Independent Trekking and Travel

With the road being built along the classic Annapurna Circuit Trek, the neighboring Around Manaslu trek seems to be picking up in popularity as the "Annapurna the way it used to be trek."  Now that a lodge has been constructed before the pass it is now possible to do the circuit completely as a tea house trek.  

Unfortunately the Manaslu Conservation Area still requires a restricted area permit, which means for the fast majority of trekkers this trek remains off-limits to individual trekkers.  If you can convince an agent to get you a permit and allow you to guide yourself you will have no problems doing it independently, this is the way I did it.  Though if you do not already have a good relationship with a local agent they are unlikely to do the bureaucratic mess of paperwork, and or pay the requisite bribes required to secure the permit on your behalf without the extra financial incentive of organizing the trek.  There have been rumors in the last year that this trek would be taken of the restricted area list.  In my opinion this would be a good thing for the people of the area finically since as it stands the vast majority of the money from the trekkers goes to Kathmandu agents rather than the locals.  Until that happens you can hire a guide through our partner site:  Find a local guide for Around Manaslu Trek

As for the trek it does have some of the feel tea house trekking the way it used to be with much more basic and far fewer lodges than you will find in the Annapurna, Everest, or Langtang regions.  The limited supply and increased popularity means the the lodges do fill up so if you are in a larger group it may be hard to find enough rooms in one lodge.