Manaslu Circuit Trek in September

The Manaslu Circuit trek is undoubtedly one of the most exhilarating off-the-beaten trekking journeys that will take you to the foothills of the Himalayas. Meandering around the region dominated by the mountain of spirit, Mount Manaslu, this trek is the epitome of wonders of nature and cultural enrichment. Unveiling the splendor of the Manaslu Region is exciting all year round. However, discovering the allure of the region when September casts its magical spell has its own fun and joy. Manaslu Circuit Trek in September offers an exhilarating adventure with captivating views and action-packed activities to experience.

When the monsoon slowly disappears with the arrival of autumn in the Manaslu region, September amplifies the raw and untouched beauty by revealing the pristine mountains and striving vegetation. The atmosphere after the whole region is rejuvenated by the monsoon rain is undoubtedly refreshing.

Converging mild temperatures with clear skies offers you a wonderful opportunity to explore and create an intimate connection with nature. Beginning your adventure by passing through the forested trails, picturesque villages, voluminous rivers, cascading waterfalls, and verdant meadows is an escape from your busy life to enjoy the peace and tranquility that has been lost somewhere.

Besides discovering the grandeur of nature, the Manaslu Circuit Trek in September also fills your journey with cultural enrichment and warm hospitality from simple people inhabiting the region. The perfect blend of everything that September promises will definitely make your Manaslu Circuit trekking rewarding and worthwhile.

Highlights

Embarking and ending your journey with the scenic overland ride
Trek around the eight highest peaks in the world, Mt. Manaslu
Immerse in the wilderness of three beautiful valleys- Budhi Gandaki Valley, Nubri Valley, and lastly Marshyangdi River Valley
Cross one of the highest formidable mountain pass, Larke La Pass
Discover the captivating flora and fauna of the Manaslu conservation area and the possibility of witnessing endangered animals like snow leopards, red pandas, blue sheep, etc
Panoramic views of the mountains, including Lamjung Himal, Annapurna II, Ganesh Himal, Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Shringi Himal, Ngadi Chuli, and many more
Explore the Buddhist and Tibetan-influenced culture
Visit ancient monasteries, gompas, mani walls, and shrines

What are the Weather and Temperature Like in the Manaslu in September

Since September is the post-monsoon month, the monsoon will still be lingering in the region. During the initial days of September, the Manaslu region can experience slight rainfall, which may cool down the temperature. As the month progresses, the chance of precipitation will get low with the clearance of clouds and mist. Slowly, the moisture in the air will be low, and the air will be more dry with pleasant weather and a stable climate.

From mid-September onwards, days will be sunny and bright, with 10 hours of sunlight on average. The temperature in the lower elevation can range between 15 degrees Celsius to 23 degrees Celsius. As you rise to higher altitudes, the temperature starts to drop, hovering between 5 degrees Celsius and 11 degrees Celsius during the day. The overall climate will be mild, but morning and night can be quite chilly. The temperature during morning and night can drop to 10 degrees Celsius in lower elevations, and in higher elevations, it can easily go to minus degrees.

Why Manaslu Circuit Trek in September

Pristine Himalayan Views

Your long-haul trek is not going to be less than a movie. Initially, you can steal a few distant glimpses of the mountains like the story in the movie unfurls. Once you arrive at the outskirts of the region, the distant views will slowly come closer. This is like building your anticipation for the climax. As your trek progresses day by day, you will have a satisfying climax with the surreal views of the snow-glistening mountains.

Witnessing an up-close view of Mt Manaslu with panoramic views of Annapurna II, Shringi Himal, Ganesh Himal, Cheo Himal, and other surrounding peaks will definitely keep you in awe. Moreover, when the sun’s rays reflect on the white snow-clad mountains with picturesque blue skies, it is a picture that describes part of heaven falling on earth.

Refreshing Atmosphere

As September falls right after the monsoon season, you can still smell the freshness of wet soil. The rain nourishes the dramatic landscapes and you can see vegetation and greenery thriving in the Manaslu region. The green canopy in the hillsides adds more thrill to the wilderness of remote Manaslu. Moreover, when the rain washes off all the dirt and mist, the transparent views with fresh aroma give your exploration in September a nostalgic feel.

Furthermore, different shades of flowers blooming in dense forests enhance the rawness and give different dimensions while trekking. At the same time, the volume and energy rainwater adds to streams and waterfalls make them rumble at full speed. The gurgling sound of swift streams and cascading waterfalls amidst peaceful mountains sounds like sweet chaos in your Manaslu circuit trek in September.

Less Crowded Trail

You may be confused about why September has fewer crowds. Despite the fact that autumn is considered a favorable time of the year to embark on any trek, September is the post-monsoon month. The Manaslu region will experience post-monsoon rainfall during the first weeks of September. So, trekkers prefer to wait for the weather to become stable and start trekking in mid-September.

Therefore, if you want to avoid crowds and enjoy solidarity amidst the mighty mountains, then the initial part of September is a great option for you. During your journey, you don’t have to worry about someone coming in the background while clicking your aesthetic pictures and you can take enough time to explore the highlights and forge a connection with locals.

