Government-licensed trekking agency · Reg. tourest registation · TAAN member
Popular treks
Annapurna Base Camp Trek11 days · from $850Annapurna Circuit Trek16 days · from $1,150Everest Base Camp Trek14 days · from $1,000Langtang Valley Trek10 days · from $890By style
Quiet, off the beaten pathFewer trekkers, wild valleysTeahouse treksLodges every nightPrivate treksYour group, your dates
Not sure which trek fits you?Tell us your dates and fitness. A local expert suggests the right route.Ask on WhatsApp
EverestUp to 5,545 m
AnnapurnaUp to 5,416 m
ManasluUp to 5,106 m
LangtangUp to 4,984 m
KanchenjungaUp to 5,143 m
Nar PhuUp to 5,320 m
Pikey PeakUp to 4,065 m
Tamang Heritage TrailUp to 3,165 mGorkha, Nepal
Best: Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov
A wild circuit around Manaslu, the world's eighth-highest mountain, over the Larkya La, with far fewer trekkers.
About the region
The Manaslu Circuit follows the Budhi Gandaki river from subtropical gorges up into the Tibetan-Buddhist villages of Nubri, below Manaslu (8,163 m), the world's eighth-highest mountain. It is a restricted area, so it stays far quieter than the Annapurna Circuit.
From Samagaon and Samdo you climb to the Larkya La (5,106 m), one of the most dramatic passes in Nepal, and come down through Bhimthang to join the Marsyangdi valley at Dharapani. The side trip into the Tsum Valley adds another week of monasteries and quiet villages.
A 5,106 m pass with glaciers and Himlung Himal ahead, and Manaslu behind you.
Mani walls, monasteries like Ribung Gompa at Lho and villages with Tibetan roots.
The restricted-area rules keep numbers low, even in October.
Bananas and waterfalls at the start, yak pastures and ice at the top.
Treks
Remote circuitFixed dates
Our Manaslu Circuit trek
Up the Budhi Gandaki gorge to Samagaon below Manaslu, over the Larkya La (5,106 m) and down to Dharapani. Restricted permits and a licensed guide included.
From $1,280 per person
Nearby · same valley at the endAnnapurna Circuit Trek16 days · Challenging · max 5,416 mThe Manaslu trail ends where the Annapurna Circuit begins.Nearby · hidden valleyNar Phu Valley Trek 10 Days12 days · Challenging · max 5,320 mAnother restricted area, just up the Marsyangdi from Dharapani.Manaslu with the Tsum Valley, a slower pace with extra rest days, or onward to Nar Phu. We plan it around your days.
Plan it on WhatsApp →Best time to go
Best
March and April are excellent, with rhododendrons in the lower forest and settled weather for the pass. May grows hazier and warmer.
Not ideal
Heavy rain and landslides in the Budhi Gandaki gorge, and the jeep road can close. Not recommended.
Best
The best time: clear skies, firm trails and good conditions on the Larkya La from late September to November.
Not ideal
Snow often closes the Larkya La from December, and some upper teahouses shut. Possible only for a shorter trek in the lower valley.
Your guides
Senior trek leader, Everest region · 20+ yrs guiding
“We climb slowly and check everyone every evening. The mountain is not going anywhere.”
English, Nepali, Sherpa
Restricted-area trek leader · 17+ yrs guiding
“On the Larkya La we start before dawn and turn back if the weather says so. That is how we come home.”
English, Nepali, Tibetan
Photos
Travel guides
Best time to trekWhen the Larkya La is open, when it snows, and the months our guides prefer for Manaslu.
PlanningThree permits, a licensed guide and an agency: how the Manaslu paperwork works.
HealthAltitude limits, helicopter rescue and flight delays: the questions to ask before you buy.
Questions
Three: the Manaslu restricted area permit, the Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP) and the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) for the last part of the trek. The restricted permit is issued only through a registered agency with a licensed guide. We arrange them all and confirm the current group rules when you book.
Challenging. Most days are 6–7 hours, and the Larkya La day is long, often 8–10 hours from Dharmasala to Bhimthang. You do not need climbing skills, but you should be fit and ready for basic lodges.
Manaslu is wilder and quieter, with simpler teahouses and less road. The Annapurna Circuit is more comfortable and flexible. If you want remote trails and can join a guided trek, choose Manaslu.
Yes. The Tsum Valley branches off near Lokpa and adds about 6–7 days of monasteries and quiet Tibetan villages.
By jeep from Kathmandu to Machha Khola (8–9 hours), or to Soti Khola when the upper road is closed. At the end you drive from Dharapani to Besisahar and on to Kathmandu or Pokhara.
We plan acclimatisation days at Samagaon, often with a walk towards Manaslu Base Camp or Birendra Lake, and climb slowly through Samdo. Your guide checks everyone each day and turns back if needed.
Other regions
Tell us your dates and fitness. A local planner replies on WhatsApp within a few hours.
