How difficult is the Manaslu Circuit Trek?

If you are a beginner and want to know how difficult is the Manaslu Circuit Trek? The Manaslu circuit trek difficulty is moderate, requiring good physical fitness and preparation. This trek doesn’t require technical skills.

The most wonderful journey with the unforgettable adventure and memories attracts thousands of tourists every year, creating the opportunity to explore the isolated land of the northern part of Gorkha, experiencing the beauty and adventure with every step. Mount Manaslu stands tall with a height of over 8000 m, hiding its cultural richness and traditions.

The Manaslu Circuit Trek is not as popular as the Everest Base Camp Trek and the Annapurna Base Camp Trek because of the strict rules and permits to climb the difficult trek; it is the most isolated journey, filled with adventure. It is not a comfortable journey if you underestimate the challenges waiting ahead for you, which might risk your life, and you can even face worse consequences.

Understanding the difficulty helps you to prepare yourself mentally and physically to complete your journey with comfort and reach the peak of heaven with your work. You will prepare for worst-case scenarios like altitude sickness and health and safety gear to complete your journey. Every year, many trekkers complete the journey with a prepared mentality and avoid injuries during their travel.

How Difficult is the Manaslu Circuit Trek?

You will be covering the 5,160 m high mountain’s difficult trail and continuing to walk 8-10 hours per day for 11-14 days on average. You will deal with rapid altitude gain, rugged trails, and even sudden changes in weather. The strict rule of the government is that you need at least 2 trekkers and a legal guide to apply for the permit.

It might sound easy, but unprepared beginners may face altitude sickness on higher altitude treks and even get injured on one of the most exhausting and rewarding journeys.

It is not as popular as the Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp Trek; you have to spend your time in isolated areas, facing longer distances and rugged trails with quicker altitude gain. But if you are mentally strong and physically fit, you can complete the journey with the help of a proper guide.

Covering the longer distance daily while facing the altitude rise and other factors like harsh weather and trails may break you mentally and physically.

What makes the Manaslu Circuit Trek Difficult?

While considering the How Difficult is the Manaslu Circuit Trek? On average, trekkers have to walk 6-8 hours daily, and some days the time can stretch up to 9-10 hours according to the planned distance to cover that day. Your journey starts from Jagat to Deng and continues the journey while passing Namrung, Lho, Samagaun, Dharamsala, Larkya Pass, and finally Bhimtang at the end of your adventure.

On days 1-3, you will explore the lower Manaslu, covering the distance of 600 m to 1800 m while traveling the rocky and uneven surfaces, passing through warm, humid, forested trails. The first day’s expectation is easy compared to the upcoming days.

On 4-7 days, you will explore the middle part of Manaslu, where you will see the drastic change in altitude, experiencing breathing problems and weather temperature; easy trails but longer walking hours, where beautiful scenery keeps you motivated to reach 3,200 m at the end of the day. This journey holds a medium level of difficulty compared to the upcoming journey.

During days 8-10, you will reach upper Manaslu, reaching 4,400 m in height. In those days, you will face more cold temperatures and a slower walking pace due to the high altitude. Trails become more exposed, and the very hard climbing distance is throughout your journey.

On the last days of your expedition, you will finally reach your destination at the height of 5,160 m, where you will push yourself to reach the Larkya, where the temperature is always below -10°C.

Most trekkers struggle not only during climbing but also while descending from the Larkya. A brutal downhill session from exhausted legs for trekkers.

How does altitude affect the trek?

Altitude sickness is one of the most difficult and major issues for every beginner to professional trekker. The route gains height faster and steadily. You will start your journey from near the Budhi Gandaki River with the motivation of reaching the height of Larkya, covering 5,160 m.

Most of the trekkers start facing altitude sickness somewhere between 2500 m and 3500 m above sea level. We drive to Soti Khola, which is at an elevation of around 700 m. As you move higher, you are exposed to the sun and colder temperatures, with high air pressure and a sudden drop in oxygen level, which can be a challenging part of your journey.

From Samagaun, we start to climb above 3,000 m, which is the most critical altitude on the trek. On the jump from Samagaun to Dharamsala, you will face a sudden change in altitude, facing cold and crowded lodges, which will affect your sleep and significantly drop your oxygen level above 4,500 m. You will face symptoms like headache, poor sleep, nausea, difficulty in breathing, and faster fatigue.

