Manaslu Circuit Trek: Verified Guide Reviews, Itinerary, Permits, Cost and Best Time

By Blake Penson · Updated 2026-10-24

Blake Penson has climbed Everest twice and has 20 years in the mountains.

The Manaslu Circuit is a 12 to 16 day trek around Manaslu (8,163 m), the eighth highest mountain in the world, in the Gorkha district of central Nepal. It follows the Budhi Gandaki gorge north from the lowlands to the Tibetan Buddhist villages of Nubri, crosses the Larkya La pass at 5,106 m and descends into the Marsyangdi valley, where it joins the Annapurna Circuit. Because the area is restricted, foreign trekkers need a restricted area permit, must trek with a licensed guide arranged through a registered Nepali agency, and normally need at least two trekkers in the group. The best seasons are October to November and March to May. On ExpedReview, as of 23 October 2026, 8 operators have 18 verified client reviews for the Manaslu Circuit. Ranked first is Ace the Himalaya (5.0★ from 4 reviews, latest September 2026), followed by The Mountain Company (4.7★ from 6 reviews, latest July 2021) and Royal Holidays Adventure and Travel Company (5.0★ from 2 reviews, latest June 2026). Below are the full rankings, then everything you need to plan the trek.

Manaslu Circuit: key facts | | | |---|---| | Highest point | Larkya La, 5,106 m (16,752 ft) | | Location | Gorkha district, central Nepal | | Length | About 12 to 16 days from Kathmandu and back; longer with the Tsum Valley | | Start and finish | Start at Machha Khola or Soti Khola; finish at Dharapani or Besisahar | | Permits | Manaslu restricted area permit, Manaslu Conservation Area permit, Annapurna Conservation Area permit | | Guide rules | Licensed guide and registered agency required; solo trekkers allowed since March 2026 | | Accommodation | Teahouses throughout | | Best seasons | October to November; March to May | | Operators reviewed on ExpedReview | 8, with 18 verified reviews (as of 23 Oct 2026) | | Lowest listed price on ER | From US$2,070 (one operator, January 2026) |

Manaslu Circuit guides ranked by verified reviews

Rankings use each operator's verified ExpedReview client reviews for the Manaslu Circuit: the star rating, adjusted so that one or two reviews, or only old ones, count for less than many recent ones. Every review is checked by hand before it is published, and operators cannot pay for a better position. Data as of 23 October 2026.

Only one operator listed a price at the time of writing: Dream Himalaya Adventures, from US$2,070 for a package, updated in January 2026. Prices are starting prices set by the operator, not quotes. Adventure Magic Treks And Expedition, Bold Himalaya and Everest Trekking Routes also run the trek but have no Manaslu Circuit reviews yet.

What clients say

Recent reviews are overwhelmingly positive and focus on the guide. Three Ace the Himalaya reviewers who trekked in the 2026 monsoon described heavy rain, flooding, landslides and broken bridges, and credited their guide's calm leadership with keeping them safe; one noted that cloud hid the peaks for much of the trek but the forests and waterfalls made up for it. A Himalaya Hub Adventure reviewer described a 13-day trek in October 2026 and praised the organisation and their guide. Royal Holidays reviewers wrote about a well-organised 12-day trek in March 2026, and a Yam adventure and treks reviewer valued having a French-speaking local guide. Porters and Sherpa staff come up in 10 of the 18 reviews, all positive.

The monsoon reviews are worth reading carefully. They show the trek can be done in summer, but also why it is not the recommended season.

Why trek the Manaslu Circuit?

The Manaslu Circuit is often described as what the Annapurna Circuit was before roads reached its upper valleys. It is wilder, less crowded and more varied than the busier treks of the Khumbu and Annapurna, and because of the restricted area permit and guide rule it attracts fewer independent trekkers. In two weeks you walk from subtropical forest and rice terraces at under 1,000 m, through the deep gorge of the Budhi Gandaki, to high Tibetan Buddhist villages with mani walls, chortens and monasteries, then over a glaciated 5,000 m pass with views of Manaslu, Himlung and the Annapurna range.

