16 Day Manaslu Circuit Short Trekking and Culture Tour in Nepal

Daily itinerary

The 16-day Manaslu circuit short trek provides a standard itinerary with days where some walks can be shorter or longer as per your physical fitness, some designated overnight stops can change, due to available rooms and other facilities, etc. You will follow the itinerary if it needs to be changed in case of weather, landslides, and difficulties on walks requiring more days, where our leader and lead head guides decide to hold full authority for Trekking Planner Nepal.

Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu and then transfer to the hotel

• Accommodation: Hotel Thamel Park
• Meals: Welcome dinner
• Maximum altitude: 1,350 meters / 4,430 feet

On reaching Kathmandu airport via various international airlines. Trekking Planner guide and staff receive you with a warm traditional welcome and then transfer you to the hotel in the heart of Kathmandu city, within easy reach of its shops and restaurants. Check into your rooms and, after getting refreshed from the jet lag, meet other members at the hotel lobby for a group briefing regarding the Manaslu Circuit trek, information on do’s and don’ts, local culture, and other important details necessary to know, to make your holiday in Nepal enjoyable and worth joining on this marvelous Manaslu Circuit trek. Evening enjoy group dinner in a nice, authentic Nepalese restaurant and get the Pure taste of local cuisine with exciting entertainment of a folk cultural program.

Day 2: Full day in Kathmandu or trekking preparation day

• Accommodation: Hotel Thamel Park
• Meals: Breakfast
• Maximum altitude: 1350 meters / 4430 feet

In Kathmandu sightseeing tour at places of great interest, enjoy your day visiting around Kathmandu's best wonderful places and World Heritage Sites, with time for trek preparation.

• Kathmandu Durbar Square
• Swayambunath Monkey Temple
• Boudhanath Buddhist Stupa
• Pashupatinath Hindu Temple

Did you know that the Kathmandu Durbar Square is filled with nice handicraft shops and red cobbled alleys leading from old palaces to incredible architectural temples. Swayambhunath is located on top of a hill, giving a view over the entire Kathmandu Valley. It is the home of hundreds of monkeys that reside in the hillside forest. Boudhanath is said to be the Tomb of one of the legendary sages who achieved the rank of enlightenment. Pashupatinath is a holy burial site for Hindus and many devotees or Gurus residing here. If you would like, you can request one of these holly men to pose for a picture with you.

Day 3: Drive to Machha Khola

• Accommodation: Everest View Hotel
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Maximum altitude: 900 meters/ 2,950 feet
• Duration: 8 - 9 hours

An early morning start for a long and interesting overland journey to Nepal Mid-West, an opportunity to observe Nepalese scenic country farm life. Drive follows the main highway past villages and towns to reach the district of Gorkha at Arughat farm town. From here, transfer to a local vehicle suitable for rough dirt roads, and the drive continues to Soti Khola for an overnight stop. Soti Khola, a moderate-sized farm village, stands near the bank of the Buri-Gandaki River.

Day 4: Trek to Jagat

• Accommodation: Mangolian Cottage Lodge
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Maximum altitude: 1,410 meters / 4,626 feet
• Duration: 6 hours

Morning from Machha Khola (Fish stream) walk follows to Khola-Besi village, and at Tatopani, a place with natural 'hot spring', as time permits, enjoy a refreshing break here. Continue walking as the valley meanders into a narrow gorge, cross over a suspension bridge, then into a small forest to reach Dovan, a small settlement located on a high shelf of the Buri-Gandaki River.

The walk proceeds to cross a bridge, and then climb to a high ridge, then descend into a valley at Yara Khola (stream), and walk for another hour to reach Jagat. Jagat, an interesting hill farm village, inhabited by various hill tribes, Magar, Gurung, Chetries, Brahman, to Manaslu Bhotia (Tibetan-looking tribes), with some Newar people, who run most of the lodges and shops.

Day 5: Trek to Deng

• Accommodation: Shangri La Guest House
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Maximum altitude: 1,860 meters / 6,100 feet
• Duration: 6 - 7 hours

On leaving Jagat walk, head towards scattered farm villages with a climb through terraces of golden fields of wheat and barley at Philim village. Morning walk heads to a rocky ridge top covered in bamboo groves, and then reaches a small place at Eklai Bhatti. After a short rest, the walk leads higher as the direction diverts towards the North West to reach Deng, to end the day's walks. This is a small, nice village with a strong Buddhist culture.

