Manaslu Circuit Trekking Vs Everest Base Camp Trek

Manaslu Circuit Vs Everest Base Camp: Key Differences & Tips

Both the Manaslu Circuit Trek and Everest Base Camp Trek are impressive in their own way, offering adventure lovers from around the world an amazing experience hiking at high altitudes. Essentially, without a shadow of a doubt, both are among the best adventure treks in Nepal. They lie in different regions of the country, each with its singular cultural and scenic highlights.

Both trekking trails are famous for two distinct mountains: Mount Everest (Sagarmatha, 8,848.86 m/29,031.7 ft), the world’s highest, and Mount Manaslu (8,163 m/26,782 ft), the eighth highest. Along the way, trekkers can also enjoy the magnificence of other mountains and involve themselves in the culture of the local communities. As a result, it can be difficult to pick which trek is the perfect one for your next adventure.

Read on for a detailed comparison between the two, so you can make a wise decision. Alternatively, if you have enough time and resources, you could consider doing both treks in the same season. In addition, it is essential to understand the trekking challenges in Nepal when mapping out a safe and successful adventure in the Himalayan mountain range, which you will learn about in this blog below:

Manaslu Vs Everest Trekking Difficulty

The difficulty level of the Manaslu and Everest treks is moderate to challenging. As for the duration of these treks, the Manaslu and Everest Base Camp (EBC) Treks commonly take 14 to 18 days and 14 days, respectively. It also varies depending on your stamina, endurance, and walking pace.

Yet, they both appear to be long treks when walked at a normal pace. And walking for a couple of weeks or more is something that we can consider hard without any second thoughts, even if the entire route of the trek is easy.

Therefore, you need to be in good physical condition to undertake these two iconic trekking trails. If you are a regular workout enthusiast, especially one who practices stretching, squats, and running for at least an hour a day, you are ready for one or both of these treks.

These exercises strengthen and increase the flexibility of your legs while boosting stamina, which reduces the chances of injury and prepares you for long-distance hiking. Even if you don’t exercise daily, it is still a good idea to start at least a week before your trek, as doing something is better than doing nothing.

Your diet also plays a key role while trekking the Manaslu Circuit and EBC. Foods rich in carbohydrates, such as potatoes, pasta, and rice, are important during the trek, as they take longer to digest and give sustained energy to keep you moving with a heavy backpack.

In addition, always drink plenty of water, at least 2 to 3 liters daily, to keep your body hydrated and reduce the risk of altitude sickness. Include water-rich foods like apples and cucumbers in your diet to further maintain hydration.

Altitude Challenges On Manaslu And Everest Treks

In terms of the altitude of the trek to Manaslu Circuit and EBC, they both have a little different elevation ranges. The height of the Manaslu Trekking ranges from Soti Khola (710 m/2,329 ft) to Dharapani (1,860 m/6,102 ft), via Larke Pass (5,106 m/16,752 ft), the highest point. In contrast, the Everest Trek ranges from Phakding (2,610 m/8,563 ft) to Everest Base Camp (5,364 m/17,598 ft), the main destination, and further to Kalapatthar (5,555 m/18,225 ft), the highest point.

Dealing with altitude issues on Manaslu and Everest treks needs proper acclimatization, a steady pace, and staying hydrated to ensure a safe and enjoyable journey. To assure your body acclimatizes properly to the high-altitude environment and to avoid altitude sickness, something you definitely want to prevent, walk slowly and take breaks of at least 5 to 8 minutes frequently.

Moreover, it is essential to spend an extra day acclimatizing once you reach an elevation above 3,000 m/9,843 ft. Most trekkers generally spend an additional day in Sama Gaun (3,520 m/11,549 ft) during the Manaslu Trek and in Dingboche (4,410 m/14,469 ft) during the Everest Trek.

Also, check the Manaslu Circuit Trekking Altitude

Trekking Route In The Manaslu Circuit And Everest Base Camp

The trekking trails of the Manaslu Circuit and Everest Base Camp both offer uncommon landscapes and challenges to nature lovers. Both treks take a minimum of 14 days to complete, making the journey tough. Comparing the two routes, the Manaslu Trekking looks to be harder due to its geographical structure.

On the other hand, the Everest Trek is challenging because of the elevation, as it reaches up to Kala Patthar (5,555 m), which is 449 m higher than the Larke Pass. However, the entire trail is not so difficult to hike, as it is constructed with stone stairs from the starting point to the main destination.

So, both are difficult in its own way. The level of difficulty depends on the point of view and experience of trekkers. Some may find the Manaslu Circuit to be harder, at the same time others might feel Everest Base Camp is challenging due to the height.

How To Get To The Manaslu Circuit And Everest Base Camp

So, now you might be curious about the mode of transportation to get to the starting point of these two treks. Speaking of the transportation options for these treks, there are different modes available, and it is essential for you to learn the best ways to reach the Manaslu Circuit and Everest Base Camp from the capital city, Kathmandu.

