Self-Launched Rapid Manaslu Circuit Trek

Sort your permits in Kathmandu the day before (Manaslu Restricted Area Permit, Manaslu Conservation Area Permit and Annapurna Conservation Area Permit — the restricted permit must be arranged through a registered Nepali trekking agency and is issued for a minimum of 2 trekkers plus a licensed guide). Today take a public or shared jeep from Kathmandu's Machha Pokhari bus park to Arughat, then on to Soti Khola — roughly 7-8 hours on rough hill roads. Buy a TIMS-style permit copy and keep photocopies. Overnight in a basic teahouse.

🚌Shared jeep Kathmandu to Arughat (~£8-10) then local jeep to Soti Khola (~£3-4); ~8 hrs

🛏Teahouse in Soti Khola (basic twin/dorm, shared bathroom)

• →Public/shared jeep Kathmandu–Arughat–Soti Khola
• →Permit check and teahouse briefing with your guide

Classic first walking day: follow the Budhi Gandaki through subtropical woods, cross a couple of suspension bridges and pass small Gurung villages and rice terraces. Around 6 hours of gentle up-and-down. Lunch en route at Lapubesi area teahouses.

🚌On foot, ~14-15km, 6 hrs

🛏Teahouse in Machha Khola (shared bathroom)

• →Trek through woods along the Budhi Gandaki River
• →Suspension bridge crossings with river views

A day of river gorges: climb over a ridge past Khorlabesi, then take the short signed detour to Tatopani hot springs for a soak (small entry fee, often a few hundred rupees). Cross the Dovan Khola and continue into the wider Budhi Gandaki Valley to Jagat, where your restricted-area permit is checked at the police post. About 7 hours.

🚌On foot, ~20km, 7 hrs

🛏Teahouse in Jagat

• →Tatopani hot springs soak (small local fee)
• →Trek through forested gorges and the Budhi Gandaki Valley
• →Restricted-area permit check at Jagat

Steady climb to Sirdibas with your first big views of Shringi Himal, a long suspension bridge crossing, then the steep pull up to Philim past waterfalls. Continue via Ekle Bhatti and Pewa village into the increasingly Tibetan-looking upper valley and Deng. Around 6-7 hours.

🚌On foot, ~18km, 6-7 hrs

🛏Teahouse in Deng

• →Trek to Sirdibas with Shringi Himal views
• →Cross a high suspension bridge
• →Climb to Philim, then on through Ekle Bhatti and Pewa to Deng

A shorter, beautiful day up through mixed valley settlements, passing carved mani stones with Tibetan mantras and the fork toward the old Nubri trail. Optional 2-hour round-trip detour to Prok village for Manaslu views. Arrive Namrung (2,630m) early enough to rest — altitude starts to bite from here.

🚌On foot, ~6 hrs

🛏Teahouse in Namrung

• →Mani stone walls with Tibetan mantras
• →Optional 2hr round-trip detour to Prok village
• →Village-hopping along the Budhi Gandaki

Walk through Lho village between long mani stone walls with Manaslu and Ngadi Chuli filling the skyline, then take the side detour toward the Pungen Glacier viewpoint. Continue up to Samagaun (3,520m). Keep the afternoon slow and hydrate — the next two nights are high. About 7 hours.

🚌On foot, ~18km, 7 hrs

🛏Teahouse or homestay in Samagaun (good range of simple lodges)

• →Lho village walk between mani stone walls
• →Detour to Pungen Glacier viewpoint for Mt Manaslu
• →Arrive Samagaun 3,520m

A short, high day (about 4 hours) across open pastures with Manaslu, Himalchuli and Cheo Himal in view. Samdo (3,875m) is a Tibetan refugee village within sight of the Chinese border — wander the village lanes and countryside in the afternoon and eat well before the pass. Use the spare hours to acclimatise by walking high and sleeping low.

🚌On foot, ~8km, 4 hrs

🛏Teahouse in Samdo

• →High pasture walking with peak views
• →Explore Tibetan refugee village of Samdo
• →Afternoon acclimatisation wander

A short but important day: cross a series of streams and rivers, visit the old Larkya Bazaar trading post, then climb steadily to Dharamsala (4,460m) beneath the Larkya La. Rooms here are notoriously cold and crowded in peak season — arrive early and claim a bed, or consider spending the extra night at Samdo and doing this as a same-day push if you're strong and acclimatised. Eat a big early dinner and pack for a pre-dawn start.

🚌On foot, ~3-4 hrs

🛏Basic Dharamsala/lodge at Larkya Phedi (dorm-style, very cold)

• →Cross rivers en route to Larkya Bazaar
• →Visit historic Larkya Bazaar trading post
• →Steep climb to Dharamsala 4,460m

The big day: leave around 4-5am with headtorch, climb to Cho Chanda, then over the Larkya La at 5,106m — a long, cold grind with views of Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Gyaji Kung, Kang Koru and Annapurna II. Descend across moraine to Bhimthang (3,720m). Crampons (rentable in Kathmandu or from lodges, roughly US$12/set) are essential in December and useful any shoulder-season snow. About 8-9 hours.

🚌On foot, ~8-9 hrs

🛏Teahouse in Bhimthang

• →Pre-dawn ascent to Cho Chanda
• →Cross Larkya La Pass 5,106m
• →Descend moraines to Bhimthang village

A long descent through high pasture, across the Dudh Khola suspension bridge and down through rhododendron and oak forest past Tilje to Dharapani (1,860m) on the Annapurna Circuit road. If you want to extend, Dharapani connects straight onto the Annapurna trail toward Chame/Pokhara. About 7 hours.

🚌On foot, ~7 hrs

🛏Teahouse or guesthouse in Dharapani

• →Descend high pasture and cross the Dudh Khola
• →Rhododendron and oak forest walk via Tilje
• →Optional onward Annapurna trail extension

Catch a shared jeep from Dharapani down to Besisahar (roughly 3-4 hours on the dirt road), then a local bus or shared jeep onward to Kathmandu (6-7 hours). Alternatively, stay on for a bus to Pokhara (~5 hours) and continue your trip from there. Buy your tickets at the roadside counter the evening before.

🚌Shared jeep Dharapani to Besisahar (~£5) + local bus/shared jeep to Kathmandu (~£6-8); ~10-11 hrs total

🛏None included — budget guesthouse in Thamel if you need a night (~£10-15)

• →Shared jeep Dharapani–Besisahar
• →Local bus/shared jeep Besisahar–Kathmandu
• →Optional onward bus to Pokhara