Manaslu Circuit Trek: A Complete Guide

The Manaslu Circuit trek is one of the best off-the-beaten-trail treks in Nepal. Situated in one of the remote and most isolated regions of Nepal, Manaslu trekking offers you an immense trekking experience. This Manaslu Circuit Trek is located in the Manaslu Conservation Area that takes you to the foothill of the world's 8the highest peak. This trek is a perfect alternative for those travel enthusiasts who have already conquered Annapurna Circuit or Everest Base Camp. 

Manaslu Trekking is an adventurous journey that is filled with nature, culture, high altitudes, and unforgettable memories. It is a 15-day trek that starts at Soti Khola and ends at Beshi Sahar.

Manaslu Circuit Trek Highlights

• Explore the wildlife, flora, and fauna, and beautiful landscape of the Manaslu region.
• Experience the Tibetan and Nepalese Culture. 
• Larke Pass (5167 meters), the highest point of the trek.
• Get the breathtaking views of Mount Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, and Hiunchuli.
• You may also get a glimpse of Tahr (Mountain Goat), Agali (Blue Sheep), Pika (Highest living Mammal), Himalayan Marmots and also Snow Leopard.

Manaslu Circuit Trek Itinerary

If you planning to do Manaslu Circuit trekking, you have multiple packages you can choose with a variety of itineraries. However, this 15-Days Manaslu Trekking itinerary is a well-designed itinerary with one day of acclimatizing. In addition to that, if you want to further extend your Manaslu Circuit Trek, you can do the side trip to Tsum valley which will take 7 days making the total of 22-days trip.

You may extend your trek to longer days but if you want to make it short, I highly recommend you not to do that. Since you are going to such a high altitude, you may suffer from altitude sickness. Moreover, taking more days for the trek is of course, highly recommended and worthy. 

Itinerary:

Day 1 Arrival in Tribhuvan International Airport Kathmandu

Day 2 Trekking preparation and Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing

Day 3 Drive to Soti Khola (710m/2,330ft) via Arughat (670m/2,198 ft) on private vehicle: 135km, 8-9 hrs drive

Day 4 Soti Khola to Macha Khola (890m/2,920ft) - about 14km, 6-7 hrs

Day 5 Macha Khola to Jagat (1340 M) - about 22km, 8-9 hrs

Day 6 Jagat to Deng (5,917 feet / 1,804 m) - about 21km, 8-9 hrs

Day 7 Deng to Namrung (2,660m/8,725ft) - about 12km, 6-7 hrs.

Day 8 Namrung to Samagaun (3,530m/11,578ft) - about 12km, 7-8 hrs

Day 9 Samagaun to Samdo (3,860m/12,660ft)- about 8km, 3-4 hrs

Day 10 Acclimatization day in Samdo

Day 11 Samdo to Dharmasala, also known as Larke La base camp, (4,460m/14,628ft)- about 7km, 3-5 hrs

Day 12 Dharmasala to Bhimtang (3,720m/12,201ft) via Larke La pass - about 12km, 7-9 hrs

Day 13 Bhimtang to Tilje(2300m) - about 16km, 6-7 hrs

Day 14 Tilje to Bagarchap (2160m) and drive to Besisahar to Kathmandu - about 9hrs drive.

Day 15 Final Departure

Side trips You can do on your acclimatization day during the Manaslu Circuit Trek

• Pungent Monastery- base point Shyala or Sama Goan
• Birendra Lake and MBC- base Point Sama Goan.
• Tibet border – Rui La- base point Samdo which is highly recommended to explore.

Manaslu Trek Permits and Cost

The Manaslu region is declared as a restricted area. So, trekking in Manaslu requires three permits issued by the department of immigration. However, it needs to apply through the registered trekking agency. Also, you are not allowed to trek solo in this region. Two or more trekkers are required with a licensed trekking guide. Here are the details of the necessary permit with the cost.

The Manaslu permit fee for the Autumn Season (Sept – Nov)

• 100 U.S. dollars per week (Additional 15 U.S. Dollars per day beyond a week).

The Manaslu permit fee for Winter, Spring, and Rainy Season. (Dec – Aug)

• 75 U.S. Dollar per week (Additional 10 U.S. Dollar per day beyond a week)

Conservation Area Permit fees

• MCAP (Manaslu Conservation Area Project): 3000 NRS.
• ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project): 3000 NRS.

Furthermore, if you want to extend your trip and do Tsum valley trek as well then you need one more permit.

The Tsum Valley permit fee for autumn season (September- November)

• 40 U.S. Dollar per person per week and $10 per day beyond a week.

The Tsum Valley Permit fee for winter, spring, and summer season (December – August)

• USD 30 per person/week USD 7 per person/day (beyond a week)

Accommodation and Fooding during the Manaslu Trekking.

Manaslu is a famous tea house based trek in Nepal. You will be sleeping in teahouses throughout the trek with very basic service. Washroom and Bathroom are usually shared and maybe outside of the teahouse. There is no heater in the rooms and the heating area is the dining area. Almost every teahouse on the trek offer foods. However, the teahouses are not that comfortable what you experienced in the Annapurna and Everest region.

• Consumption of accommodation and eating services that mean paying directly to them, which also supports the local economy.
• With local chat let you know better their lifestyle, culture, and tradition gain a better experience.

Basically you will have three meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner) a day in local tea house that you can choose from the teahouse menu. If you are in a big group at that time your Trekking Guide / Team leader will choose the food for you. Meals are generally available Nepalese and continental on different tastes everyplace but you have to eat the meals in the same tea house.

Manaslu Circuit Trek Transportation

The starting point of the Trek- Arughat (670m/2,198 ft) or Soti Khola (710m/2,330ft): 135km from Kathmandu. It takes about 8 hours by Private Jeep and 8 to 9 hours from the local bus. The first day of the trek is all an adventure rides in off-road.

The endpoint of the Trek- You will be driving 6 hours from Tilje in a Jeep and Change it to another Jeep or local bus for about 7 hours’ drive to Kathmandu or you can drive to Pokhara instead.

Best time to Trek the Manaslu Circuit 

Generally, the best time to visit in the Manaslu Trek is autumn (October – November) and spring (March – April). There is relatively stable weather in the autumn season and will find some snow over 5,000 meters. The lush green forest and rhododendron will blossom during the spring season. But, Manaslu trekking can do all year round.