Day 6: Trek to Namrung

• Accommodation: Namrung Resort
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Maximum altitude: 2,160 meters / 7,087 feet
• Duration: 6 - 7 hours

Early in the morning, after breakfast, you start your trail downhill to the Budi Gandaki River and uphill to Rana Gaon, viewing the beautiful landscape and rivers. From Rana Gaon, you will reach Bihiphedi after 45 minutes of walking. From Bihiphedi, you march towards Gap, the lunch place, which will take about two hours to reach. You take lunch there, and after lunch, you walk for one hour through the dense forest after crossing the river from the old to the new version, overlooking the dense forest, dead pine trees, and many more. You then reach Suksum, and from there you climb uphill to Namrung, which will take about one hour and 20 minutes. The winding path will take you to various small village settlements near Deng.

This part of the trek takes you to an entire rural territory with a chance to observe the traditional and ancient local culture, which is relatively well influenced by Tibetan culture, as you can see various landmarks in Mani walls, chortens, and many others. After Deng, you can find people with Tibetan lifestyles and cultures. In Namrung, you can find a resort, and if you want to stay there, it will cost around 35 US dollars or plus for a room and extra food. Other mesmerizing views are of the Saula Himal and the Himalchuli Range. Namrung is around 21 kilometers away from Deng and will take about seven hours to reach.

Day 7: Trek to Lo-Gaon

• Accommodation: Hotel Blue Sky
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Maximum altitude: 3,180 meters / 10,434 feet
• Duration: 6 hours

Walking along the Budhi Gandaki River from Ghap village, after a short stroll across the river towards tiny agricultural communities at Numrung village, with the best views of Mt. Manaslu's North Face and its range of peaks. Your trek continues via the settlements of Banjham, Lhi, and Sho, with height climbs to reach Lo-Gaon for an overnight stay in an hour.

Day 8: Trek to Sama-Gaon

• Accommodation: Tashi Dhelek Loge
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Maximum altitude: 3,530 meters / 11,582 feet
• Duration: 5 hours

From Lo-Gaon morning, start with gradual up-facing views of Peak 29 and Manaslu, after a few hours of scenic walk, reach Shala, a small farm village with grand views of Phungi, Mt. Manaslu, and Himal Chuli peaks. The walk continues further west towards the heart of Manaslu valley to reach Sama-Gaon, located right close to towering Mt. Manaslu, as well as the largest village within the high Manaslu valley. Spending two overnights in this nice, large village with time to get acclimatized and explore around its lovely viewpoints.

Day 9: Rest day at Sama-Gaon for acclimatization

• Accommodation: Tashi Dhelek Loge
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Maximum altitude: 3,530 meters / 11,582 feet

After days of continuous walks, a deserving rest day for acclimatization before the climb to a higher area and over the Larke-La high pass. Enjoy the free day at Sama-Gaon exploring around the village interwoven with impressive Tibetan culture and visit the old Monastery with time to interact with the native and enjoy the grand surrounding views of snow-peaks.

Day 10: Trek to Samdo

• Accommodation: Hotel Snow Lion
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Maximum altitude: 3,860 meters / 12,665 feet
• Duration: 5 hours

Spending a lovely, refreshing rest day in Sama-Gaon, adventure begins to reach the end of the Manaslu valley. Walk to the last village of Manaslu and Gorkha region at Samdo, altitude gain slowly walking within arid and barren terrain with grand super views of high snow-capped mountains. After some hours of a good walk into wide, barren terrain, reach Samdo, the last and largest village of the region, for an overnight stop in this nice, interesting Samdo village. Located on the route to the Tibet border and towards your next destination, Larke Phedi.

Day 11: Trek to Dharmasala or Larke Phedi

• Accommodation: Hotel Peace
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Maximum altitude: 4,470 meters /14,666 feet

Today’s walk takes you to the end of Manaslu Valley, as morning starts, leaving the final Samdo village of Gorkha and the high Manaslu areas. A trek of a few hours as a route heads towards the base of the Larke-la pass at Dharmasala, a place with few simple lodges for overnight stay. A lovely short day walk on a pleasant, gradual path with gorgeous scenery as the walk ends at the base of Larke-La pass for lunch and the last overnight stop around the district of Gorkha. At Larke, Phedi, the afternoon is free for short walks and preparations for the next early morning long climb to the high Larke-La pass and towards the Manang area.

