Manaslu Trek

Best Season

The Manaslu Trek is one of the most beautiful as well as difficult treks in Nepal. As it is going to be in the high Himalayas, it is not ideal to trek to Manaslu during the monsoon or winter. The best time, then, for the trek of Manaslu is during the spring season (March to May) and during autumn season from September to November.

Spring is a blossoming season, moderate in temperature, with stabilized weather. The views of the mountains are clearer during this season, providing stunning views of the mountains. As spring is known as the season of blooms, there will be varieties of flowers blooming throughout the trail, making the trek even more colorful.

If you wish to experience the cultural richness of the Manaslu Region, the spring is the best season because, after the snow melts, there are new blooms and people perform various religious ceremonies about the renewal of the year.

Another best season for the Manaslu Trek is in the autumn. The temperature is moderate in this season, neither very hot not very cold, making it one of the perfect seasons for Manaslu Trekking. The weather is also clear during Autumn which provides an opportunity to see the clear and undisturbed views of mountains and valleys.

Not just the natural beauty, but this season also comes with many major festivals for Nepalese, like Dashain and Tihar. You can enjoy the celebrations in the villages during your Manaslu Trek.

As Manaslu is a high elevation trek, always expect occasional snowfall or rain even in the spring or autumn seasons.

The Manaslu trek can be done in the monsoon which is from June to August and winter starting from December to February, but it is more challenging. People who like to have adventure may undertake this trek in these seasons because the trails are less crowded and more peaceful during such seasons.

If you are going to take a Manaslu trek in the seasons of the monsoon or winter, then you have to be prepared to conquer these heavy rains and snowfalls. In fact, the successful completion of the trek may not be impossible but would call for proper planning, gears, training, and courage.

Accommodation

There are tea houses and lodges throughout the trekking routes of the Manaslu Trek which offers basic accommodation and meals. You can get twin-sharing rooms in the tea houses and lodges.

They also provide electricity and showers, but you’ll have to pay for it as you ascend to the elevation, and the charges also go up as you climb higher. The teahouses will have shared bathrooms in both western style and squad commode.

We will also be staying in the tourist-standard tea houses on a twin-sharing basis during our Manaslu Trek.

Foods and Drinks

There are varieties of foods you can have throughout the Manaslu trek, from Dal Bhat to soups, pasta dishes, and various fried rice dishes for the meal, that cost around 500–800 NPR for a meal. You can have porridge, pancakes, omelets, boiled eggs, and various breads for breakfast, which will cost between 400 and 600 NPR.

There are a wide range of drink options you can have in the mountains including black and milk tea, coffee, lemon ginger honey tea, masala tea and hot chocolate. The prices range from 50 to 250 NPR per cup, depending on the altitude and the drink ordered.

We will be provided with 12 breakfasts, 13 lunches, and 12 dinners during the trek. If you wish to have anything else apart from the meals and foods included in the package, you will have to pay for it on your own.

Transportation

The Manaslu Trek does not require transportation other than the first and last days of the trek. The transportation we will be using will be a tourist-standard vehicle.

The vehicle may vary according to the pax of your trekking group. If you are up to six people, we will be driving in a Jeep, but if you are more than six, you will either be driving in a van or a bus.

All of the transportation will be easy and comfortable, providing you with a with a comfortable and memorable trek.

Trekking Permits

You will require three permits for the Manaslu Trek. The first one is the Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (RAP). This permit is needed between Jagat and Dharapani. It will cost you $100 per week from September to November for 7 days and an extra $15 for each additional day.

The cost of RAP is $75 per week in December, as it is the off-season for trekking. $10 is charged for every additional day.

The second permit you need for the Manaslu Trek from Pokhara is the Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP). It will cost you 3000 NPR per person, and only local currency is accepted for this permit. The funds collected from these permits are used for protection and preservation of the ecosystem of the region and also used to uplift the living standard of the local people.

The last one is the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP), since the Manaslu crosses into the Annapurna Conservation Area. This permit costs 3000 NPR per person, and only local currency is accepted.

You can get your permits for the Manaslu Trek from the Nepal Tourism Board either by yourself or by having your guide or travel agency do it for you. The permits require your passport and two passport-sized photographs.

We will acquire all your necessary permits for the Manaslu trek, and the cost of the permits is included in the package.

Physical Fitness and Altitude Sickness

Ig you are in good physical health and walk continuously for few hours without anu problems, you can complete the Manaslu trek successfully.

It will be a little tough for beginners and people who not done a high-altitude trek prior, but withmeticulous plan,proper preparation, adequate training, even a first-time trekker can successfully complete the Manaslu trek.

Altitude sickness is a risk on the Manaslu trek when crossing the high Himalayan pass of Larke La. To mitigate altitude sickness, always take your trek nice and slow with adequate acclimatization, eat enough, have enough sleep, and drink enough water.

