Manaslu Circuit Trek
Fifteen days around the world's eighth-highest mountain, from the sal-forest lowlands at Machha Khola up through Tibetan-influenced villages at Samagaon and Samdo, over the 5,106m Larkya La, and down into the Annapurna side at Bimtang. It's the closest thing to an Everest Base Camp-grade trek that still runs quiet. Manaslu's permit numbers have grown in recent years, but a day on this trail still looks nothing like the Namche-Tengboche corridor in October.
- Duration
- 15 Days
- Max Altitude
- 5,106m
- Grade
- Challenging
- From
- $1,650 pp
Photo: Pratapgrg, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Trip highlights
- Cross the 5,106m/16,752ft Larkya La, one of the Himalaya's great high passes, on a trail with a fraction of Everest Base Camp's foot traffic.
- Walk directly beneath Mt. Manaslu's south and west faces from the gompa terrace at Lho, one of the most striking unobstructed mountain views on any Nepal trek.
- Spend two nights in Samagaon and Samdo, Tibetan-influenced villages with active monasteries, yak herds, and a visible old trade trail running toward the Tibet border.
- Trek a genuinely restricted region, with a licensed guide and full permit paperwork handled for you from the first day.
- Sleep in real teahouse beds every night of the trek, including the basic lodge at Dharamsala directly below the pass.
- Descend into the Annapurna region at Bimtang, a glacial meadow campsite with Manaslu's west face rising behind you.
- Two purpose-built acclimatization days, each with an optional climb-high, sleep-low side hike, keep the pass crossing safe rather than a gamble.
- Travel in a small, capped group of up to eight trekkers, with one porter for every two trekkers carrying the shared load.
- Soak in the natural hot springs at Tatopani on Day 3, a welcome reward after the first long trekking day out of Machha Khola.
- Finish the circuit at Dharapani with your permit paperwork already closed out, ready for a same-day drive back toward Kathmandu.
Overview
The Manaslu Circuit is often described as what Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Circuit felt like decades ago: real teahouses, real trail, and long stretches where you won't see another trekking group. Because Manaslu sits inside a government-designated restricted area, every trekker on the route carries a Restricted Area Permit alongside the Manaslu Conservation Area Permit and — since the standard route exits through Dharapani — the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit. None of these can be arranged independently; they're issued only through a licensed trekking agency, which is also why the trail has stayed comparatively quiet even as its popularity has grown in recent years.
This is not a beginner's trek. You'll gain roughly 3,700m of net elevation over twelve trekking days, culminating in an 8-to-9-hour pass crossing above 5,000m. What makes it achievable rather than reckless is the pacing: two dedicated acclimatization days at Samagaon and Samdo, both with optional half-day hikes that push your body a little higher before you sleep lower, plus a final staging night at Dharamsala directly below the pass. A licensed guide accompanies the group for the full route, with porters carrying group gear so you're not hauling more than a daypack above 3,500m.
Accommodation is teahouse-style the entire way — simple twin rooms, shared bathrooms in the higher villages, and hearty, carb-heavy menus built around dal bhat, noodle soups, and momos. It's not luxury, but it's a real bed and a hot meal every night, even the evening before the pass. First aid kits, a pulse oximeter, and an established evacuation plan travel with every group, and your guide monitors for signs of altitude sickness at every overnight stop above 3,000m.
What you'll remember afterward isn't just the pass — it's the specific, small things: the gompa terrace at Lho with Manaslu's summit ridge filling the sky, the trade-route silence at Samdo, and the glacial meadow at Bimtang where the whole circuit suddenly opens up behind you.
Permits & logistics
Permit Stack
- → Restricted Area Permit (RAP): Manaslu-specific, seasonal rate, issued only through a licensed agency.
- → Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP): checked at Jagat and again at Namrung.
- → Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP): required because the route exits through Dharapani.
Group & Guide
- → Minimum 2 trekkers per group, legally required for the RAP.
- → One licensed guide for the full route, plus porters for group gear.
- → We cap groups at 8 trekkers, an operator policy rather than a permit rule, to keep the pace and teahouse space manageable.
Day-by-day itinerary
All 15 days, open by default, including the two acclimatization stops at Samagaon and Samdo that make the Larkya La crossing safe rather than reckless.
- Max altitude
- 5,106m
- Total distance
- ~177km / 110 miles
Detailed day-by-day
01 Arrival in Kathmandu
You'll land at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer to your hotel, where our team meets you for a trip briefing covering the restricted-area permit paperwork we've already filed, a full gear check, and a walk-through of the acclimatization schedule ahead. The evening closes with a welcome dinner where you'll meet your guide and any fellow trekkers before an early night.
1,400m · Overnight: Hotel
02 Drive Kathmandu to Machha Khola
An early departure takes you west out of the Kathmandu Valley on a mountain road that narrows steadily as it climbs toward Arughat, then drops along the Budhi Gandaki to the trailhead village of Machha Khola. It's a long day in the vehicle, 8–9 hours including stops, but the scenery shifts dramatically from terraced valley farmland to the first close views of the gorge you'll be following for the next week.
