Manaslu Circuit Trek 14 Days: Complete Itinerary From Kathmandu

If you want one clear plan for the Manaslu Circuit Trek 14 days complete itinerary from Kathmandu, this is it. We built this route from years of guiding trekkers around Mt. Manaslu (8,163m), the eighth-highest mountain on earth, and we know exactly where people struggle, where they fall in love with the trail, and where the extra acclimatization day actually matters.

This guide covers the full day-by-day itinerary, walking hours, distances, altitudes, permits, and how to fit this trek into a two-week Nepal holiday. No filler. Just what you need to plan the trek properly.

Quick Answer
The Manaslu Circuit Trek takes 14 days from Kathmandu and back, covering roughly 150 km through the Manaslu Conservation Area and Chumnubri Rural Municipality. You trek from Machha Khola up the Budhi Gandaki valley, acclimatize at Samagaon (3,530m) and Samdo (3,875m), cross Larke Pass (5,106m), and descend through Bimthang back to the Annapurna region roadhead, then drive to Kathmandu. It is a restricted area trek, so you need a licensed guide and special permits.

Manaslu Circuit Trek Highlights

• Cross Larke Pass (5,106m), the highest point of the trek, with sweeping views of Manaslu, Himlung, Cheo Himal, and the Annapurna range.
• Stand below Mt. Manaslu (8,163m), the eighth-highest mountain in the world, from Samagaon and Manaslu Base Camp.
• Walk through Tibetan-influenced villages in the Nubri and Tsum region, with centuries-old gompas and monasteries.
• Pass through the Manaslu Conservation Area, home to snow leopard, red panda, Himalayan tahr, and blue sheep.
• Experience genuine tea house trekking in Manaslu, a restricted area trek that stays far quieter than Everest or Annapurna.
• Cross dozens of suspension bridges over the Budhi Gandaki river and walk through subtropical forest, alpine meadow, and high desert in a single trek.

What Is the Manaslu Circuit Trek and Who Is It For?

The Manaslu Circuit Trek circles the Manaslu massif through the Budhi Gandaki and Marsyangdi valleys in west-central Nepal. It is a restricted area trek, which keeps the trail far quieter than Everest Base Camp or Annapurna Circuit. You will walk through Gurung and Tibetan-influenced villages, dense subtropical forest, and finally high alpine terrain below Manaslu itself.

This trek suits you if:

• You have done at least one multi-day trek before, or you train seriously for 2-3 months beforehand.
• You want a genuine off-the-beaten-path trek in Nepal without giving up tea house comfort.
• You are comfortable with 5-7 hours of walking most days and one long, tough summit day over Larke Pass.
• You want to combine mountain scenery with cultural immersion in villages that see far fewer visitors than Everest or Annapurna.

It does not suit you if you have zero hiking experience, cannot commit to 2-3 months of fitness preparation, or you are looking for a short trek under a week. For that, our Manaslu Circuit Trek 10 Days or our Manaslu Circuit Family Trek fits better.

Best Time for the Manaslu Circuit Trek

Two seasons work well:

• Spring (March to May): Rhododendron forests bloom lower down, and Larke Pass usually has stable weather by mid-March onward.
• Autumn (late September to November): The clearest mountain views of the year, with cold but generally stable high-altitude weather.

Winter (December to February) is possible for experienced trekkers but Larke Pass can close after heavy snowfall. Summer monsoon (June to August) brings leeches, landslide risk on the lower trail, and poor visibility, so we generally do not recommend it.

Manaslu Circuit Trek Itinerary: Day by Day

Below is our standard 14-day Manaslu Circuit trek itinerary from Kathmandu, with walking time, distance, and maximum altitude for each day.

Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu (1,400m)

Your guide or agency representative meets you at Tribhuvan International Airport. We use the afternoon or evening for a trek briefing, permit paperwork, and a final gear check.

Day 2: Drive Kathmandu to Machha Khola (869m)

• Drive time: 7-8 hours (local bus or private jeep)
• Distance: Around 150 km

The road follows the Trishuli and then the Budhi Gandaki valley. Expect a bumpy final stretch. This is the last day you will see a paved road until you return.

Day 3: Machha Khola to Jagat (1,340m)

• Walking time: 6-7 hours
• Distance: Around 24 km
• Max altitude: 1,340m

The trail crosses several suspension bridges over the Budhi Gandaki and passes through Khorlabesi and Tatopani, where a natural hot spring makes a good lunch stop. The Chumnubri Rural Municipality Fee is collected at Jagat, so keep your permits accessible here.

Day 4: Jagat to Deng (1,860m)

• Walking time: 6-7 hours
• Distance: Around 20 km
• Max altitude: 1,860m

You pass through Philim, a large Gurung village, then into thicker forest as the valley narrows. This is where the trail starts to feel genuinely remote.

