Manaslu Circuit Trek

Arrive in Kathmandu and meet your Mantra Adventure guide. The Manaslu Circuit is Nepal's most spectacular restricted-area trek — a complete circuit of the world's eighth-highest mountain (8,163m) through remote Tibetan-influenced villages and over the dramatic Larkya La pass (5,106m). Special permits required; all arranged by Mantra Adventure. Welcome dinner. Meals: Dinner.

7–8 hour drive through the mid-hills to Machha Khola on the banks of the Budhi Gandaki River — the trailhead for the Manaslu Circuit. The river, which you will follow for most of the trek, is turquoise and powerful. Meals: All included.

Trek north up the Budhi Gandaki gorge — one of Nepal's most dramatic river gorges, cutting between sheer forested walls. The trail crosses the river multiple times on suspension bridges. Jagat marks the entry point to the restricted Manaslu Conservation Area. Permits checked here. Walking time: 6 hours. Meals: All included.

Continue through the gorge as it deepens and the subtropical vegetation begins to thin. Small farming villages cling to the steep banks. Deng sits at a widening of the valley with a Tibetan Buddhist monastery above the village. Walking time: 6 hours. Meals: All included.

The valley character changes dramatically as you ascend into the Tibetan Buddhist zone — prayer flags, mani walls, flat-roofed stone houses and the increasing presence of Tibetan cultural motifs replace the Hindu influences of the lower valley. Walking time: 6 hours. Meals: All included.

Trek to Sama Gaun — the largest village in the upper Budhi Gandaki valley — with stunning close-up views of Manaslu's north face beginning to emerge. The village has an important monastery and a community that maintains strong Tibetan cultural traditions. Walking time: 6 hours. Meals: All included.

Rest day with acclimatisation hike to either Pungyen Gompa (a beautiful monastery above the village with glacier views) or towards Manaslu Base Camp for a closer perspective on the world's eighth-highest mountain. Walking time: 4–5 hours. Meals: All included.

Short trek to Samdo — a small village at the base of the Larkya La approach, close to the Tibetan border. The high-altitude landscape is stark and beautiful, with glaciers visible in all directions. Walking time: 4 hours. Meals: All included.

Ascend to the final camp before the Larkya La pass at Dharmasala — a simple teahouse at 4,460 metres. Rest and prepare for the demanding pass crossing tomorrow. Walking time: 4 hours. Meals: All included.

The great day of the circuit. Pre-dawn start for the ascent to Larkya La — a high, wind-scoured pass at 5,106 metres with extraordinary views of Manaslu, Himlung, Cheo Himal and Annapurna II from the summit. The long descent to Bimthang through yak pastures and then forest is deeply satisfying. Walking time: 8–9 hours. Meals: All included.

Descend through birch and rhododendron forest, leaving the high-altitude world behind. The valley floor widens and the climate warms. Tilije, with apple orchards and a traditional Gurung market, marks the transition to the lower circuit. Walking time: 5 hours. Meals: All included.

Final trekking day to Dharapani where the circuit ends and the Annapurna Circuit trail begins. Drive back to Besisahar. Walking time: 2–3 hours. Meals: All included.

4–5 hour drive back to Kathmandu. Farewell dinner. Overnight: Kathmandu hotel. Meals: Breakfast, dinner.

Airport transfer for your international departure. The Manaslu Circuit — one of Nepal's last great wilderness treks — has given you an experience of raw Himalayan grandeur matched by very few routes on earth. Meals: Breakfast.