Plan my trek
Plan my trek
About 3,540 m
Annapurna (Manang)
Annapurna Circuit
5–7 days (Besisahar)
Oct–Nov, Mar–May
Unreliable / Humde
Manang is the largest village in the upper Marsyangdi valley, a cluster of flat-roofed stone houses, prayer walls and lodges at about 3,540 m on the north side of the Annapurna massif. It sits in the Annapurna Region, inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, and is the place where almost every trekker on the Annapurna Circuit stops for at least two nights before the climb to the Thorong La (5,416 m).
The setting is dramatic. Across the valley the ice of Gangapurna (7,455 m) and Annapurna III (7,555 m) hangs almost directly above the village, and a glacier drops to a milky lake just below the houses. Behind the village rise the dry, brown slopes of the Chulu peaks. The upper valley lies in the rain shadow of the Annapurnas, so it is high, dry and wide open, with pine and juniper rather than the jungle of the lower Marsyangdi.
The people of the upper valley call themselves Nyeshang or Nyishangba, and are often known in Nepal as Manangi. They speak a Tibeto-Burman language and follow Tibetan Buddhism, and the village is full of chortens, mani walls and gompas. Manangi traders were famous well beyond the Himalaya. A royal order said to date from 1784 granted them special trading privileges, and in the 20th century they traded herbs, musk and later goods across India, Burma, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. The first Nepali passports were reportedly issued to Nyishangba traders in 1962.
That history shows. Many Manangi families now live in Kathmandu or abroad and return for festivals and the trekking seasons, so in winter the village can feel half empty. In October it is lively: bakeries, coffee shops, gear stores and lodges line the main lane, horses and yaks pass through, and the dining rooms fill with trekkers swapping notes about the pass.
Manang is the acclimatisation stop of the Annapurna Circuit. From here the trail climbs to about 4,000 m at Yak Kharka, 4,450 m at Thorong Phedi and 5,416 m on the pass in three or four short days. A rest day in Manang, spent walking higher and sleeping at the same height, is the single most important thing you can do to cross safely. The Himalayan Rescue Association runs a seasonal aid post here with a daily talk on altitude sickness.
Manang is also a junction. It is the starting point for the side trek west to Tilicho Lake, and a road from Besisahar now reaches the village and continues to Khangsar. That road has made Manang easier to reach and leave, but it also tempts people to drive straight up from low altitude, which is exactly what you should not do.
Most trekkers spend two nights in Manang, with one full day of walking higher. Choose your day hike by how you feel: Ice Lake if you are strong, Gangapurna Lake and Chongkor or Praken Gompa if you want something gentler. Times are for an average walker with stops.
The Himalayan Rescue Association has run an aid post in the Manang area since November 1981, staffed in spring and autumn by volunteer doctors. Its talk on acute mountain sickness, HAPE and HACE is usually given every afternoon, typically around 3 pm, and is one of the most useful hours of the whole trek. The doctors explain the warning signs, when to rest and when to go down, and you can often have your oxygen saturation checked. In spring 2025 the post recorded 624 attendees at its talks and treated 654 patients.
Time needed: about an hour. Tip: go on your first afternoon, and take your guide. Consultations for foreigners are charged; the talk is free or by donation, and donations help fund free care for local people.
The classic acclimatisation hike. A steep trail climbs from Bhraka (Braga), just east of Manang, up open hillside to a pair of small lakes at roughly 4,600 m, with huge views of Annapurna II, III and IV, Gangapurna and the whole upper valley. It gains about 1,050 to 1,100 m, which makes it perfect for the climb-high, sleep-low principle, and a good test of how you are coping before the pass.
Time needed: 6 to 8 hours round trip (3.5 to 5 hours up, 2 to 3 down). Tip: leave by 7 am, carry water, snacks and warm layers, and turn round if you develop a headache. The lakes are often frozen from November.
