Manaslu Circuit Trek

Welcome to Kathmandu – the capital city of Nepal. Today is your first day with EverTrek. Once you’ve passed through passport control and collected your bags, you’ll head out to the front of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) to be greeted by one of our friendly team members - look for the EverTrek sign, you won’t miss them! They will be there to pick you up and transport you to your hotel in Thamel.

EverTrekkers will be arriving throughout the day at differing flight times. This means that you will have a chance to rest and relax after your journey to Nepal, and may also have the opportunity to meet some of the team and fellow trekkers, to discuss details of your upcoming trek.

You will enjoy a group meal with your fellow trekkers. You'll be taken to one of the most popular local restaurants where you can enjoy Nepali food along with cultural music and ethnic dance.

Today you will head out into Kathmandu and visit the cultural and historical sites of the Kathmandu Valley. You will visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu and enjoy lunch at one of our favourite viewpoints in the city. Kathmandu lies at 1300m above sea level so it’s important to get out and about today and let your body acclimatise.

Today also gives you the opportunity to grab any last-minute items in the trekking hub of Thamel and get an early night ready for the trek tomorrow.

Once breakfast is done, we kick off our adventure towards Arughat Bazaar. We wave goodbye to the buzz of Kathmandu and cruise down Prithivi Highway, soaking up river views and the charm of little highway pit stops.

After about 7 to 8 hours of road tripping, voila! We hit Arughat Bazaar. And guess what? Our journey's not over – we hop into a jeep and cruise over to Soti Khola, which takes another 1.5 to 2 hours. Picture terraced landscapes and adorable hamlets all along the Budhi Gandaki river. Finally, we arrive at Soti Khola, where we lay our heads for the night. Rest up and get ready for more excitement ahead!

Today marks the kickoff of our awesome trek!

We set off through thick forests, strolling past cozy little villages snuggled into the hillsides.

Our path guides us until we hit a valley expansion, right where a big stream joins the Budhi Gandaki River. Those lovely terraced fields? They're the upper domain of Lapubesi (880m), a charming village. The journey continues with a descent down the wide, sandy riverbed, tracing a snaky trail beneath the steep, rocky valley walls. We muster another climb to reach Almara and, after a bit more walking, we'll find ourselves at Machha Khola – aptly named the "Fish River." Day one, and the adventure's already swimmingly good!

The trail throws in a few playful ups and downs before it crosses the Tharo Khola and brings us to Khorlabesi.

Our journey continues with more of those little climbs and descents, and before you know it, we stumble upon a cozy secret – a small hotspring waiting to soothe our tired souls in Tatopani. The valley sides play hard to get, maintaining their steepness until they become too much to handle. That's when we switch to the left bank, sneaking across on a snazzy suspension bridge. Brace yourself – the path gets quite daring and challenging at times. But fret not, a brief stretch through the forest takes us to Dobhan. Just above it, the Budhi Gandaki river puts on a show with an impressive series of rapids. Once past this wild section, the river takes a chill pill, lazily meandering across a spacious gravel bed. At Lauri, an awesome suspension bridge gets us to the other side, and from there, we climb high and hit the fields of Jagat.

The trail's like a rollercoaster – ups, downs, and surprises around every bend!

Our adventure today kicks off with a climb over a rugged ridge leading us to Salleri, where jaw-dropping vistas of Shrigi Himal (7187m) unfold. After this breathtaking sight, we make the descent to Sirdibas. As we continue onward, the valley opens up a bit, and our trail follows the upward path to Ghatta Khola. Our steps then lead us upstream to a lengthy suspension bridge nestled in Philim, a vibrant Gurung village that's nothing short of impressive. The journey takes a northern twist just above the village's lower houses, guiding us along a mostly even trail that takes us across millet fields to Ekle Bhatti.

Now, things get exciting as we plunge into a steep, unpopulated gorge. Descending, we find ourselves on the gentle, grassy slopes. We skillfully cross the Budhi Gandaki, only to trek along its west bank for a while before hopping over to the east bank, and then, once again, back to the west. The trail leads us through the ever-widening valley, taking us through bamboo forests until we arrive at the Deng Khola. Once we've crossed this watercourse, we reach the charming hamlet of Deng – a little village that's a big part of our incredible journey.

