How far is the Manaslu Circuit? Distance and walking hours
Written by our trekking team
Photo: Remote Nepal Treks, 26 Mar 2023.
The short version
About 147km (91 miles) on foot, over nine walking days. Walking days run from 3 to 9 hours. The long ones come first, down in the warm gorge, where you cover 19 to 22km a day. Above Samagaon the days shrink to 7 to 10km because the altitude, not the distance, sets the pace. The one long day up high is the Larkya La crossing: about 26km and 8 to 9 hours.
The total distance: about 147km
From the trailhead at Machha Khola to the jeep at Tilije, you walk about 147km. That's roughly 91 miles, spread over Days 3 to 12 of our 15-day Manaslu route.
Ten days, but only nine of them are moving days. Day 8 is the rest day at Samagaon, and whatever you walk that day (a hike toward Manaslu Base Camp or the shorter path to Pungyen Gompa) brings you back to the same bed. So the simple average is a little over 16km a day.
Averages hide a lot on this trek, though. The distance isn't spread evenly, and a 7km day at 4,000m can feel harder than a 20km day at 1,500m. That's the real point of this page.
The drives sit outside that 147km. Day 2 is 8 to 9 hours on the road from Kathmandu to Machha Khola. On the way out, the jeep from Tilije to Besisahar takes 4 to 5 hours, and the last leg back to Kathmandu is about 175km and 7 to 8 hours.
Distance and walking hours, day by day
These are the figures from our itinerary. Distances are approximate, as they are on every Himalayan trail, and the hours are a steady trekking pace.
| Day | Stage | Sleep at | Distance | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Machha Khola → Jagat | 1,340m | ~22km | 6–7 hrs |
| 4 | Jagat → Deng | 1,860m | ~20km | 6–7 hrs |
| 5 | Deng → Namrung | 2,630m | ~19km | 5–6 hrs |
| 6 | Namrung → Lho | 3,180m | ~13km | 4–5 hrs |
| 7 | Lho → Samagaon | 3,530m | ~8km | 3–4 hrs |
| 8 | Rest day at Samagaon | 3,530m | — | Optional hike |
| 9 | Samagaon → Samdo | 3,860m | ~10km | 4 hrs |
| 10 | Samdo → Dharamsala | 4,460m | ~7km | 3–4 hrs |
| 11 | Larkya La → Bimtang | 3,720m | ~26km | 8–9 hrs |
| 12 | Bimtang → Tilije | 2,300m | ~22km | 6–7 hrs |
Read down the Distance column and a pattern jumps out. Days 3 to 5 cover 61km between them. Days 6 to 10, from Namrung up to Dharamsala, cover just 38km in four moving days. Then the last two days drop 48km back down to Tilije.
Add up the hours and you get about 45 to 53 hours of walking across the whole trek. For what those hours feel like in your legs, our honest difficulty grade goes through it day by day.
Why the high days are so short
People sometimes look at Day 7 (8km, 3 to 4 hours) and Day 10 (7km, 3 to 4 hours) and wonder why we don't just combine them with the next stage. It's a fair question. The answer is the altitude.
- Down in the gorge, distance is the work. Between Machha Khola and Namrung you sleep below 2,700m, the trail is wide, and you can cover 3km an hour or more. Long days here are normal and comfortable.
- Above Samagaon, height gain is the work. From 3,530m up, each day climbs only 330 to 600m. Your pace slows to around 2 to 2.5km an hour on the days to Samdo and Dharamsala, and that's exactly as it should be.
- The short days give your body time. You arrive by lunchtime, rest, eat and sleep. That's when acclimatization happens. Our post on how the rest days are placed explains why sleeping gain matters more than kilometers walked.
So the short days aren't filler. They're the reason you reach Dharamsala at 4,460m feeling ready rather than flat.
Photo: Remote Nepal Treks, 1 Apr 2023.
The one long day up high
Day 11 breaks the pattern. It's the longest day of the trek at about 26km and 8 to 9 hours, and it's the only big day above 4,000m.
You set out from Dharamsala by headlamp. The first part is a steady 646m climb through cold, thin air to the Larkya La at 5,106m. Nothing about it is technical. It just takes patience.
Then comes the part people forget: a 1,386m descent to Bimtang. Most of the day's kilometers are on the way down, which is why the hours stay manageable for such a long distance. Walking poles earn their place here.
The early start isn't for show. The wind on the pass picks up in the afternoon, so starting before dawn gets you over the top and heading down in the calmer hours. By the time you reach Bimtang's glacial meadow with Manaslu's west face behind you, it's been a big day and a good one.
Getting ready for the miles
Nine walking days back to back is the thing to train for, more than any single distance. A 20km day is fine for most fit hikers. Doing it again the next day, and the next, is what catches people out.
Practice on consecutive days. A couple of weekends with long hikes on both Saturday and Sunday, ideally with some climbing and a daypack, will tell you more than one big walk.
Don't worry about speed. Nobody is racing to Samdo. Your guide sets a pace the whole group can hold, and the hours in the table already allow for it.
Break in your boots. With about 147km ahead, blisters are the most avoidable problem on the trail.
If you're wondering how those ten days fit around the drives and your flights, see how many days the Manaslu Circuit takes. And for permits, cost and who the trek suits, start with our complete Manaslu Circuit guide.
Frequently asked
How long is the Manaslu Circuit in km?
About 147km, or 91 miles, on foot. That covers Days 3 to 12 of our itinerary, from Machha Khola over the 5,106m Larkya La to Tilije. The drives to and from the trail are extra.
How many hours a day do you walk on the Manaslu Circuit?
Between 3 and 9 hours. Most days in the lower gorge are 5 to 7 hours, the days above Samagaon are 3 to 4 hours, and the Larkya La crossing is the long one at 8 to 9 hours.
What is the longest day on the Manaslu Circuit?
Day 11, the Larkya La crossing. It is about 26km and 8 to 9 hours from Dharamsala (4,460m) over the 5,106m pass to Bimtang (3,720m). You start by headlamp so you are over the top before the afternoon wind.
Why are the days near the pass so short?
They are short on purpose. Above Samagaon the air is thinner, so each day climbs only 330 to 600m and covers 7 to 10km. Keeping the daily gain small is how your body adjusts before the pass.
How far do you walk in total, in hours?
Add up the nine walking days and it comes to about 45 to 53 hours on the trail, spread over ten days with a rest day at Samagaon in the middle.