Manaslu Circuit Trek - Entry to the Hidden Valley (15 Days)

Wake up early morning and get ready after having breakfast at the hotel, also re-check your luggage. Our driver will escort you to the Bus Park to catch a bus to Arughat. You will be driving towards the western part of the valley following a blacktopped Prithvi Highway. Crossing the Trishuli River, you will drive towards Dhading Besi from where you will have a bumpy drive of around 3 hours to Arughat. On the way, you can view the beautiful landscape, countryside lifestyle, terraced fields, rivers, and waterfalls. Arughat is a small town mostly settled by the Newar ethnic group. Resting for a while at Arughat starts a journey towards Soti Khola. Crossing a bridge across the Budhi Gandaki River, you will pass small villages settled by Gurung and Magar ethnic groups, beautiful field of millet and Paddy and landscape along the Sotikhola. Spend overnight at the local lodge.

Begins trek on few ups/down rocky trail after crossing a suspension bridge passing beautiful Sal forest. Viewing tropical waterfalls and passing terraces, you will walk up to the village of Lapubesi settled by traditional Gurung. Resting for a while, you will start walking uphill along the bank of the Budhi Gandaki River till Khanibesi. Here, you can click the North-east view of Ganesh Himal and a beautiful waterfall and then starts descending towards the village at Macchakhola. You can take a relaxing dip in a hot spring and explore the surrounding. Spend overnight at the local lodge.

Today, you will start walking in a narrow trail following the Budhi Gandaki River. Just walking in a zigzag trail and crossing a suspension bridge will take you to the Khorlabesi that offers a fantastic view of Ganesh Himal. Now onwards, you will walk in ascending and descending trails, crosses several suspension bridges, passes landslides, rock falls, and small hamlets; even walk-in stone steps along with rocky trail en- route to Jagat. On reaching Jagat, see the fabulous view of Sringi Himal; mani walls and Chortens representing the Himalayan culture. Spend overnight at the local lodge.

After sliding down a long chain of stone steps to the river, you will climb on a terraced hill to Saguleri. See the impressive view of Singri Himal, 7187m from Saguleri. At Saguleri, the path splits. You will continue with the left-hand branch heading upstream, through a gorge section with towering walls. Thrice you cross the river in the next couple of hours to avoid difficult valley sides and then slide up over a further steep spur to reach the village of Deng. Spend overnight at Deng local lodge/camping.

Today, you will cross the village of Lamaistic Buddhism, see the some Mani walls/ Chortens and flattering flags while entering the elevated Buddhist Community. Since today’s trek is relatively short you reach the village of Ghap in about four hours, which straddles the river. Officially, you have entered the Tibetan Region as you feel the perceptible change in the climate and culture. Spend overnight at Ghap local lodge/camping.

The clear sighs of gaining the elevation are visible as you move into alpine territory where the mountain views are more than terrific. Myriads of mani stone walls and crossings of the Buri Gandaki thrice en-route will bring to Namrung. At Namrung, you need to issue trekking permits and MCAP permits. Beyond Namrung, the valley opens out and there are extensive pastures. Then, a gradual up climb followed by crossing a bridge over a large stream flowing down from the Lidanda Glaciers, you reach the Tibetan village of Sho, 3000m. Beyond Sho, you get first incredible views of the Manaslu North and then of Manaslu Main. A further trek will bring you to Lho, a large village at 3150 meters where there is a lovely little monastery and numerous Chortens and Manis. Looking back, Ganesh I is visible. Spend overnight at Lho local lodge/camping.

Beyond Lho, chase the right bank of the river, with views of Peak 29 ahead. Continuing along the main trail, you will reach Sama Gaon 3500m after a while trek. You can visit Sama Gompa which is just 20 minutes’ walk from Sama. Spend overnight at Sama local lodge/camping.

