Region
The Manaslu region is a restricted trekking area in west-central Nepal circling the 8,163 m Manaslu, the world's eighth-highest mountain, crossed by the 5,106 m Larkya La pass. Treks here run 13 to 18 days and require a restricted-area permit (USD 100 per week in September to November, USD 75 per week otherwise), plus Manaslu Conservation Area (NPR 3,000) and Annapurna Conservation Area (NPR 3,000) entries. The restricted permit carries two hard rules: a minimum of two trekkers and a government-licensed guide, with no solo travel allowed.
Our Manaslu guides have led 17 Larkya La crossings and know the checkpoint sequence that decides whether a departure clears immigration on schedule. The pages below cover the Circuit, the Tsum Valley side trek, and the restricted-permit mechanics competitors leave vague.
Routes
The restricted-area permit is the defining difference: Manaslu sits inside a controlled zone near the Tibet border, so every trekker needs a special authorization the Department of Immigration issues only through a registered agency, never to individuals. The minimum-two-trekkers rule and mandatory licensed guide follow from that status. Teahouses run the full route since 2010, so this is a lodge trek, not a camping expedition, despite the remote billing.
The Circuit takes 14 to 16 days around Manaslu and over the Larkya La. The Tsum Valley adds a 3 to 5 day detour into a Buddhist side valley with its own restricted permit. Both routes' permit costs, checkpoints, and photo requirements are detailed in the Manaslu restricted-area permit requirements guide, written by the person who files them.
Planning
