Mt. Manaslu Expedition

Mt. Manaslu Expedition

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Mt. Manaslu Expedition

Country Nepal
Duration 38 Day(s)
Max Altitude 8163 m 26780ft.
Difficulty hard
Group Size 2 to 15
Best Season Autumn

Manaslu Expedition  

 

Duration: 

 38 Days  

 

Highest elevation: 

8163m/ 26781ft. 

 

Coordination: 

28.32’58” N 84.33’43” E

 

Climbing route: 

South-eastern ridge  

 

Caravan route: 

KTM- Beshisahar-Larkey la- Samagaun- basecamp-Arughat- KTM. 

 

Difficulty level: 

V (Hard) 

 

Climbing style: 

Alpine guided  

 

Service: 

Full board  

 

Mt. MANASLU, part of the Mansiri Himalayan Range, proudly stands as the eighth-highest peak in the world, at an elevation of 8163 meters above sea level (26781ft.). Manaslu means "mountain of the spirit" and the word is derived from the Sanskrit word Manasa, meaning "intellect" or "soul". The mountain is also known as KUTANG by locals. Locals believe that the god named PUNGEN resides on the mountain.

The normal climbing route for Mt. Manaslu follows the Northeast ridge. Manaslu was first climbed on May 9, 1956, by Toshio Imanishi and Gyalzen Norbu, members of a Japanese expedition. The ascent involves setting up four camps just below. Camp I is situated at approximately 5800 meters (19029 feet), while Camp II rests an additional 600 meters (1967 feet) higher, at 6400 meters (21300 feet). Camp III awaits at 6800 meters (22310 feet), and the last camp is situated at 7400 meters (24280 feet) located on the northeast ridge, marking the final stop before the summit. 

Because of passing the Ice Falls, the journey to Camp 2 from Camp 1 is believed to be the hardest and riskiest part of the climb but beyond Camp 2, the ascent becomes easier to Camp 3, which still has some risk of avalanches and crevasses but the very short climb. Above camp 3 we are mostly climbing on the steep surface of camp 4 then the northeast ridge of Manaslu.  

The Manaslu Expedition is not only about climbing a mountain but is a life-changing moment for every climber try to conquer it. The Mt. Manaslu expedition is suitable for those who are seeking training for the Mt. Everest climb. This peak can be the best option for starting the 14-peak mission.

Join us on your Dream Adventure to Mt. Manaslu Expedition with the Experts! Get in Touch!

Itinerary

Day 1

You'll be met at the airport by a representative from Altitude Experts Trips & Expedition who will escort you to the hotel room which has been booked in advance for you.  


You'll be staying in Thamel, a tourist hub in Kathmandu. Thamel is bounded by outdoor shops (ranging from local to brand-name shops such as Mountain Hardwear, The North Face, and Sherpa Gear), hotels, bars & restaurants, spas, a few pharmacies, and music shops. In the evening, you will be treated to a delightful welcome dinner at a top-notch restaurant in Kathmandu.  

Max Altitude 1400 m
Meals Bed & Breakfast
Accomodation Hotel
Day 2

After a delectable breakfast, embark on a captivating sightseeing tour of Kathmandu's ancient city. A licensed and expert tour guide will be at your service, and a comfortable private vehicle will be at your disposal. The day's itinerary includes visits to the grand Boudhanath Stupa, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the sacred Pashupatinath Temple, the iconic Swambhunath Stupa, also known as the monkey temple, the historical Kathmandu Durbar Square with its ancient King's palace, and the enlightening Narayanhiti King's palace Museum. The evening concludes as you are safely transported back to your hotel. Enjoy your evening in Kathmandu strolling the streets of Thamel and shopping for some souvenirs if you like.  

Max Altitude 1400 m
Meals Bed & Breakfast
Accomodation Hotel
Day 3

Our experienced mountain guide team will visit your hotel to inspect all the climbing gear we suggested for your expedition. We'll categorize and pack the gear into two separate duffle bags one for the trek and the other directly destined for the basecamp. In the evening, you'll have the flexibility to indulge in any last-minute shopping or preparations. At the same time, you have a final chance to check up on your equipment and pack up the baggage.

