Manaslu Circuit Trek Cost 2026: What You Actually Pay
Quick Answer
A 15-day Manaslu Circuit Trek package costs $890 per person for a group of 2 to 3 (the standard fixed-departure rate). It’s $1,354 if you’re going solo, and drops to $650 in a group of 7 to 10. That covers permits, your guide, a porter, teahouse lodging, and Kathmandu transfers. It doesn’t cover meals on the trail, tips, or gear rental. Plan on another $450 to $600 on top of the package for a realistic 15-day trip.
Cost at a Glance
| Expense | 2 to 3 people |
|---|---|
| MountainKick package | $890 |
| Food on trek (12 days) | $300–420 |
| Nepal visa | $30–125 |
| Tips, hot showers, Wi-Fi, gear rental | $120–180 |
| Realistic ground total | $1,340–1,490 |
| International flights | Not included |
These figures are per person for a 2 to 3 person group departure. Going solo or in a bigger group changes the package price only. The extras stay about the same either way.
What’s Included in the $890 Package
Airport and hotel transfers in Kathmandu. Two nights at a 3-star hotel with breakfast, twin-sharing. Twelve nights of teahouse lodging on the trail, also twin-sharing. A licensed guide for all 15 days. A porter (one per two trekkers, 20kg limit, insured). The private jeep to Machha Khola and back. All three permits, which we’ll get to below. A farewell dinner, a duffel bag, and an oximeter and first aid kit your guide carries the whole way.
That’s the package. What it leaves out: meals on the trail, your visa, insurance, personal gear, and tips. That gap is where most cost guides go quiet, so here’s what it actually adds up to.
What You Pay Extra
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Meals on trek (12 days, $25–35/day) | $300–420 |
| Nepal visa (15/30/90 day) | $30 / $50 / $125 |
| Hot showers, Wi-Fi, charging | $3–6/day where available |
| Guide and porter tips | 10–15% of trip cost |
| Gear rental in Kathmandu (sleeping bag, down jacket, poles) | $3–8/item/day |
| Travel insurance with helicopter evac to 5,500m | Varies by provider. See our travel insurance guide |
Add it up and you’re looking at roughly $1,340–1,490 per person all in for a 2 to 3 person group, before your flight to Nepal.
Permit Costs in 2026
Manaslu is a restricted area, so three permits are required, not two:
- Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (MRAP): $100 for the first 7 days in peak season (Sep–Nov), then $15 per extra day. Off-season it’s $75 for the first 7 days, $10 per extra day.
- Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP): $30
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP): $30. You need this one because the route exits into the Annapurna region at Dharapani on Day 13.
TIMS is not required for Manaslu. All three permits above are already built into the $890, and we process them in Kathmandu on the day you arrive.
Why Manaslu Costs More Than Some Other Treks
A few things push Manaslu’s daily cost above Annapurna’s. It’s a restricted area, so a licensed guide isn’t optional. Groups run smaller, and the jeep to Machha Khola is a rougher, longer haul than the road access on Annapurna. Supplies to the higher teahouses travel further, and you feel that in slightly pricier meals the closer you get to Larkya La. None of it is padding. It’s what keeps the trail this quiet.
If you’re weighing this against the classic route, our Manaslu vs Annapurna Circuit comparison covers cost, difficulty, and crowds side by side.
How Much Cash Should You Bring?
There are no ATMs past Kathmandu, so this isn’t a trek where you top up as you go. Withdraw what you need before the jeep leaves for Machha Khola. For food, tips, showers, and the odd extra over 15 days:
- Bare-bones: $400–450
- Comfortable: $500–600
- Generous with tips and extras: $650+
Some teahouses in Samagaon take cards. I wouldn’t count on it.
Where You Can Save Money
Food choices, hot showers, Wi-Fi, charging, gear rental, souvenirs: trim any of these and you won’t notice the difference on the trail.
Don’t trim insurance, proper footwear, warm layers, your guide, or the acclimatisation day in Samagaon. Manaslu is remote enough that skipping any of those isn’t a comfort trade-off. It’s a real risk.
Is Manaslu Worth the Cost?
If you want a quiet trail, Tibetan-influenced villages, and a Himalayan pass crossing without the EBC or Annapurna crowds, yes. If you’re after the cheapest possible trek, more developed teahouses, or the freedom to change plans mid-trip, this probably isn’t your trek. The restricted-area logistics don’t leave much room for improvising.
The Route, Briefly
Fifteen days, about 177km, circling the world’s 8th highest peak. Three days up the Budhi Gandaki gorge from Machha Khola. Four days climbing through Tibetan-influenced villages to Samagaon, with an acclimatisation day built in. Three more days to Dharamsala at the foot of Larkya La. One hard day crossing the pass at 5,160m down to Bimthang. Three days back down to the road at Dharapani. For the full day-by-day, altitude chart, and logistics, see the Manaslu Circuit Trek itinerary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Manaslu Circuit Trek cheaper than Everest Base Camp or Annapurna Circuit?
Per person, Manaslu’s $890 rate sits close to Annapurna Circuit pricing and under what EBC typically costs, mostly because it’s a shorter 15-day trip. Day to day on the trail, though, it runs a bit more than Annapurna since teahouses are more basic and further apart.
Can I trek Manaslu on a tighter budget?
The package itself doesn’t have much give. Permits and the guide requirement are fixed. What you control is your daily spend: stick to dal bhat, skip the hot showers and Wi-Fi, tip toward the lower end of the 10% range, and you can bring your extras closer to $450 than $600.
Do solo trekkers pay more?
Yes. $1,354 versus $890 for a pair, since the guide and jeep costs get split across fewer people. Nepal dropped the two-trekker minimum for Manaslu permits in March 2026, so you can book solo without finding a second trekker, but the private-departure rate still applies.
Are the permit fees included in the $890, or extra?
Included. MRAP, MCAP, and ACAP are all arranged in Kathmandu on your arrival day and built into the package price.
What should I pack, and what can I rent in Kathmandu?
Sleeping bags, down jackets, and trekking poles are all easy to rent in Thamel, so you don’t need to buy them new. Our Nepal trekking packing list covers what’s worth bringing and what’s worth renting.
