Many climbers wonder about the Manaslu Climbing Route before making the summit to this eight-thousander peak. Well, there are six trek routes to the mountain, and you will be following the North East Ridge route to climb Mount Manaslu.
Manaslu region is famous for trekking as well as an expedition destination in Nepal. The Manaslu Circuit Trek and Manaslu Expedition are the two the most visited places in these areas.
The Manaslu climbing routes are strenuous and challenging. It is suitable for people with prior mountaineering experience. Directly climbing the peak without any prior experience can be risky for your life.
So, if you are planning to summit Mount Manaslu, Spring and Autumn are the best seasons. The days and nights are perfect for trekking and mountain climbing in this region.
About Manaslu
Kutang is another name for Mount Manaslu, the world’s eighth tallest mountain at 8163 m altitude above sea level. The term Manaslu refers to “mountain of the spirit” derived from the Sanskrit word Manasa, meaning soul or intellect.
People usually question: where is Mount Manaslu Located? This mountain is part of the Northern Nepalese Himalayas in the Mansiri Himal, located on the west-central side of Nepal. The coordinates of Manaslu are 28° 32’ 58” N 84° 33’ 43” E.
Mount Manaslu was first ascended on May 9, 1956, by Gyalzen Norbu and Toshio Imanishi, the members of the Japanese Expedition. This peak is the tallest one in the entire Gorkha district residing 64 km east of Annapurna.
The long ridges and valley glaciers of Manaslu make it feasible to approach from all directions. The peak steeply towers above its surrounding landscape and looks dominant from afar.
[contact-form-7]Geography of Manaslu Region
Mount Manaslu lies in the Manaslu Conservation Area, covering the 642 sq mi/ 1663 km2 of land in the Gorkha District. The conservation area comprises sub-tropical in the lower regions to Trans-Himalayan zone in upper regions.
The point from Arughat to Larkya La Pass covers six climatic zones:
- The tropical and Sub-tropical zone from 1000- 2000 m
- The temperate area from 2000- 3000 m
- The subalpine zone from 3000- 4000 m
- The alpine area from 4000- 5000 m and the arctic zone above 4500 m
The zone differs with the variation in altitude from 600 m/2000 ft to 8156 m/26781 ft till the summit of Manaslu. This peak offers many mountaineering routes, given its flattering topography of glacial valleys and long ridges.
Highlights of Manaslu Expedition
- Climb and summit the world’s eighth tallest mountain
- Walk-through Manaslu Conservation area
- Reach the base of Mount Manaslu and prepare there for days
- Experience six different geography in this expedition
- Reach Larkya La Pass, the highest pass of the region
- Experience warm welcome and friendliness of the Gurung People
- Stay in basic tea-houses and live their lifestyle closely
- Learn about the daily lives of the Himalayan people and their rich culture and tradition.
Manaslu Climbing Route
You begin your Manaslu expedition after a few preparations in Kathmandu. You first drive to Soti Khola, viewing impressive scenarios of hills, pastures, and many more.
Reaching here, your Manaslu Expedition begins as you trek towards Machha Khola, passing small Gurung villages. Then you head towards Jagat, walking up and down on the trails.
From Jagat, you trek to Deng, viewing fascinating Tibetan houses and cultures on the way. After that, you walk to Namrung via rhododendron forests, bamboo forests, etc.
Now, you head to Samagaun, where your first acclimatization is held before reaching the base camp. From there, you move on a journey to Manaslu Base Camp and begin the climbing period.
After the Manaslu summit, you descend to the Base camp and then to Samagaon the next day. Then you head to Samdo village, viewing beautiful scenarios.
From Samdo, you begin the journey towards Larkya Phedi crossing several religious sights in between. Finally, you will be crossing the high pass of the Manaslu region as you walk to Bimthang.
From here onwards, you trek to Dharapani, then to Syange, and drive back to Kathmandu. After your arrival back to the city, the Manaslu Expedition comes to a halt. An extra is added to keep your body some rest and lets you enjoy the day.
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Manaslu Climbing route Itinerary
You walk via the North ridge to complete your Manaslu Expedition. So, mentioned below is a short detailed itinerary of the Manaslu Climbing Route:
Day 1: Arrival to the Capital City
Welcome to Nepal climbers. You can’t begin your Manaslu Expedition without entering Nepal. So, on the first day, you will be arriving in Kathmandu and have a brief introduction with your crews and companions.
Just as we had planned, our representative will be waiting for you outside the terminal to pick you up. After meeting up with you, they drive you to your hotel and help you with the further check-in process.
