The prayer flags snap in the wind at 5,160 metres. You have been climbing since 3 AM, headlamp cutting through darkness, boots crunching on frozen scree, lungs burning in air that holds half the oxygen of sea level. Then the sun breaks over the eastern ridge and the world erupts in gold. Manaslu (8,163m), the eighth highest mountain on earth, fills the northern sky so completely it looks like it might fall on you. The Larkya Glacier sprawls below, and behind you, the entire Tibetan Plateau stretches to the horizon. You are standing on Larkya La, one of the great high passes of the Himalayas, and there is nobody else here. That is the difference. On the Annapurna Circuit, 30,000 trekkers cross Thorong La every year. On the Manaslu Circuit, fewer than 6,000 make this crossing. You are walking through a restricted area where permits are limited, villages are small, and the mountains belong to the people who live beneath them.
The 12-day Manaslu Circuit Trek follows the Budhi Gandaki river valley from Soti Khola through increasingly remote villages, past carved mani walls and Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, into the Nubri Valley where the culture is more Tibetan than Nepali, and over Larkya La Pass (5,160m / 16,929ft) before descending through Bhimtang to Dharapani on the Annapurna Circuit road. It is Nepal's finest long-distance trek for those who want the grandeur of a high pass crossing without the crowds, designed by Shreejan Simkhada, whose family has been guiding people through these mountains since the 1960s.
What Makes This Trek Unforgettable
- Cross Larkya La (5,160m / 16,929ft), one of the highest and most spectacular trekking passes in Nepal, with panoramic views of Manaslu, Himlung Himal and the Annapurna range stretching south
- Walk through a restricted area where only around 6,000 trekkers per year are permitted, compared to 30,000 on the neighbouring Annapurna Circuit
- Stay in Samdo and Shyala, Nubri Valley settlements where Tibetan Buddhist monks still perform morning pujas and villagers speak a Tibetan dialect unchanged for centuries
- Follow the Budhi Gandaki river from subtropical lowlands at 700 metres through temperate forests, alpine meadows, and glacial moraines to the foot of the world's eighth highest mountain
- Pass through Namrung, Jagat, and Lokpa, stone-walled villages where mani walls carved with Om Mani Padme Hum line every trail and prayer wheels spin in the river current
- Trek beneath the massive south face of Manaslu (8,163m), so close you can hear avalanches calving from the hanging glaciers above Sama Gaon
- Complete the entire circuit in 12 days, making this the most time-efficient way to experience the full Manaslu restricted area and Larkya La crossing
12-Day Manaslu Circuit Trek Overview
Twelve days. One restricted area. One glacial pass above 5,000 metres. The Manaslu Circuit is the trek that serious Himalayan walkers dream about, a complete circumnavigation of the world's eighth highest peak through some of the most culturally intact villages left in Nepal. While the Annapurna Circuit has been transformed by road building and the Manaslu region draws tens of thousands, the Manaslu corridor remains protected by its restricted-area permit system and by the simple fact that there is no road beyond Soti Khola.
The route begins with a drive from Kathmandu to Soti Khola (700m), where the Budhi Gandaki river cuts through a subtropical gorge thick with banana trees and rice paddies. Over the first three days, you climb through Jagat and into the restricted area, watching the landscape shift from lowland jungle to pine and rhododendron forest. By Namrung (2,660m), you have crossed into the Nubri cultural zone, where flat-roofed stone houses, fluttering prayer flags and Tibetan Buddhist gompas replace the Hindu villages of the lower valley. The architecture, the food, the language, the religion, everything changes. You are closer to Lhasa than to Kathmandu in every way that matters.
From Shyala and Sama Gaon, you spend time acclimatising beneath Manaslu's enormous south face before pushing to Samdo (3,860m), the last settlement before the pass. The Larkya La crossing day starts before dawn, a long push up frozen moraine and snow to the 5,160-metre col, then a steep descent through Bhimtang's alpine meadows. From Bhimtang, the trail drops rapidly to Dharapani, where you meet the Annapurna Circuit road and drive back to Kathmandu. It is the most complete Himalayan circuit trek you can do in under two weeks.
