Yes, you can trek the Manaslu Circuit solo in 2026. Since 22 March 2026 one trekker can hold the Manaslu Restricted Area Permit alone, but a licensed guide from a registered agency is still compulsory, so "solo" means you plus your guide. You need three permits: the restricted area permit (USD 100 for the first 7 days in autumn, then USD 15 a day), the Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (NPR 3,000) and the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (NPR 3,000). No TIMS card is needed. On our 14-day itinerary the autumn permits come to about USD 180 to 200. After the 11 October 2026 flash flood on the Budhi Gandaki, the trail is open again and jeeps reach Machha Khola.
- Solo permitAllowed since 22 Mar 2026
- GuideLicensed guide still required
- Restricted permitUSD 100 / 7 days (Sep to Nov), then USD 15 a day
- Off seasonUSD 75 / 7 days (Dec to Aug), then USD 10 a day
- MCAP and ACAPNPR 3,000 each (about USD 20)
- TIMS cardNot needed
- Trail statusOpen, jeeps to Machha Khola (Oct 2026)
You can now trek the Manaslu Circuit solo. On 22 March 2026 Nepal's Department of Immigration removed the rule that forced two trekkers to share a single restricted-area permit, so a solo foreigner can finally obtain the Manaslu Restricted Area Permit alone. The Manaslu Circuit is a two-week teahouse trek around the 8,163 m Manaslu massif, and because it runs through a controlled border region it needs a Restricted Area Permit, a special government document that authorises entry to a protected zone. One condition has not changed: every trekker still walks with a licensed guide from a registered agency. This guide covers what changed in March 2026, the three permits the route needs, the 2026 fees, and how to get them.
What changed: the March 2026 solo-permit rule
Until March 2026, the Manaslu Restricted Area Permit could only be issued to a group of at least two trekkers applying together. A single traveller had to find a partner or pay for a second "ghost" permit, which priced many solo walkers out. On 22 March 2026 the Department of Immigration scrapped that minimum-two requirement across Nepal's restricted areas, Manaslu and the neighbouring Tsum Valley among them. A solo trekker can now apply for the Manaslu RAP as a single person, at the standard per-person fee, with no second permit required.
Manaslu rule changes and events, 2023 to 2026
| Date | What changed |
|---|---|
| Before 2023 | Restricted area permits issued only to groups of two or more, always with a licensed guide |
| 1 April 2023 | Licensed guide made compulsory on most trekking routes in Nepal, not only restricted areas |
| Late October 2025 | Cyclone Montha snows in the Larkya La, 128 people airlifted, pass reopened on 2 November |
| 22 March 2026 | Minimum-two rule scrapped: one trekker can hold the restricted area permit, guide still required |
| 11 October 2026 | Flash flood on the Budhi Gandaki damages the Arughat bridge and the trail near Machha Khola |
| 18 to 22 October 2026 | Bailey bridge at Arughat, jeeps back to Machha Khola, trail open to the Larkya La |
Can you trek the Manaslu Circuit solo in 2026?
Yes, with one detail that matters: "solo" now means you and your own licensed guide, not walking the trail alone. A licensed guide from a registered trekking agency stays mandatory in every restricted area, a long-standing restricted-area rule that the Nepal Tourism Board widened to most trekking routes from 1 April 2023. Guideless, fully independent trekking is not permitted on the Manaslu Circuit. The practical change for a lone traveller is the cost and the paperwork, not the guide: you no longer fund a phantom second trekker, and the trek is just as remote as before, crossing the 5,106 m Larkya La where a guide is a genuine safety asset rather than red tape.
Which permits does the Manaslu Circuit need?
Three permits cover the Manaslu Circuit, and the Restricted Area Permit replaces the TIMS card, so no TIMS is required on this route.
- Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (RAP): the controlled-zone permit for the section between Jagat and Dharapani, checked at the Jagat and Philim posts.
- Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP): the protected-area fee for the land around the Manaslu massif.
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP): required because the circuit exits into the Annapurna area at Dharapani.
A small Chum-Nubri Rural Municipality development fee is also collected at Jagat. The Tsum Valley is a separate restricted area with its own permit (USD 40 for the first 7 days in autumn, USD 30 off season, then USD 7 a day), so the Manaslu Tsum Valley trek adds a second RAP on top of the three permits above.
Manaslu Circuit permit cost in 2026
The Manaslu Restricted Area Permit is priced by season and by the number of days you spend inside the restricted zone.
- Autumn (September to November): USD 100 per person for the first 7 days, then USD 15 per person per extra day.
- December to August: USD 75 per person for the first 7 days, then USD 10 per person per extra day.
The MCAP and ACAP each cost NPR 3,000 (about USD 20) for non-SAARC nationals, and some operators add a small processing charge. What you pay for the restricted area permit depends on how many days you spend between Jagat and Dharapani. On our 14-day itinerary that is about nine days, so the autumn permit is USD 130, and the total with MCAP, ACAP and the local fee comes to about USD 180 to 200. Slower itineraries with 12 to 15 days inside the zone reach about USD 220 to 270, which is where the higher figures you may see quoted come from. The autumn rate is higher because September to November is the busiest window, so if you are weighing dates, read the best time to trek Manaslu before you fix a season, and our Manaslu Circuit trek cost breakdown for the full budget beyond permits.
