Manaslu Circuit Trek 14 Days: Itinerary, Cost, Permit, Map & Guide

The Manaslu Circuit is a loop around Manaslu, and this itinerary runs it counterclockwise. You follow the Budhi Gandaki River upstream from Machha Khola to the high villages at Samagaun and Samdo, cross Larkya La, and descend to Dharapani in the Marsyangdi valley. Going this way means a steady climb to the pass, which helps your body adjust.

The two long drives, from Kathmandu to Machha Khola and from Dharapani back to Kathmandu, bookend the trek, and everything between is on foot. On the map below, the solid line shows the trekking route and the dashed line shows the road transfers.

The table below combines the 14-day itinerary with daily walking or travel times and overnight sleeping altitudes. It follows the route from Kathmandu to Machha Khola, through the villages of the Budhi Gandaki valley to Samagaun and Samdo, then crosses Larkya La Pass before descending to Bimthang and Dharapani.

Larkya La Pass at 5,106 m is the highest point of the trek, crossed on Day 10. Dharamsala (Larkya Phedi), at approximately 4,460 m, is the highest overnight stop on this itinerary.

14-Day Route and Daily Sleeping Altitude

Both hikes are optional and take place on Day 7 at Samagaun. Here is how they compare:

Your guide recommends one, or neither, on the morning, based on how you feel and the weather. Resting is a perfectly good choice, especially with Larkya La two days away.

Yes, for a standard circuit. Fourteen days gives you ten days on the trail, a full rest day at Samagaun and a driving day at each end. It does not leave much spare time, so weather, bridge repairs or a slow day can eat into the margin.

If you want extra buffer for the pass, an additional acclimatization night or the Tsum Valley, a longer plan is the better choice. Ask us about a custom itinerary.

The 14-day Manaslu Circuit Trek starts at US$1,050 per person for groups of six or more. The restricted-area permits, guide, porter and jeep costs are shared, so larger groups pay less each. The route, permits and lodges stay the same for everyone, and the package covers all the permits, so there are no separate fees to pay on arrival.

Price by Group Size

We can set up private departures on dates that suit you. Contact us with your preferred dates and group size for availability, or if you want upgrades such as a better hotel in Kathmandu.

These are small costs paid in cash along the way. Figures are typical and rise with altitude, and there are no ATMs on the trail.

Plan on roughly US$ 200-300 for the whole trek, depending on how often you treat yourself.

The trek is challenging. The days are long, with five to ten hours of walking, and the trail climbs steadily for over a week at increasing altitude. Facilities are basic, the nights are cold, and there is no easy exit once you're in the high valley.

Three days matter most:

• Day 6 climbs about 900 m to Samagaun, where you sleep above 3,500 m.

• Day 9 gains height again at Dharamsala.

• Day 10 is the hardest, starting in the dark, crossing a 5,106 m pass and descending for hours.

You don't need climbing skills, but you do need good fitness, a positive attitude and the ability to keep going when you're tired. Previous trekking experience at altitude helps. See the training plan below.

Two days on this itinerary gain more than the usual advice of adding no more than about 300 to 500 m of sleeping altitude per night above 3,000 m:

• Day 6: Namrung (2,630 m) to Samagaun (3,530 m), a gain of about 900 m.

• Day 9: Samdo (3,875 m) to Dharamsala (about 4,460 m), a gain of about 585 m.

The plan balances this with a full rest day at Samagaun, a short Day 8 (about 345 m of gain) and a rest-day hike you can use to climb high and sleep low. Our guides keep the pace slow and check oxygen levels and symptoms each morning and evening. If you want a gentler profile, ask us about adding a night on the way up.

The main trekking seasons are autumn and spring. Conditions vary with snow, rainfall and the year's weather, so no month guarantees an open Larkya La.

Autumn (October to November)

Autumn is the best season, with clear skies, stable weather and the best mountain views. October is the busiest month, but the Manaslu trail is still much quieter than the Annapurna Circuit. Nights get very cold in November.

Spring (March to May)

Spring brings warmer days and rhododendron forests in bloom on the lower trail. Snow can remain on the pass in March and early April, and clouds build in the afternoon, so mornings are best for the crossing.

Winter (December to February)

Winter is very cold, and heavy snow often closes Larkya La. Many lodges in the high villages close for the season. We don't recommend trekking Manaslu in winter.

Monsoon and Early September (June to September)

Heavy rain brings leeches, landslides, slippery trails and the risk of flash floods, as the September 2026 flood near Namrung showed. Views are poor, and some lodges close. If you're traveling in monsoon, ask us about alternatives.

Autumn and spring are generally the most practical choices. Your final decision should account for your dates, tolerance for cold, expected crowds and the latest trail and weather reports.

Manaslu is a restricted area, so you need several permits, and everything goes through a registered trekking agency. We arrange them all for you.

Nepal Visa

A tourist visa costs US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days, and US$125 for 90 days. A 15-day visa covers this 14-day trip with very little margin, so if weather or trail repairs could delay you, the 30-day visa is safer. You can get it on arrival at the airport or pre-apply online. Check eligibility and current fees with the Department of Immigration.

Documents to Carry

• Passport valid for at least six months beyond your trip. We need the original for the restricted-area permit

• Several passport-size photos

• Printed copy of your travel insurance policy

• Emergency contact details for Trip Highland and your own family

• Paper and digital copies of every document, kept apart from the originals

Travel insurance is not included, and you should buy it before you fly. Your policy must cover trekking up to at least 5,500 m, emergency medical treatment and helicopter evacuation. Check the policy wording for altitude limits, because some standard policies stop at 3,000 m or 4,000 m.