The easiest outing from Manang. A short path drops from the village to the glacial lake beneath the Gangapurna glacier, roughly level with the village at about 3,540 m. The ice and the lake, with Gangapurna and Annapurna III above, make a fine morning walk. From there you can climb the moraine opposite to the Chongkor viewpoint at about 3,850 to 3,900 m for a closer look at the glacier.
Time needed: 30 minutes to the lake; 2 to 3 hours with Chongkor. Altitude gain: up to about 350 m. Tip: go between 8 and 11 am, before cloud and wind build. This is a good choice if you arrive tired and want a gentle first day.
A small cave monastery on the cliffs north of Manang at about 3,945 m. The steep path up takes about two hours, gaining roughly 400 m, and the view down over the village and across to Gangapurna is excellent. For many years a resident lama has offered blessings for a safe crossing of the Thorong La, in return for a small donation.
Time needed: 3 to 4 hours round trip. Tip: combine it with a rest afternoon. Whether a lama is present depends on the season and the year, so ask in the village before you go. Dress modestly and walk clockwise around shrines.
Across the valley, a trail climbs from near Bhraka to a cave at about 4,100 m associated with Milarepa, the 11th-century Tibetan poet and yogi who is said to have meditated here. Prayer flags mark the cave and a small shrine, with Annapurna II and IV towering behind. It is a quieter and more spiritual alternative to Ice Lake.
Time needed: about 2 hours up from the valley, so a full day round trip. Altitude gain: about 550 to 600 m. Tip: the trail is not well signed beyond the river crossing, so go with your guide. Do not attempt it in snow or poor visibility.
Bhraka, about 30 to 45 minutes’ walk east of Manang, is one of the most atmospheric villages in the valley, with stone houses stacked up the cliff below a large red-walled gompa. The monastery is widely described as one of the oldest in the upper valley, holding statues, thangkas and old texts. Many trekkers stay here instead of Manang for a quieter night, and Bhraka is the starting point for Ice Lake.
Time needed: 1 to 2 hours including the gompa. Tip: the gompa may be locked; ask in the village for the caretaker, and leave a donation. Photography inside may not be allowed.
Manang’s bakeries are part of the circuit tradition. Apple pie, cinnamon rolls, yak cheese and real coffee are the reward for six days of walking. Some halls and lodges in the village have long screened mountaineering films in the evenings for a small fee, a fun way to spend a rest-day evening.
Cost: pastries and coffee typically a few hundred rupees each, at the time of writing. Tip: stock up on snacks here. Prices rise sharply at Yak Kharka, Thorong Phedi and High Camp. Avoid meat above Manang, because it is often carried up for days without refrigeration.
Strictly speaking this is on the way in, not a day trip, but it is the best walking in the valley. Instead of the lower route via Humde, the high trail from Upper Pisang climbs steeply to Ghyaru (about 3,670 m) and contours through Ngawal (about 3,660 m) to Manang, with long views of Annapurna II and IV. Because it takes you above 3,600 m before you reach Manang, it also helps acclimatisation.
Time needed: 6 to 7 hours from Upper Pisang to Manang. Altitude gain: about 400 m on the climb to Ghyaru. Tip: start early, because the Ghyaru climb is hot and steep in sun.
On a standard anticlockwise circuit from Besisahar, you reach Manang on about Day 5 to Day 7 of walking, or sooner if you jeep the lower valley. The usual pattern is: arrive, rest a day with a hike, then continue in short stages to the pass. Altitudes vary slightly between maps and signs, so treat them as approximate.
| Stage | Distance | Time | Altitude change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Pisang (about 3,300 m) to Manang via Ghyaru and Ngawal | About 16–19 km | 6–7 h | About +400 m then down to 3,540 m |
| Lower Pisang to Manang via Humde (lower route) | About 14–16 km | 4–5 h | About +300 m |
| Rest day: Ice Lake and back | Steep out-and-back | 6–8 h | About +1,050 m / −1,050 m |
| Manang to Yak Kharka (about 4,050 m) or Ledar (about 4,200 m) | About 9–11 km | 3–4 h | About +500–650 m |
| Manang to Khangsar (about 3,730 m), for Tilicho | About 6 km by road | 2–3 h on foot | About +200 m |
Distances are approximate and vary by source and by which trail or road section you use.
