Manaslu Circuit Trek - 13 days

The starting point of the Manaslu Circuit Trek from where you will begin your trek is Soti Khola. It is a beautiful small village with natural beauty and the flowing Budhi Gandaki River nearby. The distance from Kathmandu to Soti Khola is about 143.2 km, and it takes over 5 hours to reach the destination.

There are two ways to reach Soti Khola from Kathmandu, and they are

 1. By public bus:

• Take a local bus from Kathmandu to Soti Khola. The journey takes about 8-9 hours.
• Buses depart from Gongabu Bus Park in Kathmandu.
• The road is good until Arughat, after which it becomes bumpy.
• Buses may be crowded and uncomfortable.

2. By private jeep:

• Hire a private jeep from Kathmandu to Soti Khola. The journey takes about 5-6 hours.
• Jeeps are more comfortable and allow you to stop for photos and breaks.
• You can find jeeps with tourist number plates (green) or red plates. Green plate jeeps are generally better as they don’t have to stop as often.

Manaslu Circuit Trek is one of the best off-the-beaten treks in Nepal. This is also why it makes it different from other treks in Nepal. Here are some factors that make Manaslu Circuit Trek unique from others.

Remoteness

One of the unique features of the Manaslu Circuit Trek is its remoteness. The trek starts with the remote villages lacking infrastructure and services. Hence, trekkers must be extra careful with at least other trekkers or guides in case they get lost or fall ill.

Diverse Ethnic Culture

Manaslu Circuit Trek is also well renowned for hosting different types of ethnic people living together in harmony. The inhabitants of this region are Magars, Gurungs, Tharus, and Sherpas. Among many trekking regions in Nepal, Manaslu Circuit Trek is where you can find different ethnic people.

Toughest Terrains

There are many trekking destinations in Nepal. They are easy to trek, but few are at the moderate level; however, Manaslu Circuit Trek lies with the few treks that are quite challenging and often are not recommended.

Preparation for the Manaslu Circuit Trek is extremely necessary, considering how challenging the trek is. The preparation for the Manaslu Circuit trek is even more necessary if you are a beginner and don’t have prior trekking experience in such remote high-altitude regions.  Here are some of the factors that your preparation must be focused on.

Physical Preparations

Manaslu Circuit Trek is a moderately challenging physical trek that takes about 14 to 21 days to complete. Furthermore, each trekking day takes about 6-7 hours to reach from one teahouse to the teahouse. Spending 7 hours per day for over 14 days will surely take a toll on your body, so you must prepare for this situation beforehand. For such a physically complex trek, you have to be physically well prepared. Before the months of the beginning of your trek, prepare physically by indulging in cardiovascular exercises that raise your stamina and strengthen your core. Activities like hiking, swimming, jogging, etc, will also help improve your physical stamina.

Mental Preparation

Mental toughness is just as important as physical fitness. The Manaslu Circuit Trek can be physically and mentally demanding, so you need to prepare yourself for long days of trekking and potential challenges. You can try practicing mindfulness, meditation, or other stress-relief techniques to build mental resilience. A strong mental condition can help you and the crew around you as they can see you as the source of leadership.

High Altitude Preparation

Trekking Manaslu Circuit Trek is all fun and joyful in the lower altitude, but the challenges begin as you climb the elevation and reach the high altitude. Preparing for the high-altitude trek is essential for the smooth operation of your trek. The most common preparation is altitude sickness and acclimatization. Coordinate with the trekking agency and learn the ways to acclimate and the number of days needed for the rest. Furthermore, always prepare for the dynamic weather of high altitude trek, so research the best time to explore the trekking region and plan to trek in those seasons.

Plan proper clothing, gear, and equipment

Another way to prepare for the Manaslu Circuit trek is to know what to pack for the high-altitude trek. Since you will be trekking at high altitudes, you must carry warm clothes, trekking gear, and necessary equipment like sleeping bags and trekking poles. Backpacks, compass, small locks. Etc.

