Rapid Manaslu Circuit Trek - 12 Days

For the permit preparation of special trekking region manaslu it takes a day. After the permit work is done, the next day we drive to Soti Khola. Drive is in Prithivi highway in the beginning which is on black topped road. But after Galchi the road to Arughat bazar is mostly off road. It takes around 8 hours to get to soti khola from kathmandu, on 4 wheeler jeep. The bus might take longer. Road is bumpy but the scenery of the rural village, local people on the bus and life of locals is interesting. Paddy field and local farmers working in those terraces looks nicer. We cross several rivers before we get to Soti Khola Bazzar.

This is your first day hike but will be bit longer than normal hours of walking, although, less than larkey pass day, for about 10 hours. This itinerary is designed for fit trekker with less holidays. Though; other days are as normal as 21 days Mansalu circuit trekking. Do not worry if you have experience of walking loner hours. While walking on different type of terrain, looking at natural formation of pristine landscape will certainly make your walk worthy.
From today, till the last day of the trekking; you will explore village, stay at the local owned tea houses, menu at every eating points from which you will be choosing your lunch dinner and breakfast, which is included if you buy our normal package. You will be with trekking guide, who helps you from choosing food to sleeping warm. You are free to decide on your own but listening to your guide is always wise. Whereas, porter will be carrying your luggage and you need to carry a small day – bag-pack with drinking water, camera, sun screen and your daily usable stuff. Do not worry while traveling with Nepalgram Adventure, but do not forget to eat more and drink enough.

Dovan translates to junction of two rivers; this is a small village with few tea houses. We will start hiking from this riverside village to Philim. Today Manaslu Circuit trek passes across the rock fall zone, suspension bridges and few other villages. Rock fall zone comes right after Ekle bhatti village. Philim is a big village and has a school, health post and a police station.

Trekking to Ghap is walking on river side, pass numerous villages. Most of the trekkers have their lunch at Chisopani village. Scenery of today are few waterfalls and village seen across the river literally on the cliff opposite to our walking trail. We start our trekking from the village on the side of river and end accordingly. Ghap is on the side of river in a wide open valley.

Beginning of the trek passes through the jungle and we will get to the jungle guest house inside the forest. Near to this guest house, there is a truss bridge, from this bridge watch carefully; you will see interesting structure of rock morphology. There is a rock pass across the river; we can say that as a natural bridge. Samagaun is situated at the edge of the narrow valley, once the narrow valley opens wide enough; we will get to the village.
Samagaun has antique village and architecture from centuries ago still exist in this village. Do not forget to walk around to see how simple and inspiring is living here.

Samagaun village means village situated in the wide open space. This village is comparatively bigger than other we have passed. Village is nice to see from distance. Main motto of this day is to hike higher and sleep lower so as to acclimatize our body for the pass. We do the same, hike up to Birendra Lake or all the way to Manaslu Base Camp and acclimatize.
Nepalgram tries to find new places to hike around, so far we found a hiking trail toward Yak shed at 1.5 hours away from the village and get into the peace and wilderness. To watch birds, herd of blue sheep and deer on the way is wild enough for Manaslu Circuit trek. Apart from the wilds, we will see yaks grazing all over the meadow; do not tease them, follow your guide’s instruction. If you like glacial lake, choose Birendra lake hiking as day activity; choose Manaslu Base camp if you want to do hardcore trek, or choose hike to monastery or to yak shed if you want solitude. Believe it or not, This choice will make your Manaslu Circuit trek a best trek.

Because of the altitude change we cannot push further from Smado village today. Go easy and enjoy the nature of the surrounding. Mt Manaslu view disappears today after getting to Samdo village. Samdo is sister village of samagaun.

Dharmashala is base camp for Larke pass. Manaslu Circuit trek is famous for the world’s largest pass and today you will be spending night at the base camp of this pass. Dharmashal is really near to the glacier and the landscape is too much of wilderness. Enjoy your night watching stars. As you are trekking in the mountains cold is not the issue to talk, but at Dharmashala; drink enough sleep as more as you can and eat enough for the hike tomorrow.

Main day of Manaslu Circuit trek, larkey pass is the awaited attraction of the whole trip to Nepal. It is longest pass of the world; feel proud to walk longer today. We will start early in the morning, after breakfast at the local guest house of Dharmashala. Main aim of walking early is to watch sunrise from higher possible. We will be able to blue sheep really near to us. We will pass by lakes, walk on the glacier, step on the rocks, walk close to the mountains; do not forget to feel the nature beyond your imagination.
Believe it, this is a great day you hiked ever, hard but lifetime memorable. Interesting thing about this pass is, views of the mountain before and after the pass are not comparable to any other landscape you have seen. Scenery gets even better with high mountains and deep glaciers on the other side of the pass. But this pass sometimes gets really windy, to avoid this nature, start descending as soon as you finish the celebration at the top of the pass. We will have pack lunch for this Larkey pass day.

Today the trekking ends, generally trekkers celebrate the day in a team, share the experience during the circuit trekking. This day will bring guest and guides closer in a celebration vibe. This probably will be the last day in your mountain for this trip.
Bhimtang has great sunset view and sunrise is coolest on the planet. You will see Mt. Manaslu from the opposite prospective, imagine; samagaun is just behind the giant Manaslu.

After breakfast at Tiliche we will hike for 1 hour to get to Dharapani. Dharapani is on the side of river, small village with road access towards Manang.
Interesting to know, this village is connection point of Manaslu Circuit trek and Annapurna circuit trek. After getting to Dharapani, we will take jeep to Besishar. The Manaslu Circuit trek ends here. Cheer !

Besisahar is a small town and a starting point of world famous round Annapurna trekking trail.
We take bus back to kathmandu from Bensisahar in the morning. Getting back to Thamel, time has come to farewell you with promise to see you again. Have a safe travel ahead.