The Manaslu Circuit Trek

The Manaslu Circuit loops right around Manaslu (8,163 m), the world's eighth-highest mountain, and crosses the high Larkya La pass (about 5,106 m). It is a restricted-area trek, so you go with a licensed guide and a minimum of two trekkers — but it rewards the extra paperwork with quieter trails, dramatic scenery and rich Tibetan-influenced culture. Many trekkers now choose it as a wilder, less crowded alternative to the neighbouring Annapurna Circuit.

Overview and highlights

The route follows the Budhi Gandaki river from steamy lowland villages up into a high, Tibetan-flavoured world of stone hamlets, gompas and glaciers. Highlights include the spectacular climb past Samagaon beneath Manaslu's huge north face, the acclimatisation hub there, side trips to Manaslu Base Camp or the Birendra glacial lake, and the long, exhilarating crossing of Larkya La with views of Himlung and Cheo Himal. The upper villages feel distinctly Tibetan, with prayer flags, mani walls and barley fields.

Itinerary

A representative 14-day plan from the trailhead looks like this:

Day	Stage	Approx. altitude
1	Drive Kathmandu to Soti Khola / Machha Khola	900 m
2–3	Machha Khola to Jagat to Deng	1,800 m
4–5	Deng to Namrung to Lho	3,180 m
6	Lho to Samagaon	3,520 m
7	Acclimatisation day in Samagaon	3,520 m
8	Samagaon to Samdo	3,860 m
9	Acclimatisation day in Samdo	3,860 m
10	Samdo to Dharamsala (Larkya Phedi)	4,460 m
11	Cross Larkya La (5,106 m) to Bimthang	3,720 m
12–13	Bimthang to Dharapani / Tilije	1,960 m
14	Drive out to Besishahar / Kathmandu	varies

The route can be combined with the Tsum Valley trek for a longer cultural traverse.

Difficulty and fitness

This is a strenuous but non-technical trek. You walk 5–7 hours most days, with one very long, high pass day over Larkya La. The main challenge is altitude, so the rest days at Samagaon and Samdo are not optional — read up on altitude sickness and pace your ascent. Fit, regular hikers manage it well; trekking poles help on the steep, long descent to Bimthang.

Best time

Autumn (October–November) gives the clearest skies and the safest pass conditions, followed by spring (March–May). Winter snow can close Larkya La, and the summer monsoon makes the lower valley wet, leechy and prone to landslides.

Permits and cost

Manaslu is a restricted area, so you need the Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (RAP) — about USD 100 per person for the first seven days plus roughly USD 15 per extra day in the September–November season, and about USD 75 plus USD 10 per day from December to August. You also need the MCAP and ACAP conservation permits, roughly USD 25–30 each. A registered agency, licensed guide and at least two trekkers are mandatory. See trekking permits in Nepal for the process. Guided packages typically run USD 1,000–1,800 depending on duration and group size, and good travel insurance covering trekking above 5,000 m and helicopter evacuation is essential.

Accommodation

Teahouses now run the whole way, so you carry only a daypack and sleep in simple village lodges with shared dining rooms and hot meals. Standards are basic but improving; rooms get cold and spartan at Samdo and Dharamsala near the pass, so a warm sleeping bag is worth the weight.

Getting there

The trek starts with a long drive from Kathmandu to the Soti Khola or Machha Khola trailhead, and ends by road from Dharapani or Tilije back to Besishahar and on to Kathmandu or Pokhara. Because it links to the Annapurna Circuit at Dharapani, some trekkers extend the route or connect to the Nar Phu Valley trek. For kit and acclimatisation advice, see our Nepal trekking guide.