The Manaslu Circuit Trek is one of Nepal’s ultimate mountain journeys, taking you deep into a wild, pristine corner of the Himalayas. Often called the best "alternative to the Annapurna Circuit," this trek circles Mount Manaslu—the eighth-highest peak in the world—offering an authentic, uncrowded adventure that feels like stepping back in time.
The trail completely transforms every few days. You will start in a lush, low-altitude river gorge, walking through green bamboo forests, terraced rice fields, and roaring waterfalls. As you climb higher, the landscape opens up into a dramatic, high-altitude world of massive glaciers, pine forests, and alpine meadows.
Culturally, the journey is incredibly rich. You will walk past ancient Buddhist monasteries, colorful prayer flags, and stone-carved mani walls, experiencing the unique heritage of the Gurung and Tibetan-descended Nubri communities who call these high valleys home.
The undisputed highlight of the trek is crossing the iconic Larkya La Pass at 5,160 meters. It is a challenging, pre-dawn push across rocky glacial moraine, but the reward at the top is unbeatable: a breathtaking, 360-degree panoramic view of towering snow-capped giants like Annapurna II, Cheo Himal, and Mount Manaslu itself.
For travelers looking to escape the crowded trails, witness untouched culture, and conquer a true Himalayan high pass, the Manaslu Circuit is an unforgettable expedition.
The Larkya La Pass (5,160 m): The absolute crown jewel of the trek. A challenging, pre-dawn alpine push across rocky glacial moraine that rewards you with an unbeatable, 360-degree panorama of Annapurna II, Cheo Himal, and Kang Guru.
The Up-Close Majesty of Mount Manaslu: Incredible, shifting perspectives of the world’s eighth-highest mountain (8,163 m), culminating in an optional, dramatic day hike right up to Manaslu Base Camp (4,800 m).
The Deep Cultural Heartbeat: Authentic immersion into the Tibetan-descended Nubri and Gurung communities. The trails are lined with ancient stone-carved mani walls, spinning prayer wheels, and historic active monasteries like Lho’s Ribung Gompa and Pungyen Gompa.
The Changing Landscapes: A complete visual transformation every few days—moving from lush, low-altitude river gorges and roaring waterfalls up into pristine forests of blue pine, oak, and blooming rhododendrons, before entering a dramatic high-altitude arctic desert.
Glacial Wonders: Standing on the shores of Birendra Tal, a brilliant emerald-glacial lake tucked right beneath the massive icefalls of the Manaslu Glacier.
The Uncrowded Path: A true off-the-beaten-path alternative to the classic Annapurna Circuit, offering quiet trails, pristine wilderness, and authentic, family-run tea house hospitality.
Hover over any day to see details
Upon clearing customs, your private OARPEAK coordinator meets you at the airport and handles all your luggage and transfers.
The afternoon is reserved for unwinding from international travel at your boutique hotel.
In the evening, we gather for a relaxed welcome dinner to introduce your senior expedition guide, review the route maps, and complete final gear checks.
The morning kicks off with a scenic drive leaving the Kathmandu Valley behind.
We travel in a private tourist vehicle, tracking the winding Trishuli and Budhi Gandaki rivers through green hills and terrace farms.
A gentle break along the highway provides a perfect spot for our midday lunch.
Afterward, the road transitions into a rustic dirt track along the riverbed, concluding our day at the bustling trailhead village of Machha Khola.
Our day begins by leaving the roadside behind and stepping onto the rugged trekking trails.
The morning features a steady one-hour walk to Khorlabesi, where wild flora lines the path before we cross the natural hot springs of Tatopani.
We trace the rushing waters of the massive Budhi Gandaki River for another hour, arriving at the riverside clearing of Dobhan for our midday lunch break.
This pristine river valley serves as a scenic corridor where you can spot unique local wildlife and pass through traditional Gurung and Magar villages.
Afterward, a gentle climb through changing landscapes and beautiful rock formations brings us up into the higher elevations.
We conclude our day at the slate-roofed village of Jagat, passing the conservation checkpoint and entering a beautiful Buddhist setting marked by ancient stone mani walls.
Our morning begins with a scenic descent to the Dudh Pokhari Khola, crossing a suspension bridge to witness a stunning waterfall just beyond Jagat.
A relaxed fifteen-minute walk brings us to the vibrant rice and millet fields of Salleri, offering our first breathtaking view of Shringi Himal towering at 7,187 meters.
We continue past cascading waterfalls and follow a jeep trail across a suspension bridge, making a steady 45-minute climb up to the agricultural village of Philim for a checkpoint brief.
