Manaslu Circuit Treks Nepal

The Manaslu Circuit Treks Nepal is the rewarding walking adventure that encompasses spectacular places of Manaslu and Annapurna region of Nepal. Furthermore, the journey encircles the world’s 8^th tallest mountain Mt. Manaslu (8163 m) and traverses through diverse community! From high altitude Larke La Pass (5106 m) to 700 years old monasteries; the Manaslu Trek is probably the most fulfilling cultural and natural excursion up in the Himalayas.

Geography and location of Manaslu region

The Manaslu region extends from Gorkha district to Manang district in the West – Central region of Nepal. It is the home of the world’s 8^th tallest mountain Mt. Manaslu (8163 m). The geographical style of the region is varied. It is full of deep gorges, valleys, glaciers, and moraines. The trail is rugged and through terraced farmlands and green lush forests. Mt. Manaslu (8163 m) is in the Mansiri Himalayan range which is the sub – range of the greater Hiamalayas. The region has rich bio – diversity as it expands from lowland sub – tropical vegetation to alpine.

Why this trek stands out among Nepal’s hiking routes

The trekking route of the Manaslu Circuit Treks Nepal stands out among Nepal’s hiking routes. The major reason behind its uniqueness is its diversity! In one single trekking trip in the Manaslu Circuit Trek route, trekkers can get cultural and natural experiences of different kinds. Nubri, Tsum, Gurung, Brahmin, Chhetris, and Dalits are people living in this trekking trail. Therefore, cultural encounter of these communities make it culturally rich trekking journey. In addition, trekkers get to know about lifestyle of people with different language and traditions in the space of a week’s walking journey.

The presence of unlimited water resources (lakes, waterfalls, rivers, streams, & glaciers) makes it adventurous. Diverse landscape (valleys, deep gorges, river shores, glaciers, high mountain passes, and grassy meadows) makes the trek diverse every single day! There is something for everyone in this trekking route. Therefore, the trek stands out among Nepal’s hiking routes!

Difficulty level and physical preparation

The maximum altitude on the Manaslu Circuit Treks Nepal is 5106 m from sea level. It is an altitude of the Larke La Pass. Besides this, trekkers have to trek through difficult and rugged terrain. There are countless uphill and downhill sections including the trail over the landslide area and glacier. In an average, trekkers have to walk for about 7 hours every day! Therefore, the trek is nowhere an easy trail. Trekker has to prepare both physically and mentally for a successful trekking trip.

Do you know that the difficulty level of the Manaslu Circuit Trek in Nepal is slightly higher than the difficulty level of the Everest Base Camp Trek? Yes, the major reason behind this is the availability of modern facilities. The EBC Trek route has become the ultra commercial trekking route as it is the trail to the base camp of the world’s tallest mountain Mt. Everest. Furthermore, the Manaslu Trek route is newly opened and it is still under the restricted zone. Therefore, new establishments are limited. These factors can make the trek difficult for trekkers including the high – altitude factor!

Permits and Logistics

The major hurdle in a successful trek is the logistics management! Interestingly, you don’t have to take any hassles while trekking in the Manaslu region of Nepal. All the trip logistics will be handled by your trekking agency. It is mandatory for all the trekkers to get a package from the agency and have a guide for the trek. Therefore, trekkers can simply enjoy the trek without any troubles of logistics management.

The trekking agency will facilitate in obtaining the special restricted permit, Manaslu Conservation Area Permit, and Annapurna Conservation Area permit. It costs Nrs. 3000 each for MCAP and ACAP permits. As for the SRAP, there are two price ranges according to season. September to November; the permit costs 100 $ per person for a week with additional 15 $ for each extra days beyond a week! However, during December to August months, the permit cost is 75 $ per person per week with additional 10 $ for each extra days beyond a week.

Lodging and meal budget ranges from 45 $ to 65 $ depending upon the choice of food and lodging facilities. Normally, you can get room for 5 $ to 10 $ and for basic meals (Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner), it costs about 35 $ to 50 $ per day. Transportation costs for the Manaslu Circuit Treks in Nepal range from 450 $ to 500 $.