Then they leave you for the day, as rest is unplanned, so you can take a self-tour of the city or stay in your bed for the remaining day. Later in the evening, we will host a welcome dinner party for you to join us there.
Day 2: Sightseeing around Kathmandu and Preparation for Expedition
After a beautiful dinner night, you have a busy day today. You will visit the famous tourist sites of Kathmandu and prepare for your expedition later in the day.
A day is enough to let you glimpse the daily life and culture, the tradition of this city. You will be visiting the UNESCO World heritage sites of Kathmandu on this day.
After this fantastic tour, you return to your hotel, where the guide will give you a brief explanation about the Manaslu Climbing route. Then dispersing, you can hit the local markets if you have anything left to purchase.
If not, pack your back and get ready for tomorrow as it is a hectic day, so sleep well.
Day 3: Drive from Kathmandu to Soti Khola
Drive Duration: 9 hours
Drive Distance: 138.6 km
Highest Point: 712 m above sea level
After waking up, you have your breakfast and wait for the guide to come to pick you up. Finally, it’s time to bid the beautiful city farewell for the next few weeks and officially begin the trek along the Manaslu Climbing route.
Driving along the Prithivi Highway, you head towards Soti Khola. The beautiful green pastures and stunning hills on the side of the trails will accompany you all the way.
After a long exhausting day, you reach the destination nestling on the north of Arughat. You must be tired after the journey, so you go to bed after dinner.
Day 4: Trek from Soti Khola to Machha Khola
Trek Duration: 5 to 6 hours
Walking Distance: 14.1 km
Highest Point: 883 m above sea level
Today’s journey begins by crossing a suspension bridge over the Budi Gandaki river and walking on rocky terrain. Then after reaching a certain point, you climb down steep trails on the way.
Moving ahead, you reach Labishe village, a small Gurung settlement. As you walk for a few miles from the picturesque hamlet, you arrive at Machha Khola, the final stop for this day.
Day 5: Trek from Machha Khola to Jagat
Trek Duration: 6 hours
Walking Distance: 22.2 km
Highest Point: 1415 m above sea level
The trek from Machha Khola to Jagat is not too long, so that you can walk at an average pace. You start by taking gentle steps then gradually increase your walking speed later on.
Heading out, you walk along the banks of the Budhi Gandaki river before making ups and down over many ridges. The path widens as you drop from the valley making the trails easier to walk on.
After several hours of walking, you reach Jagat, a gorgeous village in the Lamjung district. This town offers an incredible view of the high cliffs, waterfalls, and majestic mountains.
Day 6: Trek from Jagat to Deng
Trek Duration: 6 to 7 hours
Walking Distance: 21 km
Highest Point: 1804 m above sea level
You wake up, have your breakfast, and continue your journey to Setiba, the first destination. As you proceed further, the path unfurls you to the fascinating mani walls.
Unfolding the flavors of Tibetan culture, you head to Ghatta Khola, where you can see the stone-built houses. Now, you walk towards Philim then descend the slopes.
After that, crossing over the Budi Gandaki river, you walk through Bamboo forests and reach Deng, a Gurung settlement. The cultures and traditions of the Gurung community are lively in and around the village.
Day 7: Trek from Deng to Namrung
Trek Duration: 7 hours
Walking Distance: 19.4 km
Highest Point: 2670 m above sea level
The path today has a series of twists and turns for the first set. Then arriving at Ghap, a small settlement with few no. of houses, you advance to Namrung. The trail is long compared to previous days, but the stunning landscapes will make up for it.
Walking through enchanted forests of rhododendron, you climb the trail to a check-post before arriving at Namrung.
Day 8: Trek from Namrung to Samagaun
Trek Duration: 5 to 6 hours
Walking Distance: 21 km
Highest Point: 3541 m above sea level
Today you begin the trek early morning as you will be gaining 871 m of altitude at once. So, slowly and steadily walking the trails, you head towards Samagaon. Leaving the village, you first reach Barchham passing a cascading waterfall.
Then moving ahead, you ascend the trails to Lihi village and plummet to the Hinan river. From here, you pass the village of Sho and navigate the flat routes arriving at Samagaon.
Day 9: Rest Day at Samagaun
The altitude above Samagaun keeps rising, so you acclimatize here to adjust to the environment. By rest, we don’t stay or sleep but roam around the village or visit nearby hilltops.
