Manaslu Circuit Trek guide: everything to know before you book
Written by our trekking team
Photo: Remote Nepal Treks, 29 Mar 2023.
The short version
The Manaslu Circuit Trek is a 15-day restricted-area route around Mt. Manaslu (8,163m), crossing the 5,106m Larkya La with teahouse lodging the whole way. You'll need three permits, a licensed guide, and it only runs in two seasonal windows. It's rated Challenging, and we wouldn't suggest it as your first high-altitude trek, but with two built-in acclimatization days, it's a very doable step up if you've already slept above 4,000m.
What the Manaslu Circuit Trek is
The Manaslu Circuit Trek takes you on a 15-day journey around Mt. Manaslu, the world's eighth-highest mountain, through a government-designated restricted region that still sees a fraction of the traffic on Nepal's best-known trails. You'll walk from the subtropical Budhi Gandaki gorge up through the Tibetan-influenced villages of Samagaon and Samdo, cross the dramatic 5,106m Larkya La, and drop down into the Annapurna region at Bimtang and Dharapani. People often say it feels like what Everest Base Camp felt like decades ago: real teahouses, real trail, and long stretches where you won't see another group.
If you've already done Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Circuit and found yourself wishing for fewer people on the trail, this guide walks through what booking the Manaslu Circuit Trek actually involves, so you can go in with your eyes open.
How difficult and how long
The trek runs 15 days door to door: an arrival day in Kathmandu, 10 days on the trail (including a rest day at Samagaon), three days of driving (one in, two out), and a buffer day at the end. Daily walking time runs anywhere from 3–4 hours on the shorter, acclimatization-adjacent days up to 8–9 hours on the Larkya La crossing itself.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Duration | 15 days (10 on the trail) |
| Max altitude | 5,106m · Larkya La |
| Grade | Challenging |
| Highest overnight | 4,460m · Dharamsala |
You won't need technical climbing skills for the Larkya La (no rope or crampon work on the standard route), but you will need solid multi-day trekking fitness. Curious how the rest days are placed to make that pass day manageable? See how acclimatization is built into the three itineraries.
Permits you'll need
Manaslu sits inside a restricted area, so every trekker needs a Restricted Area Permit (RAP) on top of the Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP), and since the standard route exits through Dharapani, the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) too. None of these can be arranged on your own: the RAP is only issued through a licensed agency, for trekkers travelling with a licensed guide. On Manaslu that can be a group of one, and we arrange it for solo trekkers too. For the full breakdown of what each permit covers and where it's checked on all three of our routes, see restricted-area permits explained.
| Permit | Checked at |
|---|---|
| RAP (Manaslu) | Jagat, Day 3 |
| MCAP | Jagat and again at Namrung |
| ACAP | Dharapani, Day 13 |
What it costs
Our price is $1,650–$2,100 per person depending on group size: $2,100 solo, $1,950 for two, $1,850 for 3–4, $1,750 for 5–6, and $1,650 for 7–8. That covers the RAP, MCAP and ACAP permit fees, a licensed guide and porters, 12 nights of lodging on the trek, all your meals on trek, and Kathmandu–Machha Khola–Kathmandu ground transport. It doesn't cover your international flights and Nepal visa, Kathmandu hotel nights on Day 1 and Day 15, travel insurance with high-altitude evacuation cover, or guide and porter tips.
Before you book
These are our current per-person rates. Permit fees are set by the Nepal government and can change, so we confirm the final figure in your quote before you commit to dates.
Best time to go
Autumn (September–November) is the most popular window: post-monsoon skies are clear and the Larkya La is at its most reliably crossable. Spring (March–May) brings rhododendron blooms through the lower forest, with similarly stable weather. Both windows line up with the seasonal dates the Nepal government actually issues the RAP for, so booking outside them usually isn't possible, whatever the forecast says. Curious how Manaslu's season stacks up against Kanchanjunga and Makalu? See best time to trek Manaslu, Kanchanjunga and Makalu.
Is it right for you
The Manaslu Circuit Trek is best suited to trekkers who've already done at least one multi-day teahouse trek above 4,000m and have a sense of how their body handles altitude. Honestly, we wouldn't recommend it as your first high-altitude trek: the route has thinner rescue infrastructure than Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Circuit, and the Larkya La crossing is a full-commitment day with no easy way out partway through. That said, it's built to be manageable rather than a gamble: your guide carries a first aid kit and a pulse oximeter, checks for altitude symptoms at every stop above 3,000m, and travels with a standing evacuation protocol, on top of the Samagaon rest day and the staging night below the pass already paced into the itinerary.
Itinerary, packing and next step
Everything above is the shape of the trip. For every day on one page, with altitudes and walking hours, read our Manaslu Circuit itinerary, day by day. Take a look at the full Manaslu Circuit Trek itinerary, check what to bring in the packing list, and when you're ready, request a quote for the Manaslu Circuit Trek with your target dates and group size.
Frequently asked
What does the Manaslu Circuit Trek cost, and what's included?
Our price is $1,650 to $2,100 per person depending on group size ($2,100 solo, $1,950 for 2, $1,850 for 3-4, $1,750 for 5-6, $1,650 for 7-8), covering permits, a licensed guide and porters, 12 nights of lodging on the trek, all your meals on trek, and Kathmandu-Machha Khola-Kathmandu transport. It doesn't cover flights, your Nepal visa, Kathmandu hotel nights, insurance or tips. Permit fees are set by the government and can change, so we confirm your final price in the quote.
Do I need previous high-altitude trekking experience?
Yes, we'd recommend at least one prior multi-day teahouse trek above 4,000m. The Manaslu Circuit isn't designed as a first high-altitude trek.
How many days do I need, door to door?
15 days from Kathmandu back to Kathmandu: 10 days on the trail including a rest day at Samagaon, two days driving out via Besisahar, and a built-in buffer day at the end for delayed road conditions.
What permits do I need, and can I arrange them myself?
Three: the Restricted Area Permit (RAP), the Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP), and the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP). None can be self-issued. We apply for and file all three for your group through our license.