Manaslu Circuit Trek

Day 1 of 13

Drive Kathmandu to Machha Khola

Kathmandu → Arughat → Soti Khola → Machha Khola

Altitude: Kathmandu 1,400 m → Machha Khola 930 m

Time: 8–10 h drive

Overnight: Machha Khola (930 m)

A long, scenic drive west along the Prithvi Highway, then north up the Budhi Gandaki valley through Arughat and Soti Khola. The final hours run on a rough jeep track cut into the gorge, landslide-prone in and after the monsoon. Machha Khola ("fish river") is a small riverside bazaar with simple lodges.

Leave Kathmandu by 6–7 am — arriving in daylight matters on this road. A private jeep is strongly recommended over the local bus.

Day 2 of 13

Machha Khola to Jagat

Machha Khola → Tatopani hot spring → Khorlabesi → Jagat

Altitude: 930 m → 1,340 m (+410 m)

Time: 6–7 h

Overnight: Jagat (1,340 m)

The trail follows the roaring Budhi Gandaki through a hot, low-altitude gorge, crossing and re-crossing on long suspension bridges past the hot spring at Tatopani and the village of Khorlabesi, then climbs stone staircases carved into the cliffside to Jagat — a beautifully flagstoned Gurung village and the official gateway to the restricted area.

It is warm and humid down here — start early and drink constantly.

Day 3 of 13

Jagat to Deng

Jagat (permit checkpoint) → Salleri → Philim → Ekle Bhatti → Deng

Altitude: 1,340 m → 1,860 m (+520 m)

Time: 6–7 h

Overnight: Deng (1,860 m)

Permits are checked and stamped at Jagat, the formal entry to the Manaslu restricted region. The gorge narrows dramatically — waterfalls streak the walls, the trail blasts through cliffs, and the villages of Salleri and Philim pass by. Beyond the confluence where the Tsum Valley trail branches east, the route crosses into pine forest and the small village of Deng, where the culture starts shifting from Hindu Gurung to Tibetan Buddhist.

Your guide registers permits at checkpoints from here on — keep your passport accessible.

Day 4 of 13

Deng to Namrung

Deng → Rana → Bihi Phedi → Ghap → Namrung

Altitude: 1,860 m → 2,630 m (+770 m)

Time: 6–7 h

Overnight: Namrung (2,630 m)

A day of steady climbing through some of the trek's most dramatic gorge scenery — the trail switchbacks high above the river past Rana, Bihi Phedi, and Ghap, with mani walls, chortens, and carved prayer stones appearing everywhere now. The final forested climb delivers the first big mountain views: Siring Himal and the Ganesh Himal range.

From Namrung onward you are in culturally Tibetan Nubri — walk clockwise around all mani walls and chortens. Namrung has some of the route's most comfortable lodges.

Day 5 of 13

Namrung to Lho

Namrung → Lihi → Sho → Lho

Altitude: 2,630 m → 3,180 m (+550 m)

Time: 4–5 h

Overnight: Lho (3,180 m)

A shorter day climbing through Lihi, Sho, and barley fields into increasingly alpine country. Rounding the final bend into Lho brings the trek's signature moment: Mt. Manaslu (8,163 m) filling the sky with its twin-pinnacled summit — the name means "Mountain of the Spirit."

Visit Ribung Gompa above the village for sunset — Manaslu turning gold behind the monastery is the photo of the trek.

Day 6 of 13

Lho to Samagaun

Lho → Shyala → Samagaun

Altitude: 3,180 m → 3,530 m (+350 m)

Time: 4–5 h

Overnight: Samagaun (3,530 m)

Another mercifully short day through Shyala — a village ringed by a full panorama of Himal Chuli, Peak 29, Manaslu, and Ganesh Himal — before dropping to Samagaun (Sama), the cultural heart of the Nubri valley: stone houses, yak pastures, a historic gompa, and Manaslu towering directly overhead.

Settle in — you have two nights here. Lodges fill in October; there is even a bakery.

