Manaslu Circuit Trek is an off-the-beaten trekking journey that circles the eighth-highest mountain in the world, Mt. Manaslu (8,163 meters). The restricted trail borders Tibet and is home to Buddhist monasteries and diverse ethnic communities.
You’ll be heading to the restricted Manaslu region, which is rich in both flora and fauna. It has 33 species of mammals, 110 species of birds, 3 species of reptiles, and nearly 2000 species of flowering plants.
The trek offers a panoramic view of the Himalayas – Mount Manaslu (8163m), Himlung Himal (7126m), Ngadi Himal (7871m), Ganesh Himal (7406m), and Annapurna II (7937m). Even though the trek is less popular than Everest or Annapurna, it has caught the eye of adventurous trekkers who seek peace and solitude.
Your journey to Manaslu Circuit begins from a drive to Maccha Khola, Gorkha. Only after reaching the starting point, your actual hike begins on the second day towards Jagat.
You’ll follow a wonderful and scenic trail in the restricted region of Manaslu. You’ll visit traditional villages of Deng, Namrung, Lho, Samagaun, Samdo, Dharmashala, Bhimtang, and Dharapani.
While circling Mt. Manaslu, you’ll meet Gurung, Brahmin, Chhetri, Tibetan, and Nubri people. This means you can socialize and learn about the culture of different ethnic groups of Nepal. Most importantly, you’ll get a glimpse of what actual village life is.
The highlight of the Manaslu Circuit Trek is the Larkya La Pass on the eleventh day. It’s considered one of the longest passes in the Himalayas and is at an elevation of 5,106 m.
As you can see, the elevation is above the 5000 m mark, so the risk of altitude sickness is pretty high here. So, we highly recommend packing the necessary medications and sticking with your guide at all times.
Many of you might be willing to get to the Manaslu Base Camp (4,800 m) on the seventh day. In fact, it’s even possible to extend your trekking duration by including Tsum Valley in your itinerary plans. It’s all up to you, really!
Another essential thing to consider during this journey is the permits. Since you’ll be in the restricted region, you have to have multiple entry permits in order to complete the trek. Getting them all by your own can be a headache, and choosing a trustworthy travel agency is a must.
The 13 Days Manaslu Circuit Trek in Nepal offered by Mount Glory Treks begins from Machha Khola. Well, most of you might be wondering why we are not mentioning Kathmandu. That’s because we do not want you to rush at all!
Let’s be honest. You’d already be tired from your long flight and the best thing to do for the first 2-3 days is to take proper rest so that you can save energy for the trekking days ahead.
Trust us when we say this–Manaslu Circuit is one of the best trekking routes in the country. Hence, Mount Glory Treks wants you to enjoy every part of this journey.
Also, keep in mind that you need to get permits, which, if not properly proceeded, can cause delays. Although our company is all responsible for this arrangement, we have to keep you updated at times.
Lastly, Kathmandu is itself so beautiful and since you’ve come this far, we aren’t letting you go without visiting the capital city of Nepal. So, take a tour of Kathmandu before your actual Manaslu circuit trek begins.
If you’re also one of those who is planning to complete the Manaslu Circuit Trek in 13 days, these details by Mount Glory are exactly what you need!
Main Highlights of Manaslu Circuit Trek
- A stunning and less popular trekking route in Nepal, circling Mount Manaslu, the world’s eighth-highest peak at 8,163 meters.
- Famous for its natural beauty, remote trails, and breathtaking mountain views of Mount Manaslu (8163m), Himlung Himal (7126m), Ngadi Himal (7871m), Ganesh Himal (7406m), and Annapurna II (7937m).
- It is a technically challenging trek, ideal for those seeking adventure away from crowded trekking regions.
- Rich in cultural experiences, the trail passes through traditional villages influenced by Tibetan heritage.
- It’s in the ‘restricted’ Manaslu Conservation Area, so it requires special permits.
- Offers diverse landscapes, from lush forests and terraced fields to alpine meadows and snowy passes.
- Sama Gaon provides breathtaking views of the Himalayas, surrounding glaciers, and spiritual vibes from an ancient monastery.
- Birendra Lake near Sama Gaon is a picturesque spot that is perfect for acclimatization and photography.
- An ancient salt trading route between Tibet and Nepal offers historical significance along the trail.
- Key highlight: Crossing the Larkya La Pass at 5,106 meters, offering spectacular panoramic views.
- Enriching interactions with local communities like the Nubri and Tsum ethnic groups.
- Best undertaken during spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) for favorable weather.
Why Trek in Off-Beaten Restricted Trail of Manaslu Circuit?
Amidst the popular treks like Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp, Manaslu Circuit Trek is often overshadowed. However, its growing popularity, rich culture, extraordinary scenes, and lovely locals are making it the go-to destination for quite a lot of people.
The sublime mountains and scenery, the achievement of reaching Larkya La Pass, less crowd with peaceful trail, rich history & cultural experiences, lakes & waterfalls, monasteries, and easy-to-do side arrangement trips are some of the reasons to choose Manaslu Circuit Trek.
You’re just one click away from your booking and meeting the best professionals in the travel industry. So, hurry up and let’s do the Manaslu Circuit Trek together!
Why Choose Mount Glory Treks for Manaslu Circuit Trek?
For many other treks in Nepal, you’d likely go solo or even hire local people as your guides. However, this Manaslu Circuit trek is completely different.
First and foremost, it’s in the restricted zone of Manaslu Conservation Area, and getting its permit is a hard thing. Honestly, you might even be rejected if the respected authority sees you as a potential threat.
And conservation areas are even more prone to wildlife. In case you lost your way in the trail, unfortunate incidents might happen.
