Itinerary

1. Day 1 : Kathmandu Arrival and transfer to Hotel

   • Meet our representative at the international airport. The representative will then guide you through the traditional alleys and winding streets of Kathmandu towards our hotel. Receive a warm welcome with a cup of tea/coffee. 
   • Savour a welcome dinner organized by our team in the evening to get to know each other!                                

2. Day 2 : Kathmandu Sightseeing and Trek Preparation

   • Receive a quick briefing, follow your guide to Kathmandu Pasupatinath Temple in the morning, and then drive to Bouddhanath Stupa. 
   • Drive to Swyambhunath stupa, popularly known as “monkey temple”, located on the small hill where you can observe the whole Kathmandu Valley. 
   • Drive to an ancient royal palace, Patan Durbar Square, that houses several Hindu temples such as Bhimesh Temple, Vishwanath Temple, Taleju Bhawani Temple and the famous Krishna Temple. 
   • Later in the evening, join a meeting with the trekking guide. Make your trekking preparation and check trekking equipment. This would be your second overnight in Kathmandu.

3. Day 3 : Drive Kathmandu to Soti Khola [710m/2328 ft]: 6-7 hrs.

   • Start your first day of the trek by driving west along the Kathmandu-Pokhara Highway to Soti Khola Village in the early morning, heading off to the Dhading hilltop village. The road goes through rural villages, settlements, green terraces, and lush hills. Inevitably the road would be a dirt track, and you start to see Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal and Langtang Himal on the southern slopes. There are several rest stops along the way where you can take a quick break and lunch. 

   You will have your overnight at a teahouse in Soti Khola.                                

4. Day 4 : Day 04 Soti Khola - Machha Khola [900m/2952 ft]: 6-7 hrs.

   • Begin this thrilling trek after breakfast in Soti Khola. Pass through spectacular landscapes, including woods and swirling rice paddies, a cliff-face ridge, a rumbling river and also some awe-inspiring waterfalls. Regardless of the rugged trail, the first day of this trek will be an unforgettable experience. The breathtaking views of the landscape will amuse you throughout the trail. 
   • Cross a bridge and walk through a Sal forest to the ridge above the river Budhi Gandaki (joined by the Tum Khola river in the Tibetan mountains) on top of the mountains. After two tropical waterfalls sticking to a cliffside, you reach Khorsane. 
   • Go down and pass through the rice paddies, continuing up to the beautiful Labubesi village of Gurung. 
   • Start ascending past a steep hillside where the valley opens up next to the river. Going down to the shore of the river, walk over rounded stones before climbing over a side ridge. 
   • Descend down again to the river and pass through another suspension bridge to enter the village of Machha Khola, where you will find many teahouses for a night stay.                            

5. Day 5 : Machha Khola -Jagat [1410m/ 4625 ft]: 6-7 hrs.

   • Begin walking along the winding route along the Budi Gandaki River's bank. Get to see many monkeys and langurs as you enter the forest trail. 
   • Stroll through Gurung villages such as lower Khorlabeshi. The shepherds in the village wear the traditional smoke-brown cape known as Bokkhu. 
   • Reach Tatopani ‘hot water' after a short stroll, where you can take hot baths to relax. From there, you have to cross a suspension bridge across the Budhi Gandaki river to get to Dobhan. 
   • Hike up the stone stairs after crossing the Yaru Khola, then drop to the stream and climb more stone stairs to Tharo Bharyang. 
   • Cross the Budhi Gandaki on the west bank, walk over a slope, trek along the waterway, and then make your way to Jagat. 

   Overnight at Jagat.

6. Day 6 : Jagat - Deng [1,804m/5917 ft]: 6-7 hrs

   • Begin the day with breakfast in the village of Jagat. Walk through diverse sceneries and subtropical forests as well as the small rivers and simple yet attractive villages to reach your final destination. 
   • Start the journey by moving to Salleri on a rough trail, then to Sirdibas. The valley widens a little as the route keeps going towards Ghatta Khola.  
   • Hike uphill to a long suspension in a famous Gurung town, Philim. The trail turns north over the lowest village house from here and remains on a very low road as it goes through millet fields to Ekle Bhatti. The road now reaches a steep gorge from which the grassy paths descend, and then the Budhi River Gandaki is crossed.
   • Walk a bit around the west shore, then cross to the east shore before returning again to the west side. As you continue along the trail, the valley expands, and you pass the bamboo forest to the Deng Khola. 
   • Reach the village at Deng after crossing the Khola, where you will spend your cozy overnight.                                

7. Day 7 : Deng - Ghap [2165m/7102 ft]: 3-4 hrs.

   • Depart the Gurung village of Deng, enjoying the view of the Siringi Himal and walk past the Bihi Phedi and Bihi to reach the Ghap. Cross the Budhi Gandaki on the north bank after a short distance past Deng and then ascend to Rana at 1980m. 
   • Climb a little from the bridge to reach a Bhi trail, then go west up the Budhi Gandaki valley. 
   • Enter the Sringi Valley after crossing several streams and rivers. 
   • Pass through the forests and Mani Walls to Ghap, where you will spend the night. You may also take a short side trip to Prok to see Tibetan Gompas.                                

