Manaslu Beyul *private

* 2025 for the Outdoor Club of Victoria

Steep-sided gorges with misty waterfalls and soaring mountains with lively villages dotted throughout, the Manaslu Circuit is one of the Himalaya's best treks. We make it the very best by getting off the beaten track to explore villages and gompas for some immersive culture. From colourful flowers and vegetable garden villages to the alpine with smiling Tibetan faces, yak caravans and endless jawdropping Himalayan panoramas, this really is once in a lifetime Nepal experience.

Most Manaslu trek itineraries are tight (12 days!) and rushed whereas our certainly isn't, we savour the region and have some weather flexibility built in and we've also broken up a couple of the usual longer days too.

The lodges are convenient and mostly better than ever. Some places have attached toilets and/or a small cottage setup and so this is a lodge trek rather than camping. We also take along a few luxuries though, french press coffee and additional quality sauces.

And Beyul? This is a once hidden refuge (with more to be discovered) where everything lives in harmony. Here is a great intro by Stuart Butler on the BBC website.

Although we are trekking during the peak season, we have seven nights truly off the main circuit and another couple of nights at what are more usually lunch stops, so we are off the beaten track or out of sync for a substantial section of the trek, and this is partly why I rate this as the best three to four week trek in Nepal. I don't say this lightly.

The relative warmth is another feature. All our off trail overnights are still in forested areas, rather than the much cooler alpine areas. The only cold nights are perhaps at Sama and the next two nights where we are above 3800m as we cross the pass. Once over, even Bimtang is not normally a cold place.

This is the ultimate Manaslu trek.

Highlights

+ steep gorges and high waterfalls

+ endless spectacular mountain views

+ exploratory day/side trips

+ diverse scenery and cultures

+ stunning Larkya La crossing

+ gompas galore

+ several shorter trek days

+ no domestic flights

Travel basics

30 day e-visa before/on arrival

then pay USD50 visa fee on arrival

we handle all other permits & entry fees

trek gear discussion

Grading

max altitude 5416m

max sleeping altitude 4460m

strenuous trekking

insurance: hiking/trekking

understand your health risks

city dengue season: Aug, Sept, October

2025 details

status: full

11 Oct-8 Nov, 29 days AUD4980

trip deposit: AUD780

Start and end in Kathmandu, airport code KTM

Max 9 bookings

extra hotel nights AUD110/125

single supplement for 4 nights hotels AUD360

no lodge single supplement available

Leader

Bire Tamang

Arrival hotel

Hotel Thamel House/Nepali Ghar

Our service includes

airport transfers

twinshare hotels with breakfast:

4 nights Kathmandu

half day Kathmandu sightseeing

group transportation by private vehicle

entrance fees and permits as needed

Kathmandu group dinner

Lodge trek includes

all meals and a hot drink

twinshare rooms

porterage (12kg)

french press coffee

assorted sauces

Our qualified guide carries

pulse oximeter

water filter (saves you buying bottles!)

first aid kit including altitude meds & antibiotics

first aid book

Our service excludes

insurance, Nepal visa, other meals in Kathmandu

additional hotel nights due to delays

international flights, equipment rental, alcohol, bottled water and soft drinks, trek showers, laundry, tipping and other items of a personal nature

Tips & extra cash

allow approx $50 per day for Kathmandu meals

we suggest 5% of the trip cost per trekker for the crew tips pool

Day 0 - early arrival

Arrive early to recover from long flights, shop and to sightsee.

Day 1 - Saturday 11 October 2025 - Arrive Kathmandu

We meet you at Kathmandu airport, transfer to the hotel and now you can relax. If everyone has arrived then we have a briefing this evening.

2 - Kathmandu 1350m

The office gets the permits today while you have a morning sightseeing. Alternatively, we have a briefing this evening. Perhaps dinner at Bauddha?

3 - drive Barpak 2000m

Starting early, after a bumpy day of driving, we reach this village that few trekkers visit now. We stay in a simple guesthouse with attached bathrooms.

