Circuit Trek – 12 Days

Starting from Kathmandu to Machha Khola, the trail will take you through forests, river gorges, suspension bridges, and traditional Gurung and Tibetan villages. Further on, you have the wonderful view of the alpine meadows opening up to the glaciers and valleys leading to Sama Gaon, the cultural heartland of Manaslu. There is an option of acclimatizing days, Birendra Lake visit, and Manaslu Base Camp hike from Sama Gaon.

Larkya La pass, one of the most spectacular mountain passes in Nepal, provides a panoramic view of Manaslu and other Himalayan peaks. From the pass, one can see Manaslu, Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kang Guru, Annapurna II, and many more snow-capped mountains before descending to the beautiful valley of Bimthang.

Highlights

Trek around the world’s eighth highest mountain peak, Manaslu.
Hike the high altitude Larkya La pass (5,160m) and enjoy the spectacular view of Manaslu.
Explore the traditional Tibetan culture and visit the ancient monasteries in Sama Gaon and Samdo village.
Visit Birendra lake and optional Manaslu base camp hike from Sama Gaon village.
A fascinating trek through wilderness with beautiful views of snow capped Himalayan peaks, forests, waterfalls, alpine meadows, glaciers, and valleys.
Marvel at the ancient Buddhist monasteries, mani walls, prayer wheels, and chortens.
Panoramic views of Manaslu, Himalchuli, Ngadi Chuli, Cheo Himal, Himlung Himal, Kang Guru, and Annapurna II.
Traverse through the protected area of Manaslu conservation region with rich biodiversity and rare wildlife species.
Experience the isolated trekking trails with fewer crowds and enjoy the traditional hospitality of the local people.

Larkya La Pass

The highlight of the trek is crossing over one of the longest and most spectacular Himalayan passes in Nepal, Larkya la pass (5160m), offering tremendous views of snow peaked Himalayan Mountains and glaciers

Manaslu Conservation area

The trek also offers a passage through the Manaslu conservation area, a region of great ecological interest with its wide range of ecosystems from alpine forests, glaciers, rivers, and lakes to high altitude mountainous ridges and an astounding variety of flora and fauna.

Tibetan culture and ancient villages

This trek also offers an insight into the Tibetan culture and the hospitality of the local people of the village of Namrung, Sama gaun and Samdo, with its ancient monastries, mani walls, chortens, and prayer wheels.

Manaslu base camp and Birendra lake

On the day of acclimatization in Sama Gaun, you have the option to go for a short and fascinating trek to the Manaslu base camp or to beautiful Birendra lake, both offering great views of the glaciers and snow peaks.

Remote Himalayan wilderness

A trek through a remote Himalayan wilderness, with its beautiful alpine meadows, valleys, gorges, and ridges, providing some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the world.

Magnificent views of Himalayan peaks

Magnificent views of Mount Manaslu, 8163 meters high, the eighth highest peak in the world, and other great neighboring summits Himalchuli, Ngadi Chuli, Cheo Himal, Himlung Himal, Kang Guru, Annapurna II, and many more.

Rich fauna and Flora

The region is also rich in fauna and flora; some of the wild animals that could be spotted during the trek are blue sheep, Himalayan tahr, musk deer, Himalayan monal, and the elusive snow leopard.

Restricted trekking region and limited access

The restricted trekking region and the necessity to have a licensed guide to enter Manaslu conservation area helps to maintain the ecology of the region, its unique culture, and sparsely populated trails.

Seasons for trekking Manaslu circuit

The best time for trekking Manaslu circuit is during the months of March to May and September to November, when the climate is generally clear and dry.