Manaslu Circuit and Annapurna Circuit Trek - 21 Days

Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport. Your Trekking Guide Team Adventure representative meets you and transfers you to your hotel in Thamel.

Meet your guide in the evening for a full trek briefing covering the 21-day route, permit logistics, gear check, and what to expect on the Manaslu restricted area approach. All four permits are collected by the team today - no government offices to visit.

A good opportunity for any last-minute gear purchases in Thamel before the drive begins tomorrow.

Depart Kathmandu by private vehicle at approximately 7:00 AM. The route heads west through Dhading and Arughat before following the Budhi Gandaki River valley into the hills. The road becomes rougher and narrower beyond Arughat as you enter the lower Manaslu corridor.

Arrive in Machhakhola by early evening - your first night on the trail in a teahouse.

Begin trekking along the Budhi Gandaki River on narrow trails with frequent ascents and descents. Cross suspension bridges, pass through sal forests, and walk through traditional Gurung villages.

Jagat is a checkpoint where the Manaslu restricted area permit is first verified. Your guide carries all permit documentation.

The trail climbs through stone staircases and narrow hillside paths. Bamboo and rhododendron forest appear as the Budhi Gandaki gorge deepens. Several suspension bridges cross the river as the trail alternates between both banks.

Deng is a traditional village on a river flat - quiet and basic, with the first clear signs of the changing mountain landscape ahead.

Tibetan cultural influence begins to assert itself today. Prayer walls, mani stones, and the architecture of villages shift noticeably as the trail enters the upper Manaslu corridor.

Namrung sits on a terrace above the valley with early views of the Manaslu massif opening to the north. The restricted area status keeps visitor numbers very low - the trail is noticeably quiet.

Take the early morning detour to Pungyen Gompa before continuing to Sama Gaon. The monastery sits above the main trail and provides the first clear panoramic view of the Manaslu massif - Himal Chuli (7,893m), Ngadi Chuli (7,871m), and Manaslu (8,163m) all visible on a clear morning.

Continue through alpine landscape past Lho village to Sama Gaon - the largest village on the upper Manaslu circuit with a working monastery and yak herders on the surrounding hills. Tibetan culture is fully established here.

A full rest day with an acclimatisation hike. The standard objective is Birendra Lake (3,691m) and onward to Manaslu Base Camp at 4,800m - a round trip of 5 to 6 hours from Sama Gaon. The base camp sits directly below the South Face of Manaslu.

Return to Sama Gaon (3,530m) to sleep - climb high, sleep low. Drink 3 to 4 litres of water today. Your guide holds an evening briefing on the Larkya La crossing approach and AMS awareness.

A shorter day allowing continued altitude adjustment. The trail heads northwest through open valley and pasturelands toward the Tibetan border. Samdo is a small Tibetan refugee village - the closest point to Tibet on the circuit.

Views of Manaslu, Ngadi Chuli, and Simnang Himal from the village on clear afternoons. Warm layers essential from this point on.

A short trekking day by distance, but the altitude gain matters. Dharamsala (also called Larke Phedi) is little more than a collection of stone shelters below the pass - basic, cold, and crowded in peak season.

Go slowly. This is the last stop before Larkya La, and how you feel here matters more than how far you've walked. Hydrate well and eat despite reduced appetite at altitude.

The hardest day of the trek. Start at 3 or 4am while the snow is still frozen and the wind hasn't picked up. The climb from Dharamsala to the pass takes 3 to 4 hours over moraine and glacier margins in the dark.

Larkya La (5,160m) is marked by prayer flags and views of Manaslu, Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, and Kang Guru. Don't linger - the descent to Bimthang is long and the weather deteriorates by early afternoon. Bimthang sits in a stunning alpine bowl below Manaslu's west face.

A long descent day through changing forest as you drop from alpine terrain back into the Marsyangdi valley. Pass through Gho and Tilje, where the architecture and dress shift noticeably - you're now in ethnic Gurung and Manangi territory rather than the Tibetan-influenced villages of the Manaslu side.

Dharapani marks the official end of the Manaslu Circuit and the start of the Annapurna Circuit. It's also where the trail joins the road used by jeeps running between Besisahar and Chame - a reminder that this section sees far more traffic than the past ten days.

