Top 10 Reasons to Do Manaslu Circuit Trek

The Manaslu Circuit Trek is one of the surreal journeys that offers the great Himalayan vistas, living culture and heritage, an ancient monastery and sacred caves, a deep gorge, and a rocky canyon, and the great highlight is the unspoiled culture and heritage that the people have kept unchanged for centuries.

The Manaslu region is located in the northern part of central Nepal in the Gorkha district, which is separated by Budhigandaki in the east and Marsyangdi in the west, and the Himalayas separate this region in the north from Tibet. The region stretches within the area of 1663 sq km, where most of its area is wild nature as well as the high Himalayas. This conservation area is home to 2000 species of plants, 33 kinds of mammals, 115 kinds of birds, 3 reptiles, 15 butterflies, and 11 different kinds of forests, which range from the tropical zone to the alpine.

The region is very rich for its diverse culture and religion, and several different ethnic groups of people live in this area. Gurung, Magar, Chhetri, and Brahmin people live in the southern province, whereas the northern province is inhabited by Lamas, who have a rich culture and history that made this region antique.

After discussing the general background of this region and the people, now we are heading towards why we should do the Manaslu Circuit Trek. Now let’s discuss the top 10 reasons to do the Manaslu Circuit trek.

1. Offbeat and less commercialized: The region is virgin and pure, and the trail is offbeat, yet it's one of the less visited areas by tourists, whereas in terms of modernization and commercialization, Everest and Annapurna are way farther along than this. So if you like to explore the place that is less touristic and less commercial, for sure this journey is for you.

2. Virgin and unspoiled nature: Most areas in the province are woods and mountains, and it's a less explored region, so here nature, people, and culture are still unspoiled. This is the best place for you if you are seeking a less explored region. This is for you.

3. People and culture: The people living in this area and their culture are points of interest. Tibetan Buddhism is the main religion here; the settlement is built with the local material that most houses are built with: stone and wood. We can see hundreds of monasteries in the region, and a lot of stupas and chortens can be seen during the journey.

4. Monastery and Sacred Caves: The region is enriched with several monasteries where we can still see the monks learning holy education, and there are also a bunch of sacred caves where the big master Milarepa and Guru Rinpoche had meditated.

5. Mt Manaslu base camp: The journey to Mt. Manaslu's 8163 m base camp, which is located at the altitude of 4800 m, is another highlight of the journey. The walk to base camp is so beautiful and adventurous that we can see the birds-eye view of Birendra Lake and Samagaun.

6. Support the local economy: The region was badly damaged in the earthquake of 2015, and still, it’s in the process of a rebuild. Thousands of houses were damaged, and many became homeless; thus, your journey will support the local economy.

7. Sama Gaun: Samagaun is the largest village in the northern province of this region, with 300 houses in the village and around 1500 people living here. The Samagaun village looks very unique and beautiful with its stone wall and timber roof. This village is located at an altitude of 3500 m and is probably the most populated village in this province at this altitude.

8. High-altitude freshwater lake: The region is enriched with a bunch of freshwater lakes above the altitude of 3500 m, where we can see alpine migratory ducks, which are one of the rare species found in this region. The famous lakes are Birendra Tal and Phunkar Lake, which we can see during the journey.

9. Larkya Pass: Larkya La Pass is the main challenge of this journey. We have to traverse through the altitude of 5160 m to cross this pass. We can see the spectacular view of the Himalayas and glaciers towards the western side from the top of the Larky La Pass.

10. Manaslu Conservation Area: The government of Nepal started to protect this sanctuary with the name Manaslu Conservation Area, which is home to several birds and wildlife. The conservation campaign started as a project; thus, the institution looking after the conservation of this region is called the Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP).