Valley or region
Tsum Valley
A restricted Buddhist side valley of the Manaslu region, with monasteries, Milarepa's cave and villages near the Tibetan border.
Manasluसोती खोला
Soti Khola
A small roadhead settlement on the Budhi Gandaki where most Manaslu Circuit treks begin.
This is Soti Khola in Aarughat, Gorkha district, the usual starting point of the Manaslu Circuit on the Budhi Gandaki; not the Soti Khola stream and roadside area near Gajuri in Dhading.
- Altitude
- 730 m*
- Best months
- Mar-May, Oct-Nov
- Type
- Trek stop
- District
- Gorkha, Gandaki
- Permit
- None needed
Higher seasonal exposure: landslides (Jun-Sep), road blockages (Jun-Sep), river crossings (Jun-Sep).
Why go
Soti Khola is a cluster of lodges and houses where the Soti Khola stream joins the Budhi Gandaki, a few hours' drive north of Arughat in Gorkha district. For most trekkers it is where the jeep or bus ride from Kathmandu ends and the Manaslu Circuit begins on foot, so its role in the Manaslu destination is as the gateway rather than a sight in itself.
At only a few hundred metres above sea level, it is warm and green, with sal forest, terraced rice fields and a steep, narrow river valley. Beyond it the trail follows the Budhi Gandaki upstream past waterfalls and suspension bridges towards Machha Khola. The road is being extended up the valley, so some groups now drive on past Soti Khola; check conditions before planning.
History and culture
The lower Budhi Gandaki is home mainly to Gurung, Magar and other hill communities, with Hindu and Buddhist shrines along the way. The valley was the southern section of an old trade route between the middle hills and Tibet. Soti Khola grew as a stopping place for porters and, since the Manaslu Circuit opened to foreigners in 1991, for trekkers.
Things to do in Soti Khola
Begin the circuit
Set off up the Budhi Gandaki towards Machha Khola, about 6-7 hours' walk.
Short evening walk
Stroll to the bridge and riverbank after the long drive from Kathmandu.
Weather and the best time to visit Soti Khola
Weather in Soti Khola
Forecast for 730 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Best time to visit
Mar-May, Oct-Nov
- Jan
- Feb
- Good month: Mar
- Good month: Apr
- Good month: May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Good month: Oct
- Good month: Nov
- Dec
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- October and November are dry and warm at this low altitude, the main season for the circuit.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February is mild here, but the Larkya La higher up is often closed by snow.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- March to May is warm to hot in the lower gorge; good for the full circuit.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to August brings heavy rain, leeches and landslides that can block the road and trail.
Where to stay
TeahousesLodges
A handful of simple lodges serve trekkers starting the circuit.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Drive from Kathmandu via Dhading Besi or Gorkha to Arughat and on to Soti Khola.
Nearest hub: Kathmandu
- roadKathmandu to Soti Khola by bus or jeep, roughly 7-9 hours; the last stretch beyond Arughat is rough and unpaved.
- jeepArughat to Soti Khola by local jeep, roughly 1-2 hours depending on the road.
Getting to Soti Khola, by mode
Nearest hub: Kathmandu. Times are typical ranges, not schedules, and vary with roadworks, weather and the season.
By busfrom Kathmanduabout 7-9 hLocal buses
Public buses run from Kathmandu towards Arughat and Soti Khola in a long day on a road that is largely unpaved beyond Arughat; services may stop short of Soti Khola depending on the state of the track, with Arughat the usual fallback for a night.
When to set off: buses for Arughat and Soti Khola leave Kathmandu in the morning, so be at the bus park by about 07:00
By car or jeepfrom Kathmanduabout 7-9 h
A hired jeep is the usual way in: sealed road as far as Dhading Besi or Gorkha, then an unpaved hill road through Arughat to Soti Khola, and on up the valley to Machha Khola when the track allows.
Road: Sealed to Dhading Besi or Gorkha, then a largely unpaved hill road through Arughat; a jeep or 4WD is normally needed and the upper sections are monsoon-affected.
When to set off: leave Kathmandu by about 06:00 to reach the roadhead in daylight
By motorbikefrom Kathmanduabout 8-11 hExperienced riders only
Riders do reach the Manaslu roadhead, but the stretch beyond Arughat is rough, dusty and exposed, with river crossings and loose surfaces, so it suits experienced off-road riders only.
Road: Highway to Dhading Besi, then an unpaved hill road with loose gravel, steep pitches and stream crossings beyond Arughat.
