Best Time
The key to maximizing your Manaslu Circuit Trek experience is to choose the right time that matches your preferences and expectations. Each season has its distinctive charm, offering the stunning beauty of the gigantic Himalayas in the Manaslu region. Here are the four seasons, which are described below with brief information:
Autumn Season
This season is most preferred by many trekking enthusiasts worldwide in Nepal. The autumn season comes with pleasant weather with normal temperatures and clear skies. You can see clear views of mountains from far away. Due to the cool and normal temperature, Larkya La Pass will also be easy to cross in this season.
Monsoon Season: For Rain Lovers
You can witness fewer crowds this season due to the heavy rain. Most of the flights can get delayed due to heavy rainfall. However, this is the season that you can observe the luxuriant greenery of the landscape. But you need to embark on a journey this season with extra precautions, as trails can be very slippery, and there is a considerable chance of landslides.
Spring Season
Another peak season for the Manaslu Circuit Trek is spring, which falls from March-May. The route is filled with colorful alpine flowers and blooming rhododendrons. The natural beauty will also, at its best, offer the most outstanding views for trekkers to feast on with their eyes. This is the dream season for photographers to show their art in photography by capturing the best incredible views they can take.
Winter Season: For Adventurous Souls
There are a lot of high risks, like snowy trails and extremely cold temperatures, during this season, but this season still offers the best views of landscapes covered with snow. You can enjoy the solitude on a quieter trail with no one to disturb.
Elevation and distance
In this Manaslu Circuit Trek, you will have to cover a total length of 141 kilometers, starting the trekking journey from Machha Khola and ending at Tilije Village. Similarly, you will have to travel the distance of 157 kilometers on a local bus ride. You will have to trek for 13.5 kilometers from Samagaun to reach the Manaslu Base Camp.
On the return trekking journey, you will walk approximately 40 kilometers from Samagaun to Tilije Village. Similarly, you will be at 1324 meters when you are in Kathmandu. When you are in Machha Khola (870 meters), the altitude will be decreased by 610 meters. From this village, the altitude will be gradually increasing.
Manaslu Base Camp lies at a height of 4800 meters, whereas the highest place that you will be trekking is Larkya La Pass, which lies at 5106 meters above sea level. The views from this past are mind-boggling, and you will not forget them ever. You will acclimatize at Samagaun at 3530 meters to adapt your body to the higher elevations.
Maximum and minimum walk per day
The Manaslu Circuit Trek is a moderate-level difficulty trek in comparison to ABC or the Annapurna Circuit Trek. So, you should not hope this trek will be easy. You have to hike roughly six hours daily after formally starting your trekking journey. On the first day of your trekking, you will hike for seven to eight hours from Machha Khola to Jagat.
The longest day of your trekking itinerary will be day 11, which lasts eight to nine hours and takes you from Dharmasala to Bhimthang, covering the highest point of the Manaslu Circuit Trek trip, Larkya La Pass. On the first four days of your tour, you will walk for seven to eight hours per day.
In contrast to this, the minimum hiking day will be on day 12 when you trek to Tilije Village from Bhimthang with just four hours of walking. From here, your trekking trip ends, and you take a local bus to Kathmandu and head back to your hotel. However, you must train your body to endure long hours of walking and keep going until you complete the journey.
Accommodation, Food and Drink
Primarily, there are basic teahouse accommodations on this Manaslu Circuit Trek. They offer simple amenities like a shared dining area, twin bedrooms, a blanket, and a pillow. They are also budget-friendly accommodations, saving a lot of your money. Only better facilities and accommodations are found in the lower places of the Manaslu region.
However, it is better to carry a sleeping bag, especially during winter, to keep you warm while sleeping. Teahouses produce their electricity using solar-powered devices. So, you must pay additional money to charge your gadgets using electricity. Apart from this, you will find squat toilets in these basic accommodations.
You will find dishes with locally produced vegetables and other food sources for the foods and drinks. Teahouses will serve local Daal Bhat with vegetable curry, soup, and other menus like momos, bread, noodles, eggs, and potatoes. You can get drinking water easily throughout the Manaslu Circuit trek.
However, we recommend you bring a portable filter or water purification tablets for your health purposes. You should stop smoking or drinking alcohol during this journey if you are involved in such things. Likewise, you can carry some light snacks in your backpack to get energized if you are hungry while trekking.
Preparation and fitness
If you have enough preparation, no trekking in the world will stop you from embarking on your journey. Even a beginner can complete the trip with the necessary guidelines and readiness. The Manaslu Circuit Trek has distinguished terrains, from thick forests to high peak passes.
You can prepare for the trek by starting a fitness routine to build your stamina and strength by doing step-ups, push-ups, pull-ups, and lifting some weights. You should go cycling, running, and hiking on nearby hometown hills with pickups, which will assist you in many ways when trekking at a higher altitude.
These exercises will boost your confidence and make your mental state strong, giving you a taste of what to expect during the trekking journey. This journey will test your preparation and push you to your next level limits, making this journey even more memorable and filled with a lot of impressions in your mind.
Permit
You need to carry 3 permits while embarking on the Manaslu Circuit Hiking journey: the Manaslu Restricted Area Permit, the Manaslu Conservation Area Permit or MCAP, and ACAP or the Annapurna Conservation Area. The MCAP will allow you to trek through the Manaslu Conservation Area.
Similarly, the Manaslu Restricted Area Permit allows access to the remote parts of the Manaslu region. This has been made mandatory for foreign travelers. You will be able to delve into the hidden beauty of the landscape and unique cultures. Likewise, you need an ACAP as this trek also covers the Annapurna region area while embarking the journey.
Transportation
We will travel on foot, by jeep, and by local bus on this Manaslu Circuit Trek. Firstly, you will go to the bus station in Kathmandu and get on a local bus to Machha Khola, where your trekking journey officially begins. On day 12, we will trek to Tilije Village to catch a local jeep, which will take us to Besisahar.
We will hop on a local bus to Kathmandu in the early dawn. It will take us seven to eight hours to get to Kathmandu city. After reaching Kathmandu, our private vehicle will pick us up and drive you to your hotel room, concluding the Manaslu Circuit Trek of 14 days.
What to expect from this trip?
The 14-day Manaslu Circuit Trek provides awe-inspiring views of Mt. Manaslu and adjacent mountains via remote, less-trodden paths. The route traverses’ forests and alpine meadows and passes through the charming settlements of Jagat and Samagaun. You’ll experience rich Buddhist culture with monasteries and prayer flags.
The primary objective of going to Manaslu is to stock the Manaslu Base Camp at 4800 m and cross the rough Larkya La Pass above 5105 m. While you can look forward to an arduous 14-day trek, many rewarding encounters will rain down on you along the entire route of the Manaslu Circuit. So, prepare yourself for the marvels of nature and the exceptional culture of the local life colored by Tibetan Buddhism.