Manaslu Circuit Trek: 14 Days

Depending on availability, you will either take a direct, early morning bus to Soti Khola or a bus to Malekhu on the Prithivi Highway followed by a ride on a local jeep to Soti Khola. Stay overnight at a teahouse in Soti Khola.

Make your way along a narrow and rocky trail. Cross rivers and traverse towering cliffs. At Nyali Khola there is a rocky edge atop a hill where local travellers pray to deities to keep them safe on the trail. Many trekkers do the same. There are several ascends and descends along the route and you are sure to bump into a couple of mule trains today.

The trail follows the raging Budhi Gandaki River as it travels through forests full of langur monkeys and past Gurung villages. At Tatopani, you have the option to relax in hot springs before crossing a suspension bridge over the Budhi Gandaki to reach Dovan.

There is another wooden bridge further along the trail. More Gurung villages and a cantilever bridge await you before you reach Jagat, where your permits are inspected. The restricted region starts from this point.

Descend to Sirdiwas enjoying views of prayer flags fluttering in the wind around Buddhist monasteries. Your permits are checked agin in Philim. Now the trail follows the west bank of the river.

Travel through forests of rhododendron and pine trees and continue to Pewa, which has only two teahouses but offers perhaps the best dal-bhat in the region (according to trekking guides).

Today the trail takes you through a bamboo forest to Deng before you cross a suspension bridge to make the way uphill to Rana and Bihi Phedi.

Beware as you will be crossing several landslide zones today. Your guide is trained in how best to traverse these areas. The final destination on today's itinerary is Namrung, home to some of the best teahouses in the region. Adding to its fame is a restaurant and a hotel operated by a local businessman that has both wifi and cappuccino.

By now you have reached an area where Tibetan Buddhism is the dominant religion. See locals wearing traditional Tibetan outfits, homes decorated with fine Buddhist paintings and mani walls along the route. The route passes through lush terraces, fir, rhododendron and oak forests as far as Sho. Then it gets rocky all the way to Lho.

Enjoy stunning views of Manaslu (8,163 m) and Manaslu North (7,157 m).

With views of Manaslu in the backdrop, the trail winds through pine and rhododendron forests, moss-covered allies and past crystal streams. On reaching the large village of Sama Gaun, forests give way to yak pastures and the mountain vistas fade.

Sama Gaun is the main village in the area and has a large gompa (monastery), a good number of shops and essential like a health post, helicopter landing strip, telephone service and wifi access.

You have a day off today since it is necessary to acclimatize your body at high altitude to avoid any altitude-related issues. Today, enjoy a walk to Pungyen Gompa on the east of the Nubri Valley with a packed lunch in your backpack. Himalayan thars (goat-like ungulates) and yaks can be seen grazing on the hillside.

An alternative walk is a hike up to Manaslu Base Camp, north of Sama Gaon. However, this can be quite a bit of a challenge for an acclimatization day. Taking altitude into consideration, some trekkers enjoy a shorter walk to the nearby Birendra Tal.

Yak pastures in a wide valley inhabited by different birds and dotted with mani walls bring a pleasant start to the day. It is a short hike today. However, you need to be careful since you will be traveling through high-altitude areas.

Then leave the tree line behind, climb a ridge to cross a wooden bridge over the Budhi Gandaki and you would have reached the picturesque yak-herding village of Kani. Continue your journey to Samdo. There is a possibility of hiking to Samdo Peak today.

Today is your second rest and acclimatization day. Take a trip to the Tibetan border. You might see a yak caravan passing by or, if you are lucky, spot wild blue sheep, picas and marmots. Enjoy excellent views of the Samdo Glacier before heading back to your accommodation.

See the majestic Himalayas while traversing rugged terrain. Reach the village of Dharmsala. Relax and gaze at spectacular snow-capped peaks.

The longest, most difficult and possibly the most exhilarating day of the trek is here. Crossing the Larke La Pass requires waking up long before dawn to ensure that you do not get caught in the high winds of afternoon.

Despite the challenges, the views of Himlung (7,126 m) near Tibet, Kang Guru (6,981 m) and Annapurna II (7,937 m) are worth it. See panoramic views of huge icefalls and mountains while descending down the pass on to the other side. A three-hour descent will bring you to Bimthang.

This is the final day of the trek. Travel through lush forests and green hills. Cross Dudh Khola and enjoy your lunch in Karche. Your last destination of the day is Dharapani.

Take an off-road vehicle from Dharapani to Beshi Sahar followed by a bus from Beshi Sahar to Kathmandu or Pokhara. The journey to Kathmandu takes approximately ten hours while you will reach Pokhara in about eight hours.