You can visit the Pung Gyan Gumba, a historical landmark on the eastern side of Manaslu. Or you can hike up to Bhimtang Lake, a viewpoint offering marvelous sights of the surrounding.
Day 10: Trek from Samagaun to Manaslu Base Camp
Trek Duration: 3 to 4 hours
Walking Distance: 5.1 km
Highest Point: 4665 m above sea level
After a short break, you resume your Manaslu Climbing route journey. For here, the trails are a bit harsher with a sharp incline above the glacial moraines. The trail passes through Birendra Kund, small settlements, and spectacular views.
You walk slowly as the trails are steep and rocky till Manaslu Base Camp. Arriving here, you catch up with the Sherpa crewmate who will guide you to the summit. They also look after the preparation like setting up camps and cooking.
Day 11- 35: Mount Manaslu Climbing period and descend to Base Camp
Highest Point: 8163 m above sea level
Finally, the big day has come when you begin your preparation to summit Mount Manaslu. The climbing period is about 25 days long, including the descent to Manaslu Base Camp.
During this Climbing period, you acclimatize to base camp for a few days and prepare yourself. You ascend to Camp I and descend and continue it till your body adjusts with the elevation.
You do the same thing again and again in different level camps till you summit the peak. Then after that, you descend to the base camp and stay here.
Day 36: Trek from Base Camp to Samagaon
Trek Duration: 3 to 4 hours
Walking Distance: 5.1 km
Highest Point: 3541m above sea level
After a successful summit, you now prepare to head back to the lower regions. You walk through the trails leading to the Glacial moraine, then retrace your steps to reach Samagaon.
Day 37: Trek from Samagaon to Samdo
Trek Duration: 4 to 5 hours
Walking Distance: 8.1 km
Highest Point: 3872 m above sea level
The trail between Samagaon and Samdo is a moveable feast providing an unparalleled view of the enchanting hills and Mount Manaslu. The routes run through the ranch of Khorma Kharka.
After several ascends and descend, you pass a bridge before climbing and reaching Samdo.
Day 38: Trek from Samdo to Larkya Phedi
Trek Duration: 6 hours
Walking Distance: 12.45 km
Highest Point: 4494 m above sea level
After a hefty meal, you leave Samdo, descend the trails and cross a bridge over the Gila River. Then climbing up the routes pass several Mani stones with carving and coloring before reaching Larkya Bazaar.
From here, the path continues to climb uphill while trekking along with the beautiful views of forests and meadowlands. After walking for about an hour or two, you reach your destination.
Day 39: Trek from Larkya Phedi to Bhimthang via Larkya La Pass
Trek Duration: 8 hours
Walking Distance: 24.7 km
Highest Point (Larkya la Pass): 5106 m above sea level
Bhimthang Altitude: 3720 m above sea level
Today’s trek starts with a gentle ascent over the ridge, then following a steep trail, reach Larkya La pass, a significant highlight. You get to catch the view of Kang Guru, Gyagi Kang, and Menjung from here.
After viewing the scenarios, you descend the trails through snowy terrain and ice sheets. After an exhausting walk, you arrive at Bhimthang.
Day 40: Trek from Bhimthang to Dharapani
Trek Duration: 7 hours
Walking Distance: 24 km
Highest Point: 2006 m
You climb down the trails to Hampuk through a dense forest of oaks, pines, and rhododendron. Then tracing the routes, you reach the Dudh Khola and descend the cliff to the village of Kharche. Continuing the walk, you arrive at Tilije, a remote town, and cross a suspension bridge over the Marsyangdi river before reaching Dharapani.
Day 41: Trek from Dharapani to Syange
Trek Duration: 5 to 6 hours
Walking Distance: 21.7 km
Highest Point: 1194 m above sea level
It’s been over weeks since you began your Manaslu expedition, and slowly, it is coming to a halt. You start your last day of trekking in the Manaslu region by walking uphill and far from the Marsyangdi River.
Today you will have crossed several villages, beautiful scenarios, etc., before reaching Syange. It’s your last night in this region so take your time to enjoy the moments.
Day 42: Drive to Kathmandu
Drive Duration: 9 hours
Maximum Altitude: 1400 m above sea level
Finally, after a month and a half expedition, you will be driving back to Kathmandu today. Bid your goodbyes to the beautiful village and your crews before heading back. Retracing the steps, you reach the capital.
Day 43: Departure
Without realizing a month and more has passed in this adventure, and the time for goodbyes with the team of Peakclimbing Nepal is here. The officials will drive and see you off to the airport.
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