Manaslu Circuit Trek

Morning free for sightseeing our city guide takes you around great places of interest with exciting tour around world heritage sites visiting, with time in the afternoon for trek preparation.

Starting our adventure with exciting overland journey to reach Nepal Mid-West around district of Gorkha, where most of the around high Mid-West Himalaya starts.

As drive leads to lower warmer area following Trisuli River for few hours as route diverts from main Kathmandu and Pokhara highway to reach within Gorkha area and then reach low warm farm village at Baluwa for overnight stop.

Morning begins our first day walk heading towards mid hills with climb over farm terraces and isolated hamlets, as route lead to cross few smaller streams and into cool shade of forest with last final climb to reach a high ridge within a huge plateau where Barpak village located.

At Barpak for overnight from here air get much cooler with views of distant snow-capped peaks, Barpak populated mostly by Magar an ethnic hill tribes of Western Nepal with some Gurung, Tamang, Chettries, Bahrain and Newar.

(Barpak and Larpak including all Mid-West and Mid-East was badly hit and damaged by earthquake of 2015, the village slowly coming back to its present original form after years of earthquake that shook this large hill village)

Second day of our walk takes you to another Magar tribal village at Laprak where walk leads on gradual path for some time past several scattered farm villages and fields, and then climb for few hours as you can cool mountain air facing views of Manaslu range with Ganesh in the east includes Annapurna due west direction.

As walk continues heading into cool shade of alpine forest of rhododendron and pine trees to reach a village located on a hilly ridge at Laprak for overnight stop.

From Laprak morning heads towards winding hill path within several farm villages and well tended terraces with long descend back towards lowand warm farm areas of Khorla besi, within sub-tropical climate around rich agriculture areas of much paddy field.Overnight stops in a nice simple lodge at Khorla with time for refreshing bathe and dip in the streams of Khorla.

After a pleasant overnight at Khorla besi walk leads close to the bank of Burigandaki River and within interesting farm villages with neat cultivated fields, where vegetation changes gradually as altitude gains along cooler climate.

As walk continues and heading into a narrow valley as our trail switches to left bank of the river and then crossing suspension bridge, after a short period of walks-enter into cool shade of forest to reach at Doban located on the high shelf of Burigandaki River. After few refreshing stops walk leads across a broad gravel field towards Lauri stream and then crossing suspension bridge which leads to a climb

on high trails and then descending into open valley of Yara Khola, as our journey continues on for another hour to reach at Jagat village for overnight stop.

Jagat a nice-looking farm village of moderate size with local people of mix race Magar, Chettries, Brahman, Manaslu Bhotia (Tibetan looking tribes) and some Newar people.

From Jagat village, morning walk leads to higher side of the hill past rural farm villages and descend to cross a bridge reaching at Nagjet and then walking past Philim, a large farm village with scattered houses.

After Philim walk leads around farm terraces of golden agriculture fields of wheat, barley, as climb leads above rocky ridge within a forest of bamboo to reach at Piya for overnight stop in a farm village just before Deng village.

After pleasant overnight at Piya a small farm village, as morning walk leads to much cooler area, journey continues for few hours on steep sided within scenic valley, encountering Mani prayer stone walls as walk leads at Ghap a nice village with stop for overnight stop.

After Ghap altitude gains entering into alpine and coniferous woodland where path meanders with steep up as valley opens out with extensive pastures and then crossing a large stream flowing from the glacier of Lidana.

As walk leads along with great views of Manaslu where local name is Kutang (Manaslu) Himal range includes Pang Phuchin 6,335m, Saula Himal

6,235m with many unnamed peaks of above 6,000m.

Walk from here on slow uphill as altitude gains slowly heading past farm village to reach at Namrung also called Sho Namru,spending some time at Namrung, journey leads into more spread out farm fields and Yak herder huts with shelter, around high Manaslu valley people much engaged in farming during summer, in winter young folks travels to big cities of Nepal and India for trade and to escape the cold winter.

From here walk on high and scenic valley all the way to Lho-Gaon a nice village for overnight stops; attractive village of high Manaslu valley, at

Lho-Gaon enjoy close views of towering Manaslu North Face, around Lho visit the monastery, numerous chhorten and Mani walls with views of Ganesh Himal towards east.

