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Manaslu Circuit Trek Vs Annapurna Circuit Trek – Which One Is Right for You
If you have come across this blog of Manaslu Circuit Trek VS Annapurna Circuit Trek, then you must be sitting with trekking maps in your hand, tracing your finger between these two iconic routes. Should you go for the unspoiled, secluded Manaslu Circuit route with off-the-beaten trails, or opt for the Annapurna Circuit’s legendary trail with changing mountain landscapes? Both trek promises thrilling experiences, mesmerizing mountain views, cultural richness, and adventurous high mountain passes. So, we understand the confusion. Well, it comes down to your personal preference. However, before making your decision, you need to understand both treks. In this guide, we will help you look beyond the map and discover which trek aligns with your adventurous spirit. Stay with us until the end to find the perfect journey you have been craving.
Table of Contents
A Tale of Annapurna & Manaslu Circuit Trek
In the high Himalayas, two destinations, Annapurna and Manaslu Circuit, wait to share their stories. Each path on the Manaslu and Annapurna Circuit route carries a rich history, culture, and the spirit of the mountains. The name Annapurna means “goddess of food and nourishment,” while Manaslu means “mountain of the spirit.” Additionally, the destination offers numerous experiences and learning opportunities. Thus, the journey to Annapurna and Manaslu is not just about walking but also about stepping into living stories.
Manaslu Circuit Trek
Manaslu Circuit Trek
The name Manaslu originates from the Sanskrit word “manasa,” meaning “soul” or “spirit,” so the word “Manaslu” translates to “Mountain of the Spirit,” also known as “Kutang” among locals. The trail to Manaslu Circuit remained closed to the outside world for decades, protected by its remoteness and the delicate culture of the people who call it home. Only in the early 1990s was it opened as a restricted trekking area.
Long ago, the route to Manaslu was used by traders carrying salt and wool between Nepal and Tibet. Even today, you can still sense those old footsteps, mani walls with prayers, and centuries-old monasteries carry whispers of that past. Many villagers believe Manaslu’s towering peak is the seat of a protective deity. In addition, walking the Manaslu Circuit feels less like entering a tourist route and more like stepping into a living legend, where myths, history, and the silence of the mountain blend into one powerful story.
Annapurna Circuit Trek
The name of Annapurna carries with it a name layered in myth and reverence, and its story begins in legend. Derived from the Sanskrit Anna (food) and Purna (filled), Annapurna is the goddess of nourishment, believed to feed both the body and the soul. The tale of the Annapura Circuit begins not directly through ice and peaks, but in the thick, humid air of the lower valleys. The early days of the trek are a journey through a stunning green world, where terraced fields climb via steep hillsides and the rushing Marshyangdi River.
The climax of the Annapurna Circuit tale is crossing the Thorong La Pass, a high-altitude pass at an elevation of 5,416 m / 17,769 ft above sea level. Additionally, for centuries, the Annapurna circuit has been an important route for villagers and traders. Later, in the 1970s, it opened to the world and became one of the most loved and famous treks in the world.
Manaslu Circuit !
We went to the manaslu circuit in 2019 and Tez Gurung aranged every thing for us. He was really very professional and I have been going to nepal every year for the last 5 years but he ranks among the best in hospitality and management. He also took great care of my 9 year old boy and he also completed the trek. Manaslu is a real wild part of Himalaya and amenities are basic but sufficient but the veiws are mind blowing out of the world. Its heaven guys.
Our Annapurna Circuit trek with Nepal Alternative Treks was excellent. The scenery was stunning, and the experience was incredibly rewarding. Thanks to the well-organized trip provided by Nepal Alternative Treks, we were able to experience many aspects of the local culture along with the natural beauty of the area.
Our guide, Nauser, was knowledgeable, professional, and supportive. He ensured our safety and provided valuable insights into the region. Our porters, Raju and Ram, were incredibly helpful and positive, adding to the overall positive experience. They were vital to our success and comfort on the trail. They are all stand-outs!
We highly recommend Nepal Alternative Treks. They provided a well-planned and executed trek, with a great team that made the experience memorable. Tej, the leader and organizer of Nepal Alternative Treks, was organized, supportive, and knowledgeable. He has assembled a wonderful team that helped make our experience so memorable.