Max Altitude 1400m.
Meals Bed & Breakfast
Accomodation Hotel
Day 4

After having breakfast, our guide will be at your hotel to pick you up in a private comfortable vehicle. You will start your journey from the bustling city of Kathmandu. When you travel by road, you get to enjoy beautiful scenery. You will drive following the Trishuli River by Prithvi Highway. Along the way, you will pass through numerous villages and terraced fields. The road connection is also good so, you will be able to travel comfortably. 

Besisahar is the headquarters of the Lamjung district. Similarly, Besisahar is the gateway to the Annapurna Circuit, Manaslu Circuit, Narphu Valley, and Tilicho Lake Trek routes. Besisahar lies 175 kilometers (109 miles) to the west of Kathmandu. It is a charming town situated along the Marsyangdi River. It takes around 6 to 8 hours to travel from Kathmandu to Besisahar by road. It is a pleasant and scenic drive from Kathmandu. Besisahar is not only popular for being the entry point for popular trekking routes, but also for its natural beauty and cultural heritage. Beautiful hills and mountains surround the town. We will stay in Beshisahar for a night. You will get the last chance to buy something that you forgot to buy in Kathmandu. 

Max Altitude 800m
Meals full board
Accomodation local lodge
Duration 5-6hrs.
Day 5

Today the road to Dharapani is more unpaved, bumpy, and dusty than the day before. We will take a four-wheeler jeep with an experienced driver. Dharapani is small Gurung settlement and business hub for manang and gorkha district

Max Altitude 1860m.
Meals full board
Accomodation local lodge
Duration 5-6hrs.
Day 6

We start our trek after breakfast. We follow the under-construction roadway that makes a walk gentler and easier. After walking 3 hrs in pine forest following the Budhi Gandaki River, we reach Tilche village, Tilche is a village in Nashong, Manang, Gandaki Pradesh and has an elevation of 2262m. This is the Gurung settlement with police check posts, health posts, schools, and government offices. We will have our lunch here and continue to Gowa. Gowa is a small beautiful town with 4-5 local tea houses in the elevation of 2560m.

Max Altitude 2560m.
Meals full board
Accomodation local lodge
Duration 6hrs.
Day 7

The trek begins harder today. We mostly walk in the pine forest following the same river, crossing Surkikhola and Yak Kharka villages today. The first view of Mt. Manaslu will be visible if the sky is clear. 

Max Altitude 3590m
Meals full board
Accomodation local lodge
Duration 7-8hrs.
Day 8

At an altitude of more than 3000 Meters, Our body can show signs of altitude sickness. You need time to deal with increasing height and falling air pressure and temperature. So today, you spend the day in Samagaon to rest and acclimatize. On this acclimatization day, we take a walk up to Ponkar Lake (3965m) offers one of the best panoramic views of the surrounding mountains including Mt. Manaslu. Ponkar Lake is a glacial lake, nestled below the challenging Larke-La Pass and near the high Manang area, facing the northwest side of Mt. Manaslu. We will descend following the same trail back to Bhimthang to stay overnight

Meals full board
Accomodation local lodge
Day 9

Today is the hardest day of our lower trekking to reach the Manaslu Base camp. We will wake up early morning like 3 am and start our trek earlier after having breakfast. Larkey La pass(5106m) is the border between Manang and Gurkha District. The stunning view of Mt. Larkey la Peak with 360 snow-capped mountains will wait for you from the top of the pass. We will reach Samdo village by crossing Phedi, Larkey La, and Dharmasala in 8-9 hrs. Samdo village used to be the business hub for locals and Tibetans while the border was open. Samdo Village is a small settlement located in the Manaslu Conservation Area in Nepal. It is situated at an altitude of approximately 3,875 meters (12,713 feet) in the Gorkha District of central Nepal. 

