Manaslu Circuit Trek Difficulty & Terrain
Manaslu Circuit Trek is an off-beat trek, which means the journey is difficult. This trek is known as one of the most challenging treks in the Himalayas because of its trodden terrain, remoteness, and several climatic zones. You will be crossing the high Larkya La Pass (5,160 m). The trek requires you to walk 6-7 hours daily. Therefore, good physical fitness and previous trekking experience are needed for this trek.
The trail goes through remote villages and barren areas. The services along the trail are the bare minimum, which may not suit many trekkers. Likewise, as the elevation increases, the chances of high-altitude sickness will also increase. Our Manaslu Circuit Trek package has enough rest days and a constant pace that will allow you to take plenty of rest.
Manaslu Circuit Trek Permit Cost
Manaslu region (between Jagat and Dharapani) is a restricted area. It is done to control the tourism flow in the region and prohibit independent trekkers. To trek in the Manaslu region, you have to get a special restricted area permit from the government of Nepal, and only a registered Nepali trekking company can help you get the permit. Similarly, as per the rules, there have to be two trekkers in the group, not including the Manaslu Circuit Trek guide/porters.
*Note: Independent guides cannot help you issue the necessary permits for Manaslu Circuit Trek.
Manaslu Circuit Trek needs three permits: a Special Restricted Area Permit for Manaslu (Manaslu RAP), a Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP) permit, and an Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) permit.
- Special Restricted Area Permit for Manaslu (From Jagat till Sama Gaun)
Cost: September to November: USD 100 per person for the first seven days and an additional USD 15 per person per day from the eighth day onwards.
December to August: USD 75 per person for the first seven days and an additional USD 10 per person per day from the eighth day onwards.
- Manaslu Conservation Area Project (From Philim)
Cost: USD 30 per person
- Annapurna Conservation Area Project (From Dharapani)
Cost: USD 30 per person
Manaslu Circuit Trek: Best Time To Go On
Spring (March to April) and autumn (October to November) are the best time to go on Manaslu Circuit Trekking because of the stable weather and mild climate. The Manaslu Circuit Trek route goes through six climatic zones: the tropical and subtropical zone, the temperate zone, the subalpine zone, the alpine zone, and the arctic zone.
You may face different weather conditions, even in the spring and autumn. Therefore, we recommend you pack for every weather condition. The night and morning can get quite chilly in comparison to the daytime.
Trekking in winter and monsoon is not recommended. The temperature can get below -20 °C and heavy snowfall/rainfall can block the trail. While trekking in spring, you can witness rhododendron blossoms. The trail gets very beautiful in the spring season. Likewise, you may get to see and be part of some of the biggest festivals in Nepal if you are on time in the autumn season.
Food & Accommodation During Manaslu Circuit Trek
The food and accommodations during the Manaslu Circuit Trek are very basic. You will stay in a simple teahouse during the trek that usually offers twin-sharing beds and a common washroom. The services in the teahouse are limited, and you may have to pay a few extra bucks to use a hot shower.
The meals will be served as per the menu of the teahouse. You can get oats, porridge, soup, toast, eggs, rice, curries, veggies, meat, pasta, momo, noodles, Tibetan bread, thukpa, tea, coffee, etc. As the elevation increases, the menu will get limited, with mostly Nepali and Tibetan dishes. We highly suggest you carry snacks and bars to munch on the trail.
High Altitude Sickness
The Manaslu Circuit trekking is a once-in-a-lifetime memory for adventure lovers. The high altitude trekking brings many obstacles and one of them is high altitude sickness. You need to drink water to stay hydrated as it helps to avoid altitude sickness. If you experience any of these symptoms like nausea, fatigue, sleep disorder, or insomnia, then you are more prone to altitude sickness. You need to report this to your trekking leaders and guide as soon as possible.
We recommend ginger soup, as it protects you from colds and avoids altitude sickness. Bring Diamox in case you suffer from altitude sickness. If you suffer from a severe case, you will be taken to hospital via helicopter, so you must have medical insurance which will cover the helicopter rescue.
Trekking Grade
The high-altitude trekking to the Manaslu circuit takes you right into the mountain with rugged terrain. It is quite a strenuous grade of trekking in the Himalayas and you have to walk more than 6 hours a day to complete the trek. Some regular exercise and practicing walking uphill and downhill will help you adapt while trekking in the Manaslu region.
