Are you determined to do really important things personally this year for Manaslu Expedition, then a good idea would be to join our Manaslu expedition and conquer the high peak of Manaslu literally. The Manaslu Expedition mountain represent the eighth highest peak of the world with an altitude of 8163 m above sea level.
Therefore, our over a month long Manaslu expedition will be a great training course for those who wish to accumulate great experience to conquer the roof of the world – Mount Everest.
Also known as Kampunge or Kutang, the peak name in Sanskrit translates to intellect or soul. It stands majestically and quite isolated in the Thoche, Dharapani and Samagaun Villages of Manang and Gorkha districts of Nepal.
Mount Manaslu Expedition was first conquered on May 9, 1956 by Toshio Imanishi and Gyalzen Norbu. They were members of the Japanese expedition. However, the Nepal Government opened the Manaslu expedition for international climbers only in 1991.
Since then, many successful attempts have been made to conquer the peak, but not all can boast of touching the true summit of Manaslu Expedition. Climbers often confuse the fore summit of the peak as the true summit, and that’s what most companies do – keep you in a lie.
And that’s what distinguish us from others, we will try to go beyond the fore summit and reach the true Manaslu summit located 20 to 25 m away from the fore summit. This last part is very dangerous and challenging appropriate for very skilled and highly experienced climbers only.
The Manaslu Expedition mountain itself is relatively nontechnical compared to many of the other 8000m peaks but has areas that may have avalanche risk. These areas require extra caution when climbing.
So if you want to conquer the mountain, then trust us, for we have extensive experience in ascents of +8000 meters, and our skilled and very experienced mountain guides have lots of top ascents on 8000-meter mountains in their luggage.
Come and join us today on our exciting Manaslu Expedition and boast about your accomplishments with your thousands and probably millions of followers.
Our journey to the Manaslu expedition begins with a drive to Machhakhola in the Gorkha district. From here, the challenging adventure will head towards Manaslu Base Camp, passing through the quaint settlements of Namrung, Lho, and Shama Gaun.
Above the base camp there will be about 4 more camps set up. To get to the top, you will have to go through Camp I (5600 m), Camp II (6300 m), Camp III (6900 m), and camp IV (7300 m).
After summiting the Manaslu Expedition, we will make our way to cross Larke Pass at 5106 m and return to Kathmandu via Dharapani.
Hello and Namaste! Upon your arrival in TIA of Kathmandu, our correspondent or our guide will pick you up and drive you to the Hotel. At the Hotel, he will make sure you have what you need. You can then rest and explore the city to get the first experience of bustling business life and restaurants and bars on every street corner of the capital.
After your breakfast, our guide will meet you at your Hotel, and organize a get to know program to know fellow group members. Then, he will brief you about the Manaslu expedition, its program, and its challenges. He will also check your expedition equipment and guide you in purchasing any missing equipment.
He will also collect your documents so our representative can complete the formalities and obtain the required permits for the expedition. In the meantime, we will take a short tour of Kathmandu, including the historic Durbar Square, the oldest Buddhist stupa, and Swayambhu Temple, and we will take a look outside of the Hindu Pashupatinath temple.
This morning, we will leave the bustling capital, get on a private jeep, and head towards Manaslu. As soon as we leave the edge of the valley, the peaks of the Ganesh Himal and the Manaslu mountain range immediately appear.
We will leave the busy main road and drive along the Dhading Besi route, enjoying the idyllic villages and rice terraces. After about 7 hours, we will reach Sotikhola. Some may make Sotikhola their resting place, but we will drive further, about two hours past the villages of Khursasne and Labubesi, to reach Machhakhola, lying along the shore of Budi Gandaki River. Here, we will check in the lodge and settle for the night.
The trek begins from today. We will leave Machhakhola and begin our walk along the Budi Gandaki River. After passing Khorlabesi, we will encounter a hot water spring in Nepal named Tatopani. Here we will pause for our lunch then continue hiking along the trail leading us through the settlements of Dovan, and Thulo Dunga to Jagat. At Jagat, we will have our permits checked.
We will begin our walk in a picturesque environment. Today’s walk comprises many ups and downs and the crossing of hanging bridges over the Budi Gandaki River. Mani walls and chortens precede the settlement.
First, we will walk uphill to Salleri Village and hike down to Sridibas. A crossing over a long suspension bridge will then lead us to Philim. A dense forest will then guide us to Lokwa and Ekle Bhatti villages. A steep ascend from here will then lead us to Deng. Here, we will be surrounded by the magical mountain ranges of Shringi Himal, Lumbo Himal, Lapuchen Himal, and Dwijen Himal.
Our trail today again runs through the deep gorge of Budi Gandaki along paths carved into the rock face. There will also be no shortage of suspension bridges. We will climb up to Rana bridge first which will take us to Bihi Phedi. A few vertical up and down will lead us to Ghap and Prok settlements in the afternoon.