Independent trekking is strictly prohibited by the conservation area authority and Nepal Government. There are substantial amount of fines and penalties including eviction or deportation if found breaching the rule.

Trekking Experience in Manaslu Circuit Treks Nepal

The journey of the Manaslu Circuit Treks in Nepal offers splendid trekking experiences. There are iconic landmarks in the trekking route. These interesting places, vantage points, and landmarks are of great significance both culturally and naturally.

The major highlights of this journey are the exploration of the centuries old monasteries, deep river valleys, crossing the Larke La Pass, Birendra Lake excursion, and Manaslu Base Camp hike. In addition, the trek also encompasses the villages of Gurung, Nubri, Tsum, and Magar people who have their own language and traditions. It is the most fulfilling trekking trip to do in Nepal in terms of diverse experiences.

Natural Wonders of Manaslu

Inside the Manaslu Conservation area, trekkers can encounter diverse wildlife including the rare snow leopards to Himalayan Thar. It is also the home of countless species of herbs and vegetation. Therefore, lots of botanical and ecosystem research are done in this region. The vegetation ranges from Sub – tropical, alpine, and tundra. Lots of photography spots and deep gorges offer diverse landscape experiences. Mountains and lakes are the major pride of the region. Hidden valleys like Nubri Valley offers enchanting scenery of mountains and landscape; you get chance to immerse into the culture of the Nubri people as well.

Cultural Immersion

The biggest plus factor of the Manaslu Circuit Treks Nepal is the opportunity to immerse into the local ethnic culture and traditions of more than 5 different ethnic communities of Nepal. Moreover, the trail encompasses places where Buddhism and Hinduism are at its peak. In addition, trekkers can also get chance to encounter people who follow Bonpo and Traditional Tibetan Buddhism.

There are many monasteries, mane wheels, chortens, stupa, and temples on this trekking trail. All these religiously important sites are built centuries ago! The best experience in this trekking is also about understanding the farming techniques and lifestyle of authentic rural Nepal. In the low – altitude places of this trail, you can find lots of terraced farmlands. It is about understanding the general way of living of Nepal’s rural people as well.

Among several trekking regions of Nepal, the Manaslu region is one of the remote and encompasses people with lesser income sources. Therefore, trekking in these trekking routes of the region is also the indirect way of helping the society to function properly.

Practical Tips for Successful Manaslu Trek

Altitude sickness and exhaustion are the major hurdles of the Manaslu Trek. The trail traverses through many steep uphill and downhill trails including the crossing of the high altitude passes. Trekkers have to spend at least 4 to 5 nights in the place above 3000 m altitude which is the altitude sickness risky zone. Therefore, always heed the instructions of the trekking guide and follow the safe trekking practices. Pace uniformly and make sure that you are well hydrated and belly full! Getting travel insurance before embarking for the trek is highly recommended as it boosts morale and ensures safety!

Responsible trekking practices

Don’t attempt to do anything stupid that cause harm to wildlife and vegetation of the region. The Manaslu Conservation Area Project authority strictly bars trekkers to do activities that are opposite to the eco – friendly practices. Respect the local culture and traditions. Trekkers must abide by the rules while exploring the ancient monasteries of the region. It is the shared responsibility to protect environment. Therefore, trekkers must not do things that emit more carbon and they should always follow the eco – friendly measures.

Extensions and side trips in Manaslu to enhance your journey

The Manaslu Circuit Treks Nepal is the major trekking trip to do in the region. However, there are many side trips where you can get both cultural and natural wonders in abundance. The most popular side trips to do from the Manaslu Circuit Trek route is the Tsum Valley Trek. Trekkers can extend the Tsum Valley Trek further by adding the Ganesh Himal Trek itinerary as well. The Manaslu Circuit Trek with Serang Gompa is also an alternative side trips in the region. Nowadays, people are exploring the idea of including the Rupinala Pass Trek itinerary alongside the itinerary of the Manaslu Circuit Trek. If you love long trekking then you can also add the itinerary of the Annapurna Circuit Trek or Tilicho Lake Trek as well!