Manaslu Trek 14 Days

The Manaslu trek 14 days is one of the best treks famous for its solitary and untouched natural beauty. This trek offers a peaceful and natural experience as the region experiences fewer visitors compared to other treks.

Nepal is a paradise for all the adventure lovers that get their thrill from various trekking region. And this is a newly popular trekking route.

It is a perfect getaway from the busy city lives. During this trek, you will get the magnificent view of Mount. Manaslu, the eighth highest mountain in the world. And, you get a chance to witness the rich local heritage and biological diversity of the region.

The highest point you will reach in this trek is the Larkya La Pass at 5160m. This pass is one of the most dramatic passes. So be ready for some real thrill.

The Manaslu Circuit trek begins at Arughat and ends at Besisahar and you need a special trekking permit to travel all the way through the Manaslu area.

Overall, Manaslu trek 14 days is a moderate level trekking which involves cultural, historical and natural tours. With a little bit of preparation and average physical fitness, one can complete the trek successfully.

Highlights of Manaslu Trek 14 Days

• One of the popular restricted trekking region in Nepal
• Long walk up through the Budhi Gandaki valley
• Amazing views of Mt. Manaslu, Mt.Himalchuli, Ganesh Himal range and many others
• Crossing the Larkya La Pass
• High altitude glacial lakes
• Fascinating flora and fauna
• Experience the local multi-ethnic community, culture, and lifestyle

Detailed Itinerary of Manaslu Trek 14 Days

Day 01: Drive from Kathmandu to Soti Khola

Elevation: 710 m, Soti Khola

Travel hours: 8 to 9 hrs

You will start the day early after breakfast. After breakfast, you will catch a local bus from Kathmandu to reach Arughat.

On the way, you will enjoy the views of the hilly areas, terraces, fields, and rivers. The drive to Arughat is a little rough one.

After 8 to 9 hours, you will finally reach Soti Khola at 710m. Overnight at a teahouse.

Day 02: Trek from Soti Khola to Machha Khola

Elevation: 900 m, Machha Khola

Trekking duration: 6 to 7 hrs

Today you will start the day early to get to Machha Khola. You will cross a popular suspension bridge of Soti Khola and trek through Sal forests. You will then reach a ridge above the rapids of the Budhi Gandaki river.

As you reach Khursani, the trail becomes rocky passing through waterfalls and cliffs. You will continue to walk past terraced rice fields up to Labubesi, a Gurung village.

Later you will climb a rocky cliff where the valley opens up. Further, you will walk through a sandy river bed and climb over stone ridges and move down to the river.

And finally, after crossing the suspension bridge, you will reach Machha Khola village.

Overnight at a tea house.

Day 03: Trek from Machha Khola to Jagat

Elevation: 1410 m, Jagat

Trekking duration: 6 to 7 hrs

After having breakfast at the teahouse, you will start your trek and cross the Machha Khola. You will head up to the tiny village of Khorla Bensi and the hot springs at Tatopani.

This trail is wild and quite challenging. However, after crossing a short forest path, you will reach a tea house at Doban. And above Doban, with an impressive series of rapids, the Budhi Gandaki descends.

Beyond this steep section, the river is quite calm, meandering across a broad gravel bed.

At Lauri, you will cross the river on a suspension bridge. And then climb on a high path to the fields of Jagat.

Overnight at a tea house.

Day 04: Trek from Jagat to Deng

Elevation: 1804 m, Deng

Trekking duration: 6 to 7 hrs

After breakfast, you will start your trek that proceeds gently uphill. Later you will move through a flat leveled path and cross a suspension bridge over Budhi Gandaki before you enter Philim.

Philim is a big village mainly inhabited by the Gurungs. Here you will see small monasteries and stupas with prayer flags fluttering in the air. Here you will stop for some time for lunch.

Later after the lunch, you will proceed the trek over a flat leveled path mostly through pine and rhododendron forest.

While walking, you will cross a few bridges where you will see colorful looking thatched-roof villages. At Deng, you will see a few houses and can enjoy an amazing waterfall lying at a distance.

