The Manaslu Trek is one of the arduous treks, and presumably, it is one of the best but less trekked regions in Nepal.
The trek, with its starting location Arughat Bazaar and ending location Besisahar–beautiful locations in themselves, is comparatively less trodden, for it was allowed to trek only 1991 onwards, whose route will offer you a splendid view of ten peaks over 6,500 m. Moreover, along the route, the highest point you will reach is the Lyarka La pass, one of the longest passes in Nepal Himalaya, at an altitude of 5106 m. The Manaslu, in the Manaslu Circuit, is the eighth highest mountain in the world that stands 8163 m above the sea level in Mid-West Nepal. During the course of the trek, the tea houses will serve an immense opportunity to interact with the local people to learn the culture, tradition, and way of life; their innocence and simplicity will prove seductive. The trek traverses along an ancient salt-trading route along the Budi Gandaki river. Thereafter, the silver-white mountain peaks from this region will start mesmerizing you. Further ahead, the double peak Manaslu will reveal to you its glorious and grand presence which might prove an out-of-the-world experience. En route, you will have to go through the forest of lush green towering pine trees where you will be greeted with mellifluous chirps and euphonious psithurism. The trek is a genuine treasure trove, for it will, at no corner, cease to surprise you with varied cultural and natural riches–monasteries, monks and nuns in red robes, the highest village Samdo inhabited by Bhotias in the Budhi Gandaki valley, lofty Cheo Himal, Himlung Himal, and Kang Guru.
The trek, geographically rich and culturally variegated, is not open to independent trekkers, rather to groups led by the trekking companies; in fact, tourism is still controlled.
The trek may be a bit more challenging than usual since it is quite long, and ascending pass and high terrain require and extra effort. Thus, it would be best to be physically fit, but nothing to be intimidated with, for it is neither a competition nor a military training; we can adjust our pace, yet it would be better to come prepared physically.
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu – Welcome Dinner
Day 02: Visit Swoyambunath & Patan
Day 03: Drive Kathmandu to Machha Khola ( 869m) via Arughat (640m) & Soti Khola (700m)
Day 04: Trek Machi Khola to Jagat
Day 05: Trek Jagat to Ngyak
Day 06: Trek Ngyak to Ghap
Day 07: Trek Ghap to Lho
Day 08: Trek Lho to Sama Gaun
Day 09: Trek Sama Gaun to Samdo
Day 10: Acclimatization and exploration day
Day 11: Trek Samdo to Dharmasala / Larkya Phedi
Day 12: Trek Larkya Phedi to Bhimthang via Larkya pass
Day 13: Trek Bhimthang to Tilje
Day 14: Trek Tilje to Dharapani and drive to Besi sahar
Day 15: Drive Besisahar to Kathmandu
Day 16: Departure
Day 01: Arrival at Kathmandu – Welcome Dinner: You will be transferred to the hotel by one of our representatives. Welcome Dinner at one of the traditional Nepali restaurants in Kathmandu.
Overnight: Hotel
Elevation: 1334m
Meal Plan: Welcome dinner
Day 02: Visit Swoyambunath and Patan (Permit Processing Day): Start our tour visiting Swoyambunath, a magnificent Buddhist stupa located on a high hill which is just 10 minutes drive from Thamel followed by a visit of Patan, a true open air museum with its pagodas, temples, and monasteries.
Overnight: Hotel
Elevation: 1334m.
Meal Plan: BB
Day 03: Drive Kathmandu to Machha Khola (869m) via Arughat (640m) & Soti Khola (700m): Following Prithivi highway up to Benighat and winding road to Dhading Besi followed by a dirt road we have a scenic drive for about 9 hours to Maccha Khola via Arughat and Soti Khola by a private Jeep.
Overnight: Lodge
Driving Time: 8 - 9 hours
Difference in Elevation: - 465m.
Meal Plan: BLD
Day 04: Trek Machi Khola to Jagat (1340m): Our day begins by crossing Machi Khola and Khorla Besi. The trail follows a forested area descending towards Dovan. Below Dovan, there is a huge rapid at Budi Gandaki. As the elevation increases, the rapids and the scenery undergoes into complete transformation.
Overnight: Lodge
Walking Time: 6 ½ hours
Difference in Elevation: + 440m
Meal Plan: BLD
Day 05: Trek Jagat to Ngyak (2310m): After ascending to the terraced hill of Salleri with a view of Sringi Himal (7177m) we continue towards Sirish Gaon. The Gandaki valley narrows from here with soaring precipitous walls.
Overnight: Lodge
Walking Time: 5.5 hours
Difference in Elevation: + 970m
Meal Plan: BLD
Day 06: Trek Ngyak to Ghap (2100m): The trail follows the Deng River upstream to a tiny village of 4 houses. We walk through a newly built rock tunnel from here, thus avoiding the traditional steep climb. At Ghap, the Tibetan culture begins with Mani stones and chortens all around.
Overnight: Lodge
Walking Time: 6 hours
Difference in Elevation: - 210m
Meal Plan: BLD
Day 07: Trek Ghap to Lho (3100m): After crossing the wooden bridge over Budi Gandaki we follow the path lined with houses that are interspersed with cultivated fields. After Namru, we cross the Hinan River originating from Linda Glacier and continue on to Lho. Naike peak, Manaslu north (7774ms) and Manaslu (8163m) are visible from here.
Overnight: Lodge
Walking Time: 6 ½ hours
Difference in Elevation: + 1000m
Meal Plan: BLD
Day 08: Trek Lho to Sama Gaun (3450m): Passing the stone gate and long Mani stone wall of the village after Lho with a full view of Peak 29 ahead we continue our trek. We can make a side excursion to Pungen Glacier which offers a very close up view of Manaslu. Then following the lateral moraine of Pungen Glacier toward Sama we continue our day to Sama Gaun.