Meals full board
Accomodation local lodge
Duration 8-9hrs.
Day 10

The hike today is the easiest trek of this expedition. Samagaun is a settlement in Gorkha district of northern-central Nepal. Samagaun village falls within the Manaslu Circuit Trek and is regarded as the last stop for trekkers before Birendra Lake and Manaslu Base Camp. Today we will visit the nearest monastery offer the puja for the successful expedition, and explore Birendra tal and the village. 

Max Altitude 4360m
Meals full board
Accomodation local lodge
Duration 2hrs.
Day 11

To keep the journey on, today, we will head towards Manaslu Base Camp. It will not take us long to reach the base camp of the world’s eighth-tallest peak. Walking on a muddy trail, we will first reach a scenic village of rhododendrons and junipers. We will leave the woods and walk for several hours to get to the picturesque Manaslu Base Camp. Our staff are ready to welcome you to our comfortable campsites.

Max Altitude 4900m
Meals full board
Accomodation Tent
Duration 4-5hrs.
Day 12

Phase 1: Puja ceremony & Training  

After we reach base camp, we will get a 1- or 2-day leisure day to acclimatize our body well. Our sherpa team will decide on our puja day on a very auspicious day according to the lunar calendar. The puja ceremony in other words is taking permission from nature to step on their body. The local ethnic group from the valley believes that all mountain has their gods and goddesses, so we need to get permission before we step on. The Puja ceremony is performed by the monk from the nearby village, Samagaun. Your guide will instruct you well on the day before the ceremony. The day will be full of relaxation, enjoyment, dancing, and singing. 

After the day of the auspicious puja ceremony, your training session will start. One of our best climbing guides will lead a session that includes gear demonstration, walking on crampons, use of technical gear walking on fixed lines, etc. Our team of guides will instruct you about using all technical gears and set up the fixed line near our camp in Ice Fall and show you the demo of walking on the fixed line using your high altitude all-in-one boot and crampon. The pre-basic training session will take place for one or two days in base camp.  

After a great training of one or two days, Phase 1 of climbing is done, and you are ready to climb up further.

 

 

Phase 2: Acclimatization rotation on the Mountain.  

We designed the best rotation that suits all levels of people who live at sea level, to acclimatize well on the mountain.  

 

Rotation 1: Touch camp 3

Day 1st: Basecamp to camp I-5800 meters (19029 feet)  

Camp I of Mt. Manaslu lies on the ridge between Manaslu and Naike Peak. We start our journey in midday after lunch. Our climbing guide will instruct you about the gears and clothing, what should pack in, and what not. Our support sherpa team will help you carry tents, your sleeping bag, an insulated flame mattress, and some snacks. We expect you to carry a minimum of 15kg of weight.  

Approx Elevation Gain: 900 meters (2950ft.) 

Highest Elevation: 5800 meters/ 19029ft. 

Approx. walking hours: 4-5hrs. 

Overnight at VE25 tent or equivalent mountain tents. 

All foods provided are high altitude ready-to-eat packet foods. 

 

 

 

Day 2nd: Acclimatization hike towards camp 2. 

The second-day walk is harder than the first day. We will hike towards camp 2 and try to reach 6200masl and will back to camp 1 again for the night. 

Approx Elevation Gain: 400 meters (1310ft.) 

Highest Elevation: 6200 meters (20340ft.) 

Approx walking Hour: 5 hrs. 

Overnight at VE25 tent or equivalent mountain tent. 

All foods provided are high altitude ready-to-eat packet foods. 

 

Day 3rd: Camp I to Camp II, 6400 meters (21300 feet).  

We start our day in late the morning today. It is about to take 5 hours from Camp 1 to Camp II with an altitude gain of 600 meters (1970ft.). So, it is not far but is very hot at midday. The trail is steeper and has some risk of avalanches.

Approx Elevation Gain: 600 meters (1970ft.) 

