Manaslu Circuit Trek is a wonderful trek that combines the thrill of adventure with the end reward of completing it. Mesmerizing views are available on almost every part of the trail, but at high altitudes such as Dharamsala (4,460m) and Larkya La Pass (5,106m), they become even more impressive. Although the beauty of the trek is to be seen, getting sick during the trek is not to be disregarded.
As experienced guides at Radiant Trek, we have a to-do list to make your trek safe and comfortable when you fall sick.
How We Help if You Get Sick
During your Manaslu Circuit Trek, you fall upon the difficult part of the trek such as Larkya La Pass (5,106m). The high-altitude trek up here can be challenging, but Radiant Trek provides an expert guide. We don’t let anyone in the trekking group be behind due to their physical conditioning.
Firstly, as an experienced guide, we know the possible dangers and health discomforts. The common problems that I see occurring are altitude sickness, signs of dehydration, and exhaustion. Monitoring your physical condition, if any of these symptoms are noticed, we take care of them to avoid further harm to you. We provide essential knowledge about altitude sickness, and recommend taking rest while eating healthy and drinking.
We’ve faced tons of emergency support and even evacuation with trekkers doing Manaslu Circuit Trek. It often happens due to severe sickness from altitude, which needs an evacuation by a helicopter. Radiant Trek provides proper coverage from the insurance that includes evacuation costs, which is essential for high-altitude trekking.
If you do it without insurance, helicopter evacuation becomes unreliable and highly expensive. But we offer quick responses to these emergencies, as we have maintained a strong connection to local authorities and health services.
A first aid kit that contains bandages, antiseptics, gloves, and painkillers is an essential item that we carry in the case of minor injuries like blisters, sprains, or cuts. These injuries are normal when trekking for long hours with ascents and descents. As an experienced guide, we do see the need to know how to tackle altitude sickness.
As we prioritize safety over trek accomplishment, taking rest days is fine even if it lengthens our trip to some extent. It is recommended to rest, eat, and drink well before continuing to manage the symptoms of altitude sickness. If things go worse, we have medications like Diamox to help reduce the symptoms.
You wouldn’t find many healthcare facilities in the Manaslu Circuit Trek, almost none at very high altitudes like Larkya La Pass. Our trek is planned to ensure the priority first goes to your health and safety. The itinerary we have includes days for acclimatization, helpful in reducing the risk of altitude sickness. These rest days, mostly at Samagaon, make sure your body is well adjusted to the gain in altitudes.
The understanding of trail, weather, and medical risks is highly important. Our company has guides like us who are locals known to every part of that region. Our frequent trips to Manaslu have created many connections with teahouses and communities that ensure your accommodation, resources, and any assistance needed.
Probable Causes of Getting Sick on the Manaslu Circuit Trek
During the Manaslu Circuit Trek, you can have various health challenges, mainly altitude sickness. We have faced numerous trekkers on almost every trip, having some signs of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). This often occurs when the body doesn’t adjust to the rise in altitude and results in symptoms like headache, nausea, and dizziness.
Without proper acclimatization (adjusting to altitude), the conditions have turned into severe cases such as High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE). Both need an immediate descent to a lower altitude or even helicopter evacuation, which you needn’t worry about as we have the facilities ready for your safety.
Another reason we see for being sick is gastrointestinal issues such as food poisoning or diarrhea. The food and water from unhealthy sources are contaminated and result in stomach issues. Dehydration often occurs as trekkers forget to drink water in adequate amounts. We manage your food and water to be healthy and free of any harmful germs.
Manaslu Circuit Trek is in a cold region and can also have dust in the trails, which can cause respiratory illnesses such as colds, flu, or infections. While some trekkers can even have allergies and constant coughs, which we take care of if youaree informed.
Long days and hours of climbing exhaust almost all trekkers. Muscle fatigue, sprains or even blisters, and foot injuries significantly reduce your physical performance. We recommend not to trek without warm clothing. At high and cold altitudes of Larkya La Pass (5,106m) where temperature can drop to –6°C, there are risks of deadly hypothermia and frostbites, but we will guide you through the route to avoid them.
