🏔️ Just Completed Manaslu Circuit Trek (April 9–23, 2026) — Full Trip Report, Day-by-Day Itinerary, Costs & Honest Tips Flair: Trip Report | Nepal | High Altitude Trekking Completed the Manaslu Circuit Trek in 15 days (April 9–23, 2026). Crossed Larke Pass at 5,106m. Visited 400-year-old monasteries, glacier lakes, natural hot springs & Tibetan villages. One of the best and most challenging treks in Nepal. Here's everything you need to know. Why Manaslu Over Everest Base Camp or Annapurna? Honest answer — fewer crowds, more raw beauty, deeper culture. The Manaslu region only opened to foreign trekkers in 1992. It still feels untouched. You walk through authentic Tibetan Buddhist villages, see Mt. Manaslu (8,163m — world's 8th highest) up close, and cross a glacier pass at 5,106m — all without the Instagram crowd of EBC or Annapurna Circuit. If you want real Nepal, this is it. 📋 Quick Trek Stats Detail Info 🗓️ Duration 15 Days / 14 Nights 📅 Dates April 9–23, 2026 🏔️ Highest Point Larke Pass — 5,106m 🌍 Main Peak Mt. Manaslu — 8,163m 🥾 Total Distance ~177 km 🌡️ Pass Temperature Below 0°C 🏕️ Nights on Trail 12 🚶 Daily Average 10–22 km 💪 Difficulty Strenuous 🌿 Conservation Area UNESCO Manaslu Conservation Area 🗓️ Complete Day-by-Day Itinerary Day 1 — Thu, Apr 9 | Kathmandu (1,337m) → Machha Khola (930m) Drive: Kathmandu → Arughat → Soti Khola → Machha Khola Distance: ~160 km | Time: 8–9 hrs Long drive but exciting. Roads get rough after Arughat. Jeep recommended over bus. Stay: Machha Khola teahouse Day 2 — Fri, Apr 10 | Machha Khola → Jagat (1,340m) Route: Machha Khola → Tatopani → Dobhan → Yaru → Jagat Distance: 22 km | Time: 6–7 hrs ♨️ Tatopani natural hot spring is on this route — soak your feet, it's worth it. Trail follows the Budhi Gandaki River the whole way. Beautiful. Stay: Jagat teahouse Day 3 — Sat, Apr 11 | Jagat → Deng (1,860m) Route: Jagat → Philim → Ekle Bhatti → Nyak → Deng Distance: 20 km | Time: 6–7 hrs Checkpoint at Jagat — permits checked here. Have your MCAP + TIMS ready. Steep ups and downs. Narrow trail sections. Physically demanding day. Stay: Deng teahouse Day 4 — Sun, Apr 12 | Deng → Namrung (2,660m) Route: Deng → Rana → Bihi → Ghap → Namrung Distance: 19 km | Time: 6 hrs Tibetan culture becomes very visible from here — mani walls, prayer flags, chortens. Serang Gompa near Bihi — quiet monastery, very few tourists visit. Stay: Namrung teahouse Day 5 — Mon, Apr 13 | Namrung → Lho (3,180m) Route: Namrung → Lihi → Sho → Lho Distance: 11 km | Time: 4–5 hrs ⭐ Best Manaslu panorama of the entire trek is from Lho Village. Hinang Gompa above Lho village — short hike, incredible views. Shorter day. Use the afternoon to rest and acclimatize. Stay: Lho teahouse Day 6 — Tue, Apr 14 | Lho → Samagaon (3,530m) Route: Lho → Shyala → Samagaon Distance: 8 km | Time: 3–4 hrs Short and easy day. Samagaon is a proper Tibetan village. Ribung Gompa — must visit. 400-year-old monastery, stunning Manaslu backdrop. Stay: Samagaon teahouse Day 7 — Wed, Apr 15 | Acclimatization Day — Samagaon (3,530m) Two options: Option A — Birendra Lake (3,460m) 2–3 hrs round trip Beautiful glacier lake, turquoise water, religious significance Easy hike, great for acclimatization Option B — Manaslu Base Camp (4,500m) 6–7 hrs round trip Closest you get to Mt. Manaslu (8,163m) Challenging but absolutely worth it Dudh Pokhari sacred lake near base camp Stay: Samagaon teahouse Day 8 — Thu, Apr 16 | Samagaon → Samdo (3,860m) Route: Samagaon → Kermo Kharka → Samdo Distance: 9 km | Time: 3–4 hrs Samdo sits very close to the Tibet border. Wind