Manaslu Circuit Trekking

The Manaslu Circuit is suitable for adult trekkers in good health, with an adaptable spirit and previous experience walking in the mountains for several consecutive days.

No mountaineering skills are required, but this is a long and relatively remote trek, with many hours of walking, more basic facilities than in the Everest and Annapurna regions, and a pass above 5,000 meters.

In terms of physical effort, these treks are comparable: both require many days of walking and cross a pass above 5,000 meters.

Manaslu, however, is more remote and has more basic facilities and services. The Annapurna Circuit offers a wider variety of lodges and infrastructure, while on Manaslu the sense of isolation is stronger, especially when entering the upper valley.

One of the most fascinating features is the long approach to the high mountains. The trek starts at relatively low altitudes, following the Budhi Gandaki valley for days through gorges, forests, suspension bridges and villages, as the landscape gradually becomes more and more Himalayan.

In the upper valley we enter villages of Tibetan culture, reaching Pungyen Gompa, the Manaslu Base Camp and Samdo. From here we leave the main route to follow the ancient trade path toward Lajyang Bhanjyang (Rui La), on the border with Tibet, entering an almost completely isolated high-altitude valley frequented by the snow leopard and its natural prey.

Only afterward do we return to the main circuit and tackle the Larkya La. Once over the pass, the landscape changes completely again as we descend into the spectacular glacial valley of Bimthang.

It’s precisely this progression — from the lower valleys to the Tibetan-influenced environment of upper Manaslu, all the way to the border and the Larkya La — that makes this trek so different from Nepal’s other great circuits.

In theory, yes, but it would be misleading to promise it: actually seeing a snow leopard is extremely rare, even for those who live in these mountains.

Manaslu is, however, one of its natural habitats in Nepal. In particular, the upper valley around Samdo and the detour toward Lajyang Bhanjyang (Rui La), on the border with Tibet, cross alpine pastures frequented by bharal, one of the snow leopard’s main prey species.

During this trek, it’s far more realistic to spot signs of its presence: footprints, droppings and other traces left on the ground or in the snow. Our guides regularly come across them along this valley and know how to identify them.

For us, this too is part of Manaslu’s appeal: walking for hours through such an isolated environment, knowing that one of the Himalaya’s great predators truly lives on these mountains, even if it will almost certainly stay out of sight.

Yes, the Manaslu Circuit is generally less crowded than the major Everest and Annapurna routes. Even so, during the peak weeks of October and November the main trail can start to feel busy, and you may encounter several groups.

Our itinerary, however, adds the climb to Manaslu Base Camp and the excursion to Lajing La Pass, on the border with Tibet — two detours off the main route where hardly anyone else goes. It’s precisely this combination that lets us experience Manaslu at its wildest and most remote, venturing into isolated valleys far from the main circuit traffic.

The remote character of this trek doesn’t come only from the lower number of trekkers: the villages are smaller, the tourist facilities simpler, and the upper valley still holds a strong Tibetan identity.

We recommend arriving at the start already used to 6–8 hour hikes, gradually increasing distance and elevation gain in the weeks beforehand.

Treks with 800–1,200 meters of elevation gain and regular cardio training are especially useful. What matters more than speed is the ability to keep a steady pace for many hours and recover well for the next day.

Most days involve about 5–7 hours of walking and 10–15 km. Some stages are longer: the climb to Manaslu Base Camp, and especially the Larkya La day, can take 8–9 hours.

In the early days, elevation gain builds up gradually along the valley, while the most demanding section is concentrated in upper Manaslu.

Our itinerary uses the days in the upper Manaslu valley not simply to stop, but to gain altitude during the day and come back down to sleep at a lower elevation.

From Shyala we reach Pungyen Gompa, from Samagaun we climb toward the Manaslu Base Camp, and from Samdo we spend another day at altitude heading toward the border with Tibet. Only afterward do we continue toward Dharamsala and the Larkya La.

