Milky Way and Beautiful Manaslu, Himalayas.

Manaslu Circuit with Larkya Pass

Name: Manaslu Circuit with Larkya Pass
Brand: Follow Alice
SKU: 373185680
Price: 2290 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)

Trips/Manaslu Circuit

15 days

The Manaslu Circuit is one of the world's best high-altitude treks. In fact, many seasoned trekkers think it's the most beautiful trek in all the Himalayas! Why? Well, it offers a real challenge, as you navigate tricky terrain and climb to 5,106 m. You also trek through dramatic landscapes, meet diverse cultures, and enjoy incredible views of Mt Manaslu and other soaring peaks.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival day

Your local guide meets you at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu (1,365 m) and whisks you away on a short 25-minute drive to your hotel in the Thamel district of the city. Depending on your arrival time and how tired (or not) you are, we recommend you head out to explore the streets a bit. Founded in 723 AD, the city has many historic squares, stupas and other religious buildings to be admired, earning it the nickname the City of Temples.

Birds of prey on a tree overlooking Kathmandu in Nepal

Day 2: Trek preparation day

Today is a buffer day as well as a preparation one. If your inbound flight was delayed, for instance, then no worries, today will absorb that hiccough. But hopefully your journey to Nepal was as smooth as a pashmina and you can spend today on any outstanding prep for your upcoming trek. Need to buy or rent some equipment? Thamel is full of shops renting and selling all manner of trekking equipment, including top-quality items. (Note that we at Follow Alice can also rent you some of these items, like a winter jacket and trekking poles.) Of course, there's also likely going to be time for you to do some sightseeing! Kathmandu is one of the most fascinating cities on the planet, and a truly enriching cultural experience for the curious visitor.

Close up of trekking pole handles seen in shop in Kathmandu, Nepal

Day 3: Drive from Kathmandu to Machha Khola (9-10 hr)

This morning you catch a ride northwest on a local bus to the Buri Gandaki (or Budhi Gandaki) Valley. The drive is very pretty, especially as you get closer to the Manaslu region, where rice paddies, subtropical forests and small villages adorn the landscape. Your destination for the night is the riverside village of Machha Khola (900 m) in lower Buri Gandaki. This part of the valley is a cultural melting pot, and its residents largely follow a mix of Hindu, Buddhist and indigenous shamanistic practices. Tonight is your first night in a teahouse (an independently owned lodge). Many of the region's teahouses were rebuilt after the devastating March 2015 earthquake and are consequently relatively modern and comfortable. You go to sleep to the sound of the rushing Buri Gandaki River, whose pale-blue waters are fed by glaciers to the north.

Green hills and small village, Manaslu Circuit, Himalayas of Nepal

Day 4: Trek to Jagat (7-8 hr)

This morning your trek starts! The lower Manaslu Circuit is synonymous with steep trails, steeper valley walls and metal suspension bridges; you can look forward to navigating these features and more starting today. You can also anticipate seeing many beautifully green terraced fields, leafy forests, tiny hamlets, donkey trains, tall waterfalls and towering, distant peaks. You should expect some stiff climbs – there's no easing into things, not really. Your destination for the night is the riverside village of Jagat (1,410 m), which is the gateway for entering the Manaslu Conservation Area. This reserve protects a huge swathe of land that ranges from just 600 m (1,970 ft) all the way to 8,163 m (26,781 ft) – the top of Mt Manaslu.

Donkeys crossing metal suspension bridge in Nepal, Himalayas, Manaslu circuit trek.

Day 5: Trek to Deng (7-8 hr)

There's another full day of glorious Himalayan trekking on the cards today. You crisscross the Buri Gandaki a handful of times as you continue your journey up the valley, and also pass over several tributaries. So you can look forward to your daily dose of suspension bridges, which offer captivating views up and down the main and side valleys. It’s the sort of Himalayan trekking dreams are made of! As the day progresses, you climb up into drier and even more rugged terrain. Your overnight stop is the Gurung and Tamang village of Deng (1,860 m), also spelled Dyang. Deng is a tiny settlement that stretches along a narrow ledge just above the river. A few tenacious trees and plants manage to eke out a living on the nearly vertical mountain slopes rising up on either side of it.

