Day 1
Kathmandu to Soti Khola
0 hrs / 0 km / sleep 730 m
Long drive (8 - 9 hours) from Kathmandu to Soti Khola. The road passes through terraced hillsides and river valleys.
Manaslu
Manaslu Circuit
A remote and spectacular circuit around Manaslu (8,163m) - the world's 8th highest peak. Crosses the challenging Larkya La Pass at 5,106m. Requires a guided group and restricted area permits.
Strenuous14 days5,106 mMar - May, Sep - Nov
Photo: Wikimedia CommonsOverview
Trek overview
Long-form route context for planning, pacing, and realistic expectations.
Key Highlights & Takeaways
- Larkya La Pass (5,106m)
- Remote Tibetan-influenced villages
- Manaslu Base Camp side trip
- Birendra Lake
A remote and spectacular circuit around Manaslu (8,163m) - the world's 8th highest peak. Crosses the challenging Larkya La Pass at 5,106m. Requires a guided group and restricted area permits.
This itinerary is synced from TrekGuard mobile app data and includes 14 planned days, 160 km of walking, and 8,200 m of total elevation gain.
Highlights include Larkya La Pass (5,106m), Remote Tibetan-influenced villages, Manaslu Base Camp side trip, Birendra Lake.
Itinerary
Daily route plan
Day 2
Soti Khola to Machha Khola
6 hrs / 15 km / sleep 930 m
Trek along the Budhi Gandaki River through subtropical forest. Cross suspension bridges and pass through small villages.
Day 3
Machha Khola to Jagat
6 hrs / 14 km / sleep 1,410 m
Continue along the Budhi Gandaki with increasing altitude. The trail involves several ups and downs through gorges and waterfalls.
Day 4
Jagat to Deng
6 hrs / 13 km / sleep 1,860 m
Enter the Manaslu Conservation Area. The valley narrows and the trail becomes more rugged. Tibetan influence becomes noticeable.
Day 5
Deng to Namrung
6 hrs / 12 km / sleep 2,660 m
Ascend through the Budhi Gandaki valley with mountain peaks appearing. Pass through traditional villages with mani walls and prayer flags.
Day 6
Namrung to Samagaon
7 hrs / 16 km / sleep 3,530 m
Trek through Lho village with its beautiful monastery and first clear view of Manaslu. Continue to Samagaon, the largest village on the circuit.
Day 7
Samagaon acclimatization
5 hrs / 8 km / sleep 3,530 m
Acclimatization day. Optional hike to Manaslu Base Camp (4,800m) or Birendra Lake for spectacular views of Manaslu's south face.
Day 8
Samagaon to Samdo
4 hrs / 9 km / sleep 3,860 m
Shorter trek to aid acclimatization. Samdo is a trading village near the Tibetan border with strong Tibetan cultural influence.
Day 9
Samdo acclimatization
4 hrs / 6 km / sleep 3,860 m
Second acclimatization day. Optional hike towards Lajyung Pass (5,120m) near the Tibet border for views of Himlung Himal.
Day 10
Samdo to Dharamsala
4 hrs / 8 km / sleep 4,460 m
Trek to the last settlement before the pass. Dharamsala (Larkya Phedi) has basic stone shelters. Rest and prepare for the early-morning pass crossing.
Day 11
Dharamsala to Bimthang
9 hrs / 18 km / sleep 3,720 m
The biggest day. Start before dawn to cross Larkya La Pass (5,106m). Panoramic views of Manaslu, Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, and Annapurna II. Long steep descent to Bimthang.
Day 12
Bimthang to Dharapani
7 hrs / 22 km / sleep 1,860 m
Long descent through forests and villages to Dharapani, where the trail joins the Annapurna Circuit. Big elevation loss.
Day 13
Dharapani to Besisahar
0 hrs / 0 km / sleep 760 m
Drive from Dharapani to Besisahar along the Marsyangdi River valley.
Day 14
Besisahar to Kathmandu
0 hrs / 0 km / sleep 1,338 m
Drive back to Kathmandu (6 - 7 hours).
Altitude profile
How high you sleep, night by night
The single biggest safety factor on a high trek is how fast your sleeping altitude rises. Here's the shape of this itinerary.
1,338 m
Start
4,460 m
Highest sleep
5,106 m
Max altitude
14
Nights
See which days climb too fast and add rest days to build a safer schedule.
Check acclimatization →Map
Interactive route preview
Leaflet route rendering with checkpoints, altitude markers, and GPX geometry where published.
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GPX and KML downloads
Static route references for offline planning.
- Duration
- 14 days
- Altitude
- 5,106 m
- Updated
- 2026
Route files are planning references only. Always follow current trail conditions, local notices, and guide advice.
Packing checklist
Use a mobile-friendly checklist for clothing, electronics, medicine, documents, and trail gear.
Altitude and safety
Prepare before pushing higher.
Climb gradually and take acclimatization seriously.
Check weather, wind, and daylight before long days.
Descend and seek help if altitude symptoms worsen.
Manaslu Circuit FAQ
Straight answers on length, altitude, permits, season and cost for the Manaslu Circuit, generated from the same route data the TrekGuard app uses.
How many days does the Manaslu Circuit take?
The TrekGuard planning itinerary for the Manaslu Circuit runs 14 days and covers 160 km of walking. That includes 2 acclimatization days where you sleep at the same village instead of climbing higher. Treat it as a baseline: weather, flight delays and how you acclimatize can add days, so build slack into your schedule.
How high does the Manaslu Circuit go?
The Manaslu Circuit tops out at 5,106 m. The highest place you sleep on this itinerary is about 4,460 m, which matters more for altitude illness than the daytime high point.
What permits do you need for the Manaslu Circuit?
The Manaslu Circuit normally requires: Manaslu Conservation Area Permit, Manaslu Restricted Area Permit, TIMS Card. Permit rules, fees and issuing offices change between seasons - confirm the current requirements with the Nepal Tourism Board or a registered agency before you travel.
When is the best time to trek the Manaslu Circuit?
Mar - May, Sep - Nov is the usual window for the Manaslu Circuit. Outside it you are trading stable weather for either monsoon cloud and leeches or deep winter cold and snow-blocked passes.
How difficult is the Manaslu Circuit?
The Manaslu Circuit is rated strenuous, with 8,200 m of total ascent over 160 km. Walking days are roughly 4-9 hours. Above 4,000 m the limiting factor is usually altitude rather than fitness, so pace and rest days matter more than training volume.
Can you get altitude sickness on the Manaslu Circuit?
Yes. The Manaslu Circuit reaches 5,106 m, well above the 2,500 m mark where acute mountain sickness (AMS) becomes possible for anyone, regardless of fitness or age. Keep sleeping-altitude gains gradual, take the built-in rest days (2 on this itinerary), and descend if headache, nausea or breathlessness get worse rather than better. This is general information, not medical advice - see a travel-medicine clinician before the trip.
Is there a GPX file for the Manaslu Circuit?
Yes - the Manaslu Circuit GPX and KML tracks are free to download from this page and open in TrekGuard, Gaia GPS, Garmin Connect, Organic Maps or Google Earth. The track is a planning reference built from route data, not a surveyed trail: verify junctions on the ground and follow local signage and guides over the line on your screen.
Where does the Manaslu Circuit start and finish?
The Manaslu Circuit starts at Soti Khola and finishes at Dharapani, in the Manaslu region.
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What to look for in a Nepal trekking app, and how TrekGuard helps with GPX routes, offline prep, altitude awareness, and packing checklists.
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