Professional Sherpa Guided Nepal Trekking Tours | Everest & Annapurna

    Mt. Manaslu Expedition

    Max. Elevation

    8163M

    Accommodation

    Hotel-lodge- Camping

    Best Season

    Spring- Autumn

    Duration

    40 days

    Trip Grading

    hard

    Activity

    Expedition

    Meals

    Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

    Transport

    Private jeep

    Departure Location

    Kathmandu

    The Manaslu Expedition provides views of the Nepalese Himalayas, technical obstacles, and the opportunity to climb an 8,000-meter peak with fewer people than Everest.

    With an elevation of 8,163 meters, Mount Manaslu Expedition is the eighth-highest peak in the world. The summit is located in Nepal between the Manag district and the Gorkha border. The Sanskrit term manasa, which signifies soul or intellect and translates as “the Mountain of the Spirit,” is the root of the English word manaslu. Mount Manaslu is renowned for both its breathtaking beauty and the different difficulties encountered along the journey.

    Travel Style

    Description

    The adventure puts the seasoned mountaineers’ abilities to the test, making it incredibly challenging. Both technical and muscular skills were necessary for the climbers. Crevasses, tall seracs, and steep ice and snow fields will all be encountered along the way.
     
    Your journey will begin from the lush lowlands of the Budi Gandaki Valley that pass through the remote villages, dense forests, and stunning ancient monasteries. As you ascend you will encounter diverse land, from the rocky trails to glacial landscapes that offer a unique blend of cultural and natural experiences.
     
    Climbers need to be aware of the difficulties they face along the way. Thus, meticulous preparation is necessary. There will be several camps along the routes, and the climber will have ample time to acclimate in these pre-existing camps prior to the last summit. As was already indicated, we need to be mindful of the difficulties, and one of them is the weather. Because the weather is so unpredictable, you need to prepare yourself well to deal with the harsh conditions.
     
    You will be rewarded with breath-taking panoramic vistas of the peaks at the last summit. Once you have climbed one of the highest mountains in the world, you will feel a sense of success.

    Trip Itinerary

    DAY 1: ARRIVE IN KATHMANDU
    Upon your arrival in Kathmandu, our local team warmly welcomes you at the airport. You will then be escorted to the hotel, where you can enjoy some well-deserved relaxation. The itinerary includes a briefing about the trek’s progress and presentation, followed by leisure time. If you arrive in the morning, you’ll have the entire day at your disposal. This can be used for rest or for those interested, to explore the surroundings freely. It’s an ideal chance to deeply experience Nepalese culture and indulge in the local culinary delights.
     
    Transfer to the hotel
    Final altitude: approximately 13,50 m
    Meals: Dinner
    Accommodation: night in the hotel
    Update with the expedition manager on the equipment carried. If necessary, the many mountain equipment shops in Thamel can help you complete your equipment. During this time, our local team is doing the necessary to complete the essential administrative formalities and the climbing permits.
     
    Meals: breakfasts at the hotel
    Accommodation: nights at the hotel
    A very early departure for two days of travel by bus and jeep. Fortunately, the road improves from year to year, and from Dharapani we set off on foot for Goa, a hamlet of lodges on the Manaslu trek.
     
    Mode of transfer/transportation: by private vehicle
    Duration of transfer/transportation: approximately 8 hours
    walking: about 3 hours Final altitude: about 2,500 m
    Meals: breakfasts – lunches – dinner
    Accommodation: nights in a lodge
    A smooth start to the trek, as we will soon cross a large pass over 5,000 meters. The valley becomes more and more alpine with beautiful forests and, in a clearing, our evening lodge, Chauli Kharka.
     
    walking: about 4 h
    Elevation: + 500 m
    Final altitude: approximately 3,020 m
    Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
    Accommodation: overnight at a hotel
    We continue our progress along the milk river and, at times beautiful views of the peaks of Manaslu Himal and the Bhimthag valley.
     
    walking: about 5 h
    Final altitude: approximately 3,710 m
    Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
    Accommodation: night in a lodge
    A day acclimatize. Either by hiking to Ponkar Lake or a new base camp to the western slope of Manaslu, or simply enjoying the place
     