Trekking to Manaslu Circuit Trek is filled with adventure, challenges, and fun. The high-altitude trek provides challenges to any trekkers; however, if you are a beginner, the challenge might be even more. The best way to minimize certain trek challenges is to visit the Manaslu region during the best time for trekking. To check the best time to visit the place, you have to learn about the ideal seasons you will be visiting. So let’s get into it.

Autumn

Autumn (mid-September-October-November) is among the best trekking seasons for exploring the Manaslu region. The early part of September receives rainfall as it falls in the post-monsoon season. However, as the days pass, the rainfall stops, and the Manaslu region becomes extremely pleasant to explore through the mountains. The major attractions of trekking in autumn are the colorful views of the skies and mountains and the golden hue color, especially during sunrise and sunset.

Spring

Spring (mid-March-April-May) is considered the best season for the Manaslu Trek. The perfect weather, fully-operated teahouses, better roads (compared to rainy and winter seasons), and daylight hours make the trekking remarkable. In Spring, the trekking trails are covered with blooming flowers like rhododendrons and magnolias. The views during the

Monsoon

Manaslu region is likely to have lots of rain during the rainy season, making it tough to trek. Likewise, a lot of snow during the winter season makes it difficult to trek. Experienced trekkers can do off-season trekking, but it is still considered risky. Trekkers are requested to do organized planning and medications before venturing the Manaslu trek.

Winter

Like the monsoon season, winter is not ideal for trekking. The dynamic weather and extreme climate make the trek a bit difficult. Sometimes, due to extreme weather, your trek path might get blocked, and it can also lead to damage to property and someone

Accommodation during the Manaslu Circuit trek can be divided into luxury hotels in city areas like Kathmandu Besisahar and teahouses in remote areas like  Samdo, Bhrimtang, etc. The teahouses are the actual houses that are turned into guesthouses by the owner of the homes.

These family-run accommodations in remote regions provide the trekkers with meals and a resting place. There are some key features of the teahouses, and they are:

Meals

One of the basic amenities of the teahouses is the meals. The teahouses you stay in also have meal facilities. In terms of meals, you will have the choice from local Nepali dishes like Dal, Bhat, Tarkari, Dhindo, Gundruk, etc, to Western dishes from Pizzas, Burgers, Steaks, Stews, Spaghetti and Macaroni.

Basic Services

One of the most common features of teahouses is that you will get basic services. The basic services include simple rooms with beds, blankets, bedsheets, pillows, etc, to keep you warm. Basic services include showers, baths, toilets, and sink facilities. You may have to pay extra for facilities like a hot shower, internet connectivity, etc.

Limited luxuries

Another common feature that most teahouses share is that they don’t have tons of luxuries. You will not get extra services in the teahouses that you will normally get in luxury hotels or even budgeted teahouses.

Warmth and Hospitality

Almost every teahouse in the Himalayan region is built by the loving Sherpa family. They always welcome the guests and serve them with warmth and hospitality. The motto of Nepalese people for guests is “Athiti Deva Bawa,” which means guests are the symbol of gods, which is why the priority of the teahouse is to serve guests.

Small and Twin Bed Rooms

One of the most common facilities of the teahouses in Manaslu Circuit Trek is that the rooms are small and often come with twin beds. This indicates that you have to share your room with the other trekkers, whether in the same group or not. However, this policy does not apply to single female trekkers.

The tea houses in Manaslu offer various food options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the trek. Here are some menus for your breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Breakfast

Breakfast is the day’s first meal, which is important for the upcoming trek. Breakfast should not be skipped for the burst of energy, and since you will be covering more distance in the morning, be prepared and eat a delicious but healthy breakfast. Breakfast options include Tibetan bread with honey, jam, or peanut butter, breakfast with a Chapati sandwich or toast, porridge, paratha, soups, eggs, and pancakes.

Lunch and Dinner

Lunch is the second meal of the day; the trekkers will eat after the initial portion of the day. You will have lunch around 1 to 2 PM. After the long trek day,, you will reach the new teahouse, where you will have dinner. The menus for lunch and dinner are generally the same.

