Manaslu Circuit Trek

Join our life changing Manaslu Trek with 11 days short itinerary and inclusive tour price with complete services including local guide, permit and all the necessities for the year 2023 and 2024. 

The journey of Manaslu Circuit Trek starts from Soti Khola at the altitude of 700 meters from seas level, is a charming village at the bank of Budhi Gandaki river. From lush rice paddies terraced fields with water buffalo and thatched huts, we walk north along the incredible, mountain-capped high route, through sprawling Gurung villages perched on high, terraced hilltops covered in Rhododendron, to reach Kutang, or lower Nubri. Here the ethnically Tibetan inhabitants speak their own dialect, partly Tibetan and partly Gurung, and live a lifestyle that spans Nepal and Tibet.

Trekking to Manaslu Circuit is ever higher to upper Nubri, purely Tibetan culture and tradition; we share the trails with yak caravans. Here, trade with Tibet continues as it has for centuries and Tibetan villages have been forged from the wilderness by Tibetan refugees. Inspiring mountain panoramas, dominated by Manaslu itself, are a highlight of the trek as are day hike to Pun Gyen Gompa, Manaslu Base Camp from Sama Gaun and Rui La, a traditional trade route to Tibet at the Nepal-Tibet boarder from Samdo Village, the valley above Samdo near the border of Tibet and the epic crossing the snow-covered Manaslu Larke Pass to Bimtang and Manang region of the Annapurna circuit is life time experiences. This rapid Manaslu Circuit Trek program is planned for those fit and strong people already acclimatized in the Alps  or Himalaya with previous trekking experience that allows to experience marvelous Manaslu region in short period of time. If you are looking for relaxing and leisure Manaslu trek we recommend you to chose our 18 days around Manaslu trek program that allows to have proper acclimatization process and trek without rush or Manaslu Trek via Tsum Valley that requires minimum 21 days to complete the trek. 

What makes Manaslu Circuit Trek special?

According to trekking professional mark the Manaslu Circuit Trek best among the best treks in Nepal. Although it’s recent grow in popularity, the Manaslu Trek remains remote and less crowded compared to the well established teahouse treks in Nepal. The trek takes you around mount Manaslu, the world's eighth highest peak at 8,163 meters (26,781 ft). 

Main features of this trek are:

• It is very popular but still less crowded compared to peers Annapurna Circuit or Everest Base Camp. The word is getting out about Manaslu, but there are still about 10 times fewer trekkers on the Manaslu Trail.
• Manaslu circuit offers wild and wilderness experience with authentic local culture and people but not it is no more camping trek but a tea hose trek (lodge to lodge trek).
• Manaslu trek is easily accessed, no stressful domestic flights required.
• The first part of the trail follows the Buri Gandaki, a deep, long river gorge, with many suspension bridge crossings. 
• This trek fulfills all the taste of Nepal: you'll walk from the subtropical jungle at lower altitudes, through the Himalayan foothills to alpine zone, cold and daring crossing of the Larkya Pass above 5100 meters (17,000 ft).

Accessing Manaslu Circuit 

Public buses leave every day in the morning between 6 to 7 am from Kathmandu to Arughat -Soti Khola. If you are trekking around Dashain festival; local buses are overloaded as more than two million people leave Kathmandu Valley for various destinations to celebrate Dashain festival and visiting their families back to home in the villages during the holiday. It is hard to get a seat in buses for a last our booking if your trek is around festival that usually falls in end of September and October. Except around festival time; there are easy available of bus seats. If you prefer comfortable ride to trekking starting point, we can arrange a private jeep that can be faster and comfortable and will cost around USD 225 to Machha Khola.   . 

Alternative trail to avoid road

Now; Nepal army has been constructing the road since 2014 the government plans to links roads to Tibet border. So because of road construction, the first part of Manaslu Trekking trail has been affected and trekkers have to walk on unsealed road for first 2 days. And soon in future; they will build the road even further up to Sama Gaun and then link to China (Tibet). A new alternative trail has been researched through the village of Arughat (600m) - Manbu – Kashi Gaon (1800) – Kerauja (2075m) meter) and finally conjoining to the main Manaslu route at Dovan but this new trail has basic logistic and trekking is more aerobic since it involves much up and down but this “off the beaten trail” rewards with experience of varius ethnic of Ghale, Magar and Gurung people, villages and real culture. Trekking through alternative trail will need couple of extra days so you Manaslu trek will be around two weeks long.   

How will be local buses

Local buses are often full of passenger, even in the passage too. They stop many times to take people in and dropping them off. It is usual that local people travel with basket of vegetable, sometimes chicken and bag of rice. Drivers play nun-stop music during the journey. You might find less leg-room as it is sized to Asian people. Still many of our western clients used it, it is good if you want to experience the local and don’t mind do like as locals do. And of course it comes cheap cost.   

What will be the Manaslu Circuit Trek Cost? 

Yes, this question can be the first among many Manaslu circuit trek questions. To answer this question; we need to know your trekking requirements. Our standard package price is 859 per person in minimum two people sharing basis for 11 days . The price includes guide, porter, meals, lodges, permits and sharing local bus and local jeep sharing after the trek. 

The cost varies in following cases.

• If you choose private vehicle instead of local bus.
• Group size: Yes group size differs the price, the group is bigger the cost is cheaper. 
• Many people prefer private group in term of making itinerary flexible. 
• Duration of trek, selection of trekking day matters the trip cost. 
• Camping trek is expensive than teahouse trek comparing price.
• Extra services like including appetizer, hot table drinks in pots, hot bags etc that will cost extra. 
• Including a accommodation, meals, transfers and sightseeing in Kathmandu. 

How long is Manaslu Circuit Trek in fact? 

 It is 177 km in distance also it differs from where you start your trek and where you end the walking, in other hand Nepal is the country where trekking distance is measured in days. Usually Manaslu Circuit trek is 12 - 14 days. If you include more side visit, it needs more extra days. Side trip to Tsum Valley Trek requires one week extra, and there are many other day long side trip destinations such as Serang Gonpa, Kaal Taal (Death Lake), Hinang Gompa, Himalchuli  Base Camp, Manaslu Base Camp, Pungyen Gompa, Lajung La etc. Hence;  the itinerary is determined according to the time  you have, your interest and your previous trekking habit and physical fitness etc. Our 11 days pre-set trip is short version of Manaslu trek that meets budget and time frame of moderate trekkers. For customized trip, pleased contact us.