Manaslu Circuit Trek - 16 Days

Duration : 16 Days

This is 13 days trek including drive and rest of the time will be spent in Kathmandu

Grade : Demanding

Manaslu Circuit Trek is rated as demanding trek. Involves walking for around 5 to 8 hours along the ridges of high Himalayan peaks with lengthy, steep climbs and descents. Also involves crossing a high pass around 5,106 m. There can also be significant weather changes during the trek. The real challenge is walking in the high altitude. As you ascend, the air becomes thinner, making breathing harder and increasing the risk of altitude sickness.

Altitude Problem:

This trek goes up to an altitude of 4,000 m with crossing of the pass at 5,106 m a zone which is highly susceptible for high altitude problem.

Altitude sickness can affect anyone in the elevation beyond the safer limits of 2500m above sea level. As you ascend higher into the atmosphere, the oxygen content of the air decreases, making it more difficult for the body to adapt to the new altitude and perhaps leading to altitude sickness. Altitude sickness can happen very quickly. It can be lethal if it’s not treated on time.

If you have a headache, cough, racing heart or trouble breathing, difficulty in sleeping, weak you might be affected by altitude problem. In such case you need to consult with your guide and stop ascending to higher elevation. The only remedy for altitude problem is descending to lower elevation immediately.

Prevention:

• Allow ample time in between trek days to let your body acclimatize well.
• Do not increase the altitude by more than 500m per day
• Drink plenty of liquid and don’t let your body to get dehydrated
• Eat plentiful and keep your body fit
• Move slowly and don’t stress too much in your body
• If you are smoking cut it out.

However, even after following the prevention rules if someone is still affected then one needs to DESCENT down to the lower elevation asap as altitude problem can be life threatening.

Who Can Undertake Manaslu Trek?

Graded as demanding this trek is ideal for those who are into adventure and have a good experience in high altitude trek. For the novice this trek can be difficult but not impossible with a good preparation and allowing a more time for acclimatization trek can be achievable. This is purely a trek and not a climbing a trip, so no rope or climbing is involved.  We do not recommend this trek for pregnant women, heart problems or other long health issue.  One needs to have a good shape of health for undertaking this trek.

Preparation For The Trek :

This trek graded demanding is walking up in a high Himalayan terrain reaching up to an elevation of around 5,106 m for a duration of 14 days it is therefore essential to have a proper planning and preparation in order to have a safe and enjoyable trek.

Mental Preparation:

It is important to do the reality check before signing up for the trip:

• First need to question yourself if you are ready for the trek which goes up to an altitude of 5,546 m?
• Your health conditions? Recommends you to check with your GP/Doctor
• Meditation practice which will strengthen your brain and might need it during trek in times of difficulties.

Physical Preparation:

This trek, reaching 5,106 m, requires toning up legs and body muscles for a challenging challenge in the Himalayas. Regular trekkers don’t need much preparation, while novices should start training 6 months before. Training will make you fitter and stronger, allowing you to enjoy the trek without additional stress or injury.

• Start hiking covering 9 – 12 kms per day with bit of weight 5-15kg. Try this quite frequently and increase the distance. This will slowly build strong muscles in your legs and body, also help as to how you move on the trail. Practice with the hiking boots that you plan on taking in order to avoid blisters during the trek.
• Also you can build up your strength, endurance, stability and self-assurance doing a stair walking. You can start slowly and then gradually prolonged it for bit longer period.
• You can work on with treadmill as it will strengthen your calves and Achilles tendons and improves your cardio and leg endurance. This can be done by increasing the incline each week till you can tolerate 45-60 m at a 15% incline.
• Other fitness activities like swimming, cycling, jogging are all helpful

Type of Trek :

In this region trek can be done in different ways like FULL PACKAGE TRIP & GAP BASIS

• FULL PACKAGE TRIP : We organize everything for the trip right from the permit for the trek, guide and porters, accommodation, provide meals and arrange transportation where required.
• GAP TREK STYLE: Almost the same arrangement like in the full package trip except your meal payment needs to be paid directly by the guest in the lodges.

Season:

Weather plays an important role for having an enjoyable trek in the Himalayas because without the view of the snowy peak the trek can be bit incomplete.

