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Manaslu Circuit Trek Faqs

Trekkers usually have a lot of questions, especially when trekking in the remote areas like Manaslu. We have prepared these Around Manaslu Trek FAQs to clear the doubts of keen adventurers and assist them in planning a hassle-free trip so that they know just what to expect and how to deal with the anticipated issues on the remote mountainous zones.

Frequently Asked Questions

The total distance of Manaslu Circuit Trek is roughly 177km/110mi. and on a 17 to 18-day trek itinerary, you will be walking for 11 to 13 days, which means walking an average distance of 15 to 20km (9 to 12mi.) each day. The first few days on the trail becomes difficult due to the harrowing steep Budi Gandaki Gorge and lots of uphill and downhill walks. Crossing the Larkya La Pass at 5,106m (16,752ft.) is the most challenging parts of this trek with a long day-hike on trails filled with snow and ice. With great variations in terms of altitude, one major difficulty you could face during the trek is altitude sickness and your ability to adjust to the high altitudes. You do not require any special hanging or rope-climbing and mountaineering skills unless you attempt to do it during the winters. However, you need to be in great shape and physically fit even if you are a beginner. We recommend strength and endurance training, as well as cardiovascular fitness training to maintain your fitness level at least for 3 months prior to starting the trek.

This Manaslu trek is best done in pre-monsoon season i.e. from March to May and post-monsoon season i.e. from late September to December. In general, any time during October, November, April and May are considered the best months. Other recommended months for this trek are September, December and March. We do not recommend doing this trek during the rest of the months. Due to heavy snowfall in January and February it becomes very risky to cross the Larkya La Pass. Likewise, heavy rainfall causing flood and landslide can be experienced during June, July and August, so it is better to avoid these months.

Yes, absolutely! Under normal circumstances, all our booked trips are guaranteed to run. Please note that you will still be doing your Annapurna Base Camp trek even if other hikers cancel their trip. This is one significant reason why Himalayan Glacier is different from other operators, who usually cancel their whole trip a month or even a week before the actual trip date.  We are a specialized tailor-made company, so the number of participants does not stop any of our trips. Remember to find us in case your trip has been canceled by your operator and you are in a last-minute stress so that we can assist in sorting out your trip decisions. Unless there is a situation which is out of our control such as a political riot, natural disaster, pandemic, epidemic or weather catastrophes, our trips are 100% guaranteed to run.

Himalayan Glacier offers a lifetime deposit policy which allows you the flexibility to transfer your deposit to anyone or any other trip. If you wish to cancel your booked trips, certain cancelation charges apply. Please visit our booking terms and conditions for detailed information.

Rest assured that you will be in good hands with our experienced trek leaders, who have multiple years of experience trekking in Nepal. All of our guides, known as Himalayan Glacier dedicated Guides, are locals with a deep understanding of the mountain, its people, culture, health, hygiene, and most importantly, your safety. They are fluent in English and will be able to communicate effectively with you throughout the trek. Our guides are passionate about their work and will ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable trekking experience.

The accommodation on the Manaslu Trek comprises clean huts, teahouses, guesthouses, and upgraded hotels at some places. These hotels have room heaters and en-suite toilet and bathroom facilities. Each year, the lodge owners are adding additional facilities and trying to provide more comfort to their clients. When you book a trip with Himalayan Glacier, we will always book the best available lodges and guesthouses on the route throughout the entire trek. Please visit our accommodation page for more details.

You will enjoy 3 hearty meals each day. Generally, you will have your breakfast and dinner at the same lodge you will be staying. Lunch will be provided at tea houses or small restaurants along the trail.  The meals contain fresh fruits and organic ingredients sourced from Kathmandu or local villages throughout the trek. The meals include a balanced diet of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats designed by the nutritionist. The chefs are trained in hygienic food preparation. If needed, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and kosher diets can be arranged with prior notice.