Manang is above 3,500 m, where altitude sickness becomes common. The rule of thumb above 3,000 m is to raise your sleeping height by no more than about 300 to 500 m a night and to take a rest day for every 1,000 m or so. If you have walked up the valley, Manang is where that rest day falls. If you drove to Chame or higher, you may need two nights here.
After Manang the days are short by design. Day one goes to Yak Kharka or Ledar, day two to Thorong Phedi (about 4,450 m) or High Camp (about 4,880 m), and day three over the pass to Muktinath (about 3,760 m). That is three days from Manang to Muktinath, or four with an extra night at Yak Kharka, which many guides recommend.
Tilicho Lake, at about 4,919 m beneath the ice walls of Tilicho Peak, is one of the highest lakes of its size in the world. From Manang you go west to Khangsar, then Shree Kharka (about 4,060 m) and Tilicho Base Camp (about 4,150 m). Next morning you climb about 800 m to the lake. You then rejoin the main trail at Yak Kharka or Ledar via Old Khangsar. Add two to three days. The path between Shree Kharka and base camp crosses steep, landslide-prone scree where rockfall is a real risk, so cross early and do not linger.
A road now reaches Manang from Besisahar. You can technically drive from about 760 m to 3,540 m in a day or two, but you should not. Jumping that height without acclimatisation is the main cause of serious altitude problems on the circuit. If you must drive, stop at Chame (about 2,670 m) and walk from there, or spend extra nights in Manang before going higher.
Manang has the best lodges on the eastern side of the circuit. Most are family-run stone buildings around a courtyard, with a sunny dining room, a stove and a menu that runs to several pages. We do not name individual lodges, because owners and standards change; your guide will usually book ahead in October and April.
| Lodge type | What you get | Typical room price (per room) |
|---|---|---|
| Basic teahouse | Twin room, shared toilet, bucket or solar shower | NPR 700–1,500 (about £4–8), often reduced if you eat in |
| Standard lodge | Better beds, some attached bathrooms, solar hot water | NPR 1,500–2,500 (about £8–14) |
| Upgraded lodge | Attached bathroom, hot shower, more insulation, in-room charging | Roughly NPR 3,000 (about £17) upwards; prices vary |
As elsewhere on the trek, lodges expect you to eat dinner and breakfast where you sleep, and the room price reflects that.
These are typical ranges from recent agency and trekker reports, not a verified price list.
Nights in Manang are cold. In October and November expect temperatures below freezing before dawn, and much colder in winter. Lodges provide blankets, but you should carry a sleeping bag rated to about minus 10°C for the higher stops anyway.
Most people reach Manang on foot, as part of the Annapurna Circuit from Besisahar. The usual approach is by road from Kathmandu or Pokhara to Besisahar, then jeep or walk up the Marsyangdi valley. Prices are approximate and change often, especially after fuel rises or road damage.
| Route | How | Time | Approximate cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kathmandu to Besisahar | Local or tourist bus | 6–8 h | Roughly NPR 1,000–2,000 (about £6–11) |
| Pokhara to Besisahar | Local bus or jeep | 4–5 h | Roughly NPR 600–1,000 (about £3–6) by bus |
| Besisahar to Chame | Shared jeep or bus (bus since April 2025) | 5–7 h | Roughly NPR 3,000–5,000 (about £17–28) per seat by jeep |
| Chame to Manang | On foot via Pisang | 2–3 days | Lodges and food only |
| Chame to Manang | Shared or private jeep | Around 3–4 h when open | Fares vary; ask at the jeep stand or your agency |
| Besisahar to Manang on foot | Walking, mostly on NATT trails | 5–7 days | Lodges and food only |
The Besisahar to Manang road is rough and often blocked by landslides in the monsoon. In July 2026 Manang’s district administration urged people not to travel to Manang unless absolutely necessary. In late September 2026 floods and landslides cut the road between Besisahar, Chame and Manang, and debris from the Ghatte river submerged the bridge at Chame. After about three weeks, the road to Upper Manang reopened on 13 October 2026 over a temporary timber crossing, for light vehicles. Trekkers can usually walk around blockages, but jeep services can stop at short notice, so check the latest status shortly before you go.
