Manaslu / Gorkha
Manaslu Circuit Trek
Nepal's last great wilderness circuit
Duration
16 days
Max altitude
5,106m
Difficulty
Strenuous
Group size
2–10
About this trek
The Manaslu Circuit is Nepal's most demanding and most rewarding restricted-area trek. Circumnavigating the world's eighth-highest mountain (8,163m) through remote Tibetan plateaus, pine forests alive with red pandas, and high-altitude villages where tourism hasn't yet arrived, Manaslu offers what Everest and Annapurna once did — wild, unvarnished Nepal. The Larkya La Pass at 5,106m is an all-day crossing that will test your physical limits. What you find on the other side — sweeping views of Manaslu, Himlung, and the entire Annapurna range — is worth every gasping step. Permits are restricted for good reason: this is one of the last wild places.
- Larkya La Pass crossing at 5,106m
- World's 8th highest mountain — Manaslu (8,163m) — constantly in view
- Restricted area trek — far fewer trekkers than EBC or Annapurna
- Tsum Valley side trip option (pre-Bon Buddhist culture)
- Red panda habitat in Shringi jungle
- Tibetan-influenced villages with flat-roofed stone houses
- Birendra Lake glacier reflections
The 16-day itinerary
Arrival, restricted area permit processing, briefing. Manaslu requires special permits arranged in advance.
Choose your package
Budget
Essential experience, local teahouses, shared facilities.
- —Licensed Sherpa guide
- —Basic teahouse accommodation
- —All meals on trail
- —All permits included
- —Porter (shared)
- —First aid kit
Recommended
Standard
Best value — the recommended choice.
- —Senior licensed Sherpa guide
- —Better teahouse selection
- —All meals on trail
- —All permits included
- —Dedicated porter
- —First aid + oximeter
- —Sleeping bag rental
- —Kathmandu hotel (1 night)
Premium
Best available teahouses, priority guide, helicopter option.
- —Head guide (Pasang Temba level)
- —Best teahouses at each stage
- —All meals on trail
- —All permits included
- —Dedicated porter
- —Full medical kit + oximeter
- —Sleeping bag + down jacket
- —Kathmandu hotel (2 nights)
- —Helicopter rebook option
- —Satellite communicator
Includes and excludes
Included
- All transport (Kathmandu–Arughat–Kathmandu)
- Restricted Area Permit & Manaslu Conservation Area permit
- TIMS card & all trekking fees
- All accommodation (teahouse, twin share)
- All trail meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Experienced licensed guide (Manaslu specialist)
- Porter (1 per 2 trekkers)
- Sleeping bag rental
- First aid kit & oximeter
- Emergency evacuation insurance
- Kathmandu hotel (1 night pre-trek)
Not included
- International flights
- Nepal visa
- Personal travel insurance
- Personal trekking gear
- Tips for guide/porter
- Hot showers and WiFi on trail
- Alcoholic beverages
- Extra nights in Kathmandu
From the trail.
“I chose Manaslu because I wanted to feel like an explorer, not a tourist. Pemba delivered that completely. We went three days without seeing another trekking group. The landscape shifts from jungle to desert to glacial tundra. Larkya La was terrifying and sublime in equal measure. Pemba never showed fear, which gave me enough courage to keep moving. I'd follow him anywhere.”