Lho Village: Ribung Gompa and Manaslu Views on the Manaslu Circuit

Lho, also written Lho Gaon or Lo Gaon, is a Tibetan Buddhist village on the Manaslu Circuit. It sits at 3,185 m (10,449 ft) in Nepal’s Gorkha district, inside the Manaslu Conservation Area. Trekkers walk here from Namrung in about 5 hours, and it has some of the closest views of Manaslu’s north face on the route.

Lho at a Glance

Quick fact	Detail
Altitude	3,185 m (10,449 ft)
Location	Nubri, upper Budhi Gandaki valley, Gorkha district
Previous stop	Namrung (2,630 m), about 5 hours
Next stop	Samagaun (3,530 m), 5 to 6 hours
Our itinerary	Night 6 of the 14-day Manaslu Circuit Trek
Main sight	Ribung Gompa
Sleeping	Teahouse lodges
Permits	Manaslu Restricted Area Permit, MCAP and ACAP

Where Is Lho?

Lho is in Nubri, the upper part of the Budhi Gandaki valley, between Namrung and Samagaun. You reach it only on foot. Most trekkers drive about 8 hours from Kathmandu to Machha Khola (930 m), then walk up the valley through Jagat and Deng.

On our 14-day itinerary, you arrive on Day 6. The walk from Namrung leaves through farm fields and past yak herders’ huts, then follows a high valley to the village. See the full route on our Manaslu Circuit distance guide.

What Lho Is Like

Lho is a stone village with prayer flags, chortens and long mani walls. The people here are Nubri, a community with close ties to Tibetan Buddhism and to the old salt-trade route into Tibet. Manaslu is sacred in this valley, and locals know its guardian as Pungyen.

Walk to the left of each mani wall and chorten, as local people do.

Ribung Gompa

Ribung Gompa is the monastery of Lho and the main reason to walk around the village before dinner. It stands above the houses, with Manaslu rising directly behind it. It is the classic photo of this part of the trek.

We have not found a reliable record of when Ribung Gompa was founded. Dates online range from the 14th to the 17th century, so treat any exact year with care.

If you visit, take off your shoes before entering, keep your voice low and ask before taking photos inside. The door may be locked if no one is around, but the view from outside is still worth the walk.

The View of Manaslu

You first see Manaslu’s north face up close around Namrung, but at Lho it becomes the whole skyline. The north face towers over the village, and clear mornings are usually the best time to see it. Set an alarm and step outside before breakfast.

Clouds can roll in later in the day, so do not wait if the sky is clear when you arrive. The next day’s walk through Shyala brings more views of Manaslu, Shringi Himal and Bauddha Himal.

How to Spend an Evening in Lho

Most trekkers spend one night here, so your time in the village is short. A simple plan works well:

1. Drop your bags at the lodge and change into warm layers. It gets cold quickly once the sun leaves the valley.
2. Walk up to Ribung Gompa while the light is still good. The gentle climb also helps your body adjust to the height.
3. Stroll back through the village, past the chortens and mani walls.
4. Eat an early dinner, charge your devices and get a good night’s sleep.
5. Get up early the next morning to see Manaslu before the clouds build.

Respecting Local Customs

Lho is a working village and a place of faith, not just a trek stop. A few small habits go a long way:

• Keep mani walls, chortens and prayer wheels on your right as you pass.
• Ask before you photograph people, especially older villagers and monks.
• Do not touch or climb on religious objects.
• Dress modestly around the gompa, and greet people with a friendly “Tashi Delek.”

Facilities in Lho

Facility	What to expect
Lodges	Teahouses with basic rooms. We have good relations with all of them, so we do not single one out
Food	Typical teahouse menus. We recommend dal bhat
Hot showers	Available at some teahouses, usually for an extra fee
Charging	Can be limited, so carry a power bank
Wi-Fi and signal	Wi-Fi at some lodges, usually for a fee. Bring a Nepal Telecom SIM for the best chance of signal
Cash	No ATMs on the route. Carry enough cash for your expenses

Read more in our guide to accommodation on the Manaslu Circuit.

Altitude at Lho

Lho is your first night above 3,000 m on our itinerary. You sleep about 555 m higher than in Namrung, so walk slowly, drink plenty of water and tell your guide about any headache, nausea or poor sleep. You do not need a rest day here, because your acclimatization day comes in Samagaun, usually with a hike to Pungyen Gompa or Birendra Lake.

How the Height Builds to Lho

Lho is where the trek starts to feel high. This is how the height builds over the first stages of our 14-day itinerary.

Stop	Altitude	Gain from previous stop
Machha Khola	930 m	Start of the walk
Jagat	1,345 m	+415 m
Deng	1,850 m	+505 m
Namrung	2,630 m	+780 m
Lho	3,185 m	+555 m
Samagaun	3,530 m	+345 m

The two biggest sleeping jumps on this stretch come one after the other, at Namrung and then at Lho. That is why a slow pace matters here, even if you feel strong. The step up to Samagaun is smaller, and your rest day there gives your body time to catch up.

Altitude Tips for Lho

• Walk slowly from Namrung, and do not rush to arrive.
• Drink plenty of water and eat a full meal in the evening.
• Tell your guide about any headache, nausea or trouble sleeping.
• Do not go higher if your symptoms are getting worse.

What to Pack for Lho

• Warm layers and a good jacket for the evening and early morning
• A warm sleeping bag for the cold nights
• A power bank, because charging can be limited
• Enough cash in rupees for meals, showers and Wi-Fi
• Sunglasses and sunscreen for the high trail

Best Time to Visit Lho

Spring and autumn usually bring the clearest views of Manaslu. Nights are cold in any season, so pack warm layers. Check the weather chart on our Manaslu Circuit Trek page before you pick your dates.

Is Lho Worth a Night?

Yes, if your itinerary allows it. A night in Lho splits the climb from Namrung to Samagaun into two days, which is easier on your body. It also gives you the evening and the early morning in the village, when the trail is quiet and Manaslu is most likely to be clear. Trekkers who only pass through at midday often see the mountain in cloud and the gompa from a distance.

The Manaslu Conservation Area

Lho lies inside the Manaslu Conservation Area, which covers about 1,663 square kilometers. The area protects wildlife such as Himalayan blue sheep, snow leopards and musk deer, along with many bird species. Stay on the trail, carry your rubbish out and ask before photographing people or religious sites.

How to Visit Lho

You visit Lho as part of a trek, and the upper Manaslu valley is a restricted area, so you need a licensed guide and the correct permits. Three of our trips cover it in different ways:

• Manaslu Circuit Trek: 14 days, with a night in Lho
• Manaslu Short Trek: you walk through Lho and Shyala to Samagaun on the same day, so plan a short stop at most
• Tsum Valley Manaslu Circuit Trek: adds the Tsum Valley before you rejoin the main trail at Namrung and Lho

Want a quiet morning at Ribung Gompa built into your trek? Contact us and we can plan it with you.

Moving On to Samagaun

From Lho, the trail climbs through forest to Shyala, then continues to Samagaun in 5 to 6 hours. Two nights there give your body time to adjust before Samdo and the Larkya La Pass (5,106 m).

Lho Village FAQs

Featured photo: David Wilkinson, Lho, CC BY 2.0.