Though the trek can be done almost throughout the year with the exception in the Monsoon season but in order to enjoy the trek fully the ideal time is autumn between mid-October till mid-December where most of the time you can have unobstructed view of the lofty Himalayas. The trek also becomes pleasant as it is not too hot but in from November weather can be colder.

Springtime between mid -March till end of April is another good time to trek in the Himalayas. But during this time weather can be bit hazy and also sometimes you can have rain. But since the weather pattern is changing its hard to be precise, we just have to count on our luck as well.

Group Size :

Normally our group size is between 2 to 10 participants – it is always great to have a small group instead of big groups.

Staff Support  :

You will have the support of a Govt. registered trekking guide who can speak Basic English language and well acquainted with the area. All our Guides have received training in basic skills and knowledge about administering first aid and emergency medication.

We provide porters to carry your personal baggage and gear leaving just the day pack to be carried by yourself.  We provide one porter for every two trekkers and one porter generally carries a baggage weighing not more than 30 Kgs, i.e. 15 Kgs per trekker. So you will need to pack your baggage accordingly.

Accommodation :

There will be 13 nights’ accommodation involved during the trek. The accommodation will be in a simple basic mountain lodges having private rooms partitioned with wooden walls or bit of cemented one. These rooms accommodate two single beds with cotton pillows and a blanket provided. However, it is always good to bring your own sleeping bag. Most of the lodges have solar lighting system and hence are slightly dim. Bathrooms & toilets in such lodges are usually common.

Now some lodges with private attached bathroom in some villages have popped up  i.e. Sotikhola, Namrung, Lho, Samagaun, Bhimtang and Gho – so we will try our best to accommodate you in these lodges.  Rest of the nights will be in the standard room lodges with common sharing bathroom.

Hot showers, Wi-Fi will be available in the trekking regions but comes with the extra cost.

Meals :

You can find a wide variety of Nepali, Western, Chinese & Indian cuisine.

Breakfast offerings include muesli, a variety of porridges, pancakes and bread with jam or eggs. For lunch it is worth considering what can be quickly prepared, with veg noodle soup being popular. Pancakes and Tibetan bread are also relatively quick to make. Increasingly toasted sandwiches are on menus too. Apple pie is generally delicious, deep fried in the same way as the spring rolls are.

Dinner you can start with soup, then you can choose the main dish either macaroni/ spaghetti/potato/pizza/rice etc.

Most meal choices are carbohydrate-heavy; exactly what trekkers require. All lodges serve tea, coffee, hot chocolate, hot lemon, soft drinks and beer (check its temperature first) and some places even offer wine.

Avoid having uncooked food like salads, meat products during the trek or even in Kathmandu.

Water :

It is recommended to take plenty of water during the trek to avoid dehydration.  Mineral Water is available but we do not advise as the plastic bottle pollutes the region so carry Water bottle with water purifying tablets.  You can fill the water from the restaurant or stream on the trail.

Baggage :

During the trek your main baggage will be taken cared by our porters. You just need to carry a day pack with water bottle, camera, sun-screen, spare jacket, personal medication and etc. For this trip you will need to have small day pack to carry by you during the trek, FAR OUT will be supplying you with the main trekking bag for all your trekking gears but you will also need to carry a small lockable bag for travel clothes or anything that you do not need during trek to store at hotel’s locker room/safe deposit box in Kathmandu for free of charge.

Typical Day In The Trek :

Usually, day begins around 6 am with tea or coffee and then washing and shaving.  After you need to get back to your room and pack your gears, followed by breakfast in the restaurant which will be as per your choice. Then we begin our trek it goes around for 3 to 4 hours then we stop for a lunch in a nice spot having nice cuisine, hygienic, and, if it’s feasible, a good view of the Himalayas.

We finish the journey for the day after trekking for a further three to four hours. Night will be spent in the simple basic mountain lodge.  Dinner will be in the lodge restaurant where you get a menu to choose your meal.

Trekking Equipment :

For trekking in the Everest region, you will need walking boots, sleeping bag (4 seasons), waterproof jacket and trousers, fleece jacket, warm hat and gloves, sunglasses, water bottle, sun cream and day pack. Complete list of equipment will be forwarded upon confirmation of the trip.  Most of the gears can either be bought or rented out in a different trekking shop in Kathmandu.

Access :

Roads – Drive of around 8/10 hours both on a paved and rocky mountainous terrain road on a Private Four Wheel drive.