    Final altitude: approximately 3,710 m 
    Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner 
    Accommodation: night in a lodge
    access to the upper Nubri valley with the villages of Samdo and Sama has been via the Larkya Pass which is now regularly used by muleteers from both valleys. It is through this pass that our expedition equipment will pass. On our side, always to improve our acclimatization, we set up a bivouac just above Bimthang, at Larkya Phedi near a temporary teashop. A great way to find ourselves at altitude facing the Nemjung before crossing the Larkya. On the other side, we set up our camp between Dharamshala and Samdo
     
    walking: approximately 7 h
    Final altitude: approximately 3,850 m
    Meals: breakfasts – lunches – dinners
    Accommodation: nights in a lodge
    A very quiet descent to enjoy this high valley at the foot of Manaslu. During this time, the Nepalese team will have organized the transport of our equipment to the base camp using local porters. A special local rule that we respect by not using a helicopter, unlike many teams who even make the trip directly from Kathmandu. 
     
    walking : 3 hours to Samdo, 
    Final altitude: about 3,400 m 
    Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner 
    Accommodation: night in a lodge
    A long climb that is difficult to achieve otherwise. The departure is early, the course above the lake is particularly aesthetic and our kitchen team is waiting for us directly at the base camp at 4,850 meters. Here we are “at home” for the mountaineering part of our journey at altitude.
     
    walking: approximately 8 h 
    Final altitude: approximately 4,850 m 
    Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner 
    Accommodation: night in a tent
    For this ascent of Manaslu, we plan 5 altitude camps.
     
    Camp 0.5: 5,400m
     
    This intermediate camp is only for the first rotation and it is located roughly halfway between the base camp and camp 1 (5900 m). We sleep there one night before continuing to camp 1.
     
    Camp 1: 5,900m
     
    The walk to camp 1 from the BC is without difficulty, but it is long and its duration is reduced with acclimatization (from 7 hours to 5 hours).
     
    The last part towards Camp 1 is a bit steeper. 
    The route to Camp 1 involves climbing over grassy slopes, rock slabs and a moraine, followed by a crevassed glacier which is reached after an hour after leaving base camp. This is the time when you put on your crampons ( crampons point ), to climb occasional small glacial jumps to camp 1 at 5,900 meters. Depending on the season, there may be snow around base camp and below. The view of the surrounding peaks will add reference to the climb and the team will enjoy seeing more of the top of the mountain.
     
    Camp 2: 6,400m
     
    The route to Camp 2 at 6,400 meters is considered the technical part of the climb, with a crevassed glacier where fixed ropes provide safety on the steeper parts. The terrain has long slopes of snow inclined at 40/45 degrees, involving the crossing of some sections of vertical ice, where the progression is made on the front points of the crampons, with the help of fixed ropes. To overcome these short glacial jumps, it is necessary to have perfected your technique of progression on fixed ropes by means of a self-locking handle and to know how to use the front points of the crampons. Count about 5 to 7 hours between the two camps.
     
    Location of camp 2 is around 6,400 meters, at the exit of the snow slope at 40/45 degrees, on a plateau.
     
    Camp 3: 6,800m
     
    Above Camp 2 the slopes decrease and the route to Camp 3 at 6,800 meters may pose no difficulty, but it depends on the configuration of the glacier. In the fall of 2021, there were two relatively vertical sections between Camp 2 and Camp 3, the difficulty of which was equivalent to the sections climbed between Camp 1 and Camp 2, although shorter. This part is done in about 3 to 4 hours. Camp 3 is located at the pass, or better, just below, protected from the wind if the snow conditions allow it.
     
    Camp 4: 7,400m
     
    From camp 3, the start is quite quiet, then the slope inclines at 50 degrees, and straightens up to 70 degrees over 5 meters before camp 4, located at 7,400 meters, slightly behind the ridge. All in all, the ascent is rather difficult at the end, especially with the altitude. It requires a well-deserved rest and rehydration once you arrive at Camp 4. Summit attempt the same evening.
     
    On the way to the summit: 8,156m/8,163m
     
    Departure generally between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. The night was short, the sleep light. It is from camp 4 that the oxygen intake starts for those who wish.
     
