Plan my trek
Plan my trek
5,106 m (Larkya La)
13–16 days
Strenuous
Machha Khola–Dharapani
RAP + MCAP + ACAP
Oct–Nov, Mar–May
The Manaslu Circuit is a 13 to 16 day teahouse trek that loops around Manaslu (8,163 m), the world’s eighth-highest mountain, in Gorkha district in west-central Nepal. You start in the warm, terraced lower valley of the Budhi Gandaki river, follow it north through gorges and Gurung villages into the Tibetan Buddhist Nubri region, cross the Larkya La at 5,106 m, and come down the Marsyangdi side to join the Annapurna Circuit road at Dharapani.
It is a restricted area, which shapes everything about the trip. You need a special permit that only a registered Nepali trekking agency can arrange, a licensed guide, and two conservation area permits. That paperwork, and the long drive in, keep numbers far below the Everest and Annapurna trails, and it is the main reason people choose Manaslu.
The first three or four days are low and often hot: long suspension bridges, stone staircases above the river, banana trees and rice terraces, with lodges in villages such as Machha Khola, Jagat and Deng. Around Namrung (2,630 m) the valley opens, the houses change to stone and timber with prayer flags, and Manaslu itself appears above Lho and Samagaun.
Samagaun (about 3,530 m) is the cultural and logistical heart of the trek and where you spend at least one acclimatisation day. From there it is a short climb to Samdo near the Tibetan border, then the high camp at Dharamsala (also called Larkya Phedi, 4,460 m) and a pre-dawn start for the pass. The descent to Bimthang gives some of the best mountain views of the trip: Himlung, Cheo Himal, Kang Guru and the huge west face of Manaslu.
The Annapurna Circuit is the obvious comparison: both are loops over a high pass (Thorong La is 5,416 m). The Annapurna Circuit has better lodges, more side trips and a road along much of its length; Manaslu has far fewer people, more continuous footpath and the cost and rules of a restricted area. Compared with Everest Base Camp, Manaslu has no flight to Lukla and no out-and-back retracing of steps, but also fewer lodge comforts and harder access if something goes wrong.
Many people combine the two: walk Manaslu, then continue up the Marsyangdi from Dharapani towards Manang and over Thorong La. Others add the Tsum Valley extension, a culturally rich side valley north of Jagat with its own permit.
Current trail status (October 2026): a flash flood on the Budhi Gandaki on 11 to 12 October 2026 damaged bridges and trail in the lower valley, particularly around Jagat and Philim, after an earlier September flood near Namrung. Partial reopening via temporary routes was being reported locally from mid-October, but no full official reopening had been confirmed at the time of writing. Read the safety section and check current conditions with your agency before booking.
Below is a standard 13-day itinerary from Kathmandu back to Kathmandu, with two acclimatisation days (Samagaun and Samdo). Fit, experienced trekkers sometimes cut the Samdo day, but we would not: it is the cheapest insurance you can buy before the pass. Add a day in Kathmandu either side for permits and a buffer, so plan on 15 nights in Nepal as a minimum.
