Day 01 · Travel · 930 m
Drive to Machha Khola
A long, scenic drive from Kathmandu along the Budhi Gandaki river to the trailhead.
- O₂ 89% of sea level
- Day 1 of 12
Manaslu Conservation Area · 28.23° N · 84.87° E
Manaslu Circuit
The great circuit around the world's eighth highest mountain - a restricted-area trail through Tibetan-influenced villages, culminating in the long, unforgettable crossing of the Larkya La.
restrictedculturalclassic12 days5,106 mChallenging
Begin the ascentDay 02 · Trek · 1,340 m
Machha Khola to Jagat
Enter the restricted Manaslu Conservation Area, following the gorge past waterfalls and hot springs.
- +410 m gained today
- O₂ 85% of sea level
- Day 2 of 12
Day 03 · Trek · 1,860 m
Jagat to Deng
The valley narrows and the culture shifts - mani walls and prayer wheels mark the way.
- +520 m gained today
- O₂ 80% of sea level
- Day 3 of 12
Day 04 · Trek · 2,630 m
Deng to Namrung
Climb through fir forest as the first views of Manaslu appear up the valley.
- +770 m gained today
- O₂ 73% of sea level
- Day 4 of 12
Day 05 · Trek · 3,530 m
Namrung to Samagaon
Pass Lho's ribbon monastery and walk straight into the amphitheater of Manaslu's east face.
- +900 m gained today
- O₂ 65% of sea level
- Day 5 of 12
Day 06 · Acclimatization · 4,040 m
Acclimatization in Samagaon
Hike toward Pungyen Gompa or Manaslu Base Camp, then rest in one of the Khumbu's most beautiful villages.
- +510 m gained today
- O₂ 61% of sea level
- Day 6 of 12
Day 07 · Trek · 3,860 m
Samagaon to Samdo
A short walk to the last village before the pass, a Tibetan refugee settlement of yak herders.
- O₂ 62% of sea level
- Day 7 of 12
Day 08 · Trek · 4,460 m
Samdo to Dharamsala
Climb to the stone shelters of Larkya Phedi beneath the glacier. Early night - tomorrow is the big one.
- +600 m gained today
- O₂ 57% of sea level
- Day 8 of 12
Day 09 · High point · 3,720 m
Cross the Larkya La to Bimthang
Start before dawn for the long climb to the prayer-flagged pass (5,106m), with Himlung, Cheo and Annapurna II spread before you - then descend to green Bimthang.
- O₂ 63% of sea level
- Day 9 of 12
Day 10 · Trek · 2,500 m
Bimthang to gowa
Drop through rhododendron and pine back into the world of trees and warmth.
- O₂ 74% of sea level
- Day 10 of 12
Day 11 · Trek · 760 m
Gowa to Dharapani, drive to Besisahar
Join the Annapurna Circuit trail briefly, then jeep down the Marsyangdi valley.
- O₂ 91% of sea level
- Day 11 of 12
Day 12 · Travel · 1,400 m
Drive to Kathmandu
Return to the capital with legs that have circled an eight-thousander.
- +640 m gained today
- O₂ 84% of sea level
- Day 12 of 12
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors · CC BY-SA
Elevation
How the days climb.
Hover the profile to see each day - conservative ascent, acclimatization built in.
The ledger
The climb, in numbers.
Everything about this route, derived from the itinerary - from the metres you gain to the oxygen you'll be breathing at the top.
12Days on the trail
4,460 mHigh point
4,350 mTotal climb
ChallengingDifficulty
2–10Group size
Mar–May · Sep–NovBest season
57%Oxygen at the top
Day 8High-point day
Thinner air, day by day.
Oxygen falls with altitude. You start at 91% of sea level and finish at 57% at the high point - which is why every ascent profile here is conservative, with rest days built in.
- Best trekked Mar–May
- Best trekked Sep–Nov
TrekAcclimatizationTravelHigh point
Scenes
What a Manaslu Conservation Area day looks like.
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Manaslu Circuit, 12 days - shaped around you.
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