Manaslu Circuit Trek, 13 Day Itinerary

Manaslu Circuit Trek Distance

The total distance of the Manaslu Circuit trek is 151km from Maccha Khola to Jagat. If you start the trek from Soti Khola, this distance increases by 15 km and becomes almost 166 km. The new road construction around Manaslu has caused the trek to become longer, adding 5 to 10 kilometres to the entire trip. You will walk for 6 to 8 hours daily, covering about 18 to 19 km.

Day 1: Kathmandu to MachhaKhola distance 143 km
Day 2: MachhaKhola to Jagat distance: 22km
Day 3: Distance from Jagat to Deng: 19.9 km
Day 4: Deng to Namrung distance 19.5 km
Day5: Namrung to Shyala village 9.7 km
Day 6: Shyala village to Samagaon 8.2km
Day 7: Samagaon to Samdo distance: 16.4 km
Day 9: Samdo to Dharamsala distance: 12 km
Day 10: Dharamsala to Bimthang via Larkya La pass distance: 24.7 km
Day 11: Bimthang to Gho distance 14km
Day 12: Gho to Dharapani distance: 5km
Day 13: Dharapani to Kathmandu distance: 118km

Manaslu Circuit Trek elevation and altitude

Weather at Manaslu Circuit Trek

The weather plays a vital role in determining the ease and comfort of your trek. Learning about the temperature and climatic conditions before you plan the tour is essential. Although the weather in the mountains is relatively unpredictable, we can say that Manaslu experiences four distinct weather variations every year. 

 March, April, and May mark the spring season in Nepal. March begins at -6 degrees Celsius at night but rises to 6–12 degrees in the late afternoon. The mountains are pretty warm at the end of May, even at night. Autumn is a time of celebration and fun. After the post-monsoon, the weather in September, October and November, is relatively stable and dry. Days are pretty warm, with temperatures ranging from 10 to 15 degrees in the Manaslu region. These are the best seasons for Manaslu treks in Nepal.

The summer in the South Asian region marks a prominent monsoon. The rain starts to fall in the second week of June and lasts for almost a month. As December approaches, the high mountains’ temperature drops to -8 degrees Celsius. But the snowfall begins after mid-January and lasts until mid-December. At this time, the nighttime temperature is almost -10 to -6 degrees. Even if the temperature reaches zero,

When should I trek to Manaslu?

Thankfully, the Manaslu trek is open for hiking at any time of the year. Sadly, the winter trek is challenging as the tea houses in the upper sections of the hike are closed. However, if you don’t want to miss the best mountain views covered in a thick white blanket, you can arrange the tour even in the winter.

Also, the monsoon is considered a low season due to its slippery path and leaches. But since it’s the best time to visit for keen botanists, you can head for the trek with the proper preparation.

The best season for the Manaslu trek is from March to May, when the temperature is bearable, and the rhododendron blooming is seen everywhere. Or, you might trek in another peak season, i.e., October to December, when the sky is clear, the trail is busy, and the locals are vibrant. After farming is completed in the monsoon, a time comes for a big celebration, such as the Dashain and Tihar festivals. You might have to pre-book the lodges because the trails are very busy.

Accommodation on the Manaslu Trek

On the trek, we will stay in the tea houses that the local families own. The lodge has a central dining area with a big stove for heating the room. The room mostly has two or three beds. They provide you with mattresses, a small blanket, and pillows. You might need to use sleeping bags for the night. They offer a hot shower on additional request, but the infamous “drop” toilets might be your most significant difficulty. Thankfully, a handful of newly constructed tea houses have a flush system.

Know more about accommodation in the Manaslu circuit trek 

Food for Manaslu trekking 

Regarding the food in Manaslu, you can have any meal of your choice while you stay in Kathmandu. We only provide you with breakfast (along with a welcome or farewell dinner) so you can choose to eat whatever and wherever you want.

Know more about food in the Manaslu trek.

During the trek, all three meals of the day are included. You can have a pancake, bread, dairy, juice, etc. The tea houses also have muesli and oats as options. The popular Dal Bhat with additional supplies is the best choice for lunch and dinner. However, you can also pick from noodles, momo, rolls, roti, and some curry. Some continental options, like pizza and burgers, are also available in the lower altitudes. Do try local foods such as tulpa and butter tea. 

Transportation During Manaslu Trek

Regarding the accommodation, we will predominantly travel in a private tourist vehicle. The vehicle size differs as per the group. Airport pick-up and drop-off will also be done in a private car. This particular tour does not have the option of a flight. So, most of the travelling is done by road.

Culture and festivals of the Manaslu region

Manaslu area is probably the most culturally diverse section of Nepal. In the lower chamber, we can witness village settlements with Chettri, Brahmin, and Newar people, whose lives are guided by Hindu values. Then, as we shift to the upper section, we witness the Tibeto-Burmans and Mongoloids, who mainly belong to the Rai, Magar, Gurung, and Tamang castes. 

Their culture includes beautiful monasteries, mani walls, rotating wheels, and prayer flags. In places like Mu gumba, Gumba lungdung, and Rachen gumba, you can see many nuns, especially younger ones, practising the ancient art of meditation and medicine. 

 People also celebrate different festivals that bind them in a commonplace. Lhosar and Bouddha Jayanti are celebrated with much joy. Explore the unique clothing of Manaslu and be a part of their festivals. You will have enough time to interact with the people and learn about their local culture. 

