Manaslu Annapurna Circuit Trek

Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, our representative will greet you and transfer you to your hotel in a private tourist vehicle. Once you're settled at the hotel, we will schedule a trip briefing at the hotel lobby or restaurant.

After a hearty breakfast, you’ll travel from Kathmandu Valley to Arughat by public transport. From Arughat, a shared jeep will take you through scenic villages such as Arkhet Bazaar, Kuerepani, Soti Khola, Lapubesi, and Khanibesi on the way to Machha Khola. The first part of the journey follows a smooth paved road, while the second part becomes rough and bumpy. Be prepared for a bit of a jolt as you navigate the rugged terrain. Your Manaslu–Annapurna Circuit Trek officially begins at Machha Khola.

You’ll continue hiking along the Budhi Gandaki River, passing through Khorlabesi with gentle ascents and descents before reaching the hot springs at Tatopani. Crossing a suspension bridge and skirting a mountain, you’ll enjoy stunning views of Doban, Thulo Dunga, and Yaru Bagar. At Jagat, the entry point to the Manaslu Conservation Area, you’ll register your permits at a police checkpoint. The trail winds across multiple suspension bridges and gradually climbs in elevation, offering changing scenery and vegetation. Keep an eye out—langur monkeys often appear unexpectedly in the forest.

Today’s trek begins over a rocky slope with distant views of Sringi Himal. Starting from Jagat, you’ll follow the Budhi Gandaki River through the picturesque villages of Salleri and Sirdibas. After crossing a suspension bridge, you’ll reach the Gurung village of Philim. Continuing via Ekle Bhatti, you’ll cross the Budhi Gandaki twice on suspension bridges before arriving at Nyak. The trail then leads through a remote canyon, along riverbanks, past Pewa Khola and bamboo forests, before reaching Deng village.

Today, your trek continues from Deng to Namrung, beginning with a suspension bridge crossing over the Budhi Gandaki River and passing through Rana and Bihi Phedi. The trail gradually ascends through forests and mani stones before reaching the picturesque village of Ghap. From there, you’ll head toward Ghapsya, enjoying stunning views of Shringi Himal. Caution is needed as the trail near Ghapsya passes through a landslide-prone area. Continuing through the forest and past several gompas, with multiple river crossings, you’ll arrive at Namrung.

The trek from Namrung to Lho takes you along a challenging forested trail to the village of Lihi. Along the way, you'll enjoy stunning views of Saula Himal, Pangkar Himal, Kutang Himal, and Pangbuche Himal. Lihi offers scenic barley fields, traditional chortens, and glimpses of Manaslu Himal. As you continue, the landscape and vegetation begin to change, and you’ll encounter more Buddhist communities. After crossing a suspension bridge, you’ll pass through Sho Village before reaching Lho, where you can view the impressive Punggen Glacier.

The hike from Lho to Samagaon is short but scenic. Along the way, you'll pass through Shyala, a picturesque village known for its stunning mountain views, gompas, and traditional Tibetan culture. From Samagaon, you’ll enjoy a close-up view of Mt. Manaslu. As you enter the village, you might see locals spinning wool or shopping at street stalls selling items like Chinese whiskey.

After a satisfying meal, you’ll have free time to explore. You can visit Pungyen Gompa, a peaceful Buddhist monastery surrounded by towering peaks, or take a short one-hour walk to Birendra Lake, known for its striking turquoise-green waters and mountain reflections.

Today’s trek follows a steep, isolated trail toward Samdo, running alongside the Budhi Gandaki River and through beautiful forests of rhododendron, juniper, and birch. As the valley widens near Kermo Kharka, you'll pass through the white Kani Gateway and along scenic stone-walled paths.

After about 4 more kilometers, you'll reach Samdo, a village near the Tibetan border. From here, you can visit a Tibetan refugee settlement and enjoy sweeping views of Mt. Manaslu, Simnang Himal, Ngadi Chuli, the Manaslu Glacier, and the Manaslu Icefall.

Samdo, the final settlement before Larkya La Pass, is where you'll spend your first acclimatization day on the Manaslu–Annapurna Circuit Trek. You can explore Samdo Village, set against the backdrop of Samdo Peak and Samdo Glacier.

