Manaslu Circuit Trek Cost: What You Actually Pay
MountainKick’s 15-day Manaslu Circuit Trek starts at $650 per person for groups of 7 to 10. It’s $745 for 4 to 6 trekkers, $890 for 2 to 3, and $1,354 for a private trek. The package covers all permits, a licensed guide, a porter, teahouse lodging and the jeep to and from the trailhead.
With food, personal spending, visa, tips and optional gear rental, a realistic budget is around $1,200 to $2,400 before international flights and insurance. Group size makes the biggest difference.
- Region: Manaslu Conservation Area (restricted area), Nepal
- Max altitude: 5,106m at Larkya La Pass
- Duration: 15 days from Kathmandu
- Package: $650 to $1,354 per person depending on group size
- Typical total: about $1,200 to $2,400 before flights and insurance
- Food: $25 to $35 per day
- Permits: Restricted Area Permit, MCAP and ACAP, included in the package
- Guide: A licensed guide is required
Last updated: October 2026
Manaslu is a restricted area trek, which makes the permit and guide rules different from most treks in Nepal. You need a special permit, a licensed guide and a registered agency. Here’s what the trek actually costs, and where the money goes.
Manaslu Circuit Trek Cost Breakdown
| Expense | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| MountainKick 15-day package | $650 to $1,354 |
| Food on the trail (about 12 days) | $300 to $420 |
| Personal spending (showers, charging, Wi-Fi, snacks) | $60 to $130 |
| Nepal visa (30 days) | $50 |
| Tips for guide and porter | $150 to $300 |
| Gear rental | $0 to $100 |
| Travel insurance | Depends on your policy |
| Typical total before international flights and insurance | about $1,200 to $2,400 |
For a 2 to 3 person group on the $890 package, most trekkers land around $1,450 to $1,900.
Package Price by Group Size
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 7 to 10 trekkers | $650 |
| 4 to 6 trekkers | $745 |
| 2 to 3 trekkers | $890 |
| Private (1 person) | $1,354 |
Bigger groups pay less because the guide and the jeep are shared. Prices can change with departure dates, so check the Manaslu Circuit Trek page for your dates.
What’s Included in the MountainKick Package
- Airport and hotel transfers in Kathmandu
- Two nights in a 3-star Kathmandu hotel with breakfast, twin sharing
- Twelve nights of teahouse lodging on the trail, twin sharing
- Licensed guide for the whole trek
- Porter, one per two trekkers (10 to 15kg each, 30kg combined), insured
- Private jeep to Machha Khola and back
- All required permits
- Farewell dinner, duffel bag, and an oximeter and first aid kit carried by your guide
Not included: meals on the trail, Nepal visa, travel insurance, personal gear and tips.
Manaslu Permit Costs
Manaslu is a restricted area, so it needs more permits than most treks. All of them are included in the MountainKick package.
- Manaslu Restricted Area Permit: $100 for the first 7 days from September to November, then $15 per extra day. In other months it’s $75 for the first 7 days, then $10 per extra day.
- Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP): NPR 3,000
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP): NPR 3,000. You need it because the route comes out into the Annapurna region at Dharapani.
Based on our current permit processing, a separate TIMS card isn’t required for Manaslu. The restricted area permit can only be arranged through a registered trekking agency, and a licensed guide is required. Rules and fees can change, so check our Nepal trekking permits guide for the latest.
Food and Personal Spending
Meals on the trail aren’t included, so you only pay for what you eat. Budget around $25 to $35 a day. Prices rise as you get closer to the Larkya La, because supplies travel further. Dal bhat with refills is usually the best value.
Hot showers, charging and Wi-Fi cost a little extra at most teahouses. They’re more basic and less reliable than on the Annapurna Circuit. Over the trek, personal extras usually come to about $60 to $130.
Tips for Your Guide and Porter
Tips aren’t included and are up to you. For the 15-day trek, many trekkers budget around $150 to $300 for the guide and porter combined, depending on group size and service. See our guide to tipping guides and porters in Nepal.