The area is remote and evacuation takes time, so helicopter cover is essential on this route. Your guide carries a first-aid kit and an oximeter and checks symptoms every day. If anyone needs evacuation or urgent medical care, your guide contacts our office and you contact your insurer's emergency line. Keep a printed copy of your policy number and the insurer's 24-hour number with you.

Along the trail, you stay in simple teahouses run by local families. Rooms usually have twin beds, foam mattresses and blankets, bathrooms are shared, and the walls are thin. Lower down, villages like Jagat, Deng and Philim are more comfortable. Higher up, around Samagaun and Samdo, the lodges are smaller and colder.

Dharamsala at Larkya Phedi is the most basic stop of all. It's a stone lodge with shared rooms, no heating and limited food. Hot showers, Wi-Fi and device charging cost extra, and in high villages, power is limited to solar. In Kathmandu, you stay in a hotel with breakfast.

Menus are broad in the lower villages and shorter at altitude, since everything is carried in by porters and mules. Expect dal bhat, noodles, fried rice, soups, momos, eggs, porridge and Tibetan bread. At higher stops, look for local potatoes, barley and buckwheat dishes. Dal bhat is the best fuel, and you can usually get seconds.

Tell your guide about any dietary needs on day one so they can pass them on to each lodge. Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu are not included.

Altitude sickness can affect anyone, however fit or experienced. On this trek you sleep above 3,500 m for five nights, reach about 4,460 m at Dharamsala and cross a pass at 5,106 m. This is a serious altitude trek, and the area is remote, so evacuation takes time.

Three stretches deserve care. On Day 6 you climb about 900 m to Samagaun, which is why the rest day on Day 7 matters. On Day 9 you sleep about 585 m higher than the night before. On Day 10 the pass crossing is long and cold, and it can be affected by weather.

Early Signs of Altitude Sickness (AMS)

Early symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS) include headache, nausea, dizziness, tiredness, loss of appetite and poor sleep. Tell your guide at the first hint. Do not keep climbing with symptoms. Mild AMS usually settles with rest and a night at the same altitude. Never go on toward the pass just to complete the itinerary.

Serious Altitude Sickness: When to Descend

Confusion, difficulty walking straight, extreme drowsiness, breathlessness at rest or a persistent cough can indicate a serious emergency, such as swelling of the brain (HACE) or lungs (HAPE). Descend immediately, day or night, and seek medical help. Descent is the only reliable treatment.

Rules to Follow Above 3,000 m

• Walk slowly, even when you feel strong

• Don't climb higher if you have symptoms

• Drink 3 to 4 litres of water daily

• Skip alcohol and cigarettes

• Take the rest day seriously, and tell your guide how you really feel, every day

Diamox is a prescription medicine some trekkers use to help acclimatize, but it doesn't replace going slowly, so talk to your doctor before you travel. Your guide carries a pulse oximeter, which is useful but can't rule out altitude sickness on its own.

Pack for warm, humid valleys, freezing high villages and a snowy pass. Layers matter more than any single item. Your porter carries the duffel (limit 15 kg), and you carry a daypack with the essentials.

Clothing

• Moisture-wicking base layers and thermal layers

• Warm fleece or insulating mid-layer

• Heavy down jacket for Samdo, Dharamsala and the pass

• Windproof and waterproof jacket and trousers

• Trekking trousers and quick-dry shirts

• Warm hat, sun hat, liner gloves and insulated gloves

Footwear and Equipment

• Broken-in waterproof trekking boots

• Camp shoes or sandals

• Trekking poles

• Microspikes or light crampons for the pass

• Gaiters for snow

• Headtorch with spare batteries (essential for Day 10)

• Sunglasses with strong UV protection, ideally glacier-rated

Health and Personal Items

• Personal medication and a small first-aid kit

• Blister plasters

• Water purification tablets or a filter

• High-SPF sunscreen and lip balm

• Toiletries and hand sanitizer

• Power bank and charging cable

Luggage, Sleeping Bag and Cash

Pack your main gear in a waterproof duffel. A sleeping bag rated to about -15°C or lower is recommended for Samdo and Dharamsala. Bring Nepali rupees in cash for the whole trek, since there are no ATMs on the trail.

Start about eight to ten weeks before you travel. This trek asks for stamina on several long days in a row, then a very long pass day.

Practise downhill walking too, since the descent from Larkya La is long and steep. If you have health concerns, talk to your doctor before you travel, and don't rely on fitness alone to prevent altitude sickness.

Tell Trip Highland how many extra days you have and what you want to experience, and we'll adjust the itinerary.

For more than 16 years, Trip Highland has been guiding trekkers through Nepal's mountains. A restricted-area trek like Manaslu needs careful planning, and our team handles the permits, the paperwork and the daily decisions on the trail.

• 16+ years of experience: Knowledge of Nepal's trekking routes, mountain conditions and local communities

• Restricted-area know-how: We arrange all the permits and keep up with trail and bridge conditions, including after the 2026 floods

• Safety-conscious planning: A paced itinerary with a rest day at Samagaun, and daily altitude checks

• Personalized plans: We adjust dates, pace and extras to suit you

• Authentic local culture: Family-run lodges and monasteries, with guides who know the history

• Responsible travel: Respect for local customs and the Manaslu Conservation Area