The Manaslu Circuit Trek is one of the most beautiful trekking trails in Nepal. The route to Manaslu Circuit trek is comparatively less crowded than Everest trekking and Annapurna trekking. It is the best way to experience life outside the comfort of the cities.
Trekking to the Manaslu Circuit involves walking along some of the remote areas of the country. The trek rewards you with the stunning sceneries of the high Himalayas, unique landscapes, thrilling passes, beautiful hills, fast flowing rivers, waterfalls, suspension bridges, and many more.
It is truly a breathtaking feeling when you get to see mountains such as Mt. Manaslu, Annapurna range, Ganesh Himal, etc just in front of your eyes. The beautiful sceneries will excite you to the core of your heart.
Manaslu Circuit Trek is a moderate level trekking destination in Nepal. But, the trek becomes quite strenuous as you climb up to higher altitude.
Today we will discuss the Manaslu Circuit Trek Distance. Follow this article in you want to know more about the Manaslu Circuit trek routes and distance.
Highlights of Manaslu Circuit Trek
- Amazing views of snowy mountains such as Mount Manaslu, Himlung Himal, Annapurna II, Cheo Himal, Kang Guru, etc.
- Passing through some of the captivating villages and beautiful forest of Manaslu region.
- Trekking up to the height of Larkya Pass is exciting and thrilling.
- Getting a chance to explore the culture and lifestyles of Nepalese and Tibetans.
Manaslu Circuit Trek Distance
Manaslu Circuit Trek sits in the border of Annapurna Conservation Area on the west and Tibetan Plateau on north and east directions. The trek covers a total distance of 177 kilometers.
The starting point of Manaslu Circuit Trek is at Arughat of Gorkha District. The trek ends at Besisahar which is the starting point the most popular Annapurna Circuit Trek.
The starting point and the ending point of the trek might differ the total distance of Manaslu Circuit Trek.
The duration of the trek also depends upon the pace of your walking. If you are slow walker, it will take you a long time to complete the Manaslu Circuit Trek distance. However, if you are used to with trekking and have quite decent walking speed, you can cover the distance on time.
The 14 days Manaslu Circuit Trek itinerary will give a better understanding of the Manaslu Circuit Trek Distance. So, let us discuss it in detail.
Do contact us if you want to know any further details regarding your trip to Manaslu Circuit.
Manaslu Circuit Trek Route and Distance
Distance from Kathmandu (1400m) to Arughat Bazar (608m)
Arughat Bazaar is the starting point of your trek. The total distance covered by Arughat Bazaar from Kathmandu is 138 kilometers.
So, it will basically take you 6-10 hours of drive to reach Arughat from Kathmandu.
Distance from Arughat to Soti Khola
You will also have an option driving directly to Sotikhola. But if you choose to walk to Soti Khola from Arughat, you will have to cover a distance of 13 kilometers.
You will have to walk for about 5 hours to cover the distance to reach Soti Khola.
Distance from Soti Khola to Machha Khola
You will have to cover a distance of 23.28 kilometers to reach Machha Khola from Soti Khola. It will usually take you around 5 hours to reach Machha Khola. But this also depends upon the pace of your walk.
If you are a slow walker, it might take you 6-7 hours to cover the total distance.
Distance from Machha Khola to Jagat
The walking distance between Machha Khola and Jagat is 23 kilometers. The route goes through some uphill and downhill sections along the trail.
An average walking duration during Machha Khola to Jagat ranges between 6-7 hours.
Distance from Jagat to Deng
You will have to show the Manaslu Conservation Area permit in the village of Jagat. On this day, you will have to cover the distance of 21 kilometers to reach Deng from Jagat.
The route involves walking along the beautiful rivers of Ghatta Khola and Deng Khola. It will take you around 6 hours to cover the distance between Jagat to Deng.
Distance from Deng to Namrung
You will need to cover a distance of 19.4 kilometers on this day. It will take you approximately about 5-6 hours to reach Namrung from Deng.
The path can be quite challenging on this day as it involves steep climbing along with zigzag routes.
Distance from Namrung to Lho
The total distance you will have to cover from Namrung to Lho is 11 kilometers. The route involves crossing the Budhi Gandaki river and walking along the forest. It will nearly take you around 4 hours to reach the large village of Lho.
Distance from Lho to Samagaon
Today you will be covering a distance of 18 kilometers from Lho to Samagaon. You will have a short hike of only about two hours towards Shyala village.
You will visit the Pungyen monastery and many Chortens along the route to Samagaon.
Distance from Samagaon to Samdo via Manaslu Base Camp.
