Manaslu Circuit Trek Permits: Restricted Area, MCAP, ACAP & Rules

The Three Permits You Need

The Manaslu Circuit lies in a restricted area, so the permit requirements are stricter and more costly than on open trekking routes. There is no climbing permit, it is a teahouse trek, but you need three documents, all arranged through a registered agency.

Figures are 2026 estimates; confirm current rates with a registered agency or the Nepal Tourism Board before you travel.

Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (MRAP)

The Restricted Area Permit is the main and most expensive document, and its US-dollar fee is higher in the peak autumn season. As a 2026 estimate, expect around USD 100 per person for the first 7 days plus about USD 15 per extra day in September to November, and around USD 75 plus about USD 10 per extra day in December to August.

Crucially, this permit is issued only to groups of at least two trekkers through a registered trekking agency, never to solo or independent trekkers. It covers the restricted section of the route, roughly from Jagat up to the Larkya La and down to the conservation-area boundary, and is checked at posts along the way.

MCAP & ACAP Conservation Permits

On top of the Restricted Area Permit you need two conservation-area permits:

• MCAP (Manaslu Conservation Area Permit), around NPR 3,000 for foreign nationals, covering the Manaslu Conservation Area you trek through on the main circuit.
• ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit), around NPR 3,000, required because the route exits through the Annapurna region beyond Dharapani, where the trail joins the Annapurna Circuit.

Both are issued by the Nepal Tourism Board and the National Trust for Nature Conservation, whose fees fund conservation and local development. SAARC nationals generally pay less for the conservation permits.

Where & How to Get Them

All three permits are arranged in Kathmandu through your registered trekking agency, the Restricted Area Permit in particular cannot be issued to individuals. You do not queue for it yourself; the agency files for the group.

You will need:

• Your passport (and a photocopy).
• Several passport-sized photos.
• The permit fees (usually rolled into the agency package).
• Your itinerary, group details and emergency contacts.

Permits are checked at posts along the route, beginning at Jagat, so carry your passport and keep all three permits handy at checkpoints. Allow time in Kathmandu before you start, the restricted-area paperwork cannot be obtained on the trail.

The Mandatory Rules: Guide & Two-Trekker Minimum

Because Manaslu is a restricted area, the rules are far stricter than on open routes like Annapurna Base Camp. Three requirements are mandatory:

• A government-registered agency. You must book through one; permits are not issued to individuals.
• A licensed guide. You must trek with a licensed guide throughout, who handles navigation, the pass and altitude judgement.
• A minimum of two trekkers. The Restricted Area Permit is issued only to groups of two or more. Solo and independent trekking are not permitted in the restricted area.

If you are travelling alone, agencies routinely pair solo trekkers into a group to meet the two-person rule. Rules, fees and the exact restricted-area boundaries can change from season to season, so confirm the current requirements with a registered agency or the Nepal Tourism Board before you travel. Costs are covered in the Manaslu cost guide.