Manaslu Circuit Trek

Kathmandu is the place where all of the tours are officially plan for international tourists. After reaching Kathmandu and staying there for a while, you will drive to Sotikhola through a local bus or a private jeep. While the jeep will go continuously without unnecessary stops, it will take nearly 6 to 7 hours. The local bus, on the other hand, can take approximately 9 to 10 hours. on the highway towards Dhading Besi, you can stop for lunch. Although the road to Sotikhola is bumpy, you will have the views of the Langtang, and Ganesh Himal to look up to. 

After reaching Sotikhola by bus, you will head on to Machha Khola which will mark the beginning of your trek to the Manaslu Circuit. The trek takes around 5 hours to reach, and you pass through the three suspension bridges on the way as you follow Budi Gandaki River. The vies of the Ganesh Himal in the north and east will continue throughout the day. 

After reaching Accha Khola, you will then head on to Jagat on this day. You will have some lunch in Dovan and then head on to Tatopani which is a natural hot spring. Then after, you will cross six suspension bridges and a cantilever bridge to reach to Lower Jagat. You will have to show a permit at the entry point of the Manaslu conservation area here. 

From Jagat, the trek will begin and then head on to Deng which takes about 6 to 7 hours. You will have your lunch at Chisapani and cross Philim, a village inhabited by the Gurung Community. After showing your permit at the checkpoint,you will take the path that crosses six suspension bridges. From crossing the small Chortens to getting yourself lost in the beauty of the rhododendron and bamboo forest, Dengg up ahead is a wonderful and welcoming village. The views of the majestic Ganesh Himal and Sringi Himal are visible on the backdrop throughout the day. 

You will be leaving Deng today and head towards Namrung. On the way, you will walk through the forest of pine. Also, throughout the day, you will enjoy the fantastic views of Sringi Himal, Syaula Himal, Rani Peak, and Lopchan Himal. After having lunch at Ghap, you will be crossing seven suspension bridges. In the afternoon, you can head towards the Namla Gompa to admire the Buddhist culture. Namrung is one of the most developed areas in the Manaslu region. 

From Namrung you will be heading on to Sama Gaon. On the way towards Sama, you will also be crossing the Lho village which is situated at an elevation of 3100m. From the viewpoint here, you can spot Himchuli, Nike Peak on the North. As you reach Shyala, you will get the up close and panoramic views of mountains  like never before. It is suggested that you visit the Tibung Gompa since it is a huge tourist attraction in the area. You will then take the rugged path and cross six suspension bridges towards Sama and stay at night in a tea house. 

You will take a days to rest at Sama gaon which offers views of the Manaslu Base Camp. In the day, you will visit the Pung Gyen Ghompa, which is a wonderful Buddhist monastery at the elevation of 4800m. In about an hour, you will reach the Birendra Lake also. Reaching the Manaslu Base Camp is another option at the elevation of 4800m since it takes the same amount of time as reaching Pungg Gyen and Birendra Lake.

You will reach Samdo village after a 3 hours walk from Sama Gaon. The up-close and panoramic views of Nike Peak, Samdo peak, and Manaslu north are more than what the eyes can take. You will be crossing the two wooden bridges on the way. From the mountains in the backdrop to the mountain goats and yaks grazing in the field, Samdo village is a perfect haven for the unique culture, tradition, and way of life. 

Dharmashala at an elevation of 4460m is the highest point of the trek where you will be sleeping. To reach here, you will cross many suspension bridges. Two paths reach Dharmashala, one that passes from the Tibetian border through Larkey Bazar and the other through the Nepali Border mentioned here. As you go higher, the availability of tea houses becomes thin, and so does the air around you. You need to take small steps and should not rush. Along the way you will get a chance to spot the Mountain Goats, Marots, yaks grazing peacefully in the little shrubs in the field. Dharmashala is a lovely place which is very peaceful and comfortable to the eye. It is also the starting point to the Budi Gandaki river. 

On this day, you will be heading towards Bhimtang from Dharamshala. However,the main excitement lies in the fact that you will be crossing Larke La Pass, which is the highest point of the entire trek. This is a challenging day since you will have o wake up early in the morning even before dawn and lead on a difficult pass. It takes about 5 hours to hike towards Larke LA pass from Dharamshala. It is a tough, but the views of Larkey Peak, Choyo, Ratnachuli, Himlung, and Peri Himal along with Annapurna II will keep you satisfied. From Larke LA, you will trek towards Bhimtang. Along the way, you will be gifted with the fantastic view of Ponkar glacial lake. 

From Bhimtang, you will then head on towards Gho which will take about 5 to 6 hours. You will be heading towards a forest of rhododendron and pine after having lunch at Surki Khola. You will cross a suspension bridge and two wooden bridges while following the Dudh Koshi river on the way towards Gho. Stay overnight at Gho in the tea house. 

This is regarded as one of the shorter hikes of the entire Manaslu Circuit Trek since you will be heading towards Dharapani which takes no more than three hours. You can also visit Chamche waterfall and Syange waterfall on the way. The Chamche waterfall is very mesmerizing, and the views from the restaurant nearby are amazing. You will have to show a permit at the check-post. Besisahar has a full line of many hotels, restaurants along the way. You can opt to stay at the homestays if you want to experience the culture and way of life of the people there. 

It takes anywhere from 6 to 7 hours to reach Kathmandu from Besisahar through a bus ride. You will have lunch in the many hotels on the highway. After the excellent Manaslu Circuit trek, you can plan your next trip around the Annapurna Region, Shey Phokshundo, or anywhere in Nepal for the lush trekking experience that you experienced in the Manaslu region.