Manaslu Circuit

Manaslu Circuit


Country:
  Nepal
Region:
  Manaslu
Group:
  Min. 2 people
Transport:
  Land
Accomm.:
  Hotel/G. House
Difficulty Level:
  Demanding
Max. Altitude:
  5160 m a.s.l.
Duration:
  17 days
Activity:
  Trekking
Season:
  Spring/Autumn
Meals:
  Included
Price:
  1600$


Trekking around Manaslu is often described as the most beautiful trail due to its unique landscapes, but also because of the much smaller number of visitors.

This allows for a more intimate journey along Himalayan paths, enjoying the views in silence without the hustle and bustle of tourism.

We will trek surrounded by magnificent mountain panoramas, and upon reaching the Larkya La pass, you will see the towering 8,156-meter Manaslu.

  • Day 1:

    Kathmandu, 1400 m

    Someone from the Vertical Nepal team will pick you up from the airport and take you to a comfortable hotel in the Thamel district.

    After some rest, we'll meet as a group for a welcome dinner.

  • Day 2:

    Kathmandu, 1400 m

    The capital of Nepal is a fascinating city full of culture, history, and street life.

    We'll show you the historic center with Durbar Square, the site of ancient temples and palaces. You'll also see Kumari, the living goddess, who is chosen from young girls and considered the reincarnation of the goddess Taleju.

    There will also be time for shopping and immersing yourself in one of the most magical places in the world.

  • Day 3:

    Kathmandu - Machha Khola, 8-9 h, 900 m

    After breakfast, we'll hit the road.

    Our destination today is Machha Khola. We'll drive for 3-4 hours on a paved road to Dhading Besi, and then continue on a rough and winding road for another 5-6 hours until we reach Machha Khola, a picturesque village on the banks of the Budi Gandaki River.

    We'll stay overnight at a local guesthouse to rest before another day of trekking.

  • Day 4:

    Machha Khola - Jagat, 6-7 h, 1340 m

    After breakfast, we'll set off.

    We'll encounter diverse landscapes today, including forests, rice fields, gorges, and rocky cliffs.

    The trail will repeatedly cross the Budi Gandaki River, and we'll traverse it using suspension bridges. As we progress, you'll notice the changing landscape and diverse vegetation.

  • Day 5:

    Jagat - Deng, 6-7 h, 1860 m

    After leaving Jagat, aside from stunning views, our first attraction will be a waterfall of breathtaking beauty.

    The rest of the journey will be filled with rice and millet fields. On the horizon, you'll see the seven-thousander Shringi Himal.

    We'll continue the trip, admiring many traditional villages inhabited by the local Gurung and Tamang people.

    We'll end the day in Deng, another charming village, where we'll be hosted in a tea house run by local residents.

  • Day 6:

    Deng - Ghap, 4-5 h, 2660 m

    Today will be a much lighter day than before.

    After breakfast, we'll proceed at a leisurely pace, covering hills and kilometers.

    We'll enjoy the incredible beauty of the landscape and observe the lives of the inhabitants, with their traditional culture rich in symbols such as rock paintings and hanging prayer flags.

    We'll end the day in Ghap, where we'll stay overnight.

  • Day 7:

    Ghap - Lho, 6-7 h, 3180 m

    Refreshed and rejuvenated, we'll embark on another day of adventure.

    During the first hour of the hike, we'll enter a beautiful and quite deep forest of blue pine, oak, and rhododendron.

    We'll pass the Budi Gandaki and reach the village of Namrung. As we cover more kilometers, we'll ascend to the destination of today's trek. With good weather, you'll see the peak of Twin Manaslu.

    We'll stay overnight in Lho.

  • Day 8:

    Lho - Samagaon, 3-4 h, 3530 m

    We'll be greeted by spectacular views, and on a clear day, you'll see Manaslu, Manaslu North, and Naike.

    We'll start the hike by visiting the Lho Ribang monastery, then pass through a beautiful pine forest.

    We'll admire mountain peaks such as Simnang Himal (6,158 meters), Ngadi Chuli (7,613 meters), Manaslu (8,163 meters), Manaslu North (6994 m), Naike Peak (6,211 m).

    We'll end the day in Samagaon.

  • Day 9:

    Samagaon, 3530 m

    It's an acclimatization day to help our bodies adjust to the increasing altitude.

    We'll spend it in active relaxation, either heading towards Birendra Tal lake (4-5 hours) or taking a walk to the Manaslu base camp and returning to Samagaon (7-8 hours).

    The rest of the day will be for rest.

  • Day 10:

    Samagaon - Samdo, 3-4 h, 3860 m

    Rested and acclimatized, we'll continue our journey.

    Today's trek will be pleasant, with only 300 meters of elevation gain covered at a leisurely pace, allowing us to enjoy the views.

    The terrain will change to a more barren landscape with sparse vegetation. After a few hours, we'll reach today's destination - Samdo.

  • Day 11:

    Samdo - Dharmashala, 4-5 h, 4460 m

    After breakfast and some rest, we'll continue our journey.

    Starting from Samdo, we'll embark on a 4-hour hike to Dharamashala.

    The trail will be even, and we'll gradually ascend through a barren landscape, passing through Larkya Bazar, a former Tibetan trading place.

