Manaslu Circuit Trek - Day 8: Samdo to Dharamsala

I Continue From Here: Manaslu Circuit Trek - Day 7: Samagaun to Samdo

Day 8: Samdo (3,865 m / 12,680 ft) to Dharamsala (4,460 m / 14,632 ft ) - 6km/3.5H

14-May-2026

The trek from Samdo to Dharamsala was the most scenic stretch of the journey before reaching Larke Pass. Throughout the route, the magnificent Samdo Peak towered behind us, and I simply could not get enough of it.

I walked very slowly that day, stopping frequently to take photographs. As we left Samdo behind, we were welcomed by even more towering mountains and glaciers.

Along the way, we spotted more marmots, hawks, and even blue sheep (bharal) grazing near the campsite.

Dharamsala has three very basic guesthouses. The rooms are little more than long metal structures divided into small compartments, each containing nothing more than a bed on the floor. That was about it.

After lunch, we spent some time walking around the campsite. I took a few time-lapse videos as clouds drifted past the mountains, brushing against their rugged slopes.

It was only here that I finally used the sleeping bag I had been carrying throughout the trek. The night was bitterly cold, so most of us stayed indoors in the dining area, passing the evening playing Encore and Uno. Dinner was served early, at around 6 p.m., because the next morning we had to wake up at 4 a.m. and leave by 4:30.

During dinner, Ward ordered fried rice, and when the plate arrived it seemed to contain at least two kilograms of rice. Everyone, including other trekkers, looked at him and made comments about the enormous portion. Feeling a little self-conscious, he asked KP, “Are you inviting your family for dinner?” Honestly, it was far too much food for one person. A few of us tried to help him finish it, but there was still plenty left over. Nobody wanted to waste food, yet it was difficult not to.

I requested KP to ask for a smaller serving of oats the next morning, but he explained that the guesthouses served standard portions and that we could simply leave what we did not want. He did not quite understand our concern— we simply wanted to avoid wasting food.

I went to bed soon after dinner. With proper layering and the sleeping bag, I felt completely comfortable that night. The cold was bearable. As I lay there, I looked forward to the next day.

Tomorrow was the big day. We would be crossing Larke Pass.

To Be Continued...