Manaslu Circuit Trek 16 days, Manaslu Trek in Nepal 2024

Manaslu Trek is 16 days tea house trek around Manaslu, the eighth highest mountain in the world. Manaslu Circuit Trek begins from Kathmandu Tour to Pashupati, Boudha and Pashupati temple visit. Manaslu is a restricted area trek shares the great views of Mt Manaslu with diverse range of natural amazement.

Manaslu Circuit Trek is not well known like Annapurna Circuit Nepal. Manaslu trail is quite peaceful and not overcrowded like ABC and EBC Trek. The nature scenery and culture is changeable as you trek higher to upper Manaslu region. Also, the villagers are descendants of Tibetan immigrants.

The Larkya La pass at 5200m is the highest point of Manaslu Trek which is more remote and challenging.
You will have a side trek to Manaslu Base Camp before following the path round to meet with the descent track of Annapurna Circuit to ending Manaslu trek at Besi Sahar.

The beautiful scenery, stunning views of Mount Manaslu and also the Larkya La pass at 5200m is the main attractions of Nepal Manaslu Trek. The Manaslu region is an unspoiled and a less commercialized trekking route of Nepal which gives you the ultimate off the beaten path trekking experience. The mountain view is wonderful that is beyond your imagination. 

Manaslu Trek Difficulty
The trail is well mark with good condition. No technical skills are required, so the act of walking is pretty straightforward. The physical effort required, it clearly helps to be as fit as possible. You don’t need to be an athlete. People of all ages and levels of fitness can do Manaslu Circuit Trek. The key point to remember is to hike at your own pace. Over the course of the trek, you will ascend in altitude from 700 m to 5106 m. Much of the route, particularly in the early days, involves plenty of up and down – descending to cross the river, ascending again, then repeating the process further along the trail.

Manaslu Circuit Trek Permit
You need three travel permits-ACAP, MCAP and Manaslu restricted area permit trekking to Manaslu Circuit. We will take care of your trek permit on your behalf once you book Manaslu Trek with us. The Manaslu Circuit Trek isn’t possible to hike independently. You must hike with guide and there must be at least two people in your group as well as the guide.

Manaslu Round Trek Accommodation
Accommodation is in guesthouses often called tea houses along the way. Rooms generally are more basic than than Annapurna Circuit trek. Rooms have two single beds with a small windows. Pillows and blankets are always provided but a sleeping bag is a must (don’t expect blankets to be particularly fresh or clean). Think of the blanket as supplementary to your sleeping bag when it gets cold. You also have access to hot shower for an extra cost.

Toilets-There are most often shared toilet facilities rather than en-suite bathrooms on Manaslu Circuit Trek. Toilet will be inside main building or in an outhouse. It can be a western style toilet or a squat. Things tend to become more basic in places at higher altitude. You’ll need to have your own toilet paper, and soap isn’t always provided so make sure you have hand sanitizer too. Generally speaking, used toilet paper goes in a bin (read battered old metal can or such like) next to the toilet. You flush the squat toilet by scooping water out of the nearby bucket with whatever receptacle is provided.

Dining Room-There’s always a dining room where meals are served, and it’s a good place to get to know your fellow trekkers. The higher you go, there will usually be a fire in the dining room around dinner time, although this is by no means guaranteed.

Hot Shower-Showers are available over the first few days, but chances for a hot shower is limited the higher you go. Gas needs to be transported by mules and it’s more important for cooking and heating. It’s sometimes possible to get one for a fee, but you might be standing in a cold room under a spray with very little pressure. Best to be prepared to keep yourself clean with wet wipes and look forward to a hot shower when you reach Dharapani.

Meals on Nepal Manaslu Trek
Food and drink on the Manaslu Circuit is similar to what you find on Nepal’s other treks, although options are usually more limited than on busier routes like Annapurna Circuit. Those options become even more limited throughout the trek as altitude increases, while prices go up as the cost of fuel and transporting goods gets higher.

