Manaslu Circuit Trek from Israel: Complete Guide 2026

The Manaslu Circuit Trek from Israel has become a natural extension of a travel pattern that already exists at large scale. Somewhere between 7,000 and 10,000 Israelis travel to Nepal every year, most of them young trekkers freshly out of military service, and Kathmandu’s Thamel district has run on Hebrew signage and Israeli-run guesthouses for decades. The Manaslu Circuit gives this same crowd something the Everest and Annapurna trails increasingly cannot: a restricted area with a hard daily cap on trekker numbers, army checkpoints instead of teahouse traffic jams, and a Tibetan Buddhist valley that still feels the way Khumbu did thirty years ago.

Getting there from Israel takes more planning than it did a few years ago, since the regional airspace situation has reshuffled which airlines fly out of Ben Gurion and which routings are reliable month to month. This guide covers the current flight options, the Nepal visa process for Israeli passport holders, permits, cost in USD and ILS terms, what our package includes, and the practical details that matter specifically for Israeli trekkers, including timing around Passover and Rosh Hashanah and where to find the Israeli community in Kathmandu before you head to the trailhead.

Why Israeli Trekkers Choose the Manaslu Circuit

Nepal has been a fixture on the Israeli post-army trail since the 1990s, and most Israeli travelers arrive already knowing Kathmandu, or at least knowing someone who has been. What has shifted in the last few years is which trek people choose once they get there. Everest Base Camp and the Annapurna Circuit are the routes most Israeli backpackers grew up hearing about from an older sibling or a cousin, and both have become considerably busier and more built up since then. The Manaslu Circuit sits one level further out: a restricted area permit system caps how many foreign trekkers can be on the trail at once, a licensed guide is mandatory rather than optional, and the Nubri valley above Jagat still runs on subsistence farming and Tibetan Buddhist tradition rather than lodge Wi-Fi packages.

For trekkers coming off months of travel through India or Southeast Asia, the physical step up also makes sense here. The trek gains altitude gradually from the road-end at Machha Khola up to the Larkya La at 5,160 m, which gives a body that has spent weeks at low altitude time to adjust properly before the pass. And because Nepal has no diplomatic complications for Israeli citizens and no entry restrictions tied to nationality, it remains one of the most straightforward countries in Asia for an Israeli passport holder to enter, book through a local agency, and trek in without the paperwork headaches that have crept into some other destinations.

Flights from Israel to Kathmandu

There is no direct flight from Tel Aviv to Kathmandu, and there has not been one in recent memory. Every route from Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) requires at least one connection. What has changed is which connections are actually reliable right now: the regional airspace disruptions of the past two years have pushed some carriers out of Tel Aviv entirely and left others running reduced or fluid schedules, so the routing that worked for a friend last year is not guaranteed to be the routing that works for you. Confirm the current schedule when you book rather than assuming last year’s routing still applies.

Via Abu Dhabi (Etihad Airways): Etihad currently operates two daily flights between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi, connecting to Etihad’s own frequent Abu Dhabi–Kathmandu service (around 4 hours 40 minutes flying time). This has been one of the more stable routings out of Israel through 2026 and is generally the first option worth pricing.

Via Dubai (flydubai): Emirates has withdrawn from the Tel Aviv route entirely, but its codeshare partner flydubai has kept flying it, with up to around ten flights a day between Tel Aviv and Dubai. From Dubai, flydubai also operates nonstop to Kathmandu (about 4 hours 30 minutes, roughly 26 flights a week), alongside Himalaya Airlines and Nepal Airlines on the same route, so onward connections are frequent.

Via Delhi (Israir): Israir has been rolling out a direct Tel Aviv–Delhi service, targeted to begin around Passover 2026, which would put a nonstop option on the board for the first time. From Delhi, Kathmandu is a short domestic-style hop of under two hours on IndiGo, Air India or Nepal Airlines, with multiple daily departures. Because this Israir route is new, confirm it is actually operating on your travel dates before building an itinerary around it.

Via Bangkok (Arkia): Arkia flies direct from Tel Aviv to Bangkok a few times a week. Bangkok to Kathmandu is then a well-served route of roughly 3.5 hours on Thai Airways, Nepal Airlines or Himalaya Airlines, with several flights daily. This works well if your dates line up with Arkia’s schedule, which has been expanding through 2026.

