November is one of the best months to trek and run in the Nepalese Himalayas. The post-monsoon season delivers clear, stable skies and exceptional mountain visibility — Manaslu in sharp relief against a deep blue sky is something you will not forget. The trails are dry and well-defined, and the high passes are still open before winter snowfall closes them.

That said, November is a cold month at altitude. Daytime temperatures in the lower valleys can be warm and pleasant, but conditions change dramatically as you gain height. Around Samagaun (3,530m) you can expect cold nights and sub-zero temperatures. At the Larkya-La Pass (5,160m) — the high point of the entire circuit — temperatures can drop to -15°C or below with wind chill factored in, even during daylight hours.

Warm layers, a quality down jacket, thermal base layers and good gloves are non-negotiable for this trip. We send a thorough kit list well in advance — read it carefully and do not underprepare for the cold. The mountain will always have the final word on conditions.

All travellers to Nepal require a valid passport with at least six months' validity beyond your expected departure date. A tourist visa is required and can be obtained either online in advance via the Nepal Department of Immigration website, or on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.

If obtaining your visa on arrival, bring the current fee in cash (US$30 for a 15-day single entry, US$50 for 30 days — we recommend the 30-day visa given the trip length) plus two passport-sized photographs. These photographs are also required for your national park permits, which we arrange on your behalf — so bring a few spares to be safe.

We recommend applying online in advance where possible to avoid queues at the airport, particularly if arriving on a busy international flight.

Comprehensive travel insurance with helicopter evacuation cover is non-negotiable on this trip. This is not a standard travel insurance requirement — it is a safety essential. The Manaslu circuit reaches altitudes above 5,000m in some of the most remote mountain terrain in the world, and helicopter evacuation is the only realistic option in the event of a serious medical emergency at altitude.

Your policy must explicitly cover trekking and trail running at altitudes above 5,000m, and must include emergency helicopter rescue and medical evacuation. Many standard travel insurance policies exclude this — check your policy wording carefully before you book. Do not assume that a policy covering "adventure sports" automatically includes high-altitude evacuation.

Providers such as Battleface, True Traveller, and World Nomads offer suitable adventure travel policies. We will ask you to confirm your insurance details before departure. If you are unsure whether your existing policy is adequate, please contact us and we can advise.

International flights to and from Kathmandu (KTM — Tribhuvan International Airport) are not included in the trip price and are booked independently. We recommend arriving the evening before Day 1 where possible to give yourself time to clear immigration, collect luggage and settle in before the trip begins the following morning.

Most guests fly via a Middle Eastern hub (Emirates, Qatar, Etihad) or with carriers such as Turkish Airlines — typical flying times from the UK are 10–13 hours including connection. We recommend booking refundable or flexible fares where possible given the nature of high-altitude adventure travel.

Unlike the Annapurna trip, the Manaslu circuit begins with a full-day 4WD drive from Kathmandu to the trailhead at Khorla Besi — there is no internal flight. All transfers throughout the trip are included in your trip cost and arranged by us.

Once you have booked your trip, please share your arrival and departure details with us. We will arrange your airport transfer from the moment you land.

Kathmandu has an excellent range of restaurants covering most tastes and dietary requirements — Italian, Indian, American, Japanese and everything in between. You will not go hungry in the city.

On the trail, the national dish is Dhal Bhat — a wholesome thali-style meal of rice, lentils, fried vegetables and local chilli, served in generous portions that are typically refilled without being asked. It is filling, nutritious and exactly what your body needs after a big day in the mountains.

Tea house menus along the Manaslu circuit are more limited than you might find on the busier Annapurna routes — this is a genuinely remote trail and the tea houses are simpler and smaller. Pasta, noodle soups, fried rice and omelettes are widely available. Vegetarians are generally well catered for. Gluten and lactose intolerances can usually be accommodated with advance notice — please let us know when you book. Strict vegan requirements become more challenging at higher altitudes and in very remote sections. We will do our best to brief the tea house team in advance.

The Manaslu circuit is one of the most varied and spectacular trails in Nepal. The journey begins in subtropical river valleys at 700m, running through rice and maize terraces along the Budhi Gandaki River, before climbing through dense forest, ancient villages and high mountain pastures as Manaslu progressively dominates the horizon.

As you gain altitude the terrain shifts dramatically — stone steps give way to rocky ridgelines, yak pastures and glacial moraines. The area around Samagaun and the approach to the Larkya-La is exposed, cold and extraordinarily beautiful. Yak traders travelling back from Tibet are a regular sight on the higher trails — a reminder of just how far from the ordinary world you are.

The Larkya-La Pass at 5,160m is the high point of the entire circuit and one of the most memorable moments of the trip. The crossing is a long, cold day with an early start — but the views from the top and the long descent to Bhimtang are unforgettable. Above 4,000m the trails are hiked rather than run — this is entirely normal and expected at altitude.

Our porters leave the tea house around 05:00 each morning, carrying your soft luggage ahead to the next destination so you can set out with a light daypack. We depart after breakfast at around 07:30–08:00, when skies are clearest and temperatures are at their most comfortable.

