Manaslu Circuit Solo Trekking 2026: New Permit Rule & Cost
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 all 15 restricted-area districts, 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.
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 rule the Nepal Tourism Board reinforced nationwide in 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, 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 23) for non-SAARC nationals; some operators quote closer to USD 30 each once processing is included. For a standard 14-day circuit the permits total roughly USD 215 to USD 260 per person in autumn, and a little less in the cheaper season. 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.
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. From 2026 you also need proof of travel insurance that covers high-altitude trekking and helicopter evacuation, which officials check at the entry gates alongside your permit, your guide's licence and your digital registration. 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.
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-Aug, first 7 days) | USD 75 + USD 10/extra day |
| Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP) | NPR 3,000 (~USD 23) |
| Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) | NPR 3,000 (~USD 23) |
| Chum-Nubri development fee | ~NPR 1,000-2,000 |
| 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.