Day 7 of 13

Acclimatization Day at Samagaun

Manaslu Base Camp, Birendra Lake, or Pungyen Gompa (choose one)

Altitude: 3,530 m, day options to 3,690–4,400 m

Time: 2–7 h depending on option

Overnight: Samagaun (3,530 m)

Hike high, sleep low. Manaslu Base Camp (~4,400 m) is the full acclimatization hike — 5–7 hours round trip past Birendra Lake to the climbers' base camp beneath the icefall, and the best preparation for the pass. Birendra Lake itself (3,690 m) is a gentler 2–3 hour round trip to the glacial lake's milky-turquoise water. Pungyen Gompa (~4,000 m) reaches a remote monastery on the moraine with huge Manaslu views and far fewer people.

Whichever you choose, drink 3–4 liters and eat well — the pass is three days away.

Day 8 of 13

Samagaun to Samdo

Samagaun → Samdo

Altitude: 3,530 m → 3,875 m (+345 m)

Time: 3–4 h

Overnight: Samdo (3,875 m)

A short, gentle walk up the widening valley past yak herds and juniper scrub to Samdo, the last permanent village before the pass — a Tibetan refugee settlement just below the old trade route to Tibet.

With a 14th day to spare, an extra night here with a day-hike toward the Rui La (4,998 m) on the Tibetan border is superb acclimatization and a built-in weather buffer for the pass.

Day 9 of 13

Samdo to Dharmasala (Larke Phedi)

Samdo → Larke Bazaar site → Dharmasala

Altitude: 3,875 m → 4,460 m (+585 m — above the usual guideline; standard here since the pass is crossed and 1,400 m descended the next day)

Time: 4–5 h

Overnight: Dharmasala (4,460 m)

A steady half-day climb past the seasonal Larke Bazaar site to Dharmasala — not a village but a cluster of very basic dorm huts and tents that exists purely to stage the pass crossing. Beds are limited and overflow in peak season; your guide reserves ahead.

Expect the coldest, most basic night of the trek. Anyone with worsening AMS symptoms must not sleep here — descending to Samdo is the right call.

Day 10 of 13

Cross Larke La to Bimthang

Dharmasala → Larke La (5,106 m) → Bimthang

Altitude: 4,460 m → 5,106 m → 3,720 m

Time: 8–10 h; start 3:00–4:30 am

Overnight: Bimthang (3,720 m)

The hardest day of the trek. The climb begins in the dark over moraine ridges and frozen streams — steady rather than steep, but relentless at this altitude. Prayer flags at Larke La (5,106 m) mark the top, with a panorama of Himlung, Cheo Himal, Kang Guru, and Annapurna II. The descent is the harder half: steep, often icy slopes and loose scree dropping nearly 1,400 m to Bimthang, a gorgeous meadow amphitheater beneath Manaslu's west face.

There is nowhere to shelter between Dharmasala and Bimthang — carry full water, snacks, and every warm layer you have. Microspikes and trekking poles are essential.

Day 11 of 13

Bimthang to Tilije

Bimthang → Karche → Gho → Tilije

Altitude: 3,720 m → 2,300 m (−1,420 m)

Time: 5–6 h

Overnight: Tilije (2,300 m)

A glorious descent across the glacier outwash below Bimthang, then down through some of Nepal's finest rhododendron and pine forest alongside the Dudh Khola to the mixed Gurung-Tibetan village of Tilije, known for its apple brandy.

Knees take the strain today — poles out, pace easy, enjoy the oxygen.

Day 12 of 13

Tilije to Dharapani, Drive to Besisahar

Tilije → Dharapani (permit checkpoint) → Besisahar (drive)

Altitude: 2,300 m → Dharapani 1,960 m → Besisahar 760 m

Time: 2–3 h walking; 3–4 h drive

Overnight: Besisahar (760 m)

A short morning walk down to Dharapani, where the Manaslu Circuit joins the classic Annapurna Circuit trail and the ACAP permit is checked. From here, jeeps bounce down the dramatic Marsyangdi valley road to Besisahar — the trekking is complete.

To finish on foot instead, trek Dharapani → Jagat/Syange and drive from there — adds a day.

Day 13 of 13

Drive Besisahar to Kathmandu

Besisahar → Dumre → Kathmandu

Altitude: 760 m → 1,400 m

Time: 6–7 h drive

A straightforward highway drive back to Kathmandu via Dumre and the Prithvi Highway, arriving by late afternoon for a celebratory dinner in Thamel. It is roughly the same driving time to Pokhara for those who would rather finish the trip lakeside.