Rapid Manaslu Circuit Trek - 9 Days

Your journey starts early in the morning with a long but scenic drive from Kathmandu. After reaching Arughat and Soti Khola, the road becomes rough and bumpy, giving you the real feeling of adventure. You’ll pass waterfalls, suspension bridges, and local settlements along the Budhi Gandaki River. By evening, you’ll finally reach Jagat, a beautiful stone-paved village that marks the official entrance to the Manaslu region.

The trek begins with gradual climbs and descents through traditional villages and forest trails. You’ll walk along narrow paths above the Budhi Gandaki River, crossing several suspension bridges on the way. The trail passes through villages like Salleri, Philim, and Ekle Bhatti, where you can see local Gurung culture and mountain lifestyles. As you move higher, the valley becomes narrower and more dramatic with cliffs and waterfalls surrounding the trail. After crossing bamboo forests and riverside paths, you’ll slowly reach Deng, a peaceful village with a more Tibetan-influenced culture and atmosphere.

Today, the scenery changes noticeably as you enter the upper Manaslu region. You’ll walk through villages like Bihi Phedi and Ghap, where Tibetan culture becomes stronger. Along the way, you can enjoy beautiful views of the river valleys, waterfalls, and distant snowy peaks. The path is peaceful with forests and mountain air surrounding you most of the day. As you reach Namrung, the mountain views begin opening up, and on clear days, you can already see impressive Himalayan peaks in the distance.

This is one of the most scenic days of the trek. The trail gradually climbs through beautiful villages like Lho, where you’ll get stunning views of Mount Manaslu and nearby peaks. After Lho, the trail continues toward Shyala, a small settlement located in a wide open valley completely surrounded by snow-covered mountains. From here, the panoramic views of Himal Chuli, Peak 29, and Manaslu are absolutely breathtaking, especially during sunset.

The day starts with a beautiful side trip to Pungen Gumba, a peaceful monastery located beneath the massive glaciers of Manaslu. The trail to the monastery offers incredible close-up views of the mountains, glaciers, and rocky landscapes. After spending some time enjoying the scenery, you’ll return to the main trail and continue toward Sama Gaon. The walk is shorter and easier compared to previous days, passing yak pastures and traditional Tibetan-style homes. Sama Gaon is one of the largest villages in the region and an important acclimatization stop with amazing mountain surroundings.

Today, you move into the high alpine region. The trail gradually climbs as it follows the valley toward the base of Larkya La Pass. You’ll pass small settlements and yak grazing areas before reaching Dharamshala, also known as Larkya Phedi. The altitude makes the trek more challenging, so walking slowly and staying hydrated is important. By the time you reach Dharamshala, you’ll already feel close to the high pass adventure waiting the next morning.

This is the longest and most challenging day of the trek, but also the most rewarding. You’ll start very early in the morning, before sunrise to cross Larkya La Pass safely. At the top of the pass, colorful prayer flags flutter in the wind while massive Himalayan peaks surround you in every direction. After spending some time enjoying the achievement and taking photos, the trail descends steeply through snowy and rocky terrain toward Bhimtang.