18 Jun 2022 Prakash Devkota
Mount Manaslu (8163m) is an incredible towering Himalayan peak in Nepal. This spectacular mountain is on the list of many adventurers in the world. Mountaineers and peak climbing enthusiasts will find this Manaslu Expedition to be quite enthralling.
There are various reasons for you to take this Manaslu expedition. The expedition of Mount Manaslu passes through extraordinary natural terrains. The local people and their incredible settlements also offer you the opportunity for cultural exploration.
But how long does it take to climb Mount Manaslu? You might wonder. Our Manaslu expedition itinerary package is 44 days long. You will trek for 10 days to arrive at the base camp of Mount Manaslu. You will spend from Day 11 to Day 35 at the camps acclimatizing and training for the summit climb.
On day 35, you will make the actual summit climb of Mount Manaslu. The ascent to the Manaslu summit is challenging and technical. This 8000m mountain takes you through the danger zone where you can find minimal oxygen levels and air pressure.
Climbers will require the use of various climbing gear and equipment for this journey. This equipment includes ice axes, crampons, ascenders, jumars, carabiners, fixed ropes, etc. Acclimatizing is essential, and hence, you should stay at various camps to arrive at the top. For this reason, the expedition becomes quite time-consuming.
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Outline Itinerary – Manaslu Expedition
Day 1 – Arrive at Kathmandu
Day 2 – Kathmandu Sightseeing and climbing preparations
Day 3 – Drive from Kathmandu to Soti Khola
Day 4 – Trek from Soti Khola to Machha Khola
Day 5 – Trek from Macha Khola to Jagat
Day 6 – Trek from Jagat to Deng
Day 7 – Trek from Deng to Namrung
Day 8 – Trek from Namrung to Samagaun
Day 9 – Acclimatization at Samagaun
Day 10 – Trek from Samagaun to Manaslu Base Camp
Day 11-35 – Climbing period of Mt. Manaslu, descend to base camp
Day 36 – Trek from base camp to Samagaon
Day 37 – Trek from Samagaon to Samdo
Day 38 – Trek from Samdo to Larkya Phedi
Day 39 – Trek from Larkya Phedi to Bimtang via Larkya La Pass
Day 40 – Trek from Bimtang to Dharapani
Day 41 – Trek from Dharapani to Syange
Day 42 – Drive back from Syange to Kathmandu
Day 43 – Free Day at Kathmandu
Day 44 – Final Departure
Other Manaslu expedition guide: Manaslu expedition cost, Manaslu expedition in Autumn, Manaslu Expedition in Spring
Trekking Route
The trekking route ahead of the Manaslu Expedition starts from Soti Khola. After arrival at Kathmandu, you will explore the medieval city, and go on a sightseeing tour and experience the beautiful cultural heritage. The scenic drive then takes you to Soti Khola pass through the beautiful hilly terrains. The trekking journey begins from Soti Khola.
The trail then leads you through the settlements of Machha Khola and Jagat. From the settlement of Deng, you will pass through the beautiful territories of Namrung and Samagaun. You will acclimatize at Samagaun. From there, you will travel to Manaslu Base Camp for two weeks.
Climbing Route
As we reach the base camp, Sherpa guides will help you with the tents and setting up the camps. From the base camp, climbers will pass through various camps to finally arrive at the summit of Mount Manaslu. There are in total 4 camps before the summit.
The two most challenging camps with technical sections are Camp 1 and Camp 2. The Mt. Manaslu Expedition’s 2nd camp remains located in a safer flat area. It lies at an elevation of 6400 meters above the icefall. There is also a snowy terrace in the region where you can find a large amount of snow.
From Camp 2, you will start your climb to Camp 3. The distance between these two camps is relatively short. It takes only around 3 hours to complete the journey. It would require you to cross a few crevasses before arriving at this camp. These crevasses are around half meters that you can jump easily. However, you won’t find any ladder crossings.
Camp 3 is at an elevation of 6800 meters, just below the col. This will keep you safe from harsh winds that blow in the region. Camp 3 to Camp 4 is the most extended section. In this long section, you will finally arrive at the death zone.
