below the village of Singla. From here, the hike becomes easier and we are treated to views of the Kutang and Sringi Himal to the north. Our path continues through more terraced fields and papaya trees, through the Gurung village of Khorla, before winding down to Khorlebeshi on the Budhi Gandaki River. Take caution on the rocky steps before the long suspension bridge to Khorlabeshi. Be mindful of local women weaving straw mats in the village. In the evening, we may receive a visit from the village's cultural ambassadors and experience another performance.

Today, we have a five-hour trek ahead of us. We'll start by walking along the river, surrounded by tobacco and buckwheat fields, and admiring rocks smoothed by the river's flow. Our journey will involve climbing stone steps to reach the hot springs in the terraced village of Tatopani. Here, we can take some time to soak our weary bodies in the hot water and even go for a swim in the nearby icy river. After drying off on the lovely riverside beach, we'll embark on a gentle hike through the woods with a spectacular waterfall. We'll cross an old wooden suspension bridge and continue through a short section of forest path to reach Dovan. Above Dovan, the Budhi Gandaki River presents steep rapids. Our trail will take us high above the river and down through calmer waters. We'll cross the river on a long, new suspension bridge and then climb stone steps to reach our camp below Jagat, the Manaslu Conservation National Park entrance. Before heading to camp, take a moment to wander around the beautiful, paved village of Jagat and admire the pride of the villagers who have recorded their contributions to the paving projects.

After descending a series of stone steps from Jagat to the river, we climb up terraced hillsides to the hamlet of Saguleri where we can admire the stunning view of the 7,187 meter high Sringi Himal. We traverse through the picturesque village of Sirdibas and cross the river again on a long suspension bridge at Ghata Khola. The path splits with the right branch leading to the Ganesh Himal. We continue upstream, making a steep climb to reach Philim. We cross the river at a narrow section on a new suspension bridge, and then gradually ascend a wide hillside through an open forest, crossing the river twice more on poorly maintained bridges in the next two hours. The first bridge is at the intersection to the remote Tsum valley leading to Tibet. After trekking through dense woods for over an hour, we pass the chilly campsite of Pewa on the river, and after another hour, we leave the gorge and climb briefly to the village of Deng. Deng is the starting point of the lower Nubri region, Kutang, where the people are ethnically Tibetan but speak a different dialect from the pure Tibetans of upper Nubri. We have views of the Lumbo Himal, Lapuchen, and Dwijen Himals. It's worth visiting the upper floor of a local house for a glass of "chang" (Tibetan beer) and a chat by the hearth.

We switchback steeply to the small and impoverished village of Lana, where the women often have their looms set up. After trekking through beautiful pine woods and crossing a small bridge, we reach Bihi Phedi with its good shop and views of the Kutang Himal. We start to see "mani stones" (prayer inscriptions on rocks) which indicate that we are entering one of the small Tibetan communities that dot the high Himalayas. We have three to four hours of trekking ahead of us, crossing the Bhudi Gandaki River twice and smaller tributary streams twice. We will remain mostly high, with many ascents and descents as we move through the gorge, enjoying the spectacular views along the way. Finally, we reach Ghap and set up camp for the night at the house of some friendly villagers.

Today's trek is a magnificent adventure. We depart from Ghap and ascend for an hour through a dense, cool forest, crossing the Bhudi Gandaki River via a wooden bridge and climbing smooth stone steps until we reach Namrung, located at an altitude of 2540 meters. As we continue to climb, we enter alpine terrain and are rewarded with sweeping mountain views. Namrung village marks the beginning of Nubri, an area inhabited by Tibetans who speak a western Tibetan dialect. A few hours later, we arrive at Lihi, a village located at 2840 meters above sea level, which houses an ancient gompa and is surrounded by fields of barley guarded by "bear watches". Our trek continues at a gentle pace and we soon cross a large stream flowing from the Lidanda Glaciers to reach the picturesque Tibetan village of Sho, located at 3000 meters, where we stop for lunch. After an hour, we reach Lho, where we are greeted with stunning views of Manaslu.

As we walk through the upper reaches of Lho, with the majestic peaks of Manaslu in the distance, we come across the new gompa and then ascend through a light forest next to a small river to reach the idyllic Tibetan settlement of Shayla, where the villagers are often working in the fields. A few more hours of trekking through classic alpine scenery takes us past Tibetan grazing settlements, with the trail to Pung Gyan Gompa branching off to the left. We eventually reach Sama Gaon, passing through checkered fields of barley and potato. The people of Sama Gaon are descendants of Tibetans who settled here over 500 years ago. The Tibetan villages in this region of Manaslu are characterized by their distinctive entrance gates (manes) and they maintain active trade with their Tibetan co-religionists over several nearby high passes. On a clear weather day, you may see village women weaving wool from Tibet into gowns, which are then traded back to Tibet. Spend the afternoon exploring the old gompa settlement above the town and wandering the streets of the intriguing Samagaon village.

