Manaslu Circuit Trek Package — 14 Days

This Manaslu Circuit trek package is a guided, 14-day loop around Manaslu (8,163 m), the world's eighth-highest mountain, measured door to door from Kathmandu back to Kathmandu. Unlike the open Everest and Annapurna classics, Manaslu sits in a restricted area: the special permit is issued only through a registered agency, with a licensed guide and a minimum of two trekkers. A package here isn't a convenience — it's the entry requirement, which is why almost everyone books the circuit this way.

The reward for the paperwork is the trek many now rate as the finest circuit in Nepal — quieter than the neighbouring Annapurna Circuit, with a Tibetan-influenced upper valley and the exhilarating crossing of Larkya La (5,106 m). This page sets out the full Kathmandu-to-Kathmandu itinerary, what's included, a realistic cost range and the best months to go; for the route in depth, see our full Manaslu Circuit trek guide.

At a glance

The 14-day itinerary, day by day

The rest day at Samagaon (day 9) is the hinge of the whole plan. You sleep at 3,520 m beneath Manaslu's enormous north face and climb high on a side trip — the Pungyen Gompa viewpoint or Manaslu Base Camp above the Birendra glacial lake — before sleeping low again, which sets you up for the pass. Day 2 in Kathmandu is not padding either: the restricted permit is processed against your original passport, so the package builds in the day the paperwork actually takes.

What's included

A standard guided package covers:

• Airport transfers and 2 nights in a Kathmandu hotel (arrival and pre-trek).
• Ground transport — the drive from Kathmandu to Machha Khola and the jeep out from Dharapani via Besisahar.
• A licensed English-speaking guide (mandatory in the restricted area) and porters (typically one per two trekkers).
• Teahouse accommodation on the trail, on a twin-sharing basis.
• Most meals on the trek (usually breakfast, lunch and dinner on trail days).
• All permits — the Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (RAP), the MCAP conservation permit and the ACAP permit for the exit through Annapurna territory near Dharapani.

Not included: international flights, your Nepal visa, travel and helicopter-rescue insurance, meals in Kathmandu, drinks and snacks, hot showers and device charging in the upper lodges, personal gear, and tips for your guide and porters.

The restricted-area rules — why this is a package

Manaslu needs three permits, and the expensive one — the RAP — is charged per person, per day, in US dollars, at a higher rate in the September–November peak than from December to August. It cannot be bought individually: a registered agency, a licensed guide and at least two trekkers are mandatory, with no solo option. The full fee table and rules are in our Manaslu Circuit permit cost guide; the practical upshot is that the permit, guide and logistics arrive bundled — which is what you're buying here.

Manaslu Circuit trek package cost

A guided 14-day Manaslu Circuit package typically runs from around US$1,100 for a shared group departure to US$1,800 or more for small-group or private trips — including the restricted-area and conservation permits, guide, porters, teahouses, trail meals and trailhead transport. What moves the price is the season (the restricted permit carries an autumn surcharge), group size (fixed costs like the guide spread across fewer people), private jeep versus shared transport, and extra days, since the restricted permit is charged per day.

Private departures and extra days

Private trips for couples, families or groups of friends run on any date in season — the two-trekker minimum still applies, so genuine solo travellers are matched into a scheduled departure for the permit. The most worthwhile upgrade is a second acclimatisation day at Samdo (3,860 m), stretching the trip to 15 days and adding real margin before the pass; longer 16–18 day versions add side valleys and extra rest. Both add modestly to the per-person price.

Why Manaslu instead of the Annapurna Circuit?

Three reasons trekkers switch. Quiet: Manaslu sees a fraction of Annapurna's foot traffic, and the permit rules keep it that way. No road: unlike the Annapurna Circuit, no highway runs alongside the trail — the walking is continuous from Machha Khola to Dharapani. Culture: the upper Budhi Gandaki around Samagaon and Samdo is distinctly Tibetan, all gompas, mani walls and barley fields. The two circuits are a similar physical grade — Annapurna's Thorong La (5,416 m) is actually higher than Larkya La — but Manaslu feels wilder because the teahouses are simpler and the valley remoter. Trekkers wanting comfort pick Annapurna; those wanting wildness pick Manaslu.

Best time to go

Autumn (October–November) gives the clearest skies and the safest conditions over Larkya La, followed by spring (March–May). Winter snow can close the pass, and the summer monsoon makes the lower valley wet, leechy and prone to landslides. One wrinkle to weigh: the restricted permit costs more in the autumn peak, so spring departures trim the price slightly for nearly equal conditions.

Difficulty and Larkya La safety

This is a strenuous walk, not a climb — five to seven hours most days on good trails, non-technical throughout. The crux is the Larkya La crossing: a pre-dawn start from Dharamsala, a long climb to 5,106 m in cold and often windy conditions, then a steep, sometimes snowy descent to Bimthang where trekking poles earn their weight. Your guide watches the weather window and can hold a day at Samdo or Dharamsala if conditions turn — one more reason the mandatory-guide rule works in your favour. Insurance covering trekking above 5,000 m with helicopter evacuation is essential, and the acclimatisation day at Samagaon is not optional.

Book this trek

Ready to go, or want to tweak the dates, group size or pace? Departures run through both trekking seasons, and the itinerary can be customised — private trips, a second rest day at Samdo, or a longer version of the circuit. Because permits need your passport details in advance, book at least a few weeks ahead.

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