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Manaslu (8,163 m) from Samagaon

Manaslu

Manaslu Circuit

A circuit around the world's eighth-highest peak, from the Budhi Gandaki gorges to the Tibetan villages of Nubri, then over the Larkya La and down towards the Annapurnas.

  • Walking days 11–13 days
  • Highest point 5,106 m
  • Level Demanding
  • Permits 6,000 NPR (≈ €35) + from 100 USD (≈ €89)
  • Start Machha Khola
  • Agency and guide mandatory

At a glance

You head up the Budhi Gandaki gorge from Machha Khola, enter the Tibetan valley of Nubri (Namrung, Lho, Samagaon), acclimatise in Samagaon facing Manaslu (8,163 m), then cross the Larkya La (5,106 m) and descend to Bimthang and Dharapani, on the Annapurna Circuit.

This is a restricted area: special permit obtained through a licensed agency, and a licensed guide is mandatory. Since March 2026, you no longer need to be at least two people.

Highlights

  • A full circuit around an 8,000 m peak, wilder than the Annapurnas
  • Nubri's Tibetan culture: monasteries, mani walls, chortens
  • Crossing the Larkya La and the descent to Bimthang
  • Fewer people, villages still away from roads

Drawbacks

  • Agency and guide mandatory, special permit paid in dollars
  • Lodges more basic and fewer at altitude (dormitories at Dharamsala)
  • Pass day is very long

In pictures

Samagaon village
The Budhi Gandaki valley from above Samdo

Route

One direction only, anticlockwise, for gradual acclimatisation: rest day in Samagaon, then Samdo and Dharamsala before the pass.

11 daysof walking
5,106 mhighest point
132 kmD+ 7,100 m D− 6,680 m
DharapaniFinish
Road (bus)Machha Khola — 870 mJagat — 1,410 mDeng — 1,800 mNamrung — 2,630 mLho — 3,180 mSamagaon — 3,530 mSamdo — 3,875 mDharamsala — 4,460 mBimthang — 3,720 mTilije — 2,300 mDharapani — 1,860 mPungyen Gompa — 4,000 mLarkya La — 5,106 mMachha Khola — Start: Machha KholaSoti Khola — Start: Soti KholaDharapani — Finish: DharapaniManaslu Base Camp (+1 day)+Machha KholaSoti KholaDharapaniPungyen Gompa 4,000 mLarkya La 5,106 mJagatDengNamrungLhoSamagaonSamdoDharamsalaBimthangManaslu 8,163Ngadi Chuli 7,871Himalchuli 7,893Annapurna II 7,937Move to change your starting pointStartFinish : DharapaniFinishN
  • Road (bus)
  • Track (jeep)
  • Chosen route
  • Other possible trails
  • Optional side trip
  • Possible start or finish

Drag the “Start” and “Finish” labels to another served point, or tap a point. The “+” buttons add a side trip. Zoom with + and − (or Ctrl + scroll wheel), then drag the map to move around.

How do I use it in a hiking app?

The file contains the route you chose on the map (start, finish, side trips), with altitude, and a marker for each night, pass and viewpoint.

  • Organic Maps or Maps.me (free, offline): download the Nepal map before you leave, then open the GPX file from your phone and choose the app.
  • OsmAnd: menu “My places” → “Tracks” → “Import”.
  • Komoot, Gaia GPS, Wikiloc, Garmin: use the app's or website's “Import a GPX file” feature.

With no signal, your phone's GPS still works: you can see your position on the track. The track is indicative: on the ground, waymarks and advice from the lodges come first.

Itinerary
  1. D 0Machha Khola870 m
  2. D 1Jagat1,410 m+540 m22 km1,610 m1,740 m
  3. D 2Deng1,800 m+390 m18 km1,060 m490 m
  4. D 3Namrung2,630 m+830 m15 km1,150 m460 m
  5. D 4Lho3,180 m+550 m9 km600 m30 m
  6. D 5Samagaon3,530 m+350 m7 km450 m90 m
  7. D 6Samagaon via Pungyen Gompa 4,000 m rest and acclimatisation3,530 m±0 m13 km550 m560 m
  8. D 7Samdo3,875 m+345 m8 km320 m0 m
  9. D 8Dharamsala4,460 m+585 m6 km610 m0 m
  10. D 9Bimthang via Larkya La 5,106 m3,720 m−740 m14 km660 m1,430 m
  11. D 10Tilije2,300 m−1,420 m17 km70 m1,480 m
  12. D 11Dharapani1,860 m−440 m5 km20 m400 m
Distances and elevation gain estimated from OpenStreetMap and a terrain model.
  • Machha Khola — Local bus from Gongabu bus park (Kathmandu), leaving around 6:30–7 am, 8 to 10 hrs, about 1,500 to 2,000 NPR (≈ €9 to €12), via Gorkha, Arughat and Soti Khola; shared jeeps from Machhapokhari. The road ends at Machha Khola.
  • Dharapani — You join the Annapurna Circuit. Shared jeep to Besisahar (4 to 6 hrs, about 1,500 to 2,500 NPR (≈ €9 to €14)), then bus to Kathmandu or Pokhara.