For lunch and dinner, you can enjoy Thukpa & Thenduk, curry and rice, pasta, spring rolls, pizza, macaroni, spaghetti, Chowmein, MoMo, various noodle dishes, potato dishes, snacks, and different types of papad.

Drinks

Additionally, you can choose from a selection of hot drinks such as black tea, milk tea, Tibetan tea, ginger with honey, hot chocolate, and hot lemon. Healthier options include mint tea, ginger tea, and black coffee. For dessert, there are options like rice pudding, chocolate pudding, custard pudding, apple pie, pumpkin pie, apple fritters, and various salads.

You will also get plenty of drink options besides breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Soft drinks like canned juice, Red Bull, Coke, Fanta, and Sprite are available. While alcoholic drinks are discouraged due to the risk of altitude sickness, some options are available at the tea houses, including beer, international brand drinks, local raki, vodka, whiskey, and rum.

Water is the most important part of the Manaslu Circuit Trek. You have to be careful regarding the drinking water during the high-altitude trek, as healthy drinking water is not readily available. Furthermore, you have to drink up to 5 liters of water every day to prevent yourself from altitude sickness.

During the initial part of the trek, you can buy bottled or sparkling water in the city areas. However, as you climb high, drinking water becomes only available through taps and hand pumps. The direct water from these taps and handpumps is unhealthy, so filter and boil before your trek. You might have to pay extra in the teahouse you stay in to get hot boiling water, which you can store in your leather or cloth water bottle.

Phone networks in the Manaslu region are hard to find. Only 40% of this region has phone signals, which may be unstable. But no worries, as the facility has a satellite phone for emergency contact. The Internet connectivity in the Manaslu region can only be found in a few places. One can get a Wi-Fi facility at Sama Gaun and Samdo by charging extra. Likewise, purchase a 4G sim card with an internet package to use the internet facility.

Sometimes, you might not get phone or internet coverage in higher altitudes, so you can also take plenty of SIM or internet cards. You can purchase Nepali SIM cards in Kathmandu. To get a SIM card, you will need two passport-sized photographs and a copy of your passport. You must fill out a form and pay $1-$2. These SIM cards work well in areas with good network coverage.

However, when trekking at higher altitudes in the Manaslu region, there may be weak phone networks where the Nepali SIM cards may not work. You can use the telephone service available at the tea houses in such areas. Additionally, if your SIM card’s data package does not work, you can use WiFi services at some teahouses for $2-$3.

Manaslu Trekking is adventurous as the trails are mostly off-beat. The trek is quite tough to travel from one place to another, so you must be sure about the transportation. You will have to take different types of modes of transportation.

Buses

Buses are the most common way of transportation during your Manaslu Trek. You can take a bus early in the morning from Kathmandu to reach Macchakhola, the initial point for the trek. Buses are the least expensive means of trekking and the least comfortable means of transportation. You generally take a 35-seater bus, which takes around 9 – 10 hours. If you are uncomfortable with many people and constantly chatter throughout the journey, then it is wise to avoid the bus mode of transportation.

Jeep

Traveling from Kathmandu to Maccha Khola in a private jeep is a popular option for those who want a more comfortable and flexible journey than public buses. Private jeeps can cover the approximately 160-kilometer distance in about 7 to 8 hours, faster than the public bus. Some advantages of taking the jeep for transportation are comfort, convenience, less time, stopping at your will, better for groups, personal space, appropriate road conditions, safety, and security.

Manaslu Trek Nepal is a moderate to challenging trekking destination in Nepal. This destination will be more difficult for beginner trekkers with less experience than the veterans. However, certain factors make it even more challenging for the veterans. Hence, it is wise to learn about the Manaslu Circuit Trek’s difficulty and the factors that create these difficulties before embarking on the expedition.

Factors Affecting Manaslu Trek Difficulty

High Altitude

One of the major factors that affect the trek’s difficulty is the high altitude of the trek. The highest elevation of the Manaslu Circuit Trek is Larkya La Pass, which is elevated at the altitude of 5160. The chance of altitude sickness is quite high at this high altitude, making the trekkers feel sick and nauseated. If trekkers suffer from altitude sickness, it is best to lower the altitude and get into medical care immediately.

