Altogether, Manaslu region trekking has three destinations: Manaslu base camp trekking, Manaslu Circuit trekking, and Tsum valley trekking. Manaslu base camp and circuit trekking are similar since both follow the same trekking trail to complete. We offer 18 days of trekking for the Manaslu base camp and circuit along with Kathmandu and Pokhara sightseeing tours. The additional Pokhara city tour is a lovely part of this itinerary because the trekking completes in Besisahar which is nearby Pokhara city. Pokhara is a beautiful city of lakes and extra adventure and entertainment. You can take the rest of the tiring trekking around the lakesides. We complete Manaslu Circuit within 11 days of trekking, and the other remaining days are allocated for travel and city tours.
Manaslu region trekking has only one route that follows Manaslu Conservation Area Project for the Manaslu base camp trek. Further, Tsum valley trekking and Manaslu Circuit trekking use different trails but the entry point is the same for all. Manaslu Base camp trekking and Manaslu region trekking follow the following trekking trail:
Trekking to Manaslu Base Camp/ Manaslu Circuit: Drive from Kathmandu- Soti Khola - Machha Khola - Jagat - Deng - Namrung - Samagaun - Manaslu Base Camp - Samagaun - Samdo - Dharamsala - Bhimthang via Larkya la pass - Chyamchhe - Drive to Pokhara - Pokhara city tour - Fly Kathmandu
Manaslu Area is an unexplored off-the-beaten region located in Gorkha District. The trekking trail follows the Budhi Gandaki river which starts from Soti Khola. The terrain and trekking trail become steep and tough as its elevation increases. If you are trekking for the first time, it may be difficult to trek in high elevations. Due to these reasons, you must prepare mentally and physically for this trek. You can go for a fitness session for six months to trek so that you have the sound body to do trekking in the wilder zone of the Himalayas.
Manaslu Circuit trekking requires sound fitness. You continuously trek for more than 10 days in high altitudes up to 5100m the Larkya la pass from Dharmasala to Bhimthang. It is essential to know that you are walking at 3000m plus altitude for a week which is vulnerable in terms of Acute mountain sickness. Physical fitness is one of the primary prerequisites for trekking on remote mountain trails. Without fitness please don’t attempt trekking in the Manaslu region since only a few medical assistants are available on the trekking trail.
Manaslu region trekking is still restricted and needs a special permit to go there. You can’t trek solo in the Manaslu region because two trekkers must be there along with an agency to get permits. Not only that there are a few things that are compulsory before getting permits for the Manaslu region. The life insurance paper of the Guide, your travel insurance, valid visa, and sufficient days in Nepal. Along with this, agency-valid documentation is compulsory to get permits. Due to these reasons, Solo trekking is not possible at present in the Manaslu region.
You are welcome to join a group for Manaslu circuit trekking. When you decide to join a group, a few things you can share with another person certainly reduce trip costs. During pick season, we offer fixed departure groups joining Manaslu circuit trekking. Group joining always benefits one as you can exchange your views with other group members.
Manaslu circuit trekking is feasible and best suited in the spring and Autumn seasons. That means you can trek from March to May and September to November. Even you can trek in December but it may possible for heavy snowfall which sometimes creates trouble. We offer fixed dates for this trekking in Spring as well as in Autumn too.
Manaslu region trekking is restricted till 1992 for trekking. At present also need a special permit provided by the office of immigration in Kathmandu. Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP) permit is needed to do trekking in the Manaslu region. MCAP permit is checked at Jagat while entering the Manaslu region until Sama Gaun. If you do Manaslu Circuit then you need another entry permit ACAP which cost USD 30 throughout the year. The cost of the permit depends on the number of days you spend in the Manaslu region. From September to November USD 100 per person for the first seven days and if you extend your stay there then an additional USD 15 per person from the eighth day onwards. From December to August USD 75 per person for the first seven days and an additional USD 10 per person per day from the eighth day onwards.
