Both treks are quieter than Everest or Annapurna, and both start by road from Kathmandu. That is where the similarity ends. Our 10-day Langtang Valley Trek is a short, moderate valley walk. Our 15-day Manaslu Circuit is a long, strenuous loop over a high pass.
Length and altitude
Langtang goes up the valley to Kyanjin Gompa at 3,830 m, with an optional climb to Kyanjin Ri at 4,773 m, and then walks back down the same way. Manaslu crosses Larkya La at 5,106 m and sleeps as high as Dharamsala at 4,460 m the night before. That is a much bigger demand on your body, which is why Langtang is graded moderate and Manaslu strenuous.
Permits and rules
Langtang needs a national park permit. Manaslu is a restricted area, so it needs a special permit, issued through a registered agency to travellers walking with a licensed guide. Since March 2026 that includes solo travellers, so you no longer need a second person for Manaslu. We arrange both and include them in the price.
Getting there
Langtang is the easier journey: five to six hours by bus from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi, with no internal flight. Manaslu takes eight to ten hours by 4WD to Machha Khola on rough dirt road, and ten to twelve hours back out, and landslides can close the road after rain.
What you will see
Langtang is Tamang country, with yak pasture, a working cheese factory and a valley that its own people rebuilt after 2015. Manaslu has a stronger Tibetan feel, with mani walls, monasteries and villages such as Sama and Samdo, and Manaslu itself, 8,163 m, filling the sky at the head of the valley.
Cost
For two or three travellers, Langtang is 640 USD each and Manaslu is 1,040 USD each, with permits, guide, porter and meals on the trail included. Both can be done with comfort or luxury upgrades.
How to choose
Pick Langtang if you have about ten days, want a first Himalayan trek, or want to go in winter, because it is open year-round. Pick Manaslu if you have more than two weeks, you are fit, and you want a big pass crossing with few people around. Our guides to the Langtang Valley and Manaslu Circuit go into each in more detail, and you can ask us which suits your dates.