You have to eat dinner and breakfast at your guesthouse where you stay. Lunch will generally be at a different place somewhere along the trail unless it’s a short day and you arrive at your destination earlier. Try to order same menu as the people you’re trekking with. Your food will usually arrive more quickly and less fuel will be needed to cook it. Think carefully before ordering meat. Refrigeration, storage and kitchen standards mean that eating veggie is the safest option.

Dal Bhat-Dal Bhat is a combination of dal (lentils), veg curry, pickle, rice and vegetables, this staple of the Nepali diet is a great option. It comes with a guaranteed refill of rice and curry, and usually some extra dal too. The vegetable component varies depending on what or if there’s anything growing in the garden (and it pretty much disappears the last few days before the Larke Pass). Dal Bhat is what all guides and porters eat so it’s constantly being prepared, unlike more western style dishes which always have to be made to order. And as the whole cooking process requires less energy, this means that it’s better for the environment too.

Breakfast-Breakfast include porridge, pancakes, omelets, boiled eggs, and various breads (Tibetan bread, buckwheat bread, chapatis, and so on).

Lunch/Dinner-Standard dishes on menus are soups, pasta dishes, various fried rice dishes, momos, a kind of dumpling, pizzas, and of course, Dal Bhat. Some dishes have meat options but this is something to be wary of. Lots of dishes have egg and some tuna from a can. 

Drinks-Hot drinks are on the menu at every guesthouse, with an often huge range of options stretching from regular black tea and coffee to Masala tea, lemon ginger honey tea, and hot chocolate.

Nepal Manaslu Trek Cost-Manaslu Trek package costs ranges from USD 1500 to USD 1800 and includes all transfers, accommodation, meals, permits, and even the hotel stay before and after the trek.

Day 1: Arrive Kathmandu(1300m)
We  will meet you at Kathmandu airport and transfer you to your pre-trek hotel. Later you will attend a pre-trek briefing with your guide.
Day 2: Drive to Arughat Bazaar(606m) or trek preparation in Kathmandu
The journey to Arughat Bazaar starts down the main Pokhara Highway before taking a turn down a rough road. It takes approximately 6 hours to drive to Arughat, which is a large prosperous trading town.
Day 3: Drive or trek to Soti Khola (720m) from Kathmandu or Arughat.
On our first day on the trail we head north, following the Budhi Gandaki. In this low country we are trekking through rice paddies and rural villages. After climbing briefly to Kyorpani, we descend once again to the river, where it meets the Sundi Khola, and our village for the night.
Day 4: Trek to Machha Khola (930m)
We cross a bridge and climb up onto a ridge above the rapids of the Budhi Gandaki. The trail continues, climbing over a big rock and crossing a log bridge, before it eventually descends back down to the banks of the Budhi Gandaki. We trek up again on a steep rocky trail clinging to the side of a cliff, then up and around to the Gurung village of Labishe (880m) and beyond to Machha Khola.
Day 5: Trek to Jagat (1340m)
We cross the Machha Khola river and head upstream to the tiny village of Khola Bensi and the hot springs at Tatopani. The valley becomes steeper and the route then switches to the left bank by way of a suspension bridge. The trail is quite exposed and challenging in places. After a short section of forest path we reach the single teahouse at Doan. Beyond this steep section, the route is much flatter and we will finally cross the river on a suspension bridge, and then climb on a high path to the fields of Jagat.
Day 6: Trek to Deng (1860m)
After descending a long series of stone steps to the river, we climb a terraced hill to Saguleri, from where we can see Singri Himal, 7187m. Our route continues upstream, through a gorge section with towering walls. We cross the river three more times in the next two hours to avoid difficult valley sides and then climb up over a further steep spur to reach the village of Deng.
Day 7: Trek to Namrung (2630m)
As we leave Deng the valley is still steep-sided. We pass the village of Lama, and start to see Mani stones (prayers etched onto wayside rocks), a sign that we are entering a Buddhist region. After about four hours we reach the village of Ghap in the Tibetan area. As we gain altitude we move into alpine territory with great mountain views. There are more Mani stone walls and three more crossings of the Buri Gandaki on our route to Namrung.
Day 8: Trek to Shyala (3500m)
Above Namrung the valley opens out and there are extensive pastures. Climbing gently now, and crossing a large stream flowing down from the Lidanda Glaciers, we reach the Tibetan village of Sho, and get our first views of Manaslu North and then of Manaslu Main. As we continue we come to Lho, a large village at 3150 metres where there is a lovely little monastery and numerous chortens and Manis, before arriving at Shyala.
Day 9: Trek to Samagaun(3520m)
Leaving Shyala we follow the right bank of the river, with views of Peak 29 ahead. As we continue on the main trail, we reach the fields of Samagaon.
Day 10: Trek to Samdo via Manaslu Base Camp (3875m)
We continue to follow the Budhi Gandaki surrounded by spectacular mountains on all sides. Manaslu is particularly impressive and we take a detour off the main path to visit Manaslu Base Camp. From here we drop back down to re-join the main route and descend to Samdo for the night.
Day 11: Trek to Larkya Phedi(4460m)
Today we hike along the ever shrinking Budhi Gandaki river with towering mountains around us. We will find a stream that runs through Gya La, the gateway to Tibet and the remains of what used to be a trading hub. Finally we reach Larky Phedi and one of the best lodges we will have stayed in for many days!
Day 12: Trek to Bimthang via Larkya La Pass(3590m)
Not long after leaving Larkya Phedi we reach the northern face of the Larkya Glacier and climb steadily to the Larkya La pass, from where there are stunning views of Cho Danda, Annapurna II and Larkya Peak. We will then walk down to Tanbuche and from there down to Bim Thang
Day 13: Trek to Tilje (2300m)
The trail descends into pine and rhododendron forest before following the Dudh Khola river. After we reach Karche, we make a steep climb onto a ridge, before descending again to the river bank at Goa. We continue through fields to Tilje, a large Gurung village. 
Day 14: Trek to Jagat(1300m)
Another day spent trekking the lowlands through mixed forest and paddy fields. After Dharapani, we join the Annapurna Circuit and follow this
classic trek in reverse through the Marshyangdi valley to Jagat.
Day 15: Trek to Besi Sahar (840m), Drive to Kathmandu
An easy morning’s walk brings us to Besi Sahar before our final drive to Kathmandu which takes about 7 hours. You stay overnight in a hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 16: Depart Kathmandu
We will collect you from your hotel and transfer you to Kathmandu Airport for your departing flight.