The first day on the Annapurna Circuit. The trail follows the Marsyangdi River through pine and fir forests, passing through Bagarchhap, Danaque, and Timang before reaching Chame - the administrative headquarters of Manang District.

After the basic teahouses above Sama Gaon, Chame's bakeries and better-equipped lodges feel like a welcome step up. Good spot to restock snacks before the higher sections.

One of the most dramatic sections of the Annapurna approach. The trail ascends along a narrow ledge before reaching Paungda Danda - a 1,500m curved rock wall rising directly from the Marsyangdi gorge. An extraordinary piece of mountain geography.

Above the rock wall, the valley opens into the wide Manang basin. Climb to Upper Pisang on the ridge for panoramic views of Annapurna II and Pisang Peak (6,091m).

Take the upper route through Ghyaru and Geru rather than the main lower trail. The panoramic views across the Manang Valley - Annapurna II, III, IV, Tilicho Peak (7,134m), and Gangapurna (7,455m) - justify the extra effort.

Stop at Barga Monastery above Braga village, one of the oldest active monasteries in the Annapurna region. Arrive in Manang by mid-afternoon. The village has bakeries, a Himalayan Rescue Association clinic, and the most comfortable teahouses since Kathmandu.

A mandatory rest day. Two nights at 3,540m give your body time to consolidate altitude adaptation before the Thorong La approach.

Morning hike options: Gangapurna Lake (3,700m), the upper viewpoint (4,000m), or Bojho Gompa. Climb high, return to Manang to sleep.

Attend the Himalayan Rescue Association altitude briefing in the afternoon - the doctors cover AMS, HACE, and HAPE recognition, descent protocol, and Diamox use. One of the most practically useful hours on the entire trek. Attend regardless of how well you feel.

The trail leaves the treeline behind as you enter the Jarsang Khola Valley. Wide, windswept moraine with views back down the Manang Valley. Pass Gunsan and Yak Kharka before the final climb to Ledar.

Above 4,000m, pace naturally slows. Ledar is small - cold nights and thin walls. Dinner early, sleep as much as you can.

A short but steep day by distance, but every step counts at this altitude. The trail climbs steadily above the Jarsang Khola, crossing an exposed, sometimes avalanche-prone slope before the final push to Phedi.

Thorong Phedi (base camp) sits directly below the pass. Some trekkers push on to High Camp (4,925m) to shorten summit day, but Phedi is the standard stop. Rest, hydrate, and prepare gear for an alpine start.

Summit day. Leave Phedi at 4 or 5am - headlamps on, layered up, and moving before the wind picks up. The climb to the pass is long and relentless, gaining nearly 900m over rough, often icy terrain.

Thorong La (5,416m) is the highest point of the entire trek and the highest trekking pass in Nepal. Prayer flags mark the summit, with views across the Mustang and Annapurna ranges. The descent to Muktinath is steep and knee-jarring - over 1,600m of elevation loss in a single afternoon. Muktinath itself is a major pilgrimage site sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists.

A well-earned easier day after the pass crossing. Drive or trek down through Kagbeni's medieval alleyways along the Kali Gandaki - the world's deepest gorge, flanked by the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna massifs.

Jomsom, the administrative center of Mustang, sits in the rain-shadow desert landscape typical of this region - a striking contrast to the lush valleys of the Manaslu side. Spend the afternoon exploring the windswept town or resting before the onward journey to Pokhara.

A scenic drive along the Kali Gandaki and then the Pokhara valley road. The route passes through Beni and Baglung before reaching Pokhara, with views of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges receding behind you as the terrain turns to subtropical hills.

Pokhara feels like a different country after three weeks in the mountains - lakeside cafes, warm air, and hot showers. Settle in, do laundry, and enjoy the comforts before the trip wraps up.

A free day in Pokhara to rest, shop, or add an optional activity - paragliding over the valley, a boat ride on Phewa Lake, or simply relaxing lakeside after 21 days on the trail.

This buffer day also absorbs any schedule delays from the mountain sections, particularly flight cancellations from Jomsom, which are common in windy conditions. Trekking Guide Team Adventure can arrange your onward transport to Kathmandu or international departure.