Leaving Deng behind, we take a brief stroll and then work our way across the Budhi Gandaki, ascending to Rana at 1910m. From a bridge, we climb a little to merge with a trail from Bhi, and then we head westward, following the Budhi Gandaki valley. The path guides us through lush forests and past mani stones, those sacred prayers etched onto rocks that let us know we're venturing into a Buddhist region of higher altitudes.

About 4 hours into our journey, we find ourselves at Ghap, straddling the river. Today's trail has us crossing the Budi Gandaki multiple times, treating us to the presence of several gompas along the way. As we move onward, a change in climate and culture becomes palpable with each step up the altitude ladder. The ascent into alpine territory brings a growing number of majestic mountain vistas.

The trail follows the river upstream, taking us through dense woods. Once we cross the river at a spot where it cascades through a narrow gorge, the forest gradually thins, and the trail becomes more inviting once again. We continue our delightful stroll, tackling a final steep climb that leads us to Namrung, where our special permit gets the once-over. This leg of the journey showcases the heart of the landscape and its evolving character, a journey full of discovery and altitude-driven transformation

Crossing the Budhi Gandaki, we venture through a dense forest, passing beneath a stone arch that leads us to the village of Lhi. This village has quite a reputation, thanks to its charming Buddhist chortens and meticulously carved barley terraces. Above Lhi, the Simnag Valley sprawls before us, unveiling vast pastures that invite exploration.

With our ascent taking a gentle turn, we cross a sizeable stream trickling down from the Lidanda Glaciers, and that guides us to the Tibetan hamlet of Sho, standing tall at 3000m. It's here that we're gifted with our first jaw-dropping sights of Manaslu North, followed by the magnificent presence of Manaslu main as we look ahead from Sho. Leaving Sho behind, we push on to Lho, a generous village resting at 3150 meters. Lho greets us with open arms, offering a quaint monastery and an array of chortens and mani wheels to admire. The view of the peak Ganesh I from this vantage point? Absolutely impressive, to say the least!

As we bid farewell to the village, our path hugs the river's right bank, treating us to the sight of Peak 29 proudly standing ahead. The landscape doesn't hold back on the eye candy – many other mountains join the visual spectacle. The journey keeps flowing, leading us through the charming Shyala village, then guiding us down to a river sourced from the Pungyen glacier. Along the way, we'll pass by numerous chortens and monasteries that whisper stories of the land.

Once we've crossed over the ridge, a welcome sight awaits – the open fields of Samagaon. This is where we'll lay our heads for the night, surrounded by a panorama of natural wonders. It's a magical place to rest, absorb, and take in the beauty that's embraced us throughout the day.

Today, we're not hitting the trail, but that doesn't mean we're taking a back seat. Nope, we're diving headfirst into Nepalese village life, soaking in the local vibes and immersing ourselves in their captivating culture. We venture out to explore the village, getting a firsthand peek into the lives of the locals.

Guess what? We're not stopping there. We're up for a little uphill adventure too – a climb to Pungyen Monastery that'll take us about two and a half hours. 

But wait, there's more! We're not missing out on the chance to visit Birendra Tal, a dazzling glacial lake perched at a cool 3,450 meters. After our escapades, we head back to the tea house for some relaxation before the next couple of days of trekking. 

As we journey onward, the once thunderous Budhi Gandaki mellows into a gentle stream, and we faithfully trace its winding path, ever higher. This ascent envelops us in a breathtaking panorama – mountains majestically surround us, with the giant mountain, Manaslu stealing the spotlight.

And there's heaps more to feast your eyes on – the views extend to Samdo (Pang phuchuli), Nagdi chuli, Simnang Himal, the sprawling Manaslu glacier, and a whole constellation of incredible peaks unique to this region.

Our trail guides us through expansive pasturelands, amidst the embrace of juniper trees, and along the sacred path adorned with mani walls. As we make our way to the river's east bank, we arrive at the valley's final settlement – Samdo where we'll be staying the night before continuing on up tomorrow. 

Time for another day of altitude acclimatisation and there's lots to explore. You could take a hike to the back of the village, traversing a trade pass that leads you right towards Tibet – how cool is that? But hey, if you're feeling extra adventurous and up for a bit more trekking, you can head north to the Gya-La pass. This route has seen its fair share of footprints over the years, making it a well-trodden trade route. Both paths gift you with unbeatable views of the mighty Mt. Manaslu, and you'll also be treated to sweeping vistas of other Himalayan heavyweights like Simrang, Hiunchuli, Ngadi, Larkye Peak, and Cheo.

