Manaslu Circuit Trek

Mount Manaslu sits in the Gorkha district of Nepal, rising sharply above deep valleys and long glacier ridges that open up wide views of the Himalaya in almost every direction.

The full loop covers around 170 to 180km, depending on where the road ends and where your trek starts. You will walk beside the Budhi Gandaki River for much of the route, a river fed by glacial melt from Manaslu itself and the Ganesh Himal range.

What makes this trek stand out is the range of landscapes packed into two weeks: warm subtropical valleys, Tibetan Buddhist villages, and finally the dry, high altitude world around the Larkya La Pass (5,160m). And compared to Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Circuit, you will see far fewer trekkers on the trail.

The route only opened to foreign trekkers in 1991, and it still sits close to the Nepal Tibet border. That restricted status is exactly why the trail has stayed so quiet, and why the villages along it still feel more lived in than performed for tourists.

Highlights of Manaslu Circuit Trek

Exploring two major trekking regions of Nepal, Manaslu and Annapurna, on one trek
Close up views of Mt. Manaslu, Himalchuli, Ganesh Himal, and Annapurna II
Crossing the Larkya La Pass (5,160m), the toughest and most rewarding day of the trek
A remote, peaceful trail compared to the busier Everest and Annapurna routes
Authentic Gurung and Tibetan Buddhist culture, with monasteries and prayer walls along the way
Landscapes that shift from lush lowland forest to glacial valleys, alpine meadows, and a high mountain pass
Wildlife including Himalayan tahr, marmots, pika, and blue sheep
A walk up toward the Tibetan border from Samdo village

Best Time to Trek Manaslu Circuit

Autumn (October to November) is the classic season. The weather holds steady, trails stay dry, and the sky is usually clear enough for genuinely crisp mountain views, which is also what makes early morning views around Samagaun so good at this time of year.

Spring (March to May) is the better pick if you would rather avoid the busier months. The weather is mild, and the forests lower down the valley are full of blooming rhododendron.

Monsoon (June to September) brings a real risk of landslides along the Budhi Gandaki, plus leeches and cloud cover that hides the mountains. The forest is at its greenest, but this is not the season we recommend for this particular trek.

Winter (December to February) is possible if you are prepared for serious cold and snow. The Larkya La can be buried under snow and sometimes closes altogether, and night temperatures at Dharmasala drop well below freezing.

Visible Peaks on the Manaslu Trek Route

Mount Manaslu is the headline peak of this trek, but it is far from the only one. Himalchuli, Ngadi Chuli, the Ganesh Himal range, Shringi Himal, and Annapurna II all come into view at different points along the trail, and once you are over the Larkya La, Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, and Kang Guru open up on the descent toward Bimthang.

Mount Manaslu (8,163m), the mountain the trek is named after
Annapurna II (7,937m), visible as you near the end of the trek, especially after the pass
Himlung Himal (7,126m), seen clearly from the Larkya La area
Kang Guru (6,981m), another peak visible from high points near the pass
Himalchuli (7,893m)
Ngadi Chuli (7,871m)
Ganesh Himal range
Shringi Himal (7,161m)
Cheo Himal (6,820m)

Route Information of Manaslu Circuit Trek

Your trek begins with a drive out of Kathmandu, following the Trishuli and then the Budhi Gandaki river valley through Arughat and Soti Khola before the road runs out at Machha Khola. This is where the walking starts.

From Machha Khola, the trail follows the Budhi Gandaki upstream through Jagat, Deng, and Namrung, then climbs into Lho and Samagaun, where Manaslu comes fully into view. Beyond Samagaun the villages get smaller and the air thinner, through Samdo and Dharmasala, before you cross the Larkya La at 5,160m and descend into Bimthang and Tilje on the Annapurna side. From Tilje, a jeep road picks you up through Besisahar and carries you back to Kathmandu. Out of your fourteen days, two are spent driving and the rest are on foot.

Required Physical Fitness for Manaslu Trek

The Manaslu Circuit is graded moderate to strenuous, a step below Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Circuit in terms of technical demand, but the altitude still climbs fast, up to 5,160m at the pass, so you need to be ready for long days at height. Expect to walk 5 to 7 hours on most days, with the pass day running closer to 8 or 9 hours.

Age Required to trek Manaslu

There is no official age limit for the Manaslu Circuit, but now solo trekking is also allowed under the restricted area rules. What matters more than age is health. You should be in good physical condition, free of serious heart or lung conditions, and mentally ready for consecutive long days of walking at altitude.

Side Treks during Manaslu Circuit

If your schedule and legs have anything left in them, a few worthwhile side trips branch off the main route:

Tsum Valley Trek, a journey into a quiet, deeply spiritual side valley
Birendra Lake (Birendra Taal), a short walk from Samagaun to a glacial lake beneath Manaslu
Pungyen Gompa and Manaslu Base Camp, both reachable as day hikes from Samagaun
Rui La area, a walk from Samdo toward the Tibetan border