Highest Elevation: 6400 meters/ 21300ft. 

Approx. walking hours: 5 hrs. 

Overnight at VE25 tent or equivalent mountain tents. 

 All foods provided are high altitude ready-to-eat packet foods. 

 

Day 4th: Touch Camp III, 6800 meters (22310ft.), and back to Camp II. 

We are trying to reach Camp III but it is not necessary. At least we will gain 200 meters. Your guide will decide and instruct you all about the plans and climb.  

Approx Elevation Gain: 400 meters (1310ft.) 

Highest Elevation: 6800 meters/ 22310ft. 

Approx. walking hours: 4hrs. 

Overnight at VE25 tent or equivalent mountain tents. 

All foods provided are high altitude ready-to-eat packet foods. 

 

 

Day 5th: back to base camp. 

We will retrace the same way back to base camp today. We start our journey early in the morning. 

With these five days of acclimatization rotation, we will complete our second phase of the expedition.  

 

 

 

Phase 3: Summit rotation  

 

After a hard workout, training, and some relaxation, finally the most awaited moments will come. Our guide team will decide our summit rotations based on favorable weather conditions, less traffic, completion of fixed line on the mountain, and other conditions. Normally the summit rotation will be like the following: 

  • Day 1: Basecamp to Camp I
  • Day 2: Camp I to Camp II
  • Day 3: Camp II to Camp III

 

 

  • Day 4: Camp III to Camp IV

Approx Elevation Gain: 600M(1970ft.) 

Highest Elevation: 7400ml/ 24280ft. 

Approx. walking hours: 6-7hrs. 

Overnight at VE25 tent or equivalent mountain tents. 

All foods provided are high altitude ready-to-eat packet foods. You will use supplemental oxygen from Camp 3.

Expected weight of your bag: 8 kg 

 

 

  • Day 5: Summit Day

Finally, the most awaited day will arrive. After reaching Camp IV in the evening, we will have some hours of rest and our summit push begins at midnight. You will be provided with 1 bottle of oxygen for the rest and another 1 bottle for the summit.  

Approx Elevation Gain: 763m (2504ft.) 

Highest Elevation: 8163 meters (26780feet) 

Approx. walking hours: 7hrs. climbing up and 6 hrs. down. 

Overnight at VE25 tent or equivalent mountain tents. 

All foods provided are high altitude ready-to-eat packet foods.

 

*Depending on the weather conditions and your body condition we will decide about either staying in Camp II or back to base camp after summiting. Most of the climbers don’t want to spend more nights on the mountain so they decided to come lower as they can on the same day. 

  • Day 6: Camp II to Camp I.
  • Day 7: Back to Basecamp.

 

Note: Our guide will decide at base camp about the date of the summit and rotations, The itinerary can be changed depending on your physical condition, speeds, times, and other factors.  

Meals full board
Accomodation Tent
Day 32

We will dry and pack our stuff for porters and will head back to Samagau in the evening. You will be offered a direct heli flight back to Kathmandu from Base Camp or Samagau at some extra charge. 

Meals full board
Accomodation local lodge
Duration 3hrs.
Day 33

It takes a 7-8 hrs walk down to reach Ghap village. 

Meals full board
Accomodation local lodge
Day 34

Philim Bazaar is the headquarters of Tsum-nubri municipality and a business hub for the Nubri people.

Max Altitude 1590m.
Meals full board
Accomodation local lodge
Duration 7-8hrs.
Day 35

Today we will hike for half a day to Tato Pani then will take a Jeep ride to Sotikhola for 3 hrs. 

Note: Depends upon the road conditions. 

Max Altitude 730m.
Meals full board
Accomodation local lodge
Duration 7-8hrs.
Day 36

You will drive back to Kathmandu by private vehicle to Kathmandu and transfer to the hotel. In the evening you will be invited for a farewell dinner in a top-rated restaurant in Kathmandu.

