The Manaslu Circuit Trek cost comes down to three choices: how you book, how many people share your guide, and which season you walk. This guide breaks down every dollar for the 2026 and 2027 seasons. You get permit fees, guide and porter wages, teahouse prices, transport, hidden extras and two worked sample budgets for the 14-day Manaslu Circuit.
Updated October 2026 by the Manaslu Circuit Treks team in Kathmandu. All prices are per person in USD unless noted. Government fees and lodge prices change, so treat every figure as a planning range, not a quote.
How Much Does the Manaslu Circuit Trek Cost?
Most trekkers spend USD 900 to 1,800 per person on a 13 to 16 day Manaslu Circuit package with a local agency. Arranging it yourself costs about USD 790 to 1,270 each for two people sharing a licensed guide, or USD 1,510 to 2,230 solo with a guide, porter and private jeep. Flights, visa and insurance are extra.
| How you trek | Typical total per person | What drives the price |
|---|---|---|
| Local agency package (13 to 16 days) | USD 900 to 1,800 | Group size, lodge level, private or shared transport |
| Self-arranged, 2 people sharing a guide | USD 790 to 1,270 | Food, season, how much you spend on extras |
| Self-arranged, solo with guide and porter | USD 1,510 to 2,230 | Private jeep, porter wages, tips |
| Daily spend on the trail (you only) | USD 35 to 65 per day | Room, three meals, tea, Wi-Fi, charging |
Manaslu Circuit Trek Cost Breakdown by Category
Here is where your money goes on a standard 14-day itinerary with 12 days on the trail and 11 nights in teahouses.
| Cost item | Typical range (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Permits (RAP, MCAP, ACAP, local fee) | 150 to 190 | Lower in spring and winter, higher in autumn |
| Licensed guide | 25 to 35 per day | Mandatory. Wage covers his food and bed |
| Porter (optional) | 20 to 25 per day | Carries about 20 to 25 kg, often shared by two |
| Teahouse room | 5 to 15 per night | Cheapest low down, priciest near Larkya La |
| Food and hot drinks | 25 to 40 per day | Prices rise with altitude |
| Transport, Kathmandu and back | 33 to 420 | Local bus at the low end, private jeep at the top |
| Wi-Fi, charging, showers, water | 5 to 15 per day | Paid per use in most lodges |
| Tips | 10 to 15% of guide and porter wages | Paid at the end of the trek |
| Travel insurance | Varies by age and country | Must cover helicopter rescue at altitude |
Manaslu Trekking Permit Cost (2026)
You need three permits plus a small local fee for the Manaslu Circuit. A registered agency must apply for the Restricted Area Permit on your behalf, so you cannot buy it yourself in Kathmandu. Full details are in our Nepal trekking permits guide for 2026.
Agencies file the RAP through the Department of Immigration online trekking permit portal. For another breakdown of the fees, see this Manaslu trekking permit cost guide from CoreTreks.
Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (RAP) Fees by Season
| Season | First 7 days | Each extra day |
|---|---|---|
| September to November | USD 100 | USD 15 |
| December to August | USD 75 | USD 10 |
Conservation Area Permits and Local Fee
- Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP): NPR 3,000 (about USD 20 to 25)
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP): NPR 3,000 (about USD 20 to 25). You need it because the trail exits through Manang.
- Chumnubri Rural Municipality fee: NPR 1,000 (about USD 7 to 8)
- TIMS card: not needed for the Manaslu Circuit. The RAP covers it.
Worked Example: Total Permit Cost for a 14-Day Trek
| Permit | Autumn (Sep to Nov) | Spring (Mar to May) |
|---|---|---|
| RAP for 9 days | USD 130 (100 + 2 x 15) | USD 95 (75 + 2 x 10) |
| MCAP | USD 20 to 25 | USD 20 to 25 |
| ACAP | USD 20 to 25 | USD 20 to 25 |
| Chumnubri fee | USD 7 to 8 | USD 7 to 8 |
| Total | USD 177 to 188 | USD 142 to 153 |
Adding Tsum Valley? Budget for One More Permit
The Tsum Valley side trip needs its own restricted permit: USD 40 for the first 7 days from September to November, or USD 30 from December to August, then USD 7 per extra day. See our Tsum Valley Manaslu Circuit Trek for the combined route.
