Best Time to Trek the Manaslu Circuit: Month-by-Month

The Two Best Seasons

The choice of season matters on Manaslu because of two things: the high, snow-prone Larkya La (5,106 m), which can be blocked in winter, and the landslide-prone Budhi Gandaki gorge road, which is dangerous in the monsoon. Two windows stand out.

Note that the Restricted Area Permit costs more in autumn than in the off-season, see the permits guide.

Month-by-Month

September

Early autumn. The monsoon is tailing off, so the lower trail can still be wet and the gorge road may carry some landslide risk, but skies clear quickly and the trail is greener and quieter than peak October. A fine choice for those wanting autumn weather with fewer people.

October

The single best month. Post-monsoon air is washed clean for the sharpest mountain views of the year, the Larkya La is usually clear of fresh snow, and daytime temperatures are comfortable with cold nights. Also the busiest, so book ahead.

November

Still superb and slightly quieter as the month progresses. Crystal skies and increasingly cold nights, well below freezing at Samdo and Dharamsala. Late November brings the first cold snaps and the risk of early snow on the pass.

December–February

Cold and very quiet. The lower gorge can be pleasant by day, but the upper villages are bitterly cold and the Larkya La is often snow-blocked, with crossings sometimes impossible after heavy snowfall. Only for the well-equipped and flexible, with a guide who reads pass conditions.

March–April

Spring's headline act: rhododendron forests bloom on the lower trail, days warm up and views are good, especially early. Some spring snow can linger on the Larkya La into March, so later spring is more reliable for the crossing.

May

Warm and green low down, with afternoon cloud build-up common and rising pre-monsoon haze. Good for spring colour and a clearer pass than March, though views are often sharpest at dawn before the haze rises.

June–early September (Monsoon)

Heavy rain makes the Budhi Gandaki road and trail landslide-prone and dangerous, the lower forest is wet and leech-ridden, and cloud hides the mountains. This is the season to avoid on Manaslu.

The Larkya La: Timing & Weather Windows

The defining factor on the Manaslu Circuit is the Larkya La (5,106 m). It is long, wind-exposed and catches fresh snow, which can close it or make it hazardous, so the season and the conditions on the day both matter.

• Start before dawn on the crossing day, so you reach and clear the pass before the wind and afternoon weather build.
• Be willing to wait or turn back if weather closes in, fresh snow on the exposed slopes raises the avalanche and whiteout risk.
• Trek with a licensed guide who knows the pass and can read recent snowfall and lodge conditions at Dharamsala.
• Keep contingency days in your plan, the pass and the mountain roads are weather-dependent at both ends.

More on staying safe at altitude in the Manaslu altitude and safety guide.

Crowds, Festivals & Timing Tips

• Quieter than Annapurna or Everest: as a restricted area, Manaslu stays far less crowded even in peak season, one of its great attractions.
• Dashain & Tihar (Oct–Nov): Nepal's biggest festivals fall in peak season, so book your agency, permits and lodges early as some staff travel home.
• For fewer people with great weather: aim for late September or late November in autumn, and mid to late April in spring for a more reliable pass.
• Start early each day year-round, the mountains are clearest at dawn before cloud and haze build.