Two acclimatisation opportunities are built into the itinerary: at Sama Gaon, where you can hike to Birendra Tal (a glacial lake at the foot of Manaslu) and at Samdo, where a half-day exploration of the Tibetan border area prepares your body for the pass. By the time you tackle Larkya La, your body has had the time it needs to adjust.
Arrive by 4:00 PM on Day One
Please arrive in Kathmandu by 4 PM the day before your trek. This gives you time for a final gear check, a briefing with your guide, and a proper night of sleep before the early morning drive to Soti Khola. The drive takes 7-8 hours, so you will want to be rested.
Online Trip Briefing
After you book, we schedule a video call to walk you through everything: what to pack, what the teahouses are really like on the Manaslu trail, how the restricted-area permit works, what the Larkya La crossing day involves, and anything else on your mind. No question is too small. This is also when you share your accommodation preferences for Kathmandu so we can match the right hotel to your budget.
Note to Hikers
The Manaslu Circuit is a restricted-area trek. You must travel with an organised group (minimum two trekkers) and hold a special restricted-area permit, which we arrange as part of your package. Solo trekkers can book with us and we will pair you with another trekker or arrange a permit solution. All treks are private, your group only, no strangers added without your permission.
Kathmandu Accommodation
Your hotel in Kathmandu is not included in the trek package, and that is intentional. Kathmandu has everything from USD 10 guesthouses in Thamel to five-star hotels with rooftop pools. During the online briefing, tell us what you prefer and we will arrange it for you. Your trek package begins the moment you leave Kathmandu for the mountains.
Compare Our Three Packages
| Feature | Budget | Standard | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | USD $650 | USD $985 | USD $1,999 |
| Meals | Not included (order and pay at teahouses) | 3 meals daily + tea, fruits and 2L water | All meals + all drinks (except alcohol) |
| Room | Shared teahouse room | Private twin with attached bathroom | Private deluxe with bed heater |
| Porter | Not included | 1 porter per 2 trekkers | 1 porter per trekker (carry nothing) |
| Guide | 1 guide per group (assistant at 8+) | 1 guide per 6 trekkers (assistant at 6+) | 1 guide per 2 trekkers |
| Transport | Local vehicle to Soti Khola | Private tourist vehicle | Luxury private vehicle |
| SIM & Data | SIM card only | SIM with limited data | SIM with unlimited data |
| Best for | Experienced backpackers comfortable with basic lodges | Comfort trekkers who want full support | Premium experience seekers |
Himalayas for Every Budget. Same expert guides, same safety, three comfort levels. Every tier includes all permits (Manaslu Restricted Area Permit, Annapurna Conservation Area Permit, TIMS), a Nepal government well-trained guide, airport transfers and 24/7 emergency support. Note: teahouse accommodation on the Manaslu Circuit is more basic than Everest or Annapurna routes. At higher elevations, all tiers share the best available lodge, and hot showers may not be available above Sama Gaon.
Your Trek, Our Family
The Everest Holiday is not a faceless agency. It is a family.
Hari Lal Simkhada, Shreejan's grandfather, arranged logistics and supported Himalayan expeditions in the 1960s and 1970s, when reaching Nepal's remote valleys required weeks of approach marching and a willingness to solve problems nobody had solved before. Ganesh Prasad Simkhada, Shreejan's father, has held senior positions in Nepal's tourism and mountaineering institutions, helping shape the regulatory framework that now protects areas like the Manaslu restricted zone.
Today, Shreejan Simkhada runs The Everest Holiday as CEO and third-generation guide. He personally designs every itinerary, hand-picks every guide, and remains available to trekkers before, during and after their trip. For a Manaslu trek, guide selection matters enormously, because the terrain above Samdo and across Larkya La demands someone who has crossed this pass dozens of times, who knows when the weather is turning, and who can read your body language at altitude. Shamjhana Basukala, co-founder of The Everest Holiday, manages operations and ensures every logistical detail is handled before you leave Kathmandu.
