Manaslu Circuit Trek

Meals and Accommodation on the Trek

Manaslu Trek is a tea house-based trekking in the northern Gorkha region. We will be staying in the lodges throughout the trek. Villages like Dharmashala offer very basic meals and accommodation facilities. Compared to popular commercial trekking routes of the Annapurna region (Annapurna Circuit Trek, Annapurna Base Camp Trek) and Everest region (such as Everest Base Camp Trek) the lodges here are very basic; this route is yet to be fully commercialized.

The rooms in the mountains are twin sharing making it perfect for all kinds of travelers. It consists of two small beds with a simple mattress and bedsheet, a pillow, and in some places comes with a blanket. It's recommended to carry a sleeping bag that you have or alternatively, we provide them in Kathmandu during the tour briefing.

Our original program also includes 4-night tourist standard accommodation in Kathmandu in an air conditioning room with a private bathroom inclusive of breakfast. Our hotel is located in the Thamel area; the center for tourists visiting Nepal. You can book a hotel of your comfort if that's suitable for you.

The package includes 15 breakfasts, 12 lunches, and 13 dinners. Among these meals, 4 breakfasts and 1 dinner will be in Kathmandu; the rest will be on the trek. The meals on the trek will be a very basic standard.

Some of the meals for the breakfast are porridge, oatmeal, Chapati, Tibetan bread, noodle soup, eggs (boiled/scrambled/fried/omelet, etc.), toasts, pancakes, muesli, hot drinks, etc.

Lunch items are similar to Nepali Dal Bhat Set (rice, lentils, curry, pickle, papad, yogurt, etc), noodles, pasta, vegetable items, curries, pizza, spaghetti, fried noodles, sandwiches, soups, egg items, slices of bread, Momos (Dumplings), potatoes and various deserts will be available.

The dinner will be similar to the lunch. Since we will have plenty of time to eat and sleep we can also order meals that take longer to cook such as steaks and grilled items. All our meals are served hot and fresh. The ingredients are locally available herbs and spices which makes the meals tastier and healthier.

Best Season for Manaslu Circuit Trek

Manaslu Trek is one of the best treks in Nepal. Most part of the trek can be done throughout the trip. The main issue arises during the mid-winter season in Larke Pass (Larkya La) where the high snow level makes it difficult or impossible to cross.

The best season for this trip is Spring and Autumn. The months of Spring from March to May are full of sunshine, and hundreds of colorful flowers in the Manaslu region. The skies are clear, wide, and open offering spectacular views of Himalayan peaks including Mt. Manaslu, and large glaciers in the surrounding areas. The early days of March can be chilled and the Larke Pass can get closed due to high snow levels. Starting the trek around mid-March makes it a perfect journey.

In the spring season, the daytime temperature in the lower area ranges from 20C to 25C and 15C to 20C in higher areas. Similarly, the nighttime temperature will be 5C to 10C in lower areas and may go up to -5C in higher areas. There is the possibility that the temperature may vary depending on the weather conditions.

Nonetheless, the Autumn season; the months of September, October, and November are another perfect seasons for this trekking. Compared to the months of Spring, the temperature at the starting of the Autumn season is slightly low. The views are similar in terms of beauty, this season also offers equally beautiful panoramic views, thundering rivers and valleys on the horizon. The Larke Pass crossing is comparatively easier in Autumn as there will be little or no snow in the pass. The autumn season is also popular for trekking as most of the major Nepalese festivals such as the Dashain, Tihar, and Chhath are celebrated in this season. Beautiful trekking experiences plus opportunities to celebrate these world-famous festivals are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

The temperatures in the Autumn range from 20C to 25C in lower areas but it can go up to -10C in higher areas. The month of November and December are extremely cold and it's recommended to pack enough warm clothes for treks in this season.

As mentioned above the months of December, January and February are not recommended as it is hard or impossible to cross Larke Pass to reach another side of the valley. Moreover, the only lodge in Dharmashala remains closed in the winter months.

The monsoon season; particular in June, July, and August is another time to avoid trekking in Manaslu. It's wet and muddy and the rivers / streams will have higher water flows putting it at higher risk of flooding and landslides which may make the trail inaccessible. It's recommended to avoid these months as well unless this is the only time you get holidaying.

How difficult is the Manaslu Trek?

Manaslu Trek is a moderate to difficult high-altitude trekking. It's recommended for trekkers with above-average fitness levels. Even though no previous trekking experience is required, having past experiences will help a lot. If you have trekked in high-altitude areas in the past then you will surely enjoy the program. Even though the earlier days until Jagat or Deng is relatively easier, it gets harder and harder when you are in high-altitude areas.

In terms of daily walking, we will be walking for about 6 to 8 hours every day. We generally walk approximately 2KM to 3KM in an hour. On average we will walk about 12KM to 15KM every day. This trek is not suitable for kids under 10 years.

