Windhorse
The gateway chorten at Ro village with Manaslu's summit rising behind

Gorkha District

Manaslu Circuit

The quiet trail around the eighth-highest peak

Manaslu requires a restricted-area permit and a minimum of two trekkers travelling with a registered agency, which keeps the trail genuinely quiet. Fourteen days follow the Budhi Gandaki upstream through Gurung villages, then Tibetan-influenced settlements as the valley narrows toward the Larkya La. The pass crossing, beneath Manaslu's north face, is the physical and emotional high point before a long descent into the Marsyangdi valley.

Duration
14 days
Max altitude
5,106 m · Larkya La Pass
Difficulty
Strenuous
Best seasons
Apr – May, Sep – Oct
Group size
2 – 8 trekkers
Route
Kathmandu to Kathmandu (drive both ways)

Trip highlights

  • Restricted-area permit, far fewer trekkers than EBC or Annapurna
  • Cross the Larkya La beneath Manaslu's north face
  • Tibetan-influenced villages along the old salt-trading route
  • Close views of Manaslu, the world's eighth-highest peak
Manaslu's sharp summit against a clear sky
The Manaslu range at dawn, mirrored in a still glacial lake

Manaslu Circuit · 14 days

The route, day by day

This is the exact itinerary our Manaslu Circuit groups follow, built around real acclimatisation, not a rushed schedule.

  1. 1

    Drive to the trailhead

    Kathmandu → Machha Khola 1,400 m → 930 m

    A rough, scenic drive along the Budhi Gandaki to the roadhead village where the trek begins.

  2. 2

    Upriver into the gorge

    Machha Khola → Jagat 930 m → 1,340 m

    The trail follows the Budhi Gandaki through landslide-cut cliffs and small Gurung settlements.

  3. 3

    The permit checkpoint

    Jagat → Deng 1,340 m → 1,860 m

    Restricted-area permits are checked at Jagat before the valley narrows further, entering genuinely quiet trail.

  4. 4

    Into Tibetan-influenced country

    Deng → Namrung 1,860 m → 2,630 m

    The architecture and prayer flags shift noticeably as the valley climbs toward the Tibetan plateau.

  5. 5

    First views of Manaslu

    Namrung → Lho 2,630 m → 3,180 m

    A short day by design, ending at a village with the trek's first uninterrupted view of Manaslu itself.

  6. 6

    To the foot of the mountain

    Lho → Samagaon 3,180 m → 3,530 m

    Samagaon sits almost beneath Manaslu's south face, a Tibetan-influenced village that anchors two rest days.

  7. 7

    Acclimatisation day

    Samagaon 3,530 m

    A side hike to Manaslu Base Camp or Birendra Lake, both high enough to aid acclimatisation before Samdo.

  8. 8

    Toward the Tibet border

    Samagaon → Samdo 3,530 m → 3,860 m

    A short climb to the last permanent village before the pass, close enough to Tibet to trade with it historically.

  9. 9

    Staging for the pass

    Samdo → Dharamsala (Larke Phedi) 3,860 m → 4,460 m

    A short day to the high camp, saving strength for tomorrow's crossing of the Larkya La.

  10. 10

    Crossing the Larkya La

    Dharamsala → Larkya La → Bimthang 4,460 m → 5,106 m → 3,720 m

    A long, cold, pre-dawn crossing beneath Manaslu's north face, the trek's high point, descending into the Marsyangdi valley on the far side.

  11. 11

    Down into the forest

    Bimthang → Dharapani 3,720 m → 1,960 m

    A long descent through pine and rhododendron, rejoining the Annapurna Circuit's lower trail network.

  12. 12

    Drive back to Kathmandu

    Dharapani → Kathmandu 1,960 m → 1,400 m

    A full day's drive back to the capital, following the same river valleys in reverse.

  13. 13

    Contingency day

    Kathmandu 1,400 m

    A built-in buffer for flight delays earlier in the trip, or simply a free day to rest before departure.

  14. 14

    Departure

    Kathmandu 1,400 m

    International departure. Airport transfer included regardless of flight time.

Cost & what's included

per person, twin-share teahouse, permit included

$2,290

Included

  • Airport pickup and drop-off in Kathmandu
  • Kathmandu to trailhead transport, both directions
  • Manaslu restricted-area permit, conservation area permit, and TIMS card
  • Teahouse accommodation for the full trek
  • Three meals a day while on the trail
  • A licensed English-speaking guide and porters (1 porter per 2 trekkers)
  • Guide and porter wages, insurance, and equipment
  • First-aid kit carried by your guide

Not included

  • International airfare to and from Kathmandu
  • Nepal entry visa fee (available on arrival)
  • Travel and evacuation insurance
  • Personal trekking gear
  • Meals in Kathmandu outside the welcome dinner
  • Hot showers, WiFi, and battery charging on the trail
  • Tips for your guide and porters

Upcoming departures

Start dateSpots left
September 20, 20262 left
October 18, 20265 open
April 18, 20278 open

Don't see a date that works? We also arrange private departures for groups of 2 or more.

Ready to walk among giants?

Tell us which trek and which season. A guide, not a call centre, will write back within two working days.

Plan Your Trek

Or call +977 98-0123-4567 , Kathmandu office hours