Distance and Duration

The long distance and duration are another major factor affecting the trek’s difficulty. Your trekking agency has curated ideal days in the itinerary, which ranges from 14 to 21 days for the Manaslu Circuit Trek. The length of the Manaslu Circuit is about 180 km or about 110 miles, which means each day, you will be trekking for about 6-7 hours. Trekking for 6-7 hours for more than two or three weeks will surely take a toll on your body.

Dynamic weather and temperature

The weather in the Manaslu region can be unpredictable. There can be heavy rain and snow at any time. This can make trekking hard. It can get as cold as -8°C from December to February, making the trek difficult, especially at higher places. Snow can block the trails or make them tricky to walk. Heavy rain and thunderstorms can cause landslides or slippery trails during the rainy season. The best months for the Manaslu Circuit trek are March, April, May, September, October, and November. The weather is usually good during these months, with mild temperatures, clear skies, and some rain and snow.

Remoteness

Another major factor affecting the trek difficulty, especially the Manaslu circuit trek, is the region’s remoteness. The Manaslu Circuit Trekking route is peaceful and beautiful; however, it lies in an isolated section of Nepal. Due to its remoteness, there is a lack of services and infrastructure.

To trek in the Manaslu region, you need two permits, and they are

Manaslu Restricted Area Permit

The first is the Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (RAP), an important restricted area permit that every trekker must issue beforehand. Restricted area permits have been introduced

Where to Issue: For the Manaslu Restricted Area permit, you can issue it in the Nepal Tourism Board of Bhrikutimandap.

Costs: This permit costs $100 per person from September to November for the first week and $15 per day afterward. For December to August, the cost is $75 per person for the first week and $10 per day afterward. This permit is valid for up to 30 days.

Annapurna Conservation Area Permit

The second permit is the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP). The trekkers must issue the Annapurna Conservation Area permit to explore the Annapurna Sanctuary. It is the preserved area of the region.

Where to issue: You can issue the ACAP in four locations, and they are

• Tourist Service Centre in Kathmandu.
• Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) office in Pokhara.
• The Nepal Tourism Board office is in Besisahar or Pokhara.
• Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation in Kathmandu.

Costs of ACAP:  It costs $30 per person. SAARC citizens can obtain this permit for Rs. 2000.

If you are unsure about the permits, you don’t have to worry; your trek and tour company will usually acquire these permits for you.

Travel Insurance is not compulsory for trekking in Nepal. However, it is very important if you don’t want to pay unnecessary expenses and want to go out of the budget. Travel insurance can cover these expenses during high-altitude treks, like in Nepal.

• Emergency Medical expenses
• High Altitude Helicopter rescue
• Damage of Property
• Loss of Baggage
• Lawsuit etc.

If you don’t have travel insurance, these expenses will go out of bounds. The helicopter rescue alone can cost over $5000. However, you must remember which expenses it doesn’t cover when issuing travel insurance. The expenses that Travel Insurance doesn’t cover are:

• Expenses that include negligence
• Expenses occurred due to a prior medical condition.
• Expenses that occur due to drug abuse.
• Any expenses that hint at terrorist activities.

6 AM to 7 AM: The day begins at 5 to 6 AM early in the morning with a delicious breakfast. After having breakfast, you will then prepare for the trek ahead. Remember that the initial portion of the trek is ideal for covering most distances, so you will need more energy. Hence, it is essential to have breakfast and not skip it.

8 AM to 12 PM: The trek begins around 8 Am, and for four to five hours, you will trek continuously in the remote and difficult trails of the Manaslu region. But since you will be fresh from overnight sleep and energetic from breakfast, you can cover more distances during this portion of the day. During this time, you will visit several important attractions during the day, like temples, Ghumbas, caves, museums, etc.