Deng village, small village in Manaslu circuit trekking route surrounded by Himalaya mountains range in Nepal

Day 6: Trek to Namrung (7-8 hr)

On today’s nearly 20 km trail you once again crisscross the Buri Gandaki a few times. Midway along the trail you turn from a northerly direction to a westerly one in keeping with the valley's natural bend. This steers you almost directly towards Mt Manaslu (8,156 m), the eighth highest mountain in the world. This peak is the focal point of the Manaslu Circuit trek, as the circuit takes you around the eastern, northern and finally western sides of the mountain. After climbing up to the village of Linga Chuta, you enter a beautiful forest of firs and rhododendrons; be sure to keep your eyes open for the forest’s resident langur monkeys. You spend the night in Namrung (2,660 m), a traditional Gurung hillside village. In centuries past, Namrung existed as a customs post on the Tibet–Nepal salt trade route, which saw salt from the north being traded for rice from the south.

Hiker in highlands of Himalayas on Manaslu Circuit

Day 7: Trek to Shyaula (5-7 hr)

Today is a significant day as you ascend nearly a vertical kilometre and enter what's classified as a high elevation zone. You should therefore anticipate that your body will likely start to feel the strain tonight (or tomorrow) from the more rarified air. Excitingly, Mt Manaslu, Mt Manaslu North (7,157 m) and Naike Peak (5,515 m) come into view at the head of the valley today. You also pass the route branching west to the base camp for Mt Himalchuli (7,893 m). Your overnight stop is the quiet village of Shyaula (3,500 m), where most of the buildings had to be rebuilt after the 2015 earthquake. Shyaula offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, which include the neat twin peaks of Manaslu as well as the peak of Himalchuli, the second-highest mountain in the Mansiri Himal.

Night view shot from Shyala Village during Manaslu Circuit Trek

Day 8: Trek to Samagaun and Pungyen Gompa hike (6 hr)

Today's route takes you to the village of Samagaun (3,585 m), also called Sama, which sits at about the same elevation as Shyaula, so there's no major elevation jump today. During the day’s trek you enter the Nupri (or Nubri) region, where there’s a cultural shift as the communities you now encounter are increasingly Tibetan in both origin and culture, their ancestors having migrated to the region in the 1600s from Tibet to the north. After reaching Samagaun, we encourage you to also make the effort to hike to nearby Pungyen Gompa (3,800 m), a peaceful Tibetan Buddhist monastery that welcomes visitors. The trail to Samagaun from Shyaula is only about 4 km, so you will arrive at your overnight destination in good time to still fit in the 7 km roundtrip hike to the monastery. Please keep your eyes peeled for wildlife in the Nupri region as you could well see the likes of Himalayan tahrs (wild goats) and Himalayan blue sheep (called bharal).

Himalayan tahr in the rocky mountain habitat. Animals in the Himalayas. Nepal. (1)

Day 9: Hike to Manaslu Base Camp (6-7 hr)

Your body needs more time to grow used to this mid 3,000s altitude, so today is an acclimatisation day. If you’re taking strain, then let it be a rest day; enjoy the village, read a book perhaps, and take some naps. If, however, you’re feeling relatively strong, then there’s a roundtrip hike on the cards to Manaslu Base Camp (4,800 m). This is a challenging hike as you face a stiff climb of at least four hours that sees you ascending over 1,200 m. While you start the hike in yak pasture, you soon have to contend with the uneven footing involved in crossing a moraine. Unsurprisingly, the scenery on this hike is wonderfully rewarding. Moreover, when you reach base camp, you have breathtaking views of Mt Manaslu, Manaslu Glacier and the pristine glacial Birendra Lake below. Note that hiking to a higher elevation during the day and then dropping back down for the night is a really effective acclimatisation strategy, so this hike is a great idea for yet another reason if you can manage it.

Woman doing yoga exercises near on the shore of Birendra Lake on the Manaslu Circuit trek en route to Manaslu Base Camp in Nepal

Day 10: Trek to Samdo (5-6 hr)

The trek today is a gradual climb, and takes place largely in a wide alpine meadow where yaks graze in season. The trail can be rough underfoot in places, as you must navigate rocks, roots and some small streams, but overall it’s a straightforward and relatively easy hike. It’s the high altitude that makes the journey taxing. You spend the night in Samdo (3,860 m), where incredibly you should be able to have a hot shower, a real luxury this high in the Himalayas. But before heading indoors, be sure to put in the effort to climb Samdo Ri (5,150 m), the peak just above the village. This spot offers expansive views of Manaslu, Larkya Glacier and the Tibetan plateau. Samdo is home to members of the Khampa community, a Tibetic subgroup known for their strength, horsemanship, unique dialect, colourful clothing and strongly held Buddhist traditions.

