Manaslu Circuit Trek 14 Days – Self-Launched Edition

Fly into Tribhuvan International Airport and take a pre-paid airport taxi or the local bus into Thamel (a taxi is ~1,000–1,500 NPR, ~£8). Check into a Thamel guesthouse. Spend the afternoon at the Nepal Tourism Board office (Bhrikutimandap) or hand your passport photos to your guide to arrange the ACAP, MCAP and Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (RAP) — the RAP must be issued through a registered trekking agency and requires a licensed guide. Buy or rent gear, load a Nepali SIM/eSIM (Ncell or NTC ~£2–3) and stock up on snacks. Early night before the long drive.

🚌Airport taxi ~1,000–1,500 NPR (~£8); or local bus for ~£1

🛏Thamel guesthouse, private room (~£10–14)

• →Airport transfer to Thamel
• →Permit paperwork (ACAP, MCAP, Manaslu RAP)
• →Gear rental and SIM card

Long, bumpy day. Take a public or shared jeep from Machha Pokhari (north Kathmandu) toward Arughat and on to Soti Khola — book through your guesthouse or trekking agent the night before (~2,500–3,000 NPR, ~£16–19, 8–9 hours). Alternatively a local bus to Arughat (~£5) then a shared jeep. Overnight in a basic teahouse, first taste of dhal bhat.

🚌Shared jeep Kathmandu–Soti Khola ~£16–19

🛏Teahouse, Soti Khola (~£4–6)

• →Scenic drive along the Budhi Gandaki
• →Teahouse settling-in

First real trekking day — roughly 6 hours along the Budhi Gandaki through sal forest, waterfalls and suspension bridges. The trail is well marked; your guide handles lodge bookings. Pay for lodges in cash (NPR) — ATMs end at Arughat. Cost shown is per day for lodge plus three meals.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse, Machha Khola (~£4–6)

• →Trek ~14km through forest along the Budhi Gandaki River
• →Village tea stops

~7 hours up the valley past Dobhan and Khorlabesi, with the optional detour to the Tatopani hot springs near Khorlabesi (small entry fee, ~100 NPR) for a soak. Cross the bridge to Jagat, the gateway to the restricted area where your guide shows the RAP at the checkpost.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse, Jagat (~£4–6)

• →Trek ~16km
• →Tatopani hot springs soak
• →Restricted-area checkpost at Jagat

A dramatic day: steep climbs, the wide Budhi Gandaki riverbed, suspension bridges and views of Shringi Himal. Pass through Philim, Ekle Bhatti and Pewa before reaching Deng (~7–8 hours). Deng is the last Hindu village before the Tibetan-Buddhist upper valley.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse, Deng (~£4–6)

• →Trek ~18km via Philim and Pewa
• →Shringi Himal viewpoints
• →Suspension bridges

~6–7 hours climbing through pine and rhododendron forest into increasingly Tibetan-influenced villages. Optional 2-hour round-trip detour to the traditional village of Prok. Namrung has a checkpoint and a small monastery worth a look before dinner.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse, Namrung (~£5–7)

• →Trek ~16km
• →Optional side trip to Prok village
• →Namrung monastery

Climb past Lho village for your first big Manaslu views, then continue to Samagaun (~6–7 hours). Weather permitting, the Pungen Glacier viewpoint and Manaslu's east face are spectacular. Lodges here are colder and pricier — expect to pay more per night.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse, Samagaun (~£6–9)

• →Trek ~15km
• →Lho village and Ribung Gompa
• →Pungen Glacier and Manaslu views

Rest day at ~3,500m to help acclimatisation. Choose a full-day trek to Manaslu Base Camp (4,750m, 6–7 hours return) or the easier half-day to Birendra Tal (glacial lake) and the glacier viewpoint. Hydrate, eat well and sleep low before heading higher.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse, Samagaun (~£6–9)

• →Manaslu Base Camp day hike (optional)
• →Birendra Tal glacial lake
• →Glacier viewpoint

A short but altitude-heavy ~4-hour walk to Samdo (~3,860m), with Manaslu filling the skyline. Take it slowly. In the afternoon, wander the Tibetan-style village and the old trade route toward the Tibetan border, and check opening hours of the Samdo checkpost.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse, Samdo (~£6–9)

• →Trek ~8km to Samdo
• →Village wander and monastery
• →Border trade route views

Climb steadily to Larkya Bazaar and on to Dharamsala / Larkya Phedi (~4,460m), roughly 4 hours. This is the highest, coldest and most basic lodging of the trek — book early in the day via your guide, bring a warm sleeping bag and expect cramped dorm-style rooms. Eat and turn in early for the pass.

🚌On foot

🛏Basic teahouse dorm, Dharamsala (~£5–8)

• →Trek ~8km to Larkya Phedi
• →Larkya Bazaar
• →Prep for pass crossing

Start before dawn for the big day: a steady climb to Larkya La (5,106m) in about 4–5 hours, with views of Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Gyaji Kung and Annapurna II. Then a long, knee-taxing 5–6 hour descent to Bhimthang. Go at your own pace, watch for altitude symptoms, and keep your guide close on the glacier sections. Estimated 8–10 hours total.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse, Bhimthang (~£5–7)

• →Cross Larkya La Pass at 5,106m
• →Himalayan panorama incl. Annapurna II
• →Long descent to Bhimthang

A relaxed, mostly downhill 6–7 hour walk beside the Dudh Khola through Tilje and Thonje into the Annapurna region, with mani walls and pine forest along the way. Dharapani is on the main Annapurna circuit road and has guesthouses with hot showers and electricity.

🚌On foot

🛏Guesthouse, Dharapani (~£5–8)

• →Trek ~18km via Tilje and Thonje
• →Mani walls and Buddhist villages
• →Arrive in Dharapani

Take a shared jeep or local bus from Dharapani to Besisahar (~4 hours, ~700–1,000 NPR), then a tourist or local bus onward to Kathmandu (~5–6 hours, ~£6–10). Or arrange a shared jeep all the way (~£25–35) to save time. Back in Thamel for a hot shower, a proper meal and a celebratory beer.

🚌Shared jeep Dharapani–Besisahar ~£5 then bus ~£8; or direct shared jeep ~£30

🛏Thamel guesthouse, private room (~£10–14)

• →Shared jeep/bus to Besisahar
• →Bus to Kathmandu
• →Evening in Thamel

Morning for last-minute souvenirs — thangka shops near Boudhanath, or a lazy breakfast in Thamel — then take an airport taxi for your flight home. If you have time, a quick hop to Boudhanath stupa or Swayambhunath is worth it.

🚌Airport taxi ~£8

• →Souvenir shopping
• →Optional Boudhanath or Swayambhunath visit
• →Airport transfer