Short Manaslu Circuit Trek

Highlights of Short Manaslu Circuit Trek

• The trekking trails are Less trodden and quiet.
• You will have the opportunity to witness the jaw-dropping  vegetation and landscapes in the Manaslu region
• The trek is a perfect blend of natural beauty, local culture, and tradition.
• Spectate the magnificent stunning views of Himlung Himal 7126m, Cheo Himal 6820m, Nemjung 7140m, Kang Guru 6981m, Gyaji Kang 7074m, Annapurna II 7937m, and Mt. Manaslu 8156m.
• Hike to the thrilling highest point of the trek at Manaslu Larkya La Pass (5157m).

Outline Itinerary for Short Manaslu Circuit Trek

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu
Day 02: Drive from Kathmandu to Sotikhola (710m) 8 – 9 hours
Day 03: Trek from Soti Khola to Maccha Khola (900m): 6 – 7 hours
Day 04: Trek from Maccha Khola to Jagat (1410m): 6 – 7 hrs
Day 05: Trek from Jagat to Deng (1,804m): 6 – 7 hrs
Day 06: Trek from Deng to Namrung (2630m): 6 – 7 hrs
Day 07: Trek from Namrung to Samagaon (3530m): 6-7 hours
Day 08: Trek from Samagaon to Pungyen gompa. Back to Samagaon: 6 – 7 hours exploration
Day 09: Trek from Samagaon to Samdo (3860m): 4 – 5 hours
Day 10: Trek from Samdo to Dharamsala (4460m): 4 – 5 hours
Day 11: Trek from Dharamsala via Larkya la (5160m) to Bhimthang (3720m): 8 – 9 hours
Day 12: Trek from Bimthang to Dharapani (3560m): 5 – 6 hours
Day 13: Drive from Dharapani (1900m) to Kathmandu (1320m)
Day 14: Departure

Short Manaslu Circuit Trek (Distance)

The Short Manaslu trek is a popular alternative to the Annapurna Circuit trek as Annapurna circuit trek distance ranges from 160-230 km depending on the route. On the other hand, the 14 days Short Manaslu Circuit trek covers a total ground distance of 177 km. It begins from Arughat of the Gorkha district and ends at the final point of the trek at Besisahar.
 
It is a moderate trek in the Manaslu region but the hike might get a little strenuous for the first few days on the trek. You will be walking on various terrains on the 14 day Short Manaslu trek. Some of the days you will be walking on the narrow and uneven trails but nevertheless, the hike is truly enchanting.

On your short Manaslu Circuit trek last for around 14 days and you will cover a total of 15-20 km each hiking day. However, you don’t have to hike continuously on the trails as you will be taking short breaks. So, with a slow and steady hike and with plenty of rest intervals, you will certainly enjoy the Short Manaslu trek.  

Short Manaslu Circuit Trek (Best season)

Spring is one of the most favorable seasons for trekking in Nepal. Spring season begins from March and ends in May. The weather patterns and the temperature during this time around are perfect for a moderate trek to the Manaslu region. During the season of spring, the Manaslu region is blooming with all sorts of flowers like Primrose, Anemone, and Rhododendron.

During your expedition on the short Manaslu Trek, be sure to pre-book the rooms at the teahouses. Since most of the tea houses remain closed until the start of early Spring, it is always to have up-to-date information before heading for the trek.

Nevertheless, you will enjoy a pleasant hike as the weather conditions are perfect. The temperature ranges around from 16 degrees at day time to 2 degrees at night. In addition, you will experience a crystal-clear view of the surrounding mountains during the trek in the season of Spring. 

Mid-April is still a peak time to explore the Manaslu region as the surrounding atmosphere is crisp and you can enjoy the mountain views without any haze. You will experience the peace and tranquility of the majestic scenery along the trail.

 Furthermore, the chances of snowfall and rainfall during the spring season is to a minimum. So, you will enjoy a less little challenging Short Manaslu Circuit trek in spring (March, April & May).

Guide and porters during the Short Manaslu Trek

On the Short Manaslu trek, a professional guide will assist and support you throughout the trekking expedition. The guides have immense knowledge regarding safety and first aid. So, you need to aware of your guide in case of an emergency such as high-altitude sickness. 

The guide will encourage stable and steady hike to ensure proper acclimatization as the altitude keeps rising on the trek. In addition, a porter will assist you with your luggage so you can experience and enjoy the trek to a full extent. We do not encourage child labor so most of the porters we provide are local people with the age limit over 18. 

The guide and the porter are familiar with the local custom and traditions along the way. So, you will have the opportunity to understand and indulge yourself in the ethnic customs of the local inhabitant.  

Meals and Accommodation during the Short Manaslu Trek

You will accommodate yourself according to the group size in twin and triple sharing basis at the tea houses along the Short Manaslu trek route. You will have to spend extra money if you want to accommodate yourself in a single room. It will cost you around USD 6 – USD 9 per night but will cost extra surcharge for facilities like the attached bathroom and hot shower.