Young Asian woman trekker walking on narrow ridge on top of Samdo Ri view point, Manaslu circuit trekking route in Himalaya mountains range, Nepal

Day 11: Trek to Dharamsala (4-5 hr)

You start the day with a downward trail through fields before commencing the long climb towards Larkya Pass. Your destination for the night is Dharamsala (4,480 m), also known as Larkya Phedi. This teeny-tiny, wind-battered location is only inhabited during trekking season. It has a simple teahouse and campsite. En route to Dharamsala you're rewarded with showstopper views of Manaslu as well as Larkya Glacier. You're also in a great place for some excellent birding, as there's so much solitude and silence this high in the mountains. Be on the lookout for the likes of alpine accentors, Tibetan and Himalayan snowcocks, Himalayan monals, and Himalayan griffon and bearded vultures. Finally, note that it’s quite normal if you struggle to sleep tonight, as very high altitude often causes insomnia, interrupted sleep or vivid dreams. The important thing is to just rest as best you can.

A group of trekkers in Dharamsala before walking the pass on Manaslu circuit with view of Mount Manaslu range 8 156 meters. Nepal. Himalayas

Day 12: Cross Larkya Pass and trek to Bhimthang (8 hr)

Today is the big day! You have a 24 km hike ahead of you, which involves crossing Larkya La (or Larkya Pass in English), which clocks in at a heady 5,106 m above sea level. You therefore have a very early start, as you must complete a tough 650 m ascent followed by a knee-testing descent of roughly 1,400 m. En route to Larkya La (also spelled Larke or Larkye La), you pass a moraine and four frozen lakes. At the top of Larkya La, you have a sensational view on clear days of some exciting peaks, including Annapurna II (7,937 m), Himlung Himal (7,126 m), Gyaji Kung (7,030 m), Kang Guru (6,981 m) and Cheo Himal (6,820 m). Your subsequent descent takes you alongside beautiful Bimthang Glacier, which offers epic photo ops. You overnight in the village of Bhimthang (3,790 m), which is set in a pasture in the wide Dudh Khola Valley.

Trekker in front of Manaslu glacier on Manaslu circuit trek in Nepal.

Day 13: Trek to Tilje (4 hr) then drive to Besisahar (3 hr)

It's your final day of trekking, and it's a short one. So any wobbly legs need only hang in there for a little longer. The trail runs alongside the glacier-fed Dudh Khola as it flows southwest towards the village of Tilje (2,300 m), your overnight stop. You drop nearly 1,500 m in altitude during the course of the trek, so the scenery changes greatly, starting with alpine meadow and transitioning into pine, juniper and rhododendron forests as well as terraced farms. You actually walk along the eastern edge of the Annapurna Conservation Area for the last part of the day. When you reach Tilje, you catch a ride to the town of Besisahar in a local sharing jeep. At just 830 m above sea level, Besisahar is sure to provide you with an oxygen-rich night of blissfully good sleep!

Rice Fields by the Marsyangdi River near Besisahar, Nepal

Day 14: Drive back to Kathmandu (7-8 hr)

This morning you catch a ride back to Kathmandu on a public bus. While the ride is long, there's time in the evening after settling into your hotel to stretch your legs again and explore the city a bit en route to a great dinner. There are many grand and humble eateries alike keen to offer tourists a taste of the magic that is Newari food, the core of Kathmandu cuisine. Alu tama, for instance, is a tangy and spicy Newari curry made with potatoes and fermented bamboo shoots. There are also various imported dishes, like momos (dumplings), which originated in Tibet but are now a street food staple in Kathmandu. For dessert, you might like to try the highly popular juju dhau, which is a sweet and creamy custard-like treat made from buffalo milk.

Day 15: Departure day

Today we take you to the airport in good time to catch your flight home. We bid you a fond farewell and hope that you'll return to Nepal soon to tackle another of the country's incredibly beautiful and rewarding Himalayan treks with us!

Bodhnath stupa with flying birds and people hope at blue sky in Kathmandu valley, Nepal.

Inclusions

Price Includes

All ground transport, including airport transfers

Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu

Teahouse accommodation during the trek on a twin-bed sharing basis

Three full meals and hot drinks per day on the trek

Seasonal fresh fruit and sterilised drinking water on the trek

Experienced, government-registered, English-speaking trek guide

Price Does Not Include

International airfares

Nepali visa

Travel insurance (compulsory)

Tips for guide and porter (customary)

All drinks and snacks not specified in inclusions list