Photo Diary: Nepal's Manaslu Circuit Trek
The Manaslu Circuit is a 100-mile loop around the 8th highest mountain in the world, Nepal’s 26,781-foot Manaslu. I hiked this trail in November 2022 over ten days, staying in remote mountain villages each night. It was my first time visiting Nepal and hiking in the high-altitude Himalayas. The highest point of the trek, the icy 16,752-foot Larkya La Pass, pushed me to my limits but the jaw-dropping views on the other side made it absolutely worth it.
This trip came together thanks to my friend, hiking filmmaker Kraig Adams. He opened it up to his subscribers, and I joined as the only woman in a group of ten male participants. Despite that, I had an amazing time hiking with this fun and hilarious group. The mix of dramatic mountain landscapes, and hiking through scenes of everyday Himalayan rural life, made it one of the most memorable travel experiences of my life.
Rather than a detailed recap, this post is a photo diary of the trek. I shot these images on my Leica M10 and 35mm film, focusing on slower, more intentional captures. For a more in depth look into the full experience and challenges of this trek, you can check out my Instagram story highlights on @wrenees (linked at the bottom of this page).
DAY 1:
Machakhola 2700’ to Jagat 4300’
Trail/road maintenance. There are no vehicle roads to these villages, all supplies must be carried in on foot or mule along the trail we are hiking. Sections of the trail get washed out seasonally by heavy rain.
DAY 2:
Jagat 4300’ to Deng 6000’
DAY 3:
Deng 6000’ to Ghap 7100’
This was a short day, and it doesn’t seem that I took many photos on my cameras.
DAY 4:
Ghap 7100’ to Lho 10,350’
Doma Sherpa on the trail
DAY 5:
Lho 10,350’ to Samagaon 11,500’
Selfie.
DAY 6:
Samagaon rest day 11,500’
This is as close as I got to Mt. Manaslu.
A turquoise glacial lake below Mt. Manaslu
DAY 6:
Samagaon 11,500’ to Samdo 12,600’
VIllage life in the frigid Himalaya
DAY 8:
Samdo 12,600’ to Larkya Rest House 14,500’
DAY 8:
Over Larke La Pass 16,900’ to Bimthang 12,000
Possibly the most stunning mountain landscape I’ve ever found myself in.
These structures where we stopped for lunch were the most welcome sight after a very long morning of hiking up over the pass.
Hiking down, down, down. Dropping elevation rapidly.
DAY 9:
Bimthang 12,000 to Dharapani 6100’
Friendly faces along the trail.
Aside from the scenery, the highlight of this trek was meeting and spending time with the local Sherpa guides and porters. Pemba Sherpa, the lead guide was the absolute MVP of the trip—his expertise, and humor kept our group safe and (mostly) smiling throughout every twist and turn of the trail. Doma Sherpa, Pemba’s cousin—and one of few female Sherpa mountain guides, was assigned to our group to keep me female company in our group of male participants and guides. Doma and I are the same age, but being the mother of two (while I’m child-free), I felt like Doma was the sweetie Nepalese Sherpa auntie that I never had (but wish I did).
@wrenees IG story highlights: Nepal Part 1
@wrenees IG story highlights: Nepal Part 2
@wrenees IG story highlights: Nepal Part 3