gets strong from here. Layers needed. Stay: Samdo teahouse Day 9 — Fri, Apr 17 | Samdo → Dharamsala / High Camp (4,460m) Route: Samdo → Larke Phedi → Dharamsala Distance: 7 km | Time: 3–4 hrs Short day but altitude hits hard here. Sleep early. Drink lots of water. Tomorrow is the big day. Stay: Dharamsala High Camp (basic shelter, very cold) Day 10 — Sat, Apr 18 | ⭐ THE BIG DAY — Dharamsala → Larke Pass (5,106m) → Bhimtang (3,720m) Distance: 16 km | Time: 8–9 hrs Start: 4:00–5:00 AM (before wind picks up) Glacier trail, snow sections, steep ascent to pass Larke La Pass (5,106m) — prayer flags, 360° Himalayan views, pure euphoria Long descent to Bhimtang — knees will feel it Stay: Bhimtang teahouse This is the hardest and most rewarding day of the entire trek. Start early, go slow, stay together. Day 11 — Sun, Apr 19 | Bhimtang → Dharapani (1,960m) Route: Bhimtang → Karche → Tilche → Dharapani Distance: 18 km | Time: 6–7 hrs Long descent. Green forest returns. Temperature rises. Beautiful contrast — snow peaks + green valleys at Bhimtang. Stay: Dharapani teahouse Day 12 — Mon, Apr 20 | Dharapani → Jagat → Syange Route: Dharapani → Tal → Chamje → Jagat → Syange Distance: 16 km | Time: 5–6 hrs Now on the Annapurna Circuit trail. More teahouses, more trekkers. Stay: Syange teahouse Day 13 — Tue, Apr 21 | Syange → Besisahar → Kathmandu Drive: Syange → Besisahar (3 hrs) → Kathmandu (6–7 hrs) Long day but you're going home! 🥹 Stay: Kathmandu hotel Day 14 — Wed, Apr 22 | Rest / Buffer Day — Kathmandu Shopping at Thamel, sightseeing, or just rest. Good day to visit Boudhanath Stupa or Pashupatinath Temple. Day 15 — Thu, Apr 23 | Departure Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport. 🛕 Top Highlights — Don't Miss These Monasteries (Gompas) Ribung Gompa Samagaon 400 yrs old, best Manaslu backdrop Pungyen Gompa Above Samagaon Closest Manaslu Glacier view Serang Gompa Bihi (Deng area) Quiet, few tourists, peaceful Hinang Gompa Lho Village Best panoramic Manaslu view Lakes Birendra Lake Samagaon Glacier lake, turquoise water Dudh Pokhari Near Base Camp Sacred, religious significance Pungyen Glacier Lakes Pungyen Gompa Glacial meltwater lakes ⚠️ Hardest Sections — Be Prepared Jagat → Deng — Very steep ups and downs, narrow trail Namrung → Lho → Samagaun — Long, continuous altitude gain Samdo → Dharamsala — Altitude effect begins, cold wind Dharamsala → Larke Pass → Bhimtang — Hardest day. 8–9 hrs. Snow, glacier, strong wind, 5,106m 📝 Permits Required ✅ MCAP — Manaslu Conservation Area Permit ✅ TIMS Card — Trekkers' Information Management System ✅ Manaslu Restricted Area Permit ⚠️ Manaslu is a restricted zone — you MUST go with a licensed guide 💡 Honest Tips From the Trail Start Larke Pass at 4–5 AM. Wind gets dangerous after 10 AM. Acclimatize properly at Samagaon. Don't skip Day 7. Carry cash. No ATMs after Arughat. Carry enough Nepali Rupees. Layer up. Temperature drops below 0°C above 4,000m at night. Hire a local guide. Required by law AND they know the trail perfectly. Drink 3–4 liters of water daily at high altitude. Diamox — consult your doctor before the trek if prone to altitude sickness. Best seasons: March–May & September–November. April is perfect — stable weather, clear skies, rhododendrons in bloom. ❓ Happy to Answer Any Questions Drop your questions below 👇 Permit costs Teahouse quality Packing list Guide/porter hiring Budget breakdown Weather conditions If this helped you, please upvote so others planning Manaslu can find it! 🙏 Posted by a trekker who just returned from the trail — April 23, 2026