The important stuff
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Day 1 – Arrive Kathmandu | 1,338m
Arrive in Kathmandu where you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Settle in, explore the streets of Thamel or simply relax after your journey.
Day 2 – Explore Kathmandu & Trek Preparation | Flexible Day
Discover some of Kathmandu’s extraordinary cultural and historic sites with a guided city tour, or spend some time exploring at your own pace. Later, meet your trekking team for a pre-trek briefing and final equipment preparation.
Day 3 – Drive Kathmandu to Machha Khola | 870m | 6–7 hrs
Leave Kathmandu by private vehicle and journey into the foothills, following winding mountain roads through terraced farmland, river valleys and rural villages. Arrive at Machha Khola on the banks of the Budhi Gandaki River.
Day 4 – Machha Khola to Jagat | 1,340m | 7–8 hrs
Follow the Budhi Gandaki upstream through narrow valleys, forests, waterfalls and suspension bridges, passing the natural hot springs at Tatopani. Continue through Dobhan before reaching the stone-paved village of Jagat.
Day 5 – Jagat to Deng | 1,860m | 7–8 hrs
Enter the restricted Manaslu region and follow a spectacular trail high above the Budhi Gandaki through farmland, deep gorges and rhododendron forest. Pass Philim and the junction for the Tsum Valley before continuing to Deng.
Day 6 – Deng to Namrung | 2,630m | 6–7 hrs
Climb gradually into increasingly Tibetan-influenced country, passing mani stones, traditional villages and dense forests of fir, bamboo and rhododendron. Finish with a steady climb into Namrung as the high mountains begin to dominate the landscape.
Day 7 – Namrung to Shyala | 3,500m | 4–5 hrs
Trek through barley fields and traditional villages including Lihi, Sho and Lho, with your first dramatic views of Mt Manaslu appearing along the way. Continue to Shyala, surrounded by an extraordinary panorama of Manaslu, Himal Chuli and Ngadi Chuli.
Day 8 – Shyala to Samagaun via Pungyen Monastery | 3,520m | 5–6 hrs
Detour towards the spectacular Pungyen Monastery beneath Manaslu before continuing through high mountain country to Samagaun. This traditional Tibetan-influenced village sits beneath the enormous northern slopes of Mt Manaslu.
Day 9 – Samagaun Acclimatisation | Up to 4,800m | 2–7 hrs
Spend an additional night in Samagaun to acclimatise before heading higher. Choose a shorter walk to Birendra Lake or, conditions permitting, take on the more demanding hike to Manaslu Base Camp at approximately 4,800 metres.
Day 10 – Samagaun to Samdo | 3,875m | 3–4 hrs
Follow the upper Budhi Gandaki through birch, juniper and rhododendron country towards the remote settlement of Samdo. The shorter trekking day allows time to explore the village or climb higher for additional acclimatisation.
Day 11 – Samdo to Dharamsala | 4,480m | 3–4 hrs
Follow an ancient trade route towards Tibet as the landscape becomes increasingly barren and alpine. Arrive at Dharamsala, the high camp below Larkya La, and spend a quiet afternoon preparing for the biggest day of the trek.
Day 12 – Cross Larkya La to Bimthang | 5,160m | 7–8 hrs
Set out early for the challenging ascent of Larkya La, the highest point of the circuit, with sweeping views towards Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kang Guru and Annapurna II. Descend from the pass across glacial terrain before reaching the beautiful alpine settlement of Bimthang.
Day 13 – Bimthang to Dharapani | 1,965m | 8–9 hrs
Leave the high mountains behind and descend through rhododendron, juniper and birch forests alongside glacial rivers and remote villages. Continue through Tilje before reaching Dharapani, where the Manaslu Circuit joins the Annapurna trail.
Day 14 – Drive Dharapani to Kathmandu | 9–10 hrs
Travel back towards Kathmandu as rugged mountain roads gradually give way to terraced hillsides, river valleys and the bustle of the capital. Arrive at your hotel with the evening free to relax and celebrate completing the circuit.