The path from here then passes through a narrow gorge. After crossing this gorge, we will reach Namrung, where we will settle for the night.
Today, we will enter the Nubri region, where the inhabitants once belonged to Tibetan immigrants. Leaving Namrung, a steep slope through the bamboo forest will lead us to Lihi, where we will be greeted by the sight of stupas, barley fields, and houses with pine shingles.
We will then cross the bridge over the fresh stream and proceed towards Sho village, admiring the peaks of Naike and Manaslu. Then, traversing the small settlements of Nubra, we will arrive at Lho village.
Today’s trail necessitates us to pack lunch for the way as there will be no teahouse or lodges along the trail. However, the route will be the most spectacular. Our trail first rises to the plateau of Syala at 3180 m. it is one of the most spectacular viewpoints in the Himalayas, with wide vistas of Himal Chuli, Ngadi Chuli and our main goal Mount Manaslu.
Next to Syala, we will branch off towards a small side valley and come to Pungyen Monastery, which is built over the huge valley of Pungyen. The view from the monastery is enough to enchant us with the sight of huge mountains and stunning glaciers from all sides.
We will now cross boulders to find ourselves on a ridge overlooking the vast fields of Shama Gaun, where we will spend two nights.
We will spend a full day at Shama Gaun, acclimatizing our bodies to the high altitude and oxygen-poor environment before the high-altitude days ahead. However, today will not be spent idle either.
We will go on an acclimatization tour to the viewpoint of Lake Birendra, 9 km away from Shama Gaun, with a 200 m up and down journey. After about a 1.5-hour walk along the glacial terrain, we will arrive at Birendra Lake, where Mount Manaslu grants us its incredible view.
After enjoying the warm sunrise, we will now return to our lodge for rest overnight.
After a day of acclimatization in Shama Gaun, we will begin our trek towards the Manaslu base camp. At first, we will ascend gradually through wide rocky terrain. We will pass several yak pastures and glacial streams along the route with the constant company of Manaslu Himal.
As our approach to the base camp gets closer, we have to overcome a steep ascent for a few hours. After arriving at the base camp, our expedition crew, with Sherpa guides and porters, will set up the camp for us. This will be our home for the next 20 to 22 days, where we can enjoy, eat, rest, relax, and train for the climb.
The next 19 days will be dedicated to acclimatization, climbing training, and attacking the summit of Mount Manaslu. We will spend few days at the base camp where our climbing guide will train us to use crampons, ice axe, ascenders, carabiners. He will also teach us to ascend and descend along the fixed ropes and use the stairs for the climb or cross the crevasses.
After adequate preparation, our guide will hold a Puja ceremony which is a tradition in the high mountains. We pray to the mountain gods for a safe stay on the mountain up and down. You will only carry your personal gear between camps. Our Sherpas take care of everything else such as tents, kitchen, provisions and more.
We will then begin our ascend through the northeast face using four camps along the route.
Our planned approach to the summit:
Base Camp to Camp I (5600 m) 5 to 6 hours
When ascending to Camp I, we will have to hike along the rugged uphill path that will lead us through the moraine and crevassed glacier.
Camp I (5600 m) to Camp II (6300 m) 6 to 7 hours
Here comes the more technical part of the route. We will go through an ice fall, and there will be fixed ropes on the steeper sections. The slopes are about 40-45 degrees and are long and tough. There will also be some sections of vertical ice climbing where we may use front-point crampons.
Camp II to Camp III (6900 m) 4 to 5 hours
The grade of the slope up the mountain eases off and most of the stretch is straight forward. A couple of sections may come with steeper climbing, fixed ropes are available. When you are acclimatized, this route can usually be completed in about 3-4 hours.
Camp III to Camp IV (7300 m) 6 to 7 hours
The ascension to Camp IV from Camp III is another steep climb when we may have to use the ropes, crampons, and other gear. Our climbing guide will constantly accompany us and guide us along the trail.
Camp IV to Summit and back to Camp II 10 to 12 hours
We will start towards the top early in the morning and in the light of our headlamps we make our way up the mountain. At the beginning, the route contains some depressions that are tied together by short rock walls. It normally takes 6-7 hours to reach the top.
We will climb past what is called the fore summit and reach an exposed ridge that leads up to the real summit. Many climbers end their summit assault at the fore summit, but this is not the true summit of Manaslu. In fact, the true summit lies 25 m above the fore summit, but the approach to the true summit is dangerous and technical.
If you have skill, motivation, and experience, then we can aim for the true summit of Manaslu at 8163 m.
After writing our own history and adding one more page to our adventure, we will now descend to Camp II which will be quite quick and easy. However, be attentive with secure footing.
