Manaslu Circuit Trek, 13 Day Itinerary

Weather at Manaslu Circuit Trek

Weather plays a vital role in determining the ease and comfort of your trek. It’s important to learn about the temperature and climatic conditions before you plan the tour. 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 with a temperature of -6 degrees Celsius at night but rises to 6-12 degrees in the late afternoon. At the end of May, the mountains are quite warm, even during the night. Autumn is a time of celebration and fun. After the post-monsoon, the weather is quite 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.

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

Best season for Manaslu circuit Trek

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, monsoon is considered 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 completing farming in the monsoon, a time comes for a big celebration such as the Dashain and Tihar festivals. As the trails are very busy, you might have to pre-book the lodges.

Accommodation in 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/farewell dinner) so that you can have the freedom of choice 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. For breakfast, 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. In the lower altitudes, some continental options like pizza and burgers are also available. Do try local foods such as Thukpa and butter tea. 

Transportation During Manaslu Trek

Regarding the accommodation, we will mostly be travelling 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. 

Beautiful monasteries, mani walls, rotating wheels, and player flags are part of their culture. 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. 

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 difficult mountain terrain look 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 in the center. 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 thin blanket. Well, bedsheets might not always be very clean (it’s safe to carry your own 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 restroom that is provided in sharing basic. There are hot showers in almost all hotels in Manaslu but you must pay extra for that. 

We are often about what 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 charge your devices for a couple of extra bugs. 

The tea houses do offer some good varieties in the menu but Nepalese Dal Bhat is always the best option. Wanna know more about foods in Manaslu? Just get to the article here. 

What is a day in Manaslu Circuit Trek actually like?

If you have been to any other high-altitude trek around in mountains, you definitely know what we are talking about. If it’s your first time, read carefully. Every trek day is going to 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 which is around seven to eight in the morning. You need to wake up quite early and freshen up before breakfast is served and then we start the walk. Following the trail led by our guide, we enjoy the view along the route. Whenever you are tired, just give a signal and the guide shall stop. We cross a couple of kilometers before the guide stops 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 wanna stuff juice, chocolates, or some snacks in a small bag that you carry yourself. Depending on the distance we cover, we reach our destination somewhere between three to seven o’clock in the evening. The guide finds you a tea house where you shall crash for the night. 

Things to do after a Manaslu Circuit Trek

Although a trek to Manaslu is gonna rejuvenate your soul, it might be physically tiresome. A long spa session might be the best thing when you get back to Kathmandu. 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 around Nagarkot might be a good finish to your Manaslu Circuit Trek. 

Where to met Himalayan Masters?

You can contact with us via email or WhatsApp provided in 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 trek to Manaslu, so any accommodation cost before that is not covered. If you are already in Kathmandu, we shall pick you up from the hotel. 

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

A quick tips on Travel insurance for Manaslu 

Unfortunately, our Manaslu Trek cost doesn’t include travel insurance for our clients. You need to get a foreign travel insurance that covers high altitude rescue from your own home country. 

Manaslu Trek Packing List by Himalayan Masters

This is a complete packing list made by our expert leader, so please take a look at the Packing list of the Manaslu Trek.

Head :

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

Face :

1. Sunscreen, lip balm/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 the high altitude trekking / is complimentary by Himalayan Masters)
9. sweater
10. waterproof jacket and pants
11. walking trousers

footwear :

1. Trekking boots (Goretex one)
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 sanitiser (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