- Helicopter flight
- Nepal
- 2 hours, 1 day
After two days of hard trekking, you find yourself at the base of the tenth-highest mountain in the world!
Key Information
Book this Nepal trek and get a complimentary one hour Trekker’s’ massage after the trek is over. The masseuses will be from a marginalized community. This is part of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Trek the circuit of Mount Manaslu
The circuit of Mount Manaslu (8,156 meters) is gaining popularity rapidly. Mount Manaslu is the eighth highest mountain in the world. Part of the Manaslu region’s trails was restored after it was damaged by the massive earthquake of 25th April 2015.
The local name for Manaslu is Kutang – Spirit Mountain. The government of Nepal only opened the Manaslu Circuit Trekking route to tourists in 1991. We start this trek by taking a private Jeep to Macha Khola to begin the hike.
The trail begins with narrow valleys with tropical vegetation hiking along the Budi Gandaki River. Parts of the path are small, with loose rocks used as steps, and several places can be potentially dangerous, especially when you encounter passing caravans of mules.
We will pass through Machi Khola, Jagat, Ghap, Lho Gaun, and Samagaon with impressive views of Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, and other smaller peaks of 6,000 meters. We spend an extra night at Samagaon to acclimatize to the altitude.
You will notice the change in the landscape becomes austere as we begin to gain altitude while at the same time, Hindus in the lower valleys, and now you see Buddhists in the higher elevations.
We cross over Larke La into the District of Manang. Once we reach Dharapani, we are on the main Annapurna Circuit trail. Dharapani is where the Manaslu Circuit trek ends; we drive back to Kathmandu in a private jeep.
Note: You will need to be pretty fit to be able to do this trek. It is more challenging than the Annapurna Circuit or Everest Base camp treks. The first four to five days involve trekking in hot and humid weather, even during winter. The length of the hike is between 6-10 hours at the beginning of the trek. The April 2015 earthquake has loosened the hills here, and landslides have occurred both during and post-monsoon.
Food and nutrition on the trek
We are pioneers in culinary trekking in the Himalayas. We provide a varied, exciting menu on treks throughout the Himalayas. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals can be catered for upon request, and other special diets can be accommodated with advance notice.
Trekking is not only fun, but it is beneficial for you. It helps in detoxifying the body while also nourishing the soul. Although to provide a better experience, we also tailor our meals to include superfoods as part of the ingredients to keep you fit and healthy while assisting in acclimatization to high altitude. The combination of hiking in the pristine mountain air and healthy food makes trekking with us a complete gastronome adventure. Read More on Food and nutrition on our treks.
Why Choose Us?
- Our expert trek leader will ensure your safety while enhancing your trekking experience.
- Your private social bubble by staying in less busy lodges and trekking away from the crowded trails where possible.
- Experience the Himalayas in style.
- Your food is prepared with superfood ingredients to give the best nourishment, recovery, and acclimatization to high altitude for our Wellness gourmet trekking adventures.
Detailed Itinerary
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Arrive in Kathmandu; your trek leader will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. Check in, and then attend an adventure briefing with the group, led by your expert trek leader.
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We begin driving west on the main Kathmandu to Pokhara highway towards the village of Macha Khola. Then, we turn off toward the hilltop village at Dhading. The drive passes through rural communities, green terraces, lush hillsides, and small towns. The road eventually becomes a bumpy, dirt track. The southern face of Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, and Langtang Himal can be seen when visibility is good.
You will arrive at Macha Khola in the late afternoon or early evening.
Transport: Private jeep
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Our day begins by following a gorge and going upstream of the river on a narrow trail. The track combines gentle up and down until the Tharo Khola crossing near Khorlabesi. We arrive at a small hot spring (Tatopani) after more ascends and descends.
We have another ridge to climb before crossing the Budi Gandaki on a bridge. A climb on a staircase follows on a hill to Doban. We reach Yaru Khola after crossing another bridge. We have stone stairs to climb up and down to Tharo Bhanjyang. We will be able to see Guang villages amidst forests high above. Langur monkeys also roam in this vicinity.
We cross the Budi Gandaki river and climb yet another ridge while hiking along the river before a final climb to the village of Jagat.
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We make our way through various landscapes, small streams, dense forests, and rustic villages until our final destination today. We begin by climbing over a rocky ridge to the village of Salleri and descend to Sirdibas. We continue towards Ghatta Khola in a slightly widening valley. We continue to walk upstream to Phillim, a large Gurung village, where we cross a long suspension bridge. The trail turns north from Phillim and remains relatively level as we cross terraced fields to Ekle Bhatti.