Sample Menu

Breakfast

  • Beverage: black tea, milk tea, ginger lemon honey tea, lemon tea, hot lemon with honey, black coffee, milk coffee, hot chocolate
  • Toast with jam or honey, toast omelet, pancake, Tibetan bread, porridge/ muesli
  • Eggs on your choices
  • American breakfast or Continental breakfast

Lunch

  • Rice item: veg fried rice, egg fried rice, mixed fried rice, dal-bhaat
  • Noodle item: vegetable fried noodle, mixed fried noodle
  • Potato item: chips, fried potato, hash brown potato, veg fried potato, boiled potato
  • Burger: veg burger, chicken burger, veg sandwich, chicken sandwich
  • Pasta: spaghetti tomato sauce, macaroni cheese sauce
  • Pizza: veg pizza, tomato cheese pizza, chicken pizza, mushroom pizza
  • Momo (Nepali style dumplings): veg momo, chicken momo
  • Meat item: chicken sizzler, chicken steak, yak steak
  • Beverage: black tea, milk tea, ginger lemon honey tea, lemon tea, hot lemon with honey, black coffee, milk coffee, hot chocolate

 
Dinner

  • Soups: vegetable soup, mushroom soup, chicken soup, chicken noodle soup, Rara noodle soup, French onion soup, pumpkin soup, potato soup

Main Meals

  • Rice item: veg fried rice, egg fried rice, mixed fried rice, dal-bhaat
  • Noodle item: vegetable fried noodle, mixed fried noodle
  • Potato item: chips, fried potato, hash brown potato, veg fried potato, boiled potato
  • Burger: veg burger, chicken burger, veg sandwich, chicken sandwich
  • Pasta: spaghetti tomato sauce, macaroni cheese sauce
  • Pizza: veg pizza, tomato cheese pizza, chicken pizza, mushroom pizza
  • Momo (Nepali Dumplings): veg momo, chicken momo
  • Meat item: chicken sizzler, chicken stake, yak stake
  • Dessert: apple pie, chocolate cake, carrot cake, apple fritter, canned fruit
  • Beverage: black tea, milk tea, ginger lemon honey tea, lemon tea, hot lemon with honey, black coffee, milk coffee, hot chocolate

With an approximate number of not more than a few thousand trekkers each year, Around Manaslu trek is regarded as a less-crowded trek. It is a regulated trek that requires a special official permit with at least 2 hikers in a group. You may not expect luxury accommodation and the food of your choice at all places on this trek. Known as one of the virgin trails for trekking in the Himalayas, it has been less flamed by modernization and the trails are rich in flora and fauna. It is the perfect spot to gather authentic experiences of the local people’s culture and traditions. In recent times, this trail has been gaining popularity and the number of trekkers is gradually increasing. This trek will take you up the high altitude Larkya La Pass which is very close to the bordering area of Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Being situated at remote locations, most of the places on the trekking route do not have cell phone coverage and communication is not possible unless a satellite phone is available. However, at certain segments on the trek, you may find weak phone network. The secluded trails on this route comprise deep valleys and the northern facing geographical landscape adds to disrupting the phone reception. Buy a SIM card in Kathmandu prior to your trek so that you can use it wherever there is strong network and at teahouses where phone reception is weak, you can use the lodge’s phone service at a small extra charge.

The weather on the Manaslu trek is quite unpredictable as the highest point on the trek is located at an altitude above 5,000m (16,000ft.). The weather varies differently during different seasons like any other trekking regions in Nepal. Be prepared for the quickly changing weather, humidity, rain, and strong winds during the trek, sometimes all of these on the same day. Temperatures during the spring season range from -6 to 12°C (21° to 54°F) while during the fall the temperatures are between 8° to 12°C (46° to 54°F).

You will be traveling with like-minded travelers or yatris with similar mindsets who will diversify the values of the pilgrimage and present high levels of understanding throughout the trip. Yatris or travelers are usually aged between 40 and 70 with a few exceptions.

Altitude sickness has been a major setback in most high-altitude treks in Nepal. Although there are no major risks involved, here are few tips tried and tested by our professional trek leaders and travel planners to avoid high altitude sickness during the trek:
• Slow ascend with proper rest and enough acclimatization
• Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated at all times
• Eat sufficiently a healthy balanced diet during the entire trek and sleep well
• Avoid alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and tobacco products on the trek
• Be head-strong and mentally prepared
• Train your body to cope with uphill hikes with enough cardiovascular or gym workouts, at least 3 months prior to the trek

Generally, the first symptoms begin to show 12-24 hours after arriving at high altitudes.  The different levels of altitude sickness have different symptoms. Symptoms of mild, short-term altitude sickness are dizziness, fatigue, loss of appetite, sleeping problems, general loss of energy, and shortness of breath. Sometimes, these symptoms may be accompanied by headache, nausea and vomiting.

