Short Manaslu Trek 11 Days

The short Manaslu Trek begins with a long scenic drive from Kathmandu to Machha Khola. We will leave Kathmandu early in the morning and by takking a local bus. The ride is comfortable up to Arughat Bazar, but the road gets bumpy after that.

On the way, we will enjoy beautiful views of lush green hills, rivers, waterfalls, small towns, and mountains.

Today, we start the real trekking. After a good breakfast, we will leave Machha Khola and begin walking, following a winding road along the bank of the Budhi Gandaki River. The trail then goes through dense forests, where we may encounter monkeys.

Passing by Khorlabesi, a Gurung village, we will trek further to Tatopani. Here, we can see natural hot springs. We can take a small break to indulge in it and then continue walking, cross a new suspension bridge over the Budhi Gandaki River.

We will reach Dovan and trek past a landslide area to Yaruphant. The trail then crosses a wooden bridge and goes along the river. We will cross a long cantilever bridge just before reaching Jagat for the night stay.

The walking trail from Jagat goes to Salleri and descends to Sirdibas. We see many Gompas and prayer flags in this village. From here, we'll continue walking toward Phillim, where we will register our trek permits and trek further along the western bank of the Budhi Gandaki River.

We see boulders with unique sculptures around the riverbank. The trail gradually ascends through forests of pine and rhododendrons. We will cross the Siyar Khola Bridge and reach a junction that separates the trail to Tsum Valley on the right.

Passing by Pewa, ascend on a winding trail across the bamboo forest to Deng. The view of Siringi Himal from Deng is fantastic.

We continue trekking from Deng village to Ghap, today. After a short descent, the trail sharply ascends to Rana Bridge. We will then trek by pine forests and cross a bridge to Bihi Phedi. From here onwards, the trail passes numerous mani walls and stupas. After crossing one more suspension bridge, the trail goes to Ghap village. It passes by a lush forest of oak, rhododendron, fir, and bamboo.

We will ascend by crossing bridges and using stone stairs to Namrung village.

Namrung offers the lifestyle of the Nubri community. The day begins with a delicious breakfast and a striking landscape. We will pass by traditional Tibetan-style houses and walk past many Mani walls and terraced fields. The trail soon enters a dense oak and rhododendron forest and gradually ascends to Lihi. From here, we will trek to Lho village.

We can see stunning views of Manaslu and Manaslu north on the way. Trekking past Shyla village, the trail goes via a gully adorned with pine, moss, and rhododendrons. It takes one hour to walk from Shyala to Sama Gaun, the main village of the Nubri people. Sama Gaun has a health post, helipad, large gompa, and many shops.

Today, we will spend an acclimatization day in Sama Gaun. We will hike and return to the village to adjust to the thin air and avoid altitude sickness further on the trail. For the hike, we can go to ancient Pungyen Gompa or Manaslu Base Camp via Birendra Lake. Both options are fantastic and offer breathtaking mountain panoramas.

We will begin trekking gradually on an uneven path. There are yak pastures up the valley with long Mani walls. From here, the trail leaves the tree line and ascends to a ridge, crossing a wooden bridge over the Buri Gandaki River.

We will reach White Kani, which is a neighbouring village of Samdo. It is a short walk from White Kani to Samdo.

The trail from Samdo descends via fields and mani walls. We will cross a bridge and trek past the Athahra Saya River and then the Larke River. The Mani walls and prayer flags along the trail show the closeness of Larkya La pass. Further, we will come across Larkya Glacier. The views are outstanding.

From here, the trail goes to Salkha Khola Valley. It ascends to a stone guest house at 4450 meters, known as Dharamsala or Larkya La Phedi. You can enjoy lovely views of Mt. Manaslu and Larkya Glacier from this place.

Today, we will cross the Larkya La pass, the most exciting and challenging part of our short Manaslu trek. We will leave Larkya La Phedi early in the morning, walk via moraines, and descend to a small lake. From here, the trail gets rough and unclear.

We will cross the steep grassy slope in the south and walk to the edge. The trail then drops to frozen lakes and ascends, following a steep, rocky trail to Larkya La pass. The views of Himlung Himal, Mt. Kang Guru, Annapurna II, etc, from the top of Larkya La Pass are surreal.

Further, we will continue walking to the top of the moraine and descend to a grassy moraine at 4,450 meters. From here, we will reach a small meadow and walk to Bhimtang.

Today is our last day of trekking. We will descend from Bhimtang through lush forests and rhododendron bushes. The trail goes across the Dudh Khola to Karche. Here, we will take a small break for lunch and continue trekking, witnessing views of many signs of glacial floods. As we descend, the trail gets more agricultural and lush.

Travelling past oak and rhododendron forests and farming fields, we will pass by Tilije before reaching Dharapani.

After a big breakfast, we will drive back to Kathmandu. The drive will be 9 to 10 hours long and gorgeous. The guide will drop you at the hotel in Kathmandu. Enjoy the remaining day unpacking and shopping. We will meet you in the late evening for a farewell dinner.