Restricted area permit by days in the zone
| Time between Jagat and Dharapani | Sep to Nov | Dec to Aug |
|---|---|---|
| 7 days in the zone | USD 100 | USD 75 |
| 9 days in the zone | USD 130 | USD 95 |
| 12 days in the zone | USD 175 | USD 125 |
| 15 days in the zone | USD 220 | USD 155 |
Add about USD 40 for the MCAP and ACAP and the small Chum-Nubri fee to get the full permit cost. These are per person, and the restricted area permit is paid in US dollars.
How do you get the Manaslu permits?
The Manaslu RAP cannot be issued to an independent walker. A government-registered agency processes it in the name of your trek and your licensed guide. To apply you provide a passport copy with at least six months of validity and passport-size photographs. Agencies, Swotah included, also ask for proof of travel insurance that covers high-altitude trekking and helicopter evacuation. No law makes insurance a condition of the permit, but a rescue from the Larkya La side without it is very expensive. At the checkpoints your guide shows the permits and their own licence. The agency arranges all three permits in Kathmandu before you drive to the trailhead at Machhakhola, and your guide carries the documents for the checkpoint inspections at Jagat and Philim.
Is the Manaslu Circuit open after the October 2026 flood?
Yes. At around 4 am on 11 October 2026 a flash flood came down the Budhi Gandaki in northern Gorkha. It took one span of the Arughat bridge and damaged the trail between Machha Khola, Jagat and Salleri, and every trekker on the route, including 87 in the Tsum Valley, was confirmed safe. The Nepal Army put a Bailey bridge across at Arughat on 18 October, and the trekking agencies' association (TAAN) said in its 22 October advisory that jeeps reach Machha Khola again and trekkers continue through Jagat to the Larkya La, with a short temporary path at Yaru Bagar. The Tsum Valley bridge at Sardibhir was still being replaced at that point. Our flood trekking update has the latest status.
Why a licensed guide is still required
Two rules overlap on the Manaslu Circuit. Restricted areas have always required an agency-issued permit and a guide, and since 2023 Nepal has required a licensed guide on its main trekking routes in general. The route is remote, crosses the 5,106 m Larkya La, and has limited rescue infrastructure, so the guide requirement works as a safety measure. For a sense of the terrain, see how hard the Manaslu Circuit is. A licensed guide reads the weather and altitude, manages the pass, and coordinates a rescue on a trail where help can be hours or days away.
2026 Manaslu permit cost summary
| Permit | 2026 cost (non-SAARC) |
|---|---|
| Manaslu RAP (autumn, first 7 days) | USD 100 + USD 15/extra day |
| Manaslu RAP (Dec to Aug, first 7 days) | USD 75 + USD 10/extra day |
| Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP) | NPR 3,000 (~USD 20) |
| Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) | NPR 3,000 (~USD 20) |
| Chum-Nubri development fee | About NPR 1,000 to 2,000 (confirm locally) |
| TIMS card | Not required (RAP replaces it) |
Planning a solo Manaslu Circuit trek
The 2026 rule makes a solo Manaslu Circuit as simple to arrange as a group one: book through a registered agency, walk with a licensed guide, and the two-person permit problem disappears. Swotah arranges all three permits, confirms the current fees at booking, pairs you with a licensed guide, and carries the paperwork for the checkpoints. See the full itinerary and dates on our Manaslu Circuit Trek page, or contact our team for a solo quote with every permit included.
Manaslu Solo Trekking FAQs
Can I walk the Manaslu Circuit without a guide in 2026?
No. The 22 March 2026 change lets one trekker hold the permit, but a licensed guide from a registered agency is still required for the whole restricted section. Our Manaslu without a guide article covers the rule in detail.
Do I need a TIMS card for Manaslu?
No. The restricted area permit takes the place of the TIMS card on this route, so you need the restricted area permit, MCAP and ACAP only.
How much do the Manaslu permits cost for one person?
The restricted area permit is USD 100 for the first 7 days from September to November, plus USD 15 for each extra day, or USD 75 and USD 10 from December to August. MCAP and ACAP are NPR 3,000 each. A solo trekker pays the same per-person fee as anyone in a group.
Where are the permits checked?
The restricted area permit is checked at Jagat and Philim on the way in. ACAP is checked on the Annapurna side after you cross the Larkya La and drop to Dharapani.
Is it safe to trek Manaslu after the October 2026 flood?
The route reopened after the Arughat Bailey bridge went in on 18 October 2026, and TAAN's 22 October advisory lists the Manaslu Circuit as open. Ask your agency for the latest trail report before you travel.
Manaslu Trips
- Manaslu Circuit Trek: 14 days, from USD 1,235 per person (group departure)
- Manaslu Circuit with Tsum Valley: 22 days, from USD 1,975 per person (group departure)