The Manaslu Circuit Trek lies in the Manaslu Region, located in the Gorkha district of Gandaki province. There used to be an air travel facility in this district, at Palungtar Airport, also called Gorkha Airport. The airport was established in October 1960 and was in operation until 2018. It was officially closed due to easy road access, as Prithivi Highway was recently connected to the district.

For this reason, to reach the typical starting point of the trek, Soti Khola, you need to take a public vehicle from New Bus Park, Gongabu, Kathmandu. The condition of the highway is fine in some places, but you will also encounter off-road sections in others. It currently takes approximately 8 to 9 hours to reach there, depending on the traffic on the highway.

On the other hand, the EBC Trek lies in the Khumbu or Everest Region, situated in the Solukhumbu district of Koshi province. It falls under the Sagarmatha Conservation Area. There are three different domestic airports in the district, one of which is Lukla Airport, situated at an elevation of 2,860 m (9,383.2 ft).

Lukla Ariport is also considered the world's most dangerous airport and is the starting point of the trek, from where you descend to Phakding by walking 3 to 4 hours on the first day. You can't take a direct flight to Lukla from Kathmandu during the trekking season.

Instead, you need to take a public vehicle from Kathmandu to Manthali Airport in Ramechhap via BP Highway, which takes approximately the same travel duration as from Kathmandu to Soti Khola and the road condition is also similar. From there, you will take a flight to Lukla. However, during the off-season, you can take a direct flight to Lukla from the capital city.

Accommodations In The Manaslu And Everest Trek

If you are worried about finding the best accommodation options along the Manaslu and Everest treks, you will find plenty of them along the route. All the hotels and teahouses are equipped with modern amenities such as WiFi, hot showers, electricity, and international cuisine, along with Nepalese local food.

Although they are not as perfect as what you would find in the capital city, it is still nice to have these facilities in such remote parts of the country. In terms of accommodation quality on these two trekking trails, EBC has more luxurious teahouses than the Manaslu Circuit.

During the peak season, these places get thoroughly packed, and you may have to settle in a dining hall if no room is available. In the off-season, not all teahouses along the trail remain open, but a few do, as the flow of tourists is much lower.

Cost Comparison: Manaslu Circuit And Everest Base Camp

Both treks have sufficient teahouses along the way, making the journey easier for trekkers from around the world. As mentioned earlier, these teahouses are equipped with modern facilities. However, both regions are located in remote parts of the country, which increases the price of food and other services.

Transporting supplies to these areas is challenging. Sometimes, hotels must bring their essential items by helicopter. More commonly, donkeys, horses, yaks, and even porters are used to carry supplies from market areas to the businesses. As a result, we cannot expect lower prices for services and facilities while trekking these regions.

When comparing the costs of the Manaslu Circuit  and Everest Base Camp Trekking, EBC is more expensive because the Khumbu Region has been heavily commercialized for decades. The primary reason is Mount Everest, the dream destination for every mountaineer. Notably, there is even a live music bar in Namche Bazaar, one of Nepal’s high-altitude towns, where you can enjoy modern and classic tunes on your second-to-last day of the trek.

The costs of these treks are not affected by the season, though prices do increase slightly every year due to inflation. Additionally, it is important to note that the Manaslu Trek requires a minimum group size of two people, whereas a single trekker can enjoy the EBC Trek.

Permits For Trekking The Manaslu Circuit And Everest Base Camp

Permits are always one of the major requirements for trekking in any region of Nepal. They are needed only for foreign tourists and are checked at various checkpoints along the route to keep a record of the number of visitors. Thus, if you are a foreigner planning to trek in either of these regions, permits are required for the Manaslu and Everest Trekking.

For the Manaslu Circuit Trek, you require multiple permits, including the Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS) card, the Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP), the Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (RAP), and the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP). Likewise, for the EBC Trek, you need a TIMS card, the Sagarmatha National Park Permit, and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entrance Card.

Best Time To Trek Manaslu Circuit And Everest Base Camp

You can trek on these routes anytime you want. Nevertheless, it is critical to know the best seasons for the Manaslu and EBC Trekking before mapping out your trek on either of these amazing trails. For both treks, spring and autumn are considered the best seasons, as the weather is often clear, allowing for beautiful views of the mountains and landscapes. During these seasons, you don't have to worry about heavy rainfall or snowfall.

Spring includes March, April, and May, while autumn falls in September, October, and November. In addition, you can enjoy these two treks during the off-seasons, winter and monsoon, if you seek extreme adventure and are not afraid of challenges. Trekking to any site in Nepal during the off-season depends on your luck, as winter and monsoon bring a higher risk of heavy snowfall and landslides in high-altitude areas.

But this doesn’t mean a disaster is guaranteed, and sometimes you can experience sunny and clear skies even during the off-season, as the weather is unpredictable. So, it is always advisable to stay updated with the weather forecast for the dates of your trek.