| Day | Route | Altitude | Walking time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drive Kathmandu to Machha Khola (via Arughat and Soti Khola) | about 870–930 m | 8–10 hr drive |
| 2 | Machha Khola to Jagat, via Khorlabesi and Tatopani hot spring | about 1,340–1,410 m | 6–7 hr |
| 3 | Jagat to Deng, via Salleri and Philim; Tsum Valley turn-off at Lokpa junction | 1,860 m | 6–7 hr |
| 4 | Deng to Namrung, via Rana, Ghap and the start of the Nubri area | 2,630 m | 6–7 hr |
| 5 | Namrung to Lho, via Lihi and Sho, with the first big Manaslu views | about 3,180 m | 4–5 hr |
| 6 | Lho to Samagaun via Shyala, optional detour to Pungyen Gompa | about 3,520–3,530 m | 3–5 hr |
| 7 | Acclimatisation day at Samagaun: Birendra Tal, Pungyen Gompa or Manaslu Base Camp | 3,530 m (up to 4,800 m) | 3–8 hr |
| 8 | Samagaun to Samdo | about 3,860 m | 3–4 hr |
| 9 | Acclimatisation day at Samdo, hike towards the Tibetan border trail | 3,860 m (up to about 4,500 m) | 3–4 hr |
| 10 | Samdo to Dharamsala (Larkya Phedi) | 4,460 m | 3–4 hr |
| 11 | Cross Larkya La to Bimthang | 5,106 m pass, about 3,590–3,720 m | 8–11 hr |
| 12 | Bimthang to Tilije (or on to Dharapani) | about 2,300 m | 5–7 hr |
| 13 | Walk or jeep to Dharapani, jeep to Besisahar, then bus or jeep to Kathmandu or Pokhara | about 1,900 m, then 760 m | 1–2 hr walk, 8–10 hr drive |
Altitudes vary between maps and agency sites by up to 100 m, and Larkya La itself is given as 5,106 m on most maps and 5,160 m on some. Walking times are for a steady pace with stops; your guide will adjust days to conditions and how the group is acclimatising. A jeep track now runs up the lower Budhi Gandaki and is being extended, so some agencies drive further than Machha Khola in the dry season and shorten day 2; the trade-off is losing some of the best lower-valley walking.
Older itineraries start walking at Soti Khola (about 710 m), a riverside village a few hours past Arughat. Today most agencies continue by bus or jeep to Machha Khola, roughly 15 km further, on a rough track carved along the river. In the monsoon and just after, buses often stop at Soti Khola and you either change to a local jeep or walk the first day to Machha Khola (around 5–6 hours via Lapubesi).
Walking from Soti Khola is not wasted time: it is a gentle warm-up at low altitude, with forest and waterfalls, and it lets your legs adjust before the long climb begins. If road conditions are poor, it is also the more predictable option. After the October 2026 floods, check which of the two your agency is planning and how they will get you past any damaged sections near Jagat.
Samagaun is a large Nubri village on a broad plain beneath Manaslu, with a monastery, lodges with wifi and the last reliable hot showers before the pass. Spend at least one full extra night here. Three classic day hikes:
Your guide should ask how you slept and check how you feel before choosing. The principle is to climb high and sleep low.
The crossing from Dharamsala (4,460 m) to Bimthang is the hardest day of the trek and one of the longest pass days in Nepal’s standard teahouse circuits. Groups usually leave between 3 and 5 am by headtorch to reach the top before the wind picks up. The climb is about 650 m over moraine and, in many seasons, snow; the crest is broad with prayer flags and a view of Himlung, Cheo Himal and Kang Guru.
The descent is longer than the ascent: about 1,400 m down to Bimthang, steep and sometimes icy at the top, then a long walk across ablation valleys. Expect 8 to 11 hours in total, and temperatures well below freezing at dawn in autumn. Carry microspikes in spring and late autumn, enough water, snacks and a warm layer you can reach. If there is heavy snowfall, the safe decision is to wait at Dharamsala or Samdo, which is another reason to keep a spare day.
From Bimthang the trail drops through rhododendron and pine forest to Karche and Goa, then to Tilije and the confluence with the Marsyangdi at Dharapani (around 1,900 m), on the Annapurna Circuit. Here you leave the Manaslu Conservation Area and show your ACAP permit.
A jeep road now reaches Tilije and sometimes higher, so many groups finish by jeep from Tilije or Dharapani to Besisahar (roughly 3–4 hours on a rough road), then take a bus or jeep onward to Kathmandu or Pokhara. If you have time, walking down to Dharapani from Tilije is pleasant and short. You can also turn north here and continue up the Annapurna Circuit, though you will need a new itinerary and a guide for that section too.
