Higher seasonal exposure: altitude (All year), cold (Nov-Feb), seasonal closure (Dec-Feb), landslides (Jun-Sep).
Samdo is a high village of stone houses and yak pastures at about 3,860 m, a short walk up the valley from Samagaun. It is the last permanent settlement on the Manaslu Circuit before the Larkya La, and many itineraries add a second acclimatisation night here.
The landscape is open and almost treeless, with views of Samdo Peak and the ridges along the Tibetan border. A full-day walk leads north to the Rui La on the border, and shorter climbs above the village help with acclimatisation.
Samdo has long been associated with trade across the nearby Tibetan border, and its people are of Tibetan culture and Buddhist faith. Yak herding is central to village life. The old trade route over the border passes is now closed to trekkers.
Acclimatisation hike
Climb a few hundred metres above the village and return to sleep low.
Walk towards the Rui La
A long day trip north towards the border pass; go only with your guide and check whether it is permitted.
Forecast for 3,860 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Mar-May, Oct-Nov
Several lodges; cold at night.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
On foot from Samagaun in about 3-4 hours.
Nearest hub: Machha Khola
Nearest hub: Machha Khola. Times are typical ranges, not schedules, and vary with roadworks, weather and the season.
On footfrom Samagaunabout 3-4 h3-4 h and about 7 km from Samagaun, gaining roughly 350 m
On foot only. A deliberately short day that helps acclimatisation before Dharmasala and the pass.
Restricted-area permit
This stop is on the Manaslu restricted-area route. Permits are issued only through a registered trekking agency, for trekkers with a licensed guide; a minimum group of two has long been required, so confirm the current rule.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Department of Immigration: Trekking route and permit fee.
On the Manaslu Circuit.
What this place is typically exposed to, and when. These are seasonal patterns, not a report on conditions now.
Altitudehigh in a typical yearAll year
At roughly 3,860 m, thin air affects most people. General information, not medical advice: gain height slowly, build in acclimatisation days, learn the symptoms of altitude sickness (headache, nausea, breathlessness, broken sleep) and go down if they get worse. See a doctor before travelling and carry insurance that covers helicopter evacuation.
Coldhigh in a typical yearNov-Feb
Hard frost and sub-zero nights are normal through the winter months.
Seasonal closurehigh in a typical yearDec-Feb
Heavy snow often blocks the Larkya La in deep winter and many upper lodges shut for the season, so the crossing is rarely attempted between December and February.
Landslideshigh in a typical yearJun-Sep
The Budhi Gandaki gorge is one of the more landslide-prone trekking corridors in Nepal and the monsoon months of June to September are generally avoided because of rain-slicked trails and slope failures.
Snowmoderate in a typical yearNov-Apr
Snow is common from late autumn to spring at this height, and the stages above towards the Larkya La hold it longest.
Check current conditions before you travel
Roads, trails, passes and flights change with the weather and with roadworks, and nothing on this page describes conditions today. Before you set off, check the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology for weather and flood warnings, the Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal for incidents, and the local authority, police or your licensed operator for road, trail and flight status.
A restricted-area teahouse trek around Manaslu (8,163 m), up the Budhi Gandaki gorge through Gurung and Nubri villages, over the Larkya La (about 5,106 m) and down to Dharapani on the Annapurna Circuit.
About 3,860 m.
Many itineraries add one to acclimatise before Dharmasala (about 4,460 m) and the pass.
A day walk leads towards the Rui La; check with your guide whether it is allowed.
Valley or region
A restricted Buddhist side valley of the Manaslu region, with monasteries, Milarepa's cave and villages near the Tibetan border.
Trek stop · 3,590 m
A meadow settlement below the Larkya La, the first stop after the crossing.
Trek stop · 1,860 m
A small village at the head of the lower gorge on the Manaslu Circuit.
Trek stop · 4,460 m
The seasonal stop at the foot of the Larkya La, used the night before the crossing.
Trek stop · 1,340 m
A stone-paved village in the Budhi Gandaki gorge where the Manaslu restricted area begins.
Mountain pass · 5,106 m
The high pass of the Manaslu Circuit, a long glacial crossing from the Budhi Gandaki to the Marsyangdi side.
Trek stop · 900 m
A riverside village of lodges at the mouth of a side stream, the first night's stop for most Manaslu Circuit trekkers.
Trek stop · 2,630 m
The first village of Nubri on the Manaslu Circuit, among barley fields and forest.
Valley or region
A restricted trekking region around the world's eighth-highest mountain, from the Budhi Gandaki gorge to Tibetan-Buddhist villages and the Larkya La.