About Manaslu Circuit Upper Route Trek
The Himalayan range in Nepal is huge, with many mountains and numerous trekking trails. Among them, the Manaslu Circuit is one of the most adventurous and daring ones. It is a high-altitude trek that goes above 5,000 meters from sea level and offers jaw-dropping mountain vistas.
The Manaslu Circuit scenic route trek is offbeat and crosses the Larkya La Pass. The journey also takes you to the lap of the eighth-highest mountain in the world, Manaslu Base Camp. You will travel from sub-tropical forests to alpine zones, enjoying varying landscapes, climates, and vegetation.
On this trek, you will be traveling close to the Nepal-Tibet border, so the Manaslu region is a restricted area for tourists. Trekking with a local registered company like us is mandatory because you can only get the restricted area permit with our help. Exploring the lowlands with rice and millet terraces, you will ascend to meadows and glacier moraines.
The trail is dotted with picturesque villages, stupas, prayer wheels, and suspension bridges. Mountains like Manaslu (8,163 m/ 26,781 ft), Annapurna II (7,937 m/26,040 ft), Shringi Himal (7,155 m/23,474 ft), Simnang Himal (6,251 m/20,508 ft), Naike Peak (6,211 m/20,377 ft), Samdo Peak (5,117 m/16,788 ft), and many others are seen along the way.
If you wish to dive deep into the cultural and religious aspect of the Manaslu region, we highly recommend extending the trek to Tsum Valley. It is a hidden valley with centuries-old monasteries. The trail diverts from Lokpa and takes you to Mu Gompa.
What can you expect during the Manaslu Circuit Scenic Route Trek?
The Manaslu Circuit scenic route trek offers a less crowded and pristine alternative to the popular Annapurna Circuit and Everest Base Camp treks. On this 18-day adventure in the western Himalayan range in Nepal, you will explore beautiful Nepali villages, lovely meadows, lush rhododendron forests, and Tibetan refugee settlements.
The trail goes above the Budhi Gandaki River and enters the Salkha Khola Valley, where Larkya La Pass is located. This special Manaslu Circuit scenic route trek itinerary starts from Baseri and follows an empty, scenic route to Deng. It requires 5 days of walking from Baseri to Deng.
From Deng onwards, you will enter the upper Manaslu region known as Nupri, home to the Nubri community. Join the mainstream Manaslu Circuit route and continue to Larkya La Pass via villages like Namrung, Lho, Samagaun, and Samdo.
We have an acclimatization day in Samagaun, during which you will hike to the Manaslu Base Camp and Birendra Lake. While trekking to Samagaun, you will also visit the Pun Gyen Gompa and explore the Pungyen Glacier. Samdo is a Tibetan refugee village. From here, you can hike to Rui La Pass.
After Samdo, you will spend one night at Larkya Phedi, also known as Dharamsala. This is the last settlement before Larkya La Pass. Well, it is not a proper settlement but a stop for trekkers. There are only a few teahouses here, so sharing rooms is kind of necessary during the peak trekking seasons.
The trail then ascends to the top of the Larkya La Pass and descends to Bhimtang. You will drop to Gho village and descend to Dharapani from here. The trek ends in Dharapani, and you will drive to Kathmandu or Pokhara via Besisahar. This part of the trail is within the Annapurna region, so you need an Annapurna Conservation Area permit.
Is the Manaslu Circuit Scenic Route Trek suitable for you?
Given the offbeat nature of the terrain, the Manaslu Circuit is a challenging venture suitable only for experienced trekkers. If you want to do this trek, note that your fitness and previous trekking experience matter a lot.
Unless you do not have athlete-like strength and stamina, we do not recommend doing the Manaslu Circuit trekking as a first trek. You can start with treks like Langtang Valley, Annapurna Base Camp, Mardi Himal, and Ghorepani Poon Hill and gradually make your way up to Manaslu Circuit.
Manaslu Circuit Upper Route Trek Difficulty
The Manaslu Circuit scenic route trek is strenuous and challenging. Many factors make it demanding, such as terrain, location, high mountain pass, and altitude. It is not beginner-friendly and is only recommended to trekkers with past high-altitude experience.