Jugal Himal Trekking is a registered company based in Kathmandu under government rules and regulations. Our several year's experiences in the travel industry will assist you in trekking holidays in a remote mountain. We create a trip plan on your requirements, time, budget, and interest. Our team comprises experienced trekking guides and other staff who do peak climbing and expedition. The primary concern is your safety while you are doing adventure trekking. We cover the insurance of our guide and porters to ensure their safety. The standard pricing for this trek is charged to make the trip more convenient and reasonable. We are available 24/7 for support and assistance.
Manaslu Base camp trekking, Manaslu Circuit trekking, and Tsum valley Trekking is a restricted area, and none of the individuals can trek independently in this region. We must have a licensed holder agency for trekking in the Manaslu region for the issuance of special permits. A licensed holder trekking guide and porters are required to get special permits in this region. Trekkers must submit their insurance policy to cover emergency evacuation otherwise in accidental cases, it is too costly for them. The trekking agency must submit the insurance policy for trekking guides and porters to issue special permits for trekkers.
Manaslu Circuit trekking, Manaslu Base camp, and Tsum valley trekking share the same geography and weather. This is one of the best trekking regions in the world. We can trek around the year in the Manaslu region. We trek above 5000m, and it is possible in winter and rainy season also, but the best season is Spring(March, April, May) and Autumn(September, October, and November).
Spring (March-May)
Trekking in Nepal is favorable in Spring and most of the trekking, Peak climbing, and expeditions are conducted in March, April, and May. During this season, you can enjoy incredible flora and fauna. You can observe different colors of rhododendron blooms, lush greenery, and magnificent mountains. The spring season has long and sunny days with cool mountain breezes. The temperature is moderately warm than other seasons. The range of temperature is from a cool 6 degrees centigrade to 12 degrees centigrade.
Summer & Rainy Season(June-August)
During summer, trekking in the Manaslu region is possible but the weather is windy and rainy since the summer is accompanied by the monsoon in Nepal. Due to heavy rainfall, the possibility of flood and heavy snowfall in high altitudes increases vulnerability. At the same time, bugs, leeches, and slippery trails add more difficulty to trekking even though with the right gear and guidance, you can complete Manaslu Circuit trekking.
Autumn(September-November)
The other best season to trek in the Manaslu region is Autumn. During the months of Autumn(September, October, and November), the splendid views of mountains, farmland, and pasture ground can observe while doing the Manaslu Circuit trek.
Winter (December- February)
During the winter season, it is recommended till mid of December for easy completion of the Manaslu circuit trek. You can enjoy Manaslu Base Camp. The locals move from upper Manaslu to warmer regions in Lower Manaslu. There will be fewer people trekking in winter and it is highly vulnerable as trails above 3000m are full of snow. We must use rated types of equipment and a climbing guide with full determination to complete the wilderness of Manaslu.
We are trekking in the mountain at a high altitude. The outfit is very crucial because it creates comfort to hike on the rough and cold trail. There are a few lists of clothes and equipment which are recommended as follows:
Besides these, you can take your comfortable clothes and other essential outfits.
Altogether Manaslu Base camp trekking and Manaslu Circuit trekking share the same trail which starts at Jagat and ends at Dharapani. The government of Nepal has declared the Manaslu region a restricted zone to control tourism in the region. To maintain the integrity and originality of this region, the government has given an effort to preserve the traditional Sherpa culture and monastery. For all these reasons, only a few tea houses are open and small lodges are available in the early days of this trekking. At present, the promotion and easy access to the internet makes things nearer as it was beyond imagination 20 years ago. It was popular for the Camping trek since there were no such facilities for fooding and bedding at the beginning of this trekking route. But now both options are available. For Porter, each day's wages range from USD 25 to USD 30. For a trekking guide, USD 30 to USD 40 which again depends upon the experience and ability of the guide. MCAP permit costs USD 100 per person for the first seven days and an additional USD 15 per person per day from the eighth day onwards in September to November.
Along with MCAP, we need ACAP if we do Manaslu Circuit which costs Nepalese rupees NRs. 3000/- per person and TIMS which is NRs. 2000/- per person. For your comfort and safety, we recommend a Jeep drive from Kathmandu to Soti Khola which cost around USD 250 that can be divided if we have a group. For accommodation and food, it costs around USD 40 -USD 45 per day per person which is normal in that region. If we include the expenses of Kathmandu and Pokhara also, the starting cost of Manaslu Circuit/ Manaslu base camp trekking lies around USD 1550 for one person which is a reasonable and competitive one.