Yes, you absolutely need to take Diamox on this trek. Diamox is taken as prevention for altitude sickness but not to cure its symptoms. After the symptoms begin to show, the only option you will have is to descend to a lower altitude.

Electricity is available in all teahouses where you will be spending the night. You can recharge your phones, laptop or other electronic gadgets from solar panels or community hydroelectricity by paying a nominal charge. We strongly recommend you to bring extra batteries or rechargeable power banks for backup. Regarding Wi-Fi, there are no free hotspots along the trekking trail and the cellphone coverage is very poor, so we do not encourage carrying your laptop. Some teahouses do offer paid Wi-Fi services on hourly basis, but don’t expect high speed connectivity on the remote trails.

No, you don’t need crampons for Manaslu trek. You will just need a pair of good quality hiking boots and hiking poles for extra support and stability. However, if you are willing to trek in the months of January or February, then you might need crampons depending on the intensity of the snowfall, especially in the Larkya La Pass section.

No. Normally, oxygen is not required for the trek as our itinerary is designed in such a way so that it allows enough acclimatization. In addition, we provide Diamox, a medication that suppresses altitude sickness symptoms, from the beginning to prevent falling sick. However, in case of severe altitude sickness, we will descend to a lower altitude immediately.

Caffeine might contribute to altitude sickness as it could lead to dehydration triggering altitude sickness. Caffeine, on the contrary, is known to stimulate your brain, kidneys, and breathing, all of which are helpful at high altitude. For people who are into caffeinated beverages for a long time period and abruptly stopping to consume them on the trek may trigger profound headaches in them.

There are hundreds of trekking agencies that offer the Manaslu Circuit Trek. The cost of the trek varies widely depending on where you purchase your trip, the reputation and reliability of the tour operator and the services they provide to you. In general, the cost ranges from anywhere between $100 and $200 per person per day.

Water available in taps, streams or river water is totally detrimental and unfit for drinking purpose. Sadly, large fractions of the Nepalese population, both in rural and urban areas, are deprived of safe and adequate drinking water. We recommend our travelers to drink boiled water or purified water by adding purification agents. Although we discourage the use of bottled mineral water, but if you have to use it then double check that the seal is intact and the top of the bottle has not been manhandled. Overall, it is very important to drink adequate quantity of water when you are trekking in Nepal to avoid any threats associated with dehydration and altitude sickness.

Packing the right things for Manaslu trek is not an easy task because you will be hiking through different weather conditions from a very low elevation at Soti Khola to Larkya La Pass, so it is really important to plan well what to carry. Most trekkers tend to over-pack with unnecessary items and increasing the weight of their backpack. We recommend you to pack the most important things including your clothing, equipment and accessories that will keep you safe and comfortable throughout your journey. For detailed guidelines on what to carry on the trek, please read out packing list for Manaslu Trek.

Yes, of course, we will be very happy to do so. Himalayan Glacier is the #1 adventure travel company specialized for customized and tailor-made travel planning. For all about customized and tailor-made trip planning, please contact us and one of our expert consultants will assist you to ensure that your interest and other requirements are accommodated just like the way you want it to be.

The government of Nepal has declared Manaslu region as a restricted area in order to control tourism influx in the region. Therefore, trekking independently is not allowed in this area and a special entry permit is required for this. Not just that, a minimum of two trekkers accompanied by a local guide or a porter only will be given the special permits. These permits, however, have to be processed through locally registered tour operators. By and large, you will require three different types of permit while trekking to Manaslu, namely Special Restricted Area Permit for Manaslu (Manaslu RAP), Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP Permit), and Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP Permit). Himalayan Glacier will arrange all the paperwork and permits including arrival and departure pick-ups and drops while you are traveling to Nepal, so you need not worry about anything when traveling with us.