The Tsum Valley branches north from the main trail near Lokpa, between Jagat and Deng, and runs towards the Tibetan border. It is a separate restricted area with its own permit, and adds roughly 6–7 days. A typical loop goes Lokpa, Chumling (about 2,390 m), Chhokangparo (about 3,010 m), Nile and Mu Gompa (about 3,700 m), with Rachen Gompa nunnery and the Milarepa cave on the way, then back down to Chumling and on to Deng to rejoin the circuit.
Tsum is lower than the main circuit and makes a good acclimatisation lead-in before Samagaun. Lodges are simpler and fewer, and the lower Tsum trail lost a bridge at Lokpa in the October 2026 flood, with reports that it may reopen later than the main circuit. Total trip length with Tsum is usually 18–21 days.
11–12 days: possible if you drive further up the valley, skip the Samdo rest day and drive out from Tilije. We only suggest it for trekkers who have recently been above 4,500 m.
Reverse direction: very rarely done, because climbing from Bimthang to the pass gains around 1,400 m in a day, which is too much for safe acclimatisation.
Manaslu plus Annapurna Circuit: from Dharapani, walk to Chame, Pisang and Manang, then over Thorong La to Muktinath. Allow 24–26 days in total.
Serang or Rupina La routes: remote variations used by some specialist operators; they involve camping and are outside the scope of this guide.
Honestly: strenuous, but within reach of a fit person with no technical climbing skills. There is no rope work on the normal route in good conditions. What makes it hard is the combination of long days, constant up and down in the lower valley, basic lodges and a very long pass day at over 5,000 m.
You sleep below 2,000 m for the first three nights, which is gentle. The key gains are Namrung (2,630 m) to Lho (around 3,180 m) to Samagaun (around 3,530 m), then Samdo (around 3,860 m) and Dharamsala (4,460 m). Above 3,000 m, the usual guidance is not to increase your sleeping altitude by more than about 300 to 500 m a night, with a rest day for every 1,000 m or so. The itinerary above follows that pattern, which is why the Samagaun and Samdo days matter.
Dharamsala is cold and high, and many people sleep badly there; that is normal. What is not normal is a worsening headache that painkillers do not touch, vomiting, confusion or breathlessness at rest. Read our guide to altitude sickness; the advice applies equally to Manaslu.
Aim to be comfortable walking 6 hours with a 7–8 kg daypack, two days in a row, with plenty of climbing. Over 8 to 12 weeks before you go:
Our training plan for Everest Base Camp is a good template; add more downhill work for the Larkya La descent. Trekking poles help a great deal.
Manaslu is one of Nepal’s restricted areas, so the rules are stricter than on most popular treks. Here is what applies at the time of writing (October 2026). Fees and rules change, sometimes at short notice, so ask your agency to confirm before you pay.
| Permit | Cost (foreign nationals) | Approx. GBP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manaslu Restricted Area Permit, September to November | US$100 for the first 7 days, then US$15 a day | about £75 plus £11 a day | Through a registered agency only. Covers roughly Jagat to Dharamsala. |
| Manaslu Restricted Area Permit, December to August | US$75 for the first 7 days, then US$10 a day | about £57 plus £8 a day | Same rules; cheaper off-season rate. |
| Tsum Valley Restricted Area Permit (optional) | about US$40 for the first 7 days (Sep–Nov) or US$30 (Dec–Aug), then about US$7 a day | about £23–30 | Only if you add the Tsum extension. |
| Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP) | NPR 3,000 (SAARC nationals NPR 1,000) | about £17 | Covers Jagat to Bimthang. Issued by NTNC. |
| Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) | NPR 3,000 (SAARC nationals NPR 1,000) | about £17 | Needed from Bimthang/Dharapani onwards. Checked on the exit. |
| Chumnubri Rural Municipality fee | reported as NPR 1,000 | about £6 | Local fee collected around Jagat; amount not confirmed by an official source. |
For the 13-day itinerary above, you are inside the restricted area for about 9 days, so in autumn the RAP costs about US$130 (about £100) and in spring about US$95 (about £72). Conversions assume roughly NPR 175–180 to £1 and US$1 to about 75–78p.
