Hot showers and toilets on the Manaslu Circuit Trek differ as you go higher. You will find Western-style toilets and gas showers at lower altitudes. But once you get higher, you will only see squat toilets and showers made using buckets.
When you get to Dharamsala, there is no such thing as a shower anymore. It is best that you know these changes before you start walking so you can pack accordingly.
Toilets on the Manaslu Circuit Trek
In most teahouses along the Manaslu Circuit trekking route, there will be either an individual bathroom attached to your room or a shared facility that is exclusive for your guest house only. It will be the same experience all the way from Soti Khola to Bimthang. You won't have to share with everybody else in the village.
There are different types of facilities depending on the altitude of the village. Western-style flush toilet facilities are common at low-altitude villages such as Machha Khola and Jagat. Most of them have attached baths inside their rooms.
However, as you go up, squat toilets will be the common type of toilets available. They are very practical and are being used mostly by locals.
Types of toilets you can find during Manaslu Circuit Trek
By the time you reach Samdo and Dharamsala, the toilet facility will be a basic squat toilet located outdoors. There will be no running water and you will have to bring your own toilet paper and sanitizer.
Toilet Facilities Along the Manaslu Circuit Route
Toilet conditions worsen with altitude. Below are toilet conditions at each stop point.
Machha Khola (930 meters / 3,051 feet): Toilet conditions in this village are better than at any other place. Most lodges have bathrooms with flush toilets. Gas-powered hot showers can be relied upon here.
Jagat (1,340 meters / 4,396 feet): It is a well-serviced and permit-checkpoint stop point. Some lodges offer rooms with attached bathrooms whereas others provide shared bathrooms. The type of toilet includes both Western and squat.
Deng (1,860 meters / 6,102 feet): This is where the use of shared facilities increases. Shared bathroom facilities can be found in old lodges in this village.
Namrung (2,630 meters / 8,629 feet): This is an extensive village with many lodges. The quality of toilet conditions is good; however, shared squat toilets are more common.
Lho (3,180 meters / 10,433 feet): Accommodation facilities stay the same as in Namrung. Shared squat toilets are standard. Hot showers are provided, however they cost more money.
Samagaon (3,530 meters / 11,581 feet): The largest village of the upper circuit is Samagaon. Some guesthouses feature bathrooms in each room, however at extra charge. In most other places there will be shared squat toilets. This place provides the best chance to take a shower before the pass.
Samdo (3,875 meters / 12,713 feet): A smaller village than Samagaon. Squat toilets are shared. Only bucket showers are offered. There are no private bathrooms at all.
Dharamsala (4,460 meters / 14,633 feet): The last destination before crossing Larkya La. Basic shelters with squat toilets outdoors. No showers provided. No hot water.
Hot Showers on the Manaslu Circuit Trek
Hot showers can be had in every important village until Samagaon. Hot showers do not disappear at an altitude of more than 3,000 meters.
They can be found in Jagat, Deng, Namrung, Lho, Samagaon, Samdo, and Bimthang. The way the shower is heated becomes different as your altitude increases, but the hot showers will not disappear.
Beautiful landscape of Prok Village, Manaslu
Hot showers become different in type as well. Gas-heated showers with showers heads are common at lower altitudes. As you go high, bucket showers will be the norm. As the name suggests, bucket showers involve a bucket filled with hot water along with a small bucket. One needs to pour water over himself.
Bucket showers use less water and are very efficient. Private shower facilities are present in some teahouses, while others share showers. Hot showers will have to be made ready by the owner of the teahouse.
Hot Showers and Shower Costs
Costs of showers are proportional to elevation levels. While at low level settlements the cost of having a hot shower is NPR 300 to 400 (USD 2 to 3), it is NPR 400 to 500 (USD 3 to 4) at Namrung and Lho. It becomes NPR 500 to 700 (USD 4 to 5) at Samagaon and Samdo.
Type of heating plays an important role in the reliability of showering experience. Gas-heated showers are the most reliable; however, solar showers depend on weather conditions and are not heated when the sun does not shine. The last type, which is heated by wood, is widely spread in some villages, but also not very reliable.
In Samagaon, solar-heated showers are the most popular, and they are available in the afternoon time. Warmest water is provided from 2 p.m. till 4 p.m. You should arrive early in order to have your shower done before all of the water becomes cold. The first one has the hottest water.
At Samdo, the showers have bucket systems and are either fueled by gas or wood. They are both costly and unreliable. Some trekkers do not shower at Samdo and prefer to take a shower when they reach Bimthang or Dharapani.
There are no showers in Dharamsala, and it is the only place where hot water for showering is not available. You will spend up to two days without showering.