Day 12: Cross Larke-la and descend to Bimthang

• Accommodation: Ponkar Guest House
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Maximum altitude: 3,720 meters / 12,204 feet (Bimthang) and 5,135 meters / 16,848 feet (Cross Larke-la)
• Duration: 8 hours

The final big day! Starting early morning, having a good breakfast, and then following your lead guide as the route leads to a steep climb over moraine, rocks, and boulders around the ablation of the Larke glacier. Although a long walk uphill, it is enjoyable, overlooking grand views of Cho Danda with the nearby Larke Peak. Steady walk with few refreshing stops, as the climb continues to reach the top of Larke-la, the pass is marked with thousands of colorful Buddhist prayer flags. At the top stands a signboard with the name of the pass as well as the exact height, time here for some moments to enjoy fantastic views of Himlung, Cheo Himal, Kang Guru, and Annapurna II, including views of the whole Mt. Manaslu range with Ganesh Himal in the far east horizon.

After achieving the toughest part of the adventure, standing on top of the highest point, surrounded by breathtaking mountain scenery, a long descent takes you to the bottom on the other side of the Larke-la pass in the Manang district. From the base of Larke-la on the Manang side, an easy walk into the green forest and tall trees to Bhimthang, also called Bhimphedi, for an overnight stop after a long, tough day. Bhimthang, situated amidst beautiful forest surroundings on a wide green field with many good lodges adorned with prayer Mani walls.

Day 13: Trek to Gho

• Accommodation: Hotel Super View
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Maximum altitude: 2,560 meters / 8,399 feet
• Duration: 5 hours

From Bhimthang, the rest of the journey is pleasant on the downhill as altitude loses every hour, and then, feeling at your best on completing your goal, a lovely walk within the cool shade of coniferous trees with a few short climbs, but more or less the path descends to Gho for an overnight stop. A small settlement with a few simple lodges around this cattle herder's grazing place.

Day 14: Trek to Dharapani

• Accommodation: Hotel Gorkha Inn
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Maximum altitude: 1,860 meters / 6,102 feet
• Duration: 6 hours

The last day walk of the adventure starts with an easy downhill into cool dense forest to reach a nice village at Telje, situated on a shelf of the Marsyangdi River that flows from Manang and Annapurna Himalaya and Chulu glaciers. At Telje, stopping for lunch, in the afternoon, a short climb after crossing a bridge to reach Dharapani for an overnight stop, a lovely moderate-sized village. Located on a motorable road, at the junction of the popular Annapurna and Manaslu Circuit route.

Day 15: Drive to Kathmandu via Besisar or Lamjung

• Accommodation: Hotel Thamel Park
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and farewell dinner
• Maximum altitude: 1,350 meters / 4,430 feet
• Duration: 8 - 9 hours

Morning from Dharapani, taking a long and exciting drive to Kathmandu, as the ride takes you around low, warm farm country, heading further down towards the Lamjung area. The drive continues on a long winding downhill to the bottom of a hill at Syange, from here following the Marsyangdi River to reach Besisar, a large town and the headquarters of Lamjung district. From here, the change of transport takes you on a good, smooth road to Kathmandu. The journey follows a good road to Dumre town. From here on, the main highway to Kathmandu is by late afternoon or in the evening. Check into your hotels, the rest of the evening at leisure for individual activities, with a group farewell dinner.

Day 16: Final international departure from Nepal

• Meals: breakfast

Enjoying a great, wonderful adventure and experience in Nepal with an exciting, memorable time on ‘Manaslu Circuit Trekking’, on your last day in Nepal, your Trekking Planner staff and guide transfer you to the airport for your flight back home or to your next port of call.

About the tour

• Difficulty level: Moderate
• Maximum altitude: 5215 meters

From your initial arrival to your final departure from amazing Nepal, a country full of Himalayan wonders and colorful cultures, every detail will be managed with care. The Manaslu circuit trek is one of the most scenic routes in a restricted area of north mid-west Nepal, around the Manaslu Himalaya range. It has been open to foreign visitors since 1991, and a special permit is required to enter the Manaslu Valley. The region is located in the higher areas of the Gorkha District, with some sections beyond the Larke La Pass extending into the Manang region. Mount Manaslu stands as the eighth-highest peak in the world, reaching 8,163 meters (26,781 feet).