On average you will be on your feet for 3–7 hours, covering 9–22km depending on the stage. We stop regularly for water, snacks and to take in the views — this is not a race, and the pace is set to keep everyone comfortable and together. A scheduled sit-down lunch at a tea house or viewpoint comes around midday.

We typically arrive at the next tea house between 14:00 and 16:00, giving time to relax, freshen up and explore before an evening briefing over dinner. An early night by 20:00–21:00 is the norm on the trail — your body will want it, especially at altitude. Our guides will brief you each evening on the following day's route, conditions and anything you need to prepare.

Altitude sickness must be taken seriously, and we do not understate its significance. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) can affect anyone regardless of fitness level — even very experienced runners can be impacted if they ascend too quickly. Symptoms can begin as low as 2,400m and include headache, nausea, fatigue and disrupted sleep. More serious conditions — High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPE) and High Altitude Cerebral Oedema (HACE) — are rare but can become life-threatening if ignored.

The Manaslu circuit reaches 5,160m at the Larkya-La Pass — the highest point of any Pure Trails trip. Our itinerary is designed with acclimatisation built in at every stage, including a dedicated acclimatisation day at Samagaun and an optional hike to the Tibetan border. We do not rush the ascent, and we monitor every member of the group daily using pulse oximeters to track oxygen saturation and heart rate.

Some guests choose to take Acetazolamide (Diamox) as a preventative measure. This is a prescription medication — if you are considering it, speak to your GP or a travel health clinic before departure. We can share further guidance on this during your pre-departure briefing.

The most important thing you can do is communicate. If you feel unwell at any point, tell a guide immediately. Descending even a short distance is often enough to resolve early symptoms. Never try to push through altitude sickness — the mountain will always be there next year.

This is a Challenging grade trip and the most demanding on the Pure Trails schedule. You do not need to be an elite runner, but you do need to arrive with a solid base of fitness and a genuine comfort with sustained uphill movement over multiple consecutive days — including one very big mountain day over the Larkya-La Pass at 5,160m.

Daily stages range from 9 to 22km with significant elevation gain on most days and 12 consecutive active days on the trail. Much of the higher-altitude sections will be hiked rather than run — that is entirely expected and correct. What matters is your ability to keep moving comfortably for 4–7 hours and to recover well enough to do it again the next morning, day after day.

In the 8–12 weeks before the trip, we recommend running or hiking 3–4 times per week with a clear focus on hill work, back-to-back training days and building time on feet. If you are in any doubt about your readiness, book a free 10-minute call with us and we will give you an honest assessment.

Tipping is an important part of the local economy in Nepal and is warmly appreciated by the porters, tea house staff and local guides who work hard to make the trip possible. It is entirely voluntary but very much the norm.

The Manaslu circuit involves a larger local support team than most of our trips — porters carry luggage for 12 days of trail and the ratio is 2:1 runners to porters. A contribution of US$5–10 per person per day is a reasonable benchmark for the trekking team as a whole, though there is no fixed expectation — give what feels right for the experience you've had.

Bring some small denomination USD or Nepali Rupees in cash for tipping. Cards are not accepted in mountain tea houses and cash availability becomes very limited above the lower valleys — withdraw enough in Kathmandu before the drive to the trailhead.

Almost everything is included in your trip cost — accommodation, full board on the trail, all transfers, the 4WD drive to and from the trailhead, and all national park permits. Your main additional expenses will be drinks and snacks beyond what's provided, any optional activities or shopping in Kathmandu, and personal items like rehydration salts or medication.

Nepal is very affordable by Western standards. Budget roughly US$15–25 per day for additional drinks, snacks and incidentals on the trail. In Kathmandu, a good meal out costs US$5–15 and a beer around US$2–4.

Bring a mix of USD cash and Nepali Rupees. USD is widely accepted for visa fees and larger purchases. ATMs are available in Kathmandu but are not accessible on the trail — withdraw enough cash before the drive to Khorla Besi. There are no banking facilities on the Manaslu circuit.

Nearly 90% of our guests travel solo — and almost all of them say it was the best decision they made. Pure Trails trips are genuinely built for solo travellers. You will meet people who share exactly the same drive and curiosity, and 12 days of shared trail in one of the world's great mountain ranges creates friendships that last well beyond the trip.

Shared twin accommodation is included as standard in Kathmandu. Tea houses on the Manaslu circuit are twin share only — private rooms are not available in the mountains. If you would prefer your own room in Kathmandu, a private room upgrade is available for £195pp.

If you have any concerns about travelling solo to Nepal, please reach out. We have been running solo-friendly trips since 2019 and are happy to walk you through what to expect.

We understand that life is unpredictable. Our full cancellation terms are outlined in our Terms and Conditions, but in summary:

141+ days before departure: Full refund less the non-refundable deposit.
85–140 days before departure: 50% refund of sums paid, less the deposit.
84 days or fewer before departure: No refund — all sums paid are forfeited.

We strongly recommend taking out travel insurance that includes trip cancellation cover at the time of booking, not just before departure. Unexpected circumstances can arise at any point, and a good cancellation policy in your insurance will protect your investment.