Welcome to Kathmandu — Nepal's ancient, vibrant capital and the gateway to the Himalayas! A TrekkingKey representative will be waiting to greet you at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer you to your hotel in the heart of Thamel. This extraordinary medieval city — with its UNESCO World Heritage temples, incense-scented alleys, and the constant energy of travellers from across the globe — is the perfect introduction to your Manaslu adventure. Spend the afternoon resting or exploring Thamel's lively trekking shops, restaurants, and cultural landmarks. In the evening, your TrekkingKey trek leader will brief you on the full itinerary, permits, safety protocols, and gear requirements. End the night with a traditional Nepali welcome dinner.

Accommodation: 3-Star Hotel  |  Meals: Welcome Dinner

After breakfast, your TrekkingKey team accompanies you on a guided tour of Kathmandu Valley's most significant heritage sites. Begin at Swayambhunath Stupa — the famous 'Monkey Temple' perched atop a hilltop offering sweeping panoramas of the entire Kathmandu Valley. Continue to the sacred Hindu pilgrimage site of Pashupatinath Temple on the banks of the Bagmati River — one of the holiest Shiva temples in the world — and then to the magnificent Boudhanath Stupa, one of the largest stupas in Asia and the spiritual heart of Kathmandu's Tibetan Buddhist community. If time allows, explore the medieval durbar squares of Basantapur, Patan, or Bhaktapur. In the afternoon, your TrekkingKey guide will assist with any last-minute equipment needs in Thamel, confirm all Manaslu restricted area permits, and prepare you fully for tomorrow's departure.

Accommodation: 3-Star Hotel  |  Meals: Breakfast

An early start as your TrekkingKey private jeep departs Kathmandu heading northwest along the Prithvi Highway. The scenic drive winds through the green hills of central Nepal, following the Trishuli River through charming Nepalese highway towns — Malekhu, Kurintar, Dhading — before turning north towards Arughat and the Budhi Gandaki valley. The mountain landscape progressively opens up as you approach the Manaslu region — distant views of Ganesh Himal and the ice-clad mass of Manaslu itself begin to appear on the northern horizon. After navigating the winding mountain roads beyond Soti Khola, the jeep reaches Machhakhola — your trailhead village — in the early evening. Settle into your teahouse, meet your porter crew, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the first day of trekking tomorrow.

Drive: ~8–9 hrs  |  Accommodation: Teahouse  |  Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

The first day of trekking plunges you immediately into the wild heart of the Budhi Gandaki gorge. From Machhakhola, cross the river on a suspension bridge and begin the gradual climb through forest and terraced farmland. The trail passes through the natural hot spring village of Tatopani — a wonderful spot for sore legs — before the gorge narrows dramatically and the path becomes more challenging. Cross more suspension bridges over the roaring river, pass through the riverside settlement of Doban, and continue north through increasingly dense forest to the village of Jagat. This checkpoint village marks the entry point into the Manaslu Restricted Area — your TrekkingKey guide completes permit formalities with the local authorities. Jagat was badly damaged in the 2015 earthquake but has been beautifully rebuilt; the warm hospitality of its people, dressed in traditional attire and engaged in rural daily life, makes for a wonderful first evening on the trail.

Walking: ~20km / 6–7 hrs  |  Accommodation: Teahouse  |  Meals: All included

Continuing deeper into the Budhi Gandaki gorge, today's trail passes through some of the most spectacular riverside scenery of the entire lower circuit. Cross suspension bridges over the thundering river, traverse narrow cliff-side paths, and walk through dense stands of pine and rhododendron. The trail passes through Filim — a large Gurung village where Buddhist stupas, chortens, and prayer flags mark the transition into the predominantly Tibetan Buddhist cultural zone. After a well-earned lunch stop, the path continues through lush subtropical forest with dramatic mountain views beginning to appear ahead. The village of Deng, perched on a terraced hillside, rewards the day's effort with its warm teahouses and the first truly outstanding views of the snow-capped peaks of the Manaslu massif rising to the north.

Walking: ~20km / 6–7 hrs  |  Accommodation: Teahouse  |  Meals: All included

Today the trail begins to climb more consistently as you enter the upper reaches of the Budhi Gandaki valley. From Deng, the path winds through a series of small Tibetan-influenced settlements, crossing log bridges, passing isolated watermills, and traversing basalt rock formations draped with prayer flags. Cross the Serang Khola and navigate the narrow valley walls before the landscape opens into the broader upper valley. Pass through the settlement of Ghap, where mani walls and ancient chortens signal the deepening Tibetan Buddhist cultural influence, and continue through beautiful rhododendron and pine forest before reaching Namrung. This remarkable Tibetan village serves as the gateway to Upper Nupri — a significant cultural entry point where the architecture, dress, and way of life are unmistakably Tibetan. A full circuit of mani walls and prayer wheels around the village is a fitting end to a rewarding day.

