Manaslu Circuit Trek 2026 | Itinerary, Map, Price

Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal. Machha Khola is the starting point of our Manaslu Circuit Trek in Gorkha District. Machha Khola sits near the Budhi Gandaki River.

A local tourist bus to Machha Khola departs Kathmandu at 7:00 AM. Our vehicle picks you up from your hotel or another location inside Kathmandu and you meet your trek guide at the bus park. You board the tourist bus and drive on the Prithvi Highway, then take the Benighat diversion. Later sections of the route include gravel and dirt roads, with narrow bends. Trekkers often feel vibration and jolts on the unpaved sections. The lush valley views, terrace farming, and high rocky hills are mesmerizing today. After about 9 hours of driving, you reach Machha Khola and stay overnight. Dinner is around 7:00 PM. The guide briefs the next day’s plan after dinner. We recommend going to bed by 10:00 PM to get plenty of rest for the upcoming trek.

Machha Khola, Khorla Besi, Tatopani, Thulo Dhunga (Dovan), and Jagat are the main stops on Day 2 of the Manaslu Circuit trek.

Breakfast is at 7:00 A.M. at the Machha Khola teahouse. The walk from Machha Khola to Khorla Besi takes about an hour. The trail starts mostly flat and then turns uphill. Khorla Besi is a short break point for water and snacks.

The walk from Khorla Besi to Tatopani takes about 40 minutes. Tatopani is a natural hot spring beside the trekking route. The walk from Tatopani to Thulo Dhunga (Dovan) takes about 1-hour and 30-minute. Thulo Dhunga is a common lunch stop around midday. Typical lunch items include dal bhat and noodles, with drinks such as juice.

The walk from Thulo Dhunga to Jagat usually starts around 1:30 P.M. and takes about 3 hours, with long uphill sections. Many trekkers reach Jagat around 4:00 P.M. The route includes landslide-risk sections and slippery surfaces, and some parts may follow a road where vehicle dust is present. Daytime heat is common on the lower, tropical part of the trail. Jagat has 10 teahouses, mani walls, and stupas. Many rooms have attached bathrooms, and some rooms provide Wi‑Fi and charging sockets.

The dinner is at 7:00 PM. After a short brief by our guide for the Day 3 trek, trekkers normally sleep at around 10:00 PM.

Jagat, Salleri, Philim, Chisapani, and Deng are the main stops on Day 3 of the Manaslu Circuit Trek.

The hike starts around 8:00 A.M. after breakfast in Jagat. The trail follows the Budhi Gandaki riverbank and includes suspension bridges, mani walls, and stupas. The walk from Jagat to Salleri takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes. After about 25 minutes, the route passes a waterfall with a pond and a bridge. The walk from Salleri to Philim takes about 1 hour and includes a suspension bridge over the Budhi Gandaki.

The walk from Philim to Chisapani, a typical lunch stop, takes about 1 hour. The walk from Chisapani to Deng takes about 4 hours, has long uphill sections and the route also connects toward Tsum Valley. Deng is a small village on the riverbank with about 7 teahouses; rooms usually do not have attached bathrooms.

Dinner is usually served in a shared dining hall with a central heater at around 7:00 PM. Sleep is recommended not later than 10:00 PM.

Jagat, Salleri, Philim, Chisapani, and Deng are the main stops on Day 3 of the Manaslu Circuit Trek.

Deng to Namrung is a full trekking day on the Manaslu Circuit on Day 4.

The route uses the Budhi Gandaki valley and includes a major suspension-bridge crossing. Most groups leave Deng after breakfast and reach Namrung in mid‑afternoon, with several uphill sections.

The trail climbs first toward Bihi Phedi. Bihi Phedi is a small village with mani walls and gumbas. From Bihi Phedi, the path continues to Ghap in about 1 hour through an earthquake-affected section, so careful footing matters. Many trekkers stop in Ghap for lunch for about 1 hour.

After Ghap, the route reaches Namrung in about 2 hours. This section follows the Budhi Gandaki riverbank in parts and passes forest, waterfalls, and mani walls. Namrung has a gomba, a police post, and a small school. The village has about 4–5 teahouses with Wi‑Fi; rooms usually do not have attached bathrooms, and hot showers and Wi‑Fi may cost extra.

Namrung, Sho, Lho, and Shyala are the main villages for the Day 5 on the Manaslu Circuit route.

The walk usually takes about 7 to 8 hours after breakfast in Namrung. The trail starts with about 30 minutes of flatter track and then shifts to long uphill sections with short downhill and narrow parts. Along the route you pass chortens, mani walls, prayer wheels, and prayer flags.

The section from Namrung to Sho takes about 2 hours on mostly flat ground. This part includes suspension bridges and open valley views. On clear stretches, Naike Peak can appear on the right side. The next section from Sho to Lho takes about 2 hours and brings the first consistent views of Manaslu and Himchuli.

After lunch at Lho, the trail continues toward Shyala with more uphill walking. The track passes pine, rhododendron, and juniper forest, with streams near the path in several places. Shyala has a central monastery, plus a stupa, mani walls, a school, and a health post. The village has about 50 houses and around 10 larger teahouses, with some homestays; some rooms provide Wi‑Fi and charging sockets.

As always, dinner is scheduled at 7:00 PM. Guide brief about the upcoming day after the meal and the sleep is at 10:00 PM.

Shyala, Pungyen Gompa, and Samagaun are the main places for the Day 6 on the Manaslu Circuit route.

The hike starts around 8:00 A.M. after breakfast in Shyala. The route to Pungyen Gompa uses a trail that differs from the standard Samagaun approach.

