How to Reach the Lake?
To reach Birendra Lake (also called Birendra Tal), you’ll first make your way to the village of Sama Gaun on the Manaslu Circuit, then take a short uphill trail from there. Here’s how to do it in simple steps:
Travel from Kathmandu to Sama Gaun
Kathmandu to Arughat Bazaar: Begin by catching a bus or booking a jeep from Kathmandu to Arughat. This leg of the journey typically takes around seven to eight hours by road.
Arughat Bazaar to Soti Khola: From Arughat, transfer to a local jeep or bus bound for Soti Khola. That ride is usually one to two hours along a winding riverside road.
Trekking from Soti Khola to Sama Gaun: From Soti Khola (about 700 m elevation), set off on foot and follow the Manaslu Circuit route. You will pass throug
- Maccha Khola (around 900 m)
- Sama Gaun (around 3,530–3,800 m)
- Namrung (about 2,630 m)
- Deng (roughly 1,860 m)
- Jagat (approximately 1,300 m)
Plan on five to six days of walking (depending on how many rest or side‑hike days you take) to arrive in Sama Gaun. Lodges are available at each stop, and you’ll get gradual altitude gain along the way.
Side‑hike from Sama Gaun up to Birendra Lake
Starting Point: In Sama Gaun itself, find the signposted footpath that heads north toward the glacier. This trail is a popular side trip for trekkers acclimatizing before pushing higher on the Manaslu Circuit.
Distance and Elevation: Birendra Lake sits roughly 1.5–2 kilometers above the village, at about 3,690 meters. From the center of Sama Gaun, you’ll climb steadily but not too steeply for about 45 minutes to an hour.
Expect a rocky, uneven path that winds through sparse vegetation before you begin seeing moraine boulders and glacial debris. Near the lake, the ground can be damp or icy, so sturdy boots with good grip are important.
When is the best time to visit the Birendra lake?
The best time to visit the Birendra Lake is when the weather is most stable and the trails are clear. In Nepal, that generally means shooting for either the spring window (mid‑March through May) or the autumn window (September through early November). Here’s a breakdown:
Spring (Mid‑March to May)
By late March, most of the lower‑elevation snow has melted; you’ll see budding rhododendrons below Sama Gaun and longer daylight hours. Temperatures at Birendra Lake (≈3,690 m) typically hover between –5 °C (night) and 10 °C (day) in April/May. Skies tend to be clear most mornings; afternoon clouds can roll in, but heavy snowfall is unlikely. The path from Sama Gaun up to Birendra Lake will usually be free of thick ice by mid‑April, though you might still see patches of firm snow lingering in shady spots. Slush and muddy sections can appear as daytime temperatures rise, so waterproof boots with good grip (or micro spikes, just in case) are handy.
Spring is popular for the Manaslu Circuit, so you’ll see a fair number of trekkers in Sama Gaun. However, since Birendra Lake is a short side hike, it never feels too crowded. You’ll get bright, crisp reflections of the Manaslu Glacier on the lake especially if you go early in the morning before any afternoon breeze picks up.
Autumn (September to Early November)
By September, monsoon clouds have cleared out, and you’ll enjoy consistently blue skies with virtually no rain. Daytime highs around Birendra Lake usually range from 5 °C to 12 °C, while nights drop close to –7 °C to –3 °C. Visibility is spectacular, making mountain panoramas sharp and vibrant. After the monsoon (which tapers off by late August), trails are firm and mostly dry. Any remaining puddles or soggy patches tend to get baked out by mid‑September. Paths are easy to follow, and you aren’t battling melting snow. Autumn is the busiest trekking season in Nepal overall, so you’ll see more people on the Manaslu trek trail. That said, the short climb to Birendra Tal still feels peaceful, since most trekkers focus on moving quickly toward Samdo or Base Camp. If you hit the lake first thing (say, 6 a.m. – 8 a.m.), you’ll likely have the shore to yourself and can watch sunrise glow on the ice.
Monsoon and Winter
Monsoon (June to August): Heavy rainfall makes the Manaslu approach roads and trails muddy and slippery. Landslides are common, visibility is low, and cloud cover often hides the mountains. Streams swell unexpectedly, and the risk of trail closures rises. Winter (December to February): Temperatures plunge below –10 °C at night even in Sama Gaun, and the trail to Birendra Lake (∼3,690 m) often gets coated in ice and snow. You’ll need crampons and possibly snow‑clearing gear.
Daylight is shorter, and occasional winter storms can dump fresh snow, making navigation tricky. It’s doable for very experienced, well‑equipped groups, but not recommended for casual trekkers. If your schedule or budget forces you into a different season, be prepared for either rain‑soaked paths (monsoon) or icy trails and subzero nights (winter). But if you can choose, autumn and spring give you the safest, most scenic conditions for a quick side‑hike up to Birendra Lake.
