The Annapurna Circuit is the higher trek. The Manaslu Circuit is the rougher and more remote one. Thorong La (5,416 m) sits 310 m above Larkya La (5,106 m), so Annapurna tests your body at altitude harder. Manaslu tests your legs, your comfort and your patience harder. Both take about two weeks, and both require a licensed guide in 2026.
I get asked "which one is harder?" almost every week. My honest answer is that they are hard in different ways. I have walked both circuits many times since I started as a porter in 1999, first carrying loads and later leading groups. This guide is for trekkers who have narrowed their shortlist to these two and want a straight comparison: altitude, terrain, remoteness, permits, cost and who each route suits.
Key Takeaways
Altitude: Annapurna is harder. Higher pass, higher last night, and a road that tempts people to skip acclimatization.
Terrain and remoteness: Manaslu is harder. Rougher trail, fewer lodges, no road near the pass and fewer ways out.
The pass day itself is close to equal: roughly 600–650 m of climbing and a long descent on both.
Crowds: Manaslu recorded 17,710 trekkers in 2025. The Annapurna Conservation Area sees several times that.
Rules (2026): A licensed guide is required on both. Solo trekkers can now get a Manaslu permit without a second person.
Cost: Annapurna needs one permit (NPR 3,000). Manaslu needs three permits plus a local fee.
Manaslu Circuit vs Annapurna Circuit at a Glance
The numbers below come from our own standard itineraries: the 13-day Annapurna Circuit Trek and the 14-day Manaslu Circuit Trek. Permit fees are 2026 rates for non-SAARC foreign nationals.
Annapurna Circuit
Manaslu Circuit
Highest point
Thorong La, 5,416 m (17,769 ft)
Larkya La, 5,106 m (16,752 ft)
Highest night
Thorong High Camp, 4,800 m
Dharamshala (Larkya Phedi), 4,460 m
Typical length
12–16 days (ours: 13)
14–18 days (ours: 14)
Start / finish
Jagat or Dharapani by jeep → Muktinath, then drive to Pokhara
Machha Khola by bus → Tilje or Dharapani, then drive to Kathmandu
Roads
Jeep road to Manang and to Muktinath; side trails avoid much of it
Road in the lower Budhi Gandaki valley; none near the pass
Gurung, Manangi and Thakali villages; Muktinath temple
Gurung villages low down; Tibetan Buddhist Nubri valley higher up
Best season
March–May, late September–November
March–May, late September–November
Shikhar price (2–4 people)
From US$995 per person
From US$1,195 per person
Which Is Harder, Manaslu or Annapurna Circuit?
Most comparisons put these treks on one scale and call Manaslu "harder". That hides the useful part. I find it more honest to split difficulty into four kinds. Each trek wins two.
1. Altitude difficulty: Annapurna is harder
Thorong La is 310 m higher than Larkya La. Your last night before the pass is also higher: 4,800 m at Thorong High Camp against 4,460 m at Dharamshala. Every extra hundred metres up there costs sleep and appetite.
The road adds a hidden risk. Jeeps now reach Manang at 3,540 m. Trekkers short on time ride most of the way up, gain height too fast, and arrive at the pass unacclimatized. On Manaslu there is no shortcut. You walk up from 900 m at Machha Khola, and the slow climb does the acclimatizing for you.
2. Terrain difficulty: Manaslu is harder
The first five days on Manaslu follow the Budhi Gandaki gorge. The trail climbs over spurs, drops to the river and climbs again. You gain the same height two or three times. Some sections cross landslide scars, especially after the monsoon.
The descent from Larkya La to Bhimthang is steep and loose for the first hour or two. It is hard on knees. The Annapurna trail is wider and better maintained, and the descent to Muktinath, though long, is on a clearer path.
3. Remoteness difficulty: Manaslu is harder
Above Samagaun (3,520 m) the villages thin out. Samdo is the last proper village. Dharamshala has a few stone lodges and nothing else. If someone gets sick there, the options are walking down or a helicopter, weather permitting.
On Annapurna you are rarely more than a day from a jeep road, and Manang has a seasonal health post run by the Himalayan Rescue Association. Remoteness is the reason many people choose Manaslu. It is also the reason Manaslu asks more of you when things go wrong.
4. Comfort difficulty: Manaslu is harder
Rooms on Manaslu are simpler and colder. Menus shrink as you climb. Hot showers and charging cost extra, usually a few dollars each. Annapurna teahouses near Manang and Muktinath are closer to small guesthouses, with bakeries, apple pie and decent Wi-Fi. If a warm room at night matters to how you walk the next day, count this.
From the trail: Fit trekkers who struggle on Annapurna usually struggle with altitude. Fit trekkers who struggle on Manaslu usually struggle with the long, uneven days in the gorge and the cold nights higher up. Train for the trek you pick.
Larkya La (5,106 m): the climb is similar to Thorong La, but the approach is more remote.
Larkya La vs Thorong La: The Pass Day Compared
The pass day is the one people worry about most. On paper, the two are closer than most guides suggest.