Festive Delights

Nepal generally celebrates its festivals following the lunar calendar system. So, most of the festivals lie in the autumn season. On top of that, September welcomes some of the grand festivals like Teej, Indra Jatra, and Dashain. During these festive atmospheres, you can partake in the cultural celebration where you can enjoy cultural processions and dance. Moreover, the food during the festival is more tasty than our normal day’s food. Therefore, the Manaslu Circuit Trek in November widens your horizon about the manalsu region and Nepal in overall through its unique culture and traditions.

Different Perspective

The Manaslu circuit trek takes you to a remote wilderness where people’s ways of life are completely different. In this region, people usually depend upon farming and animal husbandry. Moreover, September is the harvesting season, which gives you insights into the Himalayan way of harvesting crops and the taste of freshly grown crops and vegetables.

Passing by settlement areas like Samdo Ekle Bhatti and Sama Gaon and interacting with locals helps you understand the happiness that can be found in small things. This thrilling trek will give you a different perspective on life.

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Difficulties that One Shall Face While Manaslu Circuit Trek in September

High Altitude

Altitude sickness is one of the common problems that trekkers have to face in high-altitude trekking. People usually fall prey to altitude sickness above 3000m. When the altitude rises, the oxygen level in the air decreases. So, when the body cannot adapt to such a low percentage of oxygen, then it suffers from the pathological effect of altitude sickness. Symptoms like headache, fatigue, lack of appetite, insomnia, shortness of breath, etc occur, which can get worse if not treated right on time.

During the Manaslu Circuit Trek in September, you have to spend most of your days above 3000m and even have to exceed 5000m while climbing Larke La Pass, so altitude can be a major difficulty factor in your journey. So, it is very important to acclimate properly to avoid the consequences of altitude sickness.

Long Duration

Covering about 180 to 230 km in total while walking around the area encircled by Mt. Manaslu takes about 10 to 18 days. Moreover, the trek requires you to walk 6 to 8 hours per day to cover about 12 to 15 km per day. You may think that this distance is not much, but it becomes a big deal in high altitude.

So, if you are a novice trekker new to Himalayan trekking, you may find these treks both physically and mentally tiring. Moreover, carrying the weight of luggage and equipment is another challenge that you have to face not just in this trek but in all other treks.

Remoteness

As you know, the Manaslu trek takes you to a remote and isolated region of Nepal, so it is understandable that the infrastructure and facilities are not advanced and extravagant. Roads are not properly constructed, and many people still use mules, yaks, and porters to transfer goods to higher altitudes.

Moreover, amenities like WiFi, cellular network, electricity, etc, are limited as you incline to higher elevations. Hence, you can expect a basic level of facilities during this trek.

Finding Accommodations

Although the crowds on the Manaslu trek trail are less during the first half of September, tourists from all over the world flock to the region during the latter part of September. Hence, if you are planning the Manaslu circuit trek during the last weeks of September, it’s better to make advance bookings in tea houses and lodges. This way, you don’t have to face the hassle of going back and forth to teahouses to find rooms during the trek.

Is Manaslu Circuit Trek in September Suitable for Me?

If you want to explore the secluded area with untouched and raw beauty, then the Manaslu region offers more than enough. So, if you are in a dilemma on embarking on this trek or not, it can be easily completed by anyone with a 98% success rate, which is pretty high in comparison to other trekking routes in Nepal.

This voyage demands reasonable physical fitness and mental resilience to tackle all the difficult factors. Moreover, you do not need any prior high-altitude trekking experience for this journey, but adequate preparation is a must. Likewise, if you have any health issues mainly related to the heart, lungs, and joints, it is better to consult with your doctor before deciding to embark on this thrilling trek.

Hence, if you are ready to push yourself and put in some effort, then you are all set to go.

How to Prepare Yourself for the Trek?

If you want to have a comfortable journey on those rugged terrains, then adequate physical and mental preparation is a must. It is recommended that you start preparing 6 to 8 weeks prior to the trek. Most of all, you have to be consistent while preparing. You can either take some training plans or work out at home with some basic yet working exercises.

If you exercise regularly, then a little effort into your training will work like magic. However, if you do not work out regularly, you have to start early so that your body gets adapted to the intense activity. You do not have to start exercises with high intensity on day one. You can slowly increase the intensity by analyzing your strength and fitness as the days pass.

To increase your body’s strength, you can try exercises like plank, push-ups, dip, lunges, bicep curl, deadlift, weightlift, overhead press, squat, etc. Cardiovascular exercises like jogging, swimming, dancing, cycling, aerobics, rowing, etc. can boost your stamina. Furthermore, it is recommended to go on high-altitude hikes, carrying some actual weights to generate a brief idea about the trek.

Preparing mentally is also equally important while embarking on the Manaslu circuit trek. You should develop a mindset about long hours of walking. Moreover, developing adaptability and flexibility skills will always come in handy in the journey. Additionally, setting realistic expectations will allow you to enjoy your trek without any mental burden.

Food and Accommodation

You will be traveling to the high Himalayas, so you cannot expect extravagant services and facilities. You have to be adaptable to basic services available in teahouses and lodges.