From here, a gentle walk past local farms leads us to Chisapani for a hearty midday lunch break.
This dramatic canyon corridor serves as a spectacular gateway where the Gandaki Valley narrows into soaring, sheer rock walls, leading us through lush bamboo and rhododendron forests past the Tsum Valley junction.
Afterward, we make a final, steady climb upstream along the river trails to conclude our day at the quiet settlement of Deng.
Our morning begins with an adventurous crossing of the river, dropping briefly before making a sharp, twenty-minute zigzag climb up to Rana village.
A steady, two-hour uphill trek through the widening valley brings us to the village of Bihi Phedi for our midday lunch break.
This vibrant mountain corridor serves as a beautiful introduction to deep-rooted Tibetan culture, framed by ancient stone mani walls, monasteries, and seasonal fields of flowering mustard.
We then enter a pristine forest of blue pine, oak, and rhododendron, accompanied by the peaceful sound of hidden waterfalls along the path.
Afterward, we cross back over the Budhi Gandaki River to make a final, scenic ascent, concluding our long day at the historic highland outpost of Namrung.
Our morning begins with a promising start as we follow a level path to the quiet settlement of Banjam.
From here, the trail transitions into a challenging, ninety-minute nearly vertical climb that brings us up to the beautiful village of Lihi.
This scenic ridge offers a striking view of traditional homes with pine-shingle roofs, completely surrounded by the soaring peaks of Ganesh Himal.
We continue our trek toward Sho village, crossing the rushing Hinan River as it flows directly from the Linda Glacier.
This pristine highland corridor provides clear, crisp mountain views as we make our final, easy approach into the valley.
We conclude our day at the stunning village of Lho, where the massive, double-peaked summit of Mount Manaslu dominates the horizon directly ahead.
Our morning begins at the Lho Ribang Monastery, taking in panoramic views of Mount Manaslu and experiencing the traditional morning puja chanting and horn blowing.
We then set out on a two-hour hike to Shyala, passing through beautiful pine forests and conquering a few steep, challenging inclines.
The highland settlement of Shyala offers jaw-dropping views of Ngadi Chuli, Simnang Himal, and the massive Manaslu peaks, all framed by peaceful prayer flags and chortens.
From here, a relaxed hour-and-a-half descent brings us onto a wide, ancient alpine plateau.
We conclude our day at the large, historically significant community of Samagaon, where we will experience the unique stone architecture of the Nubri people and rest for the night.
The morning features a slow, relaxed breakfast as we let our bodies adjust to the high altitude.
We spend time exploring the village to meet the locals and learn about their traditional lifestyle, like yak herding and spinning wool.
For our day hike, we can either take a shorter walk to the glacial waters of Birendra Tal or make a longer trek up to Manaslu Base Camp.
This high-altitude walking serves as the perfect training ground to prepare your lungs for the mountain pass ahead.
We conclude our day back at the lodge, resting up and organizing our gear for the next stage of the trek.
Our day starts with a relaxed, primary-level walk across a wide valley where the terrain changes into a dry, desert-like landscape with little vegetation.
The trail gently tracks the thinning waters of the Budhi Gandaki River, offering beautiful and open high-altitude views.
We then climb a terraced hill on the opposite bank of the river and tackle a short, thirty-minute steep slope.
This remote mountain corridor brings us directly into the traditional border settlement of Samdo at 3,875 meters.
We conclude our short trekking day by exploring the village's unique stone architecture and resting under the high peaks.
Our morning features a steady, four-hour ascent across a beautiful and barren high-altitude landscape.
We trace a gentle, gradual path through Larkya Bazar, a fascinating and historic former Tibetan trading post.
This open mountain corridor provides an incredible sense of isolation as the surrounding peaks draw closer.
We arrive at Dharmasala, also known as Larke Phedi, situated at a crisp 4,460 meters.
This isolated outpost provides basic but comfortable food and lodging, serving as our vital base camp to rest and prepare before crossing the big pass tomorrow.
Our big day begins before dawn to ensure we cross the high pass well before the chilly afternoon winds begin to blow.
The morning features a challenging but deeply rewarding three-hour push up a steady, rocky trail toward Cho Chanda.
We take a slow and steady pace as we make our final, exhilarating climb to the crest of the iconic Larkya La Pass at 5,160 meters.
This towering vantage point offers jaw-dropping, panoramic views of Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kang Guru, and the massive wall of Annapurna II.