Deng is a village famous for its potatoes, buckwheat, barley, cabbage, and spinach. People here are mostly engaged in agriculture.

Overnight at a tea house in Deng.

Day 05: Trek from Deng to Namrung

Elevation: 2630 m, Namrung

Trekking duration: 6 to 7 hrs

Today, from Deng, you will walk for a while and cross the Budhi Gandaki and climb to reach Rana. From there you will climb for a while and head west to Budhi Gandaki valley.

Later, the trail passes through forests and painted Mani stones from where you reach Ghap. You will then take a trail through Prok village which gives you a beautiful view of Siring Himal.

Along the way, you will follow the river and cross it at many places and pass through dense forests and Gompas. After crossing the river at a gorge, the trail becomes leveled and with a final steep climb, you reach Namrung.

Namrung is the best viewpoint for the Siring and Ganesh Himal as well as Mt.Himal Chuli. Overnight stay at a tea house in Namrung.

Day 06: Trek from Namrung to Lho

Elevation: 3180 m, Lho

Trekking duration: 4 to 5 hrs

With stunning views of Siringi and Ganesh Himal, the trek starts from Namrung and climbs steadily into the alpine. The village of Namrung marks the beginning of the region’s pure Tibetan inhabitants.

As you pass through the forests you will reach Lihi, a village well known for its Chortens and barley terraces. Here you will get the first stunning glimpse of Manaslu which accentuates at Lho village.

Overnight at Lho village and enjoy the sunset view from the lodge or a Gompa.

Day 07: Trek from Lho to Samagaun

Elevation: 3530 m, Samagaun

Trekking duration: 5 to 6 hrs

Today after breakfast you will proceed with your trek. You will cross Shyla village and reach the Sama village. From here, you will get to witness the amazing views of Mount Manaslu and you can explore the famous Ribung Gompa.

The mind-blowing view of the high mountains along with the glacier serves as a major highlight of the trip.

Overnight at a tea house in Samagaon.

Day 08: Acclimatization Day at Samagaun

This day is set to rest and acclimatize to the increasing altitudes. You will stay in Samagaon and explore the surrounding areas. You can trek to Manaslu base Camp or Pungyen Gompa and Birendra Tal.

You can descend to the Budhi Gandaki river and follow the trail towards the north until you reach a bridge. From there, you will take a left and head to the Manaslu base camp.

Pungyen Gompa is 3-4 hours hiking and Birendra Taal is 1-hour hiking, so both can be combined. Form Pungyen Gompa you will get a spectacular view of the glaciers.

After the scenic route, you will get back to Samagaon for the overnight.

Day 09: Trek from Samagaon to Samdo

Elevation: 3860 m, Samdo

Trekking hours: 4-5 hrs

After the breakfast, you will trek slowly uphill all the way to Samdo through a desert path and windy valley.

You will follow the Budhi Gandaki river up to a stream which you will cross on a suspension bridge. From there you will take the trail on the right to Larkya La.

It is an easy trail passing through Mani walls, juniper and birch forests. Once again you will cross a bridge over Budhi Gandaki and continue forward. From a stone arch, you will see Kani and after crossing it, you reach Samdo.

From Samdo, the Tibetan border is just 4 km away. At Samdo there is a Tibetan refugee village.

This is an excellent viewpoint for Mt. Manaslu, Ngadi Chuli, Simnang Himal, Manaslu glacier, Manaslu icefall etc.

Day 10: Trek from Samdo to Dharamsala

Elevation: 4460 m, Dharmasala

Trekking duration: 4-5 hrs

After breakfast at Samdo, you will start your day trip by crossing a wooden bridge over Budhi Gandaki river and hike upwards.

You will cross a few streams and watch a glimpse of the Larkya Glacier. As you hike around a valley and make your way upwards you will reach a tea house named Dharamsala.

Here you will have your lunch. After that, you will take a short walk to Larke Phedi where you will have enough time to rest and acclimatize for the next day.

Overnight at a teahouse.

Day 11: Cross the Larkya La and Trek to Bimthang

Elevation: 5160 m- Larkya La, 3720 m- Bimthang

Trekking duration: 8-9 hrs

Today after breakfast at a tea house, you will start your trek which is quite challenging as you are going to cross the Larkya La Pass.