Hike to Birendra lake and Manaslu Base Camp (2-3 hours walking)

Another day of breathtaking mountain views awaits as we embark on a leisurely three-hour trek to Samdo, passing through the rugged birch forests of the Himalayas. On the way, we come across the long mani walls at Kermo Kharka and eventually spot the entrance chorten of Samdo perched high on a bluff. After descending to the Bhudi Gandaki and crossing a small bridge, we face another brief ascent to reach the "kane" entrance of Samdo. In the last village, we have the opportunity to visit a small home gompa located in a house, where several reincarnated lamas are performing a puja. At this high altitude, the evenings can be chilly, so we recommend stopping by the tea-house next door to our campsite for a cup of warming salt-butter tea to combat the cold.

We set out from Samdo and follow the old trade route toward Tibet. After crossing a bridge, we ascend through the remnants of Larkya Bazaar, a once-thriving trade market. As we climb for three hours past glaciers, the panoramic views become increasingly stunning. Our destination is the campsite at Dharamsala, the high camp for the Larkya La pass. Here, we take a lunch break and savor the breathtaking vistas. The altitude and cold can be intense, so we suggest taking it easy in the afternoon and staying warm. We will have an early dinner to prepare for our journey over the Larkya pass tomorrow.

After ascending from Dharamshala, we arrive at the ablation valley on the north side of the Larkya Glacier. Here, we can see Cho Danda and Larkya-La. We traverse the glacier's moraines, often through snow, with a gradual climb that becomes steeper towards the pass. The journey to the summit should take around four hours. The view from the top is breathtaking, with a panoramic view of Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kangguru, and the massive Annapurna II. Both sides of the pass offer equally stunning views. After hanging Tibetan prayer flags, we embark on a steep and sometimes slippery descent to a trail along the glacier's moraines. We'll take a lunch break on smooth rocks below the pass before continuing our descent, which will take another three hours to reach our campsite. The rocky descent eventually leads us to Bhimtang, making the journey well worth it.

The hardest part of the journey is over. We leave the Bhimtang valley, cross the river and descend through the pine and Rhododendron forests. One of the most beautiful transitions on the track.

Today marks the conclusion of our trek. After a 1.5-hour journey, we arrived at Tilije, a large settlement inhabited by the Gurung people, who are renowned for their bravery and serve in select units of the British and Indian armies. Despite their military background, the Gurung are peaceful and grow delicious apples. Then, we descended for another 1.5 hours along the Dudh Khola river until it converged with the Marsyangdi river in Dharapani. After a 2-hour journey, we reached the charming village of Tal, where we will spend the night.

Today, we will embark on a scenic jeep ride from Tal to Kathmandu, covering a distance of approximately 214 kilometers. The journey will take us through some of the most rugged and remote terrains of Nepal, offering a unique perspective of the country's diverse landscapes and cultures. We will travel through the picturesque valleys, winding roads, and mountain passes, taking in breathtaking views of the snow-capped peaks and pristine rivers. We will make a few stops along the way to stretch our legs and take photos of the awe-inspiring vistas. On arrival in Kathmandu, we will have some time to relax and explore the vibrant city on our own, or perhaps engage in some souvenir shopping or other activities. You can look forward to an exciting and adventurous day, filled with unforgettable moments and memories that will last a lifetime.

Today, we have a free day to explore the vibrant city of Kathmandu on our own. You may want to spend the day indulging in some souvenir shopping, wandering around the colorful streets and bazaars, or enjoying the local cuisine. You could also visit some of the popular tourist attractions in the city, such as the Bhaktapur, or Patan which showcase Nepal's rich cultural and historical heritage. Alternatively, you could engage in other activities like hiking, biking, or adventure sports, or simply relax and rejuvenate in one of the city’s many spas and wellness centers. Whatever you choose to do, make sure to soak up the unique sights, sounds, and flavors of this wonderful city.

Today, we will transfer to Kathmandu International Airport for our departure. After enjoying a hearty breakfast at the hotel, we will gather our belongings and make our way to the airport. We will ensure that we reach the airport well in time to complete all the necessary formalities and board our flight. Before we bid adieu to this enchanting country, take one last look at the breathtaking views of the Himalayas and take a moment to appreciate the warm hospitality and kindness of the Nepalese people. This marks the end of our tour, and we hope you had a memorable and enjoyable time in Nepal.