Kissing Manaslu Trek
Trip at a Glance
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Country: Nepal
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Trip grade: Strenuous
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Destination: Manaslu region
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Activities: Trekking
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Accommodation: Hotels/Tented camps
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Meals: Full-board on trek
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Transportation: Private vehicle
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Maximum altitude: Cherpe (3300m)
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Group size: 2 pax min
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Best Season: Mar-May, Sep-Nov
Mount Manaslu (8163 m), the highest peak of the Gorkha massif, is ranked as the eighth-highest mountain in the world. It is located about forty miles east of Annapurna, the tenth among the world’s tallest mountains. The name Manaslu is derived from the Sanskrit word “Manasa” and can be roughly translated as “Mountain of the Spirit”. Interestingly, an all-female Japanese expedition successfully ascended to the summit, making it the first 8,000-meter peak women ascended. The first survey of the peak was made by a Japanese expedition in 1952 and the first climb was made by a Japanese team in 1953. The kissing Manaslu trek begins from the middle hill of Besisahar. It will be a 12-day trip, where you get an opportunity to come astoundingly close….as close as you could almost kiss the mighty gem-Manaslu!
Kissing Manaslu Trek happens to be the brainchild of Mr Ram Kumar Adhikari, the managing director of Marron Treks. His sheer love for nature and indefatigable effort to bring the beauty of hidden trails to the limelight has resulted in the creation of this appealing trek package which is perfect for those looking to caress the mountains while trekking through the most unique landscape on earth. The trails are as easy as a walk in the park at one time and contrastingly leave you panting with its steep ascents at the other. As you advance further, you will encounter pockets of human settlements here and there. One among them is Bushme, a village swarmed with the people of the Tamang community. You can interact with the Tamangs and get acquainted with their culture and life patterns. You will have goosebumps when you ascend to the highest point of this trek, Cherpe (3300m), not because of the elevation, but the fascinating view of the majestic mountains you can behold from the top. Well, you might just get tempted to kiss the mountains…but we suggest just fantasising about doing so! The trails at some point demand a substantial amount of your calories as you will have no choice but to wearily walk up the steep rugged path while going and subsequently make a meticulous descent on your way back. The melodious hymn of the gorgeous Marsyangdi River, wooing close-up encounter with the snowy and crispy Manaslu, the tickly yet treacherous trails, a congregation of twelve lakes known as Barapokhari and the chinky eyes and the robust stature of the Tamangs, all are certain to be a part of your most treasurable memory. You cannot ask more for a short holiday!
Kissing Manaslu Trek Highlights
- Come astoundingly close to the mighty Mt. Manaslu (8163m)…so close that you could almost plant a kiss on its snowy white countenance!!
- Visit the sacred Barahpokhari Lake, an incredible congregation of 12 ponds
- Get a sense of the typical Tamang culture as you halt at the village of Busme
- Relish the excellent close-up views of the peaks like Boudha Himal, Khanguru, Pisang and Annapurna range from the village of Cherpe (3300m), the highest point attained on this trek
Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1400m)
Day 02: Drive from Kathmandu to Besisahar (760m/6 – 7 hours)
Day 03: Trek from Besisahar to Bushme (916m/3 – 4 hours)
Day 04: Trek from Bushme to Chitre (2130m/5 – 6 hours)
Day 05: Trek from Chitre to Barahapokhari (3200m/4 hours)
Day 06: Trek from Barahapokhari to Cherpe (3300m/5 hours)
Day 07: Rest day in Cherpe (3300m)
Day 08: Trek from Cherpe to Chitre (2130m/6 hours)
Day 09: Trek from Chitre to Besisahar (760m/7 hours)
Day 10: Drive from Besisahar to Kathmandu (1400m/6 – 7 hours)
Day 11: Final departure to your homeland or onward destination.
Upon arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu, you need to accomplish your entry/visa formalities. You will then be received by a representative from Marron Treks and transferred to your hotel in Kathmandu. Welcome drinks will be served and a short briefing will follow concerning the necessary formalities and your trekking itinerary. You can then spend the remaining time resting. In the evening you can stroll around the vicinity of your hotel just to get the feel of this wonderful city.
This day we drive towards Besisahar by bus. The journey takes about 6-7 hours. Driving along the blacktopped road, we can catch quick glimpses of Mt. Ganesh and Mt. Manaslu.
After breakfast, we proceed towards Bushme, a village with settlements of people from the Tamang community. The route is fairly flat at the beginning but later takes a steep ascent. On the way, enjoy the sight of the beautiful Marsyangdi river as well as some fascinating peaks, viz Himalchuli and Peak 29. We walk for about 3-4 hours until we arrive at our campsite in Bushme.
Trailing along the route to Chitre gives you a reminiscence of a nature trail as you do not encounter any human settlements on the way. This trek offers you the best views of the mountains like Manaslu, Pisang, Peak 29 and the Annapurna range. We walk for about 5-6 hours and then finally arrive at our campsite in the middle of a jungle. You will enjoy the night here as this is possibly the most spacious campsite we have in the entire trekking itinerary.
We will have to walk for about four hours to reach Barahapokhari from Chitre. This would be more like a pilgrimage rather than a trek because Barahapokhari happens to be a holy Lake and people come here to take a dip on the occasion of Janai Purnima. Although the first half of the route to Chitre is easygoing, the latter half could challenge you a bit with its daunting steep ascents. Pack lunch will be served on the way.
After walking for about 5 hours along the slightly steep route, we finally reach Cherpe. On reaching Cherpe we will have attained the highest altitude in this Trek. Cherie happens to be the viewpoint that caters for you for some of the closest and the most captivating views of the peaks like Boudha Himal, Peak 29, Annapurna Range, Khanguru and Pissang.