Walking: ~19km / 6–7 hrs  |  Accommodation: Teahouse  |  Meals: All included

A shorter but deeply rewarding day that brings the extraordinary scale of Mount Manaslu into full, breathtaking view for the first time. From Namrung, the trail climbs along the valley hillside past ancient mani stone walls to reach the ridge above the Pungen Glacier, where the first truly close-up panoramas of Peak 29 (Ngadi Chuli), the Pungen Glacier's lateral moraine, and the sweeping icefields of Manaslu itself appear. The sight stops every trekker in their tracks. Continue to the beautiful village of Lho — home to a significant Gompa where over 150 children receive primary education alongside Buddhist philosophy. The monastery hilltop provides what many trekkers describe as the single finest view of Mount Manaslu available anywhere on the circuit — particularly magnificent at sunrise when Manaslu's twin 'fishtail' summits glow in the morning light. An afternoon of cultural exploration and rest prepares you for the higher altitudes ahead.

Walking: ~11km / 4–5 hrs  |  Accommodation: Teahouse  |  Meals: All included

A memorable day of trekking through the wide upper valley with increasingly grand mountain scenery on all sides. From Lho, descend to the Damodar Khola and cross into the broad upper valley, with magnificent views of Ganesh Himal and Himalchuli appearing to the south. Pass through the picturesque village of Shyala before crossing the Numla Khola suspension bridge and climbing gradually through grassy slopes to the Pungyen Gompa viewpoint — offering one of the finest panoramas of Manaslu's south face and the Pungyen Glacier. The trail then descends gently into the wide, open valley of Samagaun — one of the most beautiful and culturally significant villages on the entire Manaslu Circuit. This large, prosperous Tibetan Buddhist community is home to the revered Kargya Chholing Monastery and the Labrang Gompa, where expedition teams receive puja blessings before their Manaslu summit attempts. A stunning and emotionally rich arrival.

Walking: ~8km / 4–5 hrs  |  Accommodation: Teahouse  |  Meals: All included

A full rest and acclimatization day at Samagaun — an essential and genuinely enjoyable part of TrekkingKey's Manaslu itinerary before the higher altitude sections ahead. The day is anything but idle. After breakfast, set out on a rewarding acclimatization hike towards the Manaslu Base Camp direction or up to the Pungyen Gompa for stunning glacier and mountain views. Alternatively, explore Samagaun's cultural treasures: the Labrang Gompa and Kargya Chholing Monastery are both extraordinary examples of Tibetan Buddhist architecture and spiritual life. The view of Mount Manaslu (8,163m) from the moraine ridge above the village is arguably the most spectacular mountain panorama on the entire circuit. The surrounding juniper hillsides, rhododendron forest, grassy moorland, and flat bouldery river valley offer varied short walks. Evening brings the opportunity to witness the remarkable puja ceremony conducted by monks for any expedition teams preparing for their Manaslu summit attempt — a genuinely moving cultural experience.

Walking: 1–4 hrs (acclimatization hike)  |  Accommodation: Teahouse  |  Meals: All included

A shorter but altitude-gaining day as the trail leaves Samagaun and continues north towards the high-altitude terrain approaching the Tibetan border. Descend to the Budhi Gandaki along the base camp trail before crossing a wooden bridge and climbing steeply to a ridge with sweeping views across the barren, high-altitude landscape. The terrain becomes noticeably more austere here — the subtropical forests of the lower valley are a distant memory, replaced by wide open yak pastures, rocky moraines, and the immense white wall of Samdo Peak ahead. The views of Dharamsala, Manaslu, and the Siachen Glacier are simply magnificent. Samdo itself is a small but welcoming village that once served as an important waypoint on the ancient trans-Himalayan salt caravan trade route between Nepal and Tibet. The villagers maintain their traditional Tibetan Buddhist practices and lifestyle in this remote, high-altitude environment — a profound cultural encounter on the edge of the Tibetan plateau.

