Trek Guide
The Manaslu Circuit is a restricted area: the permit costs about US$250 for a 14-day autumn trek (Restricted Area Permit US$100/7 days + US$15/day…
By Travel Himalaya Nepal · Feb 28, 2026
Manaslu — "Mountain of the Spirit" in Sanskrit — is the world's eighth-highest peak at 8,163 metres, and the circuit wrapping its base stayed closed to foreign trekkers until 1992. Three decades on, it remains the benchmark by which serious trekkers measure…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
The numbers tell the story plainly. The Annapurna Circuit receives more than 180,000 trekkers per year. The Manaslu Circuit receives fewer than 5,000. That is not a rounding error — it is a different category of experience. The Budi Gandaki River gorge that…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Manaslu's restricted-area status means you cannot walk this route without paperwork — and a licensed guide. There is no exception to this rule. The permit stack: Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (RAP) — September–November (peak): USD $100 per person for the…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
The Manaslu Circuit typically takes 13 to 18 days depending on pace and acclimatisation. The classic route runs: Soti Khola (730 m) → Machha Khola → Jagat → Deng → Namrung. Lush and warm — rhododendron, bamboo, suspension bridges over the Budi Gandaki. Lho →…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Larkya La at 5,160 metres is the highest point of the circuit and its defining moment. What to expect and prepare for: Departure time : 2:00–3:00 am from Dharamsala. Starting late is a mistake most people make only once. Duration : 6–8 hours from Dharamsala…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Manaslu is not the budget trek of Nepal. It is worth every dollar, but plan accordingly. This costs more than the Annapurna Circuit. The restricted-area permits, mandatory guide, and logistically complex jeep access are the main drivers. Compare it against…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
The trailhead at Soti Khola is 175 km northwest of Kathmandu — theoretically close, practically a significant journey. The road after Arughat deteriorates into rough jeep track; expect 9–10 hours from Kathmandu to Soti Khola in a 4WD. This is not a gentle…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Sleeping bag : bring your own rated to −15°C minimum. Do not assume lodge blankets at Dharamsala will be enough. Solar charger or power bank : electricity is solar-generated above Samagaon and unreliable; charging may not be available. Cash : no ATMs after…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
You can now apply for the Restricted Area Permit individually — the two-person minimum was removed on 22 March 2026. But you cannot walk it alone: a licensed guide is mandatory by law and checked at the Jagat and Sama checkpoints. "Solo" means you no longer…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Plan your trek
NMA-certified guides · permits sorted · 5,000+ treks since 1998.
Free guide
Permits, costs, seasons and routes — the essentials we send every traveller, plus a free, no-obligation trip quote.
↑ Swipe up
Read the full report and grab the free Nepal Trek Insider Guide — or ask our Pokhara team for a tailored, no-obligation quote.
Read more & get the free guide Plan my trip — free quote