The trail is offbeat, steep, and rocky. You will traverse landslide areas, terraces, rugged hillsides, glacier moraines, and meadows. Walking for 5 to 6 hours every day requires good physical and mental fitness. During the trek, you will constantly ascend or descend.
The terrain and climate drastically change from the starting point of the trek to the top of the Larkya La Pass. Varying altitudes bring different weather conditions, temperatures, and vegetation. Trekkers also have to consider the basic services along the way.
The Manaslu Circuit trek scenic route has not been developed like Annapurna or Everest. If you have trekked in these regions, you will see a huge lack of facilities on the Manalsu trail. So, trekkers have to be able to adjust to basic tea houses and food.
On a good note, these limitations allow you to experience a raw and pristine Himalayan adventure unbothered by the crowd of tourists. Check out our Manaslu Circuit trek map below to know more about the trail.
Larkya La Pass
Larkya La Pass is one of the main highlights of the Manaslu Circuit trek. It is a mountain pass that connects the Manaslu region with the Annapurna region. The pass is 5,106 meters above sea level and requires professional support to cross. Crossing this pass is also the most challenging section of the trek, requiring almost 8 to 9 hours of walking.
How do you prepare for the Manaslu Circuit trekking?
The Manaslu Circuit trek demands good physical and mental fitness, so this is what you have to focus on to prepare for the trek. Exercise to get your body ready for the journey. Focus on strength training and improving your stamina and endurance.
Long walks are highly recommended before the trek starts. If possible, go on a few day hikes to mimic uphill walking. Another part of the preparation includes getting yourself mentally ready for the trek.
To do this, you have to research the trek, such as what it is like doing the Manaslu Circuit trek, what kind of services you will get during the trek, what food and accommodation are, etc. This information will help you set the right expenses for the trek and ultimately allow you to avoid disappointment.
We also believe packing is another important factor in Manaslu Circuit trek preparation. We have already shared the packing list below. You can buy all the trekking essentials at the best cost upon arriving in Kathmandu.
Guide and porter
Trekking with a guide is compulsory if you want to do the Manaslu Circuit trek. Our Manaslu Circuit trek package includes a professional, native guide and a friendly, reliable porter. With our experienced on-field crew, you will get the best service and have the finest trekking experience.
Our team will enrich your trek with many tales and facts about the Manaslu Circuit trail. You will not miss any must-visit places. Likewise, they will ensure your comfort and safety during the journey.
Our guides are multilingual and have a good command of English, so there will be no communication gap. By joining the 18-day Manaslu Circuit trek with us, you will travel with a reliable and trustworthy guide and porter.
Tipping guide and porter
You must tip your guide and porter at the end of the trek. It is customary in Nepal to tip your on-field crew. You and your satisfaction level decide how much you want to tip. However, we highly encourage our guests to tip at least 15% to 20% of the package to the guide and porter if they are happy with their service.
Manaslu Circuit Scenic Route Trek Cost 2024/2025:
Our Manaslu Circuit trek costs start at USD 1,450 per person. This includes all the major expenses involved during the trek, including your stay in Kathmandu, as per the itinerary. The package cost also includes permit fees, transportation, guide and porter expenses, and the company's service charge.
We have a special group price for 2024 and 2025 bookings that you can check below:
| No. of Trekkers | Package Cost |
| 2-3 | USD 1,450 |
| 4-6 | USD 1,300 |
| 7-10 | USD 1,250 |
| 11-14 | USD 1,200 |
| 15+ | USD 1,100 |
The best Manaslu Circuit trek cost & itinerary with Beyond The Limit Treks & Expedition
We, Beyond the Limit Treks & Expedition, have more than two decades of experience in the Himalayas. We make even the most secluded parts of the Himalayas accessible for true adventure lovers.
Our many years of expertise, knowledge, network, and strong team allow us to offer safe, hassle-free, and incredible tour, trekking, and climbing opportunities to foreigners in Nepal. You will travel with a friendly, kind, and reliable team.
For the Manaslu Circuit trek, we provide native guides and porters. Our groups are small and well-managed. You can follow our Manaslu Circuit trek 18 days itinerary or curate it as you wish. Not to mention, we have the best Manaslu Circuit trek cost and no hidden charges.
