About Manaslu Circuit Trek
The Manaslu Circuit Trek takes you around the world's 8th-highest peak, Manaslu (8163 M). It is 2 weeks of pure nature and culture discovery. This pristine region was only opened up in 1991 by the government of Nepal for foreigners. Most of the trek lies within the Manaslu Conservation Area, which comprises low valleys to high alpine areas close to Tibet. Situated east of the Annapurna Region, many consider this trek as an alternative to the classic Annapurna Circuit Trek.
Manaslu Circuit Trek - From low valleys to the high mountains
The Manaslu Circuit Trek is a complete trekking experience - contrasting landscape, culture, rich wildlife, and vegetation. The trek begins from the lowlands to the high mountainous regions exceeding 5000 meters in altitude. You will walk through beautiful villages, terraced fields, splendid mixed forests, lakes, gorges, high passes, and thrilling suspension bridges.
The first 4 to 5 days follow the ancient salt trading route along the Budhigandaki River. Then after about a week of walking, it concludes in the Annapurna region via the traverse of Larke La (5160 M). During the trek, you can see wild animals like the Himalayan Tahr, Himalayan Langur, Himalayan Marmot, Blue Sheep, etc. You will often pass by caravans of Yaks and Mule as well.
The trek offers superb views of Himalayan peaks like the Manaslu, Annapurna, Himlung, Kangguru, Nemjung, Cheo Himal, Lamjung Himal, Ganesh Himal, Boudha Himal, Shringi Himal, and many more. Each day you will be greeted with impressive mountain scenery, especially after reaching the higher villages. The serene views from places like Pungyen Gompa, Manaslu Base Camp, Lho, Shyala, Samagaun, Dharmasala, Bhimtang, Larke La, etc. cannot be expressed in words but only experienced.
Immersive and intimate cultural experience of the Manaslu
One of the main aspects of the Manaslu Circuit Trek is the varied cultural experiences. The Gurung community inhabits the lower part of the Manalsu - the people around here practice Bon which includes Shamanism and Animism beliefs. The upper part is inhabited by the Nubri people who are close to Tibetan culture and practice Buddhism. Stupas, ancient monasteries, mani walls, prayer flags, and chortens can be seen in this region.
During the trek, one can experience the well-preserved culture and traditions. Each day, you will have the chance to interact with the locals and be a part of their lifestyle.
Manaslu Circuit Trek Itinerary
Our Manaslu Circuit Trek Itinerary is of 15 days. It includes 10 days of walking from Machhakhola and ends at Tilje. However, this itinerary can be customized to suit your preferences, time frame, fitness level, budget, etc. Our experts will help you craft a perfect itinerary that ensures a top-notch experience with safety.
Note: The roadway has reached Pangsing village just across the Philim village. From Machhakhola to Dobhan and from Jagat to Ghattekhola, you'll need to walk on the jeep track on several occasions. On the other side of the pass, the jeep track starts from SurkiKhola.
Manaslu Circuit Trek Cost
The Manaslu Circuit Trek Cost depends on factors like hotels in Kathmandu, vehicle transfer types, duration, size of the group, and inclusion/exclusion of porters, food, accommodation, etc during the trek. We can organize the trek as per your budget. Just let us know and we will provide you with the best option.
Getting there and back to Kathmandu
The Manaslu Circuit Trek starts from Machhakhola, 160km northwest of Kathmandu, and 8 hours of ride on a private jeep. Local buses may take an hour or longer. The road is black-topped till Salyantar. From there it’s another 3 hours of a bumpy ride to Machhakhola.
At the end of the trek, you will drive from Tilje to Beshisahar which is mostly off-road. From there, you will take a private vehicle to Kathmandu. It takes around 9-10 hours in total.
Note: If you are trekking during the monsoon, the roads are affected by the rain. However, we will update you about the road conditions beforehand and plan your trip accordingly.
Manaslu Circuit Trek Permits
The Manaslu region is a restricted area. Therefore, a special permit is needed which can be obtained from the Immigration Department of Nepal. For that, you will have to trek with a government-registered agency, take a government-certified trekking guide, and be at least a group of 2 people. Along with the special permit, two other permits; MCAP (Manaslu Conservation Area Project) and ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project) are also required.
Accommodation on the Manaslu Circuit Trek
Teahouses, Lodges, and Hotels are available all along the route on the Manalsu Circuit Trek. There are well-equipped hotels and lodges in some places. In Dharmasala which is the last stop before the Larke Pass, 4 to 5 people will need to share a single room in the high season because of limited accommodation facilities.