Overnight: Lodge
Walking Time: 6 hours
Difference in Elevation: + 350m
Meal Plan: BLD
Day 09: Trek Sama Gaun to Samdo (3900m): Another day, another kingdom in the sky. Hard to keep stopping, but we do to look back at the incredible mountain views on the walk up to Samdo, an easy three hours walk. You can spot the entrance chorten high on a bluff an hour out of Ro. The village is a collection of houses and lodges at 3900m, high enough to feel it now, and most trekkers miss the heat of a week ago as we huddle around the lodge stove and a wind from Tibet batters the windowpanes.
Overnight: Lodge
Walking Time: 3 - 4 hours
Difference in Elevation: + 450m
Meal Plan: BLD
Day 10: Acclimatization or Exploration day: We spend another day here in order to acclimatize and adjust to the thinning of the air and also to explore the surroundings.
Overnight: Lodge
Elevation: 3900m
Meal Plan: BLD
Day 11: Trek Samdo to Dharmasala / Larkya Phedi (4450m): We leave on the trade route to old Tibet and climb through the ruins of Larkya bazaar, one of the trade markets that flourished years back. After two and half hours of climbing with increasingly incredible views, we come to the campsite at Dharamsala.
Overnight: Lodge
Walking Time: 4 ½ hours
Difference in Elevation: + 550m
Meal Plan: BLD
Day 12: Trek Larkya Phedi to Bhimthang (3570m) via Larkya Pass (5213m): After a short climb above the lodge, we reach the valley on the North side of the Larkya Glaciers. There are views of Cho Danda and Larkya Peak. Finally, we walk across the moraines of the glacier, making a gradual ascent which becomes steeper only in the last section to the pass. From the pass, there are outstanding views of Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kangguru and the huge Annapurna II (7937).
Overnight: Lodge
Walking Time: 7 - 8 hours
Difference in Elevation: - 880m
Meal Plan: BLD
Day 13: Trek Bhimthang to Tilje (2350m): Trekking gets fairly easier now. We start with a gentle climb through paddy fields towards the small Karcha La pass and then descend through fig and rhododendron forests to Tilje.
Overnight: Lodge
Walking Time: 5 hours
Difference in Elevation: - 1220m
Meal Plan: BLD
Day 14: Trek Tilje to Dharapani and drive to Besi sahar (760m): We will have short trek to Dharapani and hop onto a local jeep and drive for couple of hours to Besi sahar. It is a rough road drive so might take longer than normal.
Overnight: Lodge
Walking Time: 2 - 3 hours
Driving Time: 2 – 3 hours
Difference in Elevation: - 1590m
Meal Plan: BLD
Day 15: Drive Besisahar to Kathmandu (1334m): A scenic drive for about 6 hours back to Kathmandu following Prithivi highway.
Overnight: Hotel
Driving Time: 6 hours
Difference in Elevation + 574m
Meal Plan: BL
Day 16: Transfer to the airport and departure.
Meal Plan: BB
| Srl. | Description | Qty. | Remarks | |
| 01 | Day back-pack | 1 | ||
| 02 | Gore-Tex Jacket | 1 | ||
| 03 | Down Jacket | 1 | ||
| 04 | Fleece Jacket | 1 | ||
| 05 | Micro Fleece | 1 | ||
| 06 | Trekking pants(Trousers) | 2 - 3 | ||
| 07 | Hiking shoes (Boots) | 1 | ||
| 08 | Runners (sport shoes) | 1 | ||
| 09 | Trekking Socks | 3 | ||
| 10 | Rain poncho | 1 | ||
| 11 | Sun-glasses | 1 | ||
| 12 | Water bottles | 2 | ||
| 13 | Thermal underwear(long) | 1 - 2 | ||
| 14 | T- shirts | 2 - 3 | ||
| 15 | Sunscreen/lotion | 1 | ||
| 16 | Flip flop (sandal) | 1 | ||
| 17 | Towel | 1 | ||
| 18 | Hat(Baseball cap) | 1 | ||
| 19 | Pristine drops (Water purifier) | 1 | ||
| 20 | Head light/flash light | 1 | ||
| 21 | Sleeping Bag | 1 | ||
| 22 | Gloves | 1 | ||
| 23 | Wind Proof Trouser (s) | 1 | ||
| 24 | Personal medical kid | 1 | ||
| 25 | Toiletries | 1 | ||
Climate:
From the eternal snow of the high peaks to the extensive tropical lowlands, Nepal has a wide variety of climates.
Spring: March to late May: In this season, Kathmandu is in full bloom, lots of different types of flowers can be seen at this time of the year. Temperature is mild, end of the cold winter and approaching warm and hot summer. Temperatures vary between 10 ° C to 28 ° C but can rise up to 30 ° C. Between 2000 and 3000m, temperature rarely drop below 0 ° C. However, few frosts or snowfalls are possible in March above 4000 m.
The summer/monsoon period: It interrupts the majority of trekking from late June to late August. Some of the trekking regions "trans-Himalayan", Dolpo and Mustang, however, remain protected from monsoon prevailing rest of the country. They are the only channels available in Nepal in the summer.
Autumn: mid September – mid December - Perfect temperature and weather for trekking. Brings cooler days, but clear skies. Above 3000 m altitude, temperatures can drop to -10 ° C at night.
In winter: mid-December - mid-February - Nights are generally cold, dry climate, Above 3000m, temperature drop down to 0 ° C to - 15 ° C at night, the days are often sunny.
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