While you are trekking, you must aware of the food which you are eating. You are trekking in the remote mountain, there are lacking of electronic appliances such as refrigerators and many others. The meat product is not suitable to take since it is prepared in the traditional way which may not suit your body. We always recommend eating vegetarian food during trekking with a maximum intake of natural protein like Dal, Kidney beans, and green vegetables. In Kathmandu and Pokhara, whatever you like you can eat.
Getting a visa in Nepal is quite easy. you can get it in your country from the diplomatic mission of Nepal/Embassy of Nepal or you can get it on arrival at Kathmandu airport. For more information click here.
If you would like to book this trek, you can click here.
There are many ways to settle payment while you book this trek to Manaslu base camp. We have provided details of our associate bank in Nepal and the procedure to transfer the amount whenever you proceed to book this trek. Whenever the transfer success, the confirmation slip, and invoice will be mailed to you.
Upon your arrival at Kathmandu airport, one of our representatives will greet you and assist you to reach the hotel. You will be served with welcome dinner with a Nepali cultural show. Few discussions about the entire travel plan during dinner. Overnight stay in a hotel.
Kathmandu valley comprises unique traditions and culture with beautiful world heritage sites. Within the valley, there are six world heritage sites: Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swoyambhunath, Bouddhanath, Pashupati, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, and Patan Durbar square. You have choices among these heritage sites to visit in a day tour. Patan Durbar square, Swoyambhunath, and Bouddhanath can be visited or you can think of the organic town Bhaktapur and Pashupati one of the greatest temples of Hindu. Even Kathmandu Durbar square can be visited during the evening time or in the morning time. It is near Thamel.
The Durbar Square of Kathmandu holds many old palaces, buildings, temples, and statues from medieval times. Overnight stay in hotel.
Note: you can directly drive to Gorkha Soti Khola for trekking without doing a city tour. Usually, it is planned in the itinerary due to preparation time and rest before going through tough trekking.
We drive in the early morning to go to Soti Khola. We take breakfast in the hotel and then we will have a private jeep to drive to Gorkha via Prithivi highway. The adventurous trekking first phase is driving from Kathmandu to reach the trekking starting point. Throughout the journey, we will experience amazing views of hilly villages, forests, waterfalls, and majestic mountains. We drive up to Soti Khola via the town of Arughat. Overnight stay at lodge/hotel.
From today, we trek to Manaslu Base camp in the early morning. We begin to ascend to cross a bridge over Soti Khola. Following Budhi Gandaki, we continue to walk in the Sal forest. Today, our destination is Machha Khola. The trekking trail has stone-paved up to Machha Khola. Overnight stay at lodge/tea house.
Our trekking continues towards the hilly town Jagat following Budhi Gandaki gorge. The up-and-down terrain, beautiful landscapes, and small rural villages with similar housing structures. It must be your first experience in such organic geography with fewer people in such elevation for living. Hilly landscapes you witness while crossing Thado Khola and heading to Khorlebesi. We hike to reach Tatopani hot spring. You can enjoy taking bath in warm water but our destination is Jagat so we continue hiking via the Budhi Gandaki river bank. Overnight stay at lodge/tea house.
Today, we cross the Budhi Gandaki river at the beginning of our trek. We make an entry to the Manaslu Conservation Area Project as we hike further which is home to 33 species of mammals including snow leopard, musk deer, and Himalayan Thar. There are over 110 species of birds and three species of reptiles and 1500-2000 species of flowering plants. Mesmerizing views of Serang Himal (7,161m) up and over the forests landing at the base of the hill leading to Namrung. Overnight stay at lodge/tea house.
The first phase of trekking has finished and now we are going to trek at higher altitudes. We must be more cautious while walking. Sufficient drinking water and adequate rest are essential for successful trekking at high altitudes. Today we are about to hike towards an altitude of over 3000m. The splendid view of majestic Ganesh Himal(7,422m) and Hiunchuli(7,863m). Ascending forward towards the quaint hamlet of Lihi crossing several passes. Terrain winds down to Lho through prayer flags and stone cranes continuing to Shayla. our today's walk ends at Samagaun. Overnight stay at lodge/tea house.