Health, Medical & Vaccinations:

At least 08 weeks before you begin your journey have a basic health check-up, consult with your GP/Doctor about your travel plan and the vaccination you might require.

Medical facilities in Nepal although has improved a lot but still not at par with many countries abroad. Kathmandu has several big hospitals with quite a good medical facility but serious illnesses, however, often require evacuation to the nearest adequate medical facility in a neighboring country.

One needs to be careful with water, we advise you to drink only boiled or bottled water.  Also please avoid raw or undercooked food. Infectious diseases such as parasitic, foodborne, and waterborne infections are quite frequent in Nepal. They consist of cholera, hepatitis, and typhoid.

Nepal reported its first dengue case in a traveler returning from India in 2004. Since then, dengue has been endemic in Nepal.

First Aid Kit :

It is important to bring your own medication while traveling to Nepal as some of the medication might not be available or match with the one you are taking. While bringing the medication please bring along the prescription and good to check with Nepal Embassy if that medicines is allowed in Nepal or not.  Because some of the drugs even though prescribed by the doctor out there might be illegal

Insurance:

Whether it might be a short easy trek or difficult one Insurance is a ‘MUST’ if you’re planning a trek in the Himalayas.  Trek in the Himalayas although exciting but due to difficult terrain potential health risk is involved.  In case of emergency Insurance plays an important role covering you with helicopter evacuation which is very expensive, your medical bills or sometimes your accommodation and upgraded air journey.

But make sure that a policy that covers your health, travel, medical treatment, accidents, loss of property, theft as well as emergency helicopter evacuation.

Electricity:

Most of the teahouses in this region has electricity or the solar power facilities.  But as a backup it is always good to carry a power bank or solar charger in case of electricity problem, this trek zone is in the mountainous region of Nepal. Charging of the electronic device in some places will cost you extra.

Communication :

Major villages and settlements along the trail do have internet connection with good strength but as you move higher and isolated regions the connection is very poor or sometimes no connection at all due to mountainous landscapes.

Mobile data coverage service on this trail is provided both by Ncell and Nepal Telecom (NTC). Recommends Nepal Telecom as it has better coverage on this trail but the network gets weaker and slower as you ascend in higher altitudes. Likewise, in some sections of the trail, there is no signal at all.

So before heading for the trip you can purchase a NTC sim card with a data package for the occasional internet access.  Many tea houses and lodges offer Wi-Fi services with extra charge.

Environmental Concerns:

Far Out discourages all its clients from buying plastic mineral water bottles when up in the mountains and also abstaining from using hot water for baths that has been heated by burning firewood. We carefully select lodges that particularly use kerosene, solar energy, or cow dung instead of firewood for all heating, lighting and cooking purposes.

Visa Requirements:

All foreigners require a visa for entry into Nepal. You can get from a Nepalese embassy overseas or on arrival in Nepal. Most people will obtain their visa on arrival to Kathmandu airport.  For obtaining the visa your passport should have atleast 6 months validity on the day of departure and the right amount of visa fee on US $ cash. To get it done bit quicker you can fill up the online visa submission form Online Services (immigration.gov.np) and present the print slip to the Immigration but this needs to be done between 15 to your arrival days.

1. 15 days USD$  30 or equivalent convertible currency
2. 30 days USD$  50 or equivalent convertible currency
3. 90 days USD$120 or equivalent convertible currency

Permits :

You only require two different permits — Restricted Area Trekking Permit and Conservation Park Permit

For issuing the permit there must be two participants. You will need to send the scan copy of your passport where all the details are mentioned i.e. Name as in the passport, date of birth, nationality, passport no and validity of the passport.  Along with the scan copy of passport you will also need to send the passport size photograph to start processing for the permit. Later in Kathmandu, we will be needing the passport for a day to get the permit.

About Adventure Travel :

The concept of mountain trekking in itself is ‘adventure traveling’ which can be unpredictable most of the times. While traveling through the remote mountainous regions of Nepal, please do not expect standards you are used to at home, since these areas are still underdeveloped.

The posted trek itinerary should be seen as a guide only. Situations like inclement weather, forces of nature and circumstances beyond our control may convince us to alter the itinerary. Therefore, you are advised to be flexible, positive and eager to take on the challenge if the need arises. In case of uncertainty regarding the suitability of this trek for you, please do speak with your trekking agent.