Founded by a Nepali and a Dutchie. The best of both worlds.
No mass tourism. Just honest, personal connection. Before, during and after your trip.
We pay fair wages, lighten porter loads and treat people and nature with respect.
In a nutshell
The Manaslu Circuit Group Trek with Larkya La Pass takes you through one of the most remote and unspoiled mountain regions in Nepal. Over 19 days, the landscape shifts completely: from lush river valleys and bamboo forests to high alpine terrain with a distinctly Tibetan character. The Manaslu Circuit is rugged, quiet and varied. Every day looks different from the one before.
The trip starts in Kathmandu, where the group comes together for the first time. You meet your guide, your porters and the people you will share teahouses with for the next two weeks. The following morning, a bus takes you to Seti Khola, where the trekking begins.
For 15 days, you follow the Budhi Gandaki river upstream, passing mani walls, stone villages and narrow gorges, while the landscape slowly transforms from green and lush to raw and high. Acclimatisation days in Samagaon and Samdo give your body the time it needs to adjust before the high section begins.
The absolute highlight is the crossing of the Larkya La Pass at 5,106 m / 16,752 ft. An early start, a long climb through ice and stone, and then the summit: prayer flags in the wind and a view you will not forget. The descent to Bhimtang is its own reward.
The trek ends in Besi Sahar. From there, the bus takes you back to Kathmandu for a final dinner together before you fly home.
You experience a great deal on this trip, but it never feels rushed. There is room to acclimatise, to slow down and to take it all in. Intense, challenging and in balance.
You don’t need to be a top athlete, but this trek does ask something of you. Think 4 to 7 hours of walking per day, several days in a row, at altitude. If you’re used to multi-day mountain hikes, you’ll generally be fine. The day to cross Larkya La Pass (5,106 m / 16,752 ft) is the most demanding section: steep and possibly icy.
Not sure? Just get in touch. We’re happy to look at your experience level together and see whether this route suits you.
This is not a beginner’s trek. The route is long, remote and reaches high altitude. You should be in good physical condition and comfortable walking for 5 to 7 hours a day over multiple days. Prior trekking experience is strongly recommended. Not sure if you qualify? Get in touch and we will give you an honest answer.
💡 Interesting fact: Manaslu means "Mountain of the Spirit"
The name Manaslu comes from the Sanskrit word manasa, meaning intellect or soul. At 8,163 m / 26,781 ft, it is the 8th highest mountain in the world. The first successful summit was reached by a Japanese expedition in 1956.
Pricing & Dates
The price of this trip is per person, based on sharing twin rooms.
Prefer your own room? The single room surcharge is XXX euro.
Included in this trip
- Airport transfer (arrival and departure)
- Comfortable hotel in Thamel, Kathmandu (including breakfast)
- All required trekking permits
- Licensed, English speaking trekking guide (salary, transport, accommodation, meals, gear and insurance)
- Local mountain porter (salary, transport, accommodation, meals, gear and insurance)
- Transport from Kathmandu to the trailhead and back
- Basic teahouse accommodation during your trek
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner during
- 24/7 support from the By Mountain People team throughout your trip
- Booking secured through VZR Garant
- VAT and tourist service charge
Not included
- Water, hot or cold drinks, alcohol, etc.
- Travel health insurance covering rescue and evacuation — mandatory in Nepal
- All other expenses not listed under 'Included'
| Date | Availability | Participants | Price p.p. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, 21 Nov 2026 | Last spots | View | from 1,835 EURO | Join this group |
| Mon, 19 Apr 2027 | Available | from 1,835 EURO | Join this group | |
| Mon, 1 Nov 2027 | Available | from 1,835 EURO | Join this group |
Day-to-day program
This page shows you how The Inner Expedition is structured, day by day. Note: walking times are indicative and depend on your walking pace.
You land at Tribhuvan International Airport. Your guide is waiting outside arrivals and takes you and the rest of the group directly to the hotel. The drive takes about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic.
Welcome to Nepal. 🙏🏽
Time to rest, adjust and prepare. Today is the pre-trip meeting. Together with your guide and group, you go through the itinerary and check that everyone has the right gear. Missing something? No problem. The streets around your hotel are lined with outdoor shops. In the evening, the group heads out for dinner together.
Extra activities
Want to go for a small walk in the afternoon? Here are some ideas on walking distance from your hotel.
Swoyambhunath Stupa
Kathmandu Durbar Square
Early morning. Your guide picks up the group and you board the bus towards the Gorkha region. You drive through villages and lively bazaars until you reach Seti Khola in the Budhi Gandaki valley. The mountains are waiting.
The trek begins. The trail descends gently before climbing to a ridge near Almara. Through forest paths you reach Riden Gaon, then descend into the valley. From Lambesi, you follow the riverbed of the Budhi Gandaki.
💡 Interesting fact: the Budhi Gandaki flows the entire length of the route
From Seti Khola to the high camps below the Larkya La, the Budhi Gandaki river is a constant companion. The trail follows its course upstream for most of the trek, climbing from subtropical valley floors to glacial terrain above 5,000 metres.
After crossing the Machha river and Khola Besi, you reach the hot springs of Tatopani. A well-earned soak before continuing along a forest path to Dovan, just above the Budhi Gandaki. From here, the altitude begins to climb and the landscape shifts noticeably.
