Everest Base Camp is one of the most recognized trekking routes on the planet. Yet in recent years, more trekkers have started looking beyond Everest and shifting their attention to the Manalsu Circuit trek.
In fact, choosing between Everest and Manalsu is like selecting two very different versions of the Himalayas. Everest Base Camp is packed with a trekking infrastructure that has evolved over the decades.
On the other hand, Manalsu remains one of Nepal’s quieter long-distance treks. It is a route that blends high-altitude adventure with a sense of remoteness that is getting harder to find in popular destinations.
Here is a closer look at why a growing number of trekkers are choosing the remote Manaslu Circuit.
If someone asks you about one of the busiest trekking routes in the world, the Everest Base Camp tops the list. In peak season, thousands of trekkers move through the same narrow trails and teahouse villages. For many people, this energy and crowd level is part of the appeal. But for others, the crowding can dilute the experience.
On the contrary, Manaslu attracts far fewer visitors. You still find proper teahouses, guides, and well-maintained trails along the Circuit. But the sense of space and silence this region offers is very real.
On most days, you can walk for hours without meeting large groups, and that is true even in peak season. For trekkers who want a Himalayan journey that feels personal and unhurried, this difference is significant.
Everest vs Manslu: Which is more scenic? Everest gives you the postcard views that everyone recognises. For instance, you can see Ama Dablam’s perfect flutes, the Khumbu Icefall, and finally Everest itself from Kala Patthar. There is no debate that they are breathtaking.
Yet Manaslu is impressive in a different way. The trail circles Mount Manaslu (8,163 m), the eighth-highest mountain. Manaslu's west face towers above you in a way Everest never does from Base Camp. Add in the wild Budhi Gandaki gorge, blooming rhododendron forests, and the Tibetan-style high plateau after Samdo.
Likewise, the cultural encounters during the Manaslu Circuit trek feel more intimate as fewer trekkers visit this region. It is not yet heavily shaped by tourism. So, Manaslu still feels like a working landscape where daily life continues with little modification for visitors.
Both trek routes reach similar altitudes. The highest elevation of Everest Base Camp is 5,364 meters and Manaslu’s Larkya La Pass is at 5,160 meters. But the challenge differs in rhythm.
Everest has a more gradual altitude gain of elevation and there are more teahouse options along the trekking trail. All these factors allow flexible pacing.
However, you need to walk for longer hours daily in the Manaslu trek. And there are more ups and downs. Also, this trail features more remote sections where pacing matters.
Trekkers who enjoy pushing themselves on quieter trails often find Manaslu more rewarding. It is demanding, but the payoff at Larkya La, a wide and glacier-carved panorama, is unforgettable.
The Sherpa communities of the Khumbu are warm, entrepreneurial, and justifiably proud of their mountaineering heritage. The Sherpa culture of the Everest region is world-famous. Monasteries, prayer wheels, and mani stones line the trail. And the region’s mountaineering history adds another layer of fascination.
On the contrary, Manaslu’s cultural landscape is less documented, but it is incredibly rich. The settlements follow Tibetan Buddhist traditions, and many villages still maintain old ways of life. Most of them are tied to agriculture and trade. Interactions feel warm and authentic because you are walking through communities that remain largely unchanged.
The trek to Everest Base Camp is more straightforward as compared to the Manaslu. The route of Everest is supported by numerous flights, lodges and shops, and it is possible to trek independently. But you need to obtain a restricted area permit, a registered guide, and a minimum of two trekkers to be eligible to trek in the Manaslu region. This adds paperwork, but it is a good move to keep the region protected from the impact of tourism.
Meanwhile, in terms of cost, Everest can be more expensive. It is because the flight costs to Lukla and the higher prices for food and accommodation at higher altitudes increase.
Manaslu tends to be slightly more budget-friendly. Daily costs remain reasonable, and there are no internal flights. Your journey begins with a drive from Kathmandu to Machha Khola. For trekkers comparing multi-week trips, this difference matters.
One of the biggest reasons trekkers are choosing the quieter Manaslu Circuit is the feeling of walking a trail that still seems undiscovered. Everest is iconic, but it is no longer remote. Manaslu, on the other hand, brings back that early-trekking charm. There’s a sense of stepping into a region that still surprises you, challenges you, and welcomes you without ever feeling overwhelming.
However, not everyone has weeks to spend on the trail or the stamina to take on the physical demands of trekking in Manaslu or Everest. There is an option of a helicopter tour for such people to enjoy the Himalayas from above. One can opt for the Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour. In just a few hours, you can fly past towering peaks, sweeping glaciers, and dramatic icefalls.
