Manaslu, Kanchanjunga or Makalu: which restricted-area trek is right for you?

All three treks run through restricted areas, so all three share the same basics: a licensed guide, a group of at least two, and the same two seasons. The differences are length, lodging and how much of the route sits high and remote.

The three routes side by side

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. Everything before it is paced around two acclimatization days at Samagaon and Samdo, and every night is in a teahouse or basic lodge, never a tent.

Best for: trekkers who have done at least one multi-day teahouse trek above 4,000m and want a quieter version of the classics. It is not a recommended first high-altitude trek. See the full Manaslu Circuit itinerary.

Kanchanjunga: 21 days, two base camps

Kanchanjunga is the only route in Nepal that puts you at two separate base camps of the same 8,000m peak: Pangpema in the north and Oktang in the south. Between them lies the Sele La complex, three linked passes above 4,200m with no village between Ghunsa and Cheram. Teahouses run as far as Ghunsa; above that, lodging thins to basic seasonal lodges and our own kitchen crew supports the camp sections.

Best for: experienced trekkers with three free weeks who want the most remote route and are comfortable with several nights above 4,500m. It is the longest and most demanding of the three. See the Kanchanjunga itinerary.

Makalu Base Camp: 18 days, mostly camping

Makalu runs up the Barun valley inside Makalu-Barun National Park, where there is far less built lodging than on Everest or Annapurna. Basic teahouses run from Tumlingtar to Tashi Gaon; past that, a cook and kitchen crew carry 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 in poor visibility is a real factor.

Best for: trekkers comfortable with sustained camping at altitude and several long days in a row. No technical climbing is needed, but we suggest it as a second or third high-altitude trek. See the Makalu Base Camp itinerary.

How to choose

• You want teahouse comfort every night: Manaslu is the only one of the three that has it end to end.
• You have the fewest days: Manaslu is 15 days door to door; Makalu is 18; Kanchanjunga is 21.
• You want the most remote route: Kanchanjunga, where a full day without passing another trekking group is common on the Ghunsa-to-Lhonak stretch.
• You want wilderness and camping: Makalu, in a national park with minimal built infrastructure.

Frequently asked