You’ll embark on a drive from Kathmandu to Soti Khola. If you choose to travel by local bus, you’ll first take a bus to Dhading or Malekhu along the Kathmandu-Pokhara highway. You’ll then take another bus or jeep to reach Soti Khola. You can also choose to go by private vehicle, in which case the ride becomes a lot more convenient.

We’ll pass through rural villages and green hillsides as the road mutates into a bumpy dirt path. You’ll get views of the southern dial of Mt. Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, and Langtang Himal. After a 7-hour drive, you’ll reach Soti Khola just in time for a much-needed break from traveling and dinner.

Gateway to the Manaslu region, Soti Khola is a village settlement with semi-urban housing. The settlement is encapsulated by green hills and Soti Khola (river)

Trekking begins after a nourishing breakfast. The trail traverses through muddy pathways, suspension bridges, colossal waterfalls, and small creeks. You’ll leave your footprints through the mystic Sal forests and the cross-bridge over the rushing Budhi Gandaki River.

You’ll witness steeper cliffs in the backdrop as you trek through beautifully crafted stone steps. The trekking trail to Maccha Khola isn’t too lonely – you’ll still see villages (Khursani Village and Lububesi, a Gurung settlement) and the locals busy with their daily chores. The settlement of Machha Khola is similar to Soti Khola but with a more rural setting.

At daybreak, you’re already set to start your trek along the banks of the Budhi Gandaki River. You might occasionally share the stone steps with mules. The natural hot spring at Tatopani is a good place to take a break.

After a relaxing dip in the hot spring, you’ll cross a suspension bridge over the Budhi Gandaki River and follow the trail that leads to Dobhan. In Nepali, Dobhan means confluence, and sure enough, the place is marked by the confluence of Shari Khola (river) and Sharpu Khola.

The trail throughout the day is fairly undulating, however, the final part is a steep three-hour climb. Before finally resting at Jagat, a quick visit to a check post will ensure you have the right paperwork. From this day onward, we’ll be trekking into the restricted region.

The houses in Jagat are made of stone and have a more rural look. Tourism, service, agriculture, and animal husbandry are the primary occupations. People raise mules, sheep, and Himalayan goats.

After breakfast, the trail takes us through bamboo forests to a suspension bridge and a steep hike. The valley widens as you tread your way to the Ghatta Khola River.

You’ll reach Deng, a place popular among some tourists as a stop for the day. But we will go further and cross a suspension bridge to Bihi Phedi.

If you’re fateful, you will also get glimpses of the langur monkeys that roam the area. The trekking trail is embellished with lush green forests and alpine vegetation with mountain views visible in the backdrop. Specifically, the Prok Village serves as a viewpoint for the (Mt.) Siringi Himal.

You’ll follow a zigzag trail and one last steep trek to reach Namrung village where we’ll stay the night.

This is one of the most significant days of the Manaslu Circuit Trek. You’ll trek along the stone mani walls after breakfast to the beautiful Lihi village. This day will showcase a different personality of the Manaslu area, with locals dressing in Tibetan clothes called chubas.

You’ll cross a stream that originates from the Lindanda glacier and reach Sho, a settlement that features elaborate views of the (Mt.) Simnang Himal.

Lho is a distinct settlement with prayer flags, Tibetan-style painted gate arches, mani walls, chortens, and stupas. There’s a large Gompa where children get primary education and are taught under Buddhist philosophies.

The overall trekking trail today is energizing with glimpses of Peak 29, Mt. Manaslu, and the Twin Fistail Peaks. However, you’ll be gaining significant altitude on this day, and some trekkers start to get their first symptoms of altitude sickness. Always be mindful to keep your guide informed of any difficulties.

You’ll get a more accessible and picturesque view of Mt. Manaslu today, along with views of (Mt.) Himal Chuli. The first part of the trek comprises an easy hike through pine and rhododendron vegetation to Shyla. Shyla is a settlement distinct by its farming fields and numerous wooden resting stops.

We’ll then cross the Numla Khola (river) over a suspension bridge. This is followed by a 1-hour trek to Sama Gaun with delightful mountain views on the trail. As you reach the valley, the mountain view fades away and is replaced by soothing views of yak pastures and village settlements.

