Manaslu is the eighth-highest mountain on Earth at 8,163 metres, and the trek that circles it gets a fraction of the traffic that the Everest and Annapurna routes see in the same season. The Manaslu Circuit Trek is for trekkers who want the scale and drama of those classic routes with far more trail to yourself.
In this article
Why it’s quieter
Part of the route sits inside a restricted area, which means every trekker needs a special permit, applied for through a registered agency, and must travel with a licensed guide. Those rules, and the higher permit cost, naturally keep numbers down compared to the open routes around Everest and Annapurna. The upshot is teahouses that rarely fill up, trails without queues at viewpoints, and a sense of discovery that’s harder to find on the more established circuits. Where Everest Base Camp can feel like a procession of trekkers in peak season, Manaslu more often means a day of walking where the only people you pass are local traders and the occasional other small group.
The route and the high point
The trek follows the Budhi Gandaki river upstream from Machha Khola through Gurung villages and then Tibetan Buddhist settlements, climbing steadily to Samagaon, the best base for views of Manaslu overhead. From there the route continues to Samdo and crosses the Larkya La at 5,106 metres before descending to Bimthang and into the Marsyangdi valley at Dharapani, where it meets the Annapurna Circuit. Our itinerary runs 15 days including Kathmandu, with an acclimatisation day at Samagaon before the push toward the pass.
The route, day by day
- Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu (1,400 m).
- Day 2: Drive to Machha Khola (869 m) by private 4WD, 8 to 10 hours.
- Day 3: Trek to Jagat (1,340 m), 6 to 7 hours.
- Day 4: Trek to Deng (1,860 m), 6 to 7 hours.
- Day 5: Trek to Namrung (2,630 m), 7 to 8 hours.
- Day 6: Trek to Lho (3,180 m), 3 to 4 hours, with the first view of the twin Manaslu summits.
- Day 7: Trek to Samagaon (3,520 m), 3 to 4 hours.
- Day 8: Acclimatisation day, hiking to Birendra Tal or up toward Manaslu Base Camp (4,895 m).
- Day 9: Trek to Samdo (3,875 m), 3 to 4 hours.
- Day 10: Trek to Dharamsala, also called Larkya Phedi (4,460 m), 4 to 5 hours.
- Day 11: Cross Larkya La (5,106 m) and descend to Bimthang (3,590 m), 8 to 9 hours.
- Day 12: Trek to Goa (2,515 m), 5 to 6 hours.
- Day 13: Trek to Dharapani (1,963 m), 3 to 4 hours.
- Day 14: Drive back to Kathmandu via Besisahar, 10 to 12 hours, and a farewell dinner.
- Day 15: Departure.
Permits: the one thing that’s different here
Unlike most routes, Manaslu requires a Restricted Area Permit on top of the usual conservation area fees, priced per week and higher in peak season. All of it is arranged by our office and included in the trip price, the same as every other permit we handle; our permits guide covers the standard ones in more detail, though the restricted-area fee is specific to routes like this and Upper Mustang. Because the permit office needs more lead time to process a restricted-area application, we ask for your passport details and travel dates earlier than we would for an open route.
Best time to go
Autumn and spring again offer the most reliable conditions for the Larkya La crossing, with winter closing the pass under heavy snow more often than it does on lower routes. Because the lower valley sits in deep gorge country, monsoon rain here tends to cause more landslide and trail-damage risk than on drier routes like Upper Mustang, so we generally steer clients away from a monsoon booking on this one.
Cost and what’s included
The price is per person: 1,250 USD for a solo traveller, 1,040 USD each for two or three travellers, 975 USD each for four to six, and 915 USD each for seven or more. Since March 2026 the restricted area permit can be issued to one person walking with a licensed guide, so you no longer need to find a second trekker to go. The price covers the Restricted Area Permit, the Manaslu and Annapurna conservation area permits, a government-licensed guide, full board in mountain lodges, private 4WD transport from Kathmandu to Machha Khola and a private vehicle back from Dharapani, two nights in a three-star Kathmandu hotel with breakfast, a farewell dinner, and the loan of an insulated jacket, crampons and sleeping bag. Full details are on the Manaslu Circuit Trek page.
How it compares to the Annapurna Circuit
The two routes share a similar shape: a long valley approach, a high pass, a descent into the Marsyangdi valley. Manaslu is quieter and slightly more remote, with the restricted-area rules to match; the Annapurna Circuit is more developed, has more lodge choice, and doesn’t carry the extra permit cost. Some experienced trekkers combine elements of both, since the trails physically connect near the end of the Manaslu route.
Who it suits
This is a strenuous trek that rewards trekkers who already have a multi-day high-altitude trek behind them. If this is your first time in the mountains, start with something shorter from our best treks for first-timers list and build up to a route like this one, or read our general guide to Nepal trekking difficulty levels to see exactly where it sits.
Booking
Restricted-area permits take longer to process than ordinary ones, so this is worth booking a little earlier than an open route, whether you are travelling solo or as a group. See how booking works, or contact us to check your dates.