Overview
The Manaslu Circuit Trek is one of those treks that still feels like it belongs to a different era of Himalayan travel. It circles the eighth-highest mountain in the world, crosses Larkya La Pass at 5,160 metres, and passes through villages with deep Tibetan Buddhist culture. Because the Nepalese government has kept it a restricted area since 1992, the trail has remained far quieter than the Annapurna or Everest routes. The route begins with a drive from Kathmandu to Soti Khola, a small village in the Gorkha district where the trail enters the Budhi Gandaki river valley. From there you walk for several days through valleys, forest, and villages that grow steadily more Tibetan in character as you gain altitude. The lower sections are warm, green, and full of waterfalls, while the upper sections are open, rocky, and surrounded by some of the most dramatic peak scenery in Nepal, with Mount Manaslu itself towering above Samagaon.
Highlights
- Walk around the base of Mount Manaslu, the eighth highest mountain in the world at 8,163m
- Cross Larkya La Pass at 5,160m, one of the most dramatic mountain crossings in Nepal
- Enjoy a trail still far less crowded than Annapurna or Everest, with villages that feel untouched
- Experience the well-preserved Tibetan Buddhist culture of the Nubri and Tsum valleys
- Pass ancient monasteries, prayer walls, and chortens throughout the route
- Watch the scenery shift from subtropical jungle and deep river valleys to open alpine land and glaciers
- Join the Annapurna Circuit at Dharapani for the option of a longer combined trip
- Trek through a restricted area, less affected by mass tourism than most routes in Nepal