Manaslu Circuit Trek

Arrive in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital and rest for a night. You can indulge in authentic Nepal cuisine in the city. Kathmandu is well connected by air. Book your tickets well in advance to ensure availability and economical pricing. 

The team leaves for Soti Khola, the base camp of the trek. The road journey takes 8 to 9 hours to cover a distance of 145 km. 

Stay in a tea house in Soti Khola. 

You will traverse lush subtropical forests, and witness charming Nepali mountain villages while enjoying the silence on the trail. It takes 7 to 8 hours of trek to reach the tea house in Macha Khola, located 14 km from Soti Khola. Don’t forget to enjoy a reslihing meal of Dal Bhat, a staple meal in the country, serving Rice, lentils, and local vegetables. 

• Distance: 22 km
• Time Taken: 7 to 8 hrs

Traverse a diverse and fascinating landscape and observe the rich tradition of ancient Nepali villages. The trail follows the Budi Gandaki River and passes through hot springs. The thrill of crossing suspension bridges is also experienced today. 

• Distance: 19 km
• Time Taken: 7 to 8 hrs

As the trek progresses, the trail traverses dense forests and rural settlements offering beautiful sceneries along the way. The distance is around 19 km today and you will continue trekking for approximately 8 hrs to reach the tea house in Deng.

• Distance: 19.5 km
• Time Taken: 6 to 7 hrs

You will traverse a fair share of gradual ascents today. The climb feels rewarding as stunning mountain views play hide and seek on the way to Namrung at 8,629 ft. 

• Distance: 17.7 km
• Time Taken: 6 to 7 hrs

Witness the charming Tibetan villages and rich culture. These villages, adorned with colourful prayer flags, feel like a breath of fresh air.

The experience is further enhanced by panoramic views of Mt. Manaslu, the eighth-highest mountain in the world. 

The team halts for one more night at Samagaon to acclimatize to the chilly weather and the altitude gain. Explore around and witness the beautiful landscapes of Nepal’s highlands. You can also visit Pungyen Gompa in Samagaon. 

• Distance: 16.4 km
• Time Taken: 5 to 6  hrs

The trail takes you through beautiful landscapes. You will come across Yak pastures and the grand mountain views. The distance of 16.4 km takes approximately 6 hrs to complete. 

• Distance: 11.7 km
• Time Taken: 4 to 5 hrs

The day is comparatively shorter. The team reaches Dharamshala in the afternoon and acclimatizes further.  

• Distance: 24.7 km
• Time Taken: 8 to 9 hrs

Trekking to Bimthang via Larkya Pass is the most challenging day of the trek. You will climb on steep ascents to the pass located at 16,929 ft. The thrill of standing atop the pass is unprecedented. 

After immersing in the serene surroundings of the Larkya La Pass descend to Bimthang and stay in a tea house.

• Distance: 16 km
• Time Taken: 4 to 5 hrs

After a thrilling pass crossing, descend downhill to Tilije. The trail to the picturesque village of Tijile passes through vibrant rhododendron forests and offers a breathtaking view of the Manaslu range. Halt here for a night in a tea house. 

Drive to Kathmandu via Benisahar. It takes 3 hours to arrive in Benisahar in a shared jeep. You can also book a private taxi from Benisahar. After reaching Benisahar, get on a shared taxi or bus to Kathmandu. It takes 6 to 7 hours to reach Kathmandu. 

Keep a buffer day while booking your return flight from Kathmandu to your city. You can use the day to explore Kathmandu. 

The total distance of the Manaslu Circuit trek is between 170 and 180 km, depending on the route you take. 

No, the trek is not suitable for beginners. Trekkers with adequate physical fitness can participate in the Manaslu Circuit trek. If you have prior experience of a high-altitude trek, you can opt for the Manaslu Circuit trek. 

It is a difficult grade trek, considering the duration and altitude of the Manaslu Circuit. The challenging trails and long hours of walking make this trek suitable only for seasoned trekkers. 

Manaslu Circuit temperature ranges between 10°C to 25°C during the day in lower regions. The temperature drops to -10 at higher elevations in spring months. 

Autumn months start in September and continue till the first week of November. Expect temperatures between 10°C and 20°C in lower regions and -10°C to 10°C in higher regions.

The Autumn months of September to November are considered the best time to do the Manaslu Circuit trek for clear weather and spectacular views of the big mountains. 

Spring is the best time to visit Manaslu Circuit trek. The weather is pleasant and the trails adorn vibrant hues as rhododendron flowers bloom abundantly. 

