Manaslu Circuit

Kathmandu, the incredibly diverse capital of Nepal is a fascinating blend of centuries old Hindu and Buddhist shrines, traditional architecture and a city embracing the 21 century. Upon arrival, your leader will transfer you to your hotel from the airport. Your hotel is in the heart of the city close to Thamel, a popular choice with tourists, with colourful handicraft stalls, trekking gear shops and excellent restaurants. In the evening, after your trek briefing, you have the option of going out for a group dinner with your trek leader.

Today we have allocated a free day whilst we complete the trek permit formalities. For those looking for sightseeing suggestions your leader will be on hand to help out and organise any side trips you may wish to undertake. In the late afternoon you will be issued with your trek pack and departure information for the next morning.
Meals included: Breakfast

Driving: 8 hours
You leave Kathmandu early in the morning following the Trisuli River on the main road, to Pokhara before turning north just after Mugling. There are fine views of both the Ganesh and Manaslu ranges during the long days drive. At Arughat close to the Buri Ghandaki river, you change vehicles for the drive through fields of millet, mustard, rice paddies and tobacco to Soti Khola and your overnight lodge accommodation.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 7 hours
From the lodge you cross the Soti Khola and continue following the valley northwards. You are low in the valley and while you will see the Himalayan peaks only from time to time on this section of the walk the beautiful valley scenery more than compensates. You will take lunch relaxing by the river and in the afternoon you continue you to follow the river, walking in a series of "ups and downs" that leads to the small and the beautiful Gurung village known as Labubesi. From here the valley narrows with the trail carved into the cliffs as you continue to ascend steadily to the village of Khanbesi. From here, after a welcome rest and drinks, you descend to the river and your lodge at Machha Khola (800m).
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 6 hours
In the morning you cross the bridge over the river and continue for about an hour along the valley before the trail ascends gradually to the hot springs known as Tatopani. You will again cross the Buri Gandaki and from here you follow eastern bank to Yaro Khola and lunch by the river. In the afternoon you continue to follow the Buri Ghandaki In the afternoon you cross this tributary and continue steadily up the Buri Gandaki to the village of Jagat where camp will be set up. The village is mainly inhabited by Gurungs and in the stone flagged village square there is a welcome shop selling soft drinks and supplies. There is a police check post here and even a small post office and bank.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 8 hours
From Jagat you walk along the river bank upstream to the suspension bridge at the start of a steep climb to the village of Salleri where you will enjoy great views of Shringi Himal. From here you contour high above the river then drop down through the cornfields at Setibas to the hamlet of Ghatte Khola before another river crossing leads to the climb to Philim a large Gurung village. where you take a break for lunch. In the afternoon you continue on a gradual ascent around the cliffs high above a steep and uninhabited gorge. There is a pleasant section of walking through bamboo forest, with the usual ups and downs before you reach the small Tibetan settlement of Deng. It is a long day today.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 7 hours
The villages over the last few days have been of Gurung and Magars peoples, of a predominantly Hindu background, but after Deng most of the people are farmers and shepherds of Tibetan origin. You are now trekking behind the Manaslu massif and having spent the previuos week heading north you now bear west soon to reach Trans Himalayan terrain. In the morning you again cross the Buri Gandaki and ascend a stone staircase for a few hundred metres to reach Lana village. You are now on the north bank of the river and the trail bears west with views of Pang Puchhi peak. Late in the morning you will reach Bura (2080m) where you will take lunch beside a beautiful waterfall. In the afternoon you will decend into and climb out of steep ravine and then drop into the Shringi Khola valley where you cross the river on a suspension bridge to reach the village of Ghap (2120m). From here you cross the Buri Ghandaki and head up valley through beautiful forest of Daphne, where Langur monkeys are commonly seen, to reach the small settlement of Namrung (2580m) in the late afternoon.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 4 hours
At Namrung the view of a "nameless peak" is simply stunning and as you have gained significant altitude in the past few days you will only travel as far a Lho today to assist with acclimatization. The days are now cooler and the vegetation is now distinctly alpine. In the morning you continue to ascend passing through a series of small hamlets to reach Ligoan (2890m) where you will have superb views of Peak 29. The village has a small monastery which you must visit. After a short stop you pass through fields of barley to descend to a small river where the huge peak of Himalchuli, comes into view. On this section of the walk you will also the Ganesh Himal in the east as well as Manaslu North and Naike peak to the south. You will reach Lho in time for lunch and in the afternoon you can explore the largest Tibetan village you have visited so far, that has a huge mani wall of religious stone carvings.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 4 hours
