Everyone who has heard about Nepal has heard about Everest. Everest base camp trek is the major activity of Nepal’s tourism. Another popular trekking route has always been Annapurna and you might have heard about Annapurna as well.
But over the past few years, the landscape of Nepal tourism has been changing. More tourists are looking for alternatives to Everest or Annapurna as these trekking routes have started to become crowded with travelers from all around the world in the peak season. As a result, multiple good trekking destinations have been established in the past few years. As a new trekking route gets discovered, the hotels along the route are getting better. One such emerging trekking route in Nepal is the Manaslu circuit trekking route. The big names in the travel industry are assured that Manaslu Circuit Trek is going to be the next big thing in the travel industry and everyone is excited to be on this wonderful route.
Here’s why the Manaslu circuit trek is so popular and here are also some basic information about the trip.
Why Manaslu Circuit Trek 2024?
1. Awesome views<
The views of the spectacular mountain is at reach to the eye. The entire landscape of Manaslu Is so beautiful that it feels literally out of this world. The most spectacular views of mountains such as Kang Guru, Annapurna II, Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Nemjung, and Gyaji Kang. You can also see the Tibetan mountain and landscape on this trip.
2. Interesting places to visit
There are a couple of interesting sites to view in the Manaslu Trek. Obviously, there is Manaslu base camp which is literally the foothills of world’s tallest mountain. Then there is the pristine glacier lake called Birendra Lake that he’s made from the water of Manaslu itself. You also have the opportunity to visit the traditional pyungen gomba and then walk through the border of Nepal and Tibet.
3. Cultural experience
This is a perfect trip for travelers who are looking for a fulfilling cultural experience rather than a difficult Mountain trek. The village of Manaslu have been restricted for a long time, thus preserving the local culture and tradition of the area to its fullest. The People here still wear traditional clothes on a regular basis, and eat the food that where prepared by their ancestors. Modernization has little impact on Manaslu. Each of these villages has beautiful Gumbas that will give you an insightful experience of Tibetan Buddhism.
4. Biodiversity
The rich biodiversity within the Manaslu conservation area is worth mentioning. The richness of mountain animals such as Pony, Yaks, Chauri, Himalayan Thar, red pandas, snow Leopard, etc is interesting. You can also see many interesting birds and plants. During the spring, the valley is covered by a thick Bloom of rhododendrons, making everything spectacular.
How hard is the Manaslu circuit trek?
Manaslu hike is graded as a moderately difficult trek. The landscape here is quite comforting and it feels like strolling through the Village rather than a difficult hike. The most difficult part of this journey is climbing to the Manaslu base camp and the hike to Larka La Pass. You will not feel much difficulty in any part of the trip. But you will obviously need some good physical exercises and preparation that will prepare you for the trip.
How long is the Manaslu Circuit Trek?
The Manaslu Circuit Trek is about 13 days of journey. This includes two days of drive from Kathmandu to Maccha Khola and a rest days/exploration days in the mountain. Each day, you will be hiking for 5 to 6 hours. Obviously, people with very good physical fitness can also complete this journey in about 10 days, but that might increase the risk of altitude sickness
Manaslu Circuit Trek Cost
The permit cost to the restricted area of Manaslu can be quite expensive i.e. around $100 in peak season. Transportation charges to Maccha Khola can range from $10 to $100 in a private car. For food and accommodation, you pay dollar $30 and $10 respectively. Another measure cost is for a guide and porter as a guide costs around $20 and a porter costs about $15. In total, a well-arranged 13-day Manaslu circuit trek costs around $995. Obviously, the price for Indians is a bit low as they pay less for permits and if you skip the guide and if you skip the guide or Porter the trip can be much cheaper.
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This post brought to you by Atif Sharif
Photo: iStock