Manaslu Circuit Trek

Manaslu circuit trek is a less crowded, off beaten tea house trek that rounds the Manasri range in the Himalayas. It starts in the Gorkha district of western Nepal and ends in the Manang district. The circuit covers the two conservation areas of the country, Annapurna conservation area and Manaslu conservation area. Manaslu Circuit trek itinerary is flexible and shows you the special area of Nepal. 

Apart from Manasri Himalayan range, the Manaslu circuit trek also shows you areas behind Annapurna range. Manaslu circuit runs at the bank of Budhi Gandaki river at lower elevation leading you to the high Himalayan gigantic peaks and finally to the longest pass of the country Larkya la pass (5,135 m). Opened in 1992, Manaslu circuit trek lies in the Manaslu conservation area covering the area of 642 sq. mi in Gorkha district of western Nepal.

Manaslu Circuit Trek is a difficult level of the trek in the Manaslu region of Nepal. With our Manaslu Circuit Trek Itinerary 6 to 7 hours of walk daily is required to complete the trek in 12 days. Often compared with the Annapurna Circuit Trek, Manaslu Circuit Trek is a more isolated trek of Nepal. But the beautiful scenarios, vintage monastery, different snow-capped mountain ranges and ethnic culture of the different groups of people make the trek a lifetime experience. The trek is wild and remote, yet there are tea houses at everyday stages, so trekkers don’t need to bring tents and food, making it more accessible and affordable than similar treks.

Manaslu Circuit Trek lies in the restricted area of Nepal. Because of that, a restricted permit is also needed to trek in this region. Similarly, no solo trekkers are allowed to trek in these kinds of areas in Nepal. Most teahouses are quite basic but comfortable, with two single beds in each room. There is a common area for meals and relaxing, which is a great place to stay warm around the fire at night.

Spring (March, April and May) and Autumn (September, October and November) are the best seasons to travel to this region. In autumn, the weather will be clear and calm as well as you can get the opportunity to view High mountains including Manaslu with the full of Snow. Meanwhile, In spring, rhododendron blooms and you can see all the rhododendron forest turns into a beautiful garden. Manaslu Circuit trekking difficulty level is moderate. Compared to others, it is easily accessible and affordable.

Summary of Manaslu Circuit Trek

The trek en-routes through Buddhist villages, numb valley to falling Marsyangdi valley in Annapurna circuit wherein Manaslu circuit leads to Besisahar. Encompassing subtropical forest at a lower elevation, through Himalayan foothills to the high and challenging Larke la pass gives you the overwhelming experience.

During the first day of the trek, you will follow the upstream of Budi Gandaki River through the woodlands. Machhakhola is about 15 KM from Sotikhola. After about 6-7 hours of walking, you will reach Machhakhola. The landscape changes drastically as you go more upwards and when you reach Jagat you’ll find it drastically changes. Amazing landscapes with great views of waterfalls, rivers and mountains can be seen from Philim and Ekle Bhatti during the walk to Deng. The trail is full of Mani walls and crafted stones where you will get some glimpse of Tibetans flavour of people and culture. You will walk around 19 km before reaching the beautiful Namrung village.

Situated at the lap of Manaslu Himal and peak 29, Lho Gau lies at an elevation of 3,180 meters above sea level. Samagau is the most beautiful village on the entire trek situated at an elevation of 3,500 meters. The distance from Samagau to Samdo is 8 km and it takes 3-4 hours to reach the village from Samagau. Larkey Bazar was the hub of the trade from Tibet and upper Manaslu region. After a steady climb from Larkey Bazar, you will reach Dharmashala, the last place to stay before crossing the Larkya La pass. 

You will have the spectacular views of the snow-capped Himalayas like the Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Gyagi Kung, Kang Koru and Annapurna II. It is then a steep descent down from the pass towards Bhimphedi. The trail continues more downwards crossing the Karcher la pass via beautiful rhododendron forest reaching Tilje village. The trek then continues via Thonje village (from where you will enter the Annapurna region), Dharapani, Karta village before reaching Chamje village.

Manaslu Region of Nepal

The Manaslu Circuit trek encompasses diverse terrain, flora and fauna, ethnic culture and traditions. Likewise, Trekking through this route gives you wonderful landscapes, countryside, green lush forests. Prominently, the gorgeous view of the high glacier and Mount Manaslu. Also, experience the magnificent views of the snow-capped peaks such as Shringi Himal, Himlung, Cheo Peak, Gyagi Kung, Kang Koru, Annapurna II and others. The highest peak throughout the trek is Manaslu (8,167 m). Similarly, The Manaslu region is home to the Snow leopard, Himalayan Thar and Musk Deer including 33 species of mammals, 110 species of birds, 3 species of reptiles and over 1500-2000 species of flora. In addition, Manaslu Circuit reflects a rich way of life history, unrivalled glory and natural variety.

Fascinating natural stereotypes, beautiful villages and stunning views of Himalayas aid in the popularity of Manaslu Circuit Nepal. The Manaslu ranges lie along the border of Nepal and China. Tibetan culture and traditions influence the lifestyle here. Gurung, Rai, Magar and Limbu follow Buddhist cultures. Trekkers can learn about cultural values. But, the area falls under the restricted area. Therefore, Travelers need a special permit to explore this trek. Local trekking guide is important.

Larkya La Pass

Larkya La Pass is situated between Dharmashala and Bhimthang. It is also the highest point of the Manaslu Circuit Trek. Larkya La pass is not a technical pass and no ropes or climbing equipment are required to cross this pass. However, This region is popular for the sudden storms which make trekking difficult. During the time of snowfall, Larkya La Pass is even more difficult to cross because of the slippery route. Situated at an altitude of 5,200 meters, this pass lies in the Manaslu region of Nepal. This pass is one of the most beautiful passes in the trekking zone in the Himalayas of Nepal. Not much challenging but has huge beautiful attributes, this pass is popular for trekking in the Manaslu region. The trail leading to Larkya la pass starts from Gorkha, Arughat. With the spectacular mountainous beauty and diverse cultural experiences, this pass offers amazing experiences.

If our trip itinerary doesn’t suit your holiday schedule or you wish to modify the itinerary then feel free to inbox us. We want our valuable guests to enjoy their travel according to their needs and wills. We provide a variety of packages for student groups/family groups/corporate teams and many more. Every travel package is different according to the group size and the demand of the guests. We are also more than happy if you combine it with any travel plans, please let us know and we’ll create a tailor-made itinerary, designed especially for your travel group.