Manaslu Circuit Trek Difficulty with Expert’s Advice

The wonderful experience of wandering in the off-beaten trail of the mountains is second to none. Passing the vast array of the mountain valley, you get to live within the river gorges and striking snowcaps. Along with paralleled Himalayan views from Larkya Pass (at 5,106 m/16,751 ft), this Manaslu trek Nepal offers intimate encounters with the lives of Manaslu and their ancient culture. But how hard is the Manaslu Circuit trek?

Manaslu Circuit Trek difficulty is high but traditionally enriching and scenically uplifting. Learning about the difficulty of the Manaslu Circuit trek will help you understand what you can expect during this journey to the Himalayas. So, let’s learn how difficult the Manaslu Circuit trek is and how you can solve it to make your trip easier.

The Manaslu circuit trek is Moderately challenging and achievable for anyone with good physical and mental health. Here are the different kinds of difficulties faced along the route.

Things That Measure Manaslu Trek Difficulty

1. Distance of Manaslu Trek

Your Manaslu and Tsum Valley Trek journey starts with an 8-hour ride from Kathmandu to Machha Khola via Arughat Bazaar, which is a very big challenge. From Machha Khola, you will be trekking about 170 km in the next 11 days. On the Himalayan Masters’ standard Manaslu Trek itinerary designed by experts, you will walk five to seven hours daily.

We cover 15-18 km daily on a rocky and uneven mountain trail. In short, the first few trekking days will be hard, especially for the newbie. The part where you cross the steep Budi Gandaki Gorge isn’t easy. This all adds up to the increase in Manaslu Circuit Trek difficulty.

2. Altitude Sickness During Manaslu Trek

Manaslu Trek expresses significant differences in altitude sickness in the Manaslu Circuit trek. From 1400 meters in Kathmandu, we drive to Soti Khola, which is at an elevation of around 700 meters. As you move higher, you are exposed to high sun and wind. In the coming days, we will be crossing Larkya La Pass. The air pressure drops rapidly at such a height, and the oxygen level can drop up to half.

Most trekkers start to experience the symptoms of altitude sickness in the Manaslu trek somewhere between 2500 meters and 3500 above sea level. Although we know how an individual’s body responds to the change in altitude, it depends on their age, gender, and health.

Altitude sickness in the Manaslu trek shows symptoms such as:

• Dizziness,
• Shortness of breath,
• Headache,
• Loss of appetite,
• Tiredness
• Pain in chest
• Fainting, etc

Although people don’t take these symptoms seriously, altitude sickness in the Manaslu Trek can be deadly, adding to the difficulty of the Manaslu Circuit Trek. To avoid such serious risks, we must use the theory of acclimatization. As we move up to a certain altitude, it’s wise to take a rest day and stay at the same place for two nights. This gives our bodies time to deal with the changing air pressure.

However, many trekkers avoid this suggestion to make a short Manaslu trek and end up with serious consequences. Also, we suggest you take the Manaslu trek Itinerary, which involves gaining around 500 meters in height per day. Thankfully, Himalayan masters provide enough acclimatization days and an experienced guide to protect you from any deadly situation. You will be in safe hands for the difficulty of the Manaslu trek.

3. Trek Difficulty Due To Remoteness

While trekking into the unknown land of the Himalayas, you must have a clear idea of what to expect. In the 2 weeks of trekking, you will be staying in small Manaslu hotels called teahouses. These teahouses have small wooden rooms and two single beds on them.

The room will not have any other basic amenities, and you will need your sleeping bag (some even carry a sleeping mat). Wi-Fi is available in almost all teahouses on the Manaslu Circuit trek, but it’s very slow, and you cannot do much with its speed. Sometimes, you even have to stay in the queue to charge your phone in reception as the rooms don’t have plugs. You need to pay an additional fee for that.

Generally, the bathrooms are available on a sharing basis, and they might not even have Western seats (many hotels still have Indian-style seats).

During the trek, you must carry all your personal care items, clothes, and necessary food. There’s not much you can buy along the Manaslu trek route. People often forget to mention these small Manaslu Circuit Trek difficulties, but you must know them.

4. Difficulty Due to Weather

Warm and stable weather makes a big difference in your travel experience while wandering the high mountains. Trekking in autumn (October and November) and spring (April, March, and May) is easier than winter and summer treks.

Winter treks, with thick layers of snow and slippery trails, are the most difficult season for Manaslu trekking. Summer treks on rainy days are also very difficult. Here, you can read about the weather in Manaslu and plan your trip accordingly.

Tips To Overcome Manaslu Trek Difficulty

The difficulty level of Manaslu is challenging. As we know, the Manaslu trek is a very strenuous and demanding trip, and one needs to be physically fit to complete this tour. This means trekkers should be trained for a long walk at a high altitude. The best way to train yourself is here.