MCAP and ACAP can be issued through NTNC’s online system or by your agency in Kathmandu; buying conservation area permits at a checkpoint can cost more. Children under ten are generally exempt from conservation area fees, but confirm restricted area charges for children.
Since 1 April 2023, the Nepal Tourism Board has required foreign trekkers to hire a licensed guide in national parks and conservation areas across most of the country. For Manaslu this changed little, as restricted areas already required a guide. The TIMS card is officially part of the system, but on restricted area treks the RAP is the document that is checked and most agencies report TIMS is not issued or checked for Manaslu. If your agency includes it, that is fine.
| Style | Typical total (13–14 days, from Kathmandu) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Permits, guide and transport only (you pay lodges yourself) | roughly US$1,000–1,400 per person in a pair, more if solo, plus US$30–40 a day for food and rooms | Agency arranges permits and a licensed guide; you pay teahouses and extras as you go |
| Standard full-board package | roughly US$1,300–2,200 (about £1,000–1,700) | Permits, guide, porter, all lodges and meals on trek, transport, often Kathmandu hotel nights |
| Premium small-group or tailor-made | roughly US$2,500–4,000+ | Experienced senior guides, better ground transport, extra days, Kathmandu hotels, sometimes a helicopter exit |
These are typical market ranges from current agency listings, not quotes. Very cheap prices usually mean underpaid staff, overloaded porters or cut acclimatisation days.
The best months are October and November, followed by late March to May. Both windows give you a realistic chance of a clear, snow-free Larkya La crossing. For a Nepal-wide view, see our best season to travel in Nepal guide.
| Months | Weather | Crowds | Views and trail |
|---|---|---|---|
| March | Cold at altitude, warming lower down; snow possible on the pass | Low to moderate | Clear mornings; Larkya La may need microspikes |
| April to May | Mild and mostly dry; haze and afternoon cloud increase in May | Moderate | Rhododendrons in flower below Bimthang; second-best season |
| June to August | Monsoon: heavy rain, leeches, landslides, road closures | Very low | Cloudy; high landslide and flood risk in the Budhi Gandaki |
| September | Monsoon tailing off; rain early in the month | Moderate | Lush lower valley; roads and trails can still be damaged |
| October | Stable, dry and clear; cold nights high up | Highest on this trek | Best visibility; book lodges and permits early |
| November | Dry and clear, colder; first snow possible late month | Moderate to high | Excellent views; nights well below freezing at Dharamsala |
| December to February | Very cold; heavy snow can close Larkya La | Very low | Some upper lodges close; only for experienced winter trekkers with a flexible plan |
Even on a crowded October day, Manaslu is quiet by Everest standards, but the best lodges in Samagaun, Samdo and Dharamsala do fill up. Dharamsala in particular has limited beds, and late arrivals can end up in a dormitory or a dining room.
The Budhi Gandaki is a steep, narrow valley that floods and slides in heavy rain. In 2026 the trail suffered a flash flood near Namrung in early September and a larger flood in the lower valley in October, which is outside the monsoon. Whatever month you choose, build in at least one or two spare days and use an agency that monitors trail conditions.
The whole circuit is now possible on a teahouse basis, with lodges in every overnight village. Standards are simpler than on the Everest or Annapurna trails, but improving every year.
Menus are similar to other Nepal trails: dal bhat (rice, lentils and vegetable curry, usually with free refills), noodles, fried rice, potatoes, momos, porridge, pancakes and eggs. Prices climb with altitude because everything is carried in. As a rough guide, dal bhat is about NPR 500–700 (£3–4) in the lower valley and NPR 900–1,200 (£5–7) above 3,500 m. Most trekkers spend about US$25–40 (£20–30) a day on food and rooms if they pay as they go.
