About Manaslu Circuit Trek
Manaslu (8163 M) is the 8th highest mountain in the world located in the Gorkha district. It is also known as ‘Mountain of the spirit’ as its name comes from the Sanskrit word ‘Manasa’ which means intellect or soul. The Manaslu circuit trek is a recently opened trekking route in Nepal. The Nepalese Government only permitted trekking of this circuit for foreigners in 1991. Manaslu region lies within the Manaslu Conservation Area, comprises sub-tropical Himalayan foothills to arid Trans-Himalayan high pastures bordering Tibet.
The trekking trail follows an ancient salt-trading route along the Budhigandaki River. This trekking route is gaining popularity lately as an alternative to Annapurna circuit trekking because of the roadways and its overcrowdedness. The people of the Manaslu region are the same as Tibetan and are heavily influenced by Tibetan culture & tradition. The Manaslu region is famous for its high altitude glacier lakes, magnificent mountain scenery, fascinating flora and fauna, cultural diversity and richness, which makes it one of the favorite destinations for trekkers around the world. We can start the Manaslu Circuit Trek from two places, Baluwa and Sotikhola via Arughat, and end it at Dharapani. The total duration of the trek normally ranges from 12 -20 days. The maximum elevation is Larke La Pass(5160 M). The best time to trek will be from March to May and September to November.