This progression allows several days at altitude before tackling the highest point of the circuit.

The Larkya La, at about 5,160 meters, doesn’t normally require mountaineering techniques, ropes, or climbing. It is, however, a long day at high altitude, and conditions can change significantly in the presence of snow, ice, and wind.

We set off very early in the morning, and our guides always assess whether the pass is passable based on actual conditions.

Because we want to use the time spent in the upper valley to explore places that aren’t directly along the main route.

Pungyen Gompa sits in a vast glacial valley dominated by Manaslu and is one of the most beautiful spots on the circuit, both culturally and scenically. From Samagaun, we instead dedicate a day to climbing toward the Manaslu Base Camp, getting closer to the glaciers and the mountain’s face before returning to sleep at a lower elevation.

Both excursions also contribute to acclimatization.

From Samdo we dedicate a day to following the ancient trade route used for centuries by the valley’s inhabitants to trade with Tibet.

The day heads toward the Nepal-Tibet border, at nearly 5,000 meters, before returning to Samdo for the overnight stay. It’s one of the most distinctive excursions on our itinerary and offers a chance to see a part of the valley that many trekkers never visit.

The most important thing is to ascend gradually, respect your own pace, and make proper use of the acclimatization days.

We recommend drinking plenty of water, eating regularly, avoiding alcohol, and not trying to keep pace with faster participants. Our guides monitor the group’s condition daily, and if serious symptoms appear, the priority is to stop or descend.

We especially recommend spring, between April and May, and fall, from late October through November.

Fall generally offers very stable conditions and great visibility, while spring brings progressively milder temperatures. In winter, snow and ice can make the Larke La difficult or temporarily impassable; during the monsoon, heavy rainfall mainly affects the lower part of the valley.

English is always guaranteed: all our Nepali guides who accompany international clients speak English.

When available, we can also assign guides with a good knowledge of Italian or German. However, these languages aren’t guaranteed on every departure: if they matter to you, let us know before booking and we’ll check the availability of the most suitable guide.

Upper Manaslu is classified by Nepal as a Restricted Area, a zone where access for foreign trekkers is regulated more strictly than on standard treks.

This means the trek can’t be organized completely independently: the special permit must be requested through a registered trekking agency, and the trip must be accompanied by a licensed guide.

Our itinerary requires the Manaslu Restricted Area Permit, the Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP), the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) for the final part of the circuit, and the TIMS Card.

Himalaya Exped handles all the necessary paperwork directly, and permits are included in the trip.

Yes. As of March 2026, Nepal also allows a single foreign trekker to obtain a permit for Restricted Areas.

However, it’s not allowed to complete Manaslu entirely on your own: even for a single participant, the permit must be arranged through a registered agency, and being accompanied by a licensed guide is mandatory.

Yes. We ask all participants for travel insurance that covers trekking and rescue above 5,000 meters, including any medical expenses and emergency helicopter evacuation.

On Manaslu, this is especially important because some areas of the upper valley are isolated and far from standard road infrastructure.

In Kathmandu, we’ll give you a duffel bag to hand over to the porters. We usually allow one porter for every two participants, with a maximum of 13 kg of personal luggage per person.

The duffel bag is carried ahead to the next stage and will be waiting for you once you reach the lodge.

It’s a concern we understand, but the issue isn’t using porters — it’s how they’re treated. Working as a porter or guide is one of the few tourism-related income opportunities for many families in mountain regions, and refusing to use their services on principle doesn’t necessarily help them.

At Himalaya Exped, porters are part of the team. We work with local people and guarantee fair working conditions, insurance coverage during the trek, and clear limits on the weight they carry. We usually allow one porter for every two participants, with a maximum of 13 kg of personal luggage per traveler.

For us, responsible tourism doesn’t mean taking work away from local communities — it means making sure that work is done with dignity, safely, and with fair pay.

During the trek, you’ll only carry a light backpack, roughly 20–25 liters, with water, a waterproof jacket, a warm layer, sunscreen, sunglasses, documents, camera, and anything else you might need during the day.
The rest of your gear travels in the duffel bag carried by the porters.