Dal bhat is the best value and the safest choice, as it is cooked fresh. Be cautious with meat higher up, where it may have been carried in without refrigeration.
Do not drink untreated tap or stream water. Bottled water is sold but adds plastic waste in an area with no collection system. Carry a filter or purification tablets and refill from lodge taps, or buy boiled water at lodges. Drink 3 to 4 litres a day at altitude.
Manaslu is remote. Help is often a day’s walk or a helicopter flight away, and weather can close helicopter access. Good preparation and a competent guide matter more here than on busier trails. Our safety tips for trekking in Nepal cover the basics.
2026 has been a difficult year for the Budhi Gandaki valley. On 6 September a flood on the Therang Khola near Namrung destroyed bridges and the local district office suspended travel on the circuit until temporary routes were in place. Then on 11 to 12 October a landslide-dammed flash flood swept down the lower valley, washing away bridges and trail between roughly Machha Khola, Jagat and Philim and damaging the Arughat road and the Lokpa bridge on the Tsum Valley trail. More than 100 trekkers were temporarily stranded and some were evacuated by helicopter.
By around 19 to 21 October, local reports described a Bailey bridge reopened at Arughat, buses reaching Machha Khola again and temporary trails being opened, with the upper trail from Philim to Larkya La reported as passable. However, we could not find an official notice confirming a full reopening at the time of writing, and the Tsum Valley trail may take longer. If you are travelling in late 2026 or 2027, ask your agency for a current, specific route plan.
You need travel insurance that explicitly covers trekking up to at least 5,200 m and helicopter rescue. Check the altitude limit and whether you must be with a licensed guide (you will be). See do I need travel insurance for trekking? for what to look for.
At the time of writing (October 2026), the FCDO does not advise against travel to Nepal. Its advice highlights flooding and landslide risk in Gorkha and other districts after the severe flooding in Rasuwa in August 2026, reminds trekkers that a guide or porter is required in protected areas and that trekking alone is not advised, and notes that protests and strikes can start at short notice, as in the September 2025 unrest in Kathmandu. Check the latest FCDO travel advice for Nepal before you book and again before you fly.
Snow can fall on Larkya La in any month. A good guide will turn back or wait if the pass is unsafe. Do not let a tight flight schedule push you over in bad conditions; keep a spare day.
Porters on Manaslu carry heavy loads over a 5,000 m pass in cold conditions. Choose an agency that limits loads (around 20–25 kg for two trekkers’ kit), provides proper clothing, footwear and sunglasses, insures its staff and pays fair wages. Ask how they look after porters on the pass day; a good company will have a clear answer.
There is no airport on the Manaslu Circuit, so you reach the trailhead by road from Kathmandu. The route runs west on the Prithvi Highway to Dhading Besi or via Gorkha, then north to Arughat and up the Budhi Gandaki to Soti Khola and Machha Khola. The last stretch is a rough, single-lane dirt road that is often slow and sometimes blocked.
| Leg | Option | Time | Approximate cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kathmandu to Machha Khola or Soti Khola | Local bus from Kathmandu’s main bus park area (early morning) | 8–10 hr | about US$10–15 (NPR 1,500–2,500, £8–14) per person |
| Kathmandu to Machha Khola | Private jeep (up to 6–7 people) | 7–9 hr | about US$150–280 per vehicle |
| Tilije or Dharapani to Besisahar | Shared or private local jeep | 3–4 hr | about US$15–30 per seat, or US$100–150 per vehicle |
| Besisahar to Kathmandu | Tourist or local bus | 6–8 hr | about US$8–12 (NPR 1,000–1,600) |
| Besisahar to Pokhara | Local bus | 4–6 hr | about US$5–10 |
| Dharapani to Kathmandu | Private jeep, door to door | 8–10 hr | about US$200–300 per vehicle |
Fares are approximate, from current agency and transport guides; they change with fuel prices, season and road damage. Most packages include transport, typically a private jeep for small groups or a reserved bus seat for budget trips.