UV rays at high altitudes of Samagaon to Bimthang are intense and result in skin rashes and skin burns. The cold and snowy area of Larkya also causes eye irritation to some trekkers. Lastly, it’s the pre-existing conditions such as asthma, heart problems, or diabetes. As we aren’t fully aware of your conditions, it is mostly recommended to bring your own specific medications but at times, we manage it too.
How to Minimize Risks
We don’t stay or return back just because of any setbacks. Following our guidance and preparing for the trek will give you an easy time on the Manaslu Circuit Trek.
A trek, uphill and downhill, seeks physical fitness. For Manaslu Circuit Trek, as it is a moderately difficult trek, we only need basic fitness. It is generally suggested to prepare 2 to 3 months before the actual trek, with cardiovascular exercises and strength training for endurance and stamina.
Start with cardiovascular activities such as running, swimming, and cycling to improve your endurance. Strength training focused on legs and core will assist you in carrying and balancing your loads easily.
You should still consult a doctor and their advice on medications such as Diamox for altitude sickness. Diamox simply increases your breathing rate, which helps in the intake of oxygen for your body, and also balances fluids in your body to prevent HAPE and HACE. Always be hydrated, and eat nutritious food to give the body fuel. We suggest avoiding alcohol or caffeine as it causes further dehydration.
While it is better if you pack your first aid kit, we will assure you that contains essential medications like antibiotics, Diamox, painkillers, etc. Rehydration salts are also packed, this helps with the loss of fluids inside your body, providing quick rehydration and avoiding dehydration.
As you go on Manaslu Circuit Trek with us, follow our advice and itinerary. Neglecting expert guidance in such a region is letting trouble easily get to you. We’ll keep track of your hygienic food and hydration, essential for your physical performance.
We have purification tablets and water purifiers for safe drinking water on the trek. If in case of stomach issues like diarrhea, we have medicines like Loperamide (Imodium), which controls your food movement in the digestive track.
Try to have proper communication with us, we do interact with every trek member, but some trekkers avoid expressing their discomfort. During Manaslu Circuit Trek, you must share any sickness and symptoms immediately.
The Role of a Guide in Ensuring a Safe and Healthy Trek
We serve an important role as a guide to keep your safety and health in check. Our primary role is to monitor health, particularly for any signs of altitude sickness. Before it escalates to HAPE or HACE, with our expertise, we make sure the symptoms are identified.
We should and are capable of making emergency decisions. A trekker wouldn’t necessarily know what is an emergency in the Manaslu Circuit Trek, but guides are here to take care of the situation. Our quick decision can identify if we should continue the trek, or add a buffering day to rest and acclimatize. In severe cases, descending to a safer altitude is also done.
Nepal, particularly in the remote region of Manaslu, only has one common language, English, and that is rare to find being spoken among the Nepalese. We are able to understand and communicate in English, Nepali, and local dialects, which is important to interact and communicate with locals. Without anyone to speak your own, your words become meaningless, but with us, you are able to get emergency services and interact with them too.
We have been on the trek numerous times, and going on the trek, you can face blockages and sometimes unexpected rain. Besides that, moving to Larkya La Pass, the region the most challenging with snow covered trails and uneven terrains. Our understanding and navigation of difficult terrains reduce physical strain and significantly reduce the risk of injuries.
In the adventurous and serene Manaslu Circuit Trek, we allow you to have a peace of mind. You need to have both physical and mental preparation when you fall sick, which is assisted by us. Our focus isn’t the beautiful scenery, rather it’s your safety and well being. This gives you an opportunity to trek with your own freedom with continuous care to help recover even from dire conditions.
Our Commitment to Your Safety
Preparation for the trek
Safety is always the top priority in all trekking, including the Manaslu Circuit Trek. We don’t have means and ways to complete the trek but ways to get your safety checked first, which we take care of.
Trekking isn’t like the typical travel experience, you face unpredictable weather, rough terrains, high altitude risks, and sickness. We don’t stick to basic services for safety, we go well beyond to put efforts into your safety.