You're in for a visual feast!

Your day begins by crossing a wooden bridge that spans the Budhi Gandaki river. Soon, we encounter the remnants of a once-thriving village, Larkya Bazaar, now a mere echo of its former trading glory. This settlement likely flourished as a bustling hub connecting to Tibet through the Gya La pass. Yet, over time, the trade dwindled, leading its inhabitants to seek new horizons. As we move forward, we're accompanied by the presence of Mani walls and prayer flags, hinting at the proximity of the Larkya La Pass.

We continue our journey, crossing a handful of streams, and before long, the magnificent Larkya Glacier comes into view, an epic sight to behold. Drawing closer to the glacier's grandeur, we'll stumble upon a stone guest house – Dharmasala, or Larkya La Phedi – thoughtfully built to offer shelter to travellers making their way across the Larkya La Pass.

This leg of our trek enables us to have some more free time to acclimatize and unwind, a well-deserved break in the midst of Himalayan giants.

Time to get some altitude!

Brace yourselves for a more challenging and rewarding day – today's trek is a bit of a beast because we're taking on the mighty Larkya La, the granddaddy of all peaks on the Manaslu trail, towering at an impressive 5,213 meters.

Our journey takes us across the glacier's rocky moraines. The climb starts gradually but gains intensity as we approach the top of the pass. And oh, what a reward awaits! At the summit, the world unfurls a breathtaking panorama – the epic  Humlung Himal, Cheo Himal Kang Guru, and the towering Annapurna II grace us with their majestic presence.

After reaching the high point of the trek, you'll take the descent down to the valley below. As the trail descends, the terrain becomes a bit more easier to trek across and after a few hours of trekking you'll reach the village of Bhimtang, our destination for the night.

An epic day with jaw-dropping views, aching legs and a huge tick off the list! 

Today's adventure clocks in at about 5/6 hours, as we gracefully trace the trail downstream alongside the Marshyangdi River. Our path meanders through quaint villages scattered along the way, each offering a glimpse into the local way of life. Weaving through Sangure Kharka's pastures, we're treated to splendid vistas of the towering Mt. Manaslu and the other giant peaks surrounding you. 

As we cross a bridge over Dudh Khola, the journey leads us into the embrace of rhododendron forests, painting our path with bursts of vibrant colors. Through a narrow valley we go, emerging onto high cultivated lands at Karche (at 2785 meters).

Our journey doesn't stop there – we tread through fields and conquer a steep ridge, a challenging climb that delivers us to Tiliche. 

As we bid farewell to Tiliche, we venture forth, crossing the Marshyangdi river and merging into the bustling flow of the main Annapurna Circuit. In the company of fellow trekkers, we soon find ourselves at Dharapani. The journey for the day blesses us with a gentle downward path, guiding us along the banks of the Dudh Khola and Marshyangdi River.

As we descend, the landscape changes as you enter a narrow gorge that momentarily gives way to the enchanting village of Tal, nestled amidst the picturesque surroundings. This village owes its existence to a fascinating tale – a natural landslide blocked the valley, creating a dam that formed a lake. Though the lake has long vanished, Tal stands proudly on the flat land it left behind.

Our footsteps lead us beyond Tal, and eventually, we land in Jagat, our haven for the night. 

After a thrilling two weeks of trekking through the majestic Himalayas on the Manaslu circuit, we find ourselves back in the heart of Kathmandu. A scenic seven-hour drive via Besi Sahar serves as our gateway, treating us to a visual feast of hill and mountain landscapes. Our journey often hugs the banks of the Marsyangdi and Trishuli rivers, unveiling nature's artistry as we pass by charming villages adorned with farming terraces that flank the road on both sides.

As we arrive back in Kathmandu and check-in, it's time to relax and grab that all-important celebratory cold beverage! 

You've had an incredible journey, probably made some awesome new friends along the way and you've got a bucket load of stories to tell the folks at home!

The adventure is over but the memories will last a lifetime. On this day, we will transfer you back to Kathmandu airport for your departure back home.

See you over in Nepal again. Namaste!