Thorong La (Annapurna)
Larkya La (Manaslu)
Start
High Camp, 4,800 m (or Thorong Phedi, 4,450 m)
Dharamshala, 4,460 m
Climb to the pass
About 616 m from High Camp (966 m from Phedi)
About 646 m
Descent
About 1,636 m to Muktinath (3,780 m)
About 1,386 m to Bhimthang (3,720 m)
Time on the move
8–10 hours
10–11 hours
Start time
3–4 a.m.
3–4 a.m.
Both start in the dark. On Thorong La the reason is wind, which usually picks up two to three hours after sunrise. On Larkya La the reason is distance: the pass is long and flat near the top, with several false summits before the prayer flags. Larkya La is also more exposed to snow early and late in the season, and it often closes for weeks in winter.
Choosing where you sleep on Annapurna changes the day. From Thorong Phedi, the climb is nearly 1,000 m. That is why we sleep at High Camp when the group is acclimatizing well.
A small note on heights: you will see Larkya La listed as 5,106 m and as 5,160 m. Most current sources use 5,106 m, and that is the figure we use here.
That Annapurna figure covers the whole conservation area, including pilgrims who drive to Muktinath and trekkers on Poon Hill and Annapurna Base Camp. Even counting only the 124,331 visitors from outside South Asia, it is about seven times Manaslu's trekker numbers.
On the ground, this means Manang and Muktinath fill up in October and early November. On Manaslu, Samagaun gets busy, but you can walk for hours in the gorge without meeting another group. Manaslu is getting busier every year, so "empty" is no longer accurate. "Quieter" still is. For more routes like this, see our list of quiet Nepal treks.
Manang (3,540 m): the busiest acclimatization stop on the Annapurna Circuit, with a health post and well-stocked lodges.
Permits and Guide Rules in 2026
Annapurna Circuit permits
Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP): NPR 3,000 (about US$22) for foreign nationals, NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals.
TIMS card: Some agencies still issue one. Checkpoints on the circuit check only the ACAP.
Manaslu Circuit permits
Manaslu Restricted Area Permit: September–November, US$100 for the first 7 days and US$15 per extra day. December–August, US$75 for the first 7 days and US$10 per extra day. Issued by the Department of Immigration through a registered agency only.
Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP): NPR 3,000.
ACAP: NPR 3,000, because the route exits through the Annapurna Conservation Area after the pass.
Chum Nubri Rural Municipality fee: about NPR 1,000, collected on the trail.
Yes. Since 1 April 2023, foreign trekkers in Nepal's national parks and conservation areas, including the Annapurna Conservation Area, must trek with a licensed guide arranged through a registered agency.
A correction: Some Manaslu vs Annapurna comparisons, including at least one updated in 2026, still list the Annapurna Circuit as "independent trek allowed" and "guide not compulsory". That information is out of date. Enforcement on Annapurna was patchy in the first seasons after the rule, and you will still hear stories of people walking alone. Plan for a guide anyway. Trekking without one can mean a fine or being turned back at a checkpoint.
Can you trek the Manaslu Circuit solo?
Yes, with a guide. On 22 March 2026 the Department of Immigration removed the rule that restricted area permits needed at least two trekkers. A single traveller can now get the Manaslu permit alone. The guide requirement did not change. Some older articles still say you need a partner. That is no longer true.
Which Is Cheaper, Manaslu or Annapurna Circuit?
Annapurna is cheaper, mainly because of permits and transport.
Permit maths for an autumn Manaslu trek with 9 days inside the restricted area:
Restricted Area Permit: US$100 + (2 × US$15) = US$130
The same trek in spring costs about US$146 in permits, because the restricted area fee drops to US$75 plus US$10 a day. On Annapurna, the permit bill is NPR 3,000.
Lodging and food also cost more on Manaslu, because everything above Jagat arrives by mule or porter. A plate of dal bhat at Samdo costs noticeably more than the same plate in Chame.
Our package prices reflect this. The Annapurna Circuit Trek starts at US$995 per person for 2–4 people and US$1,195 for a solo trekker. The Manaslu Circuit Trek starts at US$1,195 per person for 2–4 people, falling to US$995 for groups of 9–12. Both include permits, a licensed guide, porters, teahouse rooms and three meals a day on the trail.
Scenery and Culture: What You Actually See
Annapurna Circuit
The Annapurna Circuit gives you the widest change of landscape of any teahouse trek I know. You start among rice terraces along the Marsyangdi, walk through pine and apple orchards around Chame and Pisang, and reach a dry, Tibetan-style valley at Manang. After the pass you drop into Muktinath, a temple sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists, and then the Kali Gandaki valley between Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas.
The side trips are excellent. Ice Lake from Manang is a strong acclimatization hike. Tilicho Lake adds about four days; we run it as the Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake.
Manaslu Circuit
Manaslu gives you one mountain, up close, for days. From Lho onwards, the 8,163 m summit of Manaslu fills the valley head. The culture changes sharply above Namrung. Mani walls, chortens and gompas mark the Nubri valley, where villages like Lho, Samagaun and Samdo follow Tibetan Buddhism. If you want to know more about the mountain itself, read Mount Manaslu: Nepal's Killer Mountain.