4 - drive Mamche, trek Singla 2285m 5-6 hrs

We begin with a rough 1 hour jeep drive up to the Mamche viewpoint, hopefully beating the clouds for a Himalayan panorama with the Manaslu and Ganesh peaks. Then the trekking begins through villages that see few trekkers. Perhaps an early lunch at Laprak, fuel for the coming strenuous hill and descents.

5 - trek Korla Besi 890m 4-5 hrs

Starting early, we descend and descend, use a trekking pole or two to be kind to your knees. We probably reach our guesthouse for lunch, so a shorter day's trekking, phew. It is steamy down here, reward yourself with a cold "sports recovery beverage" (beer).

6 - trek Salleri 1333m 7-8 hrs

Back on the main Manaslu Circuit, we start early and enjoy the shade, already out of sync with most groups. It is an action-packed day dodging a waterfall and crossing a side stream, then ducking off the jeep track to pass through pleasant villages on the other side of the Budhi Gandaki. Admire the sheer valley walls. Most trekkers stop as busy Jagat, we continue another half an hour to quaint Salleri.

7 - trek Nyak / Pewa 1870m 5 hrs

We soon cross to the other side, leaving the rough, as yet undriveable road behind. We are partly in the shade as we pass through Philim and small settlements, crossing back only at the turnoff to the Tsum Valley. The real village of Nyak is a climb above the main trail so perhaps we stay at Pewa.

8-12 - Beyul

For this five day section, our itinerary is better not publicised although it is spectacular with broad vistas and mountain peaks, great primary forest, surprising trails, and one of the best experiences of the trek. We do have a rest day and should see some wildlife too!

13 - trek Lho 3180m

Back to the main trail, we stay at this lively, busy village.

14 - trek Shyala 3480m

Do wake early (5:30am or so) for the famed golden sunrise, conveniently watched from the lodge deck. Leaving, we climb to the gompa school and then it is only an hour to where we stay, so a day for some recovery while basking in the breathtaking mountain views. Alternatively (and we can split the team), trek up Pung Gyen 4030m to stay at the cute, basic teahouse there.

15 - trek Sama 3520m

On the main trail, Sama is less than an hour and a half away but don't miss the side trip to Pung Gyen with its in your face mountains (or alternatively stay there).

16 - rest Sama 3520m (/ trek Samdo 3875m)

As the many days trekking catch up with us, this can be a rest day, or check out Birendra Tal (Lake). Why not rest in Samdo instead? We are probably acclimatized enough that one night in cold Samdo or Larkya Bazar is enough and therefore a rest day in Sama might be more pleasant.

17 - trek Samdo 3875m / Larkya Bazar 3920m

This is a 3 hour walk but with the strenuous option of climbing up to Manaslu Base Camp (no lodge/teahouse or shop en route). Between Pung Gyen and Manaslu BC, I recommend Pung Gyen but if you have the energy, trek to both!

Samdo has an interesting history, an entire Tibetan village fled the Chinese invasion and settled here.

Most trek groups take a rest at Samdo and a few people trek up to one of the passes to Tibet, or at least try to get up there. They are strenuous day trips and I suggest Manaslu BC and Pung Gyen are better options.

18 - trek Dharmasala 4460m 3-4 hrs

We are really in alpine terrain and the mountain views continue. If you want to explore en route, take a packed lunch.

19 - trek Bimtang 3590m via Larkya La 5160m 8-9 hrs

Leaving early, the trail starts gently enough but is a long, tough and hugely rewarding day as we cross the pass.

20 - trek Gho / Karche

While many groups hammer out, we can take our time on the descent by staying en route, probably at Gho.

21 - trek Tilje, drive Manang 3500m

While people still trek the road bash to Manang, it is dusty and no fun being passed by motorbikes and jeeps. Instead, we have a bumpy jeep drive.

22 - rest Manang 3500m

Manang has comfortable lodges, some wifi and coffee machines. There is a tough but good day trip up to Kicho/Ice Lake.

23 - trek Ledar 4200m

It is 3-5 hours trekking so you can have a leisurely start. Since the team is acclimatized, it is possible to have a second day in Manang or stay at Ghusang or the lodge slightly off the main trail at Yak Kharka, both less frequented by trekkers.