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Nepal

Manang

High Annapurna Circuit village with glacier lakes and the Tilicho trail

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Best time to visit Manang

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: April to May and October to November
  • Shoulder: March, September and December, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: January to February and June to August

Planning a specific month? AprilMayOctoberNovember

Manang season by season

Winter December to February Shoulder

Deep cold and snow; Thorong La is often blocked and many lodges shut, so Jan and Feb suit only well-prepared trekkers.

Summer March to May Prime time

Apr and May bring clear mornings, open passes and the side trip to Tilicho Lake; Mar can still be snowy higher up.

Monsoon June to September Shoulder

The rain shadow keeps Manang drier than the south, but the jeep road up the Marsyangdi slides and washes out often from Jun to Aug.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Peak circuit season: acclimatisation hikes to Ice Lake, clear Gangapurna views and full lodges before the pass.

What Manang is actually like

Stone lodges with bakeries and a small cinema, yak steaks, acclimatising trekkers and Manangi families.

Things to do in Manang

The local places worth your time in and around Manang, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Gangapurna Lake

    Lake · in town

    Glacial lake right below the village, fed by the Gangapurna glacier; a few minutes' walk for the classic view.

  • Braga Monastery

    Monastery · 3 km out

    Centuries-old gompa stacked on a cliff in Braga village with old statues, an easy walk from Manang.

  • Ice Lake (Kicho Tal)

    Lake · 5 km out

    High lake at about 4600 m, a tough acclimatisation hike of some 1000 m up from Braga with Annapurna views.

  • Khangsar

    Village · 4 km out

    Old stone village on the Tilicho trail with a gompa and a few lodges, much quieter than Manang.

  • Tilicho Lake

    Lake · 16 km out

    One of the highest big lakes in the world at about 4900 m, 2 days on foot west via Tilicho Base Camp.

  • Upper Pisang

    Village · 14 km out

    Tibetan-style hillside village with a gompa and Annapurna II views, a day's walk east down the valley.

Getting to Manang

Jeep from Besisahar in about 6 to 10 h; Besisahar is about 6 h by bus from Kathmandu. ACAP permit needed.

Practical ways in: road

Trip facts

How long to stay
4 days
Budget
Mid-range
How busy
Steady at its peak
Solo travel
Easy solo
Altitude
3537 m
Country
Nepal
Coordinates
28.6665, 84.0175

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Manang?

April to May and October to November is peak season in Manang. March, September and December is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid January to February and June to August. Apr and May bring clear mornings, open passes and the side trip to Tilicho Lake; Mar can still be snowy higher up.

How many days do you need in Manang?

4 days is the usual stay. Stone lodges with bakeries and a small cinema, yak steaks, acclimatising trekkers and Manangi families.

How do you get to Manang?

Jeep from Besisahar in about 6 to 10 h; Besisahar is about 6 h by bus from Kathmandu. ACAP permit needed. Practical ways in: road.

Is Manang expensive, and does it get crowded?

Mid-range by Indian travel standards, and it runs steady at the busiest time of year. Easy solo.

What are the best things to do in Manang?

Gangapurna Lake, Braga Monastery, Ice Lake (Kicho Tal), Khangsar, Tilicho Lake and Upper Pisang. Glacial lake right below the village, fed by the Gangapurna glacier; a few minutes' walk for the classic view.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Nepal

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