Teahouse life on the Manaslu Circuit: rooms, food, showers
Written by our trekking team
Photo: Remote Nepal Treks, 2 Apr 2023.
The short version
You sleep in a teahouse or basic lodge every night of the Manaslu Circuit, never a tent. That's 11 nights on the trail, from Machha Khola to Tilije. Rooms are simple twin-share, toilets are shared (squat or Western-style), and above Samagaon the showers are bucket-only. Every meal is included and cooked fresh at the lodge: dal bhat with refills, noodle soups, momos, porridge and Tibetan bread, with plenty of tea. The lodges get more basic as you climb, and the most basic are at Samdo and Dharamsala, just below the pass.
Where you sleep, night by night
| Days | Nights at | Altitude | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2–6 | Machha Khola, Jagat, Deng, Namrung, Lho | 869m to 3,180m | Teahouses in the gorge and Nubri villages |
| 7–8 | Samagaon (two nights) | 3,530m | The largest village on the route |
| 9 | Samdo | 3,860m | Basic lodges, the last real village |
| 10 | Dharamsala | 4,460m | Basic lodge right below the pass |
| 11 | Bimtang | 3,720m | Teahouse in the glacial meadow |
| 12 | Tilije | 2,300m | The last trekking night |
| 13 | Besisahar | 760m | Hotel |
All of that, Besisahar included, is in our price. The Kathmandu nights on Days 1, 14 and 15 aren't. You can match the table to the walking days in our 15-day Manaslu itinerary.
The rooms
Simple and twin-share: two beds, a bit of space for your duffel, and not much else. It's a real bed under a roof every night, and after a long day that's all you'll want.
They get plainer as you climb. Down in the gorge the teahouses feel like village guesthouses. By Samdo and Dharamsala you're in basic lodges, and your own sleeping bag (rated to at least -15°C) is doing most of the work. It's on our Manaslu packing list for exactly that reason.
Toilets and showers
Toilets are shared, and you'll meet both squat and Western-style ones along the way. Bring your own hand sanitizer and toiletries.
Showers are the part to adjust your expectations on. Above Samagaon they're bucket-only, so pack some wet wipes for those days. The hot shower in Besisahar on Day 13 feels all the better for it.
What you eat
All meals on the trek are included, breakfast, lunch and dinner, and each lodge cooks them fresh. The menus are built for walking.
Dal bhat is the one to know. Rice, lentil soup and vegetable curry, and the refills keep coming until you say stop. On a long walking day it's hard to beat.
Noodle soups, fried rice and momos fill out the rest of the menu, with porridge and Tibetan bread at breakfast.
Garlic soup becomes a trail favorite once you're higher up. So does tea, black or milk, at every stop.
Bring a few snacks or energy bars from home if you have favorites. They're on the packing list for the long days, especially the Larkya La.
What an evening looks like
The walking days end early, especially above Lho, where Samagaon is 3 to 4 hours away and Samdo about 4. So most afternoons you arrive with time to spare.
Evenings happen in the lodge dining room. You order dinner, drink tea, compare notes with the rest of the group and check in with your guide about the next day. Nights are early, and at Dharamsala very early, because the pass day starts well before sunrise.
Photo: Remote Nepal Treks, 28 Mar 2023.
How it compares to Everest and Annapurna
If you've done Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Circuit, the Manaslu teahouses will feel simpler. There are fewer of them, and the bakeries and long menus of the busier trails mostly aren't here.
We think that's a good trade. The restricted-area permit keeps the trail quiet, so the dining room at night is your group and a few others, not a crowd. Our post on what the Manaslu restricted area means explains why the numbers stay low, and the complete Manaslu Circuit guide covers everything else.
Frequently asked
Is the Manaslu Circuit a teahouse trek?
Yes. Every night on the trail is in a teahouse or basic lodge, from Machha Khola to Tilije, so you don't need any camping gear.
Are there showers on the Manaslu Circuit?
Yes, but above Samagaon they're bucket-only. The hotel in Besisahar on Day 13 has a proper hot shower.
What food is available on the Manaslu Circuit?
Dal bhat with refills, fried rice, noodle soups, momos, porridge and Tibetan bread, plus black tea, milk tea and garlic soup higher up. All meals on the trek are included in our price.
Do I share a room?
Rooms are twin-share. Toilets are shared too, either squat or Western-style.
Where are the most basic lodges?
At Samdo (3,860m) and Dharamsala (4,460m), the last two nights before the Larkya La. Bring a sleeping bag rated to at least -15°C for those nights.