Manaslu vs Makalu vs Kanchanjunga: which restricted-area trek is right for you?
Written by our trekking team
Photo: Remote Nepal Treks, Apr 2026.
The short version
Manaslu is the shortest, and the only one of the three with teahouses the whole way. Kanchanjunga is the longest and the most remote, with two base camps. Makalu leans hardest into camping and sees the fewest visitors.
All three routes run through restricted areas, so the basics are the same everywhere: a licensed guide, a minimum group size (one on Manaslu, two on Kanchanjunga and Makalu), and the same two trekking seasons. What sets them apart is length, lodging, and how much of the route sits high and remote.
The three routes side by side
| Manaslu Circuit | Kanchanjunga | Makalu Base Camp | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 15 days | 21 days | 18 days |
| Highest point | 5,106m (Larkya La) | 5,140m (North Base Camp) | 4,870m (Base Camp) |
| Grade | Challenging | Very Challenging | Strenuous |
| Lodging | Teahouse, full route | Teahouse below Ghunsa, lodge or camp above | Teahouse to Tashi Gaon, camp above |
| Group cap | 8 trekkers | 6 trekkers | 6 trekkers |
| Best season | Mar–May, Sep–Nov | Mar–May, Sep–Nov | Mar–May, Sep–Nov |
Manaslu vs Makalu, head to head
If it's down to these two: both are restricted areas, both need a licensed guide, and both have the same spring and autumn seasons. Past that they're very different trips.
| Manaslu Circuit | Makalu Base Camp | |
|---|---|---|
| Days | 15 | 18 |
| Getting there | Drive from Kathmandu to Machha Khola | 40-minute flight to Tumlingtar |
| Route shape | A loop around the mountain | Out and back up the Barun valley |
| Highest point | Larkya La, 5,106m | Base Camp, 4,870m |
| Hardest day | Larkya La, 8–9 hrs, once | Shipton La complex, ~4,170m, crossed twice |
| Lodging | Teahouse every night | Teahouse to Tashi Gaon, then tents |
| Permits | RAP, MCAP, ACAP | RAP, Makalu-Barun NP |
| Group size | 1 to 8 | 2 to 6 |
Which is harder? Manaslu goes higher, to 5,106m on the Larkya La, but you do that once and sleep in a teahouse either side of it. Makalu tops out lower at base camp, 4,870m, and asks more of you overall: several days of camping in a row and the Shipton La complex twice, out and back. Most people find Makalu the tougher trip, and we'd suggest it as a second or third high-altitude trek.
Which is quieter? Both are far quieter than Everest or Annapurna. Makalu is the emptier of the two, because few operators run the camping logistics past Tashi Gaon. Manaslu has more trekkers and is still a quiet trail. Our post asking whether Manaslu is still quiet gives the honest picture.
Solo? Only Manaslu. A solo RAP is possible there with a licensed guide, while Makalu's RAP needs at least 2 trekkers.
If you've done one teahouse trek above 4,000m and want your first restricted area, start with Manaslu. If you've done Manaslu or something like it and want a camping expedition, Makalu is the next step. The Makalu Base Camp trek guide covers that route day by day.
Manaslu Circuit: 15 days, one big pass
Manaslu circles the world's eighth-highest mountain and crosses one serious pass, the 5,106m Larkya La, on an 8–9 hour day that starts by headlamp in the dark. Everything before that day is paced around a rest day at Samagaon and a staging night at Dharamsala below the pass, and you'll sleep in a teahouse or basic lodge every night, never a tent.
Best for: trekkers who've already done at least one multi-day teahouse trek above 4,000m and want a quieter version of the classics. We wouldn't suggest it as a first high-altitude trek. Read our full Manaslu Circuit Trek guide or go straight to the Manaslu Circuit itinerary.
Kanchanjunga: 21 days, two base camps
Kanchanjunga is the only route in Nepal that takes you to two separate base camps on the same 8,000m peak: Pangpema in the north and Oktang in the south. Between them sits the Sele La complex, three linked passes above 4,200m with no village between Ghunsa and Cheram. Teahouses run as far as Ghunsa; past that, lodging thins to basic seasonal lodges and our own kitchen crew takes over for the camp sections.
Best for: experienced trekkers with three weeks to spare who want the most remote route and don't mind several nights above 4,500m. It's the longest and most demanding of the three. Read our full Kanchanjunga Trek guide or go straight to the Kanchanjunga itinerary.
Makalu Base Camp: 18 days, mostly camping
Makalu runs up the Barun valley inside Makalu-Barun National Park, where there's far less built lodging than on Everest or Annapurna. Basic teahouses carry you from Tumlingtar to Tashi Gaon; after that, a cook and kitchen crew bring meals and shelter through the Shipton La complex to base camp and back. The Shipton La complex, around 4,170m, is crossed in a single push, and route-finding gets tricky if visibility drops.
Best for: trekkers who are comfortable camping at altitude for several long days in a row. You won't need technical climbing skills, but we'd suggest it as your second or third high-altitude trek rather than your first. See the Makalu Base Camp itinerary.
How to choose
- Want teahouse comfort every night? Manaslu is the only one of the three that has it end to end.
- Short on time? Manaslu is 15 days door to door; Makalu is 18; Kanchanjunga is 21.
- Want the most remote route? That's Kanchanjunga, where going a full day without passing another trekking group is common on the Ghunsa-to-Lhonak stretch.
- Want wilderness and camping? Makalu, set inside a national park with very little built infrastructure.
Prices
Costs are per-person estimates for a group of 2–4, and you'll find them on each trek page marked as unconfirmed. Just ask us for a firm quote before you book.
Frequently asked
Is Manaslu or Makalu harder?
Makalu, for most people. Manaslu goes higher, to 5,106m on the Larkya La, but has teahouses every night. Makalu tops out at 4,870m and adds several days of camping and two crossings of the Shipton La complex.
Can I trek Makalu solo like Manaslu?
No. A solo RAP is possible on Manaslu with a licensed guide, but Makalu's RAP needs at least 2 trekkers.
Which restricted-area trek is shortest?
That's the Manaslu Circuit, at 15 days. Makalu Base Camp runs 18 days and Kanchanjunga is the longest at 21.
Do I have to camp on these treks?
Not on Manaslu. You'll have teahouses or basic lodges the whole way. On Kanchanjunga, teahouses run as far as Ghunsa, then lodges or camps take over. On Makalu, teahouses run from Tumlingtar to Tashi Gaon, then it's camping from there.
How big are the groups?
We keep groups to 8 trekkers or fewer on Manaslu, and 6 or fewer on Kanchanjunga and Makalu. The minimum is 1 trekker on Manaslu and 2 on Kanchanjunga and Makalu.
Are these suitable for a first high-altitude trek?
We wouldn't recommend starting with any of these three. It's worth doing at least one multi-day teahouse trek above 4,000m first, so you know how your body handles altitude.