Manaslu Circuit
Restricted Area Trek Around Manaslu (8,163 M), The Eighth Highest Mountain On Earth, Crossing The Larkya La · Samagaun, Gandaki
The Manaslu Circuit is a trek of about two weeks around Manaslu, at 8,163 metres the eighth-highest mountain on earth, and it has become known as the Annapurna Circuit as it was before the roads came. It follows the deep Budhi Gandaki gorge up from the subtropical foothills, through Gurung and then Tibetan Buddhist villages of stone houses, prayer walls and monasteries, to Samagaun and Samdo beneath the huge face of Manaslu, then crosses the Larkya La pass at about 5,100 metres before descending to join the Annapurna side. It is quieter and wilder than the Annapurna or Everest treks, with teahouses now along the whole route. It is also a restricted area: foreigners need a special permit, must travel with a licensed guide through an agency, and generally in a group of at least two, which keeps numbers down and costs up. Roads are pushing up the lower valley, landslides are common in the gorge, and the Larkya La is a long, cold day. For experienced trekkers it is one of the best in Nepal.
Manaslu Conservation Area, Budhi Gandaki valley, Gorkha District, Samagaun, Gandaki, Nepal
Seasonal. Best October to November and March to May. A restricted-area permit is required for the Manaslu region, plus conservation area permits; foreigners must use a licensed agency and guide, usually in a group of at least two - confirm current rules. The trek starts from the road head in Gorkha District, a day's drive from Kathmandu.