So, guides advise you to take a break in Samagaun and drink 4-5 liters of water daily to keep you hydrated. Avoid alcohol and cigarettes during the journey, which may affect your walking pace. Keep eating high-calorie meals even with your low appetite. Altitude can not be avoided, but it can be faced with intelligence.

What physical fitness do you need for the Manaslu Circuit Trek?

You do not need to be an athlete, but you need strong legs to endure long daily walks. The ability to handle walking on a rocky trail. Walk 8-10 km daily at home. Hike at least once a week. Have some experience trekking at high altitude. And daily outdoor exercise. Maintain energy for a 12-14-day trek. Exercise to strengthen legs, like squats, sit-ups, deadlifts, and cardio for 30 to 45 minutes. Many trekkers collapse because they don’t know how to use poles efficiently.

Sudden change in weather and temperature makes the Manaslu Circuit Trek Difficult

The weather on Manaslu is unpredictable. Even in peak trekking season, you must be prepared for any kind of challenge mentally. It rains in the lower region during early autumn or early spring; you can expect snow around Dharamsala in late autumn and early spring. Weather determines difficulty, and snowy trails become much harder.

Difficult trails to climb Manaslu

Dharamsala, Larkya La, and Bimthang are the three hardest trails to complete during the journey. While climbing from Samagaun to the Manaslu base camp, you will notice the sudden change in environment, so the trekkers have to make adjustments and try to adapt to the new weather and rocky roads.

Deng and Namrung may have easy trails, but you will have to endure the long walking day compared to other stops. In Namrung and Samagaun, you will face the high altitude problem and the low oxygen rate. Finally, Machha and Jagat have exposed landslides, which is the difficult part of the trek.

Expert and experienced guide

As you know, Manaslu has unpredictable weather and climate according to the season. September to November is the peak season for trekkers to climb its peak and enjoy the adventure at every step. You might face many difficulties during your expedition.

So to make sure of your safety and comfort, you have to hire a licensed and professional guide who can be calm during any kind of danger and can keep you safe. An expert guide can make a huge difference during your travel; the way of handle and explain things can make your journey more memorable.

Manaslu might be hard and difficult, but with a good physique and the proper guidance, you can achieve the trails without any problem. The guide must be able to tell the difference in sudden changes of weather and should have a quick decision-making personality.

The excerpt guide will manage your meals and diet, which play the most important role in keeping you energetic so you don’t feel any weakness through the trials. He will take care of your accommodation and tell you to avoid alcohol and cigarettes throughout your journey, which can affect your lungs and your breathing system. They will suggest you keep hydrating yourself the entire journey, drinking 4-5 liters of water daily.

Tips to overcome Manaslu Trek difficulties

The difficulty level of Manaslu is challenging, and it is a very physically demanding trip. This means trekkers should be trained for a long walk at a high altitude. You should always train and gain experience before climbing the trails.

Strength Training

You need to prepare your body by walking 5 to 7 hours each day while carrying weight to train your strength in legs and shoulders.

So, the first task is to strengthen every part of yourself, especially your legs, lungs, weight, and bodyweight squats. You should start these exercises at least 4 months before the trek to prepare yourself to face the difficulty of the Manaslu Circuit trek. Also, you can do short treks to gain experience to make long trekking a habit.

Cardiovascular Fitness

Strengthening your physical abilities is important, but you have to train your heart and lungs for the high-altitude treks. So you can avoid any heart-related diseases; otherwise, you can face deadly consequences during your journey. Cardio exercises such as cycling, jogging, swimming, running, and skipping.

Diet

It is very important to have healthy eating habits during your training and trekking period. Make sure you have a perfectly balanced diet of carbohydrates, protein, and fiber to build muscle strength and start the habit of drinking a lot of water. Trekkers should always strictly follow the diet plan during the Manaslu Circuit plan.

It is very important that you eat foods with high protein that are easily digestible so you don’t face constipation or diarrhea during the trek, which can create a big problem.

Mental Preparation

Physical exercise can help you overcome difficult trials. But the long day’s walk and exhausted body can break you down mentally, which is more than enough to make you quit your journey in the middle. So mental preparation is as important as physical health to build your self-confidence.

Your confident attitude will help you to overcome the pain and restless journey. People with the right motivation can overcome any difficulties and enjoy their journey and feel the real thrill of adventure. So you have to start working on your self-control over your thoughts and keep yourself strong mentally and physically, both.