Camp II to Base Camp 3 to 4 hours
Early morning, we will climb down to base camp, which may take us 3 to 4 hours. At the base camp, we will celebrate our victory with cheers and a hot meal.
Attention:
This is just the outline of the program we have planned for you. The unpredictability of weather, climate and health condition of participant often can cause delay or change in the program.
Also please keep in mind, we will not ascend from base camp to camp I and to Camp II, III or IV as explained above. In fact, we will rotate frequently from upper to lower camps to properly acclimatize before making the final push to the summit.
Familiar surrounding of the base camp but we will not be the same. Our hearts and souls will be proud after defeating the eighth highest mountain of the world. We will enjoy this day to our fullest and enjoy our meal with our team without whom our expedition outcome may not have been the same.
After some rest, we will now clean up the waste we have made at the camp. We as a responsible traveler will contribute to sustainable tourism. So we will collect the rubbishes and dump it in a bag which we will dispose when we descend from base camp to Shama Gaun.
We will leave Manaslu base camp in the morning after breakfast. Walking along the rugged terrain, we will hike downhill, most of the time, passing the beautiful Lake Birendra along the way. After about 5 to 6 hours, we will be once again inside the cozy room of our lodge at Shama Gaun.
Time to walk along the Budi Gandaki River once again as we make our way to Dharmasala. We will hike down through a juniper and birch forest to reach Kermo Kharka. After a steep climb, we reach Samdo in afternoon where we will stop for lunch.
Next, our trail descends as we cross the Budi Gandaki River over a suspension bridge. After crossing the bridge, we will climb steeply again in the immediate vicinity of the Larkya glacier. Walking through the valley of the Salka Khola, we slowly approach Dharmasala or Larke Phedi. Enjoy the speculator views of Manaslu, Syacha Glacier, Naike, and Larke Peaks from your lodge.
After an early breakfast, around dawn, we will set off on today’s journey. After 2 to 3 hours of steep ascent after leaving Dharmasala, we will be at the top of Larke Pass, where a multitude of prayer flags will greet us. Marvel in the grandest spectacle of Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kanguru, and Annapurna II.
After taking some photos, we will begin our steep descent on the other side, towards Bimthang
After breakfast, we will climb down through the pastures of Sangure Kharka and cross the Dudh Khola River. We continue our journey in a rhododendron forest, among cedars, oaks, juniper and birch trees and reach the 2785 m high Karche.
A short and easy walk from here will lead us to Tilche, where we will eat our lunch. We will then climb a small ridge, cross the Dudh Khola river, and reach Thongje, which is only separated from Dharapani by a suspension bridge.
Ending our trek, we will get into our jeep and drive along the bumping road past the villages of Bhulbhule and Khudi to reach Besisahar. After a lunch break at Besisahar, we will drive along the Nepal rural setting to reach Kathmandu where we return to our luxurious 5 star hotel and begin the real celebration.
We will spend our day with a well-deserved relaxation after our adventurous Manaslu expedition. We can sign up for a relaxing massage, we can buy gifts and souvenirs for the home, but if needed, we can also take an optional trip to Patan, the other nearby royal city of the Kathmandu Valley. We will have our delightful farewell dinner in the evening.
The time until departure is at your leisure. We will drive you to TIA for the flight home. Namaste, and see you soon.
We also operated private trips.
The best seasons for theManaslu Expedition are spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). However, Manaslu Expedition is the most preferable time will be March, April, and May due to stable weather conditions, longer days, and pleasant temperatures. In addition, the steep slope crossing will be more stable due to less snow, reducing the risk of avalanches in Manaslu Expedition
On the other hand, autumn slowly transitions into colder days and shorter days.
Mount Manaslu Expedition stands at an impressive elevation of 8163 m above sea level. It lies approximately 12.2 km away from its base camp situated at 4400 m altitude above sea level. The base camp is located around 69.5 km away from Machhakhola- the starting point of our Manaslu Expedition.
Driving along the 151 km long road, we will reach Machhakhola in around 8 to 9 hours in a private jeep.
The easiest and shortest walk during the whole period of the Manaslu Expedition is on the eighth day when we trek from Lho village to reach Shama Gaun. We will walk only for 3 to 4 hours on this day.
The toughest and longest walking or climbing period will be on the summit conquering day when we climb from Camp IV to the Manaslu summit tackling the crevasses and icy steep slopes. It will take us around 7 to 8 hours to reach to the top and additional 2 to 3 hours to descend to Camp II.
Manaslu Expedition is meant for experienced and independent mountaineers. The peak is graded as 4E on the difficulty level. Therefore, before trying to climb Manaslu, you should climb mountains with fairly difficult levels, such as those classified as AD (Assez Difficile).
