Leaving Bimthang, the trail crosses the glacier stream and the moraine of the Salpudanda Glacier, then enters forest. The first hour gives your last views of Manaslu over the treetops. Below, the path is steep and rooty, winding through tall rhododendrons that bloom red in April and moss-covered pines. Hampuk and Karche are small settlements with tea shops.
At Gho (about 2,515 m) and Tilije (about 2,300 m) you reach Gurung villages with fields of barley and apple orchards. Tilije is a large village with lodges and shops, and the end of the restricted area. A jeep track now reaches this area, and in the dry season some trekkers ride the last stretch.
The trail crosses the Dudh Khola and joins the Marsyangdi at Thonje, then follows the river to Dharapani at about 1,860 m, where the Annapurna Circuit road brings jeeps and buses. Expect sore knees and a feeling of returning to the world after two weeks in the mountains.
Good for
- Groups
- Families
- Photographers
Questions travellers ask
How long is the walk from Bimthang to Dharapani?
About 6 to 7 hours and 20 km, with roughly 1,700 m of descent. You pass Hampuk, Karche, Gho, Tilije and Thonje. In the dry season some trekkers take a jeep from Tilije or Gho to Dharapani, which saves 2 to 3 hours of road walking.
Where does the Manaslu Circuit end?
At Dharapani on the Annapurna Circuit road in Manang district, at about 1,860 m. Some itineraries end at Tilije or take a jeep from there. From Dharapani jeeps go to Besisahar and onward to Kathmandu or Pokhara.
Do I need an Annapurna permit for Bimthang to Dharapani?
Yes. The section from Bimthang down to Dharapani lies in the Annapurna Conservation Area, so you need an ACAP permit as well as the Manaslu permits. We arrange it in Kathmandu with the rest of your paperwork.