1. Strength Training

You need to prepare your body to walk 5 to 7 hours each day on a rocky mountain trail with a backpack. For that, one must have good strength in the legs, shoulders, arms, and back.

So, the first task is to strengthen your leg muscles with exercises such as leg presses, lunges, weight squats, or bodyweight squats. These exercises, starting at least two months before the trek, lower the difficulty of the Manaslu Circuit Trek.

Also, one can do short hikes to become habitual in trekking.

2. Cardiovascular Fitness

Along with physical strength, the capacity of your heart and lungs are also equally important during high-altitude treks.

Firstly, you need to be free of any heart and lung-related diseases (otherwise, the trek can be deadly). Next, you should prepare your body for a lower level of oxygen. Cardio exercises such as cycling, jogging, brisk walking, swimming, running, and skipping are beneficial.

Additionally, including acclimatization and rest days in your itinerary could be the best way of giving rest to your body.

3. Diet

It is extremely important to have healthy eating habits during training sessions and trekking. Ensure you have a balanced diet of carbohydrates, protein, and fibres to build muscle strength. Then, start building the habit of drinking a lot of water. This diet plan should be strictly followed during the Manaslu Circuit trek.

Moreover, it is essential that you eat foods that are easily digestible during the trek. Constipation or diarrhea during the trek could be a big problem.

4. Mental Preparation

Like physical fitness, sound mental health is extremely important during the Manaslu trek. Many newbie trekkers have completed it without any difficulty, and you should have that confidence in yourself.

Your mental health determines your ability to handle stress and pain. People without the right motivation and sound mental health often give up the mid-way. Start working on yourself and keep your mind in a very peaceful state to fully enjoy this trip.

Further, it is important to stay calm during any accident or emergency. Panic can worsen the situation. Therefore, stay calm and listen to your guide’s instructions.

5. Collect Some Experience

Many newbie trekkers with zero experience in high-altitude trekking have already completed the Manaslu trek. However, some previous experience of high altitude trek makes this Manaslu tour easier. Trekking in the nearby hills around your hometown or preparing for short hikes in Nepal is helpful.

6. Right Packing

The trekkers often pack in a hurry and miss many things from the packing list for Manaslu. That’s when they have to face the worst challenge. So, ask your guide for the list of things to pack for Manaslu. Your guide will prepare the bags before you leave Kathmandu.

Nevertheless, overpacking or underpacking could increase the challenges. Likewise, it is recommended that you do not carry any valuables like jewellery during the trek due to the chance of losing them.

Further, buying additional packing gear in the mountains could be costly. So, you can either bring them from your country or buy/rent them here in Kathmandu.

7. Travel Insurance 

Even after all this preparation, sometimes things go beyond our control. Unpredicted weather, natural calamities, or other physical conditions might affect us during a trek to Manaslu.

That’s why we make it compulsory for our travellers to have travel insurance, especially when trekking in high altitudes. You must have travel insurance in Nepal that covers all risks of high-altitude emergencies, including helicopter rescue.

The travel insurance document and emergency contact details should be submitted to the team before the tour.

Manaslu Climb Difficulty

Many people ask how hard it is to climb manaslu. Ascending to the Manaslu Peak can be considered relatively tough, even for professional climbers.

The hike to the base camp involves a lot of walking and is tiring; hence, it should be done by active people. The climb entails scrambling through steep ice and snow, encouraged by crevasses and/or avalanches. Rock climbers require more creep and crawl skills involving ropes, crampons, and ice axes.

The altitude is also one of the constraints, as the thinner air and high altitude make it harder to breathe. However, if there are, the climb is more rewarding than one can think, and the top views are more encouraging than one can imagine.

Manaslu Summit Difficulty

Climbing Mount Manaslu is challenging and considered very technical. Climbers must also be fit to undertake this expedition.

The final movement of climbing up a steep face of ice to obtain the summit, with likely life-threatening crevasses ahead, is especially challenging. The Manaslu Trek weather can also pose a challenge and considerably worsen during a plan’s implementation, increasing the risks.

Like most mountains, a summit attack usually involves getting up very early and can take many hours in cold and windy conditions. Acoustic stress remains a major threat because the top of the mountain is more than 8,000 meters.

Inexperienced climbers should not try and are not permitted to climb the top of Manaslu since it requires a lot of high-altitude climbing.

Preparation Advice for the Trek from a Nepalese Guide

A Nepalese Manaslu guide will prepare you mentally and physically during the trek. A guide will help you with various things and make the best use of being a guide. A Manaslu guide will help you with every detail and everything you need during a trek.