Routes to check carefully: Turkish Airlines, historically one of the most common ways for Israelis to reach South Asia via Istanbul, relinquished its Tel Aviv slots and has not returned as of mid-2026, so do not assume an Istanbul connection is available without checking first. Qatar Airways’ Doha service to Tel Aviv has also been running a reduced and fluid schedule tied to broader Gulf airspace restrictions. Both may well be back to normal by the time you travel, so it is worth checking again, but do not book connecting flights on the assumption that they are.

Because the airline picture out of Tel Aviv has been genuinely unstable, book your Nepal trekking dates with a little buffer around your flights, and consider travel insurance that covers itinerary changes. We are happy to advise on which routing is currently working best when you reach out to plan your trek.

Nepal Visa for Israeli Citizens

Israeli passport holders are eligible for a Nepal tourist visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport. Israel is not on Nepal’s short list of nationalities excluded from visa on arrival (that list currently covers Afghanistan, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iraq, Liberia, Nigeria, Palestine, Syria, Somalia, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Iran), so there is no need to apply at a Nepali embassy or consulate before you fly.

Visa on arrival fees are USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days, and USD 125 for 90 days, payable in cash (USD is accepted everywhere at the airport counter; some other major currencies are accepted but do not count on it). For the 14-day Manaslu Circuit plus a few days in Kathmandu before and after, the 30-day visa is the sensible choice and leaves a comfortable buffer if weather delays your return from the mountains.

The process itself is simple: fill out the arrival form (or complete it online in advance through Nepal’s immigration portal to save time in the queue), pay the fee in cash, and you will have a stamped passport within about 20 to 30 minutes. Your Israeli passport needs at least six months of validity remaining beyond your entry date. Visa rules can and do change, so it is worth a quick check of the Nepal Department of Immigration site or your nearest Nepali diplomatic contact shortly before you travel, rather than relying solely on this guide.

Permits Required for the Manaslu Circuit Trek

The Manaslu Circuit runs through Nepal’s Manaslu Restricted Area, which means permits are handled differently than on an open trail like Annapurna or Everest. We explain the full background of why this zone is restricted and how the system works in our complete guide to Manaslu permits and rules, but the short version is that all paperwork is arranged in Kathmandu through a registered agency after you land, and is normally ready within 24 hours.

Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (MRAP): USD 100 per person for the first 7 days in peak season (September–November), USD 15 per additional day. Off-season: USD 75 for the first 7 days, USD 10 per additional day.

Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP): Approximately USD 23 per person.

Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP): Approximately USD 23 per person, required after crossing the Larkya La toward Dharapani.

Chumnubri Rural Municipality Permit: Approximately USD 8, collected at a checkpoint in the lower valley.

Since March 2026, solo trekkers no longer need to be paired with a second foreign trekker to obtain a permit, but the licensed guide requirement is still enforced at every army checkpoint on the route. Trekking this circuit without a guide, or with incomplete permits, is not an option Nepal law allows here.

Manaslu Circuit Trek Cost from Israel (USD)

We quote costs in USD because that is what you will actually pay for permits, your visa, and most agency fees in Kathmandu, and because the shekel has moved around enough against the dollar recently (roughly ILS 3.0–3.1 to the dollar through mid-2026) that fixed ILS figures go stale fast. Convert at the rate on the day you book if you want a shekel budget.

Cost Category	USD Range	Notes
Return flights Israel to KTM	USD 650–1,300	Via Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Delhi or Bangkok
Nepal tourist visa (30 days)	USD 50	Paid in cash at KTM airport
Trekking package (14 days)	USD 1,099–1,600	Guide, porter, permits, accommodation, meals
Travel insurance	USD 80–180	Must cover helicopter evacuation above 5,500 m
Kathmandu hotel (3–4 nights)	USD 60–200	USD 20–60 per night in Thamel
Personal trail expenses	USD 80–180	Hot showers, charging, snacks, bottled water
Tips for guide and porter	USD 100–160	Customary; guide ~USD 10/day, porter ~USD 7/day
Total from Israel	USD 2,100–3,700	Excluding personal shopping

What Is Included in the Manaslu Package for Israeli Trekkers

• All trekking permits: MRAP, MCAP, ACAP and Chumnubri community permit
• Government-licensed, English-speaking guide for the full 14-day circuit
• Porter service (1 porter per 2 trekkers; 10–12 kg per porter)
• All teahouse accommodation in twin-sharing rooms
• Three meals per day on trail (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
• Private jeep transfer from Kathmandu to Machha Khola trailhead
• Return jeep transfer from Dharapani to Kathmandu
• Kathmandu airport pickup and drop-off
• Pre-trek briefing, trail map and gear check in Kathmandu
• All government taxes and local fees
• Emergency first aid kit carried by guide on trail