It will help if you climb the peaks above 6000 m first, such as Island Peak, Mera Peak, and Lobuche Peak. Then, you can enhance your climbing technique by attempting 7000 m above peaks such as Himlung, Pumori, or Ama Dablam.
In addition, you need need experience and knowledge in walking, climbing, and how to use crampons on ice, snow, and steep surfaces. You also need to be comfortable and proficient with using fixed ropes to climb steep and exposed sections. You should also be mentally tough to climb in high windy conditions of the Himalayas.
To increase your chances of reaching the summit, we have thoughtfully planned several acclimatization days between the trekking and climbing period. We will first rest in Kathmandu, then spend two nights at Shama Gaun at an altitude of 3520 m.
As the assaulting days to summit approaches, we will several days for preparation, and acclimatization in between advanced Camps of I, II, III and IV.
Before deciding to participate in our Manaslu Expedition make sure you meet the strict requirements. First, you need to have good health, be strong and have good stamina. This trip involves many hours of hiking and climbing.
Climbing journeys can last up to 8 hours per day. Remember to pay attention to atmospheric changes at an altitude of 8000m. Be prepared to cross icy and rocky terrain. Technical climbing equipment will certainly be indispensable in your expedition.
Another thing to pay attention to is that you should focus on practicing good health and improving your physical strength. Aerobic exercises, cycling, and progressive hiking are recommended options. You should schedule your training at least 5-6 months before you start climbing.
There are two main ascent routes for Manaslu Expedition : the Normal Route, which is the most commonly used ascent route along the Northeast face, and the Western Route, which is considered more technical and difficult.
Numerous attempts have been made to conquer the peak from the western face but in vain. The route is considered more technical and more difficult, consisting of steeper slopes, and there are sections where one must use fixed ropes to progress, with sections of ice and rock.
Manaslu Expedition will take to some greater heights. Once departing from base camp, the real altitude challenges begin, mainly climbing on steep ice and snow terrain. The climb to the top of Mount Manaslu Expedition has some long and difficult climbs.
Therefore, climbing has its moments of altitude sickness with headache, lethargy, drowsiness, vomiting, appetite, and sleep loss. You need to adapt little by little by staying hydrated and consuming nutrients. That will help you conquer difficult heights.
We advise you to drink 4-6 liters of water every day. Staying hydrated is also a way to help you adapt to harsh environments. We have planned to step to the Manaslu base camp within ten days so your body has time to gradually adapt to the high altitude.
If the gradual acclimatization doesn’t help, you can take Diamox to relieve the altitude sickness.
Our Manaslu expedition package propose to include all your accommodation, transportation, meals and drinks. We offer free airport pick up / drop off services from and to TIA in private transport. A private Kathmandu tour will be organized with a tour guide, personal driver and private car or van. All road transportation at the beginning and end of the trip will be via private jeep.
In Kathmandu you will be accommodated in luxurious 5 star hotel with complimentary breakfast and farewell dinner at the end of the expedition.
During trekking period, your lodging will be in mountain lodges with twin sharing basis. Breakfast, lunch and dinner with fresh fruit every night will be provided.
During camping, all tents for the kitchen, dining, and sleeping will be offered with unlimited meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea, coffee, hot water, and a bakery in the base camp.
For communication, NCELL network will better work than NTC network. You can opt for any of these mobile networks and buy a SIM in Kathmandu that also provide high speed 4G service.
Along the trekking route, you can charge your gadgets in the mountain shelters while at the base camps, all necessary mobile, camera battery, power back charging are available.
The same shelters will also provide WIFI services, but please don’t expect breakneck speed, especially at high-altitude shelters.
All these services will cost you an extra price.
Apart from Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP), and Special Restricted Area Permit for Manaslu (Manaslu RAP), we also need to obtain the special climbing permit for Mount Manaslu from Nepal Mountaineering Association. Our team will obtain all the necessary permits on your behalf.
(Note: first aid kits & medicine will carrying with our company’s guide during the trekking However, we recommend you to bring your personal first-aid kit)
For the Manaslu expedition, you will need basic mountain equipment such as crampons, ice axe, harness, carabiners, ropes, helmet, ropes etc. As for clothing, you can carry a high mountain backpack with warm, waterproof clothing, such as snowsuits, gloves, hats, scarves, sunglasses and waterproof and warm mountain shoes with a good non-slip sole for walking on snow and ice.
Sixty percent of climbers succeed in reaching the top of the mountain.
Manalsu is the stepping stone before you try to conquer Mount Everest. However, the climbing period from Camp I to Camp IV is harder in Manaslu than in Everest. While summiting Manaslu is easier than Everest.
We have extra days separated to try to conquer the summit. However, sometimes luck, weather, and your health will play a vital role in your success. Please remember, your health is your priority. The mountain will go no where so no matter how bad you feel, it is wise to give up climbing if something goes wrong.
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