The Manaslu Circuit Trek is a 13-day guided trek around Mount Manaslu (8,163m), priced from $1,099 to $1,699 per person. The route follows the Budhi Gandaki valley from Machha Khola through Lho, Samagaon and Samdo. It then crosses Larkya La Pass (5,106m) and descends to Dharapani. It is non-technical, but the high pass makes it hard.
The first days run through a narrow gorge, crossing the river on suspension bridges. Above Namrung the villages turn Tibetan Buddhist, with stone houses, mani walls and prayer flags. Pass day starts before dawn and takes 8–10 hours.
The route climbs slowly, with a full rest day at Samagaon before the pass. Read our acclimatisation guide before you start training.
We’re a Kathmandu-based local trekking company, not a call centre. We arrange all permits, and every trekker walks with a licensed guide, as the law requires. Check our cost breakdown, plan a custom route, or message us on WhatsApp with your travel month.
| Trip Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Trip Name | Manaslu Circuit Trek in Nepal |
| Duration | 12 Nights / 13 Days (Kathmandu to Kathmandu) |
| Maximum Altitude | 5,106m — Larkya La Pass |
| Major Highlights | Larkya La Pass (5,106m), Budhi Gandaki gorge, Samagaon, Samdo, Bimthang |
| Trek Difficulty | Hard — Restricted Area, High Pass Crossing |
| Trek Start / End Point | Machha Khola / Dharapani |
| Best Season | Spring (March–May) and Autumn (September–November) |
| Low Season | Winter — quiet trails, cold nights, pass can close after heavy snow |
| Not Recommended | Monsoon Season (June–August) |
| Accommodation | Teahouse Lodges |
| Meals Included | Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner |
| Trek Style | Guided Restricted Area Circuit Trek |
| Region | Manaslu (Gorkha) and Annapurna Conservation Areas, Nepal |
Kathmandu → Machha Khola → Jagat → Deng → Namrung → Lho → Samagaon → Samdo → Dharamsala → Larkya La Pass (5,106m) → Bimthang → Tilje → Dharapani → Kathmandu
The Manaslu Circuit is a full loop around one mountain, not an out-and-back walk to a viewpoint. You start in the terraced lower valley of the Budhi Gandaki. Twelve days later you finish on the far side of the range, having crossed it on foot. For most of the way, the trail follows an old salt-trading route between Nepal and Tibet.
Nepal only opened this circuit to trekkers in 1991. The upper valley still sits inside a restricted area that needs a special permit. Above Namrung, the villages are Nubri and Tibetan Buddhist. Samdo is the highest village in the valley, and Pungyen Monastery is a side trip from Samagaon. Ten peaks over 6,500m come into view along the way, with Manaslu (8,163m) above them all.
Deciding between this and the Annapurna Circuit? Annapurna’s Thorong La is higher, at 5,416m. Manaslu adds a restricted-area permit and a quieter, more remote upper valley. The two routes meet at Dharapani, where this trek ends. With more time, the Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek adds the side valley that branches off above Philim.
This is a hard trek, not a moderate one. The lower days are long and warm, with steep climbs out of the gorge. Higher up, nights at Samdo and Dharamsala are cold, and teahouses at Dharamsala are basic. Pass day starts before dawn and runs 8–10 hours, crossing 5,106m and then dropping a long way to Bimthang. If you have never slept above 4,000m, do a shorter high trek first. Before you come, train on long hill days with a loaded daypack.
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Altitude: 930m | Drive: 8–9 hrs | Meals: Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Machha Khola
An early start out of Kathmandu, west along the highway, then north into Gorkha district past Arughat. After Arughat the road turns rough and slow, and most of the day is spent bouncing along the river. Machha Khola is a small cluster of teahouses beside the Budhi Gandaki. Use the evening to repack your daypack and meet the porters properly. Walking starts tomorrow morning.
Altitude: 1,340m | Trek: 6–7 hrs | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Jagat
The trail follows the river upstream, in and out of the gorge, crossing it on suspension bridges. You pass Tatopani, where hot springs run beside the path, and the small village of Dobhan. It is warm at this height, so start early and carry plenty of water. Jagat is where the restricted area begins. Your guide shows the permits at the checkpoint and pays the Chumnubri local fee here.
Altitude: 1,860m | Trek: 6–7 hrs | Ascent: +520m | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Deng
Today the gorge closes in. The trail climbs past Sirdibas to Philim, where your MCAP is checked. It then pushes north on narrow paths cut into the valley wall. Above Philim, the side trail to Tsum Valley branches off to the east. Waterfalls drop from both sides, and mule trains share the trail. Deng is a quiet stop in a forested bend of the river.
Altitude: 2,630m | Trek: 6–7 hrs | Ascent: +770m | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Namrung
The biggest climb so far. The trail crosses the river back and forth through Rana and Bihi. Then it climbs through pine forest as the air cools. By Namrung the valley is wider and you get the first proper mountain views. From here on, the villages look and feel Tibetan. Expect stone houses, prayer flags and mani walls.
Altitude: 3,180m | Trek: 5–6 hrs | Ascent: +550m | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Lho
A steady climb through farmland and old Nubri villages such as Lihi and Sho. Long mani walls and chortens line the trail. Lho sits on a shelf above the river, and from the village Manaslu fills the view ahead. Its double summit stands out clearly on a good day. Get to Lho early enough to see the mountain before afternoon cloud builds.
Altitude: 3,530m | Trek: 4–5 hrs | Ascent: +350m | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Samagaon
A shorter day through Shyala and across open yak pasture into the wide valley below Manaslu. Samagaon is the largest village on the upper circuit, with a monastery where monks and nuns live. You will spend two nights here. Arrive, rest, drink plenty of water and keep the afternoon easy.