Sama Gaun is inhabited by the Nubri people, descendants of Tibetan migrants who arrived here almost 500 years ago. It is also the closest village to Manaslu Base Camp. The village has a large Gompa, numerous small shops, a health post, and a helipad. You’ll also get access to electricity and wifi, which is always good.

We’ll stay overnight at a teahouse in Sama Gaun.

You’ve already gained significant altitude throughout the Manaslu Circuit Trek, so this day is crucial to let the body acclimatize and prepare for the upcoming journey. You can sleep in and relax throughout the day, enjoying the flavorful breakfast, lunch, and dinner of your lodge.

If you still have the energy for more adventure, you can either take a detour to the Pungyen Gompa or hike to Manaslu Base Camp – it’s not like you must sit idle on acclimatization days. However, note that either of these destinations takes almost a day to reach and return, so you’ll have to choose between the two.

Located at a 2.5 hrs hike to the south of Sama Gaun, Pungyen Gompa offers splendid views of the glacier and Mt. Manaslu. You may also see Himalayan Tahrs and Yaks grazing in the pasturelands.

Meanwhile, the Manaslu Base Camp is to the north of Sama Gaun, past Birendra Tal. You’ll slowly proceed to the north of Manaslu Glacier to reach base camp. If you’re too exhausted on the trail, you can return from Birendra Tal.

The trekking trail today passes through mani walls, extensive yak pastures, and beautiful forests of birch and juniper until Kermo Kharka. After breakfast, we’ll descend to the Budhi Gandaki River. You’ll then leave the treeline behind to ascend to a ridge across a wooden bridge of the Budhi Gandaki River.

The trail also introduces you to Kani, a beautiful village dedicated to yak herding.

Arriving in Samdo on time for lunch, it is possible to explore Samdo Peak in the afternoon. Samdo is a small village with Tibetan influence, as the inhabitants are believed to be descendants of Tibetan immigrants.

Samdo is the convergence of 3 valleys and is a day’s walk from Tibet. You might see traders with Chinese and Tibetan goods on the trail.

This is another day in the Manaslu Circuit Trek Nepal itinerary for acclimatization. But you’ve known by now that acclimatization doesn’t mean sitting idle. We can hike to the Tibetan border to see Tibet and the Samdo Glacier in Nepal.

The trekking trail first passes through icy streams and then to drier barren lands. You’ll get to visit Larke Bazaar, a seasonal Tibetan market set up by local traders. You’ll be crossing two streams as you lay eyes on the Larkya Glacier.

Expect to pass through monasteries and mani walls on the journey. We’ll trek to Salka Khola and ascend towards Dharmasala.

The trek today is on challenging terrain, requiring us to make an early headstart. You’ll trek through valleys and villages along trails marked by prayer flags and carefully descend to the four frozen lakes.

You’ll reach the north side of the Larkya Glacier which also features stunning views of Cho Danda (hill) and Larkya Peak. The terrain is progressively steep en route to Larkya La Pass as you make your way across glacial moraines.

Coming down the other side of the pass there are views of icefalls and mountains as well as Pongkar Tal (lake). A great glacial cirque is also seen from here. We’ll cross the moraines and descend to gentler meadows via a steep gully. The widening valley, mani walls, and sight of human settlements signal the arrival of Bimthang.

The overall trekking trail is embellished with spectacular views of peaks like Himling Himal (Mt.), Cheo Himal, Bouddha Himal, Kang Guru, the great Annapurna II, and the mighty Mt. Manaslu itself.

The 13th day of the Manaslu Circuit Trek itinerary starts with a downhill hike through lush green forests till we cross the Dudh Khola (river). We’ll have lunch in Karche village. You’ll start to see signs of agriculture and tilled fields as Karche is a cultivated area at the top of the Budhi Gandaki valley.

We’ll press forward through more mani walls to Thonje village and then to Dharapani. Our final night on the trek is spent in Dharapani.

Today, we’ll take a 3-hour jeep drive from Dharapani to Besi Sahar for 3 hours. It then takes around five hours to drive from Beshi Sahar to Kathmandu. It’s finally time to celebrate after having completed this exhilarating trek.