Manang district has an airstrip at Humde, at roughly 3,300 m, between Pisang and Manang. Scheduled flights have not operated for years. It is used for occasional charters and, more often, for helicopter rescues. Do not plan a trip around flying in or out.
Most trekkers continue over the Thorong La to Muktinath and then Jomsom for the road or flight to Pokhara. Regular Pokhara–Jomsom flights were reported suspended in October 2026, so plan to go by road. If the pass is closed by snow, or you are unwell, you can go back down the Marsyangdi by jeep or on foot.
Manang’s season is shaped by the Thorong La. Most trekkers come to cross the pass, so the best months are those when it is reliably open. For the wider picture, see our guide to the best season to travel in Nepal.
| Months | Conditions in Manang | Trekking notes |
|---|---|---|
| October–November | Dry, clear, sunny days; nights well below freezing | Best season and busiest. Book lodges at Phedi and High Camp ahead. |
| December–February | Very cold, dry; snow possible; many residents leave for the winter | Pass often closed or risky; some lodges shut. Only with an experienced guide. |
| March–May | Warming; snow lingers higher up in March; afternoon wind | Second-best season. Microspikes useful early in spring. |
| June–September | Rain shadow: less rain than the lower valley, but cloud and showers | Road to Manang often blocked by landslides lower down. Quiet. Allow spare days. |
Because Manang lies north of the main Annapurna range, it gets much less monsoon rain than Besisahar or Pokhara. Monsoon trekking up here can be pleasant, but getting here is the problem: the lower Marsyangdi road suffers floods and landslides most summers, as it did in July and September 2026.
The Thorong La can close for days at any time of year after heavy snow. In October 2014 a sudden blizzard killed more than 40 people in the area, and lodges and guides are now far more cautious. If the pass is shut, wait in Manang or at Phedi rather than push on.
Losar, the Tibetan and Gurung new year, usually falls between January and March. Manang’s Buddhist gompas also hold their own ceremonies and masked dances during the year, and the Nyeshang community has local horse-racing and harvest festivals. Dates follow the lunar calendar and vary each year, so ask your agency or the village before planning around them. Dashain and Tihar in October and November affect transport more than village life up here.
Manang is where altitude starts to matter. Symptoms of acute mountain sickness include headache, nausea, loss of appetite, poor sleep and unusual tiredness. If they get worse, or you become confused, unsteady or breathless at rest, descend at once: these can be signs of life-threatening HACE or HAPE. Never go higher with symptoms. Drink three to four litres a day, avoid alcohol, and ask your doctor about acetazolamide before the trip. Our guide to altitude sickness explains the same rules, which apply here.
Manang has a government health post and, in season, the HRA clinic. Helicopter evacuation is possible from Manang in good weather, but it is very expensive, so make sure your insurance covers trekking to at least 5,500 m and helicopter rescue. See do I need travel insurance for trekking.
There is an ACAP checkpoint in Manang. Carry your ACAP permit (NPR 3,000, about £17, for foreign nationals and NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals, at the time of writing), your passport and, if your agency issued one, your TIMS card (about NPR 2,000). Since 1 April 2023 the Nepal Tourism Board has required foreign trekkers in protected areas to use a licensed guide through a registered agency. The FCDO says the same. Enforcement in the Annapurna region has been patchy, but do not plan around a loophole.
