Manang Jeep Tour

Itinerary of Manang Jeep Tour

Includes/Excludes

Best Season

The best time for the Manang Jeep Tour is spring (March–May) or autumn (September–November). In spring the weather warms up and rhododendron forests bloom, while autumn offers clear skies and excellent mountain views (often after the monsoon ends).

Winter (December–February) can be very cold with snow at higher elevations, and monsoon season (June–August) brings heavy rain and possible road delays. For first time visitors who want reliable conditions and scenery, spring and autumn are ideal.

Transportation and Facilities

You will travel in a private 4×4 jeep (or similar SUV) with an experienced driver. These vehicles handle off road conditions and have seat belts and roof racks for luggage. All fuel, permits and jeep costs are included. In Kathmandu you stay at a comfortable hotel (with hot showers and Wi-Fi). On the route, you will sleep in simple mountain tea houses.

Rooms have two single beds and blankets. Facilities are basic: bathrooms may be Western or squat style and are shared. Dining areas have wood stoves for meals. Accommodation is modest but clean, and it lets you experience authentic mountain village life.

What to Expect

Think of this trip as a mountain road adventure, not a trek. Each day involves 4–7 hours of driving on winding roads, with stops for photos and breaks. The jeep ride can be bumpy and dusty, but it’s comfortable and scenic. You will pass through farmland, forests and deep valleys. Each night you stay in a different village. Lodges are basic: expect shared bathrooms and simple meals.

Dress in layers, as mornings can be chilly and afternoons warm. Internet is very limited outside the city. Bring patience and enjoy the mountain scenery. In short, you can expect an easy-paced journey filled with incredible views and a glimpse of rural Nepali life.

Guide and Staff

Your trip will be accompanied by local Nepali guide. Typically you have one driver (and English speaking guide) who knows the route well. They will drive, handle logistics and help with hotel check ins and meals. All staffs are experienced and can answer questions about the region.

You won’t need porters on this trip because your luggage will stays in the jeep. The team keeps first aid kits and organizes any conditions of the roads. In general, the driver/guide team makes the trip be smooth and safe.

Altitude Sickness

Altitude sickness is a risk on this tour, since you go above 3,000 m. To prevent it, drink lots of water and avoid alcohol. Eat lightly, and ascend gradually. The itinerary lets you acclimatize by sleeping overnight at progressively higher villages. If symptoms like headache or nausea occur, tell your guide: we will carry oxygen and medicine.

Some people also take acetazolamide (Diamox) to help adjust (ask your doctor). Most travelers who follow these tips feel fine. Listen to your body and rest when needed. With care, we will not let altitude spoil your trip.

Road condition and Driving Experience

The Manang road is composed of both highways and off roads. The initial stretch of Kathmandu to Besisahar is tarmac and smooth with rivers, terraced hills and small towns on the way. Onward to Besisahar, the path slowly becomes a gravel road with stones and a few crossings of rivers. It reaches the mountain by climbing on the ridges with trees and open wilderness mountain slopes that are sometimes rough yet rewarding.

We have a experienced 4×4 driver, familiar with every single turn, who will be able to drive at a slow and safe speed. The ride might be adventuresome on slim twists and sharp turns, but your comfort and safety are our number one priorities. We take brief tea breaks, photo breaks as we head on and take rests. Just sit back, relax and watch the fantastic Himalayan scenery playing out in front of your window as we traverse through the middle of the Annapurna region.

Food and Drinking Water

Food during the Manang Jeep Tour is simple, fresh, and wholesome. One can find teahouses along the road which serve home cooked Nepali food including dal bhat (rice and lentil soup), vegetable curry, fried rice, noodles and soups. It is also common to find many lodges that have pancakes, omelets, or toast as a breakfast beverage. The majority of the ingredients are produced locally, and vegan meals are typical and harmless to consume.

Even though in most of the villages, you can find bottled water, we recommend that you carry a refillable water bottle and purifying water tablets or filters to avoid using plastic. Lodges can provide hot water to make tea and to fill bottles at a low price. It is also very important to drink a lot of clean water to stay hydrated at high altitudes. Another thing to taste is local apple juice available in the Manang area which is known to have orchards and cool mountain taste.

