Manaslu Circuit Trek – 14-Day Self-Launched Version
14 days · Nepal
Glorious Himalaya Trekking Pvt. Ltd. charges £1,065
No-markup version: ~£745 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched take on the classic Manaslu Circuit — Kathmandu's temples and Thamel buzz, then a jeep to Machha Khola and 10 days of teahouse trekking through the Budi Gandaki gorge, Tibetan-influenced villages like Lho and Samagaun, an acclimatisation day below Manaslu, and the big push over 5,100m Larkya La before dropping to Bimthang and Dharapani. Do it independently by arranging your own Restricted Area Permit and Manaslu Conservation Area permit through a licensed Kathmandu agency (legally required — a registered guide is mandatory in this zone, so budget for a guide even though you self-organise everything else), booking teahouses night by night, and using local jeeps and buses. Costs are rough estimates at 2025/26 backpacker rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive Kathmandu & Thamel evening
Kathmandu
Land at Tribhuvan International Airport — pre-book an airport pickup through your Thamel guesthouse (~£5) or grab a metered/agreed taxi for about NPR 700-900. Check into a Thamel guesthouse, then spend the evening wandering the lanes, changing money (better rates than the airport), buying a local SIM (Ncell or NTC, ~£3-5 with data) and eating dal bhat. Sort your permits paperwork this evening or first thing tomorrow.
🚌Airport taxi ~£5
🛏Thamel guesthouse or budget hotel (private room, ~£12-18)
- →Thamel neighbourhood wander
- →SIM card & money exchange
- →Permit paperwork prep
Kathmandu sightseeing & permit day
Kathmandu
Morning at the permit office / your chosen licensed agency to arrange the Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (RAP) and Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP) permit — you need a registered trekking agency to process the RAP, so pick one in Thamel and agree a guide. Afternoon sightseeing: Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) is a 30-minute walk from Thamel, and Boudhanath is a short taxi ride away (~£2). Kathmandu Durbar Square entry is roughly £8.
🚌Local taxis/walking ~£4
🛏Thamel guesthouse or budget hotel (~£15)
- →Swayambhunath entry (~£2)
- →Boudhanath Stupa entry (~£3)
- →Kathmandu Durbar Square (~£8)
- →Permit processing via licensed agency
Jeep to Machha Khola
Machha Khola
Long, bumpy but scenic day. Take a local bus or shared jeep from Kathmandu's Gongabu (Machhapokhari) bus park toward Arughat/Soti Khola and on to Machha Khola — around 8-10 hours. Book the jeep the day before via your guesthouse; expect roughly £12-18 shared. Teahouses in Machha Khola are basic but comfortable; order dinner early as kitchens slow down after dark.
🚌Shared jeep/bus Kathmandu–Machha Khola ~£15
🛏Teahouse, Machha Khola (~£5-8)
- →Scenic drive through Arughat
Trek to Jagat via Tatopani hot spring
Jagat
First proper trekking day — roughly 6 hours along the Budi Gandaki river on a mix of trail and road sections. Stop at the natural hot springs at Tatopani for a soak (small entry fee, ~£1). Pass through Sringi Himal views and finish at Jagat, the checkpoint where your RAP is first stamped.
🚌On foot ~6 hrs
🛏Teahouse, Jagat (~£5-8)
- →Trek Machha Khola–Jagat
- →Tatopani hot spring soak
- →RAP checkpoint stamp
Jagat to Deng
Deng
About 6-7 hours of walking, crossing a string of dramatic suspension bridges over the narrowing Budi Gandaki gorge. The valley becomes more rugged and the trail quieter. Deng is a small Tibetan-style settlement with a handful of teahouses — arrive by mid-afternoon and rest up.
🚌On foot ~6-7 hrs
🛏Teahouse, Deng (~£5-8)
- →Trek Jagat–Deng
- →Suspension bridge crossings
Deng to Namrung
Namrung
Around 7 hours climbing steadily through bamboo and pine forest, with the gorge walls closing in and your first proper views of Manaslu ahead. Watch for langur monkeys and Himalayan birdlife. Namrung sits at ~2,630m with good teahouses and a small monastery worth a look.
🚌On foot ~7 hrs
🛏Teahouse, Namrung (~£6-8)
- →Trek Deng–Namrung
- →Forest & wildlife spotting
Namrung to Samagaun
Samagaun
A big visual day: climb through Lho (~3,180m) with its superb Manaslu viewpoint and gompa, then continue to Samagaun (~3,530m) with the Pungen Glacier tumbling down on the far side of the valley. Short visit to Samagaun's gompa in the evening. Start layering up — nights are cold now.
