Manaslu region of Nepal which is the home of the world’s 8th tallest mountain is slowly becoming major pillar of Nepal Trekking industry. The charge is leading by the Manaslu Circuit Trek route where the numbers of trekkers are increasing every season. The presence of mountains, traditional Nubri culture, monasteries, diverse vegetation, and landscapes has made this trail enticing for all. So, today’s blog is simple. It is about finding out the Manaslu Circuit Trek Distance. The main purpose of publishing the day by day distance details is to provide authentic information to our readers who can plan for the trek. If you know the distance that you are traveling, then you can plan the trek pattern.
It is my immense pleasure to share the blog about the Manaslu Circuit Trek Distance. Please note that this blogger is originally from the Manaslu region of Nepal. On the way to the Machha Khola, there is a small town called Aarkhet which is about 7 kilometers from Aarughat. Yes, my village is Baseri which is about 20 minutes of walking away from Aarkhet. Therefore, the things that you find in this blog are real and authentic. There are many things which I have featured in the blog which was known to us especially the locals since ages.
Now, let’s find out more about each day’s total distance that you need to cover while on the Manaslu Circuit Trek journey.
The road distance between Kathmandu and Machha Khola is about 157 kilometers. The first activity is to reach the trail head of the Manaslu Circuit Trek. Earlier, trekkers had to start the trek from Aarughat Bazaar and then it shifted to Soti Khola. Finally, it is in the Machha Khola but some of the travelers have started to drive directly to Jagat instead of staying overnight in Machha Khola. Therefore, the scene of the Nepalese trekking keeps on evolving due to the construction of road. This drive is boon to the locals but it is slowly deteriorating the distance of the trekking route.
The distance between Machha Khola and Jagat is long which about 21 to 22 kilometers. However, it doesn’t take more hours to complete this section of the trekking. Majority of the trekking trail is on the road which makes it easier for trekkers to trek. The route traverses along the banks of the Budi Gandaki River and also has many streams where you need to use suspension bridges to cross. The sight of the terraced farmlands, gigantic hills, and green lush forests make this day’s trekking overwhelming. Moreover, the first day enthusiasm can help you comfortably complete the trek.
Jagat to Deng total trek distance is about 19 kilometers. There are small uphill sections but majority of the trekking trail is on the Nepalese gentle flat trail. Therefore, you don’t find hard to complete this section. It takes about 6 to 7 hours to complete the course. Slowly, you will be entering more Himalayan zone leaving behind the hilly landscapes. However, you will not leave the Budi Gandaki River along the way. The permits needed for the Manaslu Circuit Trek are the Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP), Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), and Tsum Nubri Rural Municipality entry permit. ACAP and MCAP permits are checked in Jagat while you need to purchase the local permit too from this place. Besides these regular permits, you also need to get the Special restricted area permit.
Get ready for the challenging uphill trekking today! The trekking distance between Deng and Namrung is about 19.8 kilometers and majority of the trail is uphill. You need to achieve about 800 m elevation on this day. Therefore, you start to feel the Himalayan trekking moments from this day onwards. Please note that the village of Namrung is also one of the major villages with lots of population in the Manaslu Circuit Trek route.
Note that you can take the route of the Shyala instead of Namrung to Lho. Some trekkers use the Shyala route in order to enjoy the best view of the Manaslu Himalayan range including the hike to the Pungyen Monastery. However, the route of the Namrung – Lho helps trekkers to avoid excessive exhaustion and reach the overnight camp destination on time. The trek distance between Namrung and Lho is about 11 kilometers and it takes about 4 to 5 hours to complete the section.
9 kilometers is the total trek distance between Lho and Samagaon. Don’t strain much on this day as you will enter the most significant and famous village of the Manaslu Circuit Trek. Usually, trekkers spend two nights in the Samagaon Village which is also the last densely populated village of the Manaslu Circuit Trek route. You can spend time in this village by exploring local monastery, schools, farmlands, and local houses.
Don’t skip the Manaslu Base Camp Hike if you wish to properly acclimatize with the demands of high – altitude places. The Manaslu Base Camp Hike including round trip and Birendra Lake exploration distance is about 12 kilometers. Trekkers have to take a packed lunch for this epic adventure hike to the base camp of the world’s 8th tallest mountain Mt. Manaslu (8163 m). The trail from Birendra Lake to the Manaslu Base Camp (4800 m) is steep uphill. The sight of the mountains and the Birendra Lake seen from the base camp is exemplary. You can forget all the tiredness and enjoy the majestic scenery.
Shortest distance on the Manaslu Circuit Trek is 9 kilometers between Samdo and Samagaon. It takes about 4 hours to reach Samdo from Samagaon. Upon reaching this small village, this blogger highly recommends you to do a short hike of the Samdo Ri. The journey of the Samdo Ri Hike after lunch is about 1 to 2 hours including the return trip. More acclimatization ensures more chances of successfully completing the Manaslu Circuit Trek with Larke La Pass crossing. Don’t think about the total Manaslu Circuit Trek distance by skipping short acclimatization hikes either in Samdo or in Dharmasala. Two nights before crossing the Larke La Pass is crucial for all trekkers. Be aware of not burning out your muscles. Over straining in trekking can be fatal and reduce the successful completion of the trek.
Another short day of trekking is from Samdo to Dharmasala. 8 to 9 kilometers separate Samdo and Dharmasala. These two places have limited tea houses where you need to book in advance especially during the peak trekking season. Like in Samdo, add about 2 to 3 kilometers in your Manaslu Circuit Trek distance by performing short hike in Dharmasala. However, you must consider your condition as the next day’s trek is the most crucial one being the crossing of the Larke La Pass (5106 m).
The iconic day of the Manaslu Circuit Trek in Nepal is the day of crossing the Larke La Pass (5106 m). On this day, you need to cover around 25 kilometers making it the longest day of the trek. Do you know that the Larke La Pass is one of the longest mountain passes of Nepal? Yes, trekkers have to start the crossing activity before dawn in order to reach the Bimthang Village on time before nightfall. The route to the top of the pass is through several small ridges along the glacier and over the snow. Lots of flags and markings are there on the trail which makes it easier for trekkers to comfortably navigate. The trail after crossing the pass is over the landslide area and glacier.
Downhill trail is always easy but steep downhill trail can bring serious impact on knees and muscles. The Bimthang village to Tilje village is about 18 kilometers long through green lush forests area. After the successful crossing of the Larke La Pass, this day’s journey is simple and joyous.
The trek ends and again you have to use the road to return back to Kathmandu. The road distance between Tilje and Besisahar is about 20 kilometers but it is off road and expect bumpy ride. Besisahar to Kathmandu is about 175 kilometers long and it is on the national highway making the road trip comfortable.
So, the total Manaslu Circuit Trek distance is approximately 153.8 and total road distance a trekker must cover is about 352 kilometers. Thus, the total distance covered by a trekker during the Manaslu Circuit Trek including the road distance is about 506 kilometers.
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