There will be abundant snow at the Pass.

Manaslu Circuit Trek is located in Nepal. It is in the Gorkha District, home to many highest peaks including Himchuli.

Soti Khola is the starting point of Manaslu Circuit trek. 

Manaslu Circuit Trek spans over 15 to 18 days, including the time required for travelling to and from Kathmandu. Travel time from your country to Kathmandu is excluded from the itinerary. 

The trek takes you to a maximum altitude of 16,929ft. 

Trekking without a guide is restricted in the Mansalu region. The trail to Mansalu circuit trek is off the beaten path, making it difficult to navigate the routes. Besides, it is challenging and tedious to arrange accommodations, plan your routes, and navigate the remote Himalayan region on your own. 

Manaslu Circuit trek is challenging with long hiking hours. The trek requires experienced guides to help you navigate the difficult terrain. If you plan to go solo on this trek, hiring a guide is necessary to avoid any unforeseen situation in the wild. Going solo requires hiring a guide, and a group of at least two trekkers.  

The most important thing to do on a trek to avoid AMS is to drink water, more than your daily intake. Water is an excellent way to avoid AMS. Along with this, you should also have all the nutritious meals we provide on the trek. If you still are sceptical about getting AMS, we would advise you to carry Diamox tablets with you. However, according to the situation your Outdoor leader will advise whether or not you should take it.

We encourage everyone to trek, even if or not they have a medical condition. We have an in-house doctor at OWLS with whom you can discuss your medical condition and accordingly, we can help you better prepare you for the trek.

Please keep the following documents ready before filling out this form

1. ID proof
2. Health form (for all participants of Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh treks) and (for all participants <15 and > 60 years of age)
3. RTPCR for children <15 years/Vaccination certificate for adults (for Nepal treks)

Although we provide filling breakfast, lunch, and dinner along with morning tea and evening snacks, you can carry some light snacks for munching on the trail. You can carry protein bars, dry fruits, and homemade snacks like Shakkarpara to help you give that extra energy on the trek. 

All our Outdoor Leaders are trained and experienced leaders. They have completed basic Mountaineering Course, and are equipped with basic first-aid knowledge. Our leaders are certified Wilderness First Responder course

You don’t need to carry your medical kit. If you have your prescribed medications, you need to carry them on the trek

The accommodation will be in comfortable tea houses. 

Yes. Communicate your requirement to the trek leaders beforehand, as it will be difficult to arrange to offload at the last minute. The offloading charges will be Rs 350 per bag, and your bag should not weigh more than 9 kg. 

Note: At OWLs, we suggest our participants carry their backpacks and avoid offloading. However, in case of pressing circumstances, you can opt for offloading.

You can request the lodge or hostel you will be staying in Kathmandu to keep your extra luggage. However, do not keep valuables. 

For treks in Nepal, you will have access to regular concrete toilets as you will be staying in tea houses. 

The chargeable internet service is available in the tea houses. You will have access to a mobile network in some parts of the trail, however, it depends on the weather. 

Charging points for mobile and Wi-Fi are available at some teahouses at an additional cost. The facilities are available in the lower regions. The charges for wifi start at around Rs 200 and go up to Rs 600. The charges become expensive as you go higher up. 

Do not expect a high-speed WIFI connection on the trek. These facilities become scarcer as you climb higher up in the mountains.  

Manaslu Circuit trek lies in a restricted area. Trekkers need the following permits

1. Manaslu Restricted Area Permit – This permit is required to enter the Manaslu conservation area. This permit is issued by the Nepal Government. 
2. Annapurna Conservation Area Permit – You can obtain the permit either in Kathmandu or Pokhara. If you have booked your trek with a trekking agency, they will take care of the permits. 

Tea houses on the Manaslu trek offer Thakali Thali, a staple in Nepali cuisine. This local thali is a combination of Daal (lentils), Bhaat (rice), and Tarkari (vegetable curry) with a side of green veggies, pickles, and some local delicacies. 

You will eat Thakali Thali for lunch and dinner on most days. Breakfast will have options of bread, eggs, porridge etc. 

If you wish to order anything outside this staple meal, Teahouses offer a variety of options. Right from Pizza to Pasta.  However, this will come at an additional cost.

No, credit cards are not accepted in the tea houses in Manaslu Trek. Withdraw enough cash in Kathmandu to pay for food, tea houses and other miscellaneous expenditure on the trek. The Tea houses accept the Nepalese Rupee.