Manang is one of the most beautiful places during the Annapurna Circuit Trek. This is the place most of the trekkers take acclimate day during their trek to Thorong La or Tilicho Lake. During acclimatization, hikers can walk in various places as their wish and ability to walk-ups and downs. The possible day hiking trail from Manang during Annapurna Circuit Trek is Ice Lake, Miralapa Cave, 100 lama Cave monastery, Gangapurna Lake, and viewpoint.
Annapurna Circuit Trek is known as the Annapurna Round Trek as well because during this trek you will walk on the base of the Annapurna Himalayas. And Manang is a place where the majority of trekkers take acclimatization day and hike one of the trails nearby. This is a classic trekking trail in Nepal but nowadays there is a road till Manang and people are going directly to Manang by jeep too.
Some trekkers are stays some more days to explore all these places because these places are unique and special. The rewarding things of these places are natural beauty, culture various, and religious beliefs. So those pedestrians who only spend a day in Manang; have various choices of where they want to visit while they are taking acclimatize day in Manang.
Gangapurna Lake and viewpoint – Most of the trekkers to as a day hiking trail from Manang during Annapurna Circuit Trek
Gangapurna Lake is a glacier lake nearby Manang village. This is a beautiful lake with blue and icy water on the lap of the Gangapurna Himal and Annapurna 4th. Due to easy access to there, most of the trekkers will trek there during Annapurna Circuit Trek. From the lake, you can observe the lovely glaciers and mountain peaks.
The viewpoint is just above Gangaourna Lake and needs to walk around 30 to 45 minutes to reach there from Lake. From a viewpoint, you can enjoy the Manang Valley view, Annapurna range, Braga Village, and the way to Tilicho Base Camp and Thorong La Pass too. That is why this is one of the best viewpoints and one of the day hiking trails from Manang during the Annapurna Circuit Trek.
The majority of trekkers walk to these two places during Annapurna Round Trek. Because it is the easiest hiking trail from Manang and the nearest one too.
Braga Gumpa and Ice Lake
Braga Gumba is one of the oldest Buddhist monasteries in Manang. This typical gumba is located on the dry pinnacle of the Braga Village. It’s believed that this is the 13-century Buddhist monastery and it’s a Nigmapa Sect Buddhism.
Ice Lake is another Lake after Tilicho Lake inside the Mamang district and nearby Manang Village. The elevation of this lake is 4600m above sea level and there are two different lakes and those two lakes connect each other. The amazing glimpse of the Annapurna range and surroundings are just incredible.
Braga Gumba and Ice Lake are the other full-day hiking sites to visit from Manang during the ACT trek. If you just want to explore the Braga Gumba you can check me anytime from Manang and it takes just 30 minutes. But if you want to hike to Ice Lake it is a full day hike and it will take around 5 to 6 hours.
Milarepa cave – Religious Day hiking trail from Manang during Annapurna Circuit Trek
Milarepa Cave is a Buddhist shrine nearby Manang village and is located at an elevation of 4250m above sea level. This place is for those who are interested in mountain Buddhism and want to learn about different types of Buddhism. Naturally and culturally this place is very significant to the whole area and local people. And it said that lang time ago Milarepa meditated in that cave since then it becomes Milarepa cave.
To hike Milarepa Cave, from Manang first we have to walk to Braga and then cross the river. After crossing the bridge need to walk in a plain land and then ascend through the jungle. Along the way, there are some attractive Buddhist stupas. In the Milarepa Cave, there is a huge Buddha statue and many prayers flags hanging. While hiking up there you can see the Marsandi valley and its surroundings.
Rs. 100 Lama Monastery
Rs. 100 lama monastery is another popular hiking trail from Manang. It’s located just above the Manang village and needs to hike up for around 2 hours to reach there. While hiking up to Rs. 100 Lama monastery you can enjoy the panoramic mountain view of the Annapurna Range, Gangapurna, Tilicho peak, and many more.
The best valley and encircling impression can see from the monastery. It’s not a huge monastery and the living number of Lamas. It’s a small but attractive place and Lama will bless you to successful your Annapurna Circuit trek. So this is another day hiking trail from Manang during Annapurna Circuit Trek.
Tilicho Lake
Tilicho Lake is famous as the world’s highest lake with an elevation of 4920m above sea level. This gigantic lake is located on the base of Tilicho Peak and the source of the lake is glaciers. To hike to Tilicho Lake it’s called Tilicho Lake Trek, and from Manang or possible to hike in 2 days. First-day hike to Tilicho Base Camp and second-day hike to Tilicho Lake and back to Manang.
But I never walked to Tilicho Lake in a day, my itinerary used to be Manang to Shree Kharka then Hike to Base camp, and in a third-day hike up to Lake and back to Shree Kharka. But once I walked from Manang to Base Camp and the next day Tilicho Lake and then back down to Khangsar.
During Mesokantala Pass I slept on the bank of the Tilicho Lake too and at that time I was a porter. However, it’s not a day hiking trail from Manang during Annapurna Circuit Trek but it’s the must-visit place during ACT trek.
As a trekking guide, I walked all these places and my favorite one is Ice Lake. Because hiking up to Ice Lake I always enjoy the picturesque mountain view and surroundings. Around 10 years ago I was trekking there as a porter with a Photographer and we spent a week there. Reasons to stay there for a week is he wants to take the photo of the snow leopard and the successes too.
Other things to do in Manang during the Annapurna Circuit Trek
Manang is a traditional village and kind of biggest village in Manang district. During Annapurna Circuit Trek, most of the trekkers take a rest day or acclimatize day here. So that, except hiking to the popular day hiking trail from Manang during ACT Trek, there are other things also you can do.
The first thing you can do is drink a good coffee and eat some delicious bakery items and wash your dirty clothes, from a week-long walk in the region. Shopping can be the second option because from the here upper side you can not buy needed things. This is the best place to buy what you need for to rest of the trek. Also, you can explore the village and visit the counseling center to know more about mountain sickness and how to prevent that.
In the evening time, you can go to movie shows on a small projector. Most of the movies are relating to mountains and trekking such as Into the Thin Air, Seven Years in Tibet, Everest, Caravana, etc.