Things to do near Birendra Lake
Here are a few enjoyable ways to spend time around Birendra Lake once you arrive:
Early‑Morning Reflection
Wake up before sunrise and hike down to the lakeshore when it’s still. The water acts like a mirror at first light, perfectly reflecting the Manaslu Glacier and surrounding ridges. Sit quietly on a rock or a flat patch of moraine, breathe in the crisp mountain air, and watch the color of the lake shift from deep teal to turquoise as daylight spreads.
Photography and Sketching
The angles change dramatically as the sun moves. Try taking a panoramic shot from the east side of the lake just as the sun hits the glacier’s snout. If you like sketching, bring a small notebook and pencil to capture the jagged ice walls, the moraine patterns, or a portrait of the village of Sama Gaun tucked below. Look for smaller icebergs or glacial runoff streams along the shore they make great foreground interest for landscape shots.
Short Exploration of the Glacier Edge
From the lake, you can follow a borderline trail that skirts the foot of the Manaslu Glacier. It’s uneven but not technical just mind the loose rocks and occasional wet spots where meltwater drains. You won’t get right up to the icefall itself (that’s dangerous), but you can safely observe the glacier’s terminus from a distance of 50–100 meters. Keep an eye out for patterns of crevasses and seracs in the ice if the weather is clear, you’ll see blue‑green streaks where the ice is more compact.
Mini “Geology Lesson” on Glacial Features
Birendra Lake is a classic glacial lake formed behind a moraine dam. Walk around its rim and look at the wall of moraine rocks on the uphill side, the piles of debris left by the glacier over centuries. Notice how the rocks are jagged and angular, indicating they were recently plucked and dropped by moving ice. On the opposite bank, you’ll often see smoothed boulders polished by past ice flow. Spend a few minutes identifying old lateral moraine lines on nearby slopes-they show where the glacier stood in previous years.
Light Acclimatization Hike
If you’ve come up from Sama Gaun to acclimatize before heading higher, consider a quick up‑and‑down loop: ascend from the lake toward a small knoll or rocky outcrop above it (roughly 100 meters of additional gain). Turn around at the ridge for a different vantage point, then return to Birendra Lake. This helps your body adjust to altitude while giving you a slightly higher view. From that little ridge, you’ll see the lake from directly above, the glacier tongue, and, on a clear day, the distant ridgeline of Kang Guru.
Picnic or Tea‑Break by the Shore
Carry a thermos of warm tea (or bring a small camping stove) and set up a quick picnic on a flat boulder near the water. Spread out some energy bars, nuts, or dried fruit, and enjoy lunch while gazing at the glacier’s lower reaches. If you’re trekking with a guide or porter, ask for a simple dal bhat or noodle soup cooked on a small burner—it’s surprisingly comforting to eat hot food right beside that icy lake.
Birdwatching and Flora Spotting
Around Birendra Lake, you’ll sometimes spot Himalayan monal or choughs fluttering above; listen for the occasional squawk of a snowcock on nearby ridges. Keep binoculars handy. In spring and autumn, patches of alpine wildflowers—blue poppies or primulas—dot the slopes just below the glacier’s moraine. Look for tiny moss‑covered patches where moisture from the lake seeps into cracks, supporting small plant life.
Quiet Meditation or Journaling
There’s a calm stillness here that’s perfect for a short meditation session. Sit cross‑legged on a flat rock, close your eyes, and focus on the sound of dripping meltwater or the distant rush of a hidden stream. Alternatively, journal about the trek so far note how the air smells, how your legs feel at this altitude, or simply describe the shifting colors you see in the ice and water.
Visit the Nearby Yak Pastures
If you time it right (late September or early October), yaks and dzos may be grazing on the grassy terraces above Birendra Lake. Walk up gently (without startling them), observe how the herders bring them down each evening, and learn a bit about how locals use high‑altitude pastures. Ask any passing shepherds for a taste of chhurpi (Himalayan cheese) or a sip of their freshly pressed yak butter tea, it’s a small cultural exchange that adds flavor to the experience.
Sunset Shadow Play
Stay until late afternoon and watch as the lake transitions from bright turquoise to deeper blue. As the sun dips behind the ridge, shadows sweep across the glacier’s face and trickle down to the lake, creating a dramatic contrast between ice and water. If you’re lucky, you might glimpse a thin ice‑fog rising off the lake as temperatures cool, giving the whole scene an otherworldly feeling.
By mixing a bit of quiet reflection, light exploration, and simple photography or sketching, you can turn a short visit to Birendra Lake into an unforgettable highlight of your Manaslu trek.