Teahouse accommodation now exists along the whole route, so you no longer need tents, but the lodges are simpler than in the Khumbu, especially above Samagaon.

The route, stage by stage

Itineraries vary, but most follow this outline.

Kathmandu to Machha Khola

A long, rough drive of eight hours or more via Arughat takes you to Soti Khola or Machha Khola. Road building has pushed the trailhead further up the valley in recent years, and in dry conditions some jeeps go beyond Machha Khola, but in the monsoon the road is often damaged by landslides.

The Budhi Gandaki gorge

The first days follow the river through a narrow, steep gorge, crossing it repeatedly on suspension bridges, past villages such as Jagat, where the restricted area permit is checked, and Deng. The trail is warm, often dusty in autumn and slippery in the wet, and sections cut into cliffs are exposed to rockfall.

Into Nubri

Beyond Deng the valley turns west and the culture changes. Villages such as Namrung, Lho and Shyala are Tibetan Buddhist in character, and the first big views of Manaslu appear. Samagaon, at about 3,530 m, is the main village of Nubri and the base for Manaslu expeditions. Most itineraries spend a rest day here, with an acclimatisation walk to Manaslu Base Camp, the Birendra Lake below the Manaslu glacier or the Pungyen Gompa.

Samdo and Dharamsala

A short day leads to Samdo, at about 3,875 m, a village close to the Tibetan border, and many trekkers take a second acclimatisation day there. The next stage climbs to Dharamsala, also called Larkya Phedi, at about 4,460 m, a basic lodge at the foot of the pass.

Over the Larkya La

Pass day starts in the dark. The climb to the Larkya La at 5,106 m is long rather than steep, crossing moraine and sometimes snow, and the views from the top over Himlung, Cheo Himal, Kang Guru and Annapurna II are among the best in Nepal. The descent to Bimthang, at about 3,720 m, is steep and can be icy, and the whole day often takes eight to ten hours.

Down to the Marsyangdi

From Bimthang the trail drops through forest to Tilije and Dharapani on the Annapurna Circuit, where most trekkers take a jeep back to Besisahar and Kathmandu. Some continue on the Annapurna Circuit over the Thorong La for a longer trip.

The Tsum Valley extension

The Tsum Valley, a side valley to the north-east of the Budhi Gandaki, adds about five to seven days. It is a deeply traditional Tibetan Buddhist area, with old monasteries such as Mu Gompa and Rachen Gompa, and it sees far fewer trekkers than the main circuit. It needs its own restricted area permit. Several ExpedReview reviewers combined it with the main circuit.

Permits and the guide rule

Manaslu is a restricted area, so trekking there is controlled more tightly than in the Everest or Annapurna regions. You need three permits: the Manaslu restricted area permit, which is priced per week and costs more in the autumn months of September to November than the rest of the year; the Manaslu Conservation Area Project permit; and the Annapurna Conservation Area permit, because the route finishes inside the Annapurna Conservation Area. If you visit the Tsum Valley, there is a separate permit. Permit fees change from time to time, so check the current figures with the Nepal Department of Immigration or your operator.

The restricted area permit can only be issued through a registered Nepali trekking agency, and the rules require a licensed guide. Until March 2026 permits were issued only to groups of two or more, but Nepal's Department of Immigration then allowed solo trekkers to obtain restricted area permits, provided they are accompanied by a licensed guide and registered through an agency, with one guide leading at most seven trekkers (The Kathmandu Post). In 2023 Nepal also extended a guide requirement to most other trekking areas, so independent trekking is now limited across much of the country.

Cost

Costs depend on the length of the trek, group size and what is included. The only price listed on ExpedReview at the time of writing is from US$2,070 for a package (Dream Himalaya Adventures, January 2026), and quotes from other agencies vary widely with group size, transport and lodge standards. Check whether the package includes the permits, transport to the trailhead and back, a porter, meals and accommodation, and whether the guide and porter are insured. Add tips, drinks, hot showers, battery charging and Wi-Fi, which are charged extra at most teahouses, and travel insurance that covers helicopter evacuation up to at least 6,000 m.