They will make sure about your physical and mental health. The Manaslu guide could give you the following advice before, during, and after the Manaslu Circuit Trek.

• Always take small, steady steps. Do not take a large step; it will make your body fatigued and decrease your stamina and energy.
• Perform proper acclimatization. While on the trek, you must acclimatize properly. Also, proper rest during the trek is crucial.
• Always listen to your guide; the guide has more experience and knowledge about the localities than you do.
• Always have a Manaslu trekking partner and a guide with you. The Manaslu Circuit Trek is a group or partner trek, so you cannot trek alone in the area. Solo treks are not allowed on the Manaslu trek.
• Always keep yourself hydrated; drink 3-4 litres of water every day during the trek.
• Pack only necessary clothing and gear. Do not overpack or underpack. If you do not hire a porter, you will need to carry your equipment by yourself, so make sure to pack wisely.

What happens when you fall sick/injured in the Manaslu Circuit trek?

Many of us wonder what happens if we fall sick or are injured during the trek. The answer is that you will be fully and properly taken care of and medicated. If the injury or sickness is normal, the guide will take care of you. A Manaslu guide carries all the necessary medications and a first aid box to help you with your sickness.

Nevertheless, if the condition is severe and requires more medications, you will be taken to the nearest local hospital if possible, or a health assistant will help you. The guide and some local people will take you to the nearest place and will take advice from the healthcare assistant.

If necessary, you should stop your trek and rest properly. But if your condition isn’t that bad, you can continue your Manaslu Circuit Trek.

However, if your condition is critical, a guide will arrange an immediate helicopter evacuation for you. Helicopter evacuation is only done if the trekker’s condition is critical.

Make sure to have trekking insurance so that the helicopter evacuation cost will be paid by the insurance. So, always travel with insurance.

Permit restrictions

We have already mentioned that the Manaslu Circuit trek is a group trek, or you must have a partner for your trek ( guide excluded). The trek falls within Manaslu Conservation Crea, which is restricted. So, you will require certain permits before going on a Manaslu circuit trek.

Permits like Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP), Manaslu Restricted Area Permit, and Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP). Also, you will need to obtain a Chumnubri Rural Municipality Permit to trek in the Manaslu region. Further, to trek around Tsum Valley, you will need to obtain a Tsum Valley Permit.

If you do not have these permits, you might be prohibited from trekking around and concluding trekking or might be penalized.

FAQs About Manaslu Trek Difficulty

1. How difficult is the Manaslu Camping trek?

The Manaslu camping Trek comes with challenges you might have never thought of. There is no proper electricity, food, or a bed to sleep in, and everything required for the trek must be carried by yourself or by a porter. So, due to these limited supplies and additional challenges, the Manaslu camping trek is really difficult.

2. How to minimize the risk of altitude sickness in Manaslu?

To avoid altitude sickness in the Manaslu region or in any high-altitude treks, proper acclimatization is the best way. Additionally, proper rest, eating nutritional and easily digestible foods, staying hydrated, and using allopathic medicines like Diamox could help to minimize the risk of altitude sickness.

3. What about food during the Manaslu trek?

Manaslu Trek food won’t disappoint you in terms of food despite the many troubles you might face during this journey. You can pick from Nepalese foods like noodles, Mo:Mo, rolls, roti, curry, etc. You are gonna love the typical Dal Bhat combination. Also, there are some continental options like pizza and burgers. Do try local foods such as Thukpa and butter tea.

4. Is the Manaslu Circuit trek harder than Everest?

Well, the answer is relative. The Manaslu and Everest treks are complex and challenging, with their beauties. The Manaslu Circuit Trek distance is long but moderately difficult, but the Everest Base Camp Trek is shorter, and high altitudes make it more challenging. So choose on your own.

5. Is Manaslu Circuit trek harder than Annapurna?

If we compare these treks, the Manaslu Circuit trek will be more challenging than the Annapurna Circuit trek or the Annapurna Base Camp trek due to the shorter trekking distance, terrain, maximum elevation reached, and many more of Annapurna.

6. What is Manaslu’s success rate?

With Himalayan Masters, the Manaslu Circuit trek has an impressive success rate of 97%. This is a testament to our commitment to your safety and well-being. Our experienced guides, porters, and the whole team are always on hand to assist you in any situation that may arise during the trek, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience.

In Conclusion

Every new thing you wanna try does feel difficult. The trek to the Himalayas sounds impossible once you start it. However, once you set foot in the mountains, you sense that peace and pride you always wanted. So, stop imagining the difficulty of the Manaslu Circuit trek and start your tour now. However, ensure you are guided by a trustworthy team of experts at Himalayan Masters. It’s gonna be a wonderful journey for all of us.