Best Trekking Destinations in the Manaslu Region
Trekking in the Manaslu Region is re-filling the drained energy that you can heal from mental stress and hectic city life. Manaslu region is famous for its diverse landscape where you can experience the local culture and natural beauty which serves the majestic Himalayan view from each stop. The Manaslu region has many trekking destinations where you can have a supportive trek or camping trek. For a camping trek you have to be well-prepared and well planned whereas in a supportive trek, you will find tea houses and lodges at each stop. The main trekking destinations in the Manaslu region trek are:
Major Attraction in the Manaslu Region
The Manaslu region is one of Nepal's less crowded tourist spots, surrounded by extraordinary natural beauty. TheManaslu Circuit Trek, especially via theLarke La Pass, is an ideal place to witness some of the most breathtaking landscapes on the planet. The Tsum Valley remains rural, with a pristine environment all around. It’s a remarkable area where you can glimpse what life in the Himalayas was like in the past. Here are some of the main attractions in the Manaslu Region for trekking.
- Manaslu Base Camp: The eighth-highest mountain in the world. The mountain itself is a holy god, Worships as the nature god of Sherpas and Gurungs communities, the landscape serves the alluring breathtaking views in the lap of Mt Manaslu.
- Pungen Gompa: It is also known as Pungen Monastery, and it is located in Tsum Valley. It is also considered one of the sacred holy monasteries in the valley. During trekking in the Manaslu region, you can explore Pungen Gumpa including Shringi Gompa, Lho Monastery, Rachen Gompa, Mu Gompa, Sama Gompa (Ribung Gompa), and Kargyu Chholing Monastery.
- Tsum Valley: It is one of the popular valleys in the Manaslu region where you can find many community people especially the Buddhist religion is followed by the local people most of the people are from Tibet where the Tibet border is near, where you can trek to the Tibet border if you wish to explore.
- Larke La Pass: The Larke la Pass also known as Larkya La Pass interconnects the two majestic mountains Mt Manaslu and Annapurna at an altitude of 5,106 meters/ 16,752 feet above sea level, it is one of the most challenging parts of Manaslu Circuit Trek.
- Birendra Taal (Lake): Birendra Taal (Lake): is a hidden gem in the Manaslu region, which offers you a mesmerizing escape from melting glaciers. This is one of the major attractions and a popular spot among the trekkers on the circuit.
- Wildlife Encounters: The Manaslu Conservation Area is home to diverse wildlife, where there is high chance to encounter these wild animals adds a thrill to the trek. Snow Leopard, Red Panda, Himalayan Goat, Musk Deer, and Blue Sheep are endangered species in the Manaslu region.
Best Time to Trek in the Manaslu Region
According to other popular trekking destinations in Nepal, the Manaslu Region Trekking has its best season and the perfect time to explore the Manaslu Conservation Area. You can trek during spring and autumn, as this season has the best climate, moderate temperature, clear weather conditions, and well-managed trekking trails to make the trek easy. Trekking during the hard winter season and rainy conditions might ruin your trek because of extremely harsh weather and climate conditions.
Spring season ( March to May):
Spring season is one of the best seasons to trek in the Manaslu Region, witness vibrant flora and fauna, clear weather conditions, and green lush and alpine valleys. During spring, you can enjoy warm sunshine, moderate temperatures, and less rainfall. Spring serves the best experience of the Manaslu Region beauty, where the temperature ranges from 20° Celsius/ 68° Fahrenheit during the day time, where the temperature drops up to -4°Celsius/ 22°Fahrenheit.
Autumn season ( September to November):
However, Autumn in the Manaslu Region offers you the best and most stable weather, with minimum rainfall and a very low chance of landslides, avalanches, and other natural hazards. These minimize future risks and ensure a sound trekking experience. In autumn, the skies are clear and blue, serving panoramic views of the Himalayas and breathtaking sunset views where the maximum temperature ranges From 15° Celsius/ 59° Fahrenheit during the day time and drops gradually to a minimum temperature Up to -10°Celsius/ 23°Fahrenheit in the night time.
Manaslu Region Trek during the Winter Season
Trekking in the Manaslu Region Trek in winter offers extreme cold weather and a pristine view of snow-capped mountains. Imagine yourself trekking through a serene, snow-covered wonderland with fewer crowds. If you are seeking adventure and cultural experiences at the time, the Manaslu region is the perfect place to go.
You need to be well-prepared to trek during winter when your physical fitness is before high-altitude trekking. There will be a high chance of snowfall and extremely harsh weather, and most of the trekking trails are icy and covered with black ice, which makes the trekking route slippery where you must have sturdy boots, and crampons are highly recommended to avoid unwanted accidents.
Manaslu in winter is a lifetime memory adventure, but you have to be well prepared and have a spirit of resilience. Are you ready for the challenge?
Permits for the Manaslu Region Trek Cost
To trek in the Manaslu region, you need three types of permits that are compulsory to carry during trekking for your safety and security purposes; your permit cost goes for the development and maintenance of the trail.
Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (MRAP)
The first permit you need is the Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (MRAP), which will cost you around USD 70 to 100, depending on the season.
Manaslu Conservation Area permit (MCAP)
The second permit you need is the Manaslu Conservation Area Permit(MCAP), which will cost you USD 30.
Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
The third permit you need is the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP,) which will cost you the same as the Manaslu Conservation Area USD 30.
All the permits will be provided before trekking by us if you have any queries, you may feel free to contact us for more detailed information.
Best Meal option in the Manaslu Region Trek
Along the trekking, the basic meal you will find is rice and lentil soup (Dal Bhat), including Momo (dumpling), Noodle soup ( Thuppa), and other options where you are suggested to avoid the non-veg items ( meat products) it might be difficult for you gut health during the trekking days. Most of the tea houses and lodges serve non-veg and gluten-free meals which helps in digestion.