It is wise to rest during the trek for proper acclimatization before gaining the height. Spend your time at Sama Village enjoying the culture, lifestyle, and people following Lamaism. You can either hike to a ridge to view the stunning mountain including Nadi CHuli, Manaslu, Larke, and Naike. Or, you can also go to visit the Pung Gyan Gompa, capture the fabulous view of Puggen Glacier. Your walk on rest will let you familiarize yourself with height. Retrace Back to Sama Goan for the overnight stay.

Today, you will trek to the Manaslu Base Camp that is incredibly a great trip. You will walk up for around 5 hours to base camp. Explore the surroundings and continue walking for your final destination towards Samdo. Todays’ trail will be a bit longer enjoying the sunlight on the mountains and glaciers. The best part of the trek is the incredible turquoise view of Birendra Lake. Spend some time in the base camp, then trek to Samdo. From now, you will enter the forest filled with birch, juniper, rhododendron, moss, and Lichen. The trail will take you towards the Kyonggma Kharka that manifests small huts made with stones and a long Mani walls. Crossing a bridge over Budhi Gandaki River, you will enter the village of Samdo. It is the very close village to Tibet settled by the Tibetan Refugee community, have Taka Choeling Gompa, big Mani wall and close to Sonam Glacier as well as a viewpoint of Naike and Pangboche Peaks. Spend overnight at Local lodge/camping.

Today, you will gain a significant height. Beyond Samdo 3780m, you will trek along Larke Khola to Dharmashala (Stone Hut) 4460 along the steep trail above the river. At a point in today’s trek, you will be mesmerized by the incredible view of Larke Kunda. Keeping on gaining the height, you will arrive at Larkya Phedi 5105 crossing Larkya-La Pass 5153m. The trail passes through the Mani walls and Stone Huts while walking towards Larke Phedi. Larke Phedi is also called as Dharmasala or Rest House, is a seasonal village that provides rooms and tents for the trekkers. On reaching, you can hike the hills for acclimatization and retrace back to Phedi for the overnight stay at Resthouse/camping.

Today will be the most exciting day crossing a Larkya-la Pass gaining an ultimate altitude of this trek. Just starts walking in the early morning, you will pass the moraine route of the Larkya Glacier, cross frozen lakes and follow the steep up will takes you to Larkya-La. You will see the flattering colorful flags in a place, make your day a wonderful time catching the magnificent view of the snowcapped peaks including Annapurna II, Kangguru, Himlung, Larkey and many more. Continue walking following the guide in a steep descend on a high moraine ridge of Salpudanda glacier. Now onwards, the trail will be grassy moraine rockfall of Dangboche Kharka. Walking for a while will take you to the beautiful Bimthang Village. From here, you can view the fantastic scene of the peaks like the Lamjung, Manaslu, Phungi, Himlung and Cheo Himal. Spend overnight at Local lodge/ Camping at Bimthang.

Begins the trail to the Hampuk, a rock shelter cave, and crossing a bridge, you will continue walking down through the forest of Rhododendron and Pine, passing several villages and cultivated land, explore the Gho Village settled by the Gurung community as well as the Kilpu waterfall. You will reach Tilje, where you can rest for a while. Explore traditional Gurung Village. From now, you will continue walking towards Dharapani after crossing a bridge over the Dudh River. Explore the village and spend time enjoying the surrounding. Spend overnight at Local Lodge.

From Today, your trek will officially enter the Annapurna Conservation Area Project and Marshyangdi Valley. Show the TIMS and ACAP at Check Post while leaving Dharapani. Dharapani is a knot of Annapurna and Manaslu Trail as well as a junction of Dudh Khola and Marshyandgi River. Begins walking in a downhill trail passing Tal Village, you will continue a steep stone trail and cross a suspension bridge over Marshyangdi River, you will reach Chamje. From here, a steep descend towards the Syange village and crossing a bridge will take you to the bus stop. Driving for hours down in a snaky road will take you to Besisahar. Resting for a while, you will be escorted towards Kathmandu following Highway blacktopped road.