From Lo-Gaon walk leads to nice gradual path as high altitude gains slowly and then walking with slow climb with grand views of Peak 29 ahead, after few hours head into a small forested area at Shala village offers excellent view of Phungi, Manaslu and Himal Chuli, walk for few hours further

as day completes on reaching at Sama-Gaon a village, with super close views of Mt. Manaslu. 

Rest day in Sama-Gaon village for acclimatization before heading towards high Larke-La pass, on this day explore around scenic area and visit old Monastery of Nyligpa (red hat sect) sect of Buddhism, where local of high Manaslu valley migrated from South West Tibet where custom and

culture of ancient Buddhist heritage similar to its origin Tibetan predecessor.

The local villagers are still active with trade and bartering across the border with Tibet taking few days to reach the frontier of Nepal and Tibet, actually located on old Trans Himalayan Salt Trade route of the two countries.

After rest day at Sama-Gaon, morning walk of more than four hours to reach last village of Gorkha and Manaslu valley at Samdo, starts with slow climb as elevation gains gradually, then taking time with short break to enjoy surrounding wonderful views of peaks and dramatic terrains.

As walk continues finally ending at Samdo village with short climb to reach a small flat plateau where the village located, moderate size village of more than forty houses with about two hundred villagers living this high harsh country.

On leaving the last village of upper Manaslu valley and high Gorkha area where walk takes you at the end of Manaslu valley, facing snow-capped peaks views of Mt. Manaslu range.

Walk continues crossing few icy streams to Larke Phedi which means base of a hill or a pass, also known as Dharmasala a word for ‘traveler rest house / shade’, at Dharmasala or Larke Phedi afternoon free for short walks and preparations for next early morning long climb and descend crossing high Larke-La pass to reach Manang areas.

Morning start with climb over moraine of rocks and boulders (in snow condition tough job to find the right path), walk continue heading north of Larke glacier, with views of Cho Danda and Larke Peak, climb gets steep to reach on top Larke-la, festooned with thousands of Buddhist colorful

prayer flags.

From the top enjoy panorama of Himlung, Cheo Himal, Kang Guru and Annapurna II includes series of Manaslu peaks, after a scenic mountain views with long descend to reach back within green forest and tree lines as walk leads to Larcia and at Tambuche which is the bottom of the pass, where few walk takes leads you at Bhimthang for overnight, a nice spot located on green valley houses number of lodges within dense tree of rhododendron-pines and oaks.

From Bhimthang much easier walks on downhill with some short climb on route to Telje and Dharapani villages, morning facing views of peaks heading with gradual walk into thick alpine woodland. Walk into beautiful forest areas on reaching a small clearing in the midst of woodland at Goha, a cattle and yak herders summer pasture area, from here walk follows downhill to complete our day on reaching a nice place Tilje village for overnight stop.

From Tilje cross over a bridge and with last final steep climb for short while to reach large and nice lovely Dharapani village located at the junction of famous and popular Annapurna Circuit trail and Around Manaslu Trekking route.

Dharapani located on a river gorge with lovely tree lines where motorable has been constructed since past few years, the village provides excellent lodges, after a marvelous adventure on Manaslu Circuit, as adventure walk continues from Dharapani follows Marysangdi River downstream past Tal Besi and Chamje and then finally reaching at Jagat village for overnight stop.

After a pleasant stop at Jagat, a village with same name of early days walk where route leads downhill to low warm country and back into paddy fields to reach at Syange located by the Marysangdi River, then cross the river over a bridge to reach the trail where climb leads to a nice hill top with lovely farm village of Bahun Danda.

Having a refreshing break head down into much lower and warm area to reach Ngadi village an interesting village located near the river and on the road head, from here short drive for hour or less to reach at large town of Besisar, headquarter of Lamjung district forovernight stop in the comfort of nice lodge and hotels.

A great place with busy streets where you can witness Nepalese people of Mid-Western Nepal populated with Gurung, Magar, and Tamang withsome Hindu people of varied custom and culture.

Final adventure completes taking a morning long and exciting drive back to Kathmandu as journey continues past towns and farm villages to reach main highway of Kathmandu and Pokhara at Dumre town.

From here on good smooth road past Mugling Bazaar following Trisuli River upstream for an hour and then heading on winding zig-zag uphill to reach at the valley rim and then ending our marvelous Manaslu Circuit on reaching your hotel.

After marvelous adventure with exciting time in Nepal depart from the hotel for your international flight back home on completing wonderful adventure around Manaslu Circuit Trekking.