Day 15 – Departure or Continue Exploring Nepal
Transfer to Kathmandu International Airport for your onward flight, or keep the adventure going. Your itinerary can easily be extended with additional trekking, cultural experiences or more time exploring Nepal.
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Transport
Private airport and hotel transfers in Kathmandu
Private transfer from Kathmandu to Machha Khola at the start of the trek
Private transfer from Dharapani back to Kathmandu at the completion of the trek
Accommodation
3 nights’ twin-share accommodation in Kathmandu at a 4-star hotel such as Ramada Encore or similar
11 nights’ twin-share accommodation in the best available local teahouses throughout the trek
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the trekking portion of the journey
Breakfast while staying in Kathmandu
Farewell dinner in Kathmandu
Seasonal fruit during the trek
Access to local tap water during the trek, which should be filtered or treated before drinking
Trekking Team
Experienced English-speaking trekking guide/leader for each group
One assistant guide for every 6 trekkers
Porters at a ratio of 1 porter per 2 clients, carrying up to 15kg of personal gear per client
Meals, accommodation, transport, salary and insurance for trekking guides, assistant guides and porters
Professional guide for the Kathmandu city tour
Permits & Entrance Fees
Manaslu Restricted Area Trekking Permit
Manaslu Conservation Area Permit
Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
Entrance fees for temples and monuments included in the Kathmandu city tour
All applicable Nepalese government taxes and charges
Equipment & Safety
Complimentary use of a down sleeping bag and down jacket for the duration of the trek
Complimentary 80L duffel bag for personal belongings carried by your porter
Manaslu Circuit trekking map
First aid kit and pulse oximeter carried by your guide throughout the trek
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Transport
International flights to and from Nepal
Transportation outside the scheduled itinerary, including additional private transfers or personal sightseeing transport
Accommodation
Additional nights in Kathmandu resulting from early arrival, late departure, itinerary changes or an early return from the mountains
Meals & Drinks
Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu unless specifically listed
Tea, coffee, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
Bottled and boiled drinking water
Desserts or additional food ordered outside the included meals
Other Expenses
Nepal tourist visa
Travel, medical and emergency rescue insurance
Optional activities or excursions outside the scheduled itinerary
Personal expenses including phone calls, laundry, charging devices, hot showers and additional porters
Personal trekking equipment and clothing
Tips and gratuities for guides, porters and support staff
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No technical climbing required • Strong fitness recommended • Previous multi-day trekking experience highly beneficial
Strenuous to Challenging | Strong fitness recommended
The Manaslu Circuit is the most demanding of our signature three journeys. We grade this trek as strenuous to challenging and describes it as challenging even for fit and experienced hikers, with many days requiring approximately 6–8 hours of walking over rough, remote terrain at altitude.
The route involves sustained climbs and descents, long trekking days and increasingly remote high-altitude terrain before crossing Larkya La at around 5,200 metres. Previous trekking experience is not mandatory, but it is a significant advantage, and you should arrive comfortable completing long days on foot over uneven terrain while carrying a light daypack.
Preparation should focus on endurance rather than speed: regular hiking, cardiovascular conditioning, stair or hill work and lower-body strength training. Because of the remoteness and altitude, arriving well prepared will make a substantial difference to both comfort and enjoyment.
The itinerary includes gradual altitude gain and acclimatisation time around Samagaun before moving towards the highest sections of the circuit. Fitness helps you manage the workload, but adequate pacing and acclimatisation remain essential.
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Why We Don’t Rush the Mountains
Our trekking itineraries are based on recognised adventure-travel industry standards and established acclimatisation practices for each region.
While itineraries can often be extended to include additional rest days, side trips or a slower pace, shortening the recommended trekking schedule is generally not advised and as such is not supported by Peak Perspectives Travel Co. or our local partners.
These routes and timeframes have been developed around tried-and-tested procedures that help reduce the risk of altitude-related illness while improving your safety, comfort and overall likelihood of successfully completing the journey.
The mountains aren’t going anywhere.
We’d rather help you experience them properly than rush you through them.