8. Day 8 : Ghap - Lho [3180m/10,430 ft]: 7-8 hrs.

   • Ascend through a dense pine forest before crossing a river running down a narrow gorge.  
   • Move ahead on the narrow trail through the forest to Namru, where there is a checkpoint, and then on to Lihi through the forest route past small Tibetan villages. 
   • Reach Sho village. The cluster of stone homes and the Chorten with intricate paintings makes this small village extremely pleasant to stay.  The views of the mountains get more sensational with rising altitude. 
   • Move towards the village of Lho to spend the overnight. Spot Manaslu, Manaslu North, Himalchu, Saula Himal and Dwijen Himal on either side of the trail.                               

9. Day 9 : Lho - Samagaon [3530m/11,578 ft]: 5-6 hrs.

   • Begin with a steep descent through the Thusang Khola, a rock-strewn river. 
   • Climb to Shyala Village on a plateau by hiking through the shady fir trees. Observe a magnificent view of Himal Chuli, Peak 29 (Ngadi Chuli), Manaslu, and Ganesh Himal surrounding the village as you pass through a big Chorten into a little downturn where the main part of the village of Samagoan is made by two rows of homes. 

   Stay at Samagoan overnight. Samagaon has a renowned monastery.                                

10. Day 10 : Samagaon – Acclimatization

    • For acclimatization and rest, you spend one day in Samagoan. You can walk to the famous monastery Pung Gyen Gompa from where you can have a stunning view of the glacier. 
    • Enjoy observing a thousand mani stones inscribed with Buddhist texts, portraits of Sherpa women in traditional clothes and ornaments and Buddhist books. 
    • Spend your day exploring and digging into the village's everyday life.                                

11. Day 11 : Sama - Samdo [3860m/12,660 ft]: 4-5 hrs.

    • Start from Sama, at the foot of the massive Manaslu Glacier, where the path to Manaslu Base Camp splits. As the valley widens, you take the trail towards Larkya la, passing several Mani walls. 
    • Enter a birch, juniper, and rhododendron woodland, cross a wooden bridge, and climb slowly onto a hillside between two river forks before arriving at Samdo for the night.                                

12. Day 12 : Samdo - Dharamsala/Larkya B. C. [4460m/14, 628 ft]: 4-5 hrs.

    • After having your breakfast in Samdo, hike through Larke Bazaar, a seasonal Tibetan market, before descending to the Budi Gandaki River. 
    • Cross the wooden bridge and continue ascending, passing two streams and enjoying the Larkya Glacier. 
    • Travel through the Salka Khola valley before climbing back up to Dharamsala, also known as Larke Phedi. Many traditional monasteries can be encountered along the way.                                

13. Day 13 : Dharamsala - Larkya la [5100m/16, 728 ft] - Bimthang [3720m/12, 201 ft]: 8-9 hrs.

    • After a brief climb, arrive in a valley on the north side of the Larkya Glaciers, from which you can see Cho Danda and Larkya Peak. Walk over the glacier moraines, gradually ascending to the pass, where you will be blessed with spectacular views of Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kanguru, and Annapurna II. 
    • Continue through the yak pastures towards Bimthang, taking in the beautiful view from the past and enjoying the evening mist. 

    Have a night stay at Bimthang.                               

14. Day 14 : Bimthang - Tal [1920m/6297 ft]: 8-9 hrs.

    Last day of the hike on the Manaslu trails. 

    • As you descend, pass across lush forests bustling with flora and fauna, particularly rhododendron. 
    • Walk straight across the Dudh Khola to Karche for lunch. In the next hour, see several signs of a glacial flood, including smashed tree trunks and bank erosion, and the path will get very rugged. 
    • Follow the trail that then descends to Gurung Goa, the first true village since Samdo. The valley starts to look more agricultural and greener as you go through fields and forests of oak and rhododendron, continuing on the north bank until you reach Tilije. 
    • Continue your walk towards Dharapani and then to Tal.                                

15. Day 15 : Drive Kathmandu via Besi Sahar by Jeep or Bus: 7-8 hrs

    • Drive to Kathmandu for 7 to 8 hours along the Marsyangdi and Trishuli rivers banks admiring the beautiful views of green hills, mountains, agricultural terraces, and villages. You freshen up and take a walk around the city before returning to your cozy hotel in Kathmandu for the night. 
    • In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with our office team leader, where you can share your experience about the Manaslu Circuit trek.                                

16. Day 16 : Departure from Kathmandu for next trip or to your home

    • On your last day in Nepal, our office staff will drop you off at the airport two hours before your departure, leaving you with some fond memories of us and a memorable trekking experience.