  • Day 12:

    Dharmashala - Bhimthang, 8-9 h, 3720 m

    A challenging day awaits us.

    We'll start very early in the morning to avoid worsening weather conditions and strong winds later in the trek. First, we'll climb towards Cho Chanda, then steeply uphill towards the Larkya La pass (5,160 m).

    The view of Himlung Himal 7,126 m, Cheo Himal 6,820 m, Gyagi Kung, Kang Kuru 6,981 m, and Annapurna II 7,937 m will reward us for the hardships of our hike.

  • Day 13:

    Bhimthang - Tilije, 6-7 h, 2300 m

    Today will be much easier than before; as we cover more kilometers, we'll observe a change in the landscape, and vegetation will return, including fig trees and rhododendron forests.

    We'll rest in Tilije.

  • Day 14:

    Tilije - Tal, 5-6 h, 1430 m

    We'll descend to Tal, passing through Dharapani along the way, where our route joins the famous Annapurna Circuit trail.

    After crossing the suspension bridge over the Marshyangdi River, we'll reach Tal.

  • Day 15:

    Tal - Kathmandu, 1400 m

    Today marks the last day of our trek.

    After breakfast, we'll head back to the capital. The journey will take about 8-9 hours on winding mountain roads, allowing us to relax and enjoy beautiful views.

  • Day 16:

    Kathmandu, 1400 m

    We'll spend the day exploring, relaxing, and shopping in the colorful Thamel district, bustling with life and music.

    In the evening, we'll gather for a farewell dinner to share our impressions of our wonderful adventure.

  • Day 17:

    Departure from Nepal

    Today, our Himalayan adventure comes to an end.

    We'll safely transport you to the airport for your journey home.

    Until we meet again!



Offer Details


Price includes:


  • Trip preparation: trekking equipment list, practical information
  • Airport transfer in Nepal
  • Guided tour of Kathmandu
  • Accommodation in Kathmandu in a double room with breakfast
  • Accommodation on the trail in guesthouses in a double room
  • Meals on the trail (breakfast, lunch, dinner with hot drink)
  • Transportation included in the tour program
  • Completion of all formalities in Nepal to organize the trip
  • Necessary assistance in Nepal before departure: currency exchange, last-minute shopping, etc.
  • English-speaking guide on the trek and a Polish-English-speaking expedition leader
  • Luggage transport during trekking, one porter for 2 persons (max. 25 kg per porter)
  • TIMS permit
  • Permit to enter protected areas during trekking
  • Guide and porter's insurance and equipment
  • Welcome and farewell dinner
  • Assistance in purchasing international ticket
  • Assistance in filling out visa form
  • Nepalese SIM card

Price does not include:


  • International flights approximately $600-900
  • Nepalese visa $30/50 (15/30 days)
  • Required travel insurance
  • Meals in Kathmandu except breakfasts
  • Alcohol and soft drinks during the trek, mineral water
  • Additional costs due to illness, change of bus/flight schedule and route (due to weather, natural disaster or political situation), such as extra hotel stay, additional transportation, etc., independent of the organizers
  • Tips for crew members and drivers
  • Personal equipment such as sleeping bag, clothing, medication, etc.
  • Costs of evacuation, rescue (if not covered by insurance)
  • Fees for international transfers
  • Entrance fees to visited sites
  • Costs of paid internet usage, shower

Required equipment


Equipment transport:


  • Large backpack, 70/80l bag
  • Small backpack, 30/40l
  • Money pouch, documents

Clothing:


  • Thermal underwear
  • Socks (several pairs, preferably merino wool or other breathable material)
  • Short-sleeved and long-sleeved shirts (preferably merino wool or other quick-drying material)
  • Thermal leggings
  • Thin fleece
  • Thick fleece
  • Trekking pants
  • Sport pants, preferably fleece
  • Shorts
  • Down jacket or other insulated jacket
  • Rain jacket
  • Rain pants
  • Cap with visor or other head covering protecting from the sun
  • Warm hat
  • Thin gloves, liners
  • Insulated gloves
  • Neck gaiter, scarf protecting the face and neck from wind
  • Sport shoes
  • Trekking boots with hard ankle support
  • Flip flops
  • Civilian clothes

Accessories:


  • Sleeping bag comfort -10°C (nights will be cold on the last stage of the trek)
  • Sunglasses with category 3 or 4 filter
  • Headlamp and spare batteries
  • Trekking poles
  • Powerbank
  • Charger for electronic devices
  • Travel adapter for type D sockets
  • Knife/multitool
  • Thermos
  • Water bottle/bladder
  • Water purification tablets or Sawyer water filter
  • Several garbage bags for storing wet clothes and protecting dry ones from moisture
  • Plastic zip-lock bags for storing electronic devices

Toiletries:


  • Sunscreen with minimum 50 SPF for face and body
  • Protective lip balm
  • Moisturizing wipes
  • Toothpaste, toothbrush
  • Toilet paper (available for purchase on site)
  • Quick-drying towel

First aid kit:


  • Medication for food poisoning
  • Universal antibiotic
  • Painkillers
  • Throat lozenges
  • Medication for altitude sickness (acetazolamide/diamox)
  • Cold and fever medication
  • Electrolytes
  • Disinfectant
  • Bandage
  • Adhesive bandages for abrasions
  • NRC foil