We now enter a steep, isolated gorge; we descend to the grassy slopes by crossing the Budi Gandaki river. We hike on the west bank for a while, crisscrossing to the east and west banks again. Finally, we pass through a bamboo forest on a broader trail to the village of Deng.
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We start the day in a culturally significant section of the trek. We cross the Budi Gandaki river, where another bridge crossing involves an ascend until it joins Bhi’s trail. Then, we head westward up the valley. We pass through a combination of lush forests, alpine vegetation, and charming villages that belong to the ethnic groups of the Manaslu region. Finally, some notable peaks begin to appear in the distance.
We will take the trail through Prok village. It has a beautiful vantage point for the view of the snowcapped Sringi Himal. We can take a break here before continuing. We crossed the Budi Gandaki several times today, hiking past several Monasteries along the way. Next, we take the trail that goes upstream through a dense forest to a narrow gorge. We continue until the forest becomes less dense. This is a terrific way to hike in the Manaslu Conservation Area. Finally, we have a final steep climb before reaching the village of Namrung.
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«We get good views of Mount Sringi, Ganesh Himal and Himal Chuli. We begin by climbing steadily, passing through forests until the lovely Lihi village with numerous stupas and barley fields. Next, we descend and cross to the side valley of Simnang Himal while Ganesh Himal towers close by.
We trek past the villages of Sho, Lho, and Shyala before we reach Samagaon. Manaslu is visible from the village of Lho. We can also explore Ribung Monastery if time allows. We will be surrounded by the high peaks of Himal Chuli and Ngadi Chuli (Peak 29) to the left, while Mount Manaslu and massive glaciers are straight ahead. Several snowcapped mountains stand to our right, while Ganesh Himal can be seen in the east. We spend two nights at Samagaon.
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We can sleep in; have a leisurely breakfast as you don’t have to pack your bags. Mount Manaslu towers right above Samagaon. Next, we can take a hike to Birendra Lake for our acclimatization. There are numerous prayer stones with Buddhist inscriptions throughout the village. Next, we can hike up a little hill near the Sama village. There is an old monastery—Pungyen Gompa—a monastery with great views of the glacier.
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We descend to cross the Budi Gandaki river over a sidestream. We will pass several prayer walls, and the valley will become more expansive. The view of the mountains iOur hike gives by a seasonal Tibetan market called Larke Bazaar. We descend to the Budi Gandaki River, cross the bridge and begin ascending. We cross two streams opposite the Larkya Glacier. We contour around the SalkThea Valley and have a final climb to Dharamshala, passing many traditional monasteries. Dharamshala is also known as Larke Phedi. The short hike leaves us time for acclimatization and to relax in the afternoon.
The views are spectacular on this route, and we get close to Tibet’s border. There is a stone archway close to the village of Samdo.
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Our hike passes by a seasonal Tibetan market called Larke Bazaar. We descend to the Budi Gandaki River, cross the bridge and begin ascending. We cross two streams opposite the Larkya Glacier. We contour around the Salka Valley and have a final climb to Dharamshala, having passed by many traditional monasteries. Dharamshala is also known as Larke Phedi. The short hike leaves us time for acclimatization and to relax in the afternoon.
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Today is the longest and most challenging day of the entire trek. We start early at predawn, have a heavy breakfast, and collect our packed lunch before heading out to cross Larke La pass. Your trek leader will set a comfortable pace so you can enjoy the magnificent surroundings of the glacier, the changing fauna, and some incredible snowcapped mountains.
We will reach the north side of the Larkya glacier with beautiful views of Mount Cho Danda and Larke peak. Next, we will cross glacial moraines ascending gradually—the gradient increases in the last section of the pass. Outstanding views of Mount Himlung, Cheo Himal, and the gigantic Annapurna II awaits us. We finish this rewarding day by walking into low misty pastures in the late afternoon, with Mount Manaslu towering in the distance.
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You will wake up to a beautiful little valley with a 360-degree view of the Himalayan Peaks. Our team will serve you breakfast on the lodge’s grounds we spent the previous night if it is sunny. Thus, you can have your breakfast with great views. We reach a small ridge shortly after we start trekking with the breathtaking views of Manaslu, Lamjung Himal, Himlung Himal, and Cheo Himal. After that, we keep descending the trail, cross a high pasture, and cross the Dudh Khola (Milk River).