    The progression is not technical on the first part of the pre-summit plateau, because we climb from plateau to plateau, crossing some short steeper passages. The whole thing is no more difficult than the ascent of the Dôme du Goûter in the Mont-Blanc massif. 
     
    A gradual climb, especially for those attempting the summit without oxygen supply. Oxygen brings heat to the body. Throughout the day, our teams of altitude Sherpas are doing their best to help the group, during this memorable day whose goal is to reach the top of the eighth highest mountain in the world!
    A long descent to reach Sama 
    walking: about 6 hours
    Final altitude: about 3,400 m 
    Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner 
    Accommodation: night in a lodge
    We continue our progress towards the long mani wall of Kermo Manan and the village of Samdo (3,850 m) located very close to the Tibetan border, not far from the confluence of the Sama Chu with the Budhi Gandaki, and which is home to a community of Tibetan refugees. 
     
    walking: about 4 h 
    Final altitude: about 3,850 m 
    Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner 
    Accommodation: night in a lodge
    We know this pass well, as we have already crossed it on the way out. Our strategy will be much the same: an intermediate camp to bring us closer to the pass and above all avoid Dharamsala, which is not very pleasant and too crowded.
     
    walking: about 6 h 
    Final altitude: approximately 4,700 m
     Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner 
    Accommodation: overnight lodge
    Crossing the pass is a formality for us, but beware of bad weather which can make this type of busy route much more complex. The arrival at Bimthang definitely marks the end of the high mountain with the comfort of the lodges. 
     
    walking: about 6 hrs 
    Final altitude: approximately 3,710 m
     Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
     Accommodation: night in a lodge
    We descend the valley of the Dudh Khola River to the village of Tilije, inhabited by the Gurung ethnic group. We still cross mountain pasture hamlets, then find wooded areas and the first hamlets. 
     
    walking: about 6 h 
    Final altitude: approximately 2,000 m
     Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
     Accommodation: night in a lodge
    A little walk in the morning to reach Dharapani. Then the jeep trip to Besi Sahar and the bus, which will take us to Kathmandu in about 6 to 7 hours drive.
    transfer/transportation: by private vehicle Duration of transfer/transportation: approximately 10 hours Number of hours of walking: about 2 hours
     Meals: breakfast – lunch – free dinner (not included)
    Accommodation: overnight at a hotel

    free time depending on the departure time of your flight and our representative will drop you at the airport, ending your journey in Nepal. We hope to be of service to you again. Thank you and safe travels.

    Trip Included & Excluded

    Trip Included

    Airport – Hotel transfers – Airport (Pick Up and Drop), by a private vehicle.

    4-night hotel in Kathmandu (4-star category) – single room on bed and breakfast plan.

    One Welcome Dinner in a tourist standard restaurant in Kathmandu with Office Staff.
     
    Expedition Royalty and permit of Nepal Government to climb Mt. Manaslu Conservation area entry permits and fee and Restricted area permit fee

    1 Government Liaison officer with full equipment, salary, and accommodation.

    Stool Shipment Transfer & Garbage Deposit Fees

     Medical & Emergency rescue Insurance for all involved Nepalese staff during the trek and expedition.

    One Alpinist club Duffle Bag.

    Land Transportation: Drive from Kathmandu to Dharapani via Besishahar, and while returning from Machha Khola to Kathmandu, as per itinerary.

    All necessary equipment transportation for all Members and Staff from Kathmandu to Arukhet (by jeep) – Arukhet to Sama Gaun (by Heli) and Base camp (by Porters) – While returning: Base camp to Sama Gaun (by porters) – Sama Gaun to Arukhet (by Heli) and Arughat to Kathmandu (by Jeep)

    Up to 50 Kg per member for personal baggage during the trek to be carried by porters or Yaks.

    3 meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner; including tea and coffee) along with accessible accommodation at Hotel/Lodge during the trek and at the Basecamp. Hygienic and fresh green vegetables, fresh meat, fruits, soft drinks, and juice will be served regularly during the entire expedition using helicopter flights. Well-managed base camp set up for members & Staff.

     Porter per member up to and from Base camp (both ways).

     Experienced and well-trained Base Camp Cook & kitchen Helpers as required.

     All Nepalese staff & porter’s daily wages, salary, equipment, food & clothing

    Each member will have an individual box tent in Base Camp.

