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15 day(s)
Regular & Private
1-10 people
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Does a more remote trek with unspoiled natural beauty appeal to you?
The Manaslu trek is a tough one physically, with up to 7 hour days on the trail, but the rewards are immensely satisfying. You will trek through high alpine passes while being surrounded by massive snow-laden peaks, with Manaslu (world’s 8th highest) at the center soaring 8163m into the sky. The Manaslu trek is considered a tougher trek than Annapurna Base Camp and Everest Base Camp treks. You will head through Larkya La Pass (5,106m), the highest altitude on the trek, and which is believed to be the most dramatic high altitude passes in the Himalayas. Glaciers are a common sight as they slowly make their way down the mountainsides. You will be stunned at how close some of these giant peaks appear to you along the trail. Mountains, such as Mt. Himalchuli (7,893m), Mt. Ganesh Himal (7,422m), and Mt. Manaslu (8,163m) appear straight above you and appear to be within a stone’s throw away. Don’t worry; you will be well prepared for the higher altitudes with several days of acclimatization at lower altitudes.
The appeal of the Manaslu trek is due to it being “off the beaten track”, and accompanied with unspoiled scenery, culturally rich villages, biological diversity, and remote lodges/guesthouses. You will encounter both Hindu and Tibetan-style Buddhist villages with their unique architectural styles and cultures.
The real legwork begins at Soti Khola and ends at Besisahar with the trail winding its way through Budhi Gandaki Valley, across numerous rivers, to the Pungen Glacier and to the ancient Tibetan settlement at Lho.
This trek will leave you spell-bound, spiritually enriched from encounters at the various Tibetan Buddhist and Hindu villages and have you talking about this unforgettable journey a long time after you return home. You don’t have to be super-human to complete this trek, but some preparation and a good level of fitness will make it easier. Manaslu, meaning “Mountain of the Spirit” awaits you. This is 15 days of absolute pleasure!
You can combine the Manaslu Circuit with a trip to the secluded Tsum Valley, where time has stood-still and century-old Tibetan traditions still exist.
Duration
15 day(s)
Max Group Size
1-10 people
Tour Code
MCT15D
Departure Type
Tour Category
Adventure
Guiding Method
Fully guided
Operated In
Age Requirement
10 - 90
Kathmandu
Kathmandu
On arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu you will be met by a representative from Sherpa Expedition and Trekking who will take you to your hotel. You will be briefed and able to ask questions about the trek after settling into your hotel. You will have time to wander around Thamel, the tourist hub in Kathmandu, and catch up with some last-minute shopping prior to starting on this awesome trek.
At 5:30 am your guide will pick you up from your hotel. We will then have an 8-hour drive to Soti Khola. The first four hours are on sealed roads, but after Dhading Bensi (1050m) the road is unsealed to Arughat and Soti Khola, the district headquarters of Dhading district. Tonight we will stay at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch & dinner are included.
We follow the trail today through the woods as we head upriver along the banks of the Budhi Gandaki River, and then head down to the riverbed and along a path across the mountains with frequent views down to the river below. Tonight we will stay at a guesthouse at Machha Khola. Breakfast, lunch & dinner included.
Once we have crossed the Machha River and pass Khorlabesi (920m), we come to Tatopani, famous for its hot springs. The trail then heads through a forested area as we make our way to the Dovan Khola (river) and to the Budhi Gandaki Valley. As we trek higher you will notice a change in the vegetation right up until we reach Jagat Village where we will stay at a guesthouse overnight. Breakfast, lunch & dinner is included.
We head off on the trail leading through the valley to Sirdibas where we have a great view of Shringi Himal. After crossing a suspension bridge we have a steep climb to Philim, with waterfalls cascading down on both sides of the valley. The next village we come to is Ekle Bhatti and then to Pewa Village continuing through the valley until we arrive at Deng Village where we will stay at a guesthouse for the night. Breakfast, lunch & dinner are included.
A steep climb is how our trek begins today before we head back down to the Budi Gandaki River. We then continue along the trail passing through the valley and several small settlements. As we get closer to Namrung you will notice Mani stones (stones with carved with Tibetan mantras) indicating you are getting further into territory occupied by Tibetans. In the afternoon we take a short detour to Prok village (2 hour round trip) and then head back to Namrung for the night at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch & dinner included.
It feels like we are stepping back in time today as we walk between the Mani stone walls of Lho Village. From Lho we can see the snow-clad peak of Ngadi Chuli (7871m aka Peak 29). Another short detour takes us to the Pungen Glacier for a close-up view of Mt. Manaslu. We will stay overnight at a guesthouse in Samagaun. Breakfast, lunch & dinner included.
Our focus today will be to acclimatize before heading to higher altitudes. Health professionals suggest that you stay active during the day to better improve the process. Today we have an option of either a full day or a half-day trek.
The full-day trek will take you to Manaslu Base Camp (4750m), a 6 to 7-hour return trek. The half-day trek will take you to a glacier directly across the valley or to Birendra Ta. Tonight we will stay at a guesthouse at Samagaun. Breakfast, lunch & dinner included.
Today we cross the pastures and then descend to the valley below, all the while having some great views of the surrounding peaks, especially Manaslu. Continuing on we reach the remote and isolated Tibetan refugee village of Samdo, only a short distance from the Tibetan border. The afternoon has been set aside for you to wander around the village and nearby hills. Tonight we will stay at a guesthouse in Samdo. Breakfast, lunch & dinner included.
As we head out today we will have to cross several rivers before reaching Larkya Bazaar, a village that survives as a trading post for traders coming from Tibet. From here we head higher up a steep trail until we reach Dharamsala where we will stay in a guesthouse for the night. Breakfast, lunch & dinner included.
A big day awaits us as we head via Larkya La Pass (5106m/17,121 ft) to Bhimthang. We first climb to Cho Chanda and then continue up to the steep snowy pass. The views of many surrounding peaks are truly mind-blowing. The Himalayan peaks of Himlung Himal (7126m), Cheo Himal (6820m), Gyaji Kung (7030m), Kang Koru (698m) and Annapurna II (7937m) are visible from the pass. We then have a steep trek down across moraines until we reach Bhimthang Village where we will stay at a guesthouse overnight. Breakfast, lunch & dinner included.
A steady trek across the fields leads us to the smaller Karcher La Pass and then we descend through a rhododendron forest to Tilje Village. We then cross the Dudh Khola River and head uphill passing through a chorten styled arch, passing Mani walls before arriving at Thonje Village. After leaving Thonje we enter the Annapurna region at Dharapani where there is a police checkpoint. Tonight we will stay at a guesthouse at Dharapani. Breakfast, lunch & dinner are included.
The final day of our trek sees us on the road in a jeep heading to Besisahar. Tonight we will stay at a hotel in Besisahar where we can relax and reflect on this amazing Manaslu trek and all its beauty. Breakfast, lunch & dinner are included.
With breakfast out of the way, we head back to Kathmandu on a local bus, a journey of around six to seven hours. Sherpa Expedition & Trekking staff will take you to your hotel. Breakfast included. You may wish to catch up with friends and maybe wander around Thamel to do some last-minute souvenir shopping.
This is your last day in Nepal and Sherpa Expedition and Trekking drop you off at Tribhuvan International Airport well in advance of your flight. While waiting for your flight, and on your flight, you will have time to look back and think about your next destination in the Himalayas of Nepal.