For drinking water, you can buy mineral water bottles in hotels, teahouses, and lodges. Tap water and other natural sources are also available along the routes.
Toilets are mostly squat-down types located both indoors and outdoors and shared. Nowadays, there are attached Western-style toilets in most lodges. A hot shower is available throughout the entire trek except in Dharmasala. Usually, it costs a few hundred rupees.
Electricity, Telephone Network, and Wi-Fi on the Manaslu Circuit Trek
Electricity is available in all places except Dharmasala. However, we still recommend you bring solar chargers and power banks as there are possibilities of power cuts.
The telephone network works till Samagaun. It works in Samdo as well but you'll need to walk to the edge of the village facing Samagaun to get the network reception. After the pass, the phone network starts working from Bimtang. We recommend you use an NTC sim, as it has better coverage in most rural areas of Nepal.
As for Wi-Fi services, the lodges and teahouses in most places have started pay-per-service except in Dharmasala. You can expect frequent problems, mostly in the higher parts of the route.
Note: Our guide will always be equipped with a Thuraya satellite phone to communicate in case of emergencies.
Manaslu Circuit Trek Difficulty
The Manaslu Circuit Trek is a moderate to demanding trek depending on your fitness and previous trekking experience. You will be walking above 5000 meters altitude. During the day of crossing the Larke Pass (5160 m), you will walk around for 9-10 hours starting early in the morning around 4 to 5 am. Chances of getting Acute Mountain Sickness during the trek are possible if not well prepared.
A normal healthy person with previous trekking experiences will not have any issues. We recommend doing cardio exercises like cycling, running, swimming, hiking, etc., for at least a month before the trek if you have no previous trekking experience.
Know everything about altitude sickness
When is the best time to trek the Manaslu Circuit?
The best time to do the Manaslu Circuit Trek is in autumn and spring. In autumn the skies are clear, providing beautiful mountain sceneries. The weather is not cold nor too hot. The number of trekkers is also high during this time, as it is the peak season for trekking.
In spring, you will be welcomed with colorful rhododendrons. It will start to get a little hot by mid-May. The skies may be blocked by clouds as rainfall is expected sometimes. The number of trekkers is a little bit less than in autumn.
If you would like to avoid the crowd, trekking during the winter and monsoon will be better.
In the monsoon time, the trails look lively with lots of greenery everywhere. But trails and roadways in the lower regions could be affected by heavy rainfall. Mountains are not visible most of the time due to clouds. And beware of the Leeches as well.
In winter, the skies are crystal clear with superb mountain scenery. However, tea houses in Dharamsala are closed. So you may have to trek directly to Bhimtang from Samdo via the traverse of Larke Pass. You may even need to return or wait a few days if there is heavy snowfall.
Is it possible to do the Manaslu Circuit Trek solo without a guide?
The Manaslu Circuit Trek is not possible without a certified guide. As per the rule, there should be at least two people in the group. In the case of a single person, you will need to pay for double permits as a single permit is not issued by the Department of Immigration. Like this, the agency will create another trekker's permit with a valid visa which is also known as a 'ghost permit'. In this way, you can trek solo with your guide.
Manaslu Circuit Trek Variations
There are plenty of ways to do the Manaslu Circuit Trek depending on your time frame. Below are some of the ways to do it:
1. Manaslu Circuit from Barpak
This particular itinerary is 2 days longer than the usual one. The trek passes through the beautiful Gurung and Ghale villages of the Lower Manaslu region like Barpak, Laprak, Gumda, Yamagaun, and Lapsibot, and joins the trailhead of Manaslu Circuit at Machhakhola. The first village Barpak was the epicenter of the devastating 2015 earthquake, and all these villages were heavily affected. Trekking through this region offers beautiful panoramic views of Ganesh Himal, Shringi Himal, and Boudha Himal.
2. Rupina La and Manaslu Circuit
The combination of these two different treks takes around 20 days. For those who have plenty of time and are looking to do a bit of adventure, it's an ideal one.
The trek starts from Barpak and then heads west towards Boudha Himal crossing the Rupina La (4720 M). Then it finally joins the Manaslu Circuit Trek Trail at Nyak Phedi. The Rupina La Trek includes the remote and untouched region which requires 6-7 days of camping.
3. Tsum Valley and Manaslu Circuit
If you have enough time, this is one of the best ways to explore the Manaslu Region. The trek takes 22 days including 18 days of walking.
The trek starts from the Machhakhola and then heads to the Tsum Valley. After exploring the valley for a week, we trek back from the same route and continue our journey on the Manaslu Circuit Trail.
