Can you trek Manaslu solo? Yes, and here's how it works
Written by our trekking team
Photo: Remote Nepal Treks, 29 Mar 2023.
The short version
Yes. On Manaslu we can file the Restricted Area Permit for a group of one, as long as a licensed guide walks the whole route with you. That's not true of Kanchanjunga, Makalu or the Tsum Valley, which all need at least two trekkers. A solo trek costs $2,100, which is $150 more than going as a pair. You walk the same 15-day route, at your own pace, and your guide deals with the permits and every checkpoint.
The rule that makes it possible
Manaslu is a restricted area. You can't walk in on your own, you can't buy the Restricted Area Permit yourself, and a licensed guide has to be with you for the whole trip. Only a licensed agency can file the RAP.
What surprises people is the group size. On Manaslu the RAP can be issued for a single trekker. On Kanchanjunga, Makalu and the Tsum Valley it can't: those need at least two people per group, and a solo trekker has to join a departure or be paired with another booking.
Plenty of trekkers still think two is the minimum for Manaslu too, and some never look further. If you're travelling alone, the Manaslu Circuit is open to you. Our post on the Manaslu restricted area has the full set of rules.
What solo means here
Solo on Manaslu means no other trekkers. It doesn't mean no guide. Here's how that plays out:
| You might picture | What it actually is |
|---|---|
| Walking alone | A licensed guide walks every day with you, as the permit requires |
| Sorting your own permits | We file the RAP, MCAP and ACAP before you land |
| Carrying everything | Porters carry the shared gear; you carry a daypack |
| Talking your way through checkpoints | Your guide carries the paperwork at Jagat, Namrung and Dharapani |
| Hunting for a bed each night | Teahouses every night on the trail, then a hotel in Besisahar |
It's the same trip a group of eight gets. There's just one of you.
What a solo trek costs
The solo price is $2,100. A couple pays $1,950 each, and a group of seven or eight pays $1,650 each. That gap is mostly the guide and the transport: both cost the same whether there's one trekker or several, so on a solo trip they aren't shared.
You get exactly what a group gets for it. The permit fees, your licensed guide and porters, teahouse lodging and every meal on the trek, the hotel night in Besisahar, and the drives in and out are all included. Flights, your visa, Kathmandu hotel nights, insurance and tips aren't.
The full table and the fine print are in our Manaslu price breakdown.
Your pace, your rest day
This is the best part of going alone, in our view.
Walking days on the circuit run from 3–4 hours on the short ones to 8–9 hours over the Larkya La. In a group, everyone walks at the pace that suits the group. On your own, the pace is yours. Stop for photos on the suspension bridges below Namrung, sit a while on the gompa terrace at Lho, take the climb to Samagaon slowly.
The rest day at Samagaon is yours to choose, too. Feeling strong? Hike toward Manaslu Base Camp, around 4,800m, past Birendra Tal. Want something easier? Walk up to Pungyen Gompa instead. Either way you sleep in Samagaon again, which is the point of the day.
Photo: Remote Nepal Treks, 31 Mar 2023.
Safety as the only trekker
It's a fair thing to ask about. Manaslu's rescue infrastructure is thinner than on the Everest or Annapurna trails, and once you start the Larkya La crossing there's no easy way to turn back halfway.
But you're never actually on your own. Your guide carries a first aid kit and a pulse oximeter, checks how you're handling the altitude at every stop above 3,000m, and has an evacuation plan ready for every trip. With one trekker instead of eight, all of that attention is on you.
The itinerary does the rest. A full rest day at Samagaon, a short day up to Samdo, and a staging night at Dharamsala (4,460m) right under the pass mean the 5,106m crossing is a long day rather than a gamble. Bring travel insurance that covers high-altitude evacuation, as every trekker should.
Who a solo trek suits
Experienced trekkers. Ideally you've done at least one multi-day teahouse trek above 4,000m and know how your body handles altitude. We wouldn't suggest Manaslu as anyone's first high trek, solo or not. Our honest difficulty grade will help you decide.
People who like quiet. Manaslu sees a fraction of the traffic on the Everest Base Camp trail. Walking it with just a guide is about as peaceful as a big Himalayan trek gets.
Anyone whose dates don't line up with friends. You don't need to find a trekking partner or wait for a group to fill. Pick your dates inside the season and go.
Booking it
Tell us your dates and a little about the trekking you've done. We'll confirm the solo price, check the dates fall inside a permit window (late March to May, or late September to November; see our spring vs autumn guide), and file your permits before you arrive.
Have a look at the full Manaslu itinerary first so you know what each day holds. For everything else, from difficulty to what you'll eat, start with our Manaslu Circuit guide.
Frequently asked
Can you trek the Manaslu Circuit solo?
Yes. We can file the Restricted Area Permit for a group of one, as long as a licensed guide walks the whole route with you.
Do I need a guide to trek Manaslu solo?
Yes. A licensed guide is mandatory for every trekker in the Manaslu restricted area, solo or in a group. Solo here means no other trekkers, not no guide.
How much does a solo Manaslu trek cost?
$2,100. That includes the RAP, MCAP and ACAP fees, a licensed guide and porters, teahouse lodging and meals on the trek, the hotel night in Besisahar, and the drives in and out.
Can I trek Kanchanjunga, Makalu or the Tsum Valley solo?
No. Those routes need at least two trekkers per group, so if you're on your own we'll fold you into a group departure or pair you with another booking.
Is it safe to trek Manaslu on your own?
You're never on your own: your guide walks every day with you, carries a first aid kit and a pulse oximeter, checks your altitude at every stop above 3,000m, and has an evacuation plan for every trip.