From Dharapani or Tilije, local jeeps run down the Marsyangdi valley to Besisahar, the district headquarters of Lamjung. From Besisahar there are frequent buses to Kathmandu and to Pokhara. Many people end in Pokhara for a few days of rest by the lake before flying or driving back. A private jeep from Dharapani all the way to Kathmandu takes a long day but avoids the change at Besisahar.
You walk from subtropical valleys to a 5,000 m pass in about ten days, so layers are everything. Keep your porter bag to around 10–12 kg and your daypack to 6–8 kg. Our full trekking packing list applies to Manaslu; the points below are specific to this route.
Gear can be rented or bought cheaply in Thamel in Kathmandu, especially sleeping bags and down jackets.
Manaslu ends where several other great Nepal trips begin, so it is easy to extend.
From Dharapani, turn north up the Marsyangdi to Manang and cross Thorong La to Muktinath. It makes a long, superbly acclimatised double-pass trip. Read our Annapurna Circuit guide.
The quieter, more spiritual side valley branching off the Manaslu trail. Add 6–7 days and a separate permit. Details are in the itinerary section above.
Recover in Pokhara after the trek, or add the short Poon Hill trek for sunrise over Dhaulagiri and Annapurna South.
If you want big mountain scenery on a shorter, better-supported trail, our Annapurna Base Camp trek is a strong alternative or a second trip.
The classic. Busier, with better lodges and a flight to Lukla. See our Everest Base Camp trek.
Compare all the main routes in our trekking in Nepal guide. When you are ready, tell us your dates, experience and how much time you have, and we will help you plan a Manaslu trek with a licensed guide, sensible acclimatisation and a current route plan: plan your trip with Get Lost Forever.
No. Manaslu is a restricted area, and the permit is only issued through a registered Nepali trekking agency with a licensed guide assigned. Independent trekking is not allowed and permits are checked at several points along the trail.
Since March 2026, the Department of Immigration allows solo trekkers to get restricted area permits through an agency, as long as a licensed guide is assigned. Previously at least two foreign trekkers were needed. You still cannot walk without a guide, and solo trips cost more per person.
From September to November it is US$100 for the first seven days and US$15 for each extra day. From December to August it is US$75 for the first week and US$10 a day after that. You also need MCAP and ACAP permits at NPR 3,000 each.
It is strenuous but non-technical. Expect 5 to 7 hours of walking most days, a rugged lower valley and an 8 to 11 hour pass day over Larkya La at 5,106 m. Good fitness and previous multi-day hiking experience are strongly recommended.
Plan on 13 days from Kathmandu to Kathmandu for the standard route with two acclimatisation days, plus a spare day for weather or transport. With the Tsum Valley extension, allow 18 to 21 days.
After floods in September and October 2026, parts of the lower trail and several bridges were damaged. Local reports from late October describe temporary routes reopening and the upper trail being passable, but no full official reopening had been confirmed at the time of writing. Check with your agency for the latest status.
Larkya La (5,106 m) is lower than Thorong La (5,416 m), but Manaslu is usually considered a little harder overall: the lodges are more basic, the lower valley is rougher, and help is further away. The pass days are similar in length.
It depends what you want. Everest Base Camp offers iconic views and better lodges, with more people. Manaslu offers a full circuit, fewer trekkers and a stronger sense of remoteness, but needs a restricted area permit and a long drive in.
In practice, most agencies report that TIMS is not checked on Manaslu because the restricted area permit takes its place. Your agency will advise; rules change, so it is worth asking when you book.
Partly. There is mobile signal in parts of the lower valley and paid lodge wifi in larger villages such as Namrung and Samagaun, but it is slow and often down. Expect several days with little or no connection.
October and November give the most stable weather and clearest views, though nights are cold. April and May are also good, with rhododendrons on the descent from Larkya La. Avoid June to August because of monsoon rain and landslides.
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