Gadgets and Internet

In Kathmandu you’ll have full electricity and free Wi-Fi at your hotel. In the mountains, power is limited: most lodges turn on lights and outlets in the evening (usually 6–10pm). Bring a universal adapter for Nepali plugs (types C/D) and a portable battery pack.

Charge your devices each night. Internet is mostly unavailable outside towns. A local SIM card (Ncell or Nepal Telecom) with data works in Chame and parts of Manang, but don’t count on it. In the villages, enjoy the “digital detox” and use the downtime to take photos or chat.

Permits & Visa

You must get a Nepal tourist visa (on arrival at the airport or from an embassy) – bring passport photos and about USD 30. For the tour route, you also need an Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) permit (around USD 30).

This permit is for park entry and can be arranged in Kathmandu or Besisahar. No special permits are needed beyond that for the standard route. (If you add Upper Mustang or other restricted areas, an additional permit is required.) Keep your passport and permits with you during the trip, as officials may check them.

Extra Expenses

You must pay some of your own bills. Budget for lunch and evening in the lodges (about 5 to 10 a meal), bottled water or snacks, and alcohol or soft drinks. You will also have to spend on your Nepal visa, travel insurance, and tips to the driver/guide (a few dollars a day in total).

Other extras could be laundry at lodges (minimal charge) and any other souvenirs or optional activities. Most of them are in cash only, therefore carry Nepali rupees. On the whole, plan on spending a small sum per day on top of the tour cost on these costs.

Trip Extension

If you have more time, you can extend the adventure. A popular add on is a trip to Tilicho Lake, the world’s highest lake. From Manang you can trek 2–3 days to Tilicho (special permit needed). Another option is to continue by road to Pokhara after Besisahar to enjoy the lakeside city. You could also visit Muktinath via Jomsom (with a special permit).

You could even combine this with a trek: for example, leave the jeep in Manang and hike the Annapurna Circuit or Annapurna Base Camp. In Kathmandu you might add extra days for sightseeing. Let us know your interests – we can help arrange any extensions.

Private Trip vs Group Join

A personal journey implies that the jeep and the guide belong to you. You set the dates and pace. More flexible (you can add additional stops, or customize the schedule), it is more expensive per person. A join-in group trip implies that you will share the jeep with other clients. Group tours are arranged on a predetermined date and a plan.

Forming a group is less expensive per head and you meet new friends. Anyhow, the routes, cars and hotels are of equal quality. In private tours, there is privacy and customization, whereas in group tours, it is cheaper and social.

Photography Hotspots & Best Views

The whole path is a great place to take photos, as everywhere there is amazing views, and the moments of the culture. In the villages of Chame and Manang, you will find clear sight of Annapurna II, Annapurna III and Lamjung Himal particularly in the softer morning light. The white walls of the Braga Monastery, the colourful flagella of the prayers and the fact that the background is snowy make it a perfect picture spot.

The water at Gangapurna Lake is very calm, and the mountains around it are very well reflected in the water, especially at sunrise. Marsyangdi Valley has expansive scenery of rivers, green terraces and small villages around Ngadi and Besisahar.

There are also numerous beautiful scenes of everyday life along the way, including farmers at work, yak herds, and prayer wheels turning in the wind. It is preferable to have your camera with you at all times, because the waterfalls, wildflowers and even the village paths directed by the road form wonderful pictures.

Wildlife & Nature Highlights

The Annapurna area is rich in nature, although large wild animals are shy. You might see domestic yaks grazing near Manang and blue sheep (bharal) on the high slopes. Watch overhead for eagles, vultures and colorful Himalayan pheasants. In the forests you could glimpse langur monkeys or watch squirrels dart along branches.Plant life changes dramatically with altitude.

Below 2,500 m there are lush rhododendron forests; above that the woods give way to alpine meadows and juniper shrubs. Look for red rhododendron blooms in spring. Even if you don’t spot many big animals, the ever-changing landscape and birdlife make the journey worthwhile.