Manaslu Circuit Nepal

There are countless regions inside Nepal that are both mythical and mystical. In addition, these places are blessed with the magnificent lofty mountains and diverse flora & fauna. Amidst all these, there are villages of different ethnic community with their own traditions and culture. Therefore, Nepal is a paradise for a splendid holiday or vacation. Among several beautiful holiday destinations, the Manaslu Circuit Nepal is one of the most serene and spiritual. Travelers will be mesmerized by the beauty of the natural wonders present in the region and enchanted by the spirituality of the place.

In this blog, we will delve in detail about the various things that you need to know about Manaslu Circuit Nepal.

What type of holiday activities that you can do inside Manaslu Circuit Nepal?

The most preferred holiday activity to do inside the Manaslu Circuit Nepal is trekking. Besides trekking, travelers can also choose to do monastery visit, home stay tours in low altitude regions of Manaslu, climbing mountains, and bird watching. Out of all these activities, trekking is the most surreal and enticing. Therefore, lots of travelers choose to trek in the two famous trekking routes of the region.

What are the trekking routes to trek in Manaslu Region of Nepal?

There are two famous trekking routes to trek in the Manaslu Region of Nepal. They are the Manaslu Circuit Trek and the Tsum Valley Trek. Some trekkers prefer to trek in both these trekking routes in one single trekking journey. For this, they follow the itinerary of the Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek! It covers all the places of the Manaslu Region! Tsum Valley is more cultural and spiritual. However, Manaslu Circuit Trek is more challenging as well as diverse. Trekkers will be crossing high altitude passes and visit the Manaslu Base Camp during the Circuit Trek. During the Tsum Valley Trek, trekkers visit various Tsombo people’s villages, and century old monasteries like Mu Gompa! Overall, the Tsum Valley Trek and the Manaslu Circuit Trek are the jewels of Manaslu Circuit Nepal.

Overview of the Manaslu Circuit Trek

Let’s find out more about the Manaslu Circuit Trek route. The circuit trek route offers trekkers to use different trail head and trail end while trekking. You don’t need to return the same trail after reaching the certain destinations; these are famous among adventure lovers! For example, the Annapurna Circuit Trek is similar to the Manaslu Circuit Trek in which trekkers start the trek in one place and end in another. The Manaslu Circuit Trek is one of the most popular restricted trekking trips to do in an abode of the world’s 8^th tallest mountain Mt. Manaslu (8163 m). Walk on the trekking trail that traverses through forests, rivers, and hidden Himalayan valleys. Moreover, the trekking is so diverse that every day on these trekking route trekkers can find the different landscape as well as scenery. It is truly a blissful trekking trip to do in Nepal.

On this blog about Manaslu Circuit Nepal, readers will get the comprehensive information about the Manaslu Circuit Trek! Find all the details before booking the trek! The blog is prepared by our travel planners! Therefore, you will find all the details that are essential for you to know before embarking on this momentous trekking journey inside the Manaslu region.

Preparing for the Trek

You need to prepare both physically and mentally for the trek. There are many uphill and downhill sections in the Manaslu Circuit Trek route. In addition, trekkers have to cross the challenging high – altitude passes the Larke La Pass. The maximum altitude on this trekking journey is 5106 m which is an altitude of the Larke La Pass. Therefore, you must build a lot of physical fitness level and stamina. Please note that you may have to walk for more than 6 hours a day for 7 to 8 days straight. It requires immense physical fitness and stamina. Get in shape to prepare well for the trek.

Before embarking on the Manaslu Circuit Trek, you need to obtain the special restriction area permit, Annapurna Conservation Area Permit and Manaslu Conservation Area Project permit. The trekking agency must be hired and trekking is possible by getting the trekking package from the agency.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

The average number of days required to do the Manaslu Circuit Trek in Nepal is about 14 days including arrival and departure. However, the actual trekking days are 10 and 2 days of road trip! It is possible to do the 12 Days Manaslu Circuit Trek as well. It all depends upon the preferences of the trekkers! Some wish to do it in a rush itinerary and some ask to do the relaxed way of trekking!

The Day-by-Day Itinerary of the Manaslu Circuit Trek is as follows:

Drive to Macchakhola from Kathmandu

The bus or jeep is required to reach Machha Khola from Kathmandu. The Machha Khola is the small town located on the banks of the Budi Gandaki River. It is the trailhead of the Manaslu Circuit Nepal trips. The road distance between Machha Khola and Kathmandu is about 160 kilometers. The journey is about 7 to 8 hours long with sections from Aarughat to Machha Khola is very bumpy and rugged. The jeep journey can be tiring because of the road conditions. However, the scenery seen on this day is unmatched.

4 Days Trek in Lower Manaslu Region

While trekking in the Manaslu Circuit Trek route, trekkers have to trek for about 4 days to enter the Tsum areas! The upper places beyond Lho village are mainly habituated by the Tsombos people. These people are heavily influenced by the Tibetan Buddhists culture. Therefore, they still practice traditional Tibetan rituals. The villages like Philim, Pewa, and Namrung are mainly habituated by Gurung, Brahmins, Chhetris, and Dalits. The altitude in these villages is less than 3000 m. Relish the chance to explore the authentic rural Nepal by trekking through villages, rivers, and terraced farmlands.