869m · ▼ 531m net · Overnight: Teahouse
03 Machha Khola to Jagat
You'll follow the Budhi Gandaki through the villages of Khorlabesi and Tatopani, where a stop at the natural hot springs is a welcome reward before the final climb into Jagat. This is also your first Restricted Area Permit checkpoint, where officials log your paperwork before you continue deeper into the region.
1,340m · ▲ 471m · ~22km · 6–7 hrs · Overnight: Teahouse
04 Jagat to Deng
The trail passes through Philim and a short stretch of bamboo forest as the Budhi Gandaki gorge narrows and steepens. You'll notice the climate and vegetation shifting quickly here, a preview of the alpine terrain still to come.
1,860m · ▲ 520m · ~20km · 6–7 hrs · Overnight: Teahouse
05 Deng to Namrung
Crossing into the Nubri valley, you'll start passing through ethnically Tibetan villages with their own distinct architecture and prayer wheels lining the trail. Namrung carries the region's Manaslu Conservation Area Permit checkpoint and, on a clear afternoon, your first real mountain views of Siring and Simnang Himal.
2,630m · ▲ 770m · ~19km · 5–6 hrs · Overnight: Teahouse
06 Namrung to Lho
A shorter, gentler day through the villages of Lihi and Sho brings you to Lho, home to a gompa terrace with what many trekkers call the best single viewpoint on the entire circuit: Manaslu's summit ridge filling the sky, close enough to feel immediate.
3,180m · ▲ 550m · ~13km · 4–5 hrs · Overnight: Teahouse
07 Lho to Samagaon
A short, deliberately easy day brings you into Samagaon, the largest village on the route and the place where your acclimatization schedule properly begins. Take the afternoon to explore the village's monastery and watch the light change on Manaslu.
3,530m · ▲ 350m · ~8km · 3–4 hrs · Overnight: Teahouse
08 Samagaon — acclimatization day
Your first full rest day includes an optional climb-high, sleep-low side trip: choose between the trail toward Manaslu Base Camp (around 4,800m/15,748ft) or the shorter hike to Pungyen Gompa. Either way, you'll return to Samagaon for a second night at the same altitude, giving your body time to adjust before pushing higher.
3,530m · Acclimatization · Overnight: Teahouse
09 Samagaon to Samdo
A short day crossing the Budhi Gandaki on a high bridge brings you to Samdo, the last real village before the pass and a place with a visibly active trade trail still running toward the Tibet border just beyond.
3,860m · ▲ 330m · ~10km · 4 hrs · Overnight: Teahouse
10 Samdo — acclimatization day
Your second rest day offers an optional climb toward the old Tibet trade route above the village, adding altitude exposure ahead of tomorrow's push higher without the strain of a full trekking day.
3,860m · Acclimatization · Overnight: Teahouse
11 Samdo to Dharamsala (Larke Phedi)
A short, steady climb brings you to the basic lodges at Dharamsala, staged directly below the pass. Expect an early dinner and an early night here — tomorrow's crossing starts well before sunrise.
4,460m · ▲ 600m · ~7km · 3–4 hrs · Overnight: Basic Lodge
12 Larkya La crossing (5,106m/16,752ft) to Bimtang
This is the trip's defining day. You'll set out by headlamp to clear the pass before afternoon winds build, climbing steadily through cold, thin air with no technical difficulty but real physical demand. From the top, the panorama takes in Himlung, Cheo, and Annapurna II across the horizon. The long descent into Bimtang's glacial meadow, with Manaslu's west face behind you, is the payoff for the effort.
3,720m · ▲ 646m then ▼ 1,386m · ~26km · 8–9 hrs · Overnight: Teahouse
13 Bimtang to Tilije
A long, satisfying descent through pine and rhododendron forest drops you quickly out of the high country, with views opening west toward the Annapurna range as the trail steepens.
2,300m · ▼ 1,420m · ~22km · 6–7 hrs · Overnight: Teahouse
14 Tilije to Dharapani, drive to Kathmandu
A short morning walk brings you to the Dharapani road-head, where the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit checkpoint closes out your paperwork for the trek. From there, it's a full driving day back to Kathmandu.
1,860m · ~7km · 2–3 hrs · Overnight: Hotel
15 Kathmandu — departure
This day is a built-in buffer for delayed road conditions on Day 14; if the schedule held, you're free to explore Kathmandu or rest before your onward international flight.
Cost
Per person, group of 2–4
$1,650 – $2,100
Included
- → RAP, MCAP, and ACAP permit fees
- → Licensed guide and porters (2 trekkers per porter)
- → Teahouse lodging, 14 nights on trek
- → All meals on trek (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- → Kathmandu–Machha Khola–Kathmandu ground transport
Not Included
- → International flights and Nepal visa
- → Kathmandu hotel nights (Day 1 and Day 15)
- → Travel insurance with high-altitude evacuation cover
- → Guide/porter tips
This range is a placeholder estimate pending operator confirmation of current permit fees and porter rates. Request a firm quote before booking.
The trek in detail
Why choose this trek?