12 to 1 PM: It’s time for lunch after initial hard trekking activities. Your guide will take you to the nearest quality restaurant or hotel for a delicious lunch. Choose the best local Nepali dishes or Western dishes for lunch. This is also time for brief rest and acclimatization. After about 1 hour of lunch and rest, you are not ready to continue your trek.

1 PM to 4 PM: During this part of the trek, the terrain becomes rocky, and the trees become sparse as you climb to higher altitudes. The air gets thinner, and you might feel the effects of the altitude, but it’s important to maintain a slow and steady pace. The breathtaking scenery helps to distract from the physical exertion. This is a great opportunity for traveler influencers or photography enthusiasts because you can capture majestic peaks like Manaslu or Everest Base Camp Trek. Along the way, you might see yak caravans carrying supplies, which adds to the sense of adventure. You may also pass by historic monasteries, Mani walls, and stupas, adding to the cultural experience. By 4 to 5 PM, you’ll reach the next teahouse where you’ll spend the night. These basic lodges offer a bed, a shared bathroom, and a common dining area. After checking in, there’s time to rest, explore the village, or enjoy the panoramic views.

5 PM to 7 PM: The sun sets around 5 PM, and reaching the new teahouse area is important within sunset. Take your baggage to your room, and you can rest briefly. After freshening up, you can stroll around the village, meet locals, visit temples, monasteries, and restaurants, and talk with locals around the fire.

7 PM to 8 PM: It’s dinner time in the teahouse. You can choose from local Nepali dishes like Nepali Dal Bhat or western dishes like pizzas, momos, and burgers for lunch. Make sure you have eaten well, but don’t eat too much so that you won’t be able to fall asleep.

8 PM to 10 PM: The day’s final stretch in a Manaslu Circuit Trek is upon us. You can keep strolling the village and talk with local people or go to your teahouse room to sleep. Ensure you are well rested due to today’s trek and the next day’s hard trekking day. Going to bed around 8:30 to 9 PM is wise to get as much REM sleep as possible.

When trekking in the mountains, there are many uncertainties to consider. This means there is a high chance of having extra expenses during the trek. It’s also important to note that access to ATMs and banks is difficult in these areas.

The mountain trekking region like Manaslu is complicated mainly because, despite preparing and planning, you have to be wary of the uncertainties. You may have to incur extra personal expenses during the trek, so preparing for the unknown is the best choice.

Therefore, it’s recommended to carry extra cash for the following purposes:

• For your Travel Insurance.
• Extra or personal porter.
• Hot showers, internet access, battery charging, laundry, and other extra mountain services.
• Flight cancellation due to extreme weather conditions
• Emergency evacuation cost.
• Souvenirs from the Himalayas include medicinal herbs, paintings, and other things.
• Any drinks, energy bars throughout the trek, tips to the guides and porters at the end of the trek.

Altitude sickness is common in the mountains over 3000 meters elevation. This sickness arises when the trekker’s body can’t cope with the climate, weather, and, most importantly, the oxygen levels of the higher altitude. The symptoms of altitude sickness are headache, nausea, breathlessness, vomiting, loss of appetite, and, in extreme cases, hallucinations and unconsciousness.

Acclimatization

Acclimatization at Manaslu Circuit Trip is a prominent way to reduce the chance of altitude sickness. The main objective of acclimatization is to give your body enough chance to get used to the high-altitude trek’s weather, climate, and oxygen levels.  Hence, to master proper acclimatization, following the motto of hiking high and sleeping low is important.

This means that no matter how high you are hiking, you should always lower your altitude for sleeping. Furthermore, in long, high-intensity treks like the Manaslu trek, it is important to maintain a lower altitude and only climb the elevation gradually. One of the main depriment of beginner trekkers is the misconception of rushing towards the peak quickly, which could become a huge problem in the long run.

Hence, proper acclimatization is the main remedy for altitude sickness. However, you must also focus on other factors like dehydration, body fatigue, lack of fitness, etc., to ensure less chance of altitude sickness. In any case, always carry medicines like Diamox to relieve you if you have the symptoms instantly.

