On October 31, I will leave for my fourth trek in Nepal. This time, I will not be traveling to the Everest region but to the Manaslu Tourism Area west of Sagarmatha National Park.  The park is named after Mt. Manaslu, the eighth tallest mountain in the world at 26,781'.  This area is much more remote and less traveled and developed than the Everest region.  Unlike my previous treks, there is no equivalent to the airport in Lukla which allows you to fly up to 9,000 before starting your journey.  The Manaslu circuit begins in Macha Kola at 3,000' and it takes four days of trekking to get to the equivalent altitude of Lukla. Thus, the trek takes four days longer and covers roughly 100 miles. 

The trek profile looks like this in meters:

My specific schedule with the related times and altitudes are as follows:

2025 Manaslu Circuit Trek

10/31  Day 1     Leave JFK at 11:20 AM
11/1     Day 2     Arrive in Kathmandu at 4:30 PM
11/2     Day 3     Trek Preparation-Permits
11/3     Day 4     Drive to Macha Kola                                 9 hours           3,051’
11/4     Day 5     Trek to Jagat                                              6 hours           4,265’
11/5     Day 6     Trek to Deng                                              6 Hours          6,102’
11/6     Day 7     Trek to Namrung                                       6 Hours          8,730’
11/7     Day 8     Trek to Lho                                                 4 Hours        10,433’
11/8     Day 9     Trek to Sama Gaun                                   4 Hours        11,575’
11/9     Day 10   Acclimatization to Manaslu B.C.            7 Hours        15,750’
11/10   Day 11   Trek to Samdo                                            3 Hours         12,713’
11/11    Day 12    Acclimatization trek to Tibet                 8 Hours         16,404’
11/12   Day 13    Trek to Dharmasala                                  4 Hours         14,632’
11/13   Day 14    Trek to Bimthang via Larkya Pass       10 Hours      16,752’ (12,205’)
11/14   Day 15    Trek to Dharapani                                     7  Hours          6,102’
11/15   Day 16    Drive to Kathmandu                               10 Hours
11/16   Day 17    Free day in Kathmandu
11/17   Day 18   