What makes the lake special?
Birendra Lake stands out for several reasons, formed at the foot of the Manaslu Glacier, Birendra Lake is essentially a turquoise pool fed by melting ice. The water’s vivid color comes from finely ground rock flour suspended in the meltwater, giving the lake that almost‑otherworldly blue‑green hue. When conditions are calm, it behaves like a perfect mirror, reflecting the pristine icefall and jagged ridges above. Sitting at around 3,690 meters, the lake is only a short hike from Sama Gaun (3,530 m). Trekkers on the Manaslu Circuit often use the side‑trip to Birendra Lake as an acclimatization exercise: it’s just far enough and just high enough to help your body adjust before pushing up toward Samdo or Base Camp. Yet it’s close enough that you can return to a proper lodge that same day.
Unlike the main trail toward Manaslu Base Camp, which sees a steady stream of trekkers, Birendra Lake feels tucked away in its own little pocket. Once you leave Sama Gaun, it’s rare to encounter many people. That sense of solitude no teahouses, no tractor noise, just wind‑tossed moraine and glacial trickles makes the visit feel more like a discovery than a checkpoint. Morning is magical: if you time it right, you’ll catch the moment when sunlight first hits the icefall above and the lake shifts from a deep teal to a lighter turquoise.
As the sun moves, shadows from the surrounding ridges play on both the ice and water surface. Photographers and sketch artists often linger just to see how the colors evolve over the course of an hour or two. Walk around the lake’s edge and you’ll notice two things: the steep moraine walls on the uphill side (piled up by centuries of glacial push) and smooth, water‑smoothed boulders on the lakeshore. These features tell the story of how Manaslu Glacier has advanced and retreated over generations.
For anyone curious about how high‑altitude glaciers carve valleys, Birendra Lake is a living classroom. Almost no other spot on the Manaslu Circuit offers such a close, uninterrupted view of Manaslu’s southern flanks. From the lakeshore, you can look straight up at steep ice cliffs, seracs, and ridges that eventually lead to Manaslu’s summit (8,163 m). In clear weather, that imposing mass feels almost within arm’s reach unlike many other Himalayan viewpoints where you see peaks from a distance.
Places to visit near Birendra Lake
Here are some spots you can explore once you’re at Birendra Lake (3,690 m). With these options, you can turn a quick stop at Birendra Lake into a mini‑exploration hub, each nearby attraction adds its own flavor, from cultural encounters in Sama and Samdo to geological insights at the glacier and pastoral life on Kermo Kharka. Whether you have a few hours or several days, there’s plenty to see around Birendra Lake without veering far off the main Manaslu Circuit. All lie along or just off the Manaslu Circuit trail, so you can weave them into your schedule without adding major detours:
Sama Gaun Village
Distance: 1.5–2 km downhill (about 45 minutes back).
A traditional Gurung settlement at 3,530 m, Sama Gaun is the last substantial village before the high‑glacial zone. Wander its narrow alleys, observe stone‑and‑wood homes, and drop into the local gompa (monastery) to see simple murals and yak‑butter butter lamps. Lodges here serve hot tea, dal bhat, and often host Tibetan Buddhist prayer ceremonies in the evening.
Sama Monastery (Sama Gompa)
Distance: 1 km from Birendra Lake trailhead (10–15 minutes below the village center).
Perched on a rocky knoll, this small Gompa (around 3,600 m) has prayer flags fluttering in the breeze and a courtyard that overlooks the glacial valley. If you time it right, you can attend a morning puja (prayer) led by a local lama watch monks spin prayer wheels and chant mantras in Tibetan.
Samdo Village
Distance: 6 km north of Birendra Lake (about 3–4 hours of trekking).
At roughly 3,860 m, Samdo is the last inhabited settlement before Manaslu Base Camp proper. It’s a small cluster of stone teahouses where yaks are herded down each evening. Samdo sits right at the Nepal–Tibet border region; on a clear day you can look north toward Tibetan pastures and distant peaks like Nyak Kang. If you have an extra day, pop into one of the local shops selling hand‑woven yak blankets and dried yak meat.
Pungyen Gompa
Distance: 4 km north of Birendra Lake (around 2–3 hours walk, just beyond Samdo).
A remote nunnery nestled at about 4,000 m, Pungyen Gompa offers a more austere, contemplative experience than the larger monasteries lower down. Built into a cliff face, you’ll see prayer wheels carved right from local stone. It’s an excellent spot for birdwatching (Himalayan griffon vultures often circle overhead) and for witnessing how nuns in this region sustain themselves through yak herding and small‑scale barley farming.
Viewpoint Above Birendra Lake
Distance: 200–300 m elevation gain above the lake (15–20 minutes uphill).