Optional hikes include visiting the Tibetan border via Rui La Pass or Lajyung Pass. You can also trek to Gya La on a longer route. Throughout the day, enjoy views of Mt. Manaslu, Simrang, Hiuchuli, Larkya Peak, Cheo, and Ngadi, while observing the local villages, flora, and fauna.

Today's trek on the Manaslu and Annapurna Circuit is short, giving you ample time to acclimatize. The trail follows hills and wooden bridges crossing the Budhi Gandaki River. After passing two streams and a scenic valley, you'll reach the Larkya Glacier.

Along the way, enjoy views of Manaslu and the Syacha Glacier, and keep an eye out for Himalayan blue sheep. Dharamshala offers stunning panoramas of peaks such as Jarkya Himal, Nysing Himal, and Lajyung Himal, along with glaciers like Fukang, Larkya, Syacha, Yamnang, and Manaslu.

On the most anticipated day of the Manaslu and Annapurna Circuit Trek, you'll reach Larkya La Pass (5160m), the trek's second-highest point. After scaling Cho Chanda, you'll gradually ascend the snow-covered pass. The summit offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Himalayas, including peaks like Himlung, Cheo, Gyagi Kung, Kang Koru, and Annapurna II.

A challenging descent through moraines leads to Bhimphedi, where you'll see glaciers such as Dobhan, Purdi, and Ponkar, as well as small lakes like Ponkar and Nayamlo.

Descending from Bimthang, you'll enjoy views of Manaslu, Lamjung Himal, Himlung Himal, and Cheo Himal as you pass through high grasslands, Dudh Khola, and rhododendron forests. First, you'll descend to Hampuk village, passing Dobhan and Purdi Khola. From there, you'll continue through Yak Kharka and Kharche, crossing beautiful streams like Soti Khola and Kasongto Khola, before reaching Gho Village.

Following the Dudh Khola from Gho, you'll pass through Tilije and Thonje villages on your way to Dharapani. To reach Dharapani, cross the Marsyangdi River via a suspension bridge.

Today, you'll pass through alpine terrain with cooler temperatures, crossing forests to reach the Tibetan villages of Bagarchhap and Danakyu. Along the way, you'll see apple orchards, farmland, pine forests, and views of Lamjung and Annapurna II peaks. After passing through the scenic villages of Timang, Thanchowk, and Koto, where the Naar-Phu trail joins the Manaslu to Annapurna Circuit Trek, you'll arrive at Chame.

Chame, the district capital of Manang, features a large mani wall with prayer wheels at the village entrance. The town also offers a variety of services, including upscale hotels, internet cafés, outdoor gear shops, banks, and health and communication facilities.

The Chame trail winds through a narrow, steep valley, passing through beautiful pine and rhododendron forests. After crossing the Marshyangdi River on a suspension bridge, the path ascends, offering stunning views of rocky surfaces, including the faces of Pangdi Danda and Swargadwari Danda. Continuing on, you'll pass through the villages of Talekhu and Bhratang before reaching Dhikur Pokhari.

From Dhikur Pokhari, you can enjoy views of several mountains, including Annapurna II, Pisang Peak, Chulu Peak, and Tilicho Peak. Next, cross a suspension bridge and head toward Upper Pisang. From there, you'll have magnificent views of Kuntu Danda, Longyo Danda, and Pisang Peak in the Annapurna Range.

Starting from Pisang, you'll take the most challenging route, which features steep ascents and turns. The path leads through Upper Pisang, Ghyaru, and Ngawal, offering stunning views of Lamjung Himal (6,983m), Annapurna II (7,937m), Annapurna IV (7,525m), Gandarbha Chuli (6,250m), Annapurna III (7,555m), Gangapurna (7,544m), Glacier Dome (7,193m), and Khangs (6,091m). As you climb, the air becomes colder, drier, and harsher.

This trail passes through Tibetan villages, offering insight into Buddhist culture. You'll pass the charming village of Munchi and the small hamlet of Braga before reaching Manang. There, you can visit the Barge Monastery, the largest in the area. Along the way, you'll encounter several monasteries and Buddhist shrines, and upon reaching the Manang market, you'll find it one of the largest towns along the Manaslu-Annapurna Circuit Trek.