Cost Includes

• Airport transfer to hotel to airport.
• Twin sharing hotel accommodation in Kathmandu before and after your trek on a bed & breakfast basis
• Transfers from your hotel to and from your trek start point by sharing bus or jeep.
• All National Park fees
• TIMS (Trekkers Information Management System) fees
• Accommodation at teahouses on twin sharing basis during trek.
• Service of guides and porters
• Insurance for all guides and porters
• Meals-breakfast, lunch and dinner on trek.

• International airfare and departure taxes
• Expenses of a personal nature like any kind of drinks, wifi, telephone.
• Tips for guide and porter
• Nepal Entry visa 
• Personal trekking insurance (must cover trekking to 6000m)
• Personal trekking equipment
• Private jeep or car transfer
• All the cost not mention on above cost includes.

A guide is required on this trek and the guide manages all of the logistics, distances, directions, and tea houses. The directions are not always very clear like on the Everest Base Camp trek and having the guide manage all of the logistics is great. The Manaslu Circuit Trek does require a guide. Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Circuit can be done independently but the rules on the Manaslu Circuit are stricter about having a guide.

Money-Everything is payable in the local currency, Nepalese Rupees (NPR).Take plenty of small denomination notes as change is not readily available on the trail, particularly at higher altitudes. Also beware that ATM have max withdrawal amounts, and your bank may have a max daily withdrawal limit, so you may not be able to withdraw the total amount that you need all in one day. The amount of money you need to take on the Manaslu Circuit Trek will depend on whether you’re on an inclusive tour or not. If you are on an inclusive tour then you’ll only need money for any snacks or drinks over and above what’s included in your package. If you are paying as you go, then you’ll need to have enough cash to cover all costs: accommodation, food, drink, etc.