    Single Tent, foam mattresses and pillow per member, 1 Dinning Tent, 1 Kitchen Tent, 1 Communication tent, 1 Toilet & 1 Shower Tent, 1 Staffs Tent, 1 Tent for Nepalese base camp staffs, Store tents, Tables & chairs & all necessary cooking gears.

    Heater at base camp in each Dining and other necessary camps

    1 Solar panel or Generator for battery charge and light at base camp for use.

    Oxygen, Mask Regulator, Ice wall, and Ladder training at basecamp by a professional guide.

    governments-licensed climbing Sherpa per member (1 Member: 1 Sherpa), during the entire climb from Basecamp to the summit and back, and on each rotation.

    Climbing Sherpa to assist in carrying your gear to the high camps.

     Climbing Sherpa Salary, Equipment, Food, and Clothing.

    Summit Oxygen: 3 oxygen bottles (4 ltrs.) for each member and 1 oxygen bottle for each high-altitude Sherpa

    1 Set of Summit Oxygen masks and regulator for each member and high-altitude Sherpa, which has to be returned after the expedition.

    Back up Oxygen Cylinder, mask, and regulator (with appropriate charge).

    High Altitude Tent, Necessary cooking EPI gas, cooking pot, High food for a member, Sherpa, and other crews at (C1) (C2) (C3) and (C4). Group climbing gears, and fixed and dynamic rope during the climbing period as required.

    we will have one cook, kitchen, and dining tents in Camp I and Camp II.

    Members will share tents in high camps (2 members: 1 tent).

    The team of experienced Sherpas will fix the route on Manaslu (no extra charge will be applied to members).

    Satellite Phone for emergency communication carried by Sherpa, also available for members with appropriate charge.

    Walkie–Talkie for communicating from Base Camp to Mountain and Mountain to Base Camp.

    Satellite Phone/Walkie-talkie permit for all members and staff.

    Weather forecast report regularly during the entire expedition.

    Comprehensive Medical kit for members and staff.

     Mt. Manalsu climbing certificate (after climbing Mt. Manaslu successfully

    Trip Excluded

    International flight airfare (from and to Kathmandu).

     Nepalese Visa fee is $125 USD for 90 Days.

    Lunch & dinner during the stay in Kathmandu & Pokhara (also in case of early return from Trekking than the scheduled itinerary).
    Extra nights’ accommodation in Kathmandu & Pokhara. In case of early arrival or late departure, early return from Trekking (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary.

    Insurance covering both medical and high-altitude evacuation costs (for the trip cancellation, interruption, high altitude rescue & air evacuation, medical treatment, repatriation, etc.) *Mandatory

     Telephone Calls, Internet, Toiletries, battery recharge, hot shower, laundry, soft drinks, beers, and any Alcoholic beverages (during the trek and in Kathmandu but we will have soft drinks for members at base camp).

    Clothing, Packing Items, Bags, Personal Medical Kit, and all kinds of Personal Trekking / Climbing Gear.

     
    Soaps, shampoos, toilet and tissue papers, toothpaste, and other items used to keep yourself clean.
     
    Special Filming, Camera, and Drone permit fee.
    Internet facilities during the trek are not included.

    Summit bonus for climbing Sherpa- Minimum 1500 USD.

    Calculate some tips for Basecamp staff – Minimum 400 USD.

    Any other services or activities, which are not mentioned in the itinerary and other items not listed in the “Cost Includes” section.

    Organization

    Your Guide and Team

    Your Guide and Team in the Manaslu Expedition Your guide, from your arrival in Kathmandu until your departure, is responsible for the success of your trip and oversees your team. Do not hesitate to ask him questions, respect his position as the team leader, and above all follow his advice! Often your guide is the only English-speaking member of the team. In the mountains and, especially when during high-altitude travels, your guide is responsible for the safety of the group. The instructions he gives and the remarks he makes to all participants must be carefully followed. The interest and safety of the trekking group must be preserved, even when it may be to the detriment of an individual member of the group.