We spend a day more at Cherpe to rest and replenish all the energy used up in the long walks so far. We can also hike around the vicinity of Cherpe. This is the last point of our trek and we will now be making our way back to the point from where we started.
We make our way back along the steep downhill route. Excellent close-up views of the peaks like Boudha Himal, Khanguru, Pissang and Annapurna Range greet our eyes. Cheap to Chitre is a long walk which takes us nearly 6 hours.
Very akin to the previous day’s walk, we trail along a steep downhill route for almost 7 hours until we finally arrive at Besisahar.
The drive from Besisahar to Kathmandu is outstandingly scenic. Once you arrive in Kathmandu, you will be received by a representative from Marron Treks and then transferred to your hotel. You still have a whole chunk of the day remaining. So you can make the best use of your time going in for shopping. Thamel is a tourist shopping stop. It’s your last night in Nepal, and we want it to be memorable. In the evening, Marron Treks will host a farewell dinner featuring a range of delicious Nepali cuisines and a cultural program. You’ve toiled hard during the trek, so we want you to enjoy it even harder tonight.
Our representative will escort you to the airport for your flight back home. You can always extend your trip and try out our other exciting packages like Chitwan Jungle Safari, Trishuli River Rafting, Everest Mountain Flight, Bhaktapur Nagarkot tour etc. Please let us know about your desire for a trip extension so that we can make the necessary arrangements.
What is included?
- Airport pick-up and drop services.
- Hotel accommodations in Kathmandu with breakfast.
- Kathmandu/Besisahar/Kathmandu transfers by a local bus (Option: Private Vehicle)
- All trekking accommodation (in tented camps) with breakfast, lunch & dinner.
- Guide, porters, kitchen staff and helpers' wages for the trekking period.
- A comprehensive medical kit ( will be carried by the trekking guide)
- Personal insurance for crew members.
- Manaslu area Special permit & TIMS (Trekkers' Information Management System).
- Manaslu conservation area permit.
- All government and local taxes.
- Farewell dinner with a live Nepalese cultural program.
What is not included?
- International airfare.
- Nepal entry visa fee – Visa can be obtained upon your arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu. (USD30 for 15 days)
- Lunch & dinner In Kathmandu
- Personal travel insurance.
- Emergency rescue evacuation (to be covered by the client's travel insurance).
- Other expenses of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry, battery recharge, extra porters, bottle or boiled water, hot shower etc.)
- Cost incurred due to the addition of extra days or change in the real course of the itinerary because of bad weather conditions, political turmoil or any other unforeseen contingencies.
- Bar bills, alcoholic drinks & beverages.
- Tips for the trek crew (Tipping is expected).
Trip Info
Accommodation
While you are in Kathmandu, we opt to accommodate you in 4- or 5-star hotels like Hotel Royal Singhi (4-star), Hotel Manaslu (4-star), Radisson (5-star), Yak & Yeti (5-star), or similar. During the trek, your primary accommodation will be tents. These are typically high-altitude, double-walled tents for better insulation and weather protection. You'll camp in designated campsites along the route. These are chosen for scenic beauty, flat ground, and access to water sources. Your trekking crew will set up tents that include your own personal tent, dining tent, toilet tent and staff tent.
Meals
We never compromise the quality of food or the health of the trekkers as well as the crew members. Expect meals packed with carbohydrates and protein prepared by our trained cook to provide sustained energy for long trekking days. Think along the lines of porridge, pasta, noodles, spaghetti, French fries, soups, and dehydrated meals.
Acclimatization
Altitude sickness is a serious risk while trekking in the Himalayas. It's important to acclimatize properly by spending a few days at lower altitudes before heading higher. By spending time at lower altitudes before pushing higher, your body has time to adjust. Our trekking packages have enough acclimatization days planned where you'll be spending a day or two at lower altitudes, allowing your body to adjust to the increasing altitude.
Drinking water
You can fill your bottle with boiling water. To make water drinkable, you can use water purification tablets too. But, due to hygienic issues, you should avoid drinking water from taps, rivers, or wells in trekking areas.
Communication
Our office in Kathmandu is in constant communication with your trek guide. In Kathmandu, you can purchase a local sim card for communication purposes. At high elevations, the mobile signal might not be as strong, though.
Luggage
Our porters are paired with one trekker for every two hikers, and one porter can safely carry 30 kg maximum weight. Therefore, we advise you to fill your duffle bag not more than 15 kg with your belongings. You may carry a small backpack with your valuables and informational documents. The things you are not taking along on the trek can be stored in a hotel in Kathmandu free of cost.
Typical Trek Day
Mostly your trek day starts with breakfast at 7-8 am, followed by a 3-4 hour morning trek. Lunch break is around an hour, then you continue trekking to your destination for the day. After reaching the teahouse lodge, you can relax, explore nearby areas, and enjoy dinner at 6-7 pm. Evenings involve socializing, a trek briefing, and leisure activities before bed.
Travel Insurance
It is advised that you arrange your travel insurance before leaving your homeland. The main thing is to make sure that your insurance covers you for both- medical and evacuation costs. Having travel insurance with you makes your trip secure and hassle-free.
Our Guides
Guides play a significant role during the trek. They are the ones who literally decipher the trekking codes for you so that you can actually connect with nature, culture and people along the way. We have helpful and dedicated trekking guides who are very well-versed in the culture, life patterns and every single detail pertaining to the trek region you are traveling in. Thus, in the company of our professional Sherpa guides, your trek becomes not only entertaining but also equally informative.
Porter and Staff Care
When it comes to high-altitude trekking, porters and staff members make up a pivot. Marron Treks ensures that all the porters and staff members going to high altitudes are provided with adequate clothing and equipment. All our field staff are covered by insurance.
