Manaslu Circuit Trek: The Complete Guide for 2026

The Manaslu Circuit Trek is a 177 km loop around Mt. Manaslu (8,163 m), the world’s eighth-highest peak, through one of Nepal’s last restricted trekking regions in Gorkha District. Most trekkers complete it in 12 to 14 days of walking, plus two days of driving from and back to Kathmandu. You need four permits, a licensed guide, and a minimum group of two trekkers. Independent trekking is illegal here. The total cost for a guided package in 2026 runs USD 1,100 to 1,800 per person depending on group size and season.

This guide covers the full route, day-by-day itinerary, current permit fees, real costs, training, and the mistakes we deal with on the ground every season.

Why the Manaslu Circuit Instead of Annapurna or Everest?

Three reasons keep this route on our recommended list for trekkers who want something beyond the standard Nepal treks.

First, the restricted-area status limits foot traffic. During peak October weeks on the Everest Base Camp trail, Gorak Shep packs 40 to 50 trekkers into a single dining hall. On the Manaslu Circuit during the same weeks, you might share a teahouse at Sama Gaon with six or eight other trekkers. The permit system and minimum group size rule keep numbers down.

Second, the cultural depth is real. The upper Nubri Valley above Namrung is ethnically Tibetan. Monasteries at Lho and Sama Gaon are active, not tourist attractions. During our October 2025 Manaslu departures, our guide Bashu Sherpa watched a group of trekkers walk right past the monastery at Lho because they were fixated on reaching Sama Gaon by lunch. That monastery sits directly below the north face of Manaslu with prayer flags running down to the trail. It takes 20 minutes to visit. Don’t skip it.

Third, the ecological range is wider than almost any other single trek in Nepal. You start in subtropical forest along the Budhi Gandaki River at 870 m and finish crossing Larkya La Pass at 5,106 m. In between: bamboo forest, rhododendron groves, alpine meadows, glacial moraine, and Tibetan plateau.

Manaslu Circuit Trek Itinerary: 12 Days of Walking

We run a 14-day total itinerary (12 trekking days plus 2 driving days). Some agencies advertise 11-day versions that drive further into the trailhead to skip the lower valley. That works logistically, but you lose the subtropical gorge section between Machha Khola and Jagat, which is some of the most dramatic river valley walking in Nepal.

Here is our standard itinerary:

Day 1: Drive Kathmandu to Machha Khola (870 m)

An 8 to 9 hour drive. The first half on the Prithvi Highway to Dhading Besi is smooth blacktop. After Arughat Bazar, the road turns to dirt and rock, following the Budhi Gandaki River on a rough jeep track. Gokarna arranges private jeep transfers for our groups because the public bus ride on this stretch is genuinely unpleasant, with 12 hours of bouncing on a vehicle with no suspension. The private jeep costs more but saves your body for the days ahead.

Day 2: Trek Machha Khola to Jagat (1,340 m)

Five to six hours of walking through a narrow gorge. Suspension bridges, small waterfalls, and subtropical forest. The first permit checkpoint is at Jagat, where staff will verify your Restricted Area Permit, conservation permits, and Chumnubri Rural Municipality fee. Have all paperwork accessible. As of 2026, checkpoints use a digital tracking system, so your guide handles the scanning, but keep paper copies dry in a zip-lock bag.

Day 3: Trek Jagat to Deng (1,860 m)

Six hours. The trail passes through Salleri, Sirdibas, and Philim. You cross between the Budhi Gandaki’s east and west banks multiple times on suspension bridges. Hindu and Gurung settlements in the lower sections gradually give way to more Tibetan-influenced villages as you climb.

Day 4: Trek Deng to Namrung (2,630 m)

Six hours. The valley begins to widen. You gain meaningful altitude today. Namrung is the first village where Tibetan Buddhist architecture dominates: flat-roofed stone houses, mani walls, and prayer wheels lining the trail. The teahouses here are basic but adequate. Expect a room, a foam mattress, and a shared squat toilet.

Day 5: Trek Namrung to Sama Gaon (3,530 m)

Six to seven hours. This is one of the best walking days on the entire circuit. The trail passes through Lho village, where the monastery sits directly beneath the massive north wall of Manaslu. Stop here. Past Lho, you walk through Shyala and then climb to Sama Gaon, the largest settlement in the upper Nubri Valley. Views of Manaslu’s peak and the surrounding glacier system open up clearly on this stretch.