Best time to trek

The best seasons are autumn, from late September to November, and spring, from March to May. October and November bring the clearest skies and the best views; spring is warmer, with rhododendrons in flower in the forests lower down. In December and January the Larkya La can be closed by snow, and some lodges at Samdo and Dharamsala close. From June to mid-September the monsoon brings rain, landslides and leeches to the lower valley, and road access becomes unreliable, as several of our 2026 reviewers found.

How hard is the Manaslu Circuit?

The Manaslu Circuit is a strenuous trek, harder than the Everest Base Camp trek in some respects because of the long days, the remote setting and the big pass day. It needs no technical skills, but you should be fit enough to walk six to eight hours a day for two weeks, including one day of about ten hours at over 5,000 m. Previous multi-day trekking experience is a real advantage. Altitude is the main risk, so follow a sensible itinerary with rest days in Samagaon and Samdo, and learn the symptoms of acute mountain sickness before you go.

Kit

Pack as for any high Himalayan teahouse trek: good broken-in boots, layers for temperatures from about 30°C in the gorge to -15°C or colder on the pass, a warm sleeping bag, a down jacket, waterproofs, sun protection, microspikes for an icy pass in late autumn or early spring, and water treatment. A porter can carry most of your kit, leaving you with a day pack.

Combining the trek with a climb

The Manaslu Circuit is also the approach for climbers heading to Manaslu itself and to Himlung Himal, whose base camp is reached from Phu on the Annapurna side. Some trekkers add a trekking peak, but the main circuit is a trek, not a climb.

A typical day on the trail

Most days follow the same rhythm. You wake at about six, pack, and eat breakfast in the teahouse dining room, usually porridge, eggs or Tibetan bread. Walking starts around seven, while the air is cool and the views are clearest, and you stop for lunch in a village after three or four hours. Most groups reach the next lodge by early or mid-afternoon, which leaves time to rest, wash, and walk a little higher to help acclimatisation. Dinner is early, often dal bhat, and most trekkers are asleep soon after eight. Above Samagaon the lodges are cold at night, with heat only from a stove in the dining room.

Responsible trekking

Nubri and Tsum are fragile places with small communities. Carry out your rubbish, use refillable bottles and water treatment instead of buying plastic bottles, walk clockwise around mani walls and chortens, ask before photographing people and monasteries, and dress modestly in villages. Choose an agency that pays and insures its staff properly and gives porters sensible loads and proper clothing for the pass.

How to choose an operator

Look at the ranking above, then check how recent each operator's reviews are. Ask whether the price includes all three permits, how many trekkers there are per guide and porter, what the itinerary allows for acclimatisation, how they handle a client with altitude sickness, and whether their staff are insured. Our page on how to choose a Manaslu Circuit operator goes through these questions in detail, and our Manaslu region page ranks operators across both the trek and the mountain.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Manaslu Circuit trek?

Most itineraries take 12 to 16 days from Kathmandu and back. Adding the Tsum Valley usually adds five to seven days.

How high is the Manaslu Circuit?

The highest point is the Larkya La pass at 5,106 m (16,752 ft).

Do I need a guide for the Manaslu Circuit?

Yes. Manaslu is a restricted area, so you need a licensed guide and a permit issued through a registered Nepali agency. Since March 2026 solo trekkers can get the permit, as long as they have a licensed guide.

When is the best time to trek the Manaslu Circuit?

October to November and March to May. Winter snow can close the Larkya La, and the summer monsoon brings rain, landslides and poor road access.

Is the Manaslu Circuit harder than Everest Base Camp?

It is generally considered more demanding, because the days are long, the area is more remote and the Larkya La crossing is a long day above 5,000 m.

Which operator is ranked first for the Manaslu Circuit on ExpedReview?

As of 23 October 2026, Ace the Himalaya is ranked first, with 5.0★ from 4 verified reviews, the latest from September 2026.