Required Permits and Documents for Manaslu Circuit Trekking

The Manaslu trekking offers an immersive experience of natural beauty, diverse cultures, authentic traditional villages, and deep observation of remote lifestyle to the trekkers. However, trekking to this remote Himalayan region demands few challenges and one of the crucial things is to obtain the required permits and documents needed to do the Manaslu Circuit Trekking.

Manaslu Circuit trekking route was officially opened for international trekkers in 1991. Nepal Government has declared the Manaslu region and some other regions a restricted area to control the tourism activities of the region. Also, the government has implied some permits to Hike the Manaslu region in purpose to protect the pristine beauty, heritage, cultural resources and help the local community of the region. 

The rules and regulations of the Nepal government states that solo or independent trekkers are not allowed in restricted areas, there must be two trekkers accompanied by a certified guide. And they must obtain all the required permits including a special entry permit to explore the region. Additionally, you must obtain your permits  through a registered trekking agency.

In this blog post, we will discuss the important documents, permits and its costs to make your trip legal, safe and remarkable.

Required Manaslu Trek Permits

Trekkers need to obtain four different kinds of permits to enter the Manaslu region. If you want to combine the Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley trekking together, then you will require an additional permit. Here are the details about the permits hikers need to obtain to hike the Manaslu region.

Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (Special permit)

As we already mentioned, the Manaslu region is declared as a restricted zone by the Nepal Government. Trekkers must issue a Manaslu restricted Area Permit to enter the Manaslu region which begins from Jagat and ends at Bhimthang. 

The cost of Manaslu Restricted  Permit depends upon the days trekkers want to spend and the season they prefer to trek. The respective costs of the permit is as follows:

•  September to November: USD 100 per person for a week and from eighth day onwards, additional cost of USD 15 per person per day.
• December to August: USD 75 per person for a week and from eighth day onwards, additional charge of USD 10 per person per day. 

Note: These additional costs per day are charged according to the time that trekkers spend between Jagat and Dharapani.

Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP) Permit

The Manaslu Conservation Area covers almost whole areas of the Manaslu region. The conservation area starts from Philim village where trekkers need to register their MCAP permits and enter the region.

The MCAP permit costs NPR 100 for Nepalese, NPR 1000 for SAARC citizens, and NPR 3000 per person for other countries. There is no additional cost for extra days, so trekkers can spend as many days they want with the same MCAP permit.

Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Permit

Annapurna Conservation Area Permit is another essential permit and trekkers must have this permit during the trek. The Annapurna Conservation Area touches a part of Manaslu Conservation Area, that's why while entering the Manaslu Conservation Area trekkers also step into the Annapurna Conservation Area, which makes it  essential to obtain an ACAP permit.

The Annapurna Conservation Area Permit costs NPR 3000 per person for other nationals. NPR 1000 for SAARC nationals and NPR 100 for Nepalese. There are no extra charges for additional days. 

Note: Both of The Annapurna and Manaslu Conservation Area permits cost is similar throughout the year.

Tsum valley Trek permit

September to November: USD 40 per week per person

December to August: USD 30 per week per person

Beyond the week: USD 7 per day per person

Chum Nubri Rural Municipality Entrance Fee

Chum Nubri Rural Municipality permit is a recently introduced permit that the local government collects for the environmental conservation and development of the trekking trails. 

• The Chum Nubri Rural Municipality Permit cost is 1000 Nepali rupee per person.

Note: Adventure Hikers team takes the responsibilities of all the required Manaslu Circuit Trek permits and covers all the permits cost. 

Required documents for the Manalsu Permits

To get all these permits, you have to submit the following documents to your trekking agency a few days before starting the trek.

• Nepali Visa.
• A photocopy of your flight tickets with arrival and departure dates.
• A photocopy of your passport with six months validity. 
• Passport size photographs.
• Travel insurance documents.

FAQs regarding the Manaslu Circuit Trekking.

Can we do Manaslu Trekking without the Manaslu permit?

No, only people with all the necessary permits can enter the region. Without the permits you can not even go forward from Jagat.

Do children require Manaslu Permits?

Yes, childrens above 10 years need to have all the mentioned permits for Manaslu trekking. For children under 10 years, the permit cost is free but we don't recommend bringing little kids on high-altitude treks.

What happens If I lose the permits for Manaslu Hike?

You don’t need to worry about lost permits, once you issue the permits the record is stored online. So you can show the soft copy of your permits and the guide will also keep a copy of the permits.

How long does it take to issue the Manaslu Restricted Aea/ Special permit? 

It will take around 1-3 hours to obtain the Manaslu Special permit. This is due to the online application process and all the details, required documents of the trekkers and the agency which need to be uploaded.

Where can I obtain a Manaslu special/ Restricted Area permit?

The restricted area permit can be acquired from the immigration department through a registered trekking agency.

Where can I obtain MCAP and ACAP?

You can obtain MCAP and ACAP from the Nepal Tourism Board Office at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu.

Do I need a separate permit for Tsum Valley Trekking?

Yes, though Tsum Valley also comes under Manaslu region, trekkers need to acquire a separate permit for Tsum Valley trekking. The permit fee for Tsum Valley depends upon the season.