Nepal vision | 31/07/2026
The Manaslu Circuit Trek requires three separate permits, the Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (RAP), the Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP), and the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP), together costing roughly US$165 to US$220 per person depending on season and trek length. With Nepal Vision Treks, all three are included in the all-inclusive 17-day Manaslu Circuit package, priced from US$2,280 per person, along with a government-registered guide, shared porter, teahouse accommodation, and full board meals throughout.
Manaslu is one of the more permit-heavy treks in Nepal, and the rules around it have shifted more than once in recent years, most recently with a change to the long-standing two-person minimum group rule. Anyone planning this trek for 2027 needs an accurate, current picture of what's required and what it costs, rather than information carried over from an older blog post or a previous trip years ago. Here's exactly where the money goes and what's changed.
Manaslu Circuit Permits at a Glance
Permit | Peak Season (Sept–Nov) | Off-Season (Dec–Aug) | Covers |
| Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (RAP) | US$100 for first 7 days, +US$15/day after | US$75 for first 7 days, +US$10/day after | The restricted zone from Jagat to Dharapani |
| Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP) | ~US$30, fixed year-round | ~US$30, fixed year-round | Manaslu Conservation Area, 1,663 sq km |
| Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) | ~US$25–30, fixed year-round | ~US$25–30, fixed year-round | Final stretch through Tilje, Chamje, and Dharapani |
| Chumnubri Rural Municipality fee | Small local fee, collected at Jagat | Small local fee, collected at Jagat | Local municipality services |
| TIMS card | Not required for Manaslu | Not required for Manaslu | Covered by RAP and MCAP instead |
With Nepal Vision Treks' 17-day itinerary, which spends roughly 8 to 9 days inside the restricted zone between Jagat and Dharapani, a peak-season permit total typically lands around US$200 to US$220 per person, and an off-season total around US$160 to US$180. All of this is included in the US$2,280 package price, so this breakdown is here to show you exactly what that figure covers, not an extra cost on top of it.
Before we start, if you are comparing Manaslu and Annapurna, then we have already covered that topic in a full blog, which you can check using this link.
Why the Restricted Area Permit Costs So Much More Than a Standard One
The RAP is by far the most expensive single permit on this trek, and it's priced differently to almost anywhere else in Nepal for a specific reason. Manaslu, along with places like Upper Mustang and Dolpo, sits inside a government-designated restricted area, created to manage the environmental and cultural impact of tourism on a region that's ecologically fragile and culturally distinct, much of it closely tied to Tibetan Buddhist tradition close to the Tibet border. Unlike the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit, which is a flat fee regardless of how long you stay, the RAP is charged per week, which means your total cost is directly tied to how many days you actually spend between Jagat and Dharapani.
This is worth understanding if you're comparing quotes between agencies, because a shorter, more rushed itinerary through the restricted zone will show a lower permit cost on paper, but it also means less time to acclimatise properly before Larkya La at 5,135m. Nepal Vision Treks builds a dedicated acclimatisation day into the Manaslu itinerary at Samagaon specifically because we'd rather charge for an extra week of permit than send a client over the pass under-acclimatised.
What Changed Recently, and What to Expect Going Into 2027
The two-person minimum group rule has changed. For years, Manaslu required a minimum of two trekkers to obtain the restricted area permit, which meant solo travellers had to either find a trekking partner or pay a single supplement to cover the shortfall. As of March 2026, solo trekkers travelling with a registered agency and a licensed guide, which is required regardless, can obtain the permit without needing a second trekker. If you're planning a solo Manaslu trek for 2027, this is a genuinely useful change worth confirming directly with your agency, since older blog posts and guides still reference the outdated two-person rule.
TIMS is not required for Manaslu, and hasn't been for several seasons now, despite this being one of the most persistent pieces of outdated information still circulating online. The RAP and MCAP system covers what TIMS would otherwise track. If an agency's quote includes a separate TIMS charge for Manaslu specifically, it's worth asking why.
Permit fees are reviewed periodically, not fixed indefinitely. The RAP, MCAP, and ACAP figures above reflect the current 2026 fee structure. Nepal's conservation authorities have introduced digital QR-code permit checkpoints along the Manaslu route in recent seasons, along with broader environmental levies applied across the country's conservation areas, and fee reviews tend to follow infrastructure changes like this. Treat the figures in this guide as a solid, current baseline for 2027 planning, and we'll confirm exact costs with you directly once your travel dates are set, since Nepal Vision Treks handles all three permits on your behalf regardless of when the fee schedule next updates.
What's Included in Nepal Vision Treks Manaslu Package
Since permits are only one part of the total cost, it's worth being clear about what the full package price actually covers, so there's no ambiguity about what you're paying for.
Included: all three trekking permits (RAP, MCAP, ACAP) and the Chumnubri municipality fee, a government-registered, English-speaking, first-aid and eco-trained guide, a Sherpa porter shared between two trekkers, teahouse accommodation for the full 17 days, full board meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) throughout the trek, Kathmandu hotel nights with breakfast, airport transfers, a welcome and farewell dinner, a seasonal sleeping bag, a Nepal Vision Treks duffel bag, and a trekking map.
Not included: international airfare to and from Kathmandu, Nepal visa fees paid on arrival, travel and rescue insurance covering high-altitude trekking and helicopter evacuation, meals in Kathmandu outside the two included dinners, any additional Kathmandu nights caused by early arrival or delayed return from the mountain, and personal trail expenses such as hot showers where charged separately, device charging, snacks, and tips for your guide and porter.
Why Permit Processing Timing Matters More for Manaslu Than Most Treks
Because Manaslu's permits are processed through the Nepal Department of Immigration rather than issued on the spot at a trailhead gate, they take longer to arrange than a standard Annapurna Conservation Area Permit. Processing typically takes one to two business days in a normal week, but this can stretch to three or four days during the busiest stretches of October, when immigration offices are handling a high volume of restricted-area applications from multiple agencies at once. Permits also aren't processed on weekends or public holidays, which can add unexpected delay if your paperwork lands at the wrong point in the week.
For a 2027 trip, we'd recommend sending Nepal Vision Treks your passport scan and required documents at least two to three weeks before your planned departure date, and arriving in Kathmandu a minimum of two to three days before your trek starts, both to allow for permit processing and to give yourself a buffer against any Kathmandu-side delays before heading to Soti Khola.
Extending to Tsum Valley: What It Adds to the Cost
Many trekkers combine the Manaslu Circuit with a detour into Tsum Valley, a culturally rich side valley branching off the main trail that remains one of the least-visited regions in Nepal. This requires a separate restricted area permit on top of the standard Manaslu permits: roughly US$40 for the first 7 days plus US$7 per additional day in peak season, and around US$30 for the first 7 days plus US$7 per additional day off-season. If you're already planning a 2027 Manaslu trip and have the extra time, this is worth raising with Nepal Vision Treks early, since it changes both your permit costs and your overall itinerary length.
Ready to plan your 2027 Manaslu Circuit Trek? Get in touch with Nepal Vision Treks at our office on Dabali Marg, Thamel, Kathmandu, call or WhatsApp us on +977 9802342081, or email [email protected], and we'll handle every permit, from the restricted area paperwork to your final Kathmandu transfer, so you can focus on the trek itself.
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