Manaslu vs Annapurna Circuit: which classic Nepal loop in 2026?
The Annapurna Circuit made teahouse trekking famous; the Manaslu Circuit is what it used to feel like. Here's how to choose between Nepal's two great loops in 2026.
Nepal has two great circuit treks, and choosing between them says a lot about what you want from the Himalaya. The Annapurna Circuit is the legend that put teahouse trekking on the map. The Manaslu Circuit is what the Annapurna Circuit felt like thirty years ago — wilder, quieter, and crowned by an unforgettable pass. Here is how they compare in 2026.
The quick verdict
- Choose Annapurna Circuit for variety, infrastructure and flexibility
- Choose Manaslu Circuit for wildness, solitude and raw scale
- Both cross a huge pass: Thorong La 5,416m vs Larkya La 5,106m
- Manaslu is a restricted area — a guide and special permit are required
Side by side
| Feature | Manaslu Circuit | Annapurna Circuit |
|---|---|---|
| Big pass | Larkya La, 5,106m | Thorong La, 5,416m |
| Crowds | Quiet, remote | Busier, popular |
| Permits | Restricted-area + guide required | ACAP; guide required |
| Road impact | Some, but stays remote | More road on the route |
| Scenery | Wild, Tibetan-influenced | Hugely varied |
The case for each
The Annapurna Circuit earns its fame: in two weeks it travels from subtropical valleys to high desert, over Thorong La and down into Mustang, with the best teahouses in Nepal and endless flexibility to shorten or extend. Roads have crept onto parts of it, but clever routing still keeps the magic. The Manaslu Circuit, by contrast, loops around the world's eighth-highest mountain through deeply traditional, Tibetan-influenced villages, with far fewer trekkers and a wilder feel — at the cost of mandatory guides, a restricted-area permit and rougher logistics.
What this means for you
Pick the Annapurna Circuit if it is your first big Himalayan loop, you want variety and easy logistics, or you value flexibility. Pick Manaslu if you have done a classic before and want solitude and wildness, and do not mind the permit and guide requirements (which, frankly, you should welcome). We run both — tell us what kind of trek you are chasing and we will point you right.
Source: Travel Himalaya Nepal trek operations.
Cover photo: travelwayoflife via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0).
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