Manaslu trek is a restricted area trekking in Nepal on the less beaten trekking trail taking travelers to the true wilderness in a remote location near the Tibetan borderland. It is a high-mountain trek and known to be on a virgin trail with the most astonishing and captivating views of the 8th highest mountain in the world, Mt. Manaslu. This trek is not so easy and the adventure travel is full of surprises for which you need to carry the right gears and make the right preparations before attempting the trek. You will require a good level of fitness and strong determination to face the challenges and accomplish it successfully. You must prepare yourself for the trek by the following:

  • Do some short hiking or trekking prior to this trek.
  • Do regular exercises to stay physically fit.
  • Be mentally strong and highly determined.
  • Pack the right gears and equipment.
  • Get your health checked up and consult your doctor at least 3 to 4 months ahead of your trek.
  • For further information, you can visit our training guidelines on how to prepare for Manaslu Circuit trek.

    Manaslu trek is one of the most remote, virgin and off the beaten path treks in Nepal. Many have regarded this trek to be the most scenic trekking trail of Nepal as it offers authentic culture and people amid spectacular views of the mountains. The trail is filled with green and lush forest, flora and fauna, magnificent waterfalls and picturesque backdrop. It is different from Everest Base Camp trek or Annapurna Base Camp trek because Manaslu is located in the restricted area and trekkers need special permits to trek here. Solo trekking in Manaslu is not permitted and a partner is required along with a trekking guide or a porter. Another difference is that EBC and Annapurna treks are more commercial than the Manaslu trek and huge crowd of trekkers are not seen in Manaslu region. Teahouses in Everest and Annapurna region are more comfortable with better amenities. However, in terms of physical exhaustion, EBC trek or Annapurna trek is graded as moderate whereas Manaslu trek is graded as strenuous. But, regardless the difficulty grading, success rate is much higher on the Manaslu trek.

    Since Manaslu trek falls within the restricted area, special restricted area permit along with the regular permits are required for this trek. In addition, there is a requirement from the trekking authorities of Nepal that Manaslu trek will be allowed access only if there are at least two travelers on a tour accompanied by a trekking guide or a porter provided that the trekker books his or her trip through a registered trekking agency. However, the average group size varies depending on the agencies, anywhere between 4 and 12.

    Manaslu trekking itinerary varies largely and is flexible based on the requirements of the trekkers. Circling around the eighth highest mountain peak in the world usually takes about 18 days from Kathmandu and back. Manaslu trekking can be as short as 10 days and prolong up to 22 or 24 days. However, it is up to you to decide how long you wish to be in the Manaslu region because it is a restricted area and requires a special permit to trek in this region. Himalayan Glacier has carefully designed an itinerary for Manaslu trek that can be completed in 18 days and involves around 6 to 7 hours of walking each trekking day. On this itinerary, you will however, need to walk 10 to 11 hours on the day you will cross the highest point of the trek, Larkya La Pass at 5,160m (16,924ft.)

    Tap or spring water is generally not considered safe on the trek and most places in the country. We do not recommend drinking tap water or spring and river water when you are trekking. Bottled water and boiled & treated water is however, safe to drink. As far as food is concerned, we are not sure whether every teahouse or lodge will serve safe and hygienic food or not. But Himalayan Glacier has a set of protocols which our experienced and knowledgeable trekking leaders will always follow when it involves food, water and accommodation apart from other safety issues. Our guides and leaders will ensure that every meal that you eat is safe and hygienically prepared throughout the entire journey. We make yearly evaluations on the food quality and hygiene and ensure that the recommended parameters are met by the hotels and lodges who work in collaboration with Himalayan Glacier.

    Altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness usually occurs when people try to ascend too quickly in altitudes beyond 2,500m (8,202ft.). It is very difficult to predict whether a trekker will get altitude sickness on the trek or not, but in the end everything depends on factors like prior exercises, previous hiking experience on high elevations, food & sleep, current hiking pace, physical fitness, medical conditions and mental health, and more. You can visit our Altitude Sickness: Cause, Prevention, and Treatment section to learn more about altitude sickness.

    In general, one needs to be physically and mentally fit to do all mountain trekking above 4,000m (13,123ft.). On this trek, you will start trekking right from 800m (2,624ft.) and reach up to 5,106m (16,752ft.). It simply means that you need to be very fit and prepare well before you attempt this trek. You will be covering a total distance of about 120 km (75mi.) on the trek comprising mostly uphill walks on varied terrains. Although you don’t need to be extremely experienced, but you surely must be physically and mentally fit as well as fully prepared. Read Himalayan Glacier’s fitness planning for trekkers and find out how you can prepare for the trek and be fit.

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