Have a question right now? WhatsApp Shreejan directly: +977 9810351300. No sales team. No chatbot. The person who designed your trek answers personally.
Our Credentials
- 320+ verified reviews across TripAdvisor (4.9/5, Travellers Choice 2024), Google (4.9/5) and Trustpilot
- TAAN Certified, Member #1586, Government Registration: 147653/072/073
- Three generations of Himalayan guiding since the 1960s
- MATKA 2026 exhibitor, representing Nepal at Northern Europe's largest travel trade fair in Helsinki
- Secure 10% deposit processed through Himalayan Bank Limited
- No strangers added to your group, ever. Every trek is private.
Solo Trekkers Welcome
The Manaslu restricted-area permit technically requires a minimum of two trekkers. If you are travelling alone, do not let this stop you. We regularly pair solo travellers with other individuals who have booked the same dates, or we can arrange the permit to ensure you still trek. Most of the people who book with us come alone, and by the third day on the Budhi Gandaki trail, strangers become friends sharing dal bhat by candlelight.
Our groups are small, 2 to 20 people, because mountains like Manaslu deserve more than a crowd. If you want to trek completely privately, you can. If you prefer company, tell us and we will list your dates as a fixed departure so other solo travellers can find you and join.
Difficulty: Challenging (4 out of 5)
The Manaslu Circuit is a serious mountain trek. You will walk 5 to 8 hours per day over 12 days, gaining altitude steadily from 700 metres at Soti Khola to 5,160 metres at Larkya La. The pass crossing day is the hardest: 8 to 10 hours of walking that starts in freezing darkness, climbs over snow and moraine, and descends steeply through loose rock to Bhimtang. The trail between Jagat and Deng includes narrow sections carved into cliff faces above the river. Altitude sickness is a genuine risk above 4,000 metres. Our guides carry pulse oximeters, monitor your condition daily, and know when to slow the pace or add an extra acclimatisation stop. Previous high-altitude trekking experience is recommended but not mandatory if you are fit, well-prepared and willing to listen to your guide. Travel insurance with helicopter evacuation cover is mandatory.
Trek With a Purpose — Changing the World, One Step at a Time
In 2019, Shreejan and Shamjhana founded the Nagarjun Learning Center in Saldum Village, one of the most remote communities in Nepal's Dhading District, where children had no school after hours, no computers, and limited healthcare. Today, 70 children receive free education and hot meals every school day. The centre has grown to 7 learning centres across Nepal, providing healthcare for over 600 people, internet access for 65 children, and support programmes for more than 275 women.
A portion of every trek you book funds this work directly. The Nagarjun Learning Center is verified and listed on the United Nations Partner Portal.
When you walk the Manaslu Circuit with us, every step you take helps change a life in rural Nepal.
What Trekkers Say About This Trek
"The Manaslu Circuit is what the Annapurna Circuit was 20 years ago — wild, remote, and authentic. Crossing the Larkya La pass was the hardest and most rewarding thing I have ever done. Our guide was outstanding."
— James Patterson, Canada (TripAdvisor, 5 stars)
"Few tourists, incredible scenery, and proper adventure. Our guide handled the restricted area permits and logistics so we could focus on enjoying the trek."
— Google Review, 5 stars
"Few tourists, incredible scenery, and proper adventure. Our guide handled the restricted area permits and logistics so we could focus on enjoying the trek."
— Google Review, 5 stars
"The Manaslu Circuit felt like the Annapurna Circuit 20 years ago. Wild, remote, and authentic. Crossing Larkya La at 5,160m was the highlight of our trip."
— TripAdvisor Review, 5 stars
"Few tourists, incredible scenery, and proper adventure. Our guide handled the restricted area permits and logistics so we could focus on enjoying the trek."
— Google Review, 5 stars












