Manaslu Trek and Annapurna Circuit Trek are two of the most popular trekking destinations in Nepal. Manaslu trek lies on the border of Nepal and Tibet whereas the Annapurna Circuit trek sits in the central western part of Nepal.
Manaslu Trek takes you to the remote villages of Nepal, taking you to the height of 5213 meters. Larkya La Pass is the major attraction of Manaslu trek as the pass is physically demanding and adventurous to cross. Many trekkers have a difficult time when trekking up to the Larkya La Pass.
Trekking to the Manaslu region is less crowded than the Annapurna Circuit Trek. the trek offers you with the views of the eighth highest peak in the world, Mount Manaslu along with the neighboring peaks such as Mount Machhapuchhre, Dhaulagiri and many more.
The trails to Manaslu follows the Budhi Gandaki river, walking through different mountain trails, taking uphill and downhill to the rhododendron forest. Overall, Manaslu trek is best for the ones who want to have a peaceful trekking experience without the crowd of busy trekking trails.
Annapurna Circuit Trek is also known as the Thorung La Trek which was opened to trekkers after 1977. The lush green valley, fascinating villages and the great Himalayas of the Annapurna region are some of the major attractions of the Annapurna Circuit Trek.
The trek leads you to dry Tibetan plateau surrounding with the majestic Himalayas such as Mount Annapurna, Mount Dhaulagiri, Mount Machhapuche and many more. Thorung La Pass is the highest point of Annapurna Circuit trek that stands at the height of 5416 meters.
Overall, Annapurna Circuit Trek involves exploring some of the beautiful villages of the region such as Chame, Pisang Manang, Mustang, Marpha, and Tatopani.
Major Highlights of Manaslu Trek
- Spectacular views of Mount Manaslu, Himlung Himal, and other neighboring peaks.
- Exploring the Tibetan and Buddhists culture and tradition.
- Peaceful trekking experience with less crowded trekking trails.
- Walking through some of the rural settlements of the Gurungs and Tamang.
- Crossing the thrilling Larkya La Pass.
Major Highlights of Annapurna Circuit Trek.
- Exploring the world’s deepest George, Kali Gandaki.
- Visiting the holy temple of Muktinath.
- A change to visit some of the fascinating villages of Marpha, Manang, Chame, Pisang, and Tatopani.
- Bathing in the natural hot water spring at Tatopani. Crossing the Thorung La pass at the height of 5416 meters.
Accommodation for Manaslu Trek Vs Annapurna Circuit Trek
During Annapurna Circuit Trek, you can find several teahouses and lodges along the way. As it is one of the popular treks in Nepal you can see many people following the route Annapurna Circuit.
During Annapurna Circuit Trek, you will have standard accommodation facilities. Teahouses and lodges will serve you better proving you with a twin sharing bed, pillow, blanket, mattress, and an attached bathroom. But, this depends upon the type of teahouse and lodge you choose.
Some teahouses and lodges also provide the facilities of hot showers, wifi and charging facilities. But, they will charge you if you wish to use them.
As you trek to a higher altitude, you can feel the decrease in the number of teahouses and lodges. So, teahouses in higher places might be a bit expensive than in the lower areas.
Manaslu trek sees a limited number of teahouses and lodges in comparison to Annapurna Circuit Trek. As most of the trails to Manaslu is remote, the accommodation facilities may not be proper. You may not have the facility such as hot showers during the Manaslu Trek. but, you can find a room for yourself with basic accommodation facility. The cost accommodation during Manaslu Trek is comparatively higher than the cost of Annapurna Circuit Trek.
Food and Drinks During Manaslu Trek Vs Annapurna Base Camp Trek
During the Annapurna Circuit Trek, you can find varieties in the food items. Some of the most common meals you can find during the Annapurna Circuit trek is the traditional Nepali food, Dal Bhat Tarkari, which means rice, cereal, and seasonal vegetables. Along with this, you can find items such as bread, egg, porridge, etc for breakfast. For dinner and lunch, you can have food such as pasta, noodles, pizza, sandwich, burgers, and many other varieties.
Along with the meals, you can also have varieties in beverages. You can get drinks such as black tea, white tea, coffee, hot lemon, lemon water, cold drinks along with alcoholic beverages. It is highly not recommended to take alcoholic beverages during Annapurna Circuit Trek.
During Manaslu Trek, the cost of food and drinks are higher because of the remoteness of the region. People trekking to the Manaslu region carry some snacks and dry foods so that they can hydrate themselves when trekking.
The cost of a meal during Manaslu trek ranges between 7-10 dollars. The food served in the teahouses of the Manaslu is very basic. In some of the teahouses, you can find Indian as well as continental food.
Manaslu Trek Vs Annapurna Circuit Trek Difficulty
Duration of the Trek
Annapurna Circuit trek is quite a challenging trek which require proper physical strength. The trek is usually 18 days long but depends upon the time of itinerary you choose. The total distance covered by Annapurna Circuit trek is 160-230 kilometers. This means that you will have to walk for about 8-15 kilometers a day. Walking continuously for 7-8 hours may be difficult and require a lot of physical stamina. Not everyone can reach the destination successfully. However, with proper physical training, the trek is doable.