The best side trips are Birendra Lake and the walk toward Manaslu Base Camp from Samagaun, plus Pungyen Gompa. The Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek adds the Tsum valley, one of the quietest places we trek.
Samagaun (3,520 m): the acclimatization stop on Manaslu, with Birendra Lake and Pungyen Gompa within a day's walk.
Who Should Choose Which Trek?
Choose the Annapurna Circuit if you:
Are crossing your first pass above 5,000 m and want more exit options on the way up.
Want variety: farmland, pine forest, high desert and a pilgrimage town in one trek.
Like comfortable lodges, a wide menu and meeting other trekkers in the evening.
Have 12–13 days and a tighter budget.
Will commit to walking the acclimatization days instead of jeeping to Manang.
Choose the Manaslu Circuit if you:
Have done at least one multi-day trek and handled long, uneven days well.
Want quieter trails and living Tibetan Buddhist villages.
Are happy with simple rooms and a short menu above 3,500 m.
Have 14–16 days plus one or two buffer days for road delays.
Prefer walking every metre of the climb rather than skipping sections by road.
A quick decision checklist
Never been above 4,000 m? Lean Annapurna.
Bad knees on long descents? Both descents are long; Larkya La's is steeper and looser.
Travelling alone? Both now work, with a guide.
Only 12 days in Nepal? Annapurna.
Crowds ruin a trek for you? Manaslu.
Want to see the most in one trip? Consider both together.
Can You Combine the Manaslu and Annapurna Circuits?
Yes. The Manaslu Circuit ends at Dharapani, which is on the Annapurna Circuit. Instead of driving out, you can turn north and walk to Chame, Pisang and Manang, then cross Thorong La to Muktinath. That adds about six walking days, and your ACAP from the Manaslu side already covers it.
The combination works well for acclimatization. By the time you reach Manang, you have already slept at 4,460 m and crossed 5,106 m. Plan on 20–22 days in total. We plan this as a custom trip.
Thorong La (5,416 m): the highest point on the Annapurna Circuit and the finish line of a combined Manaslu–Annapurna trek.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Manaslu Circuit harder than the Annapurna Circuit?
In terrain, remoteness and comfort, yes. In altitude, no. Annapurna's Thorong La (5,416 m) is 310 m higher than Manaslu's Larkya La (5,106 m), and you sleep higher the night before. Manaslu has rougher trails, fewer lodges and fewer ways out if something goes wrong.
Which is higher, Thorong La or Larkya La?
Thorong La is higher at 5,416 m (17,769 ft). Larkya La is 5,106 m (16,752 ft). Some maps list Larkya La at 5,160 m, but 5,106 m is the more widely used figure.
Do I need a guide for the Annapurna Circuit in 2026?
Yes. Since 1 April 2023, foreign trekkers in Nepal's national parks and conservation areas, including the Annapurna Conservation Area, must trek with a licensed guide through a registered agency. Articles that say a guide is optional on the Annapurna Circuit are out of date.
Can I trek the Manaslu Circuit alone in 2026?
You can apply alone, but you cannot walk without a guide. Since 22 March 2026, a single trekker can get the Manaslu Restricted Area Permit without a second person. A licensed guide from a registered agency is still mandatory for the whole route.
Which trek is cheaper?
The Annapurna Circuit. Its only permit is the ACAP at NPR 3,000. Manaslu permits cost about US$146–181 per person for a typical itinerary, depending on season. Food and lodging also cost more on Manaslu because supplies arrive by mule or porter.
How many days do I need for each trek?
Plan 12–16 days for the Annapurna Circuit and 14–18 days for the Manaslu Circuit, counting travel days from Kathmandu. Add one or two buffer days for Manaslu, because landslides on the access road can delay the drive in or out.
When is the best time for Manaslu and Annapurna?
Both are best from March to May and from late September to November. Autumn gives the clearest views. Spring brings rhododendron bloom lower down. In winter, snow can close Larkya La for weeks. Thorong La also closes after heavy snowfall.
Which is better for a first-time high-altitude trekker?
The Annapurna Circuit, as long as you walk the acclimatization days. It has more lodges, a health post in Manang and road access below the pass. First-timers with strong fitness and some multi-day trekking behind them also do well on Manaslu.
Manaslu Circuit vs Annapurna Circuit: My Verdict
If your main question is "can my body handle the height?", the Annapurna Circuit is the bigger test, and also the safer place to take it. If your main question is "how rough and remote can I handle?", the Manaslu Circuit is the bigger test. Neither is simply harder. They ask different things of you.
If you are still unsure, send us your dates, your trekking history and what you want from the trip. I will tell you which one I would put you on, and why. You can reach me on WhatsApp or through our trip planner. Whichever you choose, make sure your travel insurance covers helicopter evacuation up to 6,000 m.
Last updated: September 2026. Permit fees and rules checked against Department of Immigration and Nepal Tourism Board guidance at the time of writing.