On the 9th day of your journey, you will be covering the distance of 17 kilometers from Samagaon to Samdo via Manaslu Base Camp. The route involves crossing several suspension bridges leading you towards the forest of juniper and birch.
It is a 4 hours walk to Samdo with the rewarding views of Mount Manaslu just in front of your eyes. Samdo is a Tibetan refugee village with several teahouses and lodges to stay.
Distance from Samdo to Larkya Phedi
Dharmasala or Larkya Phedi is about 4 hours away from Samdo. The total distance you will have to cover on this day is 12.45 kilometers.
The route to Larkya Phedi involves crossing several Mani walls and prayer flags. A final uphill climb will take you to your final destination at Larkya Phedi.
Distance from Larkya Phedi to Bimthang
On the 11th day of your Manaslu Circuit Trek, you will walk 24 kilometers distance to reach Bimthang from Larkya. Today is a long day of trekking of 8 hours as you will have to cover a longer distance.
Larkya is the highest point of the Manaslu trek. So the routes might get quite challenging.
Distance from Bimthang to Tilije
The total distance between Bimthang and Tilije is 26 kilometers. The routes today are quite easy as you have crossed the most difficult parts of the trek. You will cross the wooden bridge and walk towards the forest of pine.
It will take you around 6 hours to reach Tilije from Bimthang. Tilije is a famous Gurung village.
Distance from Tilije to Dharapani and drive to Besisahar
You will have to cover a distance of 8 kilometers to reach Dharapani from Tilije. You will have to walk for about 3 hours along with the beautiful villages and Mani walls. Dharapani is the starting point of Annapurna Circuit Trek.
You will finally catch a local bus to Besisahar from Dharapani. It will approximately take you around 5 hours to cover the distance between Dharapani and Besisahar.
Distance from Besisahar to Kathmandu
The total distance between Besisahar to Kathmandu is 186 kilometers. So, you will cover this distance on a local bus or jeep.
Along the way, you will enjoy the scenic views of Trishuli river, terraced farming, unique landscape, and vegetations.
Tips to reduce the Total Distance of Manaslu Circuit Trek
The Manaslu Circuit Trek starts with a drive from Kathmandu to Arughat and then trek towards Soti Khola. Instead of trekking from Arughat to Soti Khola, you can directly take a drive to Solti Khola from Kathmandu itself. In this way, you will not have to trek all the way from Arughat to Soti Khola.
So, taking a bus directly from Kathmandu to Soti Khola will reduce a day of trekking. This will help you to reduce the distance of about 13 kilometers from your Manaslu Circuit Trek.
The distance from Kathmandu to Soti Khola is 141 kilometers. You will drive along with the beautiful villages, terrace farming, and magnificent mountain views.
Is Distance a Major Factor for Manaslu Circuit Trek Difficulty?
“How difficult is the Manaslu Circuit trek?”, is in mind of every trekker. So, is the trek really difficult?
The Manaslu Circuit Trek is a moderately difficult trek. The highest and most challenging part of the trek is at Larkya Pass. It stands at the height of 5125 meters. Manaslu Circuit Trek involves several uphill and downhill climbs, walking along steep and narrow ridges and so on. So, you will have to be careful!
There are many factors that result in Manaslu Circuit Trek difficulties such as duration of the trek, altitude, weather, and temperature. And the distance of the trek is also a major factor for difficulty.
Longer trekking distance means you will have to walk for a longer period of time to reach your targeted destination. The average walking duration during your Manaslu Circuit Trek is 6-7 hours. So, distance and trekking duration are relevant to each other. If one increases, the other one increases too.
Trekking distance becomes a major problem especially if you are a beginner trekker. Beginner trekkers may not be used to walking continuously for hours. So, trekking for a longer distance might be a difficulty.
Conclusion
Overall, the Manaslu Circuit Trek distance varies upon factors such as the starting and ending point of the Manaslu trek. If you start your trek from Arughat, you will have to cover a longer distance. However, if you start your trek from Soti Khola, you will cover a shorter distance.
You can easily cover the 14 days Manaslu Circuit Trek distance if you are a beginner trekker. But, you might have to face some challenges to cover the distance if you do not have any trekking experience.
To cover the Manaslu Circuit Trek distance on time, you need to maintain a good walking pace. Do not walk too fast or too slow but maintain your speed.
Manaslu Circuit Trek is an adventurous trekking destination in Nepal. The trek is usually doable in all seasons. But, autumn and spring would be the best time to travel. The distance of the trek differs according to the type of itinerary you choose.
Index Adventure can customize your itinerary according to your choice and time. We can also arrange you with experienced guides for an easy and comfortable trek. Do contact us if you want to know any further details regarding your trip to Manaslu Circuit.
