If you are weighing up Manaslu vs Annapurna Circuit, you are choosing between two strenuous teahouse treks that share a valley and a lot of ambition. Both cross a high pass. Both are private with us, led by a government-licensed Nepali guide. They feel quite different on the ground, though, so here is how our two trips compare.
In this article
Table of contents
The short version
Manaslu is the more remote, more Tibetan, more restricted-area trek. The Annapurna Circuit is the longer, more varied one, with a bigger change of scenery from start to finish. Neither is technical. Both are long days at altitude.
| Manaslu Circuit | Annapurna Circuit | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 15 days | 16 days |
| High pass | Larkya La, 5,106 m | Thorong La, 5,416 m |
| Difficulty | Strenuous | Strenuous |
| Permits | Restricted Area Permit, MCAP and ACAP | ACAP and TIMS card |
| Solo traveller | US$1,250 | US$1,380 |
| 2 to 3 travellers | US$1,040 each | US$1,150 each |
| 4 to 6 travellers | US$975 each | US$1,080 each |
| 7 or more | US$915 each | US$1,010 each |
Days and route
Our Manaslu Circuit Trek runs 15 days. You drive about eight to ten hours to Machha Khola, walk up the Budhi Gandaki through Gurung and then Tibetan Buddhist villages, spend an acclimatisation day in Samagaon, cross the Larkya La and finish at Dharapani. A long drive of ten to twelve hours brings you back to Kathmandu.
Our Annapurna Circuit Trek runs 16 days. You drive to Dharapani, climb the Marsyangdi valley to Manang, take an acclimatisation day there, cross Thorong La to Muktinath, then travel down the Kali Gandaki to Tatopani. The finish takes in the hot springs and the Poon Hill sunrise before Pokhara.
The two routes actually meet at Dharapani, which is where Manaslu ends and Annapurna begins.
The passes
Thorong La is higher at 5,416 m, and you cross it from Thorong Phedi at 4,525 m with an early start, around 4 am, then a long descent to Muktinath. Larkya La is 5,106 m, reached from Dharamsala at 4,460 m, and the crossing day ends at Bimthang. Both days are long, around eight to nine hours, and both are steady rather than technical.
The night before each pass is in basic lodging, so do not expect comfort at Dharamsala or Thorong Phedi. Each trek has one full acclimatisation day, in Samagaon on Manaslu and in Manang on Annapurna.
Permits
This is the biggest practical difference. Manaslu is a restricted area, so you need a Restricted Area Permit as well as the Manaslu and Annapurna conservation area permits, and a licensed guide is mandatory. We apply for all of it through our registered agency, and it is inside the price. The restricted area permit needs your passport details and takes longer to process, so send us your dates early.
Our trip page says that since March 2026 the permit can be issued to a single traveller, so you no longer need a second person to go. The Annapurna Circuit needs the ACAP and a TIMS card, both included.
For the wider picture, see Nepal trekking permits explained.
Difficulty
We grade both as strenuous. Manaslu has fewer lodges and the road at each end is rough. Annapurna is a day longer, has a higher pass, and ends with a hard 1,650 m climb to Ghorepani after the rest day at Tatopani. Read how hard the Manaslu Circuit is and our difficulty guide to see where you sit.
Price by group size
On our trip pages Manaslu comes in lower than Annapurna at every group size, from US$1,250 against US$1,380 solo to US$915 against US$1,010 each for seven or more. The trips are not identical, though. The Annapurna price includes a night in Pokhara and one porter for every two travellers, while Manaslu includes a loan of crampons. Our cost guides break it down: Manaslu Circuit cost and Annapurna Circuit cost.
Who each trek suits
Choose Manaslu if you want a quieter, more remote trek with a strong Tibetan feel, and you are happy with simpler lodges and long drives. Our Manaslu guide has more detail.
Choose the Annapurna Circuit if you want the biggest change of landscape, from rice terraces to high desert, plus Muktinath, hot springs and Poon Hill. Our Annapurna Circuit guide covers the route day by day, and Annapurna Circuit vs Everest Base Camp helps if Everest is also on your list.
Both run in autumn (September to November) and spring (March to May). See the best time to trek in Nepal for more.
Ready to choose?
Every trip is private and built around your dates. Tell us your group size and dates and we will help you pick. You can also read how booking works.
Manaslu vs Annapurna Circuit: next steps
Use this Manaslu vs Annapurna Circuit to shortlist your dates, then message us. We will check the Manaslu vs Annapurna Circuit details against the season, the permit rules and your group before you commit to anything.
Questions about Manaslu vs Annapurna Circuit that this page did not answer? Ask us and we will add the answer here.
A good Manaslu vs Annapurna Circuit should leave you able to plan, and ours is built for that. Read the Manaslu vs Annapurna Circuit once through, check the key details, then compare it with the trip page.
Our team is a member of TAAN, Nepal’s trekking agents association. If this Manaslu vs Annapurna Circuit raised a question, ask us. A short recap of the Manaslu vs Annapurna Circuit: check the season, check the permits, and plan the days before the price.