When to set off: start early; the unpaved section beyond Arughat is slow going
Where people go next
- Machha Kholaon foot, about 6-7 hFirst walking day up the Budhi Gandaki, with a net gain of only about 150-200 m.
- Jagat (Gorkha)on footAbout two walking days via Machha Khola.
- Gorkhaby car or jeepJeeps run back down the valley to Arughat and on to Gorkha bazaar; times vary with the state of the road.
Permits and fees
None needed
No permit is needed to visit Soti Khola itself, but trekkers continuing up the circuit need the Manaslu restricted area permit, the Manaslu and Annapurna conservation area permits, and to be with a registered agency.
- Manaslu restricted area permit: Checked further up the valley, around Jagat; arranged in advance through a registered agency.
- Manaslu Conservation Area permit: Needed for the circuit.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Department of Immigration: Trekking route and permit fee.
On the trail
On the Manaslu Circuit, Tsum Valley Trek.
- Previous stop:
- Arughat (by road)
- Next stop:
- Machha Khola
- A typical day:
- Soti Khola to Machha Khola is about 6-7 hours of up-and-down walking through forest and terraces beside the river, with a net gain of only about 150-200 m.
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Soti Khola
What this place is typically exposed to, and when. These are seasonal patterns, not a report on conditions now.
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.
Road blockageshigh in a typical yearJun-Sep
The largely unpaved road beyond Arughat is prone to landslide blockages and washouts during the June to September monsoon, when most of Nepal's annual rain falls.
River crossingshigh in a typical yearJun-Sep
The route crosses the Budhi Gandaki repeatedly on suspension bridges, and near Yaru a cantilever walkway carries the trail along the gorge wall. These are the most exposed sections when the river runs high in the monsoon.
Floodingmoderate in a typical yearJul-Sep
Riverside settlements and trail sections beside the Budhi Gandaki sit close to the water, and monsoon rain raises the river and its side streams quickly.
Othermoderate in a typical yearJun-Aug
Leeches are common on the forested lower trail through the monsoon, which is one reason most trekkers avoid these months.
Heatmoderate in a typical yearApr-May
At about 730 m the Budhi Gandaki roadhead is hot and humid in the pre-monsoon weeks of April and May, when afternoon temperatures in Nepal's low valleys climb sharply.
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.
Practical tips
- It is hot and humid in spring and the monsoon; carry water treatment and sun protection.
- Withdraw cash in Kathmandu; do not rely on ATMs in Arughat or beyond.
- Mobile signal is usually available here but fades further up the gorge.
- Check road conditions before departure; landslides can add hours to the drive.
Questions about Soti Khola
How do I get to Soti Khola from Kathmandu?
By bus or jeep via Dhading Besi or Gorkha and Arughat, roughly 7-9 hours on a road that is rough beyond Arughat.
Do I need a permit for Soti Khola?
Not to visit the village, but the Manaslu Circuit beyond it requires a restricted area permit and conservation area permits arranged through an agency.
What is the first stop after Soti Khola on the Manaslu Circuit?
Most trekkers walk to Machha Khola, about 6-7 hours up the Budhi Gandaki.
More in Manaslu
All of ManasluTrek stop · 3,590 m
Bimthang
A meadow settlement below the Larkya La, the first stop after the crossing.
Trek stop · 1,860 m
Deng
A small village at the head of the lower gorge on the Manaslu Circuit.
Trek stop · 4,460 m
Dharmasala (Larke Phedi)
The seasonal stop at the foot of the Larkya La, used the night before the crossing.
Trek stop · 1,340 m
Jagat (Gorkha)
A stone-paved village in the Budhi Gandaki gorge where the Manaslu restricted area begins.
Mountain pass · 5,106 m
Larkya La
The high pass of the Manaslu Circuit, a long glacial crossing from the Budhi Gandaki to the Marsyangdi side.
Trek stop · 900 m
Machha Khola
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
Namrung
The first village of Nubri on the Manaslu Circuit, among barley fields and forest.
Nearby
Valley or region
Manaslu
A restricted trekking region around the world's eighth-highest mountain, from the Budhi Gandaki gorge to Tibetan-Buddhist villages and the Larkya La.
Temple, monastery or heritage site · 1,135 m
Gorkha
The hill town where the Shah kings ruled the Gorkha Kingdom and Prithvi Narayan Shah began the unification of Nepal.
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Manaslu Trek, Wikivoyage, OpenStreetMap: Soti Khola, Aarughat, Department of Immigration: Trekking route and permit fee