The Manaslu Region circles Mount Manaslu (8,163m), the world’s eighth-highest peak. It is a restricted area with Tibetan Buddhist villages, the Budhi Gandaki gorge, and two routes: the 13-day circuit and a 20-day route that adds Tsum Valley. It suits fit trekkers who want a quieter alternative to Everest or Annapurna and are ready for a 5,106m pass.
Trails pass through family-run teahouses and villages with a strong Tibetan Buddhist character, especially in the upper valley around Samagaon and Samdo, close to the Tibet border. The trail sees fewer trekkers than the main Everest and Annapurna routes. Larkya La (5,106m) crosses from the Manaslu side into the Annapurna side. It is the highest point of the trek and usually its longest day.
Manaslu Region treks run 13 to 20 days, starting and ending in Kathmandu, with no domestic flight needed. Because this is a restricted area, every trip is guided and booked through a registered trekking agency. Solo trekkers are welcome. We handle the restricted-area permit, MCAP, ACAP and local fees from arrival to departure.
Trail conditions: the 11 October 2026 flood on the Budhi Gandaki damaged parts of the lower trail. Both routes have since reopened, and some sections are temporary repairs. We confirm conditions with our team before each departure. See our Manaslu Circuit flood update for the latest, or our Nepal travel update for other regions.
Not sure which route fits? Manaslu Region treks fall into two options, based on your time and how much of the restricted area you want to see.
The Manaslu Circuit Trek (13 days) is the region’s main route: up the Budhi Gandaki to Samagaon, over Larkya La at 5,106m, and down into the Annapurna side near Dharapani. It covers the gorge, glacier views and high pass in under two weeks.
The Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek (20 days) adds a side trip into Tsum, a separate restricted valley with its own monasteries and a slower pace of village life. It then joins the standard circuit over Larkya La. Pick it if you have the time and want to see more than the main circuit covers.
The Manaslu Circuit Trek is the standard route and covers the region in 13 days. The Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek adds the Tsum side valley and runs 20 days. Pick it if you have more time and want a quieter valley beyond the main circuit.
Hard, but non-technical. The trek runs 13 days and crosses Larkya La at 5,106m. It involves sustained high-altitude walking with real acclimatisation needs, but no technical climbing.
The Manaslu Circuit needs four permits and fees. The Manaslu Restricted Area Permit costs USD 100 for the first 7 days from September to November, then USD 15 a day. From December to August it costs USD 75 for the first 7 days, then USD 10 a day. You also need the Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP, NPR 3,000) and the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP, NPR 3,000), because the circuit exits through Dharapani. The Chumnubri Rural Municipality fee (NPR 1,000) is collected at Jagat. The Tsum Valley Trek also needs a Tsum Valley Restricted Area Permit: USD 40 for the first 7 days from September to November, USD 30 from December to August, then USD 7 a day. We arrange all of them for every trek.
Yes. Manaslu is a restricted area, so a licensed guide is mandatory and trekking without one is not allowed. You must book through a registered trekking agency, which arranges the permit. Solo trekkers can go, with a licensed guide the whole way. We include a licensed guide on every departure, solo or group.
Larkya La sits at 5,106m. It is the highest point on the Manaslu Circuit Trek.
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the most reliable seasons. Autumn generally gives the clearest views of Manaslu itself. The restricted-area permit costs more in autumn than in other seasons.
Helpful guides to plan your Manaslu Region trek:
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