The walk from Shyala to Pungyen Gompa takes about 3 hour 30-minute. The first 2 hours are mostly uphill and include stone steps and a mountain path. After that, the trail has short flatter sections with gradual climbing before the monastery area. Near Pungyen Gompa, there is a water tap used for bottle refills, and the area includes open grassland and small streams.

The return walk follows the same route for about 1-hour 30-minute hours, then turns toward Samagaun. Many trekkers reach Samagaun at around 3:00 P.M. Samagaun functions as a local hub with an old monastery, a school, a check post, and a health post. The village has about 14 teahouses; many provide Wi‑Fi and charging, and some rooms have attached bathrooms.

Samagaun is the primary hub for high-altitude adaptation before the ascent to Samdo and Larkya La. Following the “climb high, sleep low” principle, trekkers choose from two main destinations based on their physical condition:

Birendra Tal (3,450 m): A 45-minute to 1-hour walk to a turquoise glacial lake at the base of the Manaslu Glacier. This is the low-intensity option, ideal for active recovery and conserving energy.

Manaslu Base Camp (4,800 m): An 8-hour difficult round trip. The trail gains approximately 1,200 meters of elevation over steep, rocky terrain. There are no teahouses or facilities above Samagaun; trekkers must carry adequate water and food. It provides a direct look at expedition operations and the upper glacier.

Day 8 follows the Manaslu Circuit route from Samagaun to Samdo. The walk starts after breakfast in Samagaun. The trail is mostly flat, with a mild uphill section near the end. The normal walking time is about 2–3 hours, and many groups eat lunch after arriving in Samdo.

Between Samagaun and Samdo, the path crosses alpine meadow terrain with no formal villages. You pass a few huts, mani walls, and small rivers. A wooden bridge over the Budhi Gandaki River comes before the final climb into Samdo.

Samdo is a mountain village with about 37 houses. The community is mainly Buddhist, and the village has monasteries and stupas. Samdo Peak and the Manaslu range are visible from the settlement in clear weather. Samdo has about 10 teahouses; some offer Wi‑Fi, charging access, and attached bathrooms, and hot showers may be available.

Samdo is a common rest and second acclimatization stop on the Manaslu Circuit. This day adds one extra night in Samdo before higher terrain, including the approach toward Larkya La Pass. The plan is a return hike from Samdo and then sleep again in Samdo.

One option is a long day hike from Samdo to the Tibetan border pillar and back. The round-trip time is about 9 hours. The uphill section can take about 6 hours. The route crosses open alpine terrain and passes yak pastures, stone shelters, and prayer flags.

A shorter option is a hike from Samdo to Samdo Peak and back. The climb gains about 300–400 meters and takes about 2 hours. The trail stays on open alpine ground and ridge lines. This hike supports acclimatization for the next high-altitude stages of the Manaslu Circuit.

The Day 10 of Manaslu Circuit Trek starts at Samdo Village. Larke Bazaar is about a 30-minute walk from Samdo. Larke Bazaar is the only teahouse stop on this section. The route crosses a wooden bridge over the Budhi Gandaki River.

Larke Bazaar sits at a junction near the Tibetan border and the route to Dharamsala (Dharamshala). From Larke Bazaar, the trail goes about 500 meters uphill. The trail crosses another bridge and enters an alpine meadow area. The route has views of the Larkya Glacier. The day ends at a stone-built guesthouse in Dharamsala, with arrival around 2:00 pm.

Dharamsala is the most remote stop on this part of the trek. There is no village. There are about three hotels. Rooms are basic, and some people sleep in a common room on mats on a small wooden platform. Some trekkers do a short acclimatization walk to Khaki Danda (about 30 minutes). Dharamsala has no Wi‑Fi, no phone network, and no electricity. Charging is limited and depend on solar power.

Day 11 on the Manaslu Circuit goes from Dharamsala to Larkya La Pass and ends at Bimthang. The day involves about 16 km of walking and more than 11 hours on steep, exposed terrain. We start early, around 4:00 AM, after our breakfast at 3:30 AM. The trail can be hazardous due to altitude, cold, and snow.

From Dharamsala to Larkya La Pass, the trail climbs soon after leaving camp. The first climb lasts about 20 minutes before the longer ascent continues. The route reaches Larkya La Pass at around 10:00 AM. From the pass, the route has views of Himlung Himal (7,126 m), Cheo Himal (6,820 m), Gyaji Kang (7,038 m), Kang Guru (6,981 m), and Annapurna II (7,937 m).

From Larkya La Pass to Larke Phedi, the trail descends for about 3 hours on snow and loose ground. Snow can hide the surface and make footing unstable. Larke Phedi has a few lodges where trekkers usually stop for lunch. The final descent from Larke Phedi to Bimthang takes about 2 hours, with rocky sections that increase slip risk. Bimthang has several teahouses, and some provide Wi‑Fi and charging sockets, but attached bathrooms are not available.

The route runs from Bimthang to Dharapani on the exit side of the Manaslu Circuit. The section is a sustained descent toward Dharapani, which is the point where trekkers connect to the Annapurna Circuit trail and continue onward by foot or road transport.

Between Tilije and Dharapani, the trail uses established footpaths along the valley and includes suspension-bridge crossings over the Marsyangdi Khola. The same segment passes smaller settlements before reaching Dharapani, which functions as the trek’s main road-access exit point.

Board a local jeep at Dharapani, navigating the Marsyangdi’s rugged, white-water gorge toward Besisahar. Swap jeep for a local bus in Besisahar, joining the rhythmic flow of the Prithvi Highway. Scenic terraced hills and roadside tea stalls blur past as you descend into the vibrant, urban sprawl of Kathmandu.

We will say goodbye, once we reach Kathmandu. We hope to see you again. If you would like to extend this tour with another trek, do short cultural tour of Kathmandu, or spend some leisure time on Chitwan, we would be more than happy to arrange it for you.