Nauser, Raju, and Ram were instrumental in making our Annapurna Circuit trek a success. We appreciate all of their dedication and professionalism. If you’re planning a trek in Nepal, Nepal Alternative Treks is an awesome company and excellent choice for helping to plan and execute a great trip. This is our 2nd trek with them and won’t be out last!
5.0
Ryan Ruhl
USA
Manaslu vs Annapurna Circuit Trek at a Glance
Feature
Annapurna Circuit Trek
Manaslu Circuit Trek
Typical Duration
10-11 days (depending on route and transport options)
9-12 days on classic route;
Maximum Altitude
Thorong La ( 5,416 m)
Larkya La (5,160 m)
Location
Central Nepal of Gandaki district, within the Annapurna Conservation Area
Gorkha district, within the Manaslu Conservation Area
Accessibility
Better road and transport options
Few road connections due to the more remote location
Difficulty
Gradual ascents and descents with well-marked trails
More rugged and remote trails with Steep ascents and descents
Permits
Annaourna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
Manaslu Conservation Area Permit, ACAP, and Restricted Area permit
Accommodation
Developed teahouses and lodges
Basic to moderate teahouses with fewer choices,
Typical Cost
Generally more cost-efficient, ranging from USD 530-630
Higher logistical cost, causing a higher price, ranging from USD 760 to 860
Best Suited For
Trekkers seeking to experience a variety of landscapes and better infrastructure.
Travelers seeking peaceful, profound cultural immersion and off-beaten paths
If you’re the kind of traveler who enjoys peacefulness and doesn’t mind rough edges, the Manaslu Circuit Trek can be the best option for you. However, if you enjoy meeting people, prefer a diverse route, comfort, and a mix of wildness and comfort, the trek to the Annapurna Circuit can be ideal for you.
Walking Through Changing Landscapes
Manaslu Mountain
Both the Annapurna and Manaslu Circuit Treks are renowned for their diverse landscapes. You begin your journey in the lowlands, where you’ll find terraced farms, villages, and river valleys. As you ascend higher, you’ll experience a change in landscape, with alpine zones and stunning mountain sights.
On the Manaslu Circuit, the journey begins in river valleys filled with rice fields and small farms. As you climb higher, you’ll experience the greenery of pine forests, waterfalls, and rocky cliffs. As you get near the Larkya La, the landscape seems barren with snow-covered peaks surrounding the area. The shift from greenery areas to alpine zones makes the trek feel like walking through different worlds. As the journey descends, you’ll experience the same topography that you passed through in the initial phase.
The Annapurna Circuit offers even greater variety in its landscape. It is often said that Annapurna shows you almost every kind of landscape Nepal has to offer in a single trek. The journey starts in subtropical forests with banana trees and waterfalls, then passes through terraced hillsides and fertile valleys. As you climb higher, the scenery changes to a dry, windswept desert on the way to Thorong La Pass. Beyond the pass, the trek route opens into lush valleys again.
However, if you want to experience both regions’ landscapes and have more time, fitness, and budget, it is possible to combine the Manaslu and Annapurna circuits in one single trek. It is becoming popular to start on the Manaslu Circuit, cross Larkya La, and then continue into parts of the Annapurna Circuit. Please
Meeting Cultures and Communities
One of the highlights of both the Annapurna and Manaslu Circuit Trek is the chance to meet cultures and communities throughout the journey. On the Annapurna Circuit Trek, trekkers feel extremely overwhelmed while meeting the region’s people as they see the mountains. After a long and hectic day, trekkers end their day in local teahouses where the locals are waiting to welcome and serve them. Thus, the journey to Annapurna offers a lively and sociable atmosphere.
Often, Gurung and Thakali communities run the teahouse, which has mastered the art of welcoming trekkers from all over the world. When trekking in the Annapurna region, a teahouse is not just an accommodation point, but a gathering place where cultures blend.
Similarly, Manaslu also takes you through cultural villages and immersion, but in a different way than in Annapurna. Here, a trekker walks through a silent mountain village where prayer wheels spin slowly in the air, offering a quieter kind of connection. Where the Annapurna offers culture through welcoming locals in teahouses, the Manaslu offers it through monasteries where monks chant and locals light butter lamps at dusk. Moreover, here you can experience more of Tibetan Buddhism and its culture.