Day 6: Acclimatization Day at Sama Gaon

Do not skip this day. Use it to hike toward Manaslu Base Camp (approximately 4,800 m) or visit Birendra Lake. The hike to the base camp viewpoint takes three to four hours round trip and gives your body the critical “climb high, sleep low” exposure before the pass crossing. Across our 2025 autumn groups, trekkers who took this acclimatization day seriously reported significantly fewer symptoms at Dharamsala and Larkya La than those who tried to push through.

Day 7: Trek Sama Gaon to Samdo (3,860 m)

Three to four hours. A short day through yak pastures and alpine terrain. Samdo is a tiny settlement of stone houses and a few teahouses. The Tibetan border is close. You can feel the dryness in the air and the shift in landscape from green valley to high-altitude desert.

Day 8: Trek Samdo to Dharamsala/Larkya Phedi (4,460 m)

Four to five hours. Dharamsala (also called Larkya Phedi or Larkya Base Camp) is a single stone shelter at the base of the pass. Facilities are minimal: a dining room, shared sleeping platforms, and no hot water. Temperatures at night drop to minus 15 Celsius or colder in October. This is where you lay out your gear for the early morning crossing.

Day 9: Cross Larkya La Pass (5,106 m), Descend to Bimthang (3,590 m)

The biggest day. Most groups start at 4:00 to 4:30 AM with headlamps. The ascent from Dharamsala to Larkya La takes four to five hours. The trail is steep, rocky, and potentially icy in autumn. From the pass, the views open up to Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Annapurna II, and the Manaslu massif behind you.

The descent from the pass to Bimthang drops 1,500 m and takes three to four hours. Knees take a beating. Total walking time for the day runs eight to ten hours. This is the hardest day of the trek, and it is the reason we insist on the acclimatization day at Sama Gaon. Trekkers who arrive at Dharamsala already symptomatic are the ones we end up turning around.

Day 10: Trek Bimthang to Dharapani (1,860 m)

Six to seven hours. A long descent through rhododendron forest, past Tilije, and into the Marsyangdi River valley. Dharapani sits at the junction with the Annapurna Circuit trail. You have officially left the Manaslu restricted area and entered the Annapurna Conservation Area.

Day 11: Trek Dharapani to Jagat/Chamje (1,430 m)

Five to six hours along the lower Annapurna Circuit trail. The terrain flattens out.

Day 12: Drive Dharapani/Besisahar to Kathmandu

Eight to nine hours by private jeep, returning via the Marsyangdi Valley and Prithvi Highway to Kathmandu.

Altitude Profile: Key Stops

The critical altitude jump is from Sama Gaon (3,530 m) to Larkya La (5,106 m) over three days. The acclimatization day at Sama Gaon makes this progression safe for most trekkers.

Manaslu Circuit Trek Cost in 2026: Full Breakdown

A guided Manaslu Circuit trek package from a Kathmandu-based agency runs USD 1,100 to 1,800 per person for a 14-day trip. Here is where the money goes (as of spring 2026):

Permits

Four permits are mandatory for the full circuit.

SAARC nationals pay NPR 1,000 each for MCAP and ACAP. TIMS cards are not required for the Manaslu region as of 2026.

Permit processing takes one to two business days at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu. During peak October, expect three to four days due to volume. Gokarna and the team at Regal Nepal collect your passport on arrival day and have permits ready by the afternoon of day two. The Department is closed Saturdays and public holidays, so your itinerary needs at least one full working day in Kathmandu before departure.

Transportation

Private jeep Kathmandu to Machha Khola: USD 200 to 250 (shared among the group). Private jeep Dharapani/Besisahar to Kathmandu: USD 180 to 220 (shared among the group). Public bus option: significantly cheaper (NPR 1,500 to 2,000 per person each way) but adds hours and discomfort on the dirt roads. We stopped recommending public buses on the Machha Khola stretch after consistent complaints about breakdowns and 12-hour ride times.

Guide and Porter

A licensed guide is mandatory. The Manaslu restricted area requires a TAAN-registered agency and a licensed guide at all times. Guide cost: USD 25 to 35 per day. Porter: USD 15 to 20 per day. Both are included in most guided packages.