Take medicines like Diamox if needed, but consult your home doctor or physician before using any such medicines.

Descend to a lower altitude if you experience strong symptoms of altitude sickness like excessive headaches, nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath, and uneasiness in the body. Take a good rest in a warm environment, and if you don’t get better even after acclimatization and days of rest, call for medical attention.

Guides and porters

You are not allowed to travel alone in the Manaslu region, so having a guide is a must if you are alone. You can get yourself a guide that costs you $20–$30 per day. They will speak proper English and will have knowledge about almost everything in the region.

They will not only give you directions but they will also give you some needful tips and share interesting facts about the place, including its cultural and religious importance.

If you don’t want to trek with a heavy load on your shoulders, you can hire a porter. Porters can carry up to 30 kg maximum (a single porter will carry 12 kg of luggage per trekker during our trek), but less is better, and will cost you $18–25 per day. You can share a porter with two trekkers.

You will have a guide and porter for the trek. A porter will carry 12 kg of luggage for every trekker, and all their costs, including permits and insurance, are included in the package.

Electronics and Connectivity

WiFi is increasingly available at guesthouses throughout the Manaslu trek, but comes with a charge depending on what altitude you are at and gives patchy coverage. You can use local SIM cards, either NCELL or NTC, when trekking, but NTC has better phone signal and data connection on the ManasluTrek .

Charging batteries are freely available for the first couple of days, but this doesn’t last long. After you ascend to a higher elevation, it will cost you NPR 200 and more to charge your electronics, depending on the device you want to charge.

Elevation and distance

The Manaslu Trek is a high Himalayan trek that includes crossing a high pass at an elevation of more than 4,000 m. The highest elevation you will be conquering during this trek is 5,106 m. at Larke La Pass.

The lowest elevation of the trek is the starting point of the trek, Soti Khola. It is located at an elevation of 730 m. The total altitude gain of the entire Manaslu Trek is 4,376 m.

The total distance of the Manaslu Trek is approximately 180 km, which is about 110 miles. We will trek about 180 km in 12 days, whereas we will drive from Kathmandu to Soti Khola, which is approximately 141. 3 km.

Minimum and maximum walk per day

The Manalsu Trek takes 13 days to complete, but the duration also varies according to the itinerary you choose and how many hours you can walk in a day.

The maximum number of hours you will be walking during the Manalsu Trek is 8 hours, on most days. On average, you will be walking for 6 to 8 hours a day.

There are some days when you will only walk for 4 to 5 hours to give your body rest.

Insurance

The insurance is mandatory for this trek. As the trek goes beyond 4,000 m, there are high chances of risks and mishaps. The insurance is required to cover any loss or cost in the event of an accident.

Make sure your insurance covers helicopter rescue from above 4,000 m so that you can be safely brought to medical care if there is any emergency. Insurance must also cover the loss, theft, or cancellation of the trip due to any uncertain reasons.

It is suggested that you take the insurance as an investment because it will save you a large sum of money if anything negative happens during the trip.

What to expect

The Manaslu Trek in Nepal offers an adventure activity with the richness of many different kinds of experiences—stunning natural beauty, cultural experience, different landscapes, etc. There are several things that you can expect from this trek.

You will see the eighth-highest mountain in the world, Mount. Manaslu, which is 8,163 meters tall.

You will get to see various sorts of landscapes, like terraced fields and green forests. You may come across different types of animals and a variety of birds—the snow leopard and red panda, as well.

One can experience different types of culture: Gurung and Tibetan communities, their traditions, ways of living, and cultures.

You can expect ancient Buddhist monasteries, prayer flags, wheeels, etc. on this trek.

You can find various trekking routes with high passes from which you can see beautiful views.

Can a beginner join this trip?

The Manaslu trek is also one of the most challenging treks, but for beginners, they can also join this trek with proper preparation.

You should start preparing yourself 4-5 months prior to the trek. Work on your stamina by doing some form of regular exercise that will help you build your stamina, such as swimming, running, cycling, etc.

You will also have to lug your bags around, so significant importance has to be given to the development of body muscles with planks, squats, pushups, etc.

You should do some short treks so that you can learn more about treks and the good and bad aspects of your body.

You should also know that you must stay hydrated throughout the trek to keep yourself safe. Drink plenty of water to have enough foods to endure the difficulties of the trek.

Instead of going on a trek solo, you should join a group so that you can get some experience and tips from the other trekkers who have been going.

One of the most important things is that not only your body should be fit, but mental health is also important. There might be challenges while you trek, but you should have a strong positive mental mindset and tackle every single challenge you face.

You should take good trekking gear and clothes for your safety in higher altitudes and also pack first aid so that it can help in a crucial time.