Before ascending to higher altitudes, it's important to take a rest day for acclimatization. On the Manaslu and Annapurna Circuit Trek, this is your second acclimatization day. Use the time to take a short walk around Gangapurna Lake and its surroundings. The trail to the lake is uneven, with small stones and debris, but the view is stunning. The lake, fed by melting glaciers, is peaceful and surrounded by towering mountains and rugged hills. From the shoreline, you can enjoy views of Mt. Gangapurna, Khangsar Kang, Glacier Dome, and Annapurna. Many hikers also enjoy side trips to Ice Lake and Base Camp for more breathtaking scenery.

The route climbs out of the Marshyangdi Valley from Manang village, passing a spring before turning northwest toward the Jarsang Khola valley. The Manaslu Circuit with Annapurna Circuit Trek continues north through the valley, gradually gaining elevation as it passes meadows and juniper scrub. Along the way, you'll reach the small village of Ghusang, known for its mud-roofed buildings. The trail then winds through yak and horse grazing meadows, called Yak Kharka. After crossing a small river on a wooden bridge and walking through a peaceful meadow, you'll arrive at the charming village of Ledar.

Today, you'll reach Thorung High Camp (Thorung Phedi) as part of your Annapurna Circuit Trek via Manaslu itinerary. The hike to Thorung Phedi typically takes 4 to 5 hours, depending on your fitness and the weather. The higher altitude and strong winds can make the trek more challenging, and snow on the path may slow you down.

Move slowly and follow your guide's instructions. You may spot yak and blue sheep grazing across the river. Thorung Phedi has few tea houses, and the first part of the trail is a rocky, barren landscape, quite different from the lush lowlands you passed earlier. If you're not too tired, continuing to High Camp can ease the challenge of the next day's trek.

Today’s trek is one of the most challenging on the Manaslu to Annapurna Circuit. From Thorung Phedi (Thorung High Camp), you’ll ascend to the 5,416-meter Thorung La Pass. From the pass, enjoy panoramic views of the Annapurna Range, Thorong Peak, Dhaulagiri Range, Nilgiri, and other peaks. After taking in the sights and snapping some photos, begin your descent to Muktinath.

Muktinath, a major pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists, is the second-largest Hindu temple. The site features 108 water taps and two small ponds. Hindus believe bathing in these taps can cleanse past sins. A short walk from the temple leads to the Dhola Mebar Gompa, where the Jwalamai temple houses a natural gas flame that burns behind a grill, just above a spring.

The Manaslu with Annapurna Circuit Trek Itinerary states that this is the last day of hiking as you get ready to head to Jomsom. You will leave Muktinath after breakfast and begin your descent through a number of picturesque villages, including Jharkot, Kagbeni, and Ekle Bhatti. Because most of the trails are downhill, the journey to Jomsom is significantly simpler than the previous one.

The last few portions of the route contain some steep inclines, which makes them a little more difficult. Ascending the mountains that lead to Jomsom will bring you to the Kali Gandaki River and a windswept valley. The Thakali people and the conventional salt merchants are located in Jomsom, which acts as the district's administrative center for the Mustang region. Jomsom offers a clear view of Tilicho Peak, Nilgiri, and Dhaulagiri.

On your last morning, you’ll depart early for a short 30-40 minute flight to Pokhara, marking the end of the Manaslu - Annapurna Circuit Trek. During the flight, enjoy expansive views of the Annapurna Himalaya Range, as well as the roads to Tatopani and Ghorepani.

Once in Pokhara, take the opportunity to relax and let your muscles recover from the trek. You can explore attractions like Phewa Lake, Tal Barahi, David's Fall, Gupteshwor Cave, World Peace Pagoda, International Mountain Museum, Bindabasini Temple, and Mahendra Cave.

The Manaslu and Annapurna Circuit Trek concludes this morning with a bus ride from Pokhara to Kathmandu. The 205-kilometer journey follows the Marsyangdi River and later the Trishuli River, passing through charming towns like Damauli and Dumre.

Enjoy stunning views of hills, rivers, and snow-capped mountains along the way. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, a staff member will greet you and escort you to your accommodation, where you can freshen up before spending your final evening shopping or exploring Thamel.

We typically arrange an airport transfer three hours before your departure. If you have extra time, we can organize side trips, or you can explore on your own.