Manang has had ATMs, but they are unreliable. They run out of cash, go offline or reject foreign cards. Bring enough Nepali rupees from Kathmandu or Pokhara for the whole trek, with a reserve. Lodges and shops take cash only. Above Manang, everything costs more.
Most lodges have wifi and Nepal Telecom and Ncell mobile data work in the village, though both can be slow or drop out. Signal is patchy above Manang. The FCDO notes limited coverage on the Annapurna Circuit and suggests carrying a satellite communication device.
Bottled water costs more the higher you go, and empty bottles are a serious litter problem. Use a filter bottle or purification tablets, refill from lodge taps, or buy boiled water. Some villages on the circuit have ACAP-supported refill stations.
Weather on the pass can change within an hour, and jeep travel on the Marsyangdi road is rough and landslide-prone. Do not travel at night or in overcrowded vehicles. At the time of writing, the UK FCDO does not advise against travel to Nepal. Its advice, updated on 1 October 2026, warns of further floods and landslides after the major floods of late August 2026, which hit Rasuwa, Gorkha, Nuwakot and Dhading. Nepal had serious unrest in Kathmandu in September 2025 and held elections in March 2026, and protests can still start at short notice. Check the latest FCDO advice before you travel, and read our safety tips for trekking in Nepal.
Manang sits at the centre of a valley full of side trips and onward routes. These are the places most often combined with it.
If you have four or five more days after the pass, walk down the Kali Gandaki to Tatopani and climb to Ghorepani for a Poon Hill sunrise. It is a greener, warmer finish to the circuit.
Branching off near Koto, below Chame, this remote valley holds two Tibetan-style villages. It needs a restricted-area permit and a licensed guide, and is often combined with the Kang La pass down to Ngawal near Manang.
The wilder neighbour to the east finishes at Dharapani on the Annapurna Circuit, so the two can be linked for a long trek. See our Manaslu Circuit guide.
For an easier taste of the region, look at Ghandruk or the Annapurna Base Camp Trek, which climbs to about 4,130 m without a high pass.
Get Lost Forever runs Annapurna Circuit treks with licensed local guides, fair porter conditions and itineraries built around a proper rest day in Manang. Tell us your dates and experience on our plan your trip page and we will help you choose the right route and timing.
About 3,540 m. Some maps and signs give around 3,520 m. It is the highest large village on the eastern side of the Annapurna Circuit.
At least two nights, with one full acclimatisation day spent hiking higher. If you drove up from Besisahar or Chame, or feel the altitude, stay a third night.
Ice Lake (about 4,600 m) is the classic, gaining about 1,050 m in 6 to 8 hours round trip. Gentler options are Gangapurna Lake and the Chongkor viewpoint, or Praken Gompa at about 3,945 m.
The Himalayan Rescue Association talk is usually held in the afternoon, around 3 pm, during the spring and autumn seasons. Check the time when you arrive, as it can change.
Manang has had ATMs, but they are unreliable and often out of cash or offline. Carry enough Nepali rupees for the whole trek from Kathmandu or Pokhara.
Yes, a rough road runs from Besisahar to Manang and on to Khangsar, but it is often blocked by landslides. Driving straight up is risky for altitude, so most trekkers jeep only as far as Chame and walk from there.
Yes. The village, gompas, glaciers and day hikes are superb on their own, and Tilicho Lake is a strong alternative goal. You can return down the valley by road.
Two to three extra days, via Khangsar, Shree Kharka and Tilicho Base Camp. You then rejoin the main route at Yak Kharka or Ledar.
Most lodges have wifi, usually for a fee, and mobile data works in the village. Expect it to be slow in the evenings and patchy above Manang.
In October and November, days are often sunny and mild but nights fall below freezing. In winter, temperatures can drop well below minus 10°C. Bring a warm sleeping bag and down jacket.
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