The short version
Both are classic Himalayan circuits with a dramatic high pass — but the Annapurna and Manaslu Circuits differ in crowds, roads, permits, and remoteness. This guide compares them to help you choose.
- Choose the Annapurna Circuit for the iconic Thorong La (5,416m), more infrastructure, flexibility, and add-ons like Poon Hill.
- Choose the Manaslu Circuit for wild, road-free remoteness and far fewer crowds — if you accept the restricted-permit rules.
- Manaslu requires a guide, a group of two, and a special permit; Annapurna needs only ACAP + TIMS.
- Both are strenuous 14–16 day loops; Manaslu is slightly tougher and more remote.
Two great circuits, one big decision
The Annapurna Circuit and the Manaslu Circuit are Nepal's two classic 'loop' treks, each crossing a dramatic high pass around a giant massif. They were once similar experiences — but roads have changed the equation.
| Factor | Annapurna Circuit | Manaslu Circuit |
|---|---|---|
| High pass | Thorong La (5,416m) | Larkya La (5,160m) |
| Crowds | Busier, more developed | Quiet, pristine |
| Roads | Roads reach Manang and Muktinath | Largely road-free |
| Permits | ACAP + TIMS | Restricted: RAP, MCAP, ACAP + guide |
| Duration | 14–16 days | 14–16 days |
| Difficulty | Strenuous | Strenuous, slightly tougher |
Crowds and roads
Annapurna Circuit: The original classic, but roads now reach Manang (east) and Muktinath (west), so parts involve dusty road-walking unless you take the high trekking variants (Ghyaru, Ngawal). Busier and more developed.
Manaslu Circuit: Still largely road-free and wild — the remote, restricted experience the Annapurna Circuit used to be. Fewer trekkers, more pristine.
The high pass — and why the lower one is harder
Thorong La (5,416m) is the higher of the two, and the more famous. It is also the better supported: you stage from Thorong Phedi or High Camp, the trail is obvious and busy, and if something goes wrong there are people, lodges and a rescue post within a few hours.
Larkya La (5,160m) is 256m lower and the harder day. The approach from Dharamsala is longer, the descent on the far side is a long rough drop toward Bimthang, and there is far less around you if it goes wrong. Weather closes it more often, and a bad forecast can mean waiting a day at Dharamsala — which is one cold lodge, not a village.
If you are weighing "which pass is more serious", the honest answer is the lower one.
Permits, rules — and the cost gap nobody mentions
Annapurna Circuit: ACAP (NPR 3,000) plus a TIMS card (NPR 2,000). About US$38 per person, issued the same day in Pokhara or Kathmandu.
Manaslu Circuit: a restricted area, which means three permits and a rule set:
- Restricted Area Permit — US$100 per person for the first 7 days in September–November, then US$15 per day. Off-season (December–August) it is US$75 and US$10.
- MCAP — US$30 · ACAP — US$30 (you exit through the Annapurna area)
- A licensed guide is mandatory, and a minimum of two trekkers on one permit. A solo trekker cannot get one at any price.
So permits alone run roughly US$38 for Annapurna against US$250 for Manaslu in autumn — about six times more. That is before the guide, who is optional on Annapurna in practice and compulsory here.
What each actually costs with us
| Group size | Annapurna Circuit (14 days) | Manaslu Circuit (14 days) |
|---|---|---|
| Solo | $1,600 | not permitted — minimum two |
| 2–3 people | $1,450 | $1,900 |
| 4–7 people | $1,300 | $1,750 |
| 8+ people | $1,150 | $1,550 |
Manaslu costs roughly $400–450 more per person. That is the real question on this page: is a quieter trail worth about $450 to you? For a lot of people it plainly is. For a lot of others it plainly is not, and there is no wrong answer.
You cannot trek the Manaslu Circuit independently. The restricted-area rules require a licensed guide and a minimum group of two trekkers — plan permits well ahead.
Duration and difficulty
Both are 14–16 day strenuous treks. Manaslu is generally considered slightly tougher and more remote, with fewer comforts and a stronger sense of expedition.
Culture
The Annapurna Circuit passes from Hindu lowlands to Tibetan-Buddhist Manang and Mustang. The Manaslu Circuit moves into the deeply Tibetan-influenced Nubri and Tsum cultures — more homogeneously Himalayan-Buddhist and untouched.
On the Annapurna Circuit, take the high trekking variants through Ghyaru and Ngawal to skip the dusty road sections and reclaim the classic trail experience.
The verdict
Annapurna Circuit if this is your first long Himalayan trek, if you are travelling alone, if the budget matters, or if you want the flexibility to shorten it, add Poon Hill, or bail to a road at several points.
Manaslu Circuit if you have trekked in Nepal before, you have a partner or a group, and the thing that would ruin the trip for you is sharing it. It is the Annapurna Circuit of twenty years ago, and it costs about $450 more to have that.
One thing that decides it for many people: you cannot walk Manaslu alone. The restricted permit requires two trekkers minimum. If you are travelling solo and have nobody to pair with, the choice has been made for you unless we can join you to an existing group.
Read more in our Annapurna Circuit trek guide and Manaslu Circuit trek guide, or contact our team to compare itineraries.
Which is more expensive, the Annapurna or Manaslu Circuit?
Manaslu, by roughly $400–450 per person on a 14-day trek. The gap starts with permits — about US$38 for Annapurna's ACAP and TIMS against around US$250 for Manaslu's restricted-area permit, MCAP and ACAP in autumn — and widens because a licensed guide is compulsory on Manaslu rather than optional.
Is Larkya La harder than Thorong La?
Yes, despite being 256m lower. Thorong La is higher at 5,416m but well supported, with staging lodges and a busy trail. Larkya La at 5,160m has a longer approach, a rough descent toward Bimthang, far less infrastructure and more frequent weather closures — and Dharamsala, where you stage from, is a single cold lodge rather than a village.
Can I trek the Manaslu Circuit alone?
No. The restricted-area permit requires a minimum of two trekkers plus a licensed guide, and no agency can issue one for a single person. If you are travelling solo, either pair up, ask to be joined to an existing group, or trek the Annapurna Circuit instead, which has no such rule.
Can I trek the Manaslu Circuit without a guide?
No. Manaslu is a restricted area requiring a special permit (RAP), MCAP, ACAP, a registered guide, and a minimum group of two trekkers.
Which circuit has fewer roads and crowds?
The Manaslu Circuit is still largely road-free and far quieter, offering the wild experience the Annapurna Circuit had before roads reached Manang and Muktinath.
Private Manaslu departures on any date, hand-picked NMA guides, and 25+ years on these trails. Tell us your dates — we usually reply within a few hours.
Browse Manaslu treks & tours → Read the Manaslu guide →
Written by
Travel Himalaya NepalPokhara-based, NMA-certified trekking guides. We’ve led 5,000+ treks across the Annapurna and Everest regions since 1998 — every word here comes from the trail. More from this author →
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