Manaslu Circuit Trek covers a distance of 177 meters and can be completed within 10-12 days. During the Manaslu Circuit Trek, you will have to have a walk for about 6-7 hours a day to reach your destination on time. Many trekkers especially beginners face difficulty while walking on the rugged landscape during the Manaslu Circuit Trek.
The altitude of the Trek
The highest altitude of Annapurna Circuit trek is at the height of 5416 meters at Thorung La Pass. It is one of the most challenging parts of the Annapurna Circuit Trek. Many people face the problem of altitude sickness when reaching this height.
Similarly, the highest altitude of Manaslu Circuit Trek is at Larkya La Pass that sits at the height of 5213 meters. Crossing the pass is quite demanding and requires great physical strength. However, you do not need any technical training to cross the Larkya La Pass.
Both the Manaslu and Annapurna Circuit trek is high altitude treks. So, the problem of Altitude Sickness is common in both of the treks. During the high altitude treks, the amount of oxygen lessens as you move towards the higher altitude. This causes shortness in breathing. Other than this, some of the symptoms of altitude sickness are headache, fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and dizziness. Overall, altitude sickness has become a major difficulty during both Manaslu and Annapurna Circuit Trek.
Weather and Temperature
Weather and temperature make a great difference during the Manaslu and Annapurna Circuit Trek. The different season provides you with different weather and temperature. Trekking during winter is generally considered difficult by many trekkers.
During winter, the weather of the Manaslu region becomes chilly and the temperature in the higher altitude becomes harsh and reaches to minus. Most of the trails are covered with snow which makes difficulty while trekking.
Likewise, winter in the Annapurna Circuit becomes cold. The temperature of the region ranges between -2 to 5 degrees in the winter season. As you trek to the higher altitude the temperature lessens which becomes a difficulty while trekking.
Both the Manaslu and Annapurna Circuit Trek may become difficult during the monsoon season. Monsoon rain showers Manaslu and Annapurna region making the trekking trails wet and slippery. Walking through such muddy paths becomes demanding as there are chances of you slipping down.
Best Time for Manaslu Trek Vs Annapurna Circuit Trek
Trekking in Nepal is doable in every season and weather condition. But, if you have to choose the perfect time for both the Manaslu and Annapurna Circuit trek, Autumn and Spring would be the right one for you.
Autumn
Especially if you are a beginner, choosing the right time for trekking would be very important. Autumn falls in the month of September, October, and November. During Autumn, both the trails ko Manaslu and Annapurna Circuit remains favorable.
The daytime temperature of the Manaslu region during autumn ranges between 13 to 19 degrees. Likewise, in the Annapurna Circuit, the temperature ranges between 8-15 degrees. The mornings and nights are a bit colder and you can experience the decrease in temperature as you head towards a higher altitude.
Spring
Spring is the second-best time of the year for Manaslu and Annapurna Circuit. It is the premonsoon period where the natural beauty of the region reaches its maximum. Spring is the time when new plants grow. During Spring, you will walk through the forest covered with rhododendrons in both Manaslu and Annapurna Circuit Trek.
The weather and temperature of the Manaslu, as well as the Annapurna region, becomes favorable during the Spring season. The sky becomes clear which means you will have greater visibility of the mountains.
You can expect minimum rainfall during Spring. However, if you are planning on trekking during late May, it would be safe to carry some rain gear with you.
Manaslu Trek route Vs Annapurna Circuit Trek route
Manaslu Trek Route
Manaslu is a remote area where you will have to take to off-road route to Soti Khola, which is the starting point of your Manaslu Trek. It will take you around 6 hours drive to reach Soti Khola from Kathmandu.
From Soti Khola, you will trek towards the Machhakhola, walking along the narrow trail. From Machhakhola, you will cross several captivating villages such as Jagat, Deng, Namrung, Samagau Syange and many more.
Overall, Manaslu Trek involves walking through steep narrow trails, crossing various high passes and climbing uphill and downhill. The route to Manaslu trek is easily accessible by everyone.
Annapurna Circuit Trek Route
Annapurna Circuit Trek starts from a flight or drives to the beautiful city of Pokhara. It will take you around 25 minutes flight and 6-7 hours drive to reach Pokhara from Kathmandu.
The starting point of your Annapurna Circuit Trek is at Khudi. Annapurna Circuit Trek involves visiting many popular places of the Annapurna region such as Jagat, Chame, Pisang, Manang, Muktinath, Marpha, Tatopani and many more. Taking the route to Ghorepani Poon Hill can also be an option during the Annapurna Circuit Trek.
Conclusion
Choosing the perfect destination for trekking in Nepal might be quite difficult. It is because there are a lot of beautiful trekking destinations in Nepal that will provide you with a unique and wonderful experience.
Manaslu Trek Vs Annapurna Circuit Trek is equally exciting and challenging treks of Nepal. Annapurna trekking has always been the favorite among different trekkers. But, in recent years, Manaslu trek has gained a lot of popularity.
So, if you have decided about your next trekking destination, Index Adventure is there to help you. We can design a suitable Itinerary for both Manaslu trek and Annapurna Circuit according to your choice if you want to.
You can just contact us at Index Adventure if you have any questions regarding Manaslu Vs Annapurna Circuit Trek.
