Manaslu Circuit Trek -15 days

Upon your arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, the Adventure Himalayan representatives will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel. After refreshment, you will be briefed in short about your tour by our guide or tour leader. If you have any questions or doubts about your trip then they should be asked and clarified at this time. Overnight stay at hotel.

Kathmandu Valley includes several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Pashupatinath (famous Hindu temple and cremation ground) Boudhanath (massive Buddhist stupa). We can also visit Swyambhunath, also known as Monkey Temple, which was built roughly 2000 years ago. Finally, we can visit Patan, city of fine arts. In the afternoon, you will be meeting with your trekking guide and will check all the necessary things. Overnight stay at the hotel.

The road till Dhading has asphalt. The unpaved road from Dhading to Arughat Bazaar is sometimes impassable after heavy monsoon rain. In this case it takes 3 to 4 hours of walking. Arughat Bazar is small market town that lies next to Buri Gandaki river. From here, we take a jeep to Soti Khola. Overnight in Tea house.

From here, the course will repeat ascents and descents to Almara, a village on the flank.
Move on, traversing the forest area. Continue a steep ascent on the rocky path, you will come across a stream. The trail makes its way down and past a few rice terraces, then up to the Gurung village of Lapubesi. Eventually, we make it to Machha Khola.

From here, we travel along the slope that has farm fields and rice paddies. Further ahead, the valley becomes wider. There are lots of views of Sringi Himal also called Chamar (7187m). The path then descends to the shores of white sand. After passing several more villages, we will reach to Kholabesi. We pass the village and the valley, follow the narrow path and soon you will reach to Tatopani, where it has a hot spring. Finally, we reach to Jagat.

Crossing the suspension bridge and passing through forested area, following the path that is carved in the rock to reach to Doban. Soon after crossing villages and a suspension bridge in Doban khola, trail keeps ascending and descending until arriving in Jagat. Overnight in tea house.

Leaving the village and make a small ascending traverse. The path will go down to river shores. It then offers a pleasant walk through bamboo forests to Deng Khola.
The path will go down to the river bank. Steep cliffs continue to surround the valley.
Moving on to the forest and crossing a few times wooden bridge over the Buri Gandaki the path will becomes steeper until Namru village. At this stage the Tibetan border is only a few kilometers to the north. Overnight in tea house in Namrung.

After passing through several villages, you will come to Hinan khola. Crosses the streams, you will come to Sho village, where we see spectacular views of Naike peak, Manaslu north peak and Manaslu. Lho has wide farm fields on the gentle mountain flank, it is a large village with many houses and a fine Gimpa. The views from here are excellent. After crossing Pungen glacier, the valley becomes wider. Move on from one Chorten to another to reach sama. Which is surrounded by a large number of Mani stones and Chortens. The Gompa on the top of the hill is very fine and worth visiting. Overnight in tea house in Sama Gaun.

Crossing by the foot over the great Manaslu Glacier we pass the trail that branches off to Manaslu Base Camp. Our path enters a woodland where we might see marmots in the birch and juniper bushes, when a final steep ascent brings us to the charming village of Samdo. The village has a well-established Tibetan refugee community –with Tibet being only a morning’s walk away.Soon after the junction, you will cross the stream using the wooden bridge and zigzag up the forested area to reach to Honsanho Gompa. Where it has an open view. After crossing Pungen glacier valley will become a wider. Move on from one Chorten to another to reach sama. Which is surrounded by a large number of Mani stones and Chortens. The Gompa on the top of the hill is very fine and worth visiting.

We take the day to explore and acclimatize our bodies to the altitude. Walking north from Samdo, the trail climbs gradually along the Athahra Saya Khola, then descends gently towards the river bed crossing a side river on a wooden bridge. Then we climb again and go beside the river on its western side. After 3 hours of walking from Samdo, the Athahra Saya Khola turns west. Cross the bridge and begin to climb on the slope. At its bottom, the trail may seem unclear as there are several Yak trails going up, but as you climb it is clear that your way is… up… The climb to the top of the Rui La pass, at 4998m. Along the way there are beautiful sights of Manaslu in the distance, as well as the Hindu and Fukang glaciers just behind you as you climb. The Rui La pass is a "classic” "U” shaped mountain pass. Prayer flags mark the pass and a border stone marks the border between Nepal and "Dzong Who” – China. Numerous mountain ranges can be seen on the Tibetan side, and if you are patient enough, wait to see a Yak caravan crossing the pass to bring goods into Nepal.

After an easy first part of the of day, we cross the Budhi Gandaki for the final time before the trail gradually rises through juniper and tundra with a viewpoint overlooking the Larkya La Glacier. Climbing further, we arrive at the Spartan Larkya guest house.

An early morning start is needed for strenuous, yet rewarding day. A pre-dawn start to avoid the anticipated heavy wind is important.
After a long gradual climb alongside the moraine we make a short descent to a glacial lake and reach the head of the moraine (4,700m) which we cross to climb to the ridge top. Four frozen lakes lie below and then it is up to the crest of the Larkya La (5,100m).
The reward for these difficult trekking conditions is brilliant westerly views of Himlung Himal, Kangurru and Annapurna II as well as the looming omnipresence of Manaslu.
On the steep descent we drop around 600m in less than an hour. Our trail then levels off onto yak pastures before finally reaching Bhimthang, a collection of typical summer kharkas.

We descend on easier terrain through meadows and pine and rhododendron forest, until arriving in Hampuk. Then the path drops further, following the course of the Dudh Khola. Crossing the stream fed by the snows of the Kichke Himal, we arrive at Karche and continue on to the village of Gho – where rice is back on the menu and Nepalese ‘dhal bhat’ is revisited. Keeping to the west bank of the river, our afternoon is one of gradual descent to the Gurung settlement of Tilije. From here trail decends to Thonje. Cross the Marshyandi River to reach to village of Dharapani. Overnight in guest house.

We have a full day of traveling ahead of us. Luckily, the views along the journey distract us with their beauty and the ride is quite pleasureable.

We will transport you to the airport. Thanks for trekking with Adventure Himalayan Travels. We look forward to seeing you again!