Meals full board
Accomodation Hotel
Duration 5-6hrs.
Day 37

You will be dropped off at the airport by our staff.

Meals Bed & Breakfast

Inclusions

  • Royalty and all government taxes.
  • Special permit fee.
  • 4 Nights' accommodation in Kathmandu on a bed and breakfast basis 
  • Transport to Dharapni and back to Ktm. 
  • All meals and accommodation during the trek.
  • 1 house-shaped comfortable tent for 1 client with a thick mattress and pillow at base camp. 
  • High-quality food, unlimited tea, and coffee at Basecamp cooked by an experienced chef in our kitchen.  
  • Comfortable toilet tent with toilet seat, hot shower tent.  
  • High-quality food and tents for higher camps. 
  • Dining, kitchen, store, toilet, tents at Camp II. 
  • MCAP and ACAP permits. 
  • Highly experienced high-altitude climbing guide with a ratio of 1:1. 
  • Three bottles of oxygen for clients and one bottle for climbing guide.  
  • Radio communication between upper camp and base camp 
  • Sat phone in case of emergency carry by your guide. 
  • First aid and medical kit carried by guide.  
  • Low altitude porter during your trek to the base camp 
  • Group gears (ropes, snow bars, rock pitons) for route setting 
  • Insurance for climbing guide and low altitude staff (kitchen staff, porters, cooks) 
  • Equipment allowance, wages, and allowance for climbing guide and staff. 
  • Certificate from the Government of Nepal 
  • All ground transport during the scheduled plans 
  • Cargo sling fees to transport loads to and from Basecamp 
  • Emergency medical oxygen supply at base camp and higher camps. 
  • All group equipment: cooking gear, fuel, stoves, high-altitude foods, etc. 
  • Power supply for charging your devices. 

 

Exclusions

  • Personal insurance policy 
  • HELI rescue and medical insurance 
  • Tips for staff and summit bonus for climbing guide ( $800) 
  • International flights to and from Nepal 
  • Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu during your stay 
  • Personal climbing gears 
  • Internet charges during the trek and at the base camp 
  • Personal communication expenses. 
  • Bottled water, shield-packed drinks like Coke, and any kind of alcoholic beverages. 

Trip Notes

 

Important Points to Remember:

1. This is not a luxury tour; it's the experience of a lifetime. Accommodation provided during your trip is on a twin-share basis. While luxurious rooms with attached bathrooms are available in Kathmandu, other places along the trail may offer simpler accommodations with stunning Himalayan views. Local lodges provide hot showers, internet, and charging facilities for a nominal fee during the trek to the base camp.

 

2. Savor the Fresh Himalayan Foods: Enjoy the delightful flavors of fresh Himalayan foods at the teahouses along the trail. Embrace the local cuisine and immerse yourself in unique culinary experiences.

 

3. Cost of Goods: Due to the logistical challenges of transportation and the necessity to bring goods by jeep and bus to Beshisahar or Sothikhola, followed by mule or porter transport, prices of goods in this region can be higher, sometimes over 50% more expensive than in Kathmandu.

 

4. Physical Fitness: A good level of fitness is required for this trek. However, we prioritize your well-being and ensure proper acclimatization. Stay hydrated and limit alcohol consumption to acclimate better to the altitude.

 

5. Unpredictable Weather: The Himalayas are known for their unpredictable weather conditions. The itinerary may have unforeseen schedule changes depending on the road conditions.

 

6. Climbing Activities and Flexibility: All climbing activities are planned based on the best weather forecast reports. However, factors like weather conditions, fixed lines, and the risk of avalanches may require adjustments to the scheduled plans. Be open to changes in the itinerary for a safe and successful trek.

 

7. Extra Time in Nepal: It is advisable to allow for an extra day or two in Nepal after your trip. This provides flexibility in case of any unforeseen delays or changes to the itinerary. Additionally, it allows you to explore other exciting activities like rafting, safaris, and more adventures, enhancing your overall experience in Nepal. 