    Your Nepalese team may consist of several people, each with different responsibilities. They are:
     
    The Guide Leader (Sirdar) is responsible for and leader of the whole team and is treated with respect by all. Often he has earned his position by starting as a porter and rising through the ranks.
    climbing Guide: experienced and skilled mountain guide, fixed rope and takes to summit the top
    The Cook is responsible for all meals and is on a trek that doesn’t use lodges for meals. 
    The kitchen boy is an assistant to the cook. 
    Assistant Guide is actively helping clients under the leader’s direction and set camp. 
    The Porter is the load carrier for the trekking group. As Nepal is a mountain country with few roads, porters are employed to carry loads. Compliance with regulations and common courtesy dictates the maximum weight carried and the minimum wage paid. Porters are provided with gear based on the routes they follow and with insurance for alpine treks.
     
    Each trekker is allotted the maximum weights per person: Lodge (tea house) Accommodations: 15 kg maximum; Tent Camping: 22 kg maximum; Expeditions/summit ascents: 20 kg maximum. The porters are given a premium wage for carrying loads over 30 kg. 
     
    In addition, the Alpinist club takes care of taking out insurance for the Guide and porters. Specific equipment is allocated to them for crossing passes at altitude (even if wearers often refuse to put on shoes due to lack of habit).
     
    Accommodations in Kathmandu
    In Kathmandu, you will be accommodated in a hotel. We use different hotels depending on availability. The two preferred hotels are:
     
    Hotel Ramada:  Located in the heart of Thamel, this hotel is ideal for walking the bustling streets of Kathmandu. The spacious rooms all have a bathroom, air conditioning, and Wi-Fi. A fully equipped and active dining room is available for all meals, and the breakfast buffet offers a wide choice of foods. The hotel offers currency exchange, laundry services, and luggage storage.
     
    Sampada Garden: Located just 20 minutes on foot from Thamel and  Durbar Square, this hotel is convenient for exploring Kathmandu. The rooms have all the necessary comforts for your stay: air conditioning, bathroom, and Wi-Fi. Breakfasts are served as a generous buffet. The hotel provides currency exchange, laundry services, and luggage storage.
     
    Accommodation during the  Manaslu Expedition 
     
    For camping, accommodation during the expedition: during the expedition, breakfasts, Lunch, and Dinner are prepared by the kitchen team. They are taken to the mess tent. additional energy food is provided. Purchased locally, they offer a more limited. You can, if you wish, bring some complementary cereal bars adapted to your taste. 
     
    For lodge accommodation: meals are prepared by the lodge cooks and taken from the lodge’s dining room. 
     
    Here is a typical one-day menu: 
     
    breakfast: eggs, toast or chapati, or Tibetan bread or pancakes, or pancakes, butter/jam, tea or coffee
    Lunch: a main course, tea or coffee
    Dinner: soup, main course, fruit (fresh or canned), tea or coffee
     
    During the trek, tea or coffee is served with meals. Two cups per person are included. Apart from these included menus, other drinks and foodstuffs will be at your expense.
     
    Water: provide tablets (Hydroclonazone, Micropur, or another type) to disinfect the water you put in your water bottle, depending on the source and on the advice of your guide. It is sometimes possible to buy purified water and refill your water bottle without having to buy bottled water. You can also buy mineral water in the cities (not included in the price) but its ecological balance is poor, as you know. Also, we do not recommend it.
     
    Preparation for the Manaslu Expedition
    Preparing for the trek requires several months of preparation with 4 to 6-hour walks every weekend for stamina and participating in a sport that requires short periods of high exertion.
     
    Medical check-up
    Being in good health is essential to enjoy your Alpinist Club trip fully. If your last medical visit was more than four years ago, please get another general physical exam and tell your doctor the nature of your trip (climate, altitude, difficulty, etc.). The altitude also has the effect of reviving dental problems or other chronic pain, so getting a dental checkup is also prudent. If you are undertaking a high-altitude expedition, we advise you to consult a mountain medicine specialist.
     
    Acute Mountain Sickness
    This trip takes place at high altitudes so some people may experience altitude-related discomforts like headaches, loss of appetite, and swelling of limbs. Most of these symptoms usually go away within a few days, but sometimes they can develop into a serious illness: pulmonary or cerebral edema. There are no preventive drugs for AMS. Diamox diuretic is often effective for symptomatic relief, but you should first check with your doctor to verify that it is not contraindicated. Think about it before you go.