Secondly, the route includes a high-altitude pass crossing over 5000 meters. This also makes the journey difficult. The weather in the past can be rough on short notice. The journey includes steep uphill and downhill walks, rocky trails, and may need to walk in snowy conditions. Undoubtedly, this is a difficult trek.

Technical knowledge is not required for this route but regular training such as jogging, hiking, cardio exercises, and cycling will definitely help your body to boost your energy level. The route is not recommended for people with serious health issues related to the heart, blood, kidney, and lungs. A consultation with a physician is recommended for travelers with previous medical conditions.

Group or Solo Trek?

Unfortunately, as per the government laws we require a minimum of 2 people to apply for the Nepal Immigration entry permits. As this is a restricted area of trekking, your permit application must go through a fully licensed Government trekking agency such as Himalayan Leisure, Inc. An individual trekking without using an agency is not allowed in the Manaslu region.

Himalayan Leisure is capable of organizing the tour for 2 to 32 people in a group. We can probably accommodate even a bigger group if we have timely notice. Under special conditions, we may offer the trek even for a single traveler. It is advised to consult with us if you are a solo traveler.

The prices for the tour depending on the number of people traveling together. This is known as tiered pricing; the larger the group, the lesser you will pay. We handle groups of all nationalities, all countries (unless prohibited by Nepal Immigration), and all genders, ages, and fitness levels.

Depending on the group size, we provide a leader and additional assistant guides as per necessity. The fee for a porter is included in the package cost but it can be removed for customers willing to carry a backpack on their own.

Communication during the Manaslu Trek

Mobile phone receptions are available in many places. Of course, it's not available every day but it's possible to get in touch with your friends and family members in every 2-3 days. Several places also offer separately paid Wi-Fi services for the facilities of the guests. The connection might not be perfect or a broadband connection but it does work to get in touch with your nearest ones. A Nepalese sim card will also help you to get in touch whenever a cellular service is available.

Himalayan Leisure keeps in touch with our staff on a regular basis. We get updates from our staff from time to time. Our leaders send us the latest updates, the conditions of the guests and team members and contact us promptly if any unforeseen incident occurs. Not every village has a cellular or Wi-Fi connection, if the connection is not available during an emergency, the team member has to walk to the nearest place to get in touch with us. Unfortunately, that is the only way.

Are there personal expenses on the Manaslu Trekking?

Yes, there are some personal nature expenses that you need to consider. Individual items such as hot and cold drinks including water, snacks, desserts, hot shower, internet, battery charging, laundry service, telephone service, etc. are not included in the tour cost. We recommend carrying approximately USD 10 - USD 15 (equivalent amount in Nepalese rupees) during the trek for your personal expenses. This amount is good to cover basic additional items in a median value.

Battery charging is available at an additional cost in almost all villages. It may sound strange to pay for the battery charging but it costs quite a lot to bring the required equipment to provide electricity. Most places in higher areas offer solar-powered battery charging which may not work if the sun is not strong.

Various options for drinking water are available. The best and highly recommended option is to use purified spring water which is safe for the environment. Bottled water is available in several places. Boiled water is available at additional costs but it is advised to use only after purifying it. Water purification methods such as Steripen, Iodine tablets, Chlorine, etc. can be used to filter the water.

How is transportation managed?

Free complimentary private airport transfers in a private vehicle are available in Kathmandu for international arrivals and departures. The vehicle is adjusted as per the group size.

The transportation from Kathmandu to the starting Point (Soti Khola) will be a public bus. This is not the best way but unfortunately, tourist bus options are not available on sharing basis. This is an approximately 9-hour difficult drive in a non-air-conditioning vehicle. The road conditions are not like in developed countries. It's half black topped and half bumpy drive. The transportation from the ending point (Dharapani) to Besisahar will be a shared public jeep. It's a dirt bumpy road from Dharapani to Besisahar. From Besisahar we will take a shared minivan or a minibus to Kathmandu. All the shared transportation is non-airconditioning.

It's recommended to use a private jeep which gives you totally different experience. It's a much more comfortable and a great way to complete the journey.

Staff, Guides, and Porters for the Trek

Our guides are well trained, English speaking, government licensed, and highly experienced. We have guides experienced from 8 to 22 years. They are first aid trained to ensure your safety during the tour. Our staffs well behaved and maintain the perfect relationships with the customers. They show amazing gestures to the customers. The company provides insurance of NPR 1 million which is almost double the Government's required amount.

Similarly, our porters are strong and well experienced. They are well respected for their hard duties. A porter is not allowed to carry more than 25 kilos in total which can be shared by up to 2 people if the total combined weight falls below 25 kilos. As this is a difficult journey with narrow paths, and steep uphill and downhill walk, we recommend you to keep the porter bag at a minimum weight and avoid carrying unnecessary things. Our trekking guides and porters are treated as a family of Himalayan Leisure, Inc.