Nepal's best restricted area treks are the Manaslu Circuit, Upper Mustang, Tsum Valley, Nar Phu, Lower and Upper Dolpo, Kanchenjunga and Limi Valley. All need a special permit issued through a registered agency, a licensed guide and at least two trekkers. In return you get quieter trails and some of the best-preserved culture in the Himalaya.
The short list
- Manaslu Circuit: 12 to 16 days, high point Larkya La, 5,106 m. The best all-round restricted trek.
- Upper Mustang: 10 to 14 days, high point about 4,300 m. Culture, colour and a walled town.
- Tsum Valley: 12 to 14 days, high point Mu Gompa, 3,700 m. A gentle Buddhist valley.
- Nar Phu Valley: 9 to 12 days, high point Kang La, about 5,300 m. High, stark and close to the Annapurna Circuit.
- Lower Dolpo: 16 to 18 days, high point Numa La, about 5,190 m. Phoksundo Lake and two high passes.
- Upper Dolpo: 22 to 26 days, high point several passes over 5,000 m. The ultimate remote journey.
- Kanchenjunga: 20 to 24 days, high point about 5,140 m. The far east.
- Limi Valley: 16 to 20 days, high point Nyalu La, about 5,000 m. Humla's hidden valley.
The treks in detail
Manaslu Circuit. A complete circuit of an 8,000 m peak with lodges all the way, a high pass and Tibetan-influenced villages in the upper valley. Permit fees are moderate. For most people this is the first restricted trek to do.
Upper Mustang. The former kingdom of Lo, in the rain shadow north of Annapurna, with cave monasteries and Lo Manthang at its heart. Moderate walking, good lodges, an expensive permit. It is one of the few treks at its best in the monsoon.
Tsum Valley. Monasteries, nunneries and mani walls in a wide valley near the Tibet border, at modest altitude. Often combined with Manaslu.
Nar Phu Valley. Two remote villages above 4,000 m and a demanding pass. Easily linked with the Thorong La.
Lower Dolpo. A camping circuit through the Tarap valley to the turquoise lake, with a modest permit fee.
Upper Dolpo. Shey Gompa and Inner Dolpo, three weeks or more of camping, and one of the costliest permits.
Kanchenjunga. North and south base camps of the third highest mountain, through Limbu and Sherpa country.
Limi Valley. Three ancient stone villages near the border, reached from Simikot on part of the old route to Kailash.
How restricted area permits work
Certain border regions are open only under controlled conditions. You cannot obtain the permit yourself: a registered trekking agency applies on your behalf with your passport details. The rules require a minimum of two trekkers and a licensed guide for the whole route. Fees vary widely. Upper Mustang and Upper Dolpo charge a high fee for the first ten days and a daily rate after that; Manaslu, Tsum and Nar Phu charge by the week with a higher rate in autumn; Lower Dolpo and Kanchenjunga are cheaper. Fees and rules are revised from time to time, so confirm them when you book.
Travelling alone?
A solo traveller can still go, by joining another trekker so that two names are on the permit. Agencies can often match people with similar dates. Ask early, especially for autumn.
Which to choose first
With two weeks and a taste for mountains, Manaslu. With an interest in history and art, Mustang. With three weeks and experience, Dolpo or Kanchenjunga. See Nar Phu vs Tsum Valley vs Upper Mustang for the three shorter ones side by side.
Season
Manaslu, Tsum, Nar Phu and Kanchenjunga: March to May and September to November. Mustang, Dolpo and Limi lie in the rain shadow and are good from May to October.
What it is like to trek there
The main difference from open regions is how few people you meet. Check posts record your permit at the entrance to each area. Lodges are fewer and simpler, villages are more traditional, and guides tend to know the families along the route personally. Many trekkers find these regions feel like Nepal's popular trails did a generation ago.
Booking lead time
Allow at least a week or two before departure for the paperwork, more in October. Your original passport is needed in Kathmandu for the permit, so plan a working day there before the trek, and avoid arriving on a Saturday or a public holiday when offices are shut.
Common questions
What is a restricted area in Nepal?
A border region where trekking needs a special permit, a licensed guide and at least two trekkers.
Which restricted trek is cheapest?
Kanchenjunga and Lower Dolpo have low permit fees; Manaslu is the cheapest overall because it uses lodges and takes two weeks.
Can Indians trek in restricted areas?
Yes, with the same permits arranged through an agency.
Which is the easiest?
Tsum Valley and Upper Mustang.
Heights, days, fees and rules are approximate and can change, so confirm the current details with us before you book.
