Namrung and Lho: where the Manaslu Circuit turns Tibetan

The two days at a glance

After two days in the Budhi Gandaki gorge, these are the days the trek changes character. The houses start to look Tibetan, and the mountains finally come into view.

Day 5: out of the gorge

You leave Deng (1,860m) with the gorge still close around you. Looking back from the trail between Deng and Namrung, the Budhi Gandaki is a deep cut far below. We covered the gorge days in the Budhi Gandaki gorge.

Then you cross into the Nubri valley. The villages start to look different: Tibetan-style stone houses with prayer flags, prayer wheels lining the trail. In late March our team crossed suspension bridges over side streams in the forest below Namrung.

Namrung: the second checkpoint

Namrung, at 2,630m, is where your Manaslu Conservation Area Permit gets checked, the second of three checkpoints on the circuit after Jagat. Your guide carries the paperwork. On a clear afternoon it's also where you catch your first real views of Siring and Simnang Himal.

It's a long day to get here, 770m up over about 19km, so arrive, eat and rest. The next day is easier.

Day 6: a short day to Lho

Day 6 is shorter and easier on purpose: about 13km and 4 to 5 hours, through the villages of Lihi and Sho, gaining 550m. On our trip on 28 March, there were snow ridges above the forest between Namrung and Lho, and a kani gate over the trail toward Lho.

Kani gates are the roofed gateways you walk through at the entrance to a village or along the trail. You'll pass several from here on, along with long mani walls. Your guide will show you the custom: keep mani walls and chortens on your right.

The gompa terrace at Lho

Lho sits at 3,180m, and its gompa terrace looks straight at Manaslu's summit ridge. For us it's the best single viewpoint on the whole circuit. Go up in the late afternoon, and again in the morning if the sky is clear.

The next morning the walk toward Samagaon keeps the mountain in front of you, with Manaslu up the valley over the pine forest. That's Day 7, a short 3 to 4 hours to Samagaon, which we cover in Samagaon and Samdo.

Altitude on these days

Lho is your first night above 3,000m. From here on, your guide checks and logs your altitude at every stop and asks how you're feeling. The short Day 6 and short Day 7 are there to make that step gentle before the rest day at Samagaon.

Walk slowly. You'll feel fine at Namrung. That's not a reason to rush to Lho.

Drink. Tea counts, and garlic soup is a trail favorite higher up.

Speak up early. A headache mentioned at Lho is easy to deal with.

Why these days feel so quiet

Manaslu is a restricted area, and the permit rules keep casual traffic off the trail. On these two days you share the path mostly with porters and the families who live in Nubri. It's a big part of why people say Manaslu feels like the Annapurna Circuit did decades ago.

Every stop on the route is listed in our Manaslu route guide, and the full plan is on the Manaslu Circuit itinerary, with our photos under each day.

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