Manaslu Circuit Trek
If you’re looking for a less-trodden trek in Nepal, the Manaslu Circuit Trek is for you. It’s a great choice for people who want to avoid the crowds but still get incredible views of the mountains and experience untouched landscapes.
The Manaslu Circuit Trek is not as hard as the Annapurna circuit, but it does require some physical effort. Having a good level of fitness is important, especially in the early days when you’ll be trekking for long periods at high altitudes.
How to prepare?
The Manaslu Circuit Trek is a challenging trek that offers an incredible view of the world’s eighth highest mountain. It’s also an off-the-beaten-path trek that’s less crowded than some other teahouse treks in Nepal.
It’s important to prepare physically before you start your journey. It’s a good idea to engage in a full body workout twice a week to strengthen your muscles and increase your stamina.
You can practice walking uphill and downhill while carrying a day pack to prepare for the trek. You can also walk on a treadmill and do hill intervals on a stair stepper two times a week to build up your endurance.
What to wear?
When trekking in the mountains, a good pair of gloves is essential to keep your hands warm and dry. They should be lightweight but waterproof and durable to protect your fingers from the rain, wind, and snow.
To protect your eyes from the harsh sun rays, it is also important to have dark UV protected sunglasses. You should also wear sunscreen as the sun rays are very strong in the higher altitudes.
You should take enough time to acclimatize your body to the high altitudes as this can reduce your chances of getting altitude sickness. You should also walk slowly to avoid over exerting your body and causing fatigue.
What to carry?
Despite being one of the most beautiful and breathtaking treks in the world, Manaslu Circuit Trek and Mustang Trekk are also considered as a challenging hike. Its high altitude and harsh terrains require a sturdy level of fitness to undertake this trek successfully.
A sturdy hiking backpack, trekking poles, water bottles, first aid kits, snacks, and documents are some of the essentials that you should carry while on this trek.
In addition to these essentials, you should pack a few other items that will help you make the most of your trek. These include a good quality sleeping bag, a warm hat and a buff.
The best time to visit Nepal is from September to November as this is the optimum period for trekking in Nepal as the weather is dry and clear, with low chances of avalanches or landslides.
Altitude sickness
Manaslu Circuit Trek is a beautiful off-the-beaten path trek that offers a breathtaking view of the eighth highest mountain in the world. It’s also a great alternative to the popular Annapurna Circuit and is gaining in popularity.
The Manaslu Circuit is a long trek so you need to be physically fit and able to handle the altitude. It’s important to rest at a lower altitude whenever possible to overcome the risk of altitude sickness, but if you do experience it, you must seek medical attention right away.
The trek starts at Soti Khola and takes you around the base of Mount Manaslu. Along the way you’ll visit Tibetan villages and see many Buddhist landmarks including monasteries, main walls, chortens and more.
Weather
While the weather in Nepal is fairly predictable, there are certain months that are better than others for trekking. For instance, April is considered the best time to trek Manaslu Circuit because it’s chilly, but not cold enough to stop you from enjoying your trek.
This is also a great time to enjoy the blooms of area flowers, as well as local farmers’ annual planting. It’s an exciting way to get a glimpse of life in rural Nepal.
June is one of the wettest months of the year, but it’s still relatively bearable for day hikes. It also offers the best chance to see the mountains. However, it’s not the best choice for those who want to climb higher than 4000 meters.
