Manaslu Delight

If this is your first Himalayan trek, do EBC or ABC. Manaslu is for trekkers who've done one of those, want something harder and quieter, and want a circuit rather than an out-and-back.

This is a strenuous trek and you should arrive in genuine shape. Capable of walking 6–7 hours a day for 14 consecutive days, with a daypack of 5–7 kg, on uneven trail with sustained ascents and descents. Recent multi-day trekking experience is strongly recommended — Manaslu is not the right first big trek. The Larkya La crossing day involves 1,000 m of climbing in thin air, then 1,400 m of descent on tired legs. Train for at least three months: long-distance hill walks with weight, cardio, and some leg-strength work.

No. This is a legal restriction, not just a recommendation. The Manaslu region is a designated restricted area, which by Nepalese law requires a minimum of two foreign trekkers plus a licensed guide registered through a TAAN-member trekking agency. Solo trekking on this route is not permitted under any circumstances.

Three permits are required, all of which we handle for you: - Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (RAP): USD $100/week (Sep–Nov peak season), USD $75/week (Dec–Aug). Most itineraries cost USD $175–$200 per person on this permit. - Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP): USD $30 per person. - Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP): USD $30 per person (required because the trek finishes in the Annapurna Conservation Area).

Total permit cost is around USD $235–260 per person. This is included in your trip price.

October and November are the peak — clearest skies, stable weather at altitude, and the best chance of an open Larkya La. March to May is the second peak — slightly more snow on the pass in early March, with rhododendron flowering through the lower valleys by April. December–February is possible but cold, with real snow risk on the Larkya La and some teahouses closed. June–September is monsoon — heavy rain in the lower valleys, leeches in the forest, frequent landslides on the road in. Not recommended.

Family-run teahouses every night on the trail. Twin-share rooms with simple beds and shared bathrooms in most villages. Standards drop with elevation: comfortable at Soti Khola and Machha Khola, basic at Lho and Sama Gaon, very basic at Samdo and Dharamshala (Larkya Phedi), where the lodge at Dharamshala is a single stone-built dormitory in a high basin. All meals are taken in the teahouse dining room around a wood/yak-dung stove.

Teahouse menus are simpler than Annapurna or Everest — fewer Western options, more local. Daily staples: dal bhat (refillable, what the guides and porters eat), Tibetan momos and thukpa, fried rice, fried noodles, eggs, porridge, pancakes. Above Sama Gaon, the menu shrinks. At Samdo and Dharamshala, expect dal bhat, soup, and porridge. Dietary requirements work — vegetarian is straightforward; vegan is workable; gluten-free is hard above Lho.

Hard. Pre-dawn start (typically 4 a.m.) from Dharamshala in cold and dark with a headlamp, climbing steadily across moraine and (usually) snow for 4–5 hours to the prayer-flag-covered cairn at the top. The pass itself is wide and obvious, not a knife-edge — the difficulty is altitude, cold, and the long day. Descent is 4–5 hours of knee-pounding scree and stone, dropping nearly 1,400 m to Bimthang. Total day: 8–10 hours, 24 km, with major elevation change. Most people remember it for the rest of their lives.

The itinerary is designed with a sensible ascent profile and includes an acclimatisation day at Sama Gaon (3,520 m). The Larkya La crossing is the only day above 5,000 m. Mild altitude effects (headache, poor sleep, low appetite) are common from Lho upwards; serious altitude sickness is rare with sensible pacing. Your guide carries a pulse oximeter and checks oxygen saturation each evening. If anyone shows symptoms, the response is descent. Diamox prophylaxis is a personal decision — discuss with us and your doctor before the trip.

Three real reasons: 1. Restricted-area permits add USD $235–260 per person that EBC/ABC don't have. 2. Logistics are more involved — long 4WD transport at both ends, smaller group sizes (10 max vs typical 12), more porter/guide ratio because the trail is more remote. 3. Acclimatisation is built in with two buffer days in Kathmandu (Lukla flights for EBC have one; ABC has none) — Manaslu's high-pass day has more weather risk and we plan accordingly.

Yes. The most natural extension is Tsum Valley — a side-valley off the main Manaslu route, even more remote, deeply Tibetan Buddhist, and adds 5–7 days. Other common extensions: 3 nights in Chitwan (jungle safari), 3 nights in Pokhara (lakeside rest), or stay on at Bimthang and continue into the Annapurna Circuit if you have another two weeks.

A 25% deposit confirms your booking. Full balance due 60 days before departure. Cancellations 60+ days out: full refund minus deposit. 30–59 days out: 50% refund. Less than 30 days out: no refund. Note: the Manaslu Restricted Area Permit fee (USD $100–200) is non-refundable once issued — if you cancel after permits are processed, this is deducted from any refund. We strongly recommend trip insurance with cancellation cover.