Keep in mind that the effect of altitude sickness can range from mild to extremely severe, and the patient might have to be admitted to an emergency medical condition. So, minimizing or even curing the risk of altitude sickness is necessary. One of the best ways to remedy altitude sickness is acclimatization. So let’s learn more about it.

Trekking on the off-beat path is an extraordinary experience. To make it more remarkable proper equipment is required. Thus, our HST representative provides you with the necessary equipment checklist and mostly preferred lightweight and they are mentioned below:

Upper Body: –

• A long-sleeve thermal base layer
• Trekking shirt
• Insulation layer
• fleece jacket
• Warm Down Jacket
• Gloves
• waterproof jacket
• T-Shirt lightweight

Head: –

• Beanie and ear warmers
• Sunhat & Scarf
• Headlights with extra batteries

Face: –

• Sunglasses with UV protection
• Sunscreen
• Dust Masks
• Lip Balm
• Face /Body wipe

legs & Boots: –

• Trekking Pants two pairs
• waterproof jacket
• Trekking boots
• Sport Shoes
• Gaiters
• Crampons (If snow or Ice)
• Slippers
• Thermal Leggins
• Underwear & thick Socks

Essentials Gear: –

• Trekking pole
• Sleeping bag
• Towels
• Raincoat
• Water bottle
• Backpack or Day pack

Toiletries: –

• Quick drying towel
• Toilet paper
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• soap
• Shampoo
• Small mirror
• Nail cutter

Personal accessories: –

• Money
• Camera
• Phone
• Watch
• Power bank
• Extra batteries for the Camera

Extra: –

• Diary & Pen
• Books
• Extra Passport copy and Photos
• Binocular
• Firsts Aid Kits

Note: The above list can be customized as per the seasons and necessity of the trekkers.

Porters are one of the key people in the trekking journey. They carry the luggage on their back with the help of a strap and ascend and descend on the rugged, slippery twist-and-turn trails. They perform commendable work, which amazes the trekkers, and respect grows for them. Porters mostly carry luggage that is more than their body weight. But, concerning all factors like health and difficulty level, the maximum luggage limitation is 66 pounds, which is approx. 20 kg.

So, if you want to make your trek free of stress and not worry about carrying the luggage, please hire the porters. Furthermore, the income of these porters will help them increase their living conditions, develop the local areas, and increase employment opportunities. If you are happy with your porter’s services, you can also tip them for an extra amount. The tip amount is completely your choice.

The trekking trip with HST is in safe hands as the guides are well-trained, professional, seasoned adventurers with over one decade of experience. They are experts in their fields, technically competent, friendly, and have proven safety performances with no casualties. Trekkers’ safety is topmost priority.

Thus, personal protection equipment and first-aid kits are readily available with guides. The itinerary is designed in consideration of proper acclimatization to accomplish the trek. One of the most important pieces of advice while traveling to the Manaslu region is to stay on the side of a wall while mules transport goods.

There is a chance of mules pushing, causing mishaps, and to prevent it, it is advisable to let the mules pass and stick to the side of the wall. Hiring a guide for the Manaslu Trek is mandatory, and solo travel is prohibited. The guide makes your trip journey smooth and safe. HST is always doing its best to meet the diverse needs of international client.

The tour operators of HST are members of the government-registered Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal. You may wish to tip the guides and porters and it is completely your personal choice. You may tip about 10% of the trekking cost or more than that.

• Our experienced team of over one decade has accomplished treks in Manaslu Treks and other treks too.
• Our guides are fluent in English, and Nepali dialects. They know the terrain, culture, people, and the Manaslu region through & through.
• HST provides you with the best value services for your money. No hidden cost, every step with HST is transparent and clear. We value our clients over profit any day.
• Your safety is the top priority while trekking with the HST team. Thus, in case of an emergency first-aid kit or provision of rescue teams as a requirement.
• We are a government-registered company providing you with real care services at the best reasonable rate.
• Our company also has 70% repetitive clients over the years which shows their trust in us.
• We go the extra mile to assure you of a complete trekking experience in Nepal. HST is your ideal choice for trekking in Nepal.