If one trek in Nepal deserves more attention than it gets, it is the Manaslu Circuit. It runs up the Budhi Gandaki gorge from subtropical farmland at 700 m, through increasingly Tibetan villages, to the glacial basin beneath Manaslu (8,163 m), then crosses the Larke La at 5,106 m and drops into the Marsyangdi to finish where the Annapurna Circuit begins.
It is the closest thing available to the Annapurna Circuit of thirty years ago: no road on the best sections, teahouses all the way, a restricted-area permit that keeps numbers down, and a genuine valley-to-pass-to-valley traverse. Guides who work both routinely prefer this one.
The Trek at a Glance
| Duration | 15 days from Kathmandu |
| Highest point | Larke La, 5,106 m |
| Highest night | Dharmasala, about 4,460 m |
| Difficulty | Challenging — long stages, a high pass, remote valley |
| Access | Road from Kathmandu to Soti Khola or Machha Khola, 8–9 hours |
| Permits | Manaslu restricted-area permit, MCAP and ACAP |
| Minimum group | Two trekkers with a registered agency and licensed guide |
| Best seasons | March to May, September to November |
| Accommodation | Teahouse lodges throughout, simpler than Annapurna |
We run it as a 15-day Manaslu Circuit, as a 20-day circuit with the Tsum Valley, and as a 14-day Larke Pass trek focused on the crossing itself.
The Route
Soti Khola to Jagat (700 m to 1,410 m)
Into the Budhi Gandaki gorge — subtropical, humid, loud with the river, with waterfalls, suspension bridges, and a trail cut into cliff faces above the water. Villages here are Hindu Gurung and Magar. The restricted-area checkpoint is at Jagat, and from there north the valley changes.
Jagat to Namrung (1,410 m to 2,630 m)
The gorge deepens and the culture shifts. Past Deng and Ghap the architecture becomes flat-roofed and Tibetan, mani walls appear, and the language spoken is a Tibetan dialect rather than Nepali. Namrung is the first village that feels fully Tibetan, with Manaslu appearing ahead.
Namrung to Samagaun (2,630 m to 3,530 m)
Through Lho and Shyala, with the whole north face of Manaslu filling the head of the valley. Samagaun is the largest village on the route, a substantial Tibetan settlement at 3,530 m with a gompa, a yak economy, and two superb acclimatisation walks: Birendra Lake and the Manaslu Base Camp at around 4,800 m, or the Pungyen Gompa on a glacial moraine.
Samagaun to Dharmasala (3,530 m to 4,460 m)
Via Samdo at 3,875 m — a Tibetan village settled by refugees from across the border, with a trading pass to Tibet above it — then on to Dharmasala, a single basic lodge at 4,460 m that exists only as a staging point for the pass.
Larke La (5,106 m) and down to Bimthang
The big day. A pre-dawn start, a long climb to the pass with glacial lakes and the Larkya glacier below, prayer flags at the top, and a panorama of Himlung, Cheo Himal, Gyaji Kang and Annapurna II. Then a very long descent to Bimthang at 3,590 m, a beautiful meadow basin beneath Manaslu's western glaciers. Eight to ten hours.
Out to Dharapani
Down through rhododendron and pine to Dharapani on the Annapurna Circuit, and a jeep out to Besisahar and Kathmandu — or a continuation onto the Annapurna Circuit itself if you have the days.
Permits and the Group Rule
Manaslu is a restricted area between Jagat and Dharapani, which means three permits and two conditions.
| Permit | Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Manaslu restricted-area permit | USD 100 per week Sep–Nov, USD 75 Dec–Aug | Issued in Kathmandu only, to groups of two or more |
| Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP) | NPR 3,000 | Covers the Budhi Gandaki valley |
| Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) | NPR 3,000 | The route exits into the Annapurna area at Dharapani |
The conditions: a licensed guide and a minimum of two trekkers travelling with a registered agency. A solo trekker cannot be issued a permit alone, though we can often pair you with another booking. Permits are processed through the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu on a working day, so allow a full day in the city. See our restricted-area permits guide.
Difficulty and Acclimatisation
Graded challenging, and harder than the Annapurna Circuit for three reasons: longer daily stages in the gorge, simpler lodges, and a pass day that is a genuine test.
- The gorge stages are six to seven hours with significant up and down, on trail cut into cliffs. Not dangerous, but tiring for five consecutive days.
- Acclimatisation happens at Samagaun. Our itinerary holds a day there with a walk to Manaslu Base Camp at around 4,800 m or to Birendra Lake and Pungyen Gompa. This day is why the pass works.
- Dharmasala is basic and high. One lodge at 4,460 m, often crowded in peak season, cold, and with limited food. It is the least comfortable night of the trek by a wide margin.
- The Larke La day is eight to ten hours with 650 m of ascent and 1,500 m of descent. See our Larke La crossing guide.
- Snow closes the pass. There is no alternative once you are past Samdo except turning back down the whole valley, so the decision is made with information from both sides.
Manaslu or Annapurna?
| Manaslu Circuit | Annapurna Circuit | |
|---|---|---|
| Days | 15 | 15 |
| Highest pass | Larke La, 5,106 m | Thorong La, 5,416 m |
| Roads | None on the trekking route | Roads to Manang and Muktinath |
| Permit | Restricted, USD 100 per week, minimum two trekkers | ACAP only, no group minimum |
| Trekkers | A fraction of Annapurna | The busiest long trek in Nepal |
| Lodges | Simpler, fewer | Good to excellent |
| Culture | Tibetan throughout the upper valley | Hindu to Tibetan-Buddhist transition |
| Mountain focus | One 8,000 m peak from close range | Two 8,000 m peaks and a gorge between them |
Our full comparison goes into this properly. The short answer: if you want the better walk and do not mind simpler lodges and a restricted permit, Manaslu. If you want variety, comfort and no group minimum, Annapurna.
Adding the Tsum Valley
The Tsum Valley branches north-east off the Budhi Gandaki at Lokpa, running up toward the Tibetan border. It is a separate restricted area, culturally distinct, and one of the most remarkable places in Nepal — a valley where hunting has been prohibited by Buddhist vow for generations and where the gompas at Mu and Rachen are among the most remote working monasteries in the country.
Adding it takes the trek to 20 days, or it can be walked alone as a 13-day trek. If you have the time, the combined route is the best three weeks of teahouse trekking in Nepal. Our Tsum Valley guide covers it in detail.
