Manaslu Circuit Trek - 16 Days

Manaslu trek takes you through the relatively new and unexplored remote Nepal region. The settlements are few and far between, so you will mostly spend your time being at peace with nature far from the daily grind.

The Manaslu Circuit itinerary includes fifteen nights lodge to lodge stay at best lodges in trekking regions. We provide seven nights' stay at rooms with a private attached bathroom at Sotikhola, Namrung, Lho, Samagaun(2N), Bhimtang, and Gho. You will be spending eight nights at the standard room at Machha Khola, Doban, Philim, Deng, Ghap, Samdo, Dharamsala, and Dharapani.

Three nights of hotel stays in Kathmandu before and after the trek may be required but not included in the package. Kathmandu has a wide range of hotels for all budgets and tastes. 

This mesmerizing trek in Nepal takes you through high elevations near the world’s 8th highest peak, which means your body needs enough nutrition. You will get enough tasty, hygenic, and nutritious food, but you will not have all the choices that you would get in large cities.

There will be 16 breakfasts, 16 lunches, and 15 dinners in the trek regions.

Some of the popular menu items are -

Sixteen breakfasts - Oatmeal, Corn Flakes, French toast with Jam, Butter, Cheese, Honey Tibetan bread or Chapati, Local Tsampa porridge, Eggs, Pancakes, Muesli Breads, Fruits, Vegetables, Hot Drinks (varieties of teas and coffees, hot chocolates, etc.)

Sixteen lunches - - Dhal, Bhat, Tarkari, Tibetan Bread, Various Soups, Sherpa Stew, Steaks, Sandwiches, Momo (dumplings), Macaroni dishes, Tenduk Spaghetti Noodles, Thukpa, Pasta, Vegetable curry, Potatoes, Vegetables, Salad Pizza (Tomato, Mushroom, Mixed), Snacks (Papad, Prawn), Desserts, (Rice Pudding, Apple pie), etc

Fifteen dinners - Dhal, Bhat, Tarkari, Tibetan Bread, Various Soups, Sherpa Stew, Steaks, Sandwiches, Momo (dumplings), Macaroni, Tenduk Spaghetti, Noodles Thukpa, Pasta, Vegetable Curry, Potato items, Vegetable and Salad Pizza (Tomato, Mushroom, Mixed), Snacks (Papad, Prawn), Korean Raman, Desserts (Rice Pudding, Apple pie), Hard Drinks Steaks, etc 

Menus at trekking regions consist of local, Asian, and western cuisine, but as we climb up menu gets shorter. 

We highly recommend you to take fresh vegetables and enough liquids (green tea, lemon tea, hot lemon, garlic soup (compulsory), and ginger tea) for health benefits.

Though plenty of non-veg items will be available at trek regions, we do not recommend them because the meat in such areas may not be hygenic. Similarly, we suggest you avoid alcohol, hot chocolates, caffeinated items, dairy including cheese items.

This is a trek that is easy at certain seasons. Discovery World Trekking only conducts Manasu Circuit Trek from February to June and August to December.

March to May and September to November is the best season for the Manaslu trek. Heavy snowfall in the winter season from December to February closes the lodges at Dharamsala, making it hard to cross Larkya La Pass. 

June to August is the rainy season and is prone to landslides and slips. So, we do not recommend trekking in the winter and rainy seasons to anyone.

This is the best season to trek Manaslu Circuit. The weather is very favorable, and you will get stunning views of Mt. Manaslu and regional glaciers. 

Temperatures starts to increasing from mid-March, and with clear skies, snow mountains look their best. In April & May, low lands start getting hot. The temperature in the high mountains is neither cold nor hot. Nighttime is comparatively colder. Many trekkers trek during this season. From the route, you will enjoy the rhododendron blooms in different colors. In the upper mountains (Lho, Samagaun, Samdo, Dharmasala, till Bhimtang) temperatures can reach 18°C in the daytime and drop to -4°C at night. 

This is also one of the perfect seasons for the Manaslu trek in Nepal that attracts many trekkers. As the monsoon slowly retreats a perfect trekking climate ushers in. The temperature goes up to 20°C in the daytime and falls to - 6 °C at night. 

As this season sets in, the skies become clear and allow amazing views of the mountains. Many trekkers trek during this season to experience the festive mood. Two of the biggest Nepali festivals - Dashain and Tihar- fall during this season. 

November is the busy season because of clear skies and sparkling days. The daytime temperatures are very stable and constant letting you enjoy the landscapes - including high snowcaps. From December, the temperature starts to get cold, and it begins to snowmaking the trek almost impossible.

Altitude sickness in high mountains is common among trekkers and is preventable, but if it is severe, it requires immediate treatment. Altitude sickness symptoms mainly occur at elevations over 3500m. From Samagaun (3530m / 11581ft), we spend four to five nights at trek regions with altitudes over 3500m. Dharamsala at 4480m (14698ft) is the highest point of our trek. 

We have designed 16 days Manalsu Circuit Trek to prevent mountain sickness. Starting from Sotikhola (730m), we continue hiking for seven days to reach Samagaun, which provides plenty of time for our body to adjust automatically with high elevation.

Moreover, we will be ascending slowly and take a day's rest in Samagaun. In addition, we will be drinking plenty of water every trekking day to prepare for crossing the Larkya La Pass successfully. 

Your health and safety are crucial for us, and we guarantee that we will not compromise your safety - at any cost. In case you are severely affected, we will descend immediately. The trek leader has the authority to decide whether to descend or continue on the trails taking into consideration the interest of the whole team.

