The Manaslu Circuit Trek is the best option for people looking to learn the Himalayan secret in the shortest amount of time. With its stunning vistas and refined culture, "Mt. Manaslu, 8163 m," the eighth-highest peak in the world, is traversed during the trek. The best place to go as a test of Tibet if you would like to go but are unable to for a variety of reasons is the Short Manaslu Circuit Trek. Because of the trek's stunning scenery and diverse geography, it is growing in popularity every day. In contrast to the other popular trekking routes, Manaslu has just created a tea house trekking route in Nepal's Gorkha district, which is located in the northeast. The people here are similar to Tibetans because they live close to the border with Tibet and have maintained the ancient Tibetan way of life and culture. You will witness unique cultures, beliefs, and religious faiths in the lap of the Manaslu. For trekkers who are physically fit and wish to visit Nepal’s High Himalayas in the shortest time, then Short Manaslu Circuit Trekking would be worthwhile.
There is a basic tea house amenity in the entire Manaslu, compared to the other trekking regions. But nowadays, several new tea houses have been built after the 25-April Earth Quick EP center at Barpak, Gorkha. The trail has been reconstructed in several places, and the Cantilever Walk Way Bridge (195 meters) with the latest Swiss technology has been built at Yaraphat. This is the first Cantilever Trail practice in Nepal. This makes easy access for the trekkers and local people from one village to the next village. Even some tea houses in Manaslu have Wi-Fi services and are sure to be in Samagaun. If you are curious about Manaslu Circuit Trek after the devastating earthquake and COVID-19 pandemic, then this is the right time to visit. Your visit will be a great support for the locals to rebuild houses and schools, and direct and indirect support will be given to the schoolchildren for their bright future.
Manaslu is a virgin trekking trail in the lap of the Himalayas; people, culture, and life are untouched by modernization. Uniquely, people here are following a polyandry marriage system, animal husbandry, and traditional cultivation methods. They are following Bon Buddhism, which has a very strong culture and rituals. The Manaslu Circuit Short Trek starts from Machhakhola via Arughat Bazaar, Narsingh Dham at Salyantar, and Sotikhola after the drive from the capital city of Kathmandu. And follow the same trekking routes as Manaslu Circuit through the Tatopani (natural hot spring), Dobhan, Jagat, Sirdibas, Philim, Pewa, Dang, Ghap, Bhi Phedi/Prok, Namrung, Lihi, Lho, Shyala, Sama Gaun, Manaslu Base Camp, Samdo, Dharmashala, and Bhimtang via Larke Pass elevation of 5,160 meters. Then end the trip at Dharapani and drive by public bus or jeep to Kathmandu via Besisahar.
The Short Manaslu Circuit Trek is specially designed for trekkers who are mentally and physically fit for hiking in the high Himalayas in the shortest period of time. According to our client’s history, most of them have completed this trip without any obstacles. Manaslu Short Trek starts at 930 meters above sea level at Machhakhola and gradually gains elevation to the highest point at Larkya Bhanjyang (5,160 meters), mostly following the Budhigandaki River (Yashodhara Nadi) bank through the rural village. We at Nepal Mother House are always concerned about your short Manaslu Circuit Trek and how to make it successful. We aim to provide you with the best satisfaction during your short visit and to reduce its negative effects. According to our itinerary, you will visit the Manaslu Base Camp (4,400 m), Birendra Lake, and Phungen Gumpa (3,870 m), and even if you have time and are fit, you may visit the Manaslu Advance Base Camp (4,800 m) for a bird's-eye view of Samagaun. This is similar to what other trekkers do as well.
Likewise, Sama Gaun (Nubri Valley) is the birthplace of "Mingyur Rinpoche", who published "The Joy of Living," a New York Times best-seller. The book is about The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness.
Manaslu Circuit Rapid Trek is in the Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP), where you will see many wildlife and various vegetation. In the high area, you will see Himalayan goats known as Thar or Jharal and deer, Snow Leopard, Marmot, Jhum (yak and cow hybrid), and yaks. Similarly, you have amazing mountain views like Ganesh Himal (7,140m), Shringi Himal (7,161m), Rani Peak/Lidanai Peak (6,693m), Himalchuli (7,750m), Nadi Chuli/PPeak 29 (7,871m), Mt. Manaslu/Kang Pungen (8,163m), Manaslu North (7,157m), Naike Peak (6,211m), and many more. From the top of the Larkya La Pass, you have an astonishing view of Kangguru (6,981 m), Annapurna II (7,937 m), Gyaji Kang (7,038 m), Larke Peak (6,249 m), Lamjung Himal (7,983 m), and Ratna Chuli (7,035 m).
In general, the Manaslu Circuit Trek can be 12 to 16 days, but as this is a rapid Manaslu trip, Nepal Mother House recommends 11 days due to the road access at the beginning of the trek and after the trek. But you need to walk every day for 6 to 7 hours on average to be fit mentally and physically. As we are locals from the Manaslu Region, we organize your Manaslu short trek with expert local guides and porters according to your holiday schedule. Here is an essential guide for the Manaslu Circuit Trek, which helps make your trip a lifetime experience to visit most of the hidden treasures in the Manaslu region.
Your Plan at the Best Time in Manaslu
The Short Manaslu Circuit Trek can be done all year-round, but we at Nepal Mother House recommend mid-September, October, and November in the autumn season, and mid-March, April, and May in the spring as the best times. Spring is more flourishing vegetation, full of rhododendron blooming and good weather. If you are fond of vegetation and flowers in the Himalayas, then Spring is for you. During the Spring season, can see many expedition groups in the mountains. Likewise, autumn is one of the best trekking seasons in Nepal. The weather is pleasant, neither hot nor cold over monsoons, with a crystal-clear sky and breathtaking mountain scenery. This is the exact time for rice harvesting when farmers are busy on their farms and a golden layer of rice terrace can be seen below snowcapped mountains. The main festivals, Dashain, Tihar/Dipawali, and Chhatha, are celebrated in October and November. Autumn bestows you with amazing mountain scenery and a vibrant cultural show in Nepal.