What Is Not Included

• International flights Israel to Kathmandu and return
• Nepal tourist visa (USD 50 in cash at KTM airport)
• Travel insurance with helicopter evacuation coverage above 5,500 m
• Kathmandu hotel nights before and after the trek
• Personal trekking gear and clothing
• Hot showers on trail (approx. USD 2–4 per shower)
• Device charging at teahouses (approx. USD 1.50–3.50 per charge)
• WiFi fees where available on trail
• Bottled water, cold drinks, snacks and personal food beyond included meals
• Tips for guide and porter
• Emergency personal expenses

Travel Insurance for Israeli Trekkers

Travel insurance covering helicopter evacuation above 5,500 m has been mandatory for the Restricted Area Permit since March 2026, and your agency will ask to see proof of it before permit processing.

This is worth checking carefully if you are relying on Israeli coverage. The standard travel insurance that comes bundled with an Israeli credit card, or the supplemental travel policy sold alongside your kupat cholim membership, typically excludes mountaineering, trekking above a set altitude, or helicopter evacuation, and the cutoff is often well below 5,160 m. A dedicated international trekking policy (World Nomads, True Traveller and similar providers all offer this) or an upgraded adventure-sports rider from an Israeli insurer that explicitly names high-altitude trekking and helicopter rescue is the safer route. When you buy, confirm in writing that the policy covers rescue above 5,000 m in Nepal specifically, not just “adventure sports” in general terms.

Bring a printed or digital copy of your policy in English to show during permit processing in Kathmandu.

The 14-Day Manaslu Circuit Trek Itinerary

Our 14-day Manaslu Circuit Trek from Kathmandu follows this route. The drive to the trailhead is covered in more detail in our bus vs jeep transportation guide, if you want to understand why we use private jeeps rather than the public bus:

Day 1: Kathmandu arrival, permit processing, gear check, pre-trek briefing. Hotel in Thamel.

Day 2: Early departure by private jeep from Kathmandu to Machha Khola (930 m) – approximately 9 hours.

Day 3: Machha Khola to Jagat (1,340 m) – 5–6 hrs. First army checkpoint.

Day 4: Jagat to Deng (1,860 m) – 6–7 hrs. Deep gorge, multiple suspension bridges.

Day 5: Deng to Namrung (2,630 m) – 6–7 hrs. Rock tunnels, entrance to Nubri cultural zone.

Day 6: Namrung to Lho (3,180 m) – 5–6 hrs. First views of Manaslu summit.

Day 7: Lho to Samagaon (3,520 m) – 4–5 hrs. Tibetan Buddhist monastery village.

Day 8: Acclimatisation at Samagaon. Hike to Manaslu Base Camp (4,800 m) or Birendra Lake – do not skip this day.

Day 9: Samagaon to Samdo (3,875 m) – 3–4 hrs. Last significant settlement before the pass.

Day 10: Samdo to Dharamsala / Larkya Phedi (4,460 m) – 3–4 hrs. Early sleep; 3:30 AM start next day.

Day 11: Over Larkya La Pass (5,160 m) to Bhimthang (3,720 m) – 9–11 hrs. The toughest and most rewarding day.

Day 12: Bhimthang to Tilche (2,300 m) – 5–7 hrs. Long descent.

Day 13: Tilche to Dharapani; drive back to Kathmandu or Besisahar.

Day 14: Kathmandu rest day. Final briefing, Thamel shopping. Fly home or continue traveling.

Altitude Considerations for Israeli Trekkers

Israel has almost no high-altitude terrain to train on. Mount Hermon, the highest point most Israelis will ever stand on at home, tops out around 2,814 m, well below where altitude symptoms typically start. That means most Israeli trekkers arrive at Manaslu with less direct altitude exposure than, say, a Swiss or Peruvian trekker, regardless of how much general hiking fitness they have. This is not a disadvantage as long as you respect the acclimatisation schedule rather than your fitness level.

The acclimatisation day at Samagaon (Day 8) is built into our itinerary and is not optional. The route’s gradual ascent profile through the Buri Gandaki valley is designed to let your body adjust before the push to 5,160 m. Watch for persistent headache, nausea, loss of appetite and disturbed sleep. The rule that matters most: do not continue ascending if you are symptomatic, and descend immediately if you feel short of breath at rest.