From the pass, we begin a long, careful descent down steep slopes, tracking spectacular glacial valleys and dramatic mountain landscapes.
We conclude our unforgettable day at the peaceful alpine outpost of Bimthang, surrounded by grazing yaks and towering peaks.
Our morning promises a much more relaxed and gentle trekking experience after the long, challenging crossing of the high pass.
The journey begins with a scenic descent from Bimthang, offering beautiful views of the massive Ponkar and Changri glaciers.
We drop down into a peaceful alpine valley filled with lush, tranquil forests of blue pine, oak, and blooming rhododendron.
Our path tracks downstream, stopping at the small riverside outpost of Hampuk to explore its unique rock shelter cave.
We continue our walk past high yak pastures and across suspension bridges, reaching the forest settlement of Kharche for our midday lunch break.
Afterward, an easy trail takes us through terraced hillsides and green paddy fields, concluding our day at the beautiful, traditional Gurung village of Tilje.
The morning features a relaxed, classic Nepali flat walk through lush green landscapes.
We make a gentle descent through the traditional hillside village of Tilje, allowing you to experience the peaceful local Gurung culture.
Our trail winds down to Thonje village, where we cross a long suspension bridge over the rushing Marsyangdi River.
We track the riverbank until we reach the bustling mountain settlement of Dharapani, where our trail joins the classic Annapurna Circuit route.
Our morning begins with a scenic drive back to the capital city in a comfortable private vehicle.
The long journey takes around 10 to 12 hours, depending entirely on highway traffic and road conditions.
We start with an adventurous, bumpy dirt road for the first 3 to 4 hours as we wind from Dharapani down to Besisahar.
From Besisahar, the road turns into a smooth, paved highway that lets you relax and enjoy a much more comfortable ride.
The drive winds through green hills and offers beautiful, lasting views of Mount Manaslu, Annapurna, and Fishtail along the way.
We conclude our incredible journey back in Kathmandu, celebrating the end of our trek with a special farewell dinner from the Oarpeak crew.
Enjoy a leisurely morning in Kathmandu for last-minute exploring, relaxing at a café, or sourcing local souvenirs in the artisan markets.
Your private vehicle will pick you up from the hotel three hours prior to your international flight.
Our team will handle your final transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport, concluding your luxury wilderness journey with OARPEAK.
Because the Manaslu Circuit Trek spans an incredible variety of climates—climbing from the humid, low-elevation river gorges of the Budi Gandaki up over the exposed, high-altitude alpine terrain of the Larkya La Pass (5,106 meters)—seasonal timing is absolutely critical. Here is a simplified breakdown of the trail conditions throughout the year:
| Trekking Window | Trail Comfort & Views | Daytime Walking | High-Alt Nights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🍂 Autumn Best Peak October – November | Our Top Recommendation. Impeccable, crystal-clear skies offer flawless views of Mt. Manaslu. The weather is stable, and the Larkya La Pass is generally clear of heavy blocking snowdrifts, making for a smooth crossing. | 8°C to 15°C | -5°C to -12°C |
| 🌸 Spring Best Peak March – May | Great Alternative. Lower bamboo and rhododendron forests are beautifully lush. Days are comfortably long, though late winter snow accumulation can linger near the Larkya La pass base until mid-spring. | 10°C to 20°C | -2°C to -8°C |
| 🌧️ Monsoon (Rainy) June – September | Not Recommended. Heavy monsoon cycles make the steep Budi Gandaki valley prone to severe rockfalls and landslides. Land transit to the trailhead at Jagat can become entirely blocked. | 15°C to 22°C | 5°C to 10°C |
| ❄️ Winter (Extreme Cold) December – February | Highly Dangerous. Bitter sub-zero high-altitude winds lock down the upper loop. Larkya La pass is frequently rendered impassable due to heavy snowpack, and most high-altitude teahouses close. | 2°C to 8°C | -15°C to -25°C |
Porter & Duffel: We provide a complimentary 75L OarPeak duffel. Porters manage the 10kg/22lb load; you carry your personal daypack. Excess gear is stored at your Kathmandu hotel.
Rental Gear: Sleeping bags/down jackets available for $35/item. Note: Damage/Loss penalty of $200 per item.
Cultural Protocol: Form-fitting apparel (e.g., yoga pants) must be worn under loose technical trousers to respect local tradition.
Shopping: Additional supplies can be purchased in Thamel, Kathmandu.
Every OarPeak enquiry is answered by a guide — not a booking agent. Maximum 12 guests per departure.