You will consume a sufficient amount of hygienic food during your stay at the tea houses. You will enjoy the services of full board meals like Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner depending on the tea house menu. You will enjoy cereals, porridge, toast, omelets, and hot drinks for breakfast.

You can enjoy the taste of some typical Nepalese food like rice, lentils, and curry for dinner. Some of the tea houses offer the services of Sherpa food, Indian food, Italian Spaghetti, noodles, and even Pizza for lunch. You will spend a total of 15-20$ on food every day depending on the items you order at the tea houses. 

Travel Insurance for the Short Manaslu Trek

We highly recommend and request you to have travel insurance during your travel to Nepal. The travel insurance should cover any expenses acquire due to medical issues or any accidents. Most importantly, your travel agency must cover air ambulance, rescue, and evacuation, treatment charges, flight delays, and cancellations. 

You should bring your travel insurance certificate with you or you can just simply send us a scanned copy from your homeland as we do not arrange or sell insurance. It is always a wise decision to have a proper insurance policy during your travel to the adventurous Himalayas.  

Your travel insurance should be familiar with our itinerary and it must agree to cover all activities being undertaken during your trip. It is not compulsory that all of our trips have Heli-rescue facilities. So, while choosing your insurance policy make sure that it will protect all such unforeseen expenses. 

Health and Physical Fitness Level

You need to be physically and mentally fit to commence the Short Manaslu trek. If you do not prepare yourself, the short trek can be equally challenging like any other trek. We highly advise you to indulge yourself in daily routine exercises and drills. 

Aerobic exercises like swimming, jogging, and cycling will help you develop your core strength for the trek ahead. Developing yourself physically is vital because you need to cover the distance of 15-20 km each day. You should focus in the gym as the daily exercises will help you face the challenges you might face in the trek. 

It is also equally important to start short hiking trips around the Kathmandu valley propr to the Short Manaslu Circuit trek. It will help you get an insight into the challenges you face ahead. These short hikes before the circuit trek will help you develop your mental and physical strength. Your preparation and determination for the trip will certainly ensure a wonderful journey on the Sort Manaslu Circuit trek. 

High Altitude Sickness 

On your Short Manaslu Circuit trek, you will ascend to high altitude regions so you will feel a certain decrease in the level of oxygen in the surrounding. 

We do not recommend you to make quick ascend without any breaks and acclimatization period on the Short Manaslu circuit trek. If you do not take regular breaks and commence a steady hike, you might suffer from High altitude sickness. Hence, you will need proper rest at a higher altitude to prevent the symptoms of Altitude Sickness. 

The symptoms include headache, tiredness and nausea, loss of appetite, dizziness, vomiting, and difficulty in sleeping. The locals and the guide will offer remedies like garlic and ginger against the symptoms of altitude sickness. In addition, Diamox is also one of the medications to fight back the effect of High altitude sickness. 

We recommend you to drink plenty of water along the trail and eat as much dry food as you can. Also, we provide experts guide with necessary medical supplies and will assist them with aid and treatment. 

Acclimatization

Manaslu Short trek is a high altitude trekking in the Himalayan terrains with a lot of upward and downward terrains. You will hike to the elevation over 2500m on your short Manaslu trek. Hence, you will difficulty in breathing during the hike to the higher altitude. So, you need to adapt yourself to the surrounding atmosphere to adjust yourself with the low oxygen level at high altitude.

However, our itinerary provides a sufficient number of days for the acclimatization process. You will rest for a day after you elevate or gain a certain level of altitude on your trek. On such rest days, you can explore the surrounding area as well as a hike to a higher altitude to adapt yourself to the surrounding. 

Likewise, we recommend you to hike slowly on your acclimatization day on a certain destination for the day. You should also be aware of your eating habits during the acclimatization process. It is not healthy to eat junk food or drink and smoke during the process. On the other hand, drinking plenty of water and walking with a gradual pace helps is the right way to acclimatize properly.

Gears Packing List for Manaslu Trek

You will need proper clothing and gears for your trek on the Short Manaslu expedition. The following list of equipment and clothing may vary according to the season or weather conditions. Nevertheless, these are the basic essential gears you will require during the Short Manaslu Circuit trek. 

Clothing

• Trekking pants
• Trekking boots
• Ankle Boot
• Trekking shirts 
• Fleece sweaters
• Wind/rainproof jacket and pants
• Liner socks
• Woolen sock
• Quick-drying thermals
• Down jacket
• Gloves
• Cap
• Headband
• Slippers

Extra Gear

• Headlamp
• Sunglasses
• Camera
• Sleeping bag
• Altitude radar
• Portable Charger

First Aid

• Chapstick
• Sunscreen
• Imodium for diarrhea
• Blister bandaids
• Advil cold 
• Bandaids
• Eye drops
• Vicks Vapor Rub
• Nasal moisturizer
• Tweezers

Manaslu Trek Review

The Manaslu short trek is a majestic journey to the foothills of the Himalayas overlook some of the breathtaking views nature has to offer. You will have the opportunity to explore the peaceful and immerse yourself in the wonderland of the Manaslu region.