The Manaslu Circuit Trek—Nepal’s Last Real Himalayan Circuit
Forget queues and coffee shops at 5,000m. The Manaslu Circuit is what Everest used to be 20 years ago.
This 15-day trek circles Mt. Manaslu 8,163 m—the world’s 8th highest peak—through the secluded north-central Nepal in Gorkha. We drive directly from Kathmandu to Jagat at 1,340 m, and in 12 days you climb to Larke La Pass at 5,106 m, then descend to Tilije and drive back to Kathmandu. Total trip: 15 days with arrival and departure.
Manaslu is a restricted trail. That’s why it stayed authentic. You need a Special Permit, a licensed guide, and a minimum of 1 trekker—now solo trekking is allowed. Permits are limited to 12 per day in peak season. We handle all of it on your free Day 2 in Kathmandu.
What was once a full camping expedition is now a comfortable teahouse trek. You sleep in family-run lodges, eat Dal Bhat cooked fresh, and you still get WiFi and hot showers in the lower villages up to Sama Gaon. Above that, it’s basic, cold, and beautifully remote.
Why trekkers choose this circuit now:
- Walk the wild Budhi Gandaki gorge—suspension bridges, waterfalls, deep forest
- Live the mix of Gurung and Tibetan culture in Namrung, Lho, Sama Gaon, and Samdo—monasteries, mani walls, yak pastures, and people who still speak Nubri, not Nepali
- Cross the demanding Larke La Pass 5,106 m—9 to 11 hours on pass day, prayer flags, and a 360-degree wall of Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, and Annapurna II
- 6-7 hours of walking a day on average, no backtracking, finishing at Besisahar—a true circuit with high glacial lakes, pine forests, and rhododendron valleys every day
If you want remote, demanding, and culturally alive—not just another viewpoint—Manaslu is it. And with our new direct Jagat drive and proper acclimatization day in Sama Gaon, you do it safer and faster.
This is the 15-day trek we run. No wasted days.
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Fact |
Details—12 Days Trek / 15 Days Total |
|---|---|
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Trip Name |
Manaslu Circuit Trek – 12 Days Trek |
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Total Duration |
15 Days Kathmandu to Kathmandu |
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Trekking Days |
12 Days |
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Trip Grading |
Strenuous / Challenging |
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Maximum Elevation |
Larke La Pass 5,106m / 16,752 ft |
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Minimum Elevation |
Jagat 1,340m |
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Starting Point |
Kathmandu → Direct Jeep Drive to Jagat 1,340m (7-9 hrs, ∼160km) |
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Ending Point |
Tilije 2,300m → Drive to Kathmandu (8-10 hrs) via Besisahar |
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Average Walking |
6-7 hrs per day, 12 km per day. Pass Day: 9-11 hrs, 24km |
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Biggest Day |
Day 9: Dharamsala → Larke La Pass 5,106m → Bhimtang 3,590m ▲646m ▼1,516m |
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Best For |
Remote Himalayan adventure & high mountain pass crossing |
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Accommodation |
3 Nights Hotel in Kathmandu (BB) + 12 Nights Teahouse / Mountain Lodge during trek |
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Meals |
Breakfast in Kathmandu + all meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) during trek |
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Permits Required |
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Group Size |
2-15 pax (Minimum 2 required for Restricted Area, Solo can join fixed departure) |
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Guide & Porter |
Licensed English-speaking local guide from Gorkha + 1 Porter for 2 Trekkers |
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Transport |
Private 4WD Jeep – Kathmandu to Jagat & Tilije to Kathmandu + Airport transfers |
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Best Season |
Spring: March to May & Autumn: September to November |
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Acclimatization |
1 Full Day at Sama Gaon 3,530m – Optional hike to Birendra Lake or Manaslu Base Camp |
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Trail Highlights |
Budhi Gandaki Gorge, Tibetan villages Namrung-Lho-Sama-Samdo, Monasteries, Yak pastures, Larke La Pass 5,106m panoramic views of Manaslu, Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Annapurna II |
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Communication |
WiFi & Phone network available up to Sama Gaon (Extra cost NPR 100-300) |
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Trip Extensions |
Add Tsum Valley (7 Days) or Kathmandu Sightseeing on Day 2 (Pashupatinath, Boudha, Bhaktapur) |