People in Manaslu TSUM Valley

If you combine the Manaslu Circuit trek with the TSUM Valley trek, you get to meet the Tsumbas, who are the residents of Tsum Valley. Tsum Valley has a total population of 2,700, most of them being farmers. These people who claim to have met ’Yeti’ are of Tibetan origin and have their own unique dialect called Tsumke or Tsumba. Although it might sound very weird to the world, the Tibetans in TSum Valley still follow the polyandry system.

What kind of permits are required for the Manaslu Trek?

Manaslu area limited area permits, Manaslu conservation area permits (MCAP), Annapurna conservation area permits (ACAP), and Trekkers Information Management Systems Card (TIMS) are the four types of permits required for trekking in Manaslu. You need these four licenses to accomplish the Manaslu Trek.

Know more about the permits.

What is a tea house like?

What do you imagine a house in the most challenging mountain terrain looks like? The tea house in Manaslu looks like a small hut, mostly made of wood or mud. Every tea house has a central dining area with a big wood burner. The fire is supposed to keep the room warm while you rest after a long day. Then, there will be two or three single beds with a thin mattress and blanket. Well, bedsheets might not always be very clean (it’s safe to carry your bedsheets), and blankets are not warm enough (that’s why we recommend sleeping bags). 

Let’s talk about the most important topic here: the bathrooms. Still called toilets in Nepal, there might be western or Indian pan restrooms that are provided in sharing basic. There are hot showers in almost all hotels in Manaslu, but you must pay extra for that. 

We often talk about electricity or charging in Manaslu Circuit Trek. The rooms in tea houses don’t have any plugs for charging, and you must give your mobile or camera in reception. They assess your devices for a couple of extra bugs. 

The tea houses offer some suitable varieties, but Nepalese Dal Bhat is always the best option. Do you want to know more about foods in Manaslu? Just get to the article here. 

Read different location for Manaslu Circuit Trek

What is a day on the Manaslu Circuit Trek actually like?

You know what we are discussing if you have been on any other high-altitude trek in the mountains. If it’s your first time, read carefully. Every trek day will be different, and difficulty adds up as you gain altitude, but a general outline can be made. 

Each day, the Manaslu Circuit trek begins after breakfast in a teahouse around seven to eight in the morning. You need to wake up quite early, freshen up before breakfast is served, and then we will start the walk. Following the trail led by our guide, we enjoyed the view along the route. When you are tired, signal, and the guide will stop. We cross a couple of kilometres before the guide takes us for lunch. You will spend almost an hour in the hotel here before moving ahead. You might have to take a packed lunch sometimes, but we mostly eat fresh lunch prepared in the tea houses. 

After lunch, we walked for a couple of more hours. You might want to stuff juice, chocolates, or snacks in your small bag. Depending on the distance we covered, we reached our destination somewhere between three and seven o’clock in the evening. The guide finds you a tea house where you shall crash for the night. Manaslu Circuit Trek beginners must read. 

Things to do after a Manaslu Circuit Trek

Although a trek to Manaslu will rejuvenate your soul, it might be physically tiresome. When you return to Kathmandu, a long spa session might be the best thing to do. And for the ladies, you might need a facial and a hair care day after that. Give yourself a day or two to let that muscle relax. Short tours to Kathmandu Valley or Nagarkot might be an excellent finish for your Manaslu Circuit Trek. 

Where can I meet Himalayan masters?

You can contact us via email or WhatsApp provided on the site. We will be available to pick you up at the Tribhuwan International Airport and transport you to the hotel anywhere in Kathmandu. Do note that our package begins from the day we move for the trek to Manaslu, so any accommodation costs before that are not covered. If you are already in Kathmandu, we will pick you up from the hotel. 

The Himalayan Masters believe in flexibility and comfort. We will provide you with the contact details of your client and the driver, just in case you need to ask anything. 

Here is a quick tip on Travel insurance for Manaslu 

Unfortunately, our Manaslu Trek cost doesn’t include travel insurance for our clients. It would help if you get foreign travel insurance covering high-altitude rescue from your home country. 

Manaslu Trek Packing List by Himalayan Masters

Our expert leader made this complete packing list, so please look at the Manaslu Trek packing list.

Head :

1. Sun hat or scarf (Himalayan masters will provide the trekking caps)
2. Winter hat, insulating hat or wide-brimmed hat
3. Headlights with extra batteries

Face :

1. Sunscreen, lip balm, and lip guard
2. Sunglasses with UV protection
3. Face/body wipes

Hand :

1. Lightweight gloves
2. Heavyweight winter gloves

Body :

1. Hiking shirt
2. Long-sleeved shirt
3. Hooded rain jacket
4. Fleece jacket
5. Lightweight cotton pants
6. T-shirt (lightweight wool)
7. polypropylene underwear
8. Down jacket (-20 is the best at high altitude trekking / is complimentary by Himalayan Masters)
9. sweater
10. waterproof jacket and pants
11. walking trousers

Footwear:

1. Trekking boots (Goretex ones)
2. Thick wool socks (take the extra pain of thick light socks)
3. Flip flops/sandals
4. Crampons

Essential gear:

1. Backpack/daypack (size depends)
2. Thermal bottle
3. Water purification (is complementary to Himalayan Masters)
4. Trekking pole
5. Sleeping bag (-20 is the best for high-altitude trekking / is complimentary by Himalayan Masters)

Others :

1. Hand sanitizer (if needed)
2. Antiseptic cream or spray
3. Personal medicine
4. Toilet papers
5. Wash bag (toothbrush, toothpaste, face wipes, etc.)
6. Rain cover
7. Waterproof trousers, jacket, and gloves
8. Compass/trekking maps