Manaslu Circuit Trek Cost: How Much Should You Budget?
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Manaslu Circuit Trek Cost Overview
Manaslu Circuit Trek is one of the most beautiful places to trek. This trek route passes through dense hills, steep gorges, and glacial valleys. You can step on the foot of one of the World’s 10th-highest peaks, Mount Manaslu. One thing that makes you concerned before the trek is its budget.
This trek takes you to an altitude of 5106 m. You can experience the natural beauty of forests, rivers, flora, and abundant wildlife. You can witness the panoramic views of Mt. Manaslu, Himlung, and Annapurna II.
This trek starts from Arughat Bazar, ends in Besisahar, and takes you through the Budi Gandaki and Nubri valleys.
Amidst the beauty lies a crucial consideration for trekkers the budget. The Manaslu Circuit Trek is notably pricier than some other treks, primarily due to its designation as a Restricted Area.
In this blog, we have discussed the total budget required. You also can get an idea about how the budget is divided into many expense factors.
The total cost required for the Manaslu Circuit Trek is around $1000 to $1500. This budget includes accommodation, transportation, food, drinks, permit, travel insurance, trekking equipment, guide and porter.
Check out: Manaslu Circuit Trek PackageManaslu Circuit Trek Trip Facts
| Fact | Details |
| Trek Duration | 14-18 days |
| Maximum Altitude | 5,160 meters (16,930 feet) at Larkya La Pass |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate to Challenging |
| Best Seasons | Spring (March-May) and Autumn (September-November) |
| Starting Point | Soti Khola |
| Ending Point | Besisahar |
| Permits Required | Restricted Area Permit, ACAP, and MCAP |
| Accommodation | Teahouses along the route |
| Meals | Local Nepali food (dal bhat), noodles, soups, and basic Western dishes |
| Trek Distance | Approximately 177 kilometers (110 miles) |
| Transportation | Local bus or jeep from Kathmandu to Soti Khola and return from Besisahar |
| Group Size | Minimum of 2 trekkers (required for the restricted area permit) |
| Guide/Porter Requirement | Licensed guide mandatory; porter optional but recommended |
Factors That Affect Manaslu Circuit Trek Costs
Before heading for the Manaslu Circuit trek, it is essential to understand how much the Manaslu Circuit trek package is and how much you need to budget for the trek. Managing the budget helps you to make your trip smooth and enjoyable.
Let’s understand the factors that affect the cost of the Manaslu Circuit trek.
Permits and Documentation
Manaslu Circuit trek lies in the restricted areas. It is mandatory to secure specific permits for this trek with the help of a registered trekking agency. These permit fees are non-refundable. Here are the types of permits that you need for this Manaslu trek:
- Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (RAP): Costs vary based on the season.
- September to November (peak season): $100 for the first seven days, then $15 for each additional day.
- December to August (off-season): $75 for the first seven days, then $10 for each additional day.
- Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP): Around $30 per person.
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP): Around $30 per person.
Note: Manaslu Circuit trek takes around 14-22 days to complete so make sure to arrange permit expenses of about $160–$200. Additionally, you cannot obtain this permit on your own and you must hire the trekking guide with you due to restricted area policy.
Read more: Manaslu Circuit trek Permits Transportation
The Manaslu Circuit Trek starts in Machha Khola and ends in Dharapani. Getting to and from these trailheads incurs transportation costs that may vary depending on the mode of travel:
- Local Bus: About $10–$15 per person (Kathmandu to Machha Khola).
- Private Jeep Rental: $200–$250 (shared cost if traveling in a group).
The total round-trip cost for transportation typically ranges from $40 to $100 per person.
Accommodation and Food
Manaslu Circuit trek is also known as tea house trek, which means you will stay in a locally run tea house( similar to a guest house). The price of the accommodation becomes more expensive the higher you reach on this trek.
Here’s what to expect:
- Hotel in Kathmandu: $10- 100( depend upon the level of service and comfort)
- Teahouse Accommodation: $5–$10 per night for a basic twin-sharing room.
- Meals (Dal Bhat, Noodles, Momos, etc.): $5–$8 per meal, increasing slightly as you ascend to higher altitudes due to transportation challenges.
For the Daily food and the room, we suggest you arrange an expense of $25-40 per person. For the total of around 2 weeks of the Manaslu trek, you need to have a budget of around $600.