🚌On foot ~6-7 hrs
🛏Teahouse, Samagaun (~£6-10)
- →Trek Namrung–Samagaun via Lho
- →Lho gompa and Manaslu viewpoint
- →Samagaun gompa visit
Acclimatisation day at Samagaun
Samagaun
Rest day — don't skip it. Easy morning hike to Birendra Tal glacial lake (~1-1.5 hrs each way) passing old monasteries, with Manaslu looming above. Stronger trekkers can push to Manaslu Base Camp (~4,750m) as a day trip, but that's a long 8-hour round trip — only if you're feeling solid. Hydrate, eat well and sleep low.
🚌On foot (day hike)
🛏Teahouse, Samagaun (~£6-10)
- →Birendra Tal glacial lake hike
- →Old monastery walk
- →Optional Manaslu Base Camp day hike
Samagaun to Samdo
Samdo
A short 3-4 hour day to Samdo (~3,860m) — good for acclimatisation, climbing past mani walls and yak pastures with the Manaslu Glacier on your shoulder. Samdo is the last real village before the pass. An afternoon side trip toward the Tibetan border viewpoint is possible if you're acclimatising well.
🚌On foot ~3-4 hrs
🛏Teahouse, Samdo (~£6-10)
- →Trek Samagaun–Samdo
- →Manaslu Glacier views
- →Optional Tibetan border viewpoint walk
Samdo to Dharmasala (Larkya Phedi)
Dharmasala
A short 3-4 hour climb to Dharmasala at ~4,460m — the staging post for the pass. Basic, cold and crowded in high season, so arrive early to claim a bunk. Spend the afternoon resting, eating and prepping gear for a pre-dawn start. Book/confirm your teahouse spot via your guide the night before if possible.
🚌On foot ~3-4 hrs
🛏Teahouse, Dharmasala (very basic, ~£5-8)
- →Trek Samdo–Dharmasala
- →Larkya La Glacier views
- →Pass prep & rest
Cross Larkya La (5,100m) to Bimthang
Bimthang
The big day — start around 4-5am with headtorch, climb steadily to Larkya La at 5,100m (roughly 4-5 hrs to the top), then a long, knee-testing descent to Bimthang (~3,720m), 9-10 hours total. Views from the pass to Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Annapurna II and Kang Guru are the highlight of the whole trek. Take it slow, watch for AMS symptoms, and descend promptly if you feel bad.
🚌On foot ~9-10 hrs
🛏Teahouse, Bimthang (~£6-8)
- →Larkya La pass crossing (5,100m)
- →Himlung Himal & Annapurna II views
Bimthang to Dharapani
Dharapani
A long but beautiful descent (~7-8 hours) down through rhododendron and pine forest along the Dudh Khola to Tilije, then on to Dharapani on the Annapurna Circuit road. Kichke Himal and the Marshyangdi River accompany you most of the way. Dharapani has decent teahouses and a checkpoint for your permits.
🚌On foot ~7-8 hrs
🛏Teahouse, Dharapani (~£5-8)
- →Trek Bimthang–Dharapani
- →Rhododendron forest descent
Bus/jeep back to Kathmandu
Kathmandu
Take a shared jeep from Dharapani to Besisahar (~3 hrs, ~£5), then a tourist or local bus from Besisahar to Kathmandu (~6-7 hrs, ~£8-10). Arrive in the evening and treat yourself to a proper Thamel dinner. Buy your bus ticket in Besisahar the same morning — departures are frequent but fill up.
🚌Shared jeep Dharapani–Besisahar ~£5 + bus Besisahar–Kathmandu ~£9
🛏Thamel guesthouse or budget hotel (~£15)
- →Scenic drive back to Kathmandu
Depart Kathmandu
Kathmandu
Breakfast, a last wander or souvenir shop in Thamel, then a taxi to Tribhuvan International Airport. Leave plenty of buffer for traffic — allow 1.5 hours to the airport for an international flight.
🚌Airport taxi ~£5
🛏—
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Glorious Himalaya Trekking Pvt. Ltd.
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Glorious Himalaya Trekking Pvt. Ltd. | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£745 | £1,065 |
| Duration | 14 days | 14 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £320 per person (30%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Glorious Himalaya Trekking Pvt. Ltd.-style trips? Check them out here.~£745
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Manaslu Circuit Trek – 14-Day Self-Launched Version cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £745 per person for 14 days in Nepal. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Glorious Himalaya Trekking Pvt. Ltd.?+
Yes — Glorious Himalaya Trekking Pvt. Ltd. charges around £1,065 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £745 — a saving of roughly £320 (30%) per person.
How long is the Nepal trip?+
This itinerary runs 14 days, covering 14 day-by-day stops through Nepal.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, backpacker trip through Nepal, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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