Guide and Porter Cost
A licensed guide is the biggest single cost after food, and you cannot skip it. Nepal requires foreigners in restricted areas to trek with a licensed guide booked through a registered agency. More on the rules in can you trek in Nepal without a guide.
| Staff | Daily rate (USD) | 12 trail days (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed trekking guide | 25 to 35 | 300 to 420 |
| Porter | 20 to 25 | 240 to 300 |
| Porter-guide (one person does both) | 28 to 35 | 336 to 420 |
Can You Trek the Manaslu Circuit Solo in 2026?
Yes, with a guide. Until early 2026 the Department of Immigration only issued the Manaslu RAP to groups of two or more foreigners. That rule was dropped in late March 2026, so a single trekker can now get the permit. You still need a licensed guide, and you pay his full wage alone, which is why solo trips cost more.
Transportation Cost to and From the Manaslu Circuit
The trek starts at Machha Khola (via Soti Khola) and ends at Dharapani. Road conditions shape both price and time. Our ground transport guide covers the routes in detail.
| Route | Option | Cost (USD) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kathmandu to Machha Khola | Local bus | 10 to 15 per person | 8 to 10 hours |
| Kathmandu to Machha Khola | Shared jeep | 40 to 50 per person | 7 to 8 hours |
| Kathmandu to Machha Khola | Private jeep | 180 to 250 per vehicle | 6 to 8 hours |
| Dharapani to Besisahar | Shared jeep | 15 to 20 per person | 3 to 4 hours |
| Besisahar to Kathmandu | Local or tourist bus | 8 to 12 per person | 6 to 8 hours |
| Besisahar to Kathmandu | Private jeep | 130 to 150 per vehicle | 5 to 7 hours |
Accommodation and Food Cost on the Trail
Teahouses on the Manaslu Circuit are simple lodges with twin rooms and shared toilets. Rooms are cheap. Food is where the money goes, and every item costs more as porters and mules carry it higher.
Teahouse Room Prices by Section
| Section | Room per night (USD) |
|---|---|
| Machha Khola to Deng | 5 to 8 |
| Namrung to Samagaun | 6 to 10 |
| Samdo to Dharamsala (Larkya Phedi) | 8 to 15 |
| Bimthang to Dharapani | 5 to 10 |
Meal and Drink Prices
- Full day of food: USD 25 to 40, rising above Samagaun
- Breakfast: about USD 3 to 6 low down
- Lunch or dinner: about USD 5 to 10 low down, more near the pass
- Dal bhat: usually comes with free refills, so it is the best value plate on the trail
- Tea or coffee: USD 2 to 5 a cup
- Bottled water: USD 1 to 4. Bring a filter or purification tablets instead
- Beer: USD 5 to 8. Skip it before the pass
Hidden Costs: Wi-Fi, Charging, Showers and Cash
These small charges add USD 5 to 15 a day, and most budgets forget them.
- Wi-Fi: USD 2 to 5 per device low down, up to USD 10 higher up
- Phone or battery charging: USD 2 to 5 per charge
- Hot shower: USD 3 to 6, and rare above Samagaun. Read our toilet and shower reality check
- Laundry: USD 3 to 8 a load where offered
- Gear rental in Kathmandu: about USD 1 to 5 a day per item for a down jacket or sleeping bag
- Delay buffer: one or two extra days of food and lodging if weather closes the pass
ATMs and How Much Cash to Carry
Lodges take Nepali rupees only. Cards do not work on the trail and there are no ATMs past the roadhead, so withdraw in Kathmandu. Carry roughly NPR 30,000 to 45,000 (about USD 200 to 300) for extras, tips and a small emergency fund, on top of whatever your package already covers.
Travel Insurance and Nepal Visa Cost
Insurance is not optional in practice. Your agency will ask for it, and a helicopter rescue from the Larkya La area costs thousands of dollars. Pick a policy that names trekking up to at least 5,500 m and covers helicopter evacuation. Premiums vary widely by age, nationality and trip length, so get two or three quotes.
| Nepal tourist visa | Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| 15 days | 30 |
| 30 days | 50 |
| 90 days | 125 |
Sample Budgets for a 14-Day Manaslu Circuit Trek
We built these two budgets from the ranges above, line by line, so you can see the maths. Both assume autumn permits, 12 trail days and 11 teahouse nights.
