Journal · Practical guides

Money, lodges, food, permits.

The everyday questions, answered plainly.

At a glance

Cash: Nepali rupees only above Arughat; no ATMs on the trail. Budget US $10 – 15 per day for extras.
Lodges: twin rooms, shared bathrooms, wood-stove dining rooms. Hot showers in lower villages for a fee.
Food: dal bhat, noodles, momos, Tibetan bread, eggs. Vegetarian is easy; we recommend it above 3,000 m.
Charging: solar or generator, paid per hour, unreliable above Samdo. Bring a power bank.
Permits: arranged by us. Two trekkers minimum, passport and photographs required.

A trekking group crossing a suspension bridge over the Budhi Gandaki

Gilded roof of a working monastery in the upper Manaslu valley

Also in Journal

A high ridge trail with the Manaslu range on the skyline

Trek Planning

How long you have, how high you want to go and how much time you want in the villages are the three questions that decide everything else.

A trekker walking a forest trail in the lower Manaslu valley

Preparation & Packing

Lodges provide beds and meals, so you carry a daypack and porters carry a duffel of up to 12 kg. Warm layers matter more than gear.

Trekkers crossing a snow-covered pass in the Manaslu region

Altitude & Safety

Headache, nausea, poor appetite, unusual tiredness and broken sleep are the early signs. They are common and usually pass with a rest day. The rule is simple: never ascend with symptoms.

A stone hut in the mist of the Budhi Gandaki gorge

Culture & Stories

Stories from guides, lodge owners, monks and nuns along the Budhi Gandaki.

Yaks grazing on high pasture below Manaslu

Manaslu Travel Tips

Learned over a decade of circuits.

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