Walking: ~8km / 4–5 hrs  |  Accommodation: Teahouse  |  Meals: All included

A short but important altitude-gain day that takes you to the highest teahouse camp on the entire Manaslu Circuit — Dharamsala (also called Larkya Phedi) — in preparation for tomorrow's Larkya La Pass crossing. From Samdo, cross the Budhi Gandaki River and begin climbing through barren high-altitude terrain and the Larkya Bazaar ruins before ascending through the broad Pana Danda valley. Grassy slopes give way to glacial moraine as the trail climbs towards the Syacha Khola Valley, with extraordinary views of the Syacha Glacier opening up to the north. The final approach to Dharamsala crosses the terminal moraine of the Larkya Glacier, with the dramatic twin forms of Larke and Naike peaks guarding the high pass visible above. Arrive at Dharamsala in the early afternoon — rest, hydrate thoroughly, eat a nutritious dinner, and set your alarms early. Tomorrow is the biggest day of the entire trek.

Walking: ~7km / 3–4 hrs  |  Accommodation: Teahouse  |  Meals: All included

The crown jewel of the entire Manaslu Circuit Trek — the day every trekker will remember for a lifetime. Rise well before dawn (typically 4:00–5:00 AM) to begin the long ascent to Larkya La Pass (5,106m) in the pre-dawn darkness, headlamps lighting the way across glacial moraine, frozen lakes, and ice-dusted rocky terrain. The ascent gains altitude steadily and demands focused effort, strong legs, and a determined mindset. As the sun rises, the high Himalayan panorama around you becomes progressively more extraordinary. At the summit of Larkya La, a breathtaking 360-degree panorama explodes in every direction: the Himlung Pyramid (7,126m), Cheo Himal (6,820m), Kang Guru (6,981m), Gyaji Kung, and the vast ice-fields of Manaslu's northern flanks — and to the south, the first magnificent view of Annapurna II (7,937m). After savouring this hard-earned summit moment, the long descent to Bimthang begins — a dramatic drop of over 1,500 metres through glacial valleys, Dingboche Kharka pastures, and finally the gorgeous high-altitude meadows surrounding Bimthang village. An unforgettable, demanding, triumphant day.

Walking: ~24km / 8–9 hrs  |  Accommodation: Teahouse  |  Meals: All included

After the extraordinary exertion of yesterday's Larkya La crossing, today's long descent from Bimthang is both a physical recovery and a feast for the eyes as the Himalayan landscape transitions from glacial high country back to lush mid-mountain forest. From Bimthang, the trail crosses stony glacial terrain and moraine before descending into the dense forest of the lower valley — with magnificent views of Manaslu, Larke, Nadi, and Chuli Himal framing every turn. Pass through Sangura Kharka and Hompuk before reaching the charming village of Karcher, then continue through terraced fields and the beautiful stone-paved trails of Tilje and Gho. The final descent through the Marsyangdi River valley brings you to the chorten-arched gateway of Thonje, through the police checkpoint, and down to Dharapani — a key junction village of the Annapurna Circuit where you rejoin the main trail network. A cold drink and a warm meal at the teahouse marks the completion of the Manaslu circuit itself — a truly historic achievement.

Walking: ~21km / 7–8 hrs  |  Accommodation: Teahouse  |  Meals: All included

Your TrekkingKey private jeep is waiting in Dharapani for the long but scenic drive back to Kathmandu. The route follows the Marsyangdi River south to Besishahar, then joins the paved Prithvi Highway for the remainder of the journey through the rolling hills and river valleys of central Nepal. The changing landscape — from steep mountain gorges to terraced farmland to the busy towns of the Kathmandu Valley — provides a wonderful final contrast to the wilderness you have just traversed. Arrive in Kathmandu by evening and transfer to your hotel for a long-awaited hot shower and comfortable bed. In the evening, TrekkingKey hosts a celebratory farewell dinner at one of Kathmandu's finest Nepali restaurants — a fitting and joyful conclusion to 15 extraordinary days. Raise a glass to the Larkya La, to Mount Manaslu's ice-draped summit, and to the remarkable people of the Budhi Gandaki valley.

Drive: ~9–10 hrs  |  Accommodation: 3-Star Hotel  |  Meals: Breakfast + Farewell Dinner

Your final morning in Nepal. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and take time for last-minute souvenir shopping in Thamel — handmade Tibetan crafts, singing bowls, thangka paintings, yak wool products, and Nepalese handicrafts make perfect gifts. TrekkingKey will transfer you to Tribhuvan International Airport with plenty of time before your onward flight. We say farewell with warm hearts, outstanding memories, and the knowledge that you have completed one of the Himalayas' most demanding, rewarding, and culturally rich circuit treks.

Meals: Breakfast  |  Airport Transfer Included

Transport Note: The drive between Kathmandu and Machhakhola / Dharapani passes through mountain roads that can be subject to seasonal conditions and occasional landslides. TrekkingKey recommends a buffer day in Kathmandu at the end of your trip. All transport is arranged by TrekkingKey in comfortable private jeeps.