Anything you don’t need during the trek can be safely left at the hotel in Kathmandu and picked up on your return.
Along the route, you’ll only need the duffel bag entrusted to the porters and a small daypack.

During the Manaslu Circuit, we sleep in tea houses and small family-run lodges. In the lower part of the route, the accommodations are relatively simple but comfortable, and in some cases rooms with a private bathroom are available.

Heading up toward Namrung, Samagaun and Samdo, the lodges become progressively more basic and shared bathrooms are much more common. At Dharamsala, before the Larke La, expect particularly simple accommodation.

Our guides always look for the best available option, but on Manaslu a private bathroom can’t be guaranteed on many stages. Rooms are usually not heated; when available, the common dining room is heated instead.

Yes. Rooms are not heated, and in the upper valley nighttime temperatures can drop well below freezing.

We recommend a sleeping bag rated to a comfort temperature of around -20 °C. If you don’t have one suited to Himalayan conditions, you can rent one in Kathmandu before departure.

Every morning, Himalaya Exped provides 2 liters of drinking water per participant, to be carried in your own water bottle or thermos.

Lodges normally allow you to buy extra boiled or bottled water. Water straight from taps, springs or streams should never be drunk without first boiling, filtering or treating it with a purification product.

Lodges serve simple food: Dal Bhat, noodles, soups, rice, potatoes, pasta, eggs, momo and various vegetarian dishes.

In the lower part of the valley there’s a fairly wide choice, but as you climb toward Samagaun, Samdo and Dharamsala, the options become progressively more limited. In the more remote lodges, our guides tend to recommend simple, often vegetarian dishes, especially when there’s no way to be sure the meat has been stored properly.

They’re not essential, but it can help to bring a few bars, nuts or supplements you’re already used to using on hikes.

On the Manaslu Circuit, the chance to buy Western snacks drops sharply as you gain altitude, so it can be especially useful to bring from Kathmandu whatever you prefer to use on the longer days.

The trek starts at relatively low altitudes, where daytime temperatures can be quite warm, and ends with several days in a high-mountain environment.

From Samagaun onward, nighttime temperatures can drop below zero, and the Larkya La stage starts very early in the morning, when cold and wind can be especially intense.

During the day, with the sun out, even at altitude the perceived temperature can become quite pleasant. That’s why it’s essential to dress in layers and always carry wind protection and a warm layer.

In most villages you can recharge phones and cameras, but the availability of electricity drops sharply higher up the valley.

In Samagaun and Samdo, many lodges rely on small solar systems, and charging may come at a cost or only be available at certain times. In Dharamsala, power can be very limited.

We recommend bringing a high-capacity power bank and keeping it warm overnight, since cold temperatures quickly drain battery capacity.

In the lower part of the Manaslu region, mobile coverage is fairly good, but it quickly becomes less reliable higher up the valley. After Deng and Namrung, expect long stretches with no connection; a weak signal may be available in Samagaun, while between Samdo, Dharamsala, Larkya La and Bimthang you shouldn’t rely on mobile networks at all.

From experience, we recommend buying a Nepal Telecom (NTC) SIM card at the airport or near your hotel in Kathmandu, as it’s generally the best choice along the Manaslu route. Some lodges in the upper valley also offer Wi-Fi, usually for a fee, but it can be very slow or simply not work.

On the Manaslu Circuit, it’s completely normal to go without a connection for one or more days. Before departure, we recommend downloading maps, documents, and anything else that might be useful offline.

Travelers arriving from Europe are not normally required to have mandatory vaccinations to enter Nepal, except in special cases related to their country of origin or transit through countries at risk of yellow fever.

That said, it’s advisable to be up to date with routine vaccinations and to check with your doctor or a travel medicine clinic about those recommended for Nepal, such as hepatitis A and typhoid, depending on your health condition and the type of trip.