Manaslu Circuit
A full circuit of the world's eighth-highest mountain — restricted-area permits, Tibetan Buddhist villages, and one serious pass.
The eighth-highest mountain on earth, walked all the way around
Manaslu (8,163 m) is the eighth-highest mountain on earth. Until 1991 the entire region around it was closed to foreigners — a restricted military zone bordering Tibet. Even now it sees a fraction of the foot traffic of the Annapurna or Everest trails. Most days on this circuit, you'll see more yaks than other trekkers.
This is not a beginner's trek. The 16-day circuit climbs through six biomes — sub-tropical forest, pine and rhododendron, high alpine, glacier moraine, then back down — and crosses one of the highest passes in Nepal. The pass day involves a 3 a.m. start, four hours up in the dark, and a knee-destroying descent of 1,600 vertical metres on the other side.
Why we love it
- Real remoteness. No road within five days of the high villages. No phone signal for stretches at a time. The Tibetan Buddhist villages of Lho, Samagaon, and Samdo feel genuinely different from anywhere else in Nepal — the architecture, the language, the food are all closer to Tibet than to Kathmandu.
- The mountain itself. From Lho onward, Manaslu is in your view almost continuously. Sunrise on the south face from Samagaon is one of the great Himalayan moments.
- A proper challenge. If you've done Everest Base Camp or Annapurna Base Camp and want to step up, this is the right next trek.
What it takes
Fitness: very good. You should be comfortable with consecutive 6–8 hour walking days at altitude, including one 10-hour summit day with significant elevation gain and loss.
Experience: ideally one previous Himalayan trek (above 4,500 m). First-timers can do Manaslu but should have at least 6 months of consistent multi-day backpacking experience at altitude in their home country.
Insurance: mandatory. Must include high-altitude trekking (above 5,000 m) and helicopter evacuation. We'll send you a list of policies that cover the full circuit.
A note on permits and logistics
The restricted-area permit and the requirement for a registered guide mean Manaslu is more paperwork than most treks. We handle all of it — you sign a permit application and provide passport scans, we file the rest.
16 days, step by step.
Every distance, lodge and rest day is adjustable to your pace. This is the starting sketch.
Airport pickup, gear check, restricted-area permit briefing.
OVERNIGHT · KATHMANDULong, scenic drive (8 hrs) west of Kathmandu to the trailhead.
OVERNIGHT · SOTI KHOLASub-tropical forest along the Budhi Gandaki river. Hot, humid, lots of suspension bridges.
OVERNIGHT · MACHHA KHOLACross into the Manaslu Conservation Area. Restricted-area permits checked at the police post.
OVERNIGHT · JAGATThe valley narrows; you climb above the river through bamboo and pine forest.
OVERNIGHT · DENGCultural transition day — Tibetan Buddhist villages now, prayer flags and chortens at every turn.
OVERNIGHT · NAMRUNGFirst proper view of Manaslu (8,163 m) above the village monastery.
OVERNIGHT · LHOThrough old-growth forest into the wide, treeless valley below the mountain itself.
OVERNIGHT · SAMAGAONDay hike to Pungyen Gompa or Manaslu Base Camp viewpoint (4,400 m). Sleep low.
OVERNIGHT · SAMAGAONShort, steady climb to the last permanent village before the pass — Tibetan refugee community.
OVERNIGHT · SAMDOHike up the Tibet border ridge for views into Tibet. Critical second acclimatisation day.
OVERNIGHT · SAMDOShort, slow walk to the bare stone shelter at the foot of the pass. Early dinner; alpine start tomorrow.
OVERNIGHT · DHARMASALAThe big day. 3 a.m. start, 4-hour climb to the pass, then a long, knee-jarring descent to Bimthang.
OVERNIGHT · BIMTHANGDown through pine forest and rhododendron back to thicker air.
OVERNIGHT · TILIJEFinal walking day to Dharapani, then a 4-hour jeep down the Marsyangdi valley to Besisahar.
OVERNIGHT · BESISAHAR6-hour drive back to Kathmandu, evening celebration dinner.
OVERNIGHT · KATHMANDU
Transparent line items, no surprises.
- Private licensed guide for the full trek
- 1 porter per 2 trekkers (luggage to 12 kg)
- Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (USD 100 + USD 15/day after first 7 days)
- MCAP and ACAP permits
- All ground transfers (Kathmandu–Soti Khola jeep, return jeep)
- All teahouse accommodation on the trail
- All meals on the trail (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- 1 night in Kathmandu (B&B)
- Daily oxygen-saturation checks above 3,500 m
- Comprehensive first-aid kit + satellite communicator + portable altitude chamber
- International flights to/from Kathmandu
- Nepal entry visa (USD 50 on arrival)
- Travel insurance with high-altitude trekking + helicopter evacuation (mandatory for this trek)
- Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu
- Personal trekking gear (boots, down jacket, gaiters — rentals available)
- Tips for guides and porters (suggested USD 14/day total)
- Drinks (alcoholic and bottled) on the trail
- Hot showers and battery charging at higher lodges (USD 3–6)
Frames from the route, not stock.
Tap any photo for the full frame. All shots taken by our guides on past departures.
A walk through Manaslu.
Topographic profile across 16 days. Rest days appear as plateaus; summit days as peaks. Every line is on foot.
Pick a date, or set your own.
All departures are private — you and your group only. Past dates are filtered out automatically.
Walk the Manaslu Circuit with us.
Tell us your dates and we'll draft a custom itinerary within 48 hours — written by hand, not by template. No card needed to start.