The trail climbs over a rocky ridge with views of Sringi Himal. Past terraced fields of maize, potatoes and millet, then through bamboo forests into the Nupri region. Tonight you sleep in the Buddhist village of Deng.
💡 Interesting fact: Manaslu is one of the last restricted trekking areas in Nepal
The Manaslu Conservation Area requires a special restricted area permit. This was introduced to protect the fragile ecosystems and Tibetan-influenced cultures along the route. As a result, the trail sees far fewer trekkers than the Annapurna or Everest regions.
Countless Tibetan mani walls line the path today, their stones carved by hand with Buddhist texts. The trail winds through narrow gorges and colourful forests of spruce, oak and rhododendron. At the end of the day, you reach Namrung.
You climb gradually into alpine terrain. For the first time, Manaslu North and Manaslu itself appear on the horizon. You spend the night in Lho Gaon.
💡 Interesting fact: locals in Lho Gaon still wear traditional Tibetan clothing
In Lho Gaon and other villages in the upper Nupri region, you will see locals wearing the chuba, a traditional Tibetan robe. This part of Nepal has strong historical ties to Tibet, and the culture, language and religion reflect that connection clearly.
A shorter day, designed to let your body adjust. You walk through a gorge thick with moss and rhododendrons. There is time to breathe, look around and arrive slowly in Samagaon.
Walk high, sleep low. Today you stay in the area around Samagaon. The day hike takes you to Pungyen Gompa and the glacial lake Birendra Tal, past the monastery destroyed by an avalanche in 1953, all the way to the ice-blue lake at the foot of the glacier.
Another shorter day above the tree line. Past yaks, marmots and high mountain meadows. Samdo is a yak-herding village at the junction of three valleys. On a clear day, you might spot traders from Tibet.
From Samdo, you follow a wide path, cross the Budhi Gandaki and walk alongside a long mani wall. The trail climbs towards the Larkya glacier. You reach Larkya Phedi with views over a deep gorge. An early night. Tomorrow is the big day.
Today is the day. You start before sunrise and move steadily through ice and stone, past frozen lakes, towards the pass. At the top, prayer flags snap in the wind. You made it. The descent to Bhimtang is long, but the sense of achievement carries you through.
💡 Interesting fact: the Larkya La Pass is one of the highest trekking passes in Nepal
At 5,106 m / 16,752 ft, the Larkya La is a serious crossing. The trail over the pass involves glacier terrain, frozen lakes and a long exposed ridge. Most groups start the crossing before 5am to avoid afternoon weather. The descent to Bhimtang drops more than 1,300 metres in a single day.
You cross a glacial stream and descend into a forest of rhododendrons and tall pines. With Manaslu still in view, you continue along the Dudh Khola through farmland to Tilje.
A fast descent towards the Marsyangdi valley. Through the forest, across a suspension bridge and onto the trail of the Annapurna Circuit. You spend the night in Chamje.
The final walking day. Tired, satisfied and with a pack full of memories, you reach the end point of the trek.
You board the bus back to Kathmandu.
In the evening, a well-earned dinner with the whole group. A toast to this adventure and the people you shared it with.
A free day in the city. It’s a great opportunity for sightseeing. There’s so much to explore! Or pick up souvenirs or find a quiet corner in one of the many restaurants nearby.
Extra activities
Kathmandu is an ancient city with many UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Want to explore the city today? Here are some ideas.
Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Boudhanath Stupa
Pashupatinath Temple
Time to fly home. But the stories, the impressions, the mountains — they travel with you. This was a Himalayan adventure that stays.
Walking & pace
We’re Govinda & Valerie: a Nepali–Dutch couple with a shared love for the mountains, the people and the beautiful chaos that is Nepal. For over 10 years, we’ve been creating meaningful journeys through this fascinating country. We’re Govinda & Valerie: a Nepali–Dutch couple with a shared love for the mountains, the people and the beautiful chaos that is Nepal. For over 10 years, we’ve been creating meaningful journeys through this country.
Route
Altitude
More information
A Nepali–Dutch couple with a shared love for the mountains, the people and the beautiful chaos that is Nepal. For over 10 years, we’ve been creating meaningful journeys through this fascinating country. We’re Govinda & Valerie: a Nepali–Dutch couple with a shared love for the mountains, the people and the beautiful chaos that is Nepal. For over 10 years, we’ve been creating meaningful journeys through this fascinating country.
Practical
We’re Govinda & Valerie: a Nepali–Dutch couple with a shared love for the mountains, the people and the beautiful chaos that is Nepal. For over 10 years, we’ve been creating meaningful journeys through this fascinating country. We’re Govinda & Valerie: a Nepali–Dutch couple with a shared love for the mountains, the people and the beautiful chaos that is Nepal.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s
Nepal Group Trek – Manaslu Circuit
- A full loop around Manaslu, the world's eighth highest mountain
- Cross the Larkya La Pass at 5,106 m / 16,752 ft with a small group
- Deep into restricted Tibetan territory, villages and landscapes few trekkers ever reach
What our customers have to say
Don't just take our word for it. Discover what travelers before you wrote about traveling with us.
Excited to start trekking to Nepal?
Explore sample treks in Nepal, ready for your personal touch. Customize these journeys to suit your preferences. Explore sample treks in Nepal, ready for your personal touch. Customize these journeys to suit your preferences.
