Manaslu Trips & Tours

A rugged route with big landscapes, deep culture and far fewer people.

Rugged and remote, Manaslu (meaning “Mountain of the Spirit”) is Nepal’s off-radar hiking choice for those looking for something… well, a little less crowded. The mountain itself is the eighth-highest in the world at 8,163 metres above sea level, and the Manaslu Circuit is a full loop trek around the base, winding through subtropical forests, alpine desert landscapes and icy-blue freshwater lakes, ending with an ascent over the staggering Larkya La Pass to Manaslu Base Camp at an impressive 5,106 metres. The area is also a dedicated conservation zone and home to wild and wonderful creatures including snow leopards, red pandas, and Himalayan Tahr. And then there’s the culture – with Gurung, Tibetan and Tamang influences, the region is a melting pot of diversity and encounters with the local people are intimate and hugely rewarding.

Things to do

What to do in Manaslu

For trekkers who've done Annapurna and Everest and want something wilder, Manaslu is the answer. Nepal's eighth-highest peak anchors a circuit that feels genuinely remote – fewer tea houses, longer days, and a sense that you're earning every view. The trail crosses some of the country's most dramatic suspension bridges (the kind that sway rather more than you'd like), and passes through villages where Tibetan culture runs deep and the hospitality is heartfelt. Milarepa Cave, tucked into the cliffs near Sama Gaon, is where the revered Buddhist saint is said to have meditated for years – a powerful spot whether you're spiritually inclined or simply appreciate a good story. Birendra Lake, milky with glacial sediment, makes for a worthwhile detour, while the Larkya La pass at 5,160 metres delivers that hard-won high-altitude triumph.

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