On this climb section, you will also pass through steep snow for 3-4 hours. Another difficult factor is that the trail is a 50-55 degree slope. Hence, this section of the climb is considered to be quite challenging. After climbing for hours, we arrive at Camp 4 (7400 meters).
From there, you will continue your journey to the Mt. Manaslu summit. It takes around 6-8 hours to arrive at the summit. You will start the climb the night before sunrise and reach the mountain around 8-10 am. From the summit of the mountain, you will trek back early to arrive at the base camp, where you will travel to Samagaon.
You will travel to Samdo, Larkya Phedi, and Bimtang and cross the Larkya La Pass. We will pass through the village settlements of Dharapani and Syange to finally arrive at Kathmandu. From there, you can travel to your desired destination.
How Difficult is Mt. Manaslu Expedition?
The Manaslu Expedition is an 8000m mountain. Hence, it’s pretty difficult and challenging to climb. This incredible mountain is relatively more challenging than the Cho Oyu and Shishapangma. There are also more technical sections in these mountains.
This mountain peak is also considered a practice ground for other challenging mountains, including Everest. Climbers need to be in exceptional shape and have perfect fitness levels, mental strength, and preparation. This high-altitude climb is challenging and will test you to the core. Some of the challenges include:
Acute mountain sickness
Acute mountain sickness is the primary difficulty in this Manaslu Expedition. This incredible journey to the mountain top is difficult as there is less oxygen in the air. At an altitude above 8000m, you will reach a state where you will lose your ability to think and react appropriately.
Hence, supplementary oxygen is taken during the journey. Besides, acclimatization at various camps before the summit is also an integral part of the journey. Therefore, it is one of the reasons why it takes so long to conquer the mountain.
Extreme Temperature
For every 100m gain, the temperature in the region drops by 0.65C. The temperature at the top of the summit is determined to be less than 50 degrees Celsius less than at sea level. Frost bites and others are pretty common in the region. Hence, to tackle these cold conditions, you will need warm clothes and other precautions.
Falls and Crevasses
The Manaslu mountain trails are brutal, with many challenges. Even a slight mistake by the climber can lead to falls by the climber. There are various moments when the climber loses grip while climbing high ridges. Hence, mountaineers must be careful, especially when traversing these icy terrains at night.
Climbers should check their knots and footwork before making every step in the region. Moreover, there are crevasses in the region, which are the glacial ice cracks. Hence, the climbers climbing together should tie ropes and then travel together in these challenging glacial terrains. Even if climbers fall, the other team members can drag them back into these terrains.
Training Regime for the Manaslu Expedition
Training is another essential aspect of the mountain climbing journey. There are specific mountaineering training and other strength-building physical, cardiovascular, and mental exercises. A well throughout plan ahead of the climbing for the training regime is essential.
You can hire personal trainers with mountaineering experience for the training. They can help you set up both indoor and outdoor training. The training regime for the expedition of Manaslu are as follows:
Climbing training
The climbers need to have mountaineering skills, including cramponing, rappelling, snow, and ice climbing, ascending, and fixed ropes skills. The climb also requires you to carry around 30 lbs during the journey. There are extreme temperatures all around with cold temperatures. Besides that, you should also train for an alpine lifestyle.
Physical training
Physical conditioning is one of the most critical training you should do before climbing. Various exercises will build your strength and endurance. It will also build your high-altitude tolerance. The training should focus on bettering physical conditioning at lower altitudes so that you can ascend carrying 50-60 lbs.
Even though you will get help from your Sherpa guides by training with such weight, you will gain high climbing tolerance. Hence, these exercises will help you in climbing the mountain in a hassle-free manner. It will also help you with the lower body and core strength building.
Cardiovascular training
Cardiovascular exercises or aerobic exercises are essential for the Manalsu expedition. These exercises include cycling, hiking, jogging, swimming, and others. This will help you remain flexible along the trail and help you from injuries, cramps, blisters, and others. They will also help you breathe in the high-altitude region with less oxygen and air pressure. Hence, you should start these exercises ahead of the trek.
Mental training
The Manaslu expedition training is a must at least six to nine months before the trek. In the mountain, you can increase the hike time and elevation gain during the climbing journey. You should not rush the process which can lead to injury and unfortunate situations. You should also possess a positive attitude so that you will be able to arrive at the summit without any discomfort.
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