You should build the ability to control your fear and emotion during an emergency situation. Panic can make the situation worse, so listen to your guide’s instructions and follow him accordingly.

Collect some experience

Many newbie trekkers try to join the circuit every year and complete the journey with zero experience. But it is important to make sure you have experience so you can overcome any difficulties and enjoy your adventure to the fullest. Experts will suggest you have at least a little experience of high-altitude trekking so you can be mentally and physically prepared for the journey.

Right Packing

It is important to carry the right equipment. Always check your equipment so you can prepare yourself for emergencies, and make sure not to carry unnecessary things to avoid the heavy weight.

So ask your guide for the list of things you need so you can avoid overpacking and underpacking, which could increase the challenge in your journey. Make sure to avoid packing any expensive ornaments or jewelry because there is a high chance of losing them.

Emergency purchasing the gear may cost you a lot, so it’s better to bring your gear from your country or prepare it ahead of time so you can avoid the unnecessary expenditure.

Travel Insurance

We don’t have control over natural disasters. Even after being fully prepared, we don’t have control over certain things. Unpredictable weather, physical condition, and other natural disasters can affect your journey.

So travelers should compulsorily get the traveling insurance, especially when traveling at high altitudes. You should purchase the travel insurance in Nepal, which will cover your medical costs and helicopter during case of sudden emergencies. You need to submit your document to the team before starting your journey to make sure you can travel carefree.

Manaslu climb difficulty

If you have no experience and are a newbie with zero experience in high-altitude trekking, it might be challenging for you. Trekkers have to travel over 5000 m in height. You have to walk 8-10 hours on average every day. Continuous walking can be physically and mentally tiring, which can break the trekkers’ motivation and force them to quit in the middle.

The increase in altitude and the change of weather can be challenging to the trekkers; they have to prepare themselves physically and mentally to be motivated during the journey. You will face the breathing problem, which can be discouraging, but the reward waiting ahead will encourage you through the journey.

Preparation advice from a Nepalese guide

Manaslu trekking can be challenging and full of adventure at every step. If you prepare yourself physically and mentally, you can enjoy the journey without worrying about unnecessary things.

A guide can help you with various things to make your adventure joyful and comfortable. They will take care of your mental and physical health if you listen to their advice carefully.

Always take your journey slowly; don’t rush to cover more distance with the hope of covering more distance. Take small steps and keep the rhythm of your breath steady. It will conserve your energy and reduce fatigue. Make sure you try to adapt to the sudden change in altitude and weather, which may cause major breathing problems and dizziness.

Always listen to the advice of your guide because he is more familiar with the surroundings and holds more knowledge about the journey. We always trek in a group, so make sure your partner is near you to provide motivation during the journey. You should always hire a professional and licensed guide to make your journey comfortable and carefree.

Remember to keep yourself hydrated through the journey by drinking 4-5 liters of water. Avoid over- and underpacking to avoid any injuries, and keep a list of the things you have brought during the journey.

Permits required for Manaslu Circuit Trek

As you know, if you fulfill the criteria, you will have no problem accessing the permit. So traveling in a group, you won’t have to worry about the permit. You need many permits like RAP, MCAP, and ACAP due to altitude and unpredictable trail conditions. Managing all of them by yourself can create barriers for the adventure waiting ahead for you. In-group agencies will handle all of your paperwork accommodations, traveling route, and your safety checks. So you can relax and enjoy the adventures instead of worrying about logistics.

Can a beginner do the Manaslu trek?

Beginners can also complete the Manaslu trek with a few months of physical and mental training. But you have to keep yourself disciplined and follow the proper exercise and diet during training and trekking periods. Before rushing, you should apply for a few short high-altitude treks to gain the experience that can prepare you mentally for the journey waiting ahead. Even during the journey, remember to eat the proper nutrients and easy-to-digest food to avoid medical emergencies

At the start, every new thing is difficult, so the Manaslu Circuit Trek seems difficult, but if you have the passion to keep yourself motivated, even within a few months, a beginner can train themselves to reach the height of Manaslu. But you must make sure you have proper guidance during your training and trekking period.

Unpredictable trail conditions, Weather, and altitude sickness can be major problems for trekkers, so safety is one of the biggest concerns for trekkers. So it is the biggest reason to recommend Manaslu Circuit Group Join trek with an experienced guide.

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