Teahouse Accommodation

Teahouses along the Manaslu Circuit are more basic than on the Everest or Annapurna routes. Expect simple rooms with twin beds and foam mattresses. Hot showers are available at some stops below 3,500 m (bucket showers for NPR 200 to 400). Above Sama Gaon, facilities are minimal. At Dharamsala, you sleep on shared platforms in a single stone hut.

Room cost: NPR 300 to 800 per night. Most guided packages include accommodation.

Food

Budget USD 20 to 30 per day. Dal bhat (NPR 600 to 1,000 depending on altitude), noodle soup, fried rice, and basic Western dishes are available at most teahouses. Portions are smaller and options are fewer compared to Everest region teahouses. Carry energy bars and trail mix as supplements, especially for the Dharamsala to Bimthang stretch where food options are limited.

Travel Insurance

Mandatory. Make sure your policy covers trekking up to 6,000 m and emergency helicopter evacuation. An uninsured helicopter rescue from above Larkya La costs USD 3,000 to 5,000. Insurance runs USD 100 to 200 for a policy that covers this.

Total Realistic Budget

Our 12-day Manaslu Circuit Trek starts from USD 1,150 per person and includes permits, guide, porter, accommodation, meals on trek, and private transportation from Kathmandu. See the full Regal Nepal Treks Manaslu Circuit Trek itinerary and pricing for exact inclusions.

When Is the Best Time for the Manaslu Circuit Trek?

Autumn: September to November (Peak Season)

October is the strongest month. Skies are clear, Larkya La Pass is reliably open, and temperatures above 4,000 m are cold but manageable. Late September works too, though the tail end of monsoon can bring afternoon clouds in the lower valley. November is drier but colder, and snow on the pass becomes a real factor after mid-November.

Spring: March to May

March and April offer good conditions with warmer temperatures in the lower sections. Rhododendron forests below Namrung bloom heavily in April, which is a genuine visual highlight that the autumn window does not offer. May is viable through early to mid-month, but pre-monsoon humidity builds after the 15th, and afternoon storms become frequent. Larkya La Pass is still crossable in early May but requires monitoring.

Winter: December to February

Possible but serious. Larkya La Pass can be snowed in for days or weeks. Teahouses above Sama Gaon close for the season. Temperatures at Dharamsala hit minus 20 Celsius. We only run winter Manaslu treks for experienced high-altitude trekkers with the right cold-weather gear, and even then, pass closure is a real risk that can force a turnaround.

Monsoon: June to August

No. Trails are waterlogged, river crossings become dangerous, landslides hit the lower valley road, and Larkya La is frequently blocked. Helicopter evacuation from the upper valley is unreliable in monsoon weather. Skip it entirely.

Manaslu Circuit vs. Annapurna Circuit: Which Trek?

This is the comparison most trekkers ask about when researching Nepal.

Choose Manaslu if you want fewer trekkers, stronger cultural immersion in Tibetan communities, and a trail that has not been compromised by road construction. Choose the Annapurna Circuit if you want a longer journey with more village diversity, easier permit logistics, and better teahouse facilities.

What Mistakes Do We See on the Manaslu Circuit?

Gokarna and the operations team at Regal Nepal have run Manaslu groups for over a decade. These are the problems that come up repeatedly.

Underestimating the Larkya La day. The pass crossing is eight to ten hours of walking, starting before dawn, with a 650 m ascent followed by a 1,500 m descent. Trekkers who arrive at Dharamsala already fatigued from skipping the Sama Gaon rest day are the ones who struggle or turn back. This is the single most consequential day of the trek. Prepare for it.

Not budgeting enough cash. ATMs do not exist on the Manaslu trail. The last ATM is in Arughat or Kathmandu. Teahouse extras (hot drinks, snacks, charging, hot showers) add up to NPR 1,000 to 2,000 per day. Carry NPR 15,000 to 20,000 in cash beyond what your package covers.

Ignoring the two-trekker minimum. You cannot get a Manaslu Restricted Area Permit as a solo trekker. If you are traveling alone, your agency must pair you with another trekker or the permit will not be issued. Contact us early if you are solo; we maintain fixed departure dates specifically so solo trekkers can join a group.

