Manaslu Circuit
Manaslu, Central Nepal
Twelve days around the eighth-highest mountain on earth, through Tibetan Buddhist villages to the Larkya La at 5,106 m. Far fewer people than the Annapurnas.
- Duration
- 12days
- Max altitude
- 5,106m
- Difficulty
Strenuous
- Best seasons
Spring — March to May
Autumn — September to December
From · 3–5 people
€1,000
When to go
Coldest to warmest across the route, and rainfall. Open-Meteo
Day by day
The route
Day 01
Kathmandu → Machha Khola
West out of Kathmandu on the Prithvi Highway along the Trishuli, into rolling hills and terraced farmland. Past Soti Khola the mountains close in. Machha Khola is a riverside village on the Budhi Gandaki and the gateway to the route.
- Altitude
- 870m
- Driving
- 8–9 hrs· 160 km
Long scenic drive
Day 02
Machha Khola → Jagat
Along the Budhi Gandaki on trails carved into the hillside, past Khorlabesi and the hot spring at Tatopani, over suspension bridges. A final climb reaches Jagat, a stone-paved village marking the official entry to the Manaslu Conservation Area.
- Altitude
- 1,340m
- On foot
- 6–7 hrs· 15 km
Day 03
Jagat → Deng
Jungle, gorges and terraced farmland, across suspension bridges and past mani walls and chortens — the first signs of culturally Tibetan country. Deng is a small village with strong Buddhist influence and quiet river views.
- Altitude
- 1,860m
- On foot
- 6–7 hrs· 19 km
Day 04
Deng → Namrung
Into the Nubri Valley through pine and rhododendron, over wooden bridges and past waterfalls, with snow peaks appearing. Namrung is a culturally rich village of Tibetan-style houses and monasteries.
- Altitude
- 2,630m
- On foot
- 6 hrs· 19 km
Day 05
Namrung → Shyala
One of the most scenic stretches — alpine forest, terraced fields, and the Tibetan villages of Lho and Sho, with views of Manaslu, Ganesh Himal and Himal Chuli. Shyala sits surrounded by mountains on every side.
- Altitude
- 3,500m
- On foot
- 4–5 hrs· 10 km
Day 06
Shyala → Samagaun
Short and rewarding, past yak pasture and glacial streams with Manaslu looming ahead. Samagaun is a Tibetan-style village of flat-roofed houses and monasteries.
- Altitude
- 3,530m
- On foot
- 4 hrs· 8 km
Day 07
Acclimatisation day in Samagaun
A rest day that matters. Optional hikes: Manaslu Base Camp at 4,800 m for close views of the glaciers, Pungyen Gompa for an ancient monastery and panorama, or Birendra Lake at 3,650 m for something gentler.
- Altitude
- 3,530m
- On foot
- 4–6 hrs· 10 km
Day 08
Samagaun → Samdo
Short but high, through yak pasture and dry alpine country that grows steadily more barren. Samdo is a windswept Tibetan village 20 km from the border, with the first sight of the trail toward the Larkya La.
- Altitude
- 3,860m
- On foot
- 3–4 hrs· 7 km
Day 09
Samdo → Dharamsala (Larkya Phedi)
A slow, steady climb to the last stop before the pass, with views of the Larkya Glacier and the chance of blue sheep or eagles. Accommodation here is very basic — it is a remote place — but it sets up an early start.
- Altitude
- 4,460m
- On foot
- 4 hrs· 6 km
Day 10
Dharamsala → Larkya La → Bimthang
The hardest and best day. A pre-dawn start and a long climb to the pass, ringed by Himlung, Cheo and Annapurna II, then a steep descent across glacial moraine into the green alpine meadow of Bimthang.
- Altitude
- 3,590m
- On foot
- 8–9 hrs· 22 km
Day 11
Bimthang → Goa
A peaceful descent after the pass, through alpine meadow and dense rhododendron and pine, with Himlung, Lamjung Himal and Manaslu through the trees. Over rivers on wooden bridges to the village of Goa.
- Altitude
- 2,300m
- On foot
- 5–6 hrs· 16 km
Day 12
Goa → Tilije → Pokhara
A last descent through forest to Tilije, past fields and stone-paved paths, then a jeep to Pokhara and an evening by Phewa Lake. The drive can be arranged to Kathmandu instead if you prefer.
- Altitude
- 822m
- On foot
- 3–4 hrs· 9 km
- Driving
- 6–7 hrs
Maptoolkit · © OpenStreetMap contributors
What’s included
Licensed female guide
Experienced and licensed, with all salary, meals and accommodation covered.
All meals on trek
Full board — breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus two servings of tea, coffee or another hot drink each day.
Accommodation
High-rated teahouse stays throughout the trek.
Transport
All transportation related to the trek.
Permits and taxes
All necessary government and local permits, paperwork and taxes.
Trekking essentials
Trekking poles, microspikes or crampons, and seasonal fruit on the trail.
What’s not included
Travel insurance
Strongly recommended for high-altitude treks, and required for helicopter evacuation cover.
Personal expenses
Wi-Fi, laundry, battery charging, bottled or hot water, hot showers.
Alcoholic and personal drinks
Tips for your guide
You can add
A porter
Hired from the region you are walking through, so the work and the money stay in the villages on your route — and you walk with a lighter pack and someone who knows the ground.
[PRICE TBC]
Permits
Manaslu Conservation Area · Restricted Area Permit — a licensed guide is required by law — arranged for you. Restricted areas require a licensed guide by law.
Safety
Our altitude protocol
Altitude is the thing most people worry about, so here is exactly what we do about it. This is our operating protocol, not medical advice.
A guide trained in mountain safety and first aid
Licensed, and trained specifically for the conditions on these routes.
Daily health monitoring
We record your SpO2 and heart rate each day with a pulse oximeter, alongside an AMS assessment, and keep it in a wellness log you can see.
A first aid kit on every trek
Essential emergency supplies, including altitude sickness medication.
Pre-trek safety briefing
Altitude awareness, pacing, weather and emergency procedures — before you start walking, not on the trail.
Emergency coordination
With local health posts, rescue services and helicopter evacuation. The evacuation itself is covered by your travel insurance.
The Manaslu Circuit goes right the way around Manaslu, the eighth-highest mountain in the world, and finishes over the Larkya La at 5,106 m. It climbs out of subtropical river valley into high alpine country over about a week, and the culture shifts with it — by Samagaun the villages are Tibetan, with flat-roofed houses and monasteries.
It is a restricted area, which means a licensed guide is required by law and there are far fewer people on the trail than in the Annapurnas. That is most of why it is worth doing.
Questions
Before you go
What makes Manaslu a spiritual mountain?
The name comes from the Sanskrit "Manasa", meaning soul or spirit. Locals believe the mountain is home to powerful deities, and that significance runs through both Hindu and Buddhist tradition here.
What is the highest point on the trek?
The Larkya La at 5,106 m (16,752 ft), with panoramic views of the surrounding peaks.
What wildlife can I spot along the trek?
The Manaslu Conservation Area holds snow leopards, red pandas and blue sheep. Over 110 bird species, 33 mammals and 11 butterfly species have been recorded.
What cultural influences will I experience?
The route passes through Gurung, Nubri and Tibetan villages. You will see Tibetan Buddhism throughout — monasteries, prayer flags and chortens along the trail.
How does the trek support local communities?
Hiring guides and porters and staying in local teahouses puts money directly into the villages along the route.
Not sure this is the right trek?
Book a free call with someone who has walked it. We will tell you honestly if another route suits you better — that happens often, and it is the whole point of talking first.