If you've already done Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Circuit and found yourself wishing for fewer people on the trail, Manaslu is the natural next step. It has the same ingredients — big mountain views, a real high pass, teahouse comfort — but running through a legally restricted region that keeps casual, unguided traffic off it entirely. You get the payoff of a serious Himalayan trek without the queue at the viewpoint.
How long and difficult is the trek?
The Manaslu Circuit runs 15 days door to door, with 12 actual trekking days. Daily walking time ranges from 3–4 hours on the shorter acclimatization-adjacent days to 8–9 hours on the Larkya La crossing itself. The highest sleeping altitude is Dharamsala at 4,460m/14,632ft, the night before the pass. This is rated Challenging: you don't need technical climbing skills, but you do need multi-day trekking fitness and, ideally, prior experience sleeping above 3,500m.
Accommodation and food during the trek
Every night on the Manaslu Circuit is spent in a teahouse or basic lodge, never a tent. Rooms are simple twin-share with shared squat or Western-style toilets, thinning out to bucket-shower-only facilities above Samagaon. Meals are included and cooked fresh at each lodge: dal bhat (unlimited refills), fried rice, noodle soups, momos, porridge, and Tibetan bread, with black tea, milk tea, and garlic soup as trail staples at altitude.
Best time to go
Autumn (September–November) is the most popular window: post-monsoon skies are clear, temperatures are cold but stable above 3,500m, and the Larkya La is at its most reliably crossable.
Spring (March–May) brings rhododendron blooms through the lower forested sections and similarly stable weather, with slightly warmer nights than autumn. Both windows also align with the seasonal dates the Nepal government actually issues Restricted Area Permits for — booking outside them usually isn't possible regardless of weather.
Is this trek suitable for you?
The Manaslu Circuit suits trekkers who've completed at least one multi-day teahouse trek above 4,000m and know how their body responds to altitude. It is not a recommended first high-altitude trek: the route has thinner rescue infrastructure than Everest Base Camp or Annapurna, and the Larkya La crossing is a full-commitment day with no easy bail-out partway through.
Safety measures and acclimatization approach
Your guide carries a first aid kit, a pulse oximeter, and a standing evacuation protocol for every group. The itinerary builds in two full acclimatization days — at Samagaon (3,530m/11,581ft) and Samdo (3,860m/12,664ft) — each with an optional half-day climb-high, sleep-low hike. Altitude is checked and logged at every stop above 3,000m, and the final night before the pass is staged at Dharamsala specifically to shorten summit day.
Equipment / packing list
7 groups · 32 items
Upper Body
4- →Moisture-wicking base layer tops (2–3)
- →Fleece or light insulated mid-layer
- →Down jacket for high-altitude nights
- →Waterproof, windproof outer shell jacket
Lower Body
4- →Moisture-wicking base layer bottoms
- →Trekking trousers (2 pairs)
- →Fleece or thermal trousers for camp
- →Waterproof, windproof outer shell pants
Footwear & Accessories
5- →Broken-in waterproof trekking boots
- →Camp shoes or sandals
- →Wool or synthetic trekking socks (4–5 pairs)
- →Liner socks
- →Gaiters (useful for early/late-season snow near the pass)
Head & Sun Protection
4- →Sun hat and warm insulated hat
- →Buff or neck gaiter
- →UV-protective sunglasses (glacier-rated recommended for pass day)
- →High-SPF sunscreen and lip balm
Personal & Medical
6- →Personal first aid kit and any personal medications
- →Diamox (consult your doctor before the trip)
- →Hand sanitizer and basic toiletries
- →Trekking poles
- →Headlamp with spare batteries (essential for the pass-day pre-dawn start)
- →Reusable water bottle and purification tablets or filter
Documents
4- →Passport with at least 6 months' validity
- →Passport-sized photos (for permits)
- →Travel insurance documents
- →Printed or digital copies of flight and trip confirmations
Miscellaneous
5- →Duffel bag for porter-carried gear
- →Daypack (30–35L)
- →Sleeping bag rated to at least -15°C
- →Power bank and universal adapter
- →Snacks or energy bars from home
Frequently asked
Does Manaslu need a separate permit from EBC or Annapurna?
Yes. Manaslu is a restricted area, requiring a Restricted Area Permit (RAP) on top of the Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP). Because the standard route exits through Dharapani into the Annapurna Conservation Area, an Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) is also required for the final two days. None of these can be self-issued; only a licensed agency can apply for the RAP.
How hard is the Larkya La crossing?
It's a long, cold day: typically 8 to 9 hours from Dharamsala over the 5,106m pass to Bimtang, starting before dawn so the descent clears before afternoon wind picks up. It's not technical (no rope or crampon work on the standard route) but altitude and duration make it the hardest single day of the trek.
Is it teahouse trekking the whole way?
Yes: the full route from Machha Khola to Dharapani has teahouse lodging, including basic lodges at Samdo and Dharamsala just below the pass. No camping gear is required.
When's the best season?
Late March through May, and late September through November. The RAP is also only issued within set seasonal windows set by the Nepal government, so booking outside these months usually isn't possible regardless of weather.
Request a quote for Manaslu
Tell us your target dates and group size. We'll reply with a firm price and the next open departure.