In the morning you continue to follow the river as the trail heads through forest of birch and fir. Before a steep climb leads to a saddle that leads gently down to the wide plain and the village of Samagoan. You will reach Samagaon in the late morning and you can spend the afternoon gazing at the amazing mountain views of Manaslu towering above on the skyline. Today, though short, is another fairly tiring day so the following day is set aside for rest and acclimatisation.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Rest and Acclimatisation
To ensure you acclimatise for the days we have scheduled another night in Samagoan . Samagoan is one of the highlights of the trek. it is a beautiful village with excellent mountain views. In the morning your group leader will organise an optional excursion to the glacial morraines where you will see the huge glacial lake and northern face of Manaslu. If expeditions are climbing the mountain you will be able to pick out their camps and with the aid of binoculars even see the climbers ascending the snowy slopes. You will descend back to your lodge in the late morning and in the afternoon you should explore the village and you must visit the village monastery.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 3 hours
Today is an easy day and you will again reach your lodge at lunchtime. From Samagoan you follow the wide, open valley floor northwest and if you look behind you will have superb views of Manaslu and Himalchuli . You pass several long mani walls and walk through beautiful birch and juniper forest. To reach the stone huts and Yak grazing pastures at Kermo Kharkha The high alpine scenery has become spectacular and the trail becomes slightly more rugged before you climb steeply to the village of Samdo and your lodge amongst the flat roofed stone houses of the village. From Samdo you have panoramic views of Manaslu and Himalchuli and the local mountain known as Dangbona and many others may be seen. In the afternoon you are free to relax or explore the village.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 4 hours
Today is another relatively short acclimatisation day and one that brings you to the base of the Larkya La pass (5135m). From the village you descend through fields to reach a series of mani walls where you pass under a stone archway before continuing down to the river that is crossed on a small wooden bridge. From the river you ascend gradually through scrub juniper with superb views of the Lakya Glacier that flows from Manaslu North peak. As you ascend the effects of the altitude can be felt, the trail is not steep but the walking is quite tiring, however the dramatic scenery more than makes up for the effort required. After crossing a small gorge you will arrive at your lodge with the rest of the day free to relax and enjoy views of the Larkya Himal to the north, Pang Puchi to the north east, and the Manaslu massif.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This day is allocated as a contingency day in case you need extra acclimatisation or if weather conditions have affected the itinerary to date.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 8 hours
To make the most of this special day you will be woken early and with packed lunches set off for the trek over the pass. The trail gains height gradually, but you will travel slowly as a group with the porters for safety reasons and due to the altitude. You can expect the walk to the top of the pass to take over four hours depending on trail conditions but the outstanding views more than compensate for the effort you will have to make. The views from the top are superb as you can now view the Annapurna range, Himlung Himal (7126m), Kanguru (6981m) and Cheo Himal (6820m) to the north and west. After group photos taken by the marker cairns and a well earned rest you will begin the long descent, initially on steep scree slopes, to follow morraines to the wide and grassy valley and the village of Bhimtang and your overnight stay.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 6 hours
After a tough day crossing the Lakya Pass you have a later start from Bhimtang. You descend and cross the Dudh Khola (Milk River) to trek through beautiful cedar, fir and rhododendron forest to Changri Kharka. The area is uninhabited and the morning's walk is particularly beautiful, with the Himalayan peaks of Annapurna II and manaslu being visible from gaps in the forest. The descent leads to the small settlement of Goa where you arrive in time for a late lunch.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 5 hours
The descent continues to reach the confluence of Marsyangdi river and Dudh Khola at Dharapani (1920m) where you join the Annapurna Circuit trail. After a short break you descend, following the narrow Marsyandi River valley to cross to the eastern bank. The valley opens out to a large meadow that leads to the village of Tal where you stop for lunch. As you approach the village you will pass a spectacular waterfall, that plummets from the cliffs high above the trail. You follow the trail to Chyamje village crossing the Marshyangdi Khola once again. The Marsyandi valley opens with its terrace fields and villages clung very high to the hillsides. The trail then descends through rhododendron and and pine forests to Syange.The trek ends here and the evening is a great time to party with your crew celebrating such a fine and adventurous trek.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Driving: 8-9 hours
After an early breakfast you board hired jeeps for the journey to Besisahar. where your private transport will be waiting for the road trip back to Kathmandu. The road heads to the village of Dumre, on the main Kathmandu to Pokhara road, where the journey to Kathmandu takes a further five hours. The evening is free but after so long on the trail a visit to one of Kathmandu’s top restaurants will be on the agenda.
Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch

The trip ends today after breakfast. Your leader will be on hand to advise and assist with your onward travel arrangements. A departure transfer to the airport is included.
Meals Included: Breakfast