Elevation

above 3,000 m: climb slowly01,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,000D 0 · Machha Khola — 870 mMachha Khola 870 mD 1 · Jagat — 1,410 mD 2 · Deng — 1,800 mD 3 · Namrung — 2,630 mD 4 · Lho — 3,180 mD 5 · Samagaon — 3,530 mPungyen Gompa — 4,000 mPungyen Gompa 4,000 mD 6 · Samagaon — 3,530 m (rest and acclimatisation)D 7 · Samdo — 3,875 mD 8 · Dharamsala — 4,460 mLarkya La — 5,106 mLarkya La 5,106 mD 9 · Bimthang — 3,720 mD 10 · Tilije — 2,300 mD 11 · Dharapani — 1,860 mDharapani 1,860 mD 1234567891011
Altitude of each night, with the day's passes and viewpoints (red dots). Green dot: rest day.

Permits

Three documents, all obtained by the agency: the Manaslu restricted area special permit, the Manaslu Conservation Area permit (MCAP), and the ACAP for the exit on the Annapurna side.

Restricted area

Manaslu special permit

from 100 USD (≈ €89)

Obtained through a licensed agency from the Department of Immigration. 100 USD (≈ €89) for the first week from September to November, then 15 USD (≈ €13) per day; cheaper the rest of the year.

Conservation area

MCAP permit (Manaslu)

3,000 NPR (≈ €17)

Arranged by the agency together with the special permit.

Conservation area

ACAP permit (Annapurna)

3,000 NPR (≈ €17)

At the Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu (Bhrikutimandap) or Pokhara (Damside), in cash, with your passport and 2 photos. Or online at epermit.ntnc.org.np (card, +2.9%). Bought at the checkpoint, it costs double.

Since 22 March 2026, the Department of Immigration issues special permits for all restricted areas (Manaslu, Tsum…) even to a solo trekker (with their guide). A licensed agency and a licensed guide remain mandatory.
The optional Tsum Valley requires a separate special permit (same rule: solo allowed, with guide and agency).

Guide

Agency and guide mandatory

Agency and guide mandatory: the special permit can only be applied for through a licensed agency, and a licensed guide must accompany you.

Expect 40 to 60 USD (≈ €36 to €54) per day for a guide in a restricted area. See Guide and porter.

A guide for this trek? The Guides Nepal directory lists guides, porters and agencies who know this trek, with their licence checked, the languages they speak and traveller reviews.

See guides for this trek

Transport

Getting to the start

Kathmandu → Machha Khola

Duration 8 to 10 hrsPrice ~1,500 to 2,000 NPR (≈ €9 to €12)

Local bus from Gongabu via Gorkha and Arughat; shared jeeps from Machhapokhari (about 1,800 to 2,500 NPR (≈ €10 to €14)). The Arughat–Soti Khola stretch is known to be bad.

Getting back

Dharapani → Besisahar

Duration 4 to 6 hrsPrice ~1,500 to 2,500 NPR (≈ €9 to €14)

Shared jeeps that leave as soon as they are full.

Besisahar → Kathmandu or Pokhara

Duration 5 to 7 hrs

Direct buses in the morning. See Transport.

When to go

J: Not advisedF: Not advisedM: PossibleA: IdealM: IdealJ: Not advisedJ: Not advisedA: Not advisedS: PossibleO: IdealN: IdealD: Not advised

IdealPossibleNot advised

September–November (busiest, permit at the high-season rate) and March–May.

December to February: the Larkya La is often snowbound or closed. Monsoon: landslides in the Budhi Gandaki gorge.

On the trail

AccommodationLodges in the villages, more basic than in the Annapurnas; at Dharamsala (Larke Phedi), dormitories and tents.
MealsDal bhat around 400 to 500 NPR (≈ €2 to €3) lower down, 600 to 700 NPR (≈ €3 to €4) in Samagaon, up to 900 to 1,200 NPR (≈ €5 to €7) at Dharamsala.
BudgetAbout 30 to 50 USD (≈ €27 to €45) per day, excluding guide and permits.
MoneyNo ATM on the circuit: the last one is in Arughat, the next in Besisahar.
Mobile signalNepal Telecom and Ncell up to Soti Khola; then slow paid wifi up to Samagaon, almost nothing in Samdo and Dharamsala.

Good to know before you go

Pass day: leave Dharamsala around 3–4 am, 9 to 11 hrs of walking to Bimthang. Wind and snow possible: listen to your guide. See Altitude and safety.
Samagaon: don't skip the acclimatisation day; you then sleep at 3,875 m and 4,460 m.

What about the visa? A two-week trek plus a few days in Kathmandu and Pokhara quickly adds up to more than 15 days: get the 30-day visa. The calculator on our sister site Visa Nepal shows the cheapest length.

Which visa length?

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Preparing your trek

PermitsPrices, where to buy, documents needed, trek by trek.Guide and porterMandatory or not, region by region, and what it costs.TransportBuses, jeeps and flights to the start of each trek.Altitude and safetyAcclimatisation, altitude sickness, rescue, insurance.BudgetDaily costs, cash to bring, ATMs.FAQThe questions people ask before they go.