Because of these and other countless reasons, it’s essential to choose a trustworthy travel partner. And since Mount Glory offers licensed guides for your safety, help arrange proper porter services, provides you transparent pricing, and has already got satisfied guests, we highly suggest you travel with us.
We ensure that you follow all the safety procedures throughout your trekking journey while still having fun and creating wonderful memories in the Himalayas.
Manaslu Circuit Trek Cost Breakdown for 2025 & 2026
Your eyes might be on the price tag we have placed at the very top. Does USD 910 per person seem a bit too much? We guess that’s the best price you’ll find on the internet.
When it comes to trekking, it’s not about which one’s cheap and which one’s expensive—it’s more about the quality of service. After all, you’ll be coming so far from your home country that you want to feel absolutely secure and that’s what Mount Glory does exactly.
In fact, even in that price, if you’re in a group, we’re definitely giving discounts. Our travel agency makes sure you won’t have the need to pay extra for any trekking-related stuff.
But just to be sure, go through this section and in case you’re not satisfied, please don’t hesitate contacting us directly on your Whatsapp number (+977 9849856378).
Mount Glory Treks manage a group cost breakdown for 2025 & 2026, please follow the below group discount table based on group size.
No of Travelers | Cost Per Person |
1-1 | USD 1050 |
2-3 | USD 910 |
4-6 | USD 850 |
7-12 | USD 810 |
Note: If travelers are more than 12, they can directly contact our operation team for a special group discount offer.
Recommended reading: Updated Manaslu Circuit Trek Cost 2025
13 Days Manaslu Circuit Trekking Major Attractions
Many trekkers visit the Manaslu region to learn the Tibetan lifestyle and culture. Our guests have always been positive after their return. So, we guarantee you that your trek is going to be worth it if you’re here to experience just that.
Let’s talk about the views and natural scenery first. After entering the Manaslu Preservation Range, you’ll cross multiple suspension bridges, wooden bridges, bamboo woodlands, and Tibetan & Gurung villages.
This entire region falls near the Budhigandaki Waterway. Also, the views of mountains from the Great Himalayan Trail, which includes Mount Manaslu (8163 m), Himlung Himal (7126 m), Ngadi Himal (7871 m), Ganesh Himal (7406 m), and Annapurna II (7937m) is breathtaking.
You might have heard of Nepal having multiple ethnic groups and a diverse cultural background. While you’ll get to see and learn that from Kathmandu itself, the Manaslu Circuit Trek shall give you a deeper dive into this subject. The main ethnic groups here include Gurung, Brahmin, Chhetri, Tibetan, and Nubri.
Base Camp of the Eighth Highest Mountain Mount Manaslu(8163m)
If you love visiting the base camps of the highest mountains in the world, add Manaslu Base Camp to your bucket list. Of course, you’re taking a round of Mt.
Manaslu, so reaching the base camp is the bare minimum you can do, if you can’t summit it.
We’ll be trekking to Manaslu Base Camp on the seventh day of this journey. You’ll be starting from Samagaun and it’s just a few kilometers uphill climb to reach the 4,800 melevation.
Since Manaslu Base Camp is not that far, you can even pay visits to other iconic locations in the region. We’ll discuss them shortly.
Adventurous and captivating Larkya La Pass at 5106 m
After walking for almost ten days in the Manaslu region, you’ll be hiking to the highest point of the trek, Larkya La Pass at 5,106 m on the eleventh day.
Do note that hiking on this part of the trail is the most difficult and challenging. So, adventure lovers will love this section. And the hike becomes even more difficult during the snow.
From the top, you’d be able to soak in the views of Manaslu, Manaslu North, Samdo Peak, Naike Peak, Larke Peak, and Cheo Himal.
Traditional Villages in Manaslu Region
Coming to the villages, you’ll be passing through Machha Khola, Jagat, Deng, Namrung, Lho, Samagaun, Samdo, Dharmashala, Bhimtang, Dharapani, and finally Besisahar.
These were the main ones. Other tiny villages also exist there, which we have discussed in detail in the itinerary section (don’t miss that part for full story reveal).
Moreover, the Manaslu Circuit Trek takes you to the Tibetan Border once you reach Samdo Village. It takes about a few extra hours of hiking and you get to see as well as interact with the Bhotia community.
Extra Hiking Takes You to More Serene Locations
While Manaslu Base Camp and the enchanting Larkya Las pass are the key highlights of this journey, there are still other locations that Mount Glory highly recommends to visit. But note that you have to hike extra during your acclimatization days, or for some of you, an extra might be needed.
The serene Birendra Lake at about 4,500 m is one of them. It takes about 4-5 hours of extra hiking from Samdo Village to reach there. Don’t forget to capture tons of pictures and videos once you’re here.
Another amazing landmark to go for is the Samdori Hills. Please note that this is not recommended for beginners and amateurs though. It’s hard to reach and can take an entire day to reach and come back. Yet, the view of the mountains is breathtaking from here.
Finally, there’s also Pungyen Gumba in the Manaslu Circuit trekking trails. This happens to be a 400-year-old monastery and is about 9-10 km from the Samagaun Village and takes about 5-6 hours.
8 Days Alternative Short Itinerary for Manaslu Trek
Day 01: Drive Kathmandu to Aarughat by bus and Aarughat to Jagat by Jeep.
Day 02: Trek from Jagat to Deng.
Day 03: Trek from Deng to Namrung.
Day 04: Trek from Namrung to Sama Gaun.
Day 05: Trek from Sama Gaun to Dharmasala.
Day 06:Trek From Dharmasala to Bimtang via Larke La Pass.
Day 07: Trek from Bhimtang to Dharapani.
Day 08: Drive back to Kathmandu from Dharapani By Jeep and Bus.