Manaslu Trek Trip grade is a challenging yet rewarding trek. You will be trekking between 5 to 7 hours in the high lands as trekking in high elevation is difficult. To cross Larkya La Pass at 5,160m, you need to be physically fit and should be able to walk 4 to 6 hours per day.

Previous trekking experience would be an additional advantage. Fit novice trekkers can join and complete this trek. However, the fitter you are, the more you will enjoy this trek. We recommend you to take part in stamina-building exercises such as cycling, swimming, or gym regularly at least one month before the trek. 

Trekking at the destinations is reasonably comfortable, as we take regular breaks to admire the mountain views. 

The trek routes involve long climbs, steep descents, and forward trails in the rocky paths and forests. We do not recommend this trek for those who suffer from sensitive medical conditions like heart or lung diseases.

We conduct Manaslu Circuit Trek for a minimum of two trekkers. Our licensed trek guide will be leading the group. For a group of 12 or more, we assign an assistant guide. The bigger your group is, the more discount you will get. However, if Discovery World Trekking assembles the group, you will not get discounts. 

Manaslu Trek takes place in a restricted area, and due to the nature of the trek, special permits are issued only to a group of at least two trekkers. However, we welcome solo trekkers to our group but cannot organize solo Manaslu Circuit treks. 

Each day takes you to new places through scenic landscapes and vegetation. You will be enjoying the fantastic Himalayan scenery, taking pictures, exploring local villages, tasting new dishes, viewing high-altitude wildlife, and lifestyles. 

Throughout the trek, our guide/Sherpa will be along with you showing you places and providing you with information about the places you will be visiting. We will assign porters to carry your luggage. 

The day starts with an early morning hot cup of tea/coffee and after wholesome breakfast, we start on the trails between 7 to 8 am based on the length and nature of the trek. After trekking for three to four hours, you will be having your lunch, which is followed by an hour of rest. Then we continue on our path, the afternoon walk will generally be shorter. Once we reach our destination, we snack on extra dietary food. Before it gets dark, you will have time to explore nearby places. At around 7 pm, you will have dinner.

After dinner and before going to bed, we indulge in friendly conversations and discuss the experience of that day. The expedition leader/guide will brief you about the next day’s plan. After the briefing, you can read books, learn Nepali words from the crew, watch mountaineering documentaries, or play games like monopoly or cards.

During the trek, you can use the internet at the lodges we will be staying on for an extra service charge, but once we reach high altitudes, we will communicate on our phones.

Discovery World Trekking will contact all of its trekking teams at least once a day via the trek leader. You can buy local sim cards in Kathmandu, but the mobile signals may not be strong enough in all trekking regions.

Our package includes most expenses during the trek, but it does not cover all expenses. Meals and accommodations in Kathmandu are up to our clients. Kathmandu has lodges/hotels to suit every type of cost and taste.

You will need personal spending money to cover costs that include - accommodations in Kathmandu, visa processing fees, travel insurance policy purchase, beverages, snacks, hot (tea/coffee) and cold drinks, tips for the trekking crew members, souvenirs, etc 

We recommend you bring cash (Major currencies), which you can exchange for Rupees. Trek regions only accept Nepali currency.

During the Trek, electricity for the camera and mobile battery recharge is available at an extra cost in all the lodges we will be staying in. 

Similarly, you can buy either packed mineral water from local lodges or en route shops. You can also fill your water bottle with boiled water at lodges. We can also provide you with purification pills to make water drinkable. 

Manaslu trip grade is challenging as it entails the risk of high altitude trekking, potential altitude sickness, and other unforeseen events - including sudden climate changes. So travel insurance for this trek is compulsory.

All trekking members must provide a copy of their comprehensive travel insurance policy certificate to Discovery World Trekking. Your policy must cover medical and emergency repatriation - including helicopter rescue and evacuation expenses at high altitudes (up to 6000m).

We can recommend insurance companies based on our clients' experience to help you, but we do not sell insurance policies. Trekking members are kindly requested to send their detailed insurance information once they book for the trekking. 

In case of emergencies, we will be using the insurance policy and informational documents you sent us. This will help us arrange a quick and effective rescue operation, transfer for emergency medical help, etc. 

Please ensure that your insurance policy covers the cost incurred for mountain rescue service at the highest trek elevations.

All foreigners except Indians require a visa to enter Nepal. Citizens of China and the SAARC countries (Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Srilanka) will receive free visas. 

You can get an on-arrival visa at the Tribhuvan International Airport. The visa application will require a passport with at least 6 months validity, a visa fee, and a passport-size photo. The current visa fee is USD 50 for 30 days, which you can pay in cash.

Citizens from Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, and Afghanistan may not receive an on-arrival visa, so they will have to contact their local Nepalese embassy.

Nepali Rupees (NPR/Rs) is the local currency.
(1 USD = ~ Rs.100-118 NPR approx).

You can exchange major foreign currencies through local banks and legitimate money exchanges in Kathmandu and all over Thamel.

Legal money exchanges display ongoing exchange rates publicly. Only INR (Indian Rupees) notes of 100 and 2000 are legal in Nepal. Despite travelers' cheque's security advantage, we prefer cash exchange so that you can avoid lengthy processes and high bank commissions. 

You can also withdraw cash (in Rupees only) from one of the many ATMs in Kathmandu. There are several ATMs in Kathmandu that are open around the clock. The maximum ATM withdrawal amount is 35,000 Rupees for a 500 Rupees processing fee using a foreign card. 

Per trekker luggage weight limit is 9 kg per trekker. We assign one porter for every two trekkers, and we do not allow our porters to carry more than a combined weight of 18 kg. 

We suggest our valuable clients to carry only the essentials. You can leave any excess baggage either at your hotel or at the Discovery World Trekking store for free.