Breakfast options
During the Manaslu region trek, breakfast is usually served between 6 am to 8 am. According to your order, the tea house owner will prepare a fresh and healthy breakfast with locally grown vegetables such as potatoes and green vegetables. For breakfast, it will cost you around USD 3 to 5 per person. Here are the breakfast options during the Manaslu trek.
Breakfast set: The breakfast set includes bread toast, chapati, or Tibetan bread made from local buckwheat with potatoes gram beans, a choice of egg (boiled or omelet), porridge, cereals, and a hot beverage (tea or coffee).
Lunch and dinner option
Along the trekking days, Lunch is served between 11 am to 1 pm according to your time preference where you will be served a freshly cooked meal, and dinner is served between 6 pm to 8 pm. During the trek, you might feel a loss of appetite which is a common symptom in high altitudes you have to take meals to continue your trekking. We suggest you have a veg meal during the trekking days.
Lunch and dinner set: The Nepali Lunch set includes rice, lentils, potato curry, green vegetables, beans, and pickles. It will cost you around USD 2 to 4 per person. In another option for lunch, you may have local authentic food items such as:
- Mo: Mo (Dumplings)
- Chow Mein (fried noodles)
- Thuppa ( soup noodles)
- Pasta, spaghetti
- Sherpa stew
Drinking water on Manaslu Region Trek
Drinking enough water during the trek is essential for your successful trek, it will help you in respiration while you ascend to the high altitude your body drains quickly because of the rugged and high terrain. We highly suggest you carry a water bottle and water purificationtablet and water intake must be from 4 to 5 liters per day to keep your body active and hydrated. Local people, guides, and porters may drink water directly from the stream; do not follow them; you might get sick; you must use your filters and purification tablets to avoid diarrhea. For warm water in some tea houses it will cost free whereas in some tea houses, warm water costs USD 2 to 3 per bottle of thermos.
Challenges during the Manaslu Region Trek
Trekking in theManaslu Regionis challenging; you should be aware of different factors. Here are some difficulties you may face during the trek:
High altitude
The trekking trail in the Manaslu Region trek takes you to Larke Pass, which is 5,106 meters/ 17,122 feet above sea level, altitude sickness is a significant concern where; you should ascend gradually by acclimating your body, and you should know your body to be aware of the symptoms of (AMS) Acute Mountain Sickness also known to be altitude sickness.
Remote and Rocky Terrain
The Manaslu Region is relatively remote and less developed compared to other popular trekking destinations like the Everest, Annapurna, and Langtang Region. The trial can be rugged, with steep ascends and descends and narrow paths where you can rarely encounter landslides and avalanches during trekking. While trekking on such a route, you must be physically and mentally fit, have proper trekking gear, and have prior hiking experience.
Limited Amenities
Manaslu Region lies in the Himalayas, far from roads and large towns. This makes it challenging to transport a lot of supplies and construct luxurious hotels, So when you trek in the Manaslu Region, you will be staying in simple guest houses run by local families. They will provide you with a basic room to sleep in and local hygienic meals cooked over a fire. You might not have things like hot showers or Wi-Fi everywhere, but you'll have a chance to connect with nature and local people and experience a different way of life.
Think of it as an adventure! It's a chance to step away from the hustle and bustle of modern life and appreciate the simple things. Plus, the amazing views and friendly people you meet along the way will make it an unforgettable experience in the Himalayas.
Best Packing list for the Manaslu Region Trek
The Manaslu RegionTrek is challenging and it is worth trekking where you have to be well prepared before you start your trekking. The weather and climate conditions in high altitudes are unpredictable considering the weather and climate you must pack all the essential gear for the trekking.
Trekking in all the regions begins from low altitude to high up to a high altitude of 5000 meters plus where you might get confused about the essential packing list for trekking.
Where in some parts of the region temperature rises during the day time and extreme cold during night time you should be very careful about the perfect packing list for a successful trek.
Packing the wrong gear or if you forget to pack important items may ruin your experience during trekking.
Trekking Wears:
- Warm hat
- Scarf.
- Gloves.
- Hiking Socks.
- Slippers.
- Light Thermal warmer.
- Long/ short sleeves.
- Hiking pants/ shorts.
- Water/ windproof jacket.
- Down jacket/ Fleece jacket.
Note: All the trekking wear should be ultra-lightweight and should be made from quick-drying material.
Trekking Equipments:
- Duffle Bag (80-100 liters)
- Day backpack
- Trekking poles x2
- Water Bottle
- Head torch light
- Small keyl
- Ziplock bags
- MicrospikesSun
- Glasses (UV protection)
Personal care:
- Suns cream
- Lip balm
- Wet wipes
- Body moisture
- Portable charger/Universal adapter
Toiletries:
- Toothpaste
- Brush
- Soap bar/ liquid soap
- Dry shampoo
- Dry towel
- Deodorant
Packing this basic trekking essential will help you for your successful trekking in remote areas. So now are you ready to embark on your trekking journey to the mighty Mighty Manaslu? Let View Nepal Trek & Expedition help you on a hassle-free and successful trek.
Conclusion
The Manaslu region is beautiful in its unique way and for travelers who want some fresh experiences, it might be more appealing than other popular regions. If you are looking for new trekking paths that are both off the beaten track and captivating, Manaslu should be on your list. It has everything that one would expect from a Himalayan trek, including majestic mountain views, different terrains, and a deep connection to the local culture. It is even more beautiful in comparison to other well-known trek routes because it is much less crowded. Since it is less popular, it provides you with peace and offers a deeply authentic experience. While this is a moderate trek, if you have a sound physical condition, you will be able to complete it. In the end, both the memories you will make along the way as well as the hike itself will be more than worth the effort.