Manaslu Base camp trekking normally follows a similar itinerary as the Manaslu circuit trek. We have an acclimatization day for the necessary adaptation and rest to the surroundings. During this day, we can have short hiking in the morning and can explore villages nearby that are rich in Sherpa culture. You can enjoy roaming around gompa observing the sight of thousands of mani stones with Buddhist texts, as well as photos of Sherpa women clad in traditional clothes and ornaments.
We trek to Manaslu Base camp from Samagaun. Today is a very special day for our trek. Our journey starts on a rocky trail heading past stone cranes and rocky ridges. Pilgrims use this trail often. You can explore the Gompa blessed with captivating views of Mt. Manaslu(8,163m) and Ngadi Chuli(7,871m). We will have a packed lunch while in base camp. After exploring the base camp, we descend to Samagaun via Birendra lake.
The easy trail of the Manaslu Circuit Trek would be this. We walk our way to Samdo today. Our journey begins with a steep descent toward the thrashing Budhi Gandaki before making its way toward the valley. You can capture stunning mountain vistas during the walk. Overnight stay at Samdo.
Today we are hiking around 4000m and our destination is at 4460m. We must take care of our hiking pace and sufficient drinking water. We walked through Larkya Bazar which is a popular Tibetan market for trading from ancient times. Finally, we reach Dharmsala. It is also considered a base station for Larkya la pass(5160m).
Early in the morning, we cross the Larkya La pass (5160m). Larkya La pass is the highest altitude of our trek. Today we walk long hours sporting dazzling views of the world's largest Himalayas. Our trekking journey begins with a steep ascent toward the northern end of the Larkya Glacier
Trail gets steeper and steeper with the rising altitude, before finally giving way to Larkya La Pass at 5,160m. The sight of Mt. Manaslu (8,163m), Samdo (6,335m), Ngadi Chuli (7,871m) and countless peaks stretching over 6500m are just magnificent. We descend to Bhimthang for the night.
Today, we walk a bit longer to reach Chyamche. This is the ending day of our beautiful trek. After breakfast in Bhimthang, head out to a nearby ridge where we can enjoy great views of Manaslu, Lamjung Himal, Himlung Himal, and Choye Himal. Keep descending on the trail and cross a high pasture followed by a bridge over the Dudh Khola River.
From here, walk through a rhododendron forest and follow a trail through a narrow valley until we reach the highest cultivated land of the valley at Karche. Pass through lush fields before making a steep climb over a ridge. The trail comes off the ridge in a big, sweeping arc to the river bank.
Today, we head towards Chyamche, which falls under the Annapurna Conservation Area. The trail winds up towards the stony ridges adorned by the Mani stones and seas of prayer flags and towards Thonje. Taking mental notes in awe of the local way of life, we continue our journey to reach Dharapani. At this point, you have now exited the Manaslu Conservation Area and entered the Annapurna Conservation Area of the trek. The trail winds towards the Marshyangdi River before reaching Tal beyond which a steep descent takes us to Chyamche. Overnight stay at Chyamche.
After breakfast, we drive to Pokhara city following the Marsyangdi river. We will have lunch at Besisahar. We will reach Pokhara by the afternoon. After check-in hotel, we stroll around Fewa lake and enjoy the evening relaxing and taking a rest of the long trek.
Sarangkot is a beautiful and popular hill station for its splendid mountain views and wonderful Pokhara city. When you are in Sarangkot, you can have an opportunity to go for paragliding, and jeep flyers. Paragliding will be of 20 minutes if you decide to fly otherwise we will drive to World peace stupa. During the evening time, you are free to stroll around the lakeside of Fewa lake. Overnight stay at hotel.
On the final day of this trip, we back to Kathmandu from Pokhara by flight. Transfer to the hotel and relax. Free day for shopping and getting ready for your home. we will have dinner together and share feelings and emotions for a long and memorable friendship.
One of our office representatives, assist you up to the international airport. Our staff will drive you through the airport two hours before your flight is scheduled.