Day 5: Deng to Namrung (2,630m)

• Walking time: 5-6 hours
• Distance: Around 19 km
• Max altitude: 2,630m

You will notice the shift from subtropical to alpine forest today, and your first real mountain views open up near Namrung, alongside a permit checkpoint.

Day 6: Namrung to Samagaon (3,530m)

• Walking time: 5-6 hours
• Distance: Around 19 km
• Max altitude: 3,530m

Samagaon is the main Tibetan-influenced village below Manaslu, and one of our two key acclimatization stops.

Day 7: Acclimatization Day at Samagaon

We build in a full rest and acclimatization day here, with an optional side hike to Manaslu Base Camp or Birendra Lake (elevations ranging from 3,700m up to 4,800m). This "climb high, sleep low" pattern is one of the most important tools we use to prevent altitude sickness.

Day 8: Samagaon to Samdo (3,875m)

• Walking time: 3-4 hours
• Distance: Around 9 km
• Max altitude: 3,875m

A shorter day on purpose, since you are gaining altitude steadily now and need time for your body to adjust.

Day 9: Acclimatization Day at Samdo

Our second dedicated acclimatization day. Many trekkers hike toward the old trading route near the Tibet border for extra altitude exposure before descending back to Samdo to sleep. This is the last real safety buffer before the pass.

Day 10: Samdo to Dharamsala / Larke Phedi (4,460m)

• Walking time: 3-4 hours
• Distance: Around 8 km
• Max altitude: 4,460m

A short, deliberately easy day to position you close to Larke Pass without overexerting yourself the night before the crossing. Facilities here are very basic.

Day 11: Dharamsala to Bimthang via Larke Pass (5,106m)

• Walking time: 8-9 hours
• Distance: Around 24 km
• Max altitude: 5,106m at Larke Pass

This is the toughest and longest day of the trek. You start well before sunrise to cross Larke Pass while the wind is calmer, then descend a long, knee-testing stretch down to Bimthang (3,720m). Trekking poles and layered clothing matter most on this day.

Day 12: Bimthang to Dharapani or Tilije

• Walking time: 6-7 hours
• Distance: Around 20 km
• Max altitude: Descending from 3,720m toward 1,700-2,300m

You drop rapidly through forest back toward the Marsyangdi valley, rejoining the Annapurna Circuit trail network near the roadhead.

Day 13: Drive Dharapani to Kathmandu

• Drive time: 8-9 hours (via Besisahar)

A long but scenic drive back through the Marsyangdi valley and down to Kathmandu. We recommend booking an evening arrival buffer in case of road delays.

Day 14: Departure from Kathmandu

Depending on your flight time, use the morning for last-minute shopping in Thamel or a short visit to a nearby heritage site before we transfer you to the airport.

Why Samagaon and Samdo Acclimatization Days Matter

Altitude sickness, not physical fitness, is the main reason trekkers turn back on the Manaslu Circuit. Between Namrung and Larke Pass, you gain nearly 2,500m in nine days, so the two rest days at Samagaon (3,530m) and Samdo (3,875m) are not optional extras. They are built into the Manaslu acclimatization days Samagaon Samdo structure for a reason.

On both acclimatization days, we send you on a side hike to a higher point during the day, then bring you back down to sleep at the same village. This "climb high, sleep low" approach lets your body start producing more red blood cells before you push toward the 5,106m pass. Skipping either day significantly raises your risk of acute mountain sickness right before the hardest day of the trek.

Our guides carry a pulse oximeter and check oxygen saturation daily above Samagaon. If a reading is low or any symptoms of altitude sickness appear, such as headache, nausea, or dizziness, we adjust the schedule or descend rather than push forward.

Fitting the 14-Day Manaslu Circuit Into a 2-Week Nepal Holiday

This 2 week Nepal trekking holiday Manaslu Circuit plan works well if you can take roughly 16-17 days off in total. Here is how we suggest structuring it:

• Day 0 (arrival buffer): Arrive in Kathmandu a day early. International flight delays are common, and this buffer protects your trek start date.
• Days 1-14: The full Manaslu Circuit Trek itinerary above.
• Day 15 (departure buffer): Keep one extra day in Kathmandu after the trek in case Larke Pass weather delays your return by a day.
• Optional half-day: Use your arrival or departure buffer for Kathmandu sightseeing at Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, or Patan Durbar Square.

If your total holiday is closer to two full weeks including flights, this itinerary still fits, but we strongly recommend against skipping the buffer days. Larke Pass can close for a day or two after fresh snowfall, and a rigid schedule with no slack is the most common reason trekkers miss their international flight home.

