Manaslu Circuit Trek: The Complete Guide (2026)

The Manaslu Circuit is perhaps the best-kept secret in the Himalayas: a route that loops around Manaslu (8,163m), the 8th highest mountain on the planet, through remote villages of the Gorkha region with a strong Tibetan culture and views that owe nothing to Everest or Annapurna. The name comes from the Sanskrit word "manasa" (spirit, soul) — which is why it is called "the Mountain of the Spirit."

It is a restricted-area trek, and that changes everything: you cannot do it on your own. You are required to have a licensed guide, a minimum of two trekkers and three separate permits. But that very "lock" is what keeps it authentic: fewer people on the trail, simpler lodges, more of the real Nepal. If you have already done the classic Annapurna trek and are after something wilder, Manaslu is the logical next target.

Quick overview: the essentials at a glance

Why the Manaslu Circuit?

Manaslu only opened to foreign trekkers in 1991 and to this day receives a fraction of the visitors that Annapurna or Everest see. What you gain:

• Solitude and quiet. You will cross paths with a handful of groups a day, not hundreds. Unlike the Annapurna Circuit, the jeep road has not yet invaded the whole route here.
• Authentic Tibetan culture. The upper villages (Lho, Sama Gaon, Samdo) in the Nubri valley are ethnically Tibetan, with Buddhist monasteries (gompas), prayer flags and mani walls.
• A full sweep of landscapes. You start in subtropical gorges with rice paddies and waterfalls at ~700m and end in alpine, glacial terrain beneath the mass of Manaslu.
• A "real" pass. Larke La at 5,106m is one of Nepal's finest high passes, with a panorama towards Himlung, Cheo Himal and Annapurna II.

Difficulty: how hard is it really?

It is not a technical mountain — you do not need ropes or crampons in normal conditions. It is, however, physically demanding: 12–14 consecutive walking days, 4–7 hours of climbing daily, and one very long day for the pass. Lodges and food are more basic than on Annapurna.

What you need to enjoy it rather than endure it:

• A decent aerobic base — if you can walk 5–6 hours in the mountains with a pack, you are fine.
• Proper acclimatization: the schedule builds in rest days at Sama Gaon and possibly Samdo. Do not skip them.
• Insurance that covers helicopter evacuation above 5,000m — non-negotiable.

For symptoms, the "climb high, sleep low" rule and managing altitude sickness, see the detailed general trekking guide to Nepal.

Detailed itinerary (classic 14 days)

The most common schedule starts and ends with an overland drive from Kathmandu. A typical plan:

The big day: Larke La pass (5,106m)

This is the climax of the trek. You leave Dharamsala around 4 a.m. by headlamp, climb steadily through the frozen dark and reach the pass after 4–5 hours. Then comes a long, knee-punishing descent to Bimthang. Eight to ten hours in total. Bring warm layers, gloves, sunglasses and sunscreen — and start early to beat the afternoon winds.

Accommodation, food & life on the trail

The tea houses on Manaslu are simpler than those on Annapurna, but they have improved a great deal over the past decade. In the lower villages you get private twin rooms; as you climb towards Samdo and Dharamsala, the lodges become basic, with shared toilets. A hot shower (often a bucket) and phone charging cost extra, especially high up.

The food? Everywhere you will find dal bhat — rice, lentils, vegetables and pickle — the trekker's energy "fuel," usually with a free second helping. There are also noodles, potatoes, momo and thukpa. The higher you go, the pricier and more limited the menu. Drink only bottled or purified water.

Culturally, from Namrung upwards you enter a purely Tibetan world: women in traditional chuba, elders spinning prayer wheels, the great monastery at Lho and the magical quiet of Sama Gaon beneath the mass of Manaslu. Be respectful: always pass mani walls and stupas on their left and ask permission before photographing people.

Permits: RAP + MCAP + ACAP

Because Manaslu is a restricted area, you need three permits — and you can only obtain them through a registered agency, never on your own:

Two important rules: (1) the RAP is issued for a minimum of two trekkers — if you travel alone, the agency places you in a group or "rents" a second person on paper; (2) a licensed guide is mandatory. Good news: with the RAP you do not need a separate TIMS card. If you are also considering the side trip into the Tsum Valley, that requires its own RAP. For the full picture of every permit, see the Nepal trekking permits guide.

How much it costs (in euros)

Manaslu is pricier than Annapurna, mainly because of the permits and the mandatory guide. An indicative breakdown per person for ~14 days:

In practice, a full all-in package from a local agency for 14 days typically costs €1,000–1,500 per person (permits, guide, porter, accommodation, transport). Add the flight from Greece (~€500–800), a couple of days in Kathmandu, gear and insurance, and the whole trip comes to roughly €1,900–2,900. For detailed budgets in euros and the Athens–Kathmandu flights, see the complete Nepal travel guide.

Best time for the Manaslu Circuit

More on weather by month and activity in the best time to visit Nepal guide.

Manaslu Circuit vs Annapurna Circuit

The most common question. Both loop around a mountain massif over one high pass — but the experience is very different:

In short: if it is your first big circuit and you want flexibility, start with Annapurna. If you already have trekking experience and are chasing the wilderness, Manaslu wins.

Altitude sickness, safety & practicalities

You climb above 5,000m, so acclimatization is critical. Stick to "climb high, sleep low," do not raise your sleeping altitude by more than ~400–500m/day above 3,000m, drink plenty of water and respect the rest days. Your guide monitors your condition — listen to them. Travel insurance with helicopter cover is essential, because in a restricted area, evacuation is only possible by air.

There is no direct flight from Greece: you fly Athens–Kathmandu with one stop (Istanbul, Doha, Abu Dhabi or Dubai), ~12–18 hours. In Thamel, Kathmandu, you can buy (and rent) all the gear you need: boots, a −10°C sleeping bag, poles, layered clothing. In the villages you pay in cash (Nepali rupees) — there is no ATM above Machha Khola. For a full layered gear list for 5,000m, see what to pack for Nepal.

Organised & premium: Manaslu without the stress

Because the trek absolutely requires an agency, permits and a guide, the best option for a traveller from Greece is a properly organised group. See the gateway points around Pokhara and the general trekking guide to understand how an expedition comes together.

For those who want Manaslu in a premium version — a private guide, carefully chosen lodges, proper unhurried acclimatization and full on-the-ground support — Elysian Himalaya designs bespoke expeditions, with Dimitris and Greek-speaking support through the planning. It is the most relaxed way to experience one of the wildest routes in the Himalayas.

The Manaslu Circuit is neither the easiest nor the most famous trek in Nepal — and that is exactly why it is worth it. It is for anyone who wants the Himalayas as they were before they became an industry: quiet, authentic and utterly overwhelming.