Toilets and Showers at Higher Elevations
The stretch between Samagaon and Dharamsala is a bit different in terms of accommodation facilities, coldness, and altitude levels.
There are comfortable facilities at Samagaon, where you can have a good shower and use the bathroom. Take advantage of that as this is the last place you can be comfortable at.
Facilities are a bit less comfortable at Samdo. They include squat toilets for shared use, bucket showers and no attached bathrooms. The only heated place there is the dining hall.
At Dharamsala, facilities are very minimal. Outdoor squat toilets, no showers, no hot water. The rooms are wooden huts with thin beds. It is very cold. Very, very cold.
Once you get to Bimthang, facilities will start improving. Hot showers are again available; toilets have improved.
Cleanliness and Hygiene on the Trek
Cleanliness levels vary. The lower villages will tend to be clean. The higher villages are more basic. It is common for there to be shared bathrooms. Don’t expect pristine conditions when trekking high up.
Not all facilities will have toilet paper. Some teahouses will provide toilet paper. Most won’t. Therefore, bring your own. Toilet paper can be purchased along the trekking trail but it is more expensive than in Kathmandu.
Lush green forest and suspension bridge on the way to Namrung
It is important to wash hands. Bring hand sanitizer and use it after each bathroom visit. There might not be water available for washing. Hand soap might not be available either. Therefore, hand sanitizer will be your best protection against diseases.
It is normal not to take showers frequently when trekking high up. Don’t feel obliged to shower daily. It is common for many trekkers to take showers every two or three days. Wet wipes and cleaning with a cloth are effective substitutes.
What Should You Carry for Bathroom and Personal Hygiene?
Pack a small hygiene kit that stays accessible in your daypack. Here is what to bring:
Toilet paper (at least 2 rolls)
Wet wipes (biodegradable)
Hand sanitizer
Quick-dry towel
Biodegradable soap
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Small waterproof toiletry bag
Menstrual hygiene products (if needed)
Any personal medications
Buy toilet paper and wet wipes in Kathmandu. They are cheaper and more available there. Do not rely on teahouses to stock them.
What to Expect in the Most Remote Sections
The most isolated stretch is the stretch from Samdo to Bimthang. It covers Dharamsala and the crossing of Larkya La. The facilities are limited. The toilet facilities are limited to outdoor-type squatting toilets. There are no shower facilities at Dharamsala.
You will have to do without showers for a day or two. It is usual. Do not fight it. Use wet wipes to keep yourself fresh. Change your socks. Keep yourself clean at least in your face and hands. You will feel better once you take a shower after reaching Bimthang.
While crossing Larkya La, there are no toilet facilities on the trail. You will have to manage yourself discreetly if you get the urge to go to the bathroom. That's all a part of high-altitude trekking.
Practical Tips for Staying Comfortable and Clean
Get facilities early. Hot water runs out. If you need a shower, better have it right upon arrival. The first person enjoys the most comfortable water temperature.
Pack your own toilet paper. Do not expect that it will be provided. Have a roll with you in your daypack.
Have toiletries handy. You do not want to search for them in your main pack while urgently needing them. Prepare a separate set for use while hiking.
Be prepared for a cold shower. Even a hot one might be a little lukewarm due to high altitude conditions. Bring quick-drying towels and warm clothes.
Wash clothes only occasionally. Some facilities provide washing services at lower altitudes. Once above Namrung, they are not provided. Wash your socks and underwear whenever possible. Clothes dry hard at altitude.
Hydrate yourself but regulate your fluid intake before going on a long walk. There are toilets in teahouses on the trekking route. Use them before starting your walk.
Final Thoughts
Manaslu Circuit bathroom facilities cannot be the reason for not doing the trek. The bathroom facilities are just one of the many aspects of this trip that must be faced as such. Lower villages are very comfortable. Higher villages require adaptation. Dharamsala needs your patience. Every stop readies you for another one.
This issue concerns every trekker before he/she starts the trip. After several days on the way, it becomes routine. You realize that the shower must be taken when there is hot water available. You know that toilet paper has to be carried everywhere. The bucket of warm water after a long walk feels like a luxury.
Manaslu Circuit trek is not a luxurious trip. This is a true trek through remote mountain villages. The bathroom facilities are just reflecting this truth. They are primitive, practical and sometimes quite problematic.
However, they are an integral part of the Manaslu Circuit. The trek will make you remember the cold shower at Samdo. The trek will remind you about the outdoor toilet at Dharamsala. And the trek will make you remember how good that first shower was at Bimthang.
Plan Your Manaslu Circuit Trek With Us
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