Trekking in the Himalayas, especially at high altitudes, comes with its own set of challenges. Thus, both the trek to Manaslu and the Annapurna Circuit have their own unique set of difficulties. The Annapurna Circuit Trek is a moderately to challenging but well-marked route, with numerous tea houses where trekkers can rest, get food, and find comfort makes the trek worthwhile at the same time.
The major challenge and difficulty of the Annapurna Circuit Trek is altitude. Crossing Thorong La Pass at 5,416 m is tough, and the thin air makes every step challenging. Still, acclimatization, achieved by rising steadily in elevation, gives the body time to adapt, making even the challenge manageable.
While the Manaslu Circuit is also a moderately to challenging trek, it feels more demanding. For the trek, trekkers need to be ready for longer walking days and fewer comforts. Crossing Larkya La Pass (5,106 m) is the major challenge of the Manaslu Trek. The cross is long and tiring, often over snow, and the thin mountain air adds to the climb’s difficulty. In addition, the unpredictable weather, remote and less developed trails, altitude sickness, isolation, limited rescue options, and restricted access make the Manaslu Circuit a challenging trek.
Permits and Rules of the Trail
Trekking in the Himalayas always comes with a few rules and regulations and steps to follow, even for the Annapurna and Manaslu. For the trek to the Annapurna Circuit, permits and rules are generally simple. Trekkers need an Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) for the Annapurna Circuit adventure. The permits are easy to arrange in Kathmandu or Pokhara, and once in hand, you’re free to walk at your own pace.
However, the journey to the Manaslu Circuit has different and strict rules for permits. The region is classed as a restricted area, meaning you can’t just pick up a permit and go on your own. In fact, you can’t even get the permit independently without the assistance of a trekking agency. On top of this, a Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (RAP), along with a Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP) and the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP), is required permit for the Manaslu Circuit Trek.
Wondering why the Manaslu Circuit Trek requires ACAP? Well, it is because the trail finishes by joining the Annapurna route. Thus, you can also grab the opportunity of the permit requirement of Manaslu by combining your adventure with the Annapurna Circuit. For the Annapurna trek, only the ACAP is necessary, the same permit used for the Manaslu Circuit Trek, with no requirement to arrange a separate permit.
Life on the Trek: Accommodation and Food
On the Annapurna Circuit Trek, food is part of the adventure and the region’s culture. For breakfast, you get the option of porridge with honey, pancakes topped with jam, or eggs. Trekkers generally sip hot tea or coffee while watching the first light over the mountain tip. Trekkers get lunch at the teahouse along the way, with an option of fried rice and momos, spaghetti, or even a slice of apple pie. Evening meals on the Annapurna Circuit feel warm and social, with a large stove in the center of the dining area where people gather close. Options for dinner include Dal Bhat, pizza, and soups.
Compared to Annapurna, meals in the Manaslu Circuit Trek feel simple and different. Breakfast is generally a plate of chapati with jam, or a bowl of noodles to start the day. Lunch is also with limited menus including dal bhat, thukpa (noodle soup), or potatoes cooked in the local style. In the evening, meals are generally cooked over open stoves, and the smoky smell fills the room. Similarly, food choices are simple with dal bhat, noodle soup, or maybe a fried egg. Unlike in Annapurna, the teahouse of Manaslu has fewer trekkers, so conversations are quieter and more personal.
Best Seasons to Experience the Trails
Nepal experiences four distinct seasons, each with its own set of challenges and rewards, varying across different regions. Spring and Autumn are the best seasons to experience both the Annapurna and Manalsu trails.
Spring
Spring in the Himalayan regions is a time of new life, much like nature awakening. In Annapurna, blooming rhododendrons with colors of red, pink, and white flowers cover the hillsides, which brightens the entire green forest. Similarly, the days start to warm again after the winter season with clear skies and an ideal route to trek through. In Manaslu, the snow still lies on the high altitudes. The mix of snow above and fresh growth below gives a magical balance of winter and spring to trek.