Altitude: 3,530m overnight / up to 4,800m hike | Hike: 4–6 hrs | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Samagaon
This rest day is what makes the pass safe, so do not skip it. Climb high and sleep low. The hard option is the long hike up glacial moraine toward Manaslu Base Camp, at around 4,800m. Easier choices are Birendra Lake below the glacier, or Pungyen Monastery, rebuilt after an avalanche destroyed the original. Your guide picks the option that suits how you are feeling. Be back in Samagaon by early afternoon.
Altitude: 3,860m | Trek: 3–4 hrs | Ascent: +330m | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Samdo
A short walk on purpose, because the goal today is altitude, not distance. The trail passes mani walls and yak pastures on the way to Samdo, the highest village in the valley. The Tibetan border is only a short distance north. In the afternoon, a short walk above the village helps your body adjust before tomorrow’s climb.
Altitude: 4,460m | Trek: 4–5 hrs | Ascent: +600m | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Dharamsala
The trail climbs slowly into bare, rocky country with little vegetation. Dharamsala, also called Larkya Phedi, is the last stop before the pass. Teahouses here are basic, rooms are cold and the menu is short. Eat a full dinner even if you are not hungry. Lay out your warm layers and headlamp before you sleep, because tomorrow starts in the dark.
Altitude: 5,106m pass / 3,590m overnight | Trek: 8–10 hrs | Ascent: +646m | Descent: −1,516m | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Bimthang
Most groups leave between 3am and 4am, walking by headlamp up the moraine beside the glacier. The climb is long but not technical. Larkya La is a wide, windy saddle. On a clear morning, Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal and Kang Guru are in view. The descent is steep and loose at first, and it goes on for hours. Bimthang sits in a wide meadow, and Manaslu comes back into view behind you.
Altitude: 2,300m | Trek: 6–7 hrs | Descent: −1,290m | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Tilje
A long descent from open moraine into rhododendron and pine forest, following the Dudh Khola down the valley. Breathing gets easier with every hour, and the forest feels lush after a week above the trees. This much downhill is hard on the knees, so use trekking poles.
Altitude: 1,860m | Trek: 4–5 hrs | Descent: −440m | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Dharapani
An easy last walking day through Thonje to Dharapani. This is where the Manaslu trail meets the Annapurna Circuit, and the loop around Manaslu is complete. Your guide confirms the jeep for the morning. Spend the evening with the team you have walked with.
Altitude: 1,400m | Drive: 7–8 hrs | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch | Stay: Not included (trek ends in Kathmandu)
A jeep takes you down the Marsyangdi valley to Besisahar. From there, you continue to Kathmandu by bus. The road is long but much smoother than the drive in on Day 1. The trek ends when you reach Kathmandu in the evening. Book your Kathmandu hotel for that night in advance, and we can suggest options.
The Manaslu Circuit Trek is a 13-day guided loop around Mount Manaslu (8,163m), the world’s eighth-highest mountain. It runs from Machha Khola to Dharapani and crosses Larkya La Pass at 5,106m. The upper valley is a restricted area, so a permit and a licensed guide are required. Our package costs $1,099 to $1,699 per person, depending on group size.
It is hard but not technical. There is no rope work or climbing, but you walk six to seven hours most days for eleven days. Pass day starts before dawn and takes 8–10 hours over 5,106m. We recommend it to trekkers who have already slept above 4,000m. Full breakdown: Manaslu Circuit Trek difficulty guide →
You need three permits: the Manaslu Restricted Area Permit, MCAP (Manaslu Conservation Area) and ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area). Every trekker also pays a Chumnubri Rural Municipality fee of NPR 1,000 at Jagat. The restricted area permit costs USD 100 for the first 7 days in autumn. The rest of the year it is USD 75. All of these are included in our price. Full details: Manaslu Circuit Trek permits guide →
Yes, as a solo client, but not without a guide. On 22 March 2026, Nepal’s Department of Immigration removed the old two-trekker minimum for restricted area permits. One trekker can now get the permit alone. A licensed guide is still required by law for every trekker in the restricted area.
Our package costs $1,699 for a solo trekker, $1,499 each for 2–4 people, $1,299 for 5–7 and $1,099 for 8–12. That covers road transport, permits, teahouses, all trek meals, a licensed guide and porters. On top, budget for international flights, the USD 50 Nepal visa, insurance and Kathmandu hotels. Full breakdown: Manaslu Circuit Trek cost guide →
Autumn (September to November) and spring (March to May) are the two good seasons. Both give the most settled weather for crossing Larkya La. Winter is quieter, but snow can close the pass for days at a time. We do not run the trek in the monsoon months of June to August. Month by month: Best time for the Manaslu Circuit →
Yes, mainly from Samagaon (3,530m) up to the pass. The itinerary includes a rest day at Samagaon so your body can adjust before going higher. Mild headaches and poor sleep are common above 3,500m. If symptoms get worse instead of better, you go down, and your guide makes that call. More: Altitude sickness on the Manaslu Circuit →
No. The trek ends when you reach Kathmandu on Day 13, and Kathmandu hotel nights are not included. What is included is a free airport pickup when you land and a drop-off when you fly home. We are happy to suggest hotels if you want help choosing one.
Your policy must cover trekking above 5,000m and helicopter evacuation. The upper valley is days from the nearest hospital. In a serious emergency, a helicopter is the realistic way out. Standard travel insurance often stops at a lower altitude, so check the small print. We confirm your cover before we confirm your booking.
Yes. Tsum Valley branches off the circuit above Philim and needs its own restricted area permit. It costs USD 40 for the first 7 days in autumn, and USD 30 the rest of the year. Adding it makes the trip seven days longer, 20 days in total. See our Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek →
These guides cover the planning questions we get asked most about the Manaslu Circuit, one topic per page.
