The Manaslu Circuit Trek is an exciting and less crowded alternative to the Annapurna and Everest regions, circling Mount Manaslu (8,163 m)—the world’s eighth-highest peak. Settled in the heart of Nepal’s Gorkha region, this journey offers a crude, off-the-beaten-path encounter that takes you through tall mountain passes, old cloisters, and inaccessible Himalayan towns that few untouchables have ever seen.
Trek Location: Remote Beauty in Central Nepal
The journey begins in Soti Khola (710 m), found in the Gorkha region, around 8 hours’ drive from Kathmandu. From here, the path follows the Budhi Gandaki Waterway steadily climbing into snow-capped scenes and socially Tibetan highlands. The circuit lies in the Manaslu Preservation Region, which borders the Annapurna region to the west and the Tibetan level to the north.
Manaslu Circuit Trek Map
Manaslu Circuit Itinerary
- Day 01: Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu
- Day 02: Drive from Kathmandu to Machha Khola (900m) – Distance: 160 km | Duration: 8–9 hours
- Day 03: Trek from Machha Khola to Jagat (1,410m) – Distance: 22 km | Duration: 5–6 hours
- Day 04: Trek from Jagat to Deng (1,804m) – Distance: 20 km | Duration: 8–9 hours
- Day 05: Trek from Deng to Namrung (2,900m) – Distance: 19.5 km | Duration: 5–6 hours
- Day 06: Trek from Namrung to Lho Gaon (3,180m) – Distance: 10.5 km | Duration: 5–6 hours
- Day 07: Trek from Lho Gaon to Samagaun (3,500m) – Distance: 8.1 km | Duration: 6–7 hours
- Day 08: Acclimatization Day at Samagaun
- Day 09: Trek from Samagaon to Samdo (3,875m) – Distance: 8 km | Duration: 3 hours
- Day 10: Trek from Samdo to Dharmashala (4,450m) – Distance: 11.5 km | Duration: 4 hours
- Day 11: Trek to Bhimthang (3,590m) via Larkya La Pass (5,106m) – Distance: 24.5 km | Duration: 8 hours
- Day 12: Trek from Bhimthang to Tilche (2,300m) – Duration: 6 hours
- Day 13: Trek to Dharapani/Chamje and Drive to Kathmandu – Duration: 8–9 hours
- Day 14: Departure from Kathmandu – Farewell
Route overview
Soti Khola to Machha Khola: You’ll start trekking through subtropical woodlands and Gurung villages.
Machha Khola to Jagat & Deng: The territory limits, waterfalls cascade down cliffs, and the Tibetan impact grows.
Namrung to Lho and Samagaon. As you reach over 3,000 m, Tibetan-style municipalities with main separations, chortens, and gompas overwhelm the route.
Acclimatization in Samagaon: multitudinous pedestrians take a rest day, then with side passages to Manaslu Base Camp or Pungyen Gompa.
Samdo to Dharamshala: This area approaches the trek’s climax.
Larke La Pass (5,160 m): The most elevated point of the journey, offering breathtaking views of Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, and Annapurna II.
Descent to Bimtang and Dharapani: The path blended with the Annapurna Circuit for a brief extent, sometime recently ending.
Why It’s Special
Unlike prevalent treks, the Manaslu Circuit has a sense of confinement and genuineness. You’ll pass yak pastures, farther Buddhist settlements, and flawless, frigid valleys. As it were, restricted grants are issued annually, protecting its wild charm. This journey is perfect for those looking for wild, social profundity and a challenging high-altitude enterprise absent from the visitor trails.
Why Choose the Manaslu Circuit Trek:
The Manaslu Circuit Trek isn't fair to another Himalayan path—it's a crude, capable travel into Nepal’s untouched wilderness where few strides resound. Not at all like the swarmed Everest or Annapurna courses, Manaslu offers a calmer, more bona fide experience that still conveys jaw-dropping scenes and profound social submersion. If you need a journey that feels like a genuine investigation, this is it.
Towering peaks like Mt. Manaslu (8,163 m) rule the horizon, whereas the path winds through Tibetan-influenced towns, tall suspension bridges, and lavish elevated woodlands. Each turn uncovers something untouched—whether it’s old cloisters clinging to cliffs, yak herders driving caravans along old salt exchange routes.
What makes the Manaslu Circuit stand out is its mix of enterprise and tranquility. The climb to the 5,106-meter Larkya La Pass is both a physical challenge and an otherworldly high point encompassed by snow-capped mammoths and fresh mountain hush. Each step feels meaningful.
Permits are restricted, making it an elite journey for genuine globe-trotters. You won't discover traveler swarms here—as it were, crude scenes, inviting local people, and stories carved in stone and wind.
Still, social depth, physical challenge, If you look for a touring involvement that combines closeness, it’s the one. It’s where genuine Nepal whispers through supplication banners and mountain winds, welcoming you to encounter something extraordinary.
Manaslu Circuit Trek with Professional Guide and Porter
Setting out on the Manaslu Circuit Trek with a proficient guide, a porter transforms a rough Himalayan adventure into a life-enhancing experience. This further circuit, circling the eighth-highest crest in the world—Manaslu (8,163 m)—demands regard, planning, and neighborhood mastery. With a prepared guide driving the way and a porter facilitating your stack, you’re free to immerse yourself in the breathtaking scenes completely and rich social experiences that characterize this uncommon trail.
Unlike swarmed commercial courses, the Manaslu Circuit winds through serene towns, old cloisters, and untainted valleys where Tibetan and Nepali conventions concordantly mix. Your guide offers more than fair navigation—expect smart commentary, path legends, nearby history, and the consolation of security at tall elevations. Whether crossing the impressive Larke Pass (5,106 m) or sharing tea with a neighborhood family in Samagaun, the journey feels authentic with the right support.
Porters, regularly unsung heroes, carry your burden with beauty and flexibility, permitting you to walk lighter, literally and rationally. Their quality guarantees your vitality remains centered on the staggering vistas, from rich swamps to glacier-carved highlands.
Choosing to journey the Manaslu Circuit with a proficient guide and porter isn’t a fair decision—it’s a commitment to association, security, and more profound revelation. In return, you’ll pick up not fair recollections, but a profound understanding of Nepal’s covered-up Himalayas. Walk the path with a bolster, and let the travel uncover its calm, capable enchantment.
Permit requiremants:
Trekking in the Manaslu region requires specific permits due to its status as a restricted area aimed at protecting its rich cultural heritage and sensitive environment. To enter, trekkers must obtain the Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (RAP), along with the Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP) and the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP), all of which must be arranged in advance through a registered trekking agency.
1. Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (RAP):
This special permit is required because the Manaslu region is a restricted area, designed to help protect its unique culture and environment.
September to November: $100 per person for the first 7 days, plus $15 for each extra day.
December to August: $75 per person for the first 7 days, plus $10 for each extra day.
Important Notes:
You cannot trek alone; a minimum of two trekkers with a licensed guide is required.
This permit must be obtained through a registered trekking agency in Nepal.
2. Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP):
This permit helps support conservation efforts and local communities in the Manaslu region.
Foreign nationals: NPR 3,000 per person
SAARC nationals: NPR 1,000 per person
3. Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP):
Since the Manaslu trek usually ends in the Annapurna region, Annapurna Circuit Trek, this permit is also needed to enter that area.
Foreign nationals: NPR 3,000 per person
SAARC nationals: NPR 1,000 per person