Packing as if teahouses are hotels. Above Sama Gaon, teahouses are stone shelters. There is no hot water at Dharamsala. Charging points are scarce above 3,500 m. Pack a power bank (minimum 10,000 mAh), a sleeping bag rated to minus 15 Celsius, and expectations calibrated for shared rooms with thin walls.

Failing to carry all permit documents. Checkpoints at Jagat, Namrung, and other points require your RAP, MCAP, ACAP, and local permit. Digital scans on your phone are not enough if the checkpoint system is down. Keep physical copies in a waterproof bag in your daypack.

How Fit Do You Need to Be for the Manaslu Circuit?

The Manaslu Circuit is rated moderate to strenuous. The daily walking ranges from five to seven hours for most days, with the Larkya La crossing pushing eight to ten hours. The trail includes steep ascents, rocky descents, suspension bridge crossings, and narrow cliffside sections in the Budhi Gandaki gorge.

Train for six to eight weeks before departure. Focus on sustained uphill walking with a loaded daypack (8 to 10 kg) three to four times per week. Include downhill training; the 1,500 m descent from Larkya La to Bimthang in a single day is where untrained knees fail.

Physical fitness alone does not protect you from altitude sickness. The acclimatization day at Sama Gaon is non-negotiable. A marathon runner and a casual walker are equally vulnerable to AMS if they ascend too fast. Above 3,500 m, walk at a pace that lets you hold a conversation. If you are breathing too hard to talk, you are going too fast.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can beginners do the Manaslu Circuit Trek? 

It depends on your fitness. If you have done multi-day hikes at moderate altitude (above 3,000 m) and you train seriously for six to eight weeks, yes. If you have never walked more than two hours at a stretch, Manaslu is not your first trek. Consider the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek or Langtang Valley Trek first to build experience, then come back for Manaslu.

Can I trek Manaslu solo? 

No. Nepal’s restricted area regulations require a minimum of two trekkers plus a licensed guide. Solo permits are not issued for the Manaslu region. If you are traveling alone, contact us. We run fixed departure dates so solo trekkers can join a group.

Do I need a TIMS card for Manaslu? 

No. TIMS cards are not required for the Manaslu region as of 2026. You need the Restricted Area Permit, MCAP, ACAP, and the Chumnubri Rural Municipality permit. Agencies that charge you for a TIMS card on a Manaslu trek are adding an unnecessary cost.

How does the Manaslu Circuit compare to Everest Base Camp in difficulty? 

Manaslu is harder. The Larkya La Pass crossing at 5,106 m is a sustained, full-day effort. EBC spreads its altitude more gradually over more days. The teahouse infrastructure on Manaslu is also more basic, which adds a mental challenge. EBC has better facilities, more trekker traffic, and more evacuation options.

What happens if Larkya La Pass is closed?

If snowfall blocks the pass, you wait or turn back. There is no alternative route. In rare cases, groups wait one to two days at Dharamsala or Samdo for conditions to improve. This is why travel insurance and buffer days matter. We check pass conditions with teams ahead of us on the trail and make the call at Samdo or Dharamsala, not at the pass itself.

When do teahouses close on the Manaslu Circuit?

 Most teahouses above Sama Gaon close by late November and reopen in March. The Dharamsala shelter operates only during the main trekking seasons. Below Sama Gaon, most teahouses stay open year-round.

Is the Manaslu Circuit Trek safe?

With a licensed guide, proper acclimatization, and travel insurance that covers helicopter evacuation, yes. The main risks are altitude sickness and the physical demands of the Larkya La crossing. Both are manageable with good preparation and an experienced guide.

Your Next Step

If the Manaslu Circuit is on your list for 2026 or 2027, start by confirming your travel dates against the autumn (September to November) or spring (March to May) windows. Make sure your travel insurance covers high-altitude trekking and helicopter evacuation up to 6,000 m. Begin training at least six weeks before departure with a focus on uphill and downhill loaded walking.

See our full Manaslu Circuit Trek 12-day itinerary and pricing on the Regal Nepal Treks trip page, or message us on WhatsApp (+977 9851363944) if you have questions about dates, solo trekker pairings, or combining Manaslu with the Tsum Valley side trip.