Weather
The weather fluctuation is more common in higher-atitude regions like Manaslu Circuit Trek. The peak season for Manaslu Circuit Trekking is in the spring, which starts from mid-September to November, and in the autumn, which starts from the beginning of March until the end of May. The mornings are bright and clear, while in the afternoon, you may see cloud formations. The clear, bright skies at night are perfect for stargazing with your partner.
Transportation
We will start transporting you as soon as you step into the Kathmandu valley. At first, our representative will pick you up at Tribhuwan International Airport and drop you off at your hotel in a private bus or taxi. Then, we will visit the UNESCO site located in the Kathmandu Valley via private taxi. We will take you to Aarughat in a jeep or public bus and return to Kathmandu via Beshisahar similarly.
Electricity, Telephone, and Internet
The Manaslu circuit is a remote area of the Himalayas. So, only a few hotels and teahouses provide full-time service electricity, and telephone. Some hotel counters provide internet passwords to guests at an extra charge, while most of the hotels suggest enjoying nature instead of being engaged in the digital platform. They charge you an extra fee for charging your battery and mobile phone; make sure to bring your data cable. Due to high altitude and sudden weather fluctuations, there will be power cuts, which will make the locals depend on solar energy.
The electricity produced from solar has a limited supply, so we advise you to bring extra batteries for the camera and a power bank to charge your mobile phones. The telephone network is available in the Manaslu circuit only if you have local SIMs like NTC and NCELL. The NTC has full network coverage in higher altitudes and you can also use the internet by buying a data pack.
Drinking Water
You can buy bottled water for drinking along the trail unless you reach the last village. We suggest you bring your own bottle and refill the water of your choice in hotel and tea houses to reduce plastic waste on the trekking trail. Sometimes you have to walk in a deep forest where there are no tea houses At that time, you need to use free-flowing water for drinking, so bring iodine or water-purifying medicine for safe drinking water.
Luggage & Bathroom Facility
While trekking in the Himalayas, a porter will carry your luggage, but you must carry your backpack by yourself. The toilet and bathroom facilities in the city area come in an attached room. As soon as you start your hike, most of the tea houses have common bathrooms for all the guests but some teahouses and lodges provide rooms with attached bathrooms for an extra charge.
Group Leader and Crew
We, Mystic Adventure Holiday, provide a certified and experienced guide along with local Sherpa staff. If we have more than 8 guests for the trip, we arrange for a porter to carry your luggage, and 1 porter will carry the bag of 2 guests.
Trekking Equipment
All the necessary equipment and gear are available at reasonable rates in the streets of Thamel. So, we advise you to buy the gear here, which will help you avoid extra costs for heavy luggage in the airfare.
Trekking Days
While trekking in the Himalayas, you can enjoy the view of beautiful scenery, wildlife, vegetation, and mountains. In addition to this, you can also enjoy your trip chitchatting with the guide porters and another trekker. It is necessary to plan the routine of the following days with the guests, which will make them ready to hike at the exact time.
We start the day by waking early in the morning and starting the hike after having a hot breakfast. We will stop in tea houses to have lunch at midday and continue hiking until we reach the destination of the day. Sometimes we complete our hike in the early evening and you can explore the nearby places or stay in your comfort zone.
Customize your itinerary and trip extensions
We provide customized trips for those travel enthusiasts who couldn’t book a suitable date for our planned package. Make sure to mention your scheduled time and date we will organize a private trip to the Manaslu Circuit trekking.
In addition to Manaslu Trekking, Mystic Adventure Holidays can organize trips to Annapurna, Everest, Manaslu, Mustang Trekking, Mountain Flight, water rafting, Jungle Safari, City tour (Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan or Lumbini), Homestay Tour, Nepal Cultural Tour, Tibet Tour, Bhutan Tour, or India Tour Extension as per your time limit.
Tips to make the journey smooth
- Make sure to double-check all the trekking gear and clothing before leaving for the trek. Carry a little pocket knife, a torch, and a lighter.
- Buy water purification tablets and carry a reusable water bottle to save money and the environment.
- Don't forget to pack your favorite snacks and bars. We suggest you do not rely on tea shops to buy things.
- Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated and avoid altitude sickness.
- Carry extra batteries or a solar charger to charge your electronic devices. Some places may ask you for a few extra bucks to use charging booths.
- Withdraw cash from the city to use on the trail, as there are no ATMs.
- You may not get WiFi everywhere, so a Nepali SIM will come in handy to use cellular data.
- Stick to your group, and do not wander far alone.