Food

Teahouses owners tries to accommodate the taste palate of every trekkers so they offer you a wide variety of menu with traditional Nepali food, regional food, some Indian Tibeta food and even few foreign cuisines.

So, you can expect light time of foods like omelets, bread, Porridge, congee, oatmeal, pudding, paratha, roti, sandwiches, pancake, Cornflakes etc for breakfast.

For dinner and lunch, you will get heavy foods like traditional daal bhaat tarkari, Different khana sets, tingmo, champa, rildok, syakpa, thukpa, momo, chowmein, pasta etc. All three- non veg, veg and vegan food options are available in the teahouses.

For beverages, you can choose from diverse options, from soft drinks and hot drinks to hard drinks. However, we recommend skipping hard drinks and excessive tea and coffee consumption since they will hinder your acclimatization process.

Accommodations

Teahouses and lodges are the common modes of accommodation in the Manaslu region. You will be offered a room on a twin-sharing basis with 2 or 3 beds adjacent to each other. The beds will be equipped with baskets, pillows, and mattresses. If you need additional blankets, you can ask for them.

The lower elevation may have western-style attached bathrooms, but as you incline to higher altitudes, you have to adjust to the traditional squat bathroom that is in the shared vicinity.

Packing List

Clothing

Beanie or woolen hat
Wide-brimmed cap to protect from sunlight
Thermals
Long sleeve t-shirts and shirts
Down jackets
Waterproof and windproof jackets and pants
Fleece jackets and trousers
Convertible hiking shorts
Mittens
Sports bra for female
Gaiters
Thin and thick gloves
Extra pair of underwear and socks
Scarf

Shoes

Sturdy and comfortable hiking shoes
Sandals to use in teahouses

Gears and Equipment

Toothbrush and toothpaste
Trekking poles
Duffle bags, Trekking backpack, Daypack
Headlight with extra batteries, Flashlight
Thermos Flask and reusable water bottles
Sleeping bags
Route Map
Powerbank
Sunglasses
Camera and lenses
Binoculars

Personal Hygiene and Toiletries

Toothbrush and toothpaste
Bodywash, biodegradable soap
Deodorants
Face wash and handwash
Sanitizer
Hairbrush
Nail clippers
Wet tissues
toilet papers

Female Hygiene products

Small first aid kit
Sanitary pads, menstrual cups and tampons
Shaving cream and razor

Why Guides and Porters are Important for the Manaslu Circuit Trek in September?

The Manaslu region is totally unfamiliar place to you. So, guides will help you navigate the route and provide you with various information about the region’s history, culture, and traditions. Moreover, they will act as mediators between you and local people to ensure fluent communication.

Likewise, you are not used to carrying heavy weights on your back and walking for hours on the rugged surface. So porters will carry your luggage and share the burden of heavy weights so that you can have a comparatively easy journey. Usually, they will carry about 15 to 25 kg. One porter can carry the weight of two trekkers.

Considerations for the Manaslu Circuit Trek in September

Obtain Your Permits

You will need to obtain three permits- Manaslu Conservation Area permit, Annapurna Conservation Area permit and Special Restricted Area Permit.

Manaslu region, between Jagat and Dharapani is declared a restricted area. For a Restricted Area Permit from September to November, it will cost USD 100 per person for the first week. Once you exceed seven days, it will cost you an additional USD 15 per person per day. Similarly, from December to August, the RAP permit will cost you USD 75 per person for the first week. Once you exceed the first week, then you have to pay an additional USD 10 per person per day.

You will require a Manaslu Conservation Area permit from Philim. This permit will cost you USD 30 per person. Similarly, you will require an Annapurna Conservation Area Permit(ACAP) from Dharapani. This permit will also cost you USD 30 per person.

To obtain these permits, you will need photocopies of your passport and passport-sized photos with the required charges.

Stay Hydrated, and Don’t Skip Meals

Hydration is one of the most economical ways of avoiding altitude sickness. Manaslu Circuit Trek requires 6 to 8 hours of walking per day, so it is normal for you to sweat. With the outflow of water in various forms, you will get dehydrated. So, it is very important to be hydrated throughout the day. You need to intake 3 to 5 liters of water daily. The water in the high Himalayas is clean and fresh but in case you don’t feel like drinking, you can always have access to bottled water. Moreover, you can buy water purification tablets in Kathmandu to comfortably drink the water found in the region.

Another important thing is that you should not skip your meals. You are in an unfamiliar place, so it is normal to feel a lack of appetite. However, you should force-feed yourself and let your body slowly adapt to eating foods. Make sure to incorporate a balanced diet into your food. The staple food of Nepalese people is daal bhaat tarkari. You might have heard abut the quote ‘Daal bhaat power…..24 hour’. So, you can try some Nepalese staple food and gain yourself immense power for 24 hours.

Start your Trek Early

It is always wise to start your trek early, as you want to use every minute to enjoy the trek to the fullest. At the same time, you will be climbing Larke La Pass in the Manaslu trek, so starting early to climb the pass will help you avoid strong winds that blow fiercely surrounding the pass during the day.