 

Risk factors of climbing Everest

 

1. Icefall: The crevasses, seracs fall and avalanches are the natural hazards of climbing Mt. Manaslu Expedition. The most of avalanches happened between c1-c2 and c3-c4.

  • Falling on the crevasse is the most common danger while climbing mountains in Nepal. Because of the rapid flow of Glaciers down, it makes a large number of deep crevasses. Climbers are usually connected with the fixed line all the time while moving through and crevasses are crossed with the help of a ladder bridge. This is done to ensure that if they accidentally step on a weak snow bridge or slip off a ladder, the rope will catch them from falling into the crevasse. However, many accidents of falling in crevasses occur when climbers are not properly connected to the rope. There are not many crevasses in this mountain like the Khumbu icefalls of Everest and other mountains, but some deep crevasses can be found between basecamp and c2.          
  • Avalanches caused by serac falling from the west shoulder of Everest have resulted in significant casualties and are considered one of the most dangerous threats.

2. High Altitude sickness, HAPE/HACE: High altitude sickness is the most common hazard for climbers on any mountains. It is caused by the lack of oxygen in the body and the lack of proper acclimatization in the mountains. Mostly high-altitude sickness can be seen above 2500 meters above sea level. High altitude Pulmonary Edema is a fatal form of severe high-altitude illness. HAPE is a form of noncardiogenic pulmonary edema that occurs secondary to hypoxia. It is a severe case of AMS and it affects your lungs and causes death High-Altitude Cerebral Edema is a rare but life-threatening altitude disease and is also a severe case of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). It is caused by leaky capillaries in the brain, which causes fluid accumulation and brain swelling. 

 3. Lack of Oxygen / running out of oxygen: During climbing any 8000 meters, we must spend most time above 8000 meters which is known as the death zone. The common error made by climbing guides on the 8000er expeditions is not calculating the supplemental oxygen bottle based on the phase of their clients which causes the deaths of foreigners by running out the oxygen.  

 

 We, the Altitude Experts team studied all the above hazards and trained our guide team about the solutions. 

A.  Precautions that our experienced guides team suggested: 

1. Avoid climbing while 2 or more meters of fresh snow falls in 24 hours. 

2. Always stay connected to the fixed rope, even while crossing ladders. 

3. Limit stops to just a few minutes at any spot. 

4. Follow the instructions given by your Guide.

 

Our well-experienced and well-trained guide team will train you at base camp about the fixed line, the use of climbing gears, crossing the ladders, and more. Our guides will accompany you all the time in Icefall and help you with each step to ensure your safety. 

 

B.  Our team is well-trained in mountain medicines and wilderness first aid. We are very concerned about our team’s safety, that’s why we are well preplanned about all kinds of hazards that can occur in the mountains. In each camp, we take bottles of supplemental oxygen in case of emergency with us, and we are well-equipped with necessary medicines and safety gear. Our basecamp crews will always eye on you and be prepared to evacuate as soon as needed. 

           

C.  We provide you with 3 bottles of supplemental oxygen for the summit rotation. You will use a bottle from camp three and our experienced guides are also well trained in calculating the oxygen. We will put two bottles ready for the group at the last camp for emergency use. 

 Our team is well well-prepared and well-planned to avoid any kind of hazards, and we promise to make our clients safe and successful trips. 

We designed the best rotation that suits all levels of people who live at sea level, to acclimatize well on the mountain.

 

Price of package

The package price with Altitude Experts Trips & Expeditions is tailored to each client's unique needs, as several factors influence the final pricing. These include group size, seasonal local government taxes and fees, the category of hotel accommodation, equipment needs, and the level of customization desired. To ensure we provide you with the most accurate and competitive pricing, we encourage an open discussion to understand your preferences and requirements fully. Please don't hesitate to contact us for detailed information about your chosen package. We're here to assist you in crafting the perfect expedition experience. You can always Plan Your Trip and we will be more than happy to curate the best possible package for you.

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