Larkya La is the highest elevation for this trek. You can carry a packed lunch because there is no place for lunch until you reach Bimthang.

From the top, you will enjoy the view of Larkya peaks. Crossing the pass, you hike to a steep downhill path through rock and ice. On the way, you will encounter many icy lakes that will make you feel cold.

Today is a long walk than other days. You will walk through the low pastures at the dim lights of dusk to finally reach Bimthang.

Overnight at Bimthang.

Day 12: Trek from Bimthang to Tilije

Elevation: 2300 m, Tilije

Trekking duration: 5 to 6 hrs

After enjoying the splendid views of the mountains from a ridge in Bimthang, you will make your way down towards a high pasture and then a bridge over Dudh Khola.

You will walk through rhododendron forests, narrow valleys and fields before making a climb to the river bank that leads to the village of Gho.

A short walk from there takes you to Tilije where you will get better accommodation options.

Overnight at a tea house in Tilije.

Day 13: Trek to Dharapani and Drive to Besisahar

Elevation: 760 m, Besisahar

Trekking duration: 5 to 6 hrs

Today you will move in a stone paved path passing through a beautiful village. Later you will cross a bridge over Dudh Khola and move past an arch and mani walls to get to Thonje village.

After passing through a police check-point you will make your way towards Dharapani from where you will enter the Annapurna Conservation Area.

From Dharapani, you will take a jeep or a bus ride to Besisahar. This takes about 4-5 hrs. Here you will spend the last night of the trek at Besisahar.

Day 14: Drive Back to Kathmandu

Travel hours: 6 hrs

Today is the day you will drive back to Kathmandu from Besisahar. On this drive, you pass along the banks of Marsyangdi and Trishuli river.

On the way, you will witness beautiful scenery of rice fields, terraced farms, rivers, and valleys.

After about 6 hours of a journey, you will reach Kathmandu where you will spend the night.

With this, you come to an end of 14 days Manaslu Trek. You can also check our Manaslu Circuit trek.

FAQs

01. Are Solo Treks to Manaslu Possible?

No, you cannot take the Manaslu trek alone. According to the Government of Nepal, a minimum of two trekkers with a registered trekking staff are compulsory to obtain Manaslu trek permit.

Due to safety concern in this restricted region, you can’t take the trek alone.

02. How Difficult is the Manaslu Trek?

This is a moderate to strenuous trek. To take the Manaslu trek, one should be able to walk for 6-7 hrs daily. There is one special day where you will have to walk before the sunrise to avoid the storm at Larkya la. This part of the trek is quite challenging.

Hence it is important to have good physical fitness and also take some physical training prior to the trek. One should also have strong will power and dedication to complete the Manaslu trek successfully.

03. What are the Permits Required for Manaslu Trek 14 Days?

To trek to the Manaslu region, you need various permits. And they are:

• Manaslu Restricted Permit
• Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP)
• Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)

04. Do I Need Travel Insurance?

Yes, you absolutely need travel insurance for the high altitude trek like this.

Travel insurance is necessary to overcome the unforeseen circumstances such as Bad weather (Snow, storm, landslides and other natural disasters). Also, it is a must during the time of acute mountain sickness and physical accidents.

05. Which is the Best Season to Trek to Manaslu?

The best season for Manaslu trek is March, April, and May. And the last week of September , October, November, mid-December.

In December to Late February to early March, there are chances of winter snow. And lodges are likely to remain closed mainly in Larkya Phedi, Bimthang. The monsoon season is the low season from June to Sept due to rain and haze.

So, trekking in the off-season means you will have to be prepared to face multiple trekking challenges.

Conclusion

The Manaslu trek 14 days features all the great aspects of a classic trek in Nepal. This trek has it all from epic scenery, spectacular suspension bridge and crossing 5160 m Himalayan pass.

This trek is far less crowded than other popular treks. And remains a true remote adventure which is a perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life.

So, grab the opportunity and take on this wonderful trek to experience the journey of a lifetime.