Manaslu Circuit Trek

Welcome to Kathmandu, enchanting and exotic, it is a city immersed in ancient temples and tradition! Fused with colorful markets and the bustle of spice sellers and merchants, Kathmandu with its exhilarating allure is a city you won’t forget! You’ll be met at the airport by your guide and transferred to your hotel.
You’ll have the afternoon free to explore the streets and markets. In the evening we’ll have dinner at a local restaurant. O/N stay at Hotel.

Drive from Kathmandu, via private 4x4 jeep into the Ghorka region of Nepal. Continue driving through small villages and bustling bazaars, arriving in the settlement of Soti Khola in the Bhuri Gandaki valley. We will spend the night here in a teahouse (mountain hut). O/N at Guest House.

The trek begins by following the BhuriGandaki River through the shady sal forest, continuing steeply uphill along a rugged Cliffside.  From here you can see the river’s white and wild rapids below. Eventually, the trail drops to the Gurung village of Labubesi and follows along the riverbank until we reach the village of MachhaKhola. O/N at Guest House.

We follow the gorge and continue up the river. Langur monkeys can usually be heard playing in the jungle high above, where there are also larger Garung villages. O/N at Guest House.

After spending the night in Jagat the trail begins to climb a rocky ridge where views of Sringi Himal (7187m) emerge. Continue through rich terraced fields of maize, potato, and millet before entering the Nupri (‘the Western Mountains) via bamboo forests. We spend the night in the Buddhist village of Deng. O/N at Guest House.

From Deng, pass by numerous Tibetan mani walls (intricately hand-carved stone walls with Buddhist scriptures), weaving in and out of canyons. Enter into a colorful forest of firs, oaks, and rhododendrons before arriving in the settlement of Namrung. O/N at Guest House.

Continuing from Namrung the trek climbs steadily into the alpine where you’ll see a first stunning glimpse of Manaslu North and Manaslu. From this point on many of the locals dress in traditional Tibetan clothing called chubas. O/N at Guest House.

A shorter day of trekking allows you to acclimatize and enjoy the spectacular mountain views. Walkthrough a gully of mosses and rhododendron before entering the village of Samagaon. O/N at Guest House.

A side trip to the spectacular Manaslu Base camp (4900m) is not to be missed! During the climbing season, the base camp is a hive of activity, filled with expedition teams, equipment, climbers, porters, and tents. Leaving from Samagaon early in the morning, we follow the trail through the forest before a steep ascent onto a slope and onto a moraine. From here there are magnificent views of the glacier, a turquoise lake, and awe-inspiring mountains from all angles. The trek to base camp is around 4-5 hours, and the descent back to Samagaon is about 2-3 hours. As this is an acclimatization and ‘rest day’ we make sure to take a slow and easy pace.
An alternative to the Manaslu Base Camp is a shorter trek to PungyenGompa and the glacial lake, Birendra Tal. Trek through a forested area before reaching a ridge and a grassy plateau. Here you’ll discover the gompa that was destroyed by an avalanche during the winter in 1953. Continue past to get to the icy waters of Birendra Tal situated at the base of a glacier, and if you’re brave take a dip! O/N at Guest House.

This is another shorter day to allow you to better adjust to the altitude. Here is a land of yaks, plentiful marmots, and pastures where only barley and potatoes can grow (due to the high elevation) and where we finally depart to above the tree line. A pleasant walk brings us to the picturesque village of Samdo –a town known for its yak herding. Samdo is also at the convergence of 3 valleys and is only a day’s walk from Tibet. You are quite likely to see traders coming from the valley carrying Chinese and Tibetan goods. O/N at Guest House.

Continuing on from Samdo follow along a wide, broad path, crossing the BhuriGandaki River and traversing along a mani wall. Continue climbing over the Larkya Glacier until coming to a ridge that offers grand views of a huge gorge. We will spend the night here, before embarking on the high Larkya La the next morning. O/N at Guest House.

Today is a long day with a challenging, though not technically difficult trek over the Larkya La at a breathtaking 5100m. From LarkyaPhedi, cross a glacial moraine and past four frozen lakes as you make your way to the pass. It takes approximately 5 hours to reach this point. From here you can see incredible views of Himlung Himal (7126m), Cheo Himal (6820m), Gyaji Kung (7030m), Manaslu, and Annapurna II (7937). Begin your descent down a trail along a steep gully. Eventually, the trail peters out into a more level area of the grassy moraine. The valley opens up as you continue your descent to Bimthang. O/N at Guest House.

It will be another great rest day after a long and big climbing day. You can explore around beautiful Manaslu range and landscape. O/N at Guest House.

Cross a glacial stream and climb over the side of the moraine descending into a spectacular forest of rhododendron and impressive pines, with a view of Manaslu providing an equal amount of splendor. Descend down towards the Dudh (milk) Khola then continues through a more agricultural landscape until reaching the village of Tilje. O/N at Guest House.

Continue a rapid descent into the Marsygandi Valley through the forest, crossing a suspension bridge and making your way to the well-trodden trail of the Annapurna Circuit. We’ll make our way to Chamje, staying here for the night and celebrating our success of completing the Manaslu Circuit. O/N at Guest House.

We take a private 4x4 jeep and make our way to Kathmandu. O/N stay at Hotel.

After breakfast, meet the guide at the lobby of the Hotel, for Kathmandu city sightseeing in Pashupatinath, Boudhnath, Swayambhu & Kathmandu Durbar square Evening free for personal activities. O/N stay at Hotel

Unfortunately, it’s the end of this adventure. Lost Earth Adventures group services end after breakfast. Transfers to the airport are complimentary. See you next time!