Autumn
During Autumn, the trails of the Annapurna Circuit are full of trekkers from all around the world. Tea houses sound with voices, and the skies are crystal clear, showing mountain peaks in their majesty. Manaslu in Autumn is still calmer with not much flow of trekkers. The air is just as clear, but the paths are peaceful with only the sound of monks chanting in the distance, prayer flags fluttering in the air.
Summer and Winter
Summer and Winter are among the least preferred times to explore the Himalayas due to the challenges that come with them. Winter makes the trekking routes challenging as high passes in both Annapurna and Manaslu are snowbound, which makes the trek challenging. Similarly, teahouses are closed, which makes finding accommodation points also tough. In addition, Summer brings heavy rainfall throughout Nepal (except in the rainshadow area) along with the leeches on the lower trails, adding to the difficulty of the trek.
Hidden Detours and Side Adventures
Every trekking destination has its interesting secrets, hidden in each location, that most people walk through without knowing. So, listening to locals helps you find small detours that make the journey even more special. On the Annapurna Circuit, one of these secrets is the hot springs at Tatopani. After days of walking, sinking into warm water under the open sky feels like heaven.
Similarly, another hidden side adventure trekkers can experience is the village of Braga. The village lies just above Manang village, and locals of the area advise trekkers to climb up to its old monastery at sunset. From there, the whole valley glows golden, and yet many trekkers walk straight past without stopping.
On the Manaslu Circuit, one special detour is the side hike to Pungen Gompa, near Sama Gaon. From here, you see Mount Manaslu rise so close it feels like you can touch it. However, the route to the gompa can be covered by light snow even in spring, so pack good boots and gaiters. Similarly, locals also point you toward Birendra Lake, a turquoise glacial lake lying under Manaslu’s north face. It’s just a short walk from Sama Gaon, but many trekkers miss it as they hurry toward the Larkya La pass.
Thorong La or Larke La Crossing the High Passes
This is common for both treks. So, make this as the climax point or major place that trekkers of both trek are expecting. Cultural importance, experience in that specific location and so on can be described. Connect annapurna and Manaslu circuit with the essence of thorong la pass.
Choosing Between Annapurna and Manaslu Circuit Trek
If you are looking for an adventure that balances comfort and challenge, the Annapurna Circuit Trek is the best choice. You will get to explore the diverse and scenic landscapes of the Annapurna region. You will trek on well-established trails, experiencing the rich Gurung and Magar culture, and staying at welcoming teahouses. The Annapurna Circuit is ideal for those seeking to explore a classic route with a rich history.
But if you are looking for solitude, raw wilderness, and deep cultural immersion, the Manaslu Circuit Trek checks all the boxes. It offers a raw off-the-beaten-path experience. The trek provides an authentic Himalayan experience and hospitality. It is for trekkers who value immersion over comfort.
We hope this blog helped provide you with all the details on these two legendary treks. Whichever you choose, an unforgettable adventure in the Himalayas of Nepal awaits you.
With an experience of almost two decades, founder Mr. Tej Bahadur Gurung has established Nepal Alternative Treks as a widely recognized and reliable tourism operator. His degree in Tourism Studies and devotion to the sector has given him in-depth knowledge about trekking, climbing, cultural, and geological aspects of the country. He is a pioneer in introducing the concept of ‘off-beaten tracks’ and ‘alternative routes’ as well as treks and tour packages surrounding it.
Mr. Gurung had several contributions to ‘Visit Nepal 1998’. Similarly, he campaigned actively to make ‘Nepal Tourism Year 2011’ success in terms of establishing new destinations for valued customers. His benevolent act extends to offering socio-cultural tourism to benefit marginalized communities of Nepal. As a result of his dedication, he was elected the first Vice President of the Trekking Agency’s Association of Nepal (TAAN) from 2015-17. He was also the President of the Ganesh Himal Tourism Development Committee (GHTDC) from 2017-2020.
As a sociologist, he’s been involved in scientific research for tourism and recently on the subject of ‘conflict and peace’ at the Chulalongkorn University of Bangkok. At just 37, he has a double Master’s degree in Linguistic and Tourism Study. He holds a Ph.D. in Tourism from Lincoln University College of Malaysia.
Need assistance? Our travel expert Tej Bahadur Gurung is here to help! Please fill out the form below to initiate a chat and get your queries resolved quickly.
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