Permits and Practical Information

The Manaslu Circuit Trek requires the following, all of which we arrange for you:

• Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (RAP): Required for the restricted section between Jagat and Sama Village.
• Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP) permit
• Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) permit: Needed for the Bimthang to Dharapani section on the western side of the pass.
• Chumnubri Rural Municipality Fee: Collected at Jagat.

A TIMS card is not required for the Manaslu region. As of March 2026, solo trekkers no longer need a minimum group of two people for the restricted area permit, but a licensed guide remains mandatory for the entire route. This is one of the reasons the Manaslu Circuit trek itinerary works well for solo travelers who still want a properly guided experience.

Guide and Porter Recommendations

We do not recommend attempting this trek without a government-certified guide, both because it is legally required in the restricted section and because the terrain around Larke Pass is genuinely hazardous in poor weather. Most trekkers hire one porter between two people to carry the bulk of their load, which makes the long summit day noticeably easier.

Fitness Level Needed

You should be comfortable walking 5-7 hours a day on uneven terrain, with one 8-9 hour day at altitude. We recommend building up hiking stamina, stair climbing, and cardio training for at least 2-3 months before you travel, especially if you do not hike regularly at home.

Packing Essentials

• Layered clothing system: base layer, insulating fleece or down, waterproof outer shell
• Sturdy, broken-in trekking boots
• Sleeping bag rated to at least -15°C for the high camps
• Trekking poles, sunglasses with UV protection, headlamp
• Water purification tablets or a filter, plus a reusable water bottle
• Basic first-aid kit and any personal medication, including altitude sickness medication if prescribed by your doctor

Safety Considerations

Beyond the acclimatization schedule, we brief every trekker on recognizing early symptoms of altitude sickness, we carry oximeters, and we have an evacuation plan by helicopter if conditions worsen. Standard transport on the drive days is local bus, with a private jeep available on request for extra comfort and flexibility.

Manaslu Circuit Trek Cost and What Is Included

Our 14-day Manaslu Circuit Trek package includes airport transfers, Kathmandu hotel nights, ground transport by local bus, a government-certified guide, porter support, all three restricted-area permits, and full board (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) on the trail. Private jeep transport is available on request for an added cost.

Extra personal expenses to budget for include hot showers, device charging, WiFi, bottled water, and snacks at higher altitude lodges, since these are not part of the standard package. Contact us on WhatsApp or email for your exact quote based on group size and travel dates.

Why Trek the Manaslu Circuit With Thrill Himalaya Treks

As a locally owned, Nepal Tourism Board registered trekking agency based in Kathmandu, we have guided trekkers through the Manaslu region for many years. Our lead guide, Pemba Sherpa, and our full team hold government certification, and we run this route as tea house trekking in Manaslu, meaning you sleep and eat in local lodges rather than carrying camping gear.

We keep our groups small, provide daily oximeter checks above Samagaon, and stay reachable on WhatsApp throughout your trip, before, during, and after the trek.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best time to do the Manaslu Circuit Trek?

Spring (March to May) and autumn (late September to November) offer the most stable weather and clearest mountain views for crossing Larke Pass.

How difficult is the Manaslu Circuit Trek?

It is a challenging, strenuous trek due to the long Larke Pass crossing day and the altitude gain, but it does not require technical climbing skills. Prior trekking experience and solid fitness preparation make a real difference.

What is the maximum altitude on the Manaslu Circuit Trek?

The highest point is Larke Pass at 5,106m, reached on day 11 of this itinerary.

What permits do I need for the Manaslu Circuit Trek?

You need a Manaslu Restricted Area Permit, an MCAP permit, an ACAP permit, and you pay the Chumnubri Rural Municipality Fee at Jagat. A licensed guide is mandatory throughout.

Can beginners do the Manaslu Circuit Trek?

Complete beginners with no hiking background should prepare carefully for 2-3 months beforehand or consider our shorter, gentler packages first. With proper training and a guided itinerary that includes full acclimatization days, motivated first-time trekkers have completed this route successfully.

Ready to plan your Manaslu Circuit Trek 14 days complete itinerary from Kathmandu?

Get your personalised quote in 24 hours, or check dates and availability for your travel month. Talk to a trekking specialist on WhatsApp at +977 9851017941, or email us at [email protected].

The Manaslu Circuit Trek rewards you with some of the quietest high mountain trails in Nepal, real cultural immersion, and one unforgettable pass crossing. This 14-day itinerary from Kathmandu gives you the time your body needs to acclimatize properly and the buffer days your travel plans need to stay stress-free. If you are ready to book, or you still have questions about the route, reach out and we will help you plan it properly.