Physical Fitness and Training Requirements for the Trek
As the Manaslu Circuit Trek is a moderate-to-strength trip, you need good preparation before the trek. Doing regular yoga, jogging in the morning, hiking with a small bag pack every weekend, climbing stairs frequently, dancing, doing gym and cardiology exercises, etc. helps your physical fitness. Similarly, you need to be mentally well prepared. You need to walk 6 to 7 hours most days, except 8 to 9 hours on the cross day at Larke Pass. This short Manaslu Circuit trek is highly recommended only for adventure lovers and physically fit people.
Transport Available for Short Manaslu Circuit Trek
There are regular bus services to Arughat Bazaar from Kathmandu, and all the buses are leaving in the morning from six to eight o'clock. guide and porters will come to your hotel in the morning, then drive 5 to 10 minutes to the bus station at Machhapokharai, Kathmandu, for the 138 km journey to Arughat, which takes 6 to 7 hours. Then, taking another bus/jeep at Arughat Bazaar to Sotikhola (12.9 km) and Sotikhola to Machhakhola (13 km) takes altogether 2 to 3 hours. Recently (February 14, 2022), there have been two buses operating in the morning and night shifts operating directly from Machhakhola to Kathmandu via Gorkha Bazaar by the Gorkha Daraundi Yatayat. The great strategic road track almost joins Prithvi Highway at Benighat to Ruila Pass (4,998 m) at the Tibet Border via Arughat, Dobhan, Philim, Samagaun, and Samdo. According to the local government of Chumnubri Rural Municipality, the road will be driveable to Pangsing-Sirdibas at the end of 2022, so the trip will be shorter than 11 days. Likewise, at the end of the trek at Dharapani, there is also available public transport to Besisahar. There will be many passengers on the public bus through the rough road for most of the journey. If you would like to have much more comfortable travel on such a long journey, it would be best to hire a private Jeep as well. Private transport will be more costly, even if you won’t regret its comfort and flexibility.
Accommodation and Shower in Manaslu
Manaslu has recently developed a trekking route compared to other well-known tea house treks. If you have prior trekking experience in Nepal, the accommodation here in Manaslu is also almost similar to the Annapurna and Langtang areas. But some places have very basic facilities. Normally, there is a single, double, or dormitory bedroom with a good enough mattress, bed shits, pillow, a blanket, and a common bathroom and toilets. Most of the tea houses and guest houses have a proper hot shower with a solar system or Gas geyser; if not, they will provide a bucket of hot water for the shower. A towel and shampoo are not provided by the tea house; you need to bring them with you on your own. Some places will provide showers free but some places take charge with a small amount of NPR. 200 to 1000.
What kind of Meals do You Expect on the trek and What about Drinking Water?
As the Manaslu circuit is a tea house basic trek, you will get meals at the tea house from menu cards with different options. Most trekkers have Nepalese food Dalbhat (Rice + Lentil Soup, vegetables + Curry + pickles) on the trek, and it is easy to make the same meals for many people at the same time. With a variety of sub-items, you can add more meals until you are not full. This helps to save fuel and time and you are a person who will greatly contribute to reducing global warming while cooking your meals. The food is prepared by well-trained cooks, so they always maintain quality, hygiene, and a good test. There are some other items of food like noodles, Potato items, rice items, bread, macaroni, pizza, burgers, Yak stake, Momo, muesli, spaghetti, etc., and some tea houses have a variety of food according to different continental. For the drinking water, you can buy a bottle of mineral water on the Short Manaslu trek, but it would be best to treat the water by yourself. This helps to make your trip chipper and avoid plastics to keep a clean environment. It would be best to use iodine and chlorine tablets in the water after being purified by the machine for double safety, or you may use UV Steripen for much more comfort.
Trip Cost and Itinerary of Short Manaslu Circuit
The cost of the Short Manaslu Circuit trek seemed quite high due to permit costs and transportation. This trek requires four different permits [I] Manaslu Restricted Area Special Permit [II] Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP) [III] Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) [IV] Trekkers' Information Management Systems (TIMS) Card. Normally, Nepal Trekking Permit Fees can be different according to trekking season; however, the Manaslu Restricted Area Special Permit fee is different in Autumn and Spring. Likewise, the transportation for the Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek is 18 Days, and the 11-day Manaslu Circuit Trek is the same, but you need to pay a higher cost for it. However, we at Nepal Mother House Treks are glad to offer early bird trip booking for 2024 (Spring = March, April, May, and Autumn = September, October, November) and 2024 (Autumn and Spring) in a reasonable way. This is one of the short treks in Manaslu for travelers who are physically fit and mentally strong enough to cope with 7 to 8 hours of walking every day except Larkya Pass. So, if you are searching for a two-week trek, then the Manaslu Circuit trek will be suitable for you.
Is it possible to do Manaslu Circuit Trek Solo?
Retracted area trekking can not be done without a guide; it requires a minimum of two trekkers in a group and with a professional Guide through a government-registered trekking company. This short trip to Manalu Circuit also goes to the Manaslu restricted area, so you ought to obey rules and regulations. Normally, it is not possible to organize a solo trek in Manaslu; however, the “where is well, there is a way” meets here, and we at Nepal Mother House are glad to organize solo trips in a group to join the base. If it is not possible to group-join according to your holiday schedule, then we will issue a ghost permit for the trip. For this, you need to bear double the cost of the restricted area permits.
