Manaslu Circuit Trek

The Manaslu Circuit is significantly harder than the standard Annapurna Circuit. Larkya La (5,106 m) is 300 metres higher than Thorong La (4,949 m). The trail is less maintained — some sections involve narrow gorge paths and loose terrain. Teahouses are simpler, especially above Ghap. The logistics are more complex with three permits required. On the positive side, the route is far less crowded and the cultural experience in the Nubri Valley is more authentic and undisturbed.

Strong fitness and previous Himalayan trekking experience to at least 4,000 m. You should have completed a multi-day trek in Nepal or a comparable high-altitude destination before attempting the Manaslu Circuit. The minimum benchmark: walk 10–15 km per day with a 7–8 kg daypack on consecutive days for 12 days without significant soreness. Larkya La crossing day (7–9 hours at 4,460–5,106 m) is the hardest single day and requires sustained aerobic capacity at altitude.

Moderate to high risk above 4,000 m. The acclimatisation schedule is built into the 14-day itinerary with a rest day at Samagaon (3,530 m) and a short approach day to Dharamsala (4,460 m). AMS can still occur despite following the schedule. Our guides check SpO2 every evening above 4,000 m and descend any trekker showing two or more symptoms immediately. Diamox (acetazolamide) is strongly recommended — consult your doctor before departure.

Three permits are required: (1) Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (MRAP): USD 100 per person per week for September–November, plus USD 15 per additional day. For a 14-day October trek: approximately USD 215 per person. (2) Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP): NPR 3,000 (approximately USD 22) per person. (3) Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP): NPR 3,000 (approximately USD 22) per person, for the Dharapani–Besi Sahar section. All three permits are included in your package price and arranged by us in Kathmandu before departure.

No. The Manaslu Restricted Area Permit requires a licensed guide and a minimum group of two trekkers — it has been a requirement since the circuit opened in 1991. This is separate from the 2023 general Nepal guide regulation. You cannot obtain the MRAP without a registered guide. This is not a formality — the Larkya La crossing involves genuine remoteness and altitude risk that makes a competent guide essential rather than optional.

October is the best single month — post-monsoon clarity, Larkya La in optimal condition, and comfortable daytime temperatures. November is nearly as good and noticeably less crowded, but Dharamsala reaches -15°C at night by mid-November. March and April are the best spring months — good views and manageable pass conditions, with spring snow on the upper approach requiring crampons in some years. Larkya La is effectively closed from December to mid-March due to heavy snowfall and avalanche risk.

The trailhead is at Soti Khola (700 m), approximately 7 to 8 hours from Kathmandu by 4WD vehicle. The drive covers 170 km on the Prithvi Highway to Arughat and then unpaved road to Soti Khola. Private vehicle is included in the package. The circuit ends at Besi Sahar, which is connected to Kathmandu by paved road in 6 to 7 hours — a significantly smoother drive than the approach.

Budget NPR 25,000–40,000 (USD 185–300) for 14 days. There are no ATMs on the Manaslu Circuit — withdraw all cash in Kathmandu. Hot showers: NPR 300–500 (upper camps). Wi-Fi: NPR 200–400/day (limited and slow above Lho). Soft drinks and beer: NPR 300–600 (increasingly expensive at altitude). Personal snacks for the Larkya La day: carry from Kathmandu or Samagaon market.

Good in the lower section, simpler in the upper. Below Ghap: standard teahouse fare — dal bhat, noodles, pasta, eggs. Above Ghap and through the Nubri Valley: Tibetan-influenced menus add tsampa (roasted barley flour), buckwheat noodles, and Tibetan butter tea. Dal bhat remains available throughout. The teahouses at Samagaon are the best on the upper route. Above Samdo the menus simplify further. Carry adequate snacks for the Larkya La crossing day — there is no food on the pass.

The crossing departs Dharamsala (4,460 m) at 04:00–05:00 in the dark. Temperature at departure: -5 to -15°C depending on month. The ascent takes 4 to 5 hours to the pass (5,106 m). The glaciated sections on the approach are manageable with microspikes under normal autumn conditions; crampons may be needed in spring or after fresh snowfall. Wind at the pass can be severe — have your warmest layer accessible. The descent to Bimthang takes 3 to 4 hours on steep loose terrain. Total crossing day: 7 to 9 hours. This is the most demanding day of the trek.

The guide assesses conditions via radio contact at 03:30 on the crossing day. If the pass is unsafe — fresh heavy snow, high wind, or icing beyond safe levels — the group waits at Dharamsala for 24 hours and reassesses. If still impassable, options include: (1) returning to Samagaon and exiting via the Buri Gandaki route (the same way you entered); (2) helicopter evacuation from Samagaon if the season is ending. In 10 years of operating on this route, we have had to abort due to weather on 3 occasions — all in late November.

Travel insurance must cover trekking to 5,500 m and helicopter evacuation. This is a mandatory booking requirement. The Manaslu region has helicopter landing zones at Samagaon (3,530 m) and Bimthang (3,720 m). Evacuation to Kathmandu costs USD 4,000–7,000. Most Nepal-specific adventure insurance policies (World Nomads Adventure, Battleface, or Global Rescue) cover this route. Verify that your policy covers the Manaslu Restricted Area specifically — some standard policies exclude restricted zones.