Manaslu's name comes from the Sanskrit manasa, meaning intellect or soul, and from Lho its double summit stands at the head of the valley. At sunrise the snow turns from blue to pink to bright white in about 20 minutes, while the village below stays in cold shadow. Prayer flags and white chortens make a natural foreground.
Walk to the chortens at the top of the village or to the Ribung Gompa courtyard 15 minutes before sunrise. In October that means leaving your lodge around 5:45 am; in November about 6:10 am. Wear a down jacket, hat and gloves, because temperatures are close to freezing or below.
For photographs, a mid-range zoom lens of 70 to 200 mm isolates the summit, while a wide lens captures the gompa and peak together. Phone cameras do well if you expose for the bright snow. Back at the lodge, breakfast and the short walk to Samagaun follow.
Good for
- Photographers
- Couples
- Solo
- Groups
Questions travellers ask
Is Lho the best place to see Manaslu?
Lho gives the classic framed view of Manaslu with chortens and Ribung Gompa in the foreground, and many photographers rate it the best. Samagaun is closer, with the glacier and Birendra Tal, and Manaslu Base Camp gives the closest view. Seeing all three is part of the circuit's appeal.
What time should I get up for sunrise at Lho?
In October get up at about 5:30 am and be at the viewpoint by 5:50; in November get up around 5:50 am. The light on the summit lasts about 20 to 30 minutes. Mornings are usually clear in autumn, with cloud building after about 10 am.
What camera gear is useful at Lho?
A wide lens for the gompa and village with the mountain, and a 70 to 200 mm zoom to fill the frame with the summit. Bring a spare battery kept warm in an inside pocket, because cold drains batteries fast. A small tripod helps in the low light before sunrise.