A short scramble up a rocky spur behind the lake gives you a bird’s‑eye view of the turquoise water and the moraine walls. From this vantage, you can trace the Manaslu Glacier’s snout and look east toward the ridges above Dharmsala (the shepherds’ shelter). It’s especially rewarding at first light, when the sunrise glints off the ice.
Kermo Kharka (Yak Pastures)
Distance: 3 km northeast of Birendra Lake (roughly 1.5–2 hours walk).
At around 3,900–4,000 m, this gently sloping plateau collects lush grass in late summer and early autumn. If your timing aligns (late September through early October), you’ll see itinerant herders grazing their yaks here. The pasture offers broad views of Manaslu’s southern flanks and a quieter alternative to the main circuit. It’s a good spot for a picnic or to relax while watching herders move their flocks.
Manaslu Glacier Snout
Distance: 500 m north of Birendra Lake (about 10–15 minutes on rough ground).
From Birendra Lake’s shore, you already see the glacier, but if you’re careful (and stay on stable ground), you can approach within 50–100 meters of the ice’s terminus. Look for serac towers (ice pinnacles) and small crevasses. Do not attempt to walk on the glacier itself unstable ice and hidden crevasses make it dangerous but observing its snout up close gives a visceral sense of how the ice carves the valley.
Dharmsala Ridge
Distance: 2 km north, with ~200 m of ascent (about 1–1.5 hours each way).
Above Birendra Lake’s northern shore, a narrow trail leads up to a small seasonal shepherds’ hut (Dharmsala) at 4,000 m. From there, you’ll have a wider panorama of the Budhi Gandaki valley, including a side view of the glacier and spires of Larky Peak beyond. On a still day, the mountains look assembled for a postcard.
Side Excursion to Manaslu Base Camp (MBC)
Distance: 12 km north of Birendra Lake (2 full days of trekking, via Samdo and Samagoun).
If you have extra time and energy after Birendra Lake, continue up past Pungyen Gompa to Samagoun (3,753 m), then onward to Manaslu Base Camp (4,560 m). Along that route you’ll cross streams, navigate moraine fields, and pass yak herder settlements. At MBC, you can stand at the foot of the North Face of Manaslu (8,163 m) and feel the full weight of the massif which towers over the valley like a fortress. Plan for camping or basic lodge stays in Samagoun and MBC; permits and a qualified guide are mandatory.
Quick Tips to Get the Most Out of These Nearby Spots
- Start Early: Whether you’re aiming for a sunrise reflection at Birendra Lake or a calm morning at Sama Monastery, hitting the trail before 7 a.m. usually means fewer clouds, better light, and fewer people.
- Dress in Layers: Even a short walk up to Dharmsala or Kermo Kharka will push you above 4,000 m, where wind and temperature can change fast. A warm mid‑layer plus a windbreaker will keep you comfortable.
- Carry Snacks and Water: There are no teahouses once you leave Sama Gaun. Pack enough water (or purification tablets) and quick‑energy snacks (nuts, chocolate, granola) if you plan to linger at viewpoints or wander toward Samdo.
- Mind the Altitude: Even a minor side trip (like up to the glacier snout) involves climbing from 3,690 m to around 3,800–4,000 m. Move steadily, drink often, and watch for mild headache or dizziness otherwise, stick to shorter excursions and return to Sama Gaun to sleep.
- Respect Local Customs: When entering any Gompa (monastery), remove your hat, walk clockwise around prayer wheels, and refrain from loud conversations. If you meet herders at Kermo Kharka, a simple “Namaste” and a nod goes a long way.
- Wear Good Boots: The trail (even around the lake’s edge) can be muddy, icy, or rocky. Boots with solid ankle support and grippy soles will keep you steady
- Respect the Environment: Don’t push too close to the glacier’s snout as ice can calve without warning. Take any trash home, and keep noise to a minimum so wildlife remains undisturbed.
- Plan Your Return: Give yourself plenty of daylight to hike back down to Sama Gaun. Evening shadows fall quickly in that narrow valley, and rocks become hard to see once it’s dark.
Conclusion
Birendra Lake is a combination of vivid glacial waters, relative solitude, geological intrigue, and close‑up vistas of the Manaslu massif making it a standout highlight on the Manaslu Circuit. It is not just “another high‑altitude glacial lake” it’s a microcosm of everything that makes high Himalayan trekking so compelling. It is mostly famous for its wild beauty, challenging environments, and moments of quiet reflection in one of the world’s most dramatic mountain settings. For trekkers aiming to continue northward, Birendra Lake is more than a side trip it’s a mental milestone. Once you’ve been here, you’ve touched the very edge of the Manaslu Glacier. It represents both a physical and psychological threshold in the circuit.