It was first summited by a Japanese expedition on May 9, 1956, and has since been climbed by various international expeditions each year. The name Manaslu is derived from the ancient Sanskrit word “Manas,” meaning the mind or soul of a god, representing a holy spirit. Similar to Lake Manasarovar in Tibet, near the sacred Mount Kailash, the local people refer to it as “Quoting,” which translates to a heavenly mountain or divine abode. Upper Manaslu was once an important Trans-Himalayan salt trade and caravan route connecting Nepal with the Tibetan border. Bartering and trade still exist today, although on a smaller scale than in earlier times.

Dharmasala, also known as Larke Phedi, was historically a marketplace called Larke Bazaar, where villagers from Gorkha, Manang, and Tibet exchanged goods ranging from grains to wool. Today, a few lodges are available for trekkers to stay overnight before crossing the high Larke La Pass into the Manang region. Trekking Planner Nepal leads you through scenic landscapes and culturally rich villages, ensuring that no highlight is missed. The standard itinerary allows trekkers to explore at a comfortable pace, with sufficient time for acclimatization before approaching the pass. Trekkers can immerse themselves in the local culture, enriched by ancient traditions deeply rooted in Buddhism. The highest point of the trek, Larke La Pass, stands at 5,106 meters (16,752 feet).

The guides and staff of Trekking Planner Nepal ensure that every trekker is in good health before crossing this challenging section. The team carefully monitors each client’s condition daily after the trek and provides excellent service throughout the journey, taking great care at every step. This commitment is what makes every trip with Trekking Planner Nepal successful, as you will experience on this remarkable Manaslu circuit short trek. The Manaslu circuit short trek package begins with breakfast in the morning, when everyone should be ready for departure from the hotel. The journey starts with an overland drive by bus, coach, or private car, depending on the group size.

The drive follows the main highway that connects Kathmandu with other parts of Nepal, offering an interesting opportunity to observe rural Nepalese farm life. The drive gradually leaves the main highway and heads toward the Gorkha District, eventually reaching Arughat, a small farming town. From here, the route continues along a rough dirt road to Machha Khola, which serves as the starting point of the Manaslu Circuit trek. The trek begins on a gentle and gradual trail through several farming areas, eventually reaching cooler hill regions as you leave behind the rice paddy fields.

Overnight stays are at Machha Khola and Jagat village, followed by a trek toward Deng, where noticeable changes in vegetation and landscape begin to appear. The adventure continues into the beautiful and scenic Manaslu Valley, passing through the charming villages of Ghap, Namrung, and Lo Gaon. From these areas, you can enjoy distant views of Sringi Himal and Mount Manaslu. The journey then leads to the main village of Sama Gaon, which lies on the route to Manaslu Base Camp, Larke La Pass, and the Tibetan border. An extra day is spent here for acclimatization and exploration of the surrounding area.

Visitors can hike to nearby viewpoints for stunning close-up views of the Manaslu mountain range, as well as explore the culturally rich village. The local culture is deeply influenced by Tibetan traditions, and you can visit an old monastery closely associated with Tibetan Buddhism and the local way of life. From Sama Gaon, the trek continues toward higher elevations, bringing you closer to Larke La Pass. The trail leads to Samdo, the last village in the Manaslu Valley. The journey then proceeds to Dharamsala, also known as Larke Phedi, which is the base of the pass and offers a few simple lodges. Here, you will have time in the afternoon to rest and prepare for the early morning ascent.

The next day begins early, before dawn. After a good breakfast, the trek follows a steep climb past moraine sections. The ascent continues gradually with regular rest stops, guided carefully as the altitude increases toward the highest point of the trek. At the top of Larke La Pass, a signboard marks the elevation, and the area is decorated with thousands of Buddhist prayer flags. From the summit, you can enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding snow-capped peaks, including the Manaslu range, as well as Annapurna and Himlung. The view also extends to Ganesh Himal in the east. After this achievement, the trail descends into the Manang District.

A long downhill walk follows, passing small icy ponds before reaching the base on the other side of Larke La Pass. The landscape gradually returns to lush green vegetation, with forests of tall rhododendrons, pine, and fir trees leading to Bimthang. This is a beautiful location for an overnight stay, surrounded by peaceful woodland after the most challenging part of the trek. From here, the trek continues to Dharapani village, marking the completion of the Manaslu Circuit.

Dharapani lies within the Manang region and is also part of the Annapurna Circuit trail. From this point, the journey returns by road to Kathmandu, concluding an unforgettable adventure and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. For your extra luggage, while you are trekking, you can store it at the hotel or with Trekking Planner for safekeeping, as well as some valuable items that you do not need on the trek.