Diamox (acetazolamide) is available by prescription in Israel before you leave, and also over the counter at pharmacies in Kathmandu. The standard preventive dose is 125 mg twice daily starting a day or two before you climb above 3,000 m. If you are trekking as part of a longer trip through India or Southeast Asia beforehand, some prior time at moderate elevation can help, but it does not replace a proper acclimatisation day at Samagaon. Our Manaslu Circuit preparation guide covers fitness training and gear in more depth if you want to plan ahead.

Best Time to Trek from Israel

Autumn (October–November): October is the strongest month on the calendar. Post-monsoon skies are clear, the trail is in good condition, and Manaslu is at its most photogenic. This window also lines up with Rosh Hashanah, when Chabad of Nepal typically hosts over a thousand Israeli and Jewish travelers in Kathmandu, so plenty of Israeli trekkers time their trip around it. Book guide and teahouse space early if you want an October start, since this is peak season for everyone.

Spring (March–May): Equally reliable, with rhododendron forests blooming below 3,000 m in April and generally clear mornings through May with some afternoon cloud build-up. Spring also happens to be Passover season, and Kathmandu’s Chabad House is famous for hosting one of the largest Seders anywhere outside Israel, drawing hundreds of Israeli backpackers to Thamel in the two weeks before the holiday. If you want to combine the trek with the Seder, plan your trekking window either just before or just after Passover rather than during it, since permit processing and guide availability slow down while half of Thamel is preparing for the holiday.

The Israeli Community in Kathmandu

Thamel has hosted a large, transient Israeli community for decades, built around backpackers between military service and the rest of their lives. The Chabad House in Thamel functions as a restaurant, community center and synagogue rolled into one, and it is normally the fastest way to find kosher food, Shabbat meals, or simply other Israelis if you want company before or after your trek. Chabad locations and premises do shift occasionally, so confirm the current address once you land rather than relying on an old listing.

Practically, this community is also useful: it means English and often Hebrew are spoken at guesthouses and restaurants across Thamel, gear shops are used to renting to Israeli trekkers headed into the mountains, and there is a well-worn information network if you have last-minute questions about permits, weather, or which agency to trust. We work with Israeli trekkers regularly and are happy to answer questions in the run-up to your trip, whichever part of that network sent you our way.

Why Book with Manaslu Treks and Expedition

Manaslu Treks and Expedition works exclusively in the Manaslu region and Tsum Valley. Our guides are from this area and know every checkpoint, teahouse and seasonal quirk of the Buri Gandaki route. We handle all permit processing through official channels, arrange Kathmandu transfers, confirm teahouse reservations during peak season when beds at Dharamsala are scarce, and stay reachable on WhatsApp throughout your trek.

For Israeli trekkers, we communicate fully in English before and during your trip, can advise on the current flight routing out of Tel Aviv, and are used to the timing questions that come with planning a trek around Passover or Rosh Hashanah. Our 13-day Manaslu Circuit Trek starts from USD 1,099, and the 14-day version with the extra acclimatisation day is the one we recommend for most international trekkers.

Frequently Asked Questions – Manaslu Circuit Trek from Israel

Do Israeli citizens need a visa for Nepal?
No advance visa is required. Israeli passport holders receive a Nepal tourist visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport. Bring USD cash: USD 50 covers the standard 30-day visa.

Are there direct flights from Israel to Nepal?
No. All routes from Tel Aviv connect through a hub, most reliably Abu Dhabi or Dubai at the moment, with Delhi and Bangkok as other realistic options. Istanbul and Doha connections have been unreliable through 2026, so confirm current schedules when you book.

Is it complicated for Israelis to travel to Nepal given regional tensions elsewhere?
No. Nepal has no entry restrictions tied to Israeli nationality and has hosted large numbers of Israeli travelers every year for decades, with an established Israeli community and Chabad presence in Kathmandu. The main practical complication is on the flight side, not on arrival in Nepal itself.

How much does the Manaslu Circuit Trek cost from Israel?
Budget roughly USD 2,100 to 3,700 all in, covering flights, visa, the trekking package, insurance, Kathmandu hotels and trail expenses. The trekking package itself starts from USD 1,099 for 13 days.

Can I trek independently without a guide?
No. The Manaslu Restricted Area requires a licensed guide at all times, checked at multiple army posts along the route. Independent solo trekking is not permitted here under Nepal law.

Is there a longer option that includes Tsum Valley?
Yes. The 19-day Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley Trek combines the full circuit with the Tsum Valley, a remote and culturally rich extension worth the extra days if your schedule allows it.