We walk through rhododendron and pine forest, following the trail through a narrow valley until we reach Karche, the valley’s highest cultivated land. The course takes us through lush fields before doing a steep climb over a ridge. The trail comes off the hill in a vast arc down to the river bank. A short distance away is the village of Gho, where we stay the night.
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We continue our descent to the next village of Tilije. Then, we continue hiking along the Dudh Khola River on the stone-paved trail onto the village of Thonje. Finally, we will stop at the police check post and continue to Dharapani, where we will exit the Manaslu Conservation Area and enter the Annapurna Conservation area. We stop at Dharapani for the night.
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We take a local jeep to Besishar on a non-black topped road. We change vehicles at Besisahar, and the rest of the drive is on an asphalt road to Kathmandu.
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You will be brought to the airport 3 hours before your flight time.
Cost Includes:
- Boutique hotel in Kathmandu on a bed and breakfast basis
- Hotel/lodges on twin sharing basis along trails
- All transportation
- Responsible Adventures’ expert trek leader or Trek with Raj
- Complimentary T-shirt
- Use of trekking kit bag during the trek
- One assistant guide between 4 trekkers
- Trekking Chef
- One porter between two trekkers
- Proper clothing for porters and crew
- Food for porters & crew members (we are less than a handful of trekking companies that provide this facility)
- Insurance for team and porters
- All permits
- Twin sharing room on the trek
- All meals on the trek (healthiest and varied trekking meals in the whole of the Himalayas)
Cost Excludes:
- Visas
- All optional additional tours or activities during free time
- Transportation outside of the tour program
- Travel insurance (compulsory to have insurance that covers helicopter evacuation)
- Tips (suggested amount US$75 per week for staff only); Leader’s tips at your discretion
- Items of a personal nature, e.g., alcoholic drinks, bottled beverages, laundry, souvenirs, etc.
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A Responsible promise
Despite the exceptional circumstances in which we find ourselves at the moment, we don’t want you to give up your holiday – and we want you to be able to book your trip without any worries.
To provide additional security for your booking, we have introduced a new rebooking and cancellation policy so that you can easily rebook or cancel your trip free of charge if the worst comes to the worst.
Free Cancellation With the Responsible Promise 100% Money-Back Guarantee
For new bookings made between May 10th 2021, and December 31st 2022, you may cancel your complete package (activities, hotels, tours, excl. flight) free of charge up to 30 days before your departure and get 100% of your money back. However, to stay flexible, we recommend that you choose a flexible fare when booking your flight.
Complete flexibility on your booking
Stay flexible with our new rebooking service until shortly before your departure. For new bookings made between my 10thh and December 31stt, 2021, you may rebook your package (activities, hotels, tours) free of charge up to 30 days before your departure (subject to availability). Rebooking is only allowed once, and you must inform us 30 days before your planned departure. Any additional costs incurred due to changes in your schedule or upgrades, such as additional fees in high season or upgrades to your accommodation, will still apply. To remain flexible, we recommend that you choose a flexible fare when booking your flight.
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Trek FAQ
Most of our clients have completed their treks from 3 years old to some in their 70s with almost no exercise or training.
Do you offer hotel/airport pick-up?
We offer hotel and airport pick-up. As you continue with your booking, there will be an option to input flight details or hotel names.
Do I need a Visa?
A visa for Nepal can be acquired on arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, and at border entry points in Kakadvitta, Birgunj, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj, Gaddachowki on the Nepal-India border, and Kerung on the Nepal-China border.
A visa can also be obtained outside of Nepal at the nearest Nepal Embassy or Diplomatic Mission.
For more information, go to the Department of Immigration, Kalikasthan, Kathmandu.
What should I bring on a Trek?
Being adequately equipped is one of the keys to a successful trek. For information to help you select the best type of clothing and equipment for your trip, please see our Clothing and Equipment Guide.
Also, see our Links page for details of specialist retailers who will offer further advice and assistance with purchasing new clothing or equipment.
If you have more questions, please check this article to reference equipment to pack or contact us.
Is this trip safe for solo/female/LGBT+/minority/POC travelers?
You are safe as long as you respect the culture, do not show affection in public, and dress decently (this won’t pose too much problem as you will be covered up in layers to stay warm).Here are some helpful articles:
Am I too old to go trekking?
Arriving at Kathmandu airport.
Should I bring cash or ATM cards?
What to pack for a trek?
Do I need to train for a trek?
What is a typical day on a trek like?
What is the food like on the trek?
The Benefits of using trekking poles.
What do I need to know about high altitudes?
High altitude myths.
How to trek safely?
For more articles, you can go to our blogs.