Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. A representative from Glacier Nepal treks will welcome you at the airport and take you to your hotel by private vehicle. After a short rest, you will meet the guide at our office. Your guide will answer any questions you may have about your trek. Overnight at the hotel.
ravel by private jeep to the start of the Manaslu trek in Sotikhola. After an early morning departure from Kathmandu, you will notice your first views of the Ganesh Himal and Langtang Himal range upon leaving the valley. The road zigzags along the Trisuli River. After approximately 7-8 hours, we will reach Sotikhola, a small village on the Budi Gandaki riverbank, and the start of the Manaslu trek. After a long travel day, spend the evening resting and preparing for the trek. Overnight at a Sotikhola teahouse
After breakfast at the teahouse, our trek begins with a walk on the newly opened roadway that winds through the Buri Gandaki River Valley. This road is part of the government of Nepal’s plan to build a highway that will connect to China’s autonomous region of Tibet. We pass a few small villages and a suspension bridge. The trek follows the Budi Gandaki River and gains a few hundred meters of elevation before reaching Machhakhola, our destination for the day. Stay overnight at a Machakhola teahouse
After breakfast at the teahouse, cross the Machakhola suspension bridge and begin a gradual climb to Tatopani (hot springs). Road construction is ongoing here; be prepared to encounter many mule trains. Always pass mules on the wall side and follow your guide for safety. After crossing the Budi Gandaki suspension bridge and the villages of Dovan and Keraunja, we ascend through Yaruphant to the village of Jagat. Jagat marks the beginning of the restricted Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP). Stay overnight at a Jagat teahouse.
After breakfast at the teahouse, continue along the Buri Gandaki River to the village of Salleri. After ascending from Salleri, you will see a beautiful view of Siring Himal. Pass the villages of Sirdibas and Ghatte Khola to a long suspension bridge. Once across the bridge, a short trek brings you to the largest Gurung village in the region – Gurung. After passing Chisapani (Ekle Bhatti), we descend back down to the Budi Gandaki River and pass a trail that leads through the Tsum Valley (the Tsum Valley trek). After a few river crossings, we arrive in the village of Pewa and, soon after, ascend to the village of Deng. Stay overnight at a Dang teahouse.
After breakfast at the teahouse, the trek winds its way down to the river and then ascends once again to the villages of Rana and Bhi Phedi. During the walk, we may be able to spot langur monkeys on one of their routine visits to the fields to feed. Before reaching the village of Ghap, the trek will cross a landslide area. Proceed with caution and follow your guide’s direction. After another crossing of the Buri Gandaki River, the trail meanders through a lush forest and then ascends to our destination for the night Namrung. In Namrung, enjoy beautiful views of the Ganesh Himal and Siring Himal. Overnight at a Namrung teahouse
Today, the trek gains approximately 900 meters/2950 ft. Please remember to always follow your guide’s instructions and pay careful attention to trail signs. After breakfast at the teahouse, travel through the village of Bhaniam and begin an ascent through the alpine forest. Once in Lho, you will have an amazing view of Mt. Manaslu to the West. Ribung Gumpa is another site worth visiting Lho. Past Lho, you will reach the village of Shayla, where we will cross a couple of suspension bridges and follow a mostly flat trail to Samagaon. Stay overnight at a Samagaon teahouse
An acclimatization day to prepare for the trip over Larkya La, a mountain pass at (5,160m/ 16,930feet), the highest point of the trek. It is best to stay active on rest days. Take an early morning hike to Manaslu base camp (4,800 m, 7-8 hours roundtrip), visit Birendra lake, or explore the village and Samagaon monastery. There are many opportunities to get acquainted with the rich Sherpa culture. Enjoy the sight of thousands of mani stones with Tibetan texts and pictures and the Sherpa women clad in traditional clothes and ornaments. Stay overnight again at a Samagaon teahouse.
After breakfast at the teahouse, we once again follow the Buri Gandaki River while enjoying beautiful views of the mountains and of Samagaon behind us. The trek gradually climbs to the next village of Samdo, a short and easy day. Arrive in Samdo by lunch. After lunch, you will have the choice to do another short acclimatization hike up the hill behind Samdo or walk around exploring the village. Stay overnight at a Samdo teahouse
Today we trek to Dharamsala, also known as Larke Phedi, our last stop before Larkya La. After breakfast at the teahouse, begin the trek and after about an hour we will cross the Budi Gandaki river and Larke bazaar (a trade point for Nepal and Tibet). From Larkebazar, we will ascend a few hundred meters to the seasonal village of Dharamsala. There are a few very basic teahouses here with dormitory-style lodging. This will be our highest overnight elevation of the trip. Stay overnight at a Dharamsala teahouse.
After early morning breakfast, we start the trek while it is still dark outside. The trek climbs gradually, passing by the beautiful lake next to the Larkya Glacier. After a few hours of climbing, we reach Larkya La. From Larkya Pass, there are spectacular views of the huge Annapurna 2, Himlung Himal, and Cheo Himal. From the pass, we descend for 3-4 hours to the village of Bhimthang Phedi, tucked next to the Ponkar glacier. Stay overnight at a Bhimthang teahouse.
After breakfast at the teahouse, we descend from Bhimthang, enjoying a wonderful view of Manaslu, Lanjung, Cheo Himal along the way. We cross the Dudh Khola just below the Ponker glacier and are back in the beautiful rhododendron forest. After walking through the village of Gowa, we arrive in Tilche. Stay Overnight at a Tilche teahouse.
Our last day trekking. After breakfast at the teahouse, we walk about an hour to reach the village of Dharapani. From here, we catch a jeep first to Besisahar and then on to Kathmandu. That night, we will have a farewell dinner to celebrate our successful trek. Enjoy your accomplishment in a traditional Nepalese restaurant with cultural dance. Overnight at the hotel.
This is your final day in Nepal. A Glacier Nepal treks representative will take you ay Tribhuvan International Airport by private vehicle. Safe travels home sweet home
My husband and I hired Rabin as our guide for the Manaslu Circuit Trek. Rabin's more than 15 years of experience was evident from the start. He is a true professional and as such, was well adept at anticipating our needs, whether that meant giving us space to hike at our own pace or knowing when it was best to take a rest day for acclimitization. When there was uncertainty over whether we'd be able to cross Larke La due to snow levels, Rabin maintained a positive attitude and insisted we take it day by day. This went a long way in allowing my husband and I to relax and just appreciate where we were without thinking too much about a potential bad outcome. While it was clear safety was a top priority to Rabin, we were also confident in the fact that he would do all he could to get us over the pass. As an added bonus, Rabin is personable, friendly and a joy to be around. He speaks excellent English and was a valuable source of information during our trek. We very much enjoyed our many conversations with him. We had a great experience with Rabin and highly recommend Glacier Nepal Treks to both experienced and inexperienced trekkers alike!