I do remember one of my friends, let’s call him Sijan Khadka, currently living in America but used to be here in Nepal seeking trekking experiences. Fond of traveling, he wanted to travel to Manaslu Circuit Trek in March, for clear skies, mild temperature, and overall safety. He was a typical newbie, who didn’t have much idea what to do before, during, and after the trekking. I, as an expert guide of Radiant Trek, didn’t disappoint him one bit.
Well, the first problem to be faced was fitness requirements. Although not the worst with fitness, we suggested basic fitness strategies by running, cycling, swimming, and strength training for legs and core. This made his trek through the uphill and steep ascents at Larkya La Pass (5,106m) without any hindrance.
We had to make a list of essentials that were needed to pack during the Manaslu Circuit Trek. It was a list of packing essentials like a first aid kit for injuries, reusable water bottles with purification tablets for hydration, snacks to fuel energy, layered clothing for warmth, trekking poles, and other gear. This inclusive packing made the trek easier, as he had all the necessary items to carry. For altitude sickness, Diamox was also included in the first aid kit.
Like every other beginner trekker, Sijan too started to show signs of altitude sickness. This occurred during the steep ascent to Larkya La Pass (5,106m). Symptoms like headaches, nausea, and fatigue were seen. To tackle his discomfort, we simply descended immediately to a lower altitude back to Dharamsala (4,460m), a place for acclimatization. When his condition took some time to improve, we even added an extra day for him to acclimatize to the altitude.
Communication during the trek
Communication is another necessary thing to have during the Manaslu Circuit Trek. Constant communication within the team assures safety for each and every member. Unlike other group treks, the entire itinerary isn’t dependent solely on guides, rather the team members have their say too. We even provide updates on the weather if it could be rainy or snowy, trail conditions if there is any blockade on the route, and constant checkups of your health.
Considering those factors ultimately leads to making proactive decisions, which helps to reduce risk and ensures you are alert. Updates about your health, or slight symptoms of altitude sickness such as headache, nausea, and fatigue are easily spotted by us, and we take immediate measures for it. We should go to lower altitudes, and in some cases, we add another buffering day for acclimatization.
Flexibility of the itinerary
Another importance we give in Manaslu Circuit Trek is our flexibility to the itineraries. While most companies can have a strict schedule and want to complete the trek, we put forth your comfort and safety and adapt our plans accordingly.
Not bound to the strict scheduling of the trek, we can have buffer days, for emergencies like altitude sickness. Weather and trail conditions are unpredictable, especially at the high altitude of Larkya La Pass. Our job as responsible guides that monitor your health, have alternate routes to avoid dangerous areas, and take slow paced treks until it’s safe.
Health issues aren’t rare while hiking. We have seen tourists have plenty of time to adjust to the altitude, while some were unwell and fatigued from the trek. For their comfort and safety, we avoid rushing the trek, instead have a slow paced one and recovery days if needed.
Final Say
At Radiant Treks, we have faced numerous issues with our clients, whether it be fitness before the trek or sickness during the trek, we have always resolved it. Tackling the challenge at Larkya La Pass (5,106m) isn’t easy if you forget one of our guides. While we do make the trek comfortable, slight challenges make the trekking more delightful.
As we put first the safety of trekkers and then the accomplishment of the trek, we don’t mind adding extra buffer days for acclimatizing to have you safe and comfortable. Guides like us are well-trained and experts in navigating difficult terrains, which gives our clients peace of mind.
We have necessary essentials like a first aid kit for minor injuries, connection to local teahouses for the best facilities, and even for an emergency helicopter evacuation. A comprehensive packing list including layered clothing, hydration bottles, and snacks, trekking gear with boots and poles are checked by us. We know the languages spoken like the back of our hands, so communicating with locals for emergencies isn’t difficult at all.
Alternate routes and additional days in our itinerary provide you with the best flexibility. If there were any conditions of snow or stormy weather, or you just needed time for recovery, we have your back.
So, trek with us, with an expert guide side by side who will always have your safety first, assuring you have a peaceful and comfortable Manaslu Circuit Trek.
