Difficulty Level
The Manaslu Helicopter Trek is a moderate to difficult trek. Walking days are short, but the altitude and pass increases the difficult level significantly. You will have to walk up to 5 to 6 hours daily and in day 6, you even have to walk for 8 to 10 hours, ascend to 5,106 meters, and descent more than 1,500 meters to Bhimthang.
Altitude becomes the real challenge. The helicopter carries you from Kathmandu at 1,400 meters to Samagaun at 3,530 meter in just over an hour. Your body have no time to prepare. That is why the acclimatization day is so important. Common symptoms include headaches, poor night sleep, and lack of appetite, so our guides monitor these each morning and evening.
The trekking route itself is not technical. It does not require any climbing equipment or ropes, but the route involves rock paths, ascending hills, and loose stones on the descent of the pass. In case of snow on Larkya La, the guide may also add micro spikes to cross passes.
Physical fitness plays an important role in the trip as well. We recommend performing cardio exercises and long-distance hiking with a heavy backpack for six to eight weeks prior to your Manaslu Helicopter Trek. Trekkers who have done some trekking at the height of 3,000 meters or above will be an advantage, but not mandatory.
Maintain a moderate pace and drink enough water. Do that, and this Manaslu Circuit Trek route is quite easy for physically fit hikers.
Preparation for Manaslu Helicopter Trek 10 Days
A well prepared will make this trek much easier and better than unprepared one. Your ascent into high altitude happens quickly, so both your body and equipment have to be prepared in advance. The best way to prepare is through fitness training.
Start training six to eight weeks before your trip. Include cardiovascular training in your fitness routine like jogging, biking, and swimming, and some stairs and hills climbing. Finally, add a couple of long treks with a loaded backpack. Well-developed legs will help you descend from the pass, and strong lungs will be useful at all times.
Prepare physically for your trekking. Familiarize yourself with the early symptoms of altitude sickness like headache, nausea, lightheadedness, and difficulty sleeping. Inform your guide immediately if you have these symptoms.
After you are done with fitness training, consider your packing. Layers are the best clothing choice for the Himalaya, so take a warm down jacket, a waterproof jacket, thermal base layers, and trekking trousers. Also pack some broken-in waterproof boots that provide good ankle protection, and a warm sleeping bag designed for temperatures up to -10°C. Hat, gloves, sunglasses, trekking poles, a headlamp, sunscreen, and personal medical kit complete the list. Any forgotten item can be purchased in Kathmandu.
Be light with luggage as the weight restriction in the helicopter is strict. Your guide will inform you of the precise amount of baggage that you are supposed to carry.
Lastly, take care of your documents before starting Manaslu Helicopter Trek 10 Days. Ensure you have everything including your passport, insurance, and Nepal visa, which you may get in Nepal on arrival or online beforehand. And have extra buffer day for bad weather conditions as they can change plans anytime.
Best Time for the Manaslu Helicopter Trek
Autumn and Spring have the highest chance of success during as both seasons have steady weather, good visibility of mountain and favorable condition for helicopter flights.
Autumn (September to November)
Autumn is the most suitable time which offers clear blue skies and good visibility of the surrounding. Late October and early November provides the best view of Manaslu and Himlung Himal. It is very cold at night in Dharamsala, but the days are nice. Autumn is the busiest season, so plan in advance.
Spring (March to May)
In spring rhododendrons bloom on the lower part of the trail between Tilije and Dharapani making the forest pink and red. Temperatures are warmer, but afternoon haze can reduce visibility. In March and early April there might be snow on Larkya La and the itinerary might be adjusted by your guide.
Winter (December to February)
Winter is possible, but difficult. It can snow and block the pass, and the temperature can drop way below zero at the campsite. Even though it is chilly, the route and pass is very silent and peaceful offering the view only to you.
Monsoon (December to February)
The monsoon season is the worst season to trek. Cloud cover in the sky restricts flights, rain and leeches make trails wet.
As for the 10 days of Manaslu helicopter trek itinerary, we recommend September through November or late April and May. In whichever season you choose, have a buffer day for flight as the weather in Himalayas can be unpredictable.
Accommodation and Meals
The teahouse facilities provided during the Manaslu Helicopter Trek are simple but friendly. Most teahouse are managed by local facilities, and you will be sharing dining areas with other trekkers and locals.
During your Kathmandu stay, you will spend your night in a comfortable 3 Star hotel which offers every possible facility that you mostly want. In the trail, accommodation facility will become limited with small twin sharing rooms including two single beds, mattress, pillow and blanket.
Further up the Manaslu Circuit Trek route, Hot shower is available only for extra money if provided. Make sure you have a sleeping bag since nights at Samdo and Dharamsala can be freezing. There will be no heating in the rooms, so people spend their evenings in the dining room near the kitchen fireplace.
Food is delicious and specifically meant for trekkers. A traditional meal Dal bhat is the most preferred food during the trek which is the combination of rice, lentil soup, vegetable curry and pickle. There is also other option like noodles, fried rice, pasta, momos, Tibetan bread, eggs, porridge and pancakes. This menu becomes smaller as you move to high altitudes and the prices increase.
Make sure to drink a lot of water and warm drinks. Take a bottle with purification tablets or filters, do not buy plastic bottles if you can. We provide all three meals per day during the Manaslu Helicopter Trek and tea/coffee. Any hot beverages and snacks in addition will be paid additionally, so bring some money.
Required Permits
The Manaslu region is a restricted area, so you cannot make your way through the Manaslu Circuit Trek alone. You have to travel through Nepal with a certified guide and a licensed tour operator. All the paperwork will be arranged by us.
Here are some of the permits you need:
All the prices and conditions may vary from time to time, so we will clarify them for you.
Things that you need to send us: passport scan copy, two passport sized photos, date of journey, travel insurance details. Passport must be valid for six months after your journey. All these should be sent at least two weeks prior to your arrival so that we may process them in Kathmandu.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not an option for the Manaslu Helicopter Trek. This is mandatory for your permit and is the safety net when thing don’t go as planned at high altitude. It is recommended to purchase your travel insurance before you leave your home country.
The coverage must include trekking up to at least 5,200 meters. The highest point you will reach on the route is 5,106 meters high, so a plan that includes trekking up to 4,000 meters will not work. Therefore, please make sure you carefully read your policy documentation.
Emergency helicopter evacuation must be covered, since remote places such as Samagaun and Samdo do not have any roads, so it will take a rescue flight. The price for that may amount to several thousand dollars, but you need it covered and paid by your insurer, not yourself later on.
Also be prepared for costs related to medical treatment and hospitalization, cancellation and interruption of travel plans, loss and delay of baggage, and delay due to adverse weather conditions. Since helicopter flights are often affected by weather in Nepal, this aspect becomes
Make sure to carry a hard copy of your insurance policy and contact information for your provider available at all times as well as share your insurer’s 24-hour number with your guide upon arrival in Kathmandu on day one of your Manaslu trekking adventure.
If you have any questions regarding travel insurance for Manaslu Circuit Trek, do not hesitate to ask us before purchase.
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