Read more: Food And Accomondation in Manaslu CircuitGuides and Porters
It is compulsory to hire a trekking guide for the Manaslu Circuit trek, and also hiring a porter is important to make your trekking journey easy and comfortable.
For the Guide and porter service, you need to pay the following:
- Guide Costs: $30 per day.
- Porter Costs: $25 per day (carries up to 20kg).
Providing tips for the guide and porter is a common practice here. You can allocate around 5-10% of the total trip cost for tips.
Read more: Guide and Porter hire for Manaslu Circuit trekGear Rental or Purchase
Proper gear and clothing items are important parts of dealing with the challenge that the Manaslu Circuit Trek presents to you. With the help of the gear and clothing it helps you to stay comfortable, safe, and prepared for varying weather conditions and terrain. Gear expenses can include:
- Jackets, Sleeping Bags, and Trekking Poles (Rental): $1–$3 per item per day.
- Purchases (Boots, Backpacks, etc.): Depends on the quality, gear costs could range from $200 to $500.
If you are not a regular trekker, then renting will be the best option for you. You can rent easily in Thamel rental shops.
Miscellaneous Costs
- Trekking Insurance: $100–$150. This insurance will cover high altitude risk, rescue and medical costs.
- Charging and wifi Fees: $2–$5 for charging for 1 -2 hours, and for wifi, it will cost around $5 per day.
- Snacks and Drinks: The cost rate of the snack and drink items is normal at lower altitudes, but the higher you go, the higher the cost will be. You can allocate around $10–$15 a day for snacks and drinks.
- Souvenir: The price of the souvenir depends upon the type and quality. You can easily find the souvenir products ranging from $5- $200
Total Estimated Cost of the Manaslu Circuit Trek
Combining all the factors that we have provided above, here’s a quick breakdown of the overall cost (per person) for the Manaslu Circuit trek:
| Category | Cost Estimate |
| Permits | $160–$200 |
| Transportation | $40–$100 |
| Accommodation & Food | $350–$500 |
| Guide and Porter | $400–$700 |
| Gear and Miscellaneous | $200–$500 (varies) |
Budget Range: $1,150–$2,000+
The total Manaslu Circuit trek Package cost depends upon the group size, travelling season and personal spending.
Tips for Reducing Manaslu Circuit Trek Costs
- Travel in a Group: Tour agencies provide huge discounts for the larger group. If possible try to travel in a group and book the package in advance.
- Bring Snacks from Kathmandu: Prices of snacks are higher in the remote village. If you have enough space in your language then you can purchase snacks and carry them with you from Kathmandu.
- Opt for Local Transportation: Instead of hiring private vehicles use the shared jeep or tourist bus. This helps reduce costs, especially for budget-conscious travelers.
- Carry power bank and Local sim: Charging and Wifi is not free in the tea house. So to reduce the Manaslu Circuit trek cost you can use powerbank and local sim( Ncell or NTC). Carry good quality power bank and for the SIM Card you can buy from Tribhuvan International Airport(TIA).
Must read: A complete guide on Manaslu Circuit trekPlan your adventure with us?
Talk to our expert team to plan your trip in Nepal.
Conclusion
After going through the main expenses you can expect on the Manaslu Circuit Trek, it’s clear that undertaking this remote Himalayan adventure involves some definite costs.
However, for experienced trekkers seeking a challenging adventure, the Manaslu Circuit offers immense rewards. This high-altitude, long-distance Nepali teahouse trek goes more off-the-beaten path than popular routes like the Everest Base Camp trek. Completing the Manaslu Circuit is a chance to take on rugged and remote Himalayan terrain.
With careful budgeting for permits, gear, transportation, food, accommodations, and more, completing this “finest walk in the world” is an achievable bucket list dream for adventure seekers worldwide.
While it’s possible to do the Manaslu Circuit Trek independently, at High Route Adventure, we highly recommend enlisting the help of our full-service Nepali trekking company. We will secure all permits, provide our most experienced guides, and handle logistics like transportation and porters.
Our exceptional customer service, responsibility, and communication have made us the top-recommended agency for the Manaslu Circuit.
If you have any other questions about the costs involved in taking on the Manaslu Circuit Trek or want additional local trekking company recommendations from High Route Adventure, feel free to reach out! Thanks for reading, and happy trekking from our team!
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