| Cost item | Budget pair (each) | Solo with guide and porter |
|---|---|---|
| Permits | 177 to 188 | 177 to 188 |
| Guide (12 days) | 150 to 210 (shared) | 300 to 420 |
| Porter (12 days) | None | 240 to 300 |
| Rooms (11 nights) | 55 to 132 | 55 to 132 |
| Food (12 days) | 300 to 480 | 300 to 480 |
| Transport | 33 to 47 (bus and shared jeep) | 325 to 420 (private jeep) |
| Wi-Fi, charging, showers, water | 60 to 180 | 60 to 180 |
| Tips (10 to 15%) | 15 to 32 | 54 to 108 |
| Total (USD) | 790 to 1,270 | 1,510 to 2,230 |
Manaslu Circuit Cost vs Other Nepal Treks
Manaslu costs a little more than the Annapurna Circuit because of the Restricted Area Permit and the mandatory guide. It still costs less than most Everest Base Camp trips, which need a flight to Lukla.
| Trek | Typical days | Typical package range (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Langtang Valley | 7 to 10 | 700 to 1,100 |
| Annapurna Circuit | 10 to 14 | 850 to 1,400 |
| Manaslu Circuit | 13 to 16 | 900 to 1,800 |
| Everest Base Camp | 12 to 14 | 1,300 to 2,200 |
Manaslu Trek Cost for Indian, SAARC and Nepali Trekkers
Indian and other SAARC passport holders pay lower conservation area fees than other foreigners. The Restricted Area Permit rules and fees for your passport can differ, so ask us for the current rate before you budget. Nepali citizens follow separate local rules and do not pay the foreigner RAP rates. Guide, food, lodge and transport costs are the same for everyone.
How to Cut Your Manaslu Circuit Trek Cost
- Trek in spring, not autumn. The RAP is cheaper from December to August, and spring has good weather. See the best time for the Manaslu trek.
- Find a trek partner. Sharing a guide and a porter cuts those costs in half.
- Take the local bus or a shared jeep. It saves USD 150 or more against a private jeep.
- Bring a water filter. Bottled water adds up fast and creates plastic waste on the trail.
- Carry a power bank. It cuts daily charging fees.
- Rent bulky gear in Kathmandu. Down jackets and sleeping bags rent for a few dollars a day.
- Eat dal bhat. Free refills make it the cheapest way to stay fuelled.
- Do not bargain on lodge prices. Menus are set by local committees. Save your bargaining for Thamel.
Manaslu Circuit Trek Cost FAQs
How much does the Manaslu Circuit Trek cost per day?
On the trail you will spend about USD 35 to 65 per day for your room, three meals, tea and small extras. Add USD 25 to 35 per day for a guide and USD 20 to 25 per day if you hire a porter.
Is the Manaslu Circuit more expensive than the Annapurna Circuit?
Yes, slightly. Manaslu needs a Restricted Area Permit of USD 75 to 100 for the first week and a mandatory licensed guide. Most packages run USD 900 to 1,800 for Manaslu against roughly USD 850 to 1,400 for the Annapurna Circuit.
Can I do the Manaslu Circuit solo or without a guide?
You can trek solo since the two-person permit rule ended in March 2026, but you cannot trek without a guide. A licensed guide booked through a registered agency is required for the Manaslu restricted area.
How much cash should I carry on the Manaslu Circuit?
Carry about NPR 30,000 to 45,000, roughly USD 200 to 300, for Wi-Fi, charging, showers, snacks, tips and delays. Withdraw it in Kathmandu because there are no ATMs on the trail and lodges do not take cards.
What is the cheapest time to trek the Manaslu Circuit?
December to August is cheapest because the Restricted Area Permit drops to USD 75 for the first week. Spring, from March to May, gives you the lower permit fee and good trekking weather.
How much should I tip my guide and porter on the Manaslu Circuit?
A common rule is 10 to 15 percent of the total guide and porter wages, paid in cash at the end of the trek. Give it to each person directly.
Is travel insurance required for the Manaslu Circuit Trek?
Agencies require it before they book your trek. Your policy should cover trekking up to at least 5,500 meters and helicopter evacuation, since the Larkya La Pass reaches 5,106 meters.
Plan Your Manaslu Circuit Trek With Us
Want the permits, guide, lodges and transport sorted in one price? Pick the trip that fits your budget and check current rates on the trip page:
- Manaslu Circuit Trek (14 days): our classic full-board itinerary over Larkya La Pass
- Budget Manaslu Trek: the same route with pay-as-you-go meals to keep costs down
- Tsum Valley Manaslu Circuit Trek: add the hidden Tsum Valley to the circuit
- Manaslu Short Trek: a shorter option if you are tight on days
- Manaslu Luxury Trek: the best available lodges and extra comfort
Not sure which one fits? Read how hard the route is in our Manaslu Circuit difficulty guide, then message our team. Email info@manaslucircuittreks.com or chat with us on WhatsApp:
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