The first checkpoint is the village of Jagat and trekkers have to trek through the villages like Pewa and Namrung before reaching the Lho Village. This section of trekking from Machha Khola to Lho is famously known as the 4 Days Trek in Lower Manaslu region of Nepal. Nowadays, lots of Nepalese trekkers take this trail and in some places they are doing the adventure motorbike tours too. On these four days, trekkers get chance to immerse into the unique culture as well as landscape of the Lower Manaslu region!

Entering the core Tsombos Area

Beyond Lho village, trekkers can enjoy the hospitality of Tsum people and immerse into their culture. There are countless monasteries, chortens, and pagodas inside the region. The villages like Samagaon, Samdo, and Lho are the major places where you get to know about these ethnic communities. The altitude starts to get higher and you must not be complacent while trekking in these places. The risk of altitude sickness is also high beyond the Lho village. Therefore, trekkers must heed the instructions of the trekking guide.

There are countless monasteries and chortens beyond Lho village. Some of the monasteries are believed to have been built more than 700 years ago. Surprisingly, these villages offer unique spiritual vibes. While trekking in this section of the Manaslu Circuit Trek route, trekkers can feel the positive energy and tranquility within. It is truly a soul soothing trekking trip to do at least once in a lifetime.

Acclimatization in Samagaon and Manaslu Base Camp Hike

It is mandatory for the trekkers to do acclimatization activity on the Manaslu Circuit Nepal trekking trip. The main reason behind this is to avoid any kinds of altitude sickness or AMS during the trek. It would be sad to stop the trek due to such a reason! As a part of the acclimatization activity, trekkers get the once in a lifetime moment to reach the base camp of the world’s 8^th tallest mountain Mt. Manaslu (8163 m). In addition, trekkers also get the great chance to visit the beautiful Birendra Lake. Don’t miss out to explore these two places while doing the Manaslu Circuit Trek in Nepal. The trekking trail up to Birendra Lake is rugged and from this lake, the trail takes inclined slope to the base camp. The altitude of the Manaslu Base Camp is about 4800 m. The journeys are tough but endure it to collect the breathtaking scenery of mountains!

The main idea of acclimatization is adjusting the body in higher altitude places. Naturally, the high – altitude places have less oxygen density. People may find hard to breathe properly. The more higher you go the more energy sapping it gets. Therefore, you must endure and reach the high – altitude places before returning to the low – altitude place to spend a night. It is the fastest way to get acclimatized in the higher altitude places.

Crossing Larke La Pass and Enter Annapurna region

The most daunting activity to do while trekking in the Manaslu Circuit route is the crossing of the Larke La Pass. Trekkers have to spend another two nights after acclimatization in Samagaon to reach the Larke La Pass top. After spending nights in Samdo and Dharmasala, trekkers cross the Larke La Pass (5106 m). Early in the morning before dawn trekkers start the trek to cross the pass. The morning sunrise from the top of the pass is an amazing sight to behold. Relish the chance to see the mountains like Manaslu (8163 m), Cheo Himal, Himlung Himal, and many others! The sight of the valleys and the landscape around the pass is refreshing! Upon crossing the Larke La Pass, trekkers enter the Annapurna region of Nepal. Therefore, it is mandatory for the trekkers to get the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP). The trail from Bimthang village to Tilje is easy in comparison to the trekking sections of the Manaslu Conservation Area side. The sense of satisfaction of successfully completing the Manaslu Circuit Trek makes you complete and victorious.

Drive from Tilje to Kathmandu via Besisahar

Finally, trek ends in Tilje village. You can reach Besisahar in the four wheel jeep from Tilje. There are certain sections on the road that are well maintained but majority of the road sections are still bumpy and graveled. The scenery of hills, forests, waterfalls, rivers, and villages make this bumpy ride a picturesque one. Travelers can choose to travel to Kathmandu on the jeep or they can also take a local bus from Besisahar to Kathmandu. The road distance between Tilje and Kathmandu via Besisahar is about 200 kilometers.

Practical Tips for Trekkers

Don’t over pace or under pace while walking. Always do light stretching before and after the trek every day. It helps you to avoid any kinds of muscle cramps! Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated all the time. It helps to avoid the risk of altitude sickness. Refrain from any kinds of alcoholic drinks. Update about your conditions to your trekking guide. Heed the instructions of the trekking guide and don’t overdo the things. If you do these things then you can successfully complete the Manaslu Circuit Trek in Nepal with ease! Cheers to trekking!

Environmental and Ethical Considerations

The Manaslu Circuit Nepal is inside the protected region. There are many species of flora and fauna. In addition, different ethnic group of people are living inside the region. It is your utmost responsibility to not damage the natural as well as cultural heritages of the place. Don’t pluck any flowers or trees while trekking! It is not ethical to take pictures of the people and inside monasteries before getting the permission. Respect the local culture and traditions! There are many places inside the trail where you are not allowed to talk or enter with your shoes on! Make sure that you are not disturbing the normal setting of natural and cultural heritages of the trail.

I hope the blog helped you to know more about this beautiful restricted Manaslu Circuit Nepal region. If you have any kinds of queries about tour or trekking in Nepal then look no further! Check our blogs and get informed about everything to know before holiday in Nepal.