How Much Cash to Bring
There are no reliable ATMs on the Manaslu route, so withdraw what you need in Kathmandu before you start. For food and normal personal expenses, around $350 to $550 in cash is a reasonable starting budget, plus whatever you plan to give as tips. Carry small notes, because change is hard to find in remote villages. For ATM limits and fees, see our guide to money in Nepal for trekkers.
Travel Insurance
MountainKick requires travel insurance that covers high altitude trekking and helicopter evacuation to at least 6,000m. Manaslu is remote, so evacuation cover really matters here. Cost depends on your provider, age and level of cover. See our travel insurance guide.
Why Manaslu Costs More Than Some Other Treks
A few things push Manaslu’s cost above Annapurna’s. It’s a restricted area with a daily permit fee, and a licensed guide is required. The jeep to Machha Khola is a longer, rougher drive than the road access on Annapurna. Supplies to the higher teahouses travel further, so meals cost a little more near the pass. These costs are part of what keeps Manaslu quiet and less developed.
Weighing it against the classic route? Our Manaslu Circuit vs Annapurna Circuit comparison covers cost, difficulty and crowds side by side.
Where You Can Save Money
Trek in a bigger group. That’s the biggest saving, from $1,354 solo down to $650 in a group of 7 to 10. On the trail, food choices, showers, Wi-Fi and gear rental are easy to trim.
Don’t cut back on insurance, good boots, warm layers or the acclimatisation day in Samagaon. Manaslu is remote enough that skipping any of these is a real risk, not a comfort trade-off.
Is Manaslu Worth the Cost?
If you want a quiet trail, Tibetan influenced villages and a high pass crossing without the Everest or Annapurna crowds, yes. If you want the cheapest trek, more developed teahouses or the freedom to change plans on the way, it probably isn’t the right fit. Restricted area permits don’t leave much room for improvising.
The Route, Briefly
Fifteen days around the world’s eighth highest mountain. From Machha Khola the route follows the Budhi Gandaki through Tibetan influenced villages to Samagaon, where you acclimatise before continuing toward Dharamsala and the Larkya La. The pass at 5,106m is followed by the descent to Bimthang and Dharapani. For the day by day itinerary, see the Manaslu Circuit Trek page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Manaslu Circuit Trek cost?
MountainKick’s 15-day trek costs $650 per person for groups of 7 to 10, $745 for 4 to 6, $890 for 2 to 3 and $1,354 for a private trek. With food, personal spending, visa, tips and optional gear rental, a realistic budget is about $1,200 to $2,400 before international flights and insurance.
Can I trek the Manaslu Circuit solo?
Yes. Since 22 March 2026, a single foreign trekker can get the Manaslu Restricted Area Permit without finding a second trekker. You still need a licensed guide and must arrange the permit through a registered trekking agency. The private rate of $1,354 applies.
Is Manaslu cheaper than Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Circuit?
Manaslu’s package sits between the two. It costs more than the 16-day Annapurna Circuit, mainly because of the restricted area permit. It costs less than EBC, mainly because there’s no Lukla flight. Daily trail costs run a little higher than on Annapurna.
Do I need a TIMS card for Manaslu?
Based on our current permit processing, no. You need the Manaslu Restricted Area Permit, MCAP and ACAP, all arranged by MountainKick before the trek. Rules can change, so check our permits guide for the latest.
Are permit fees included in the package?
Yes. The restricted area permit, MCAP and ACAP are all arranged in Kathmandu before the trek and included in the price.
What can I rent in Kathmandu?
Sleeping bags, down jackets and trekking poles are easy to rent in Thamel. Renting the main items for the trek costs roughly $60 to $100. See our Nepal trekking packing list for what to bring and what to rent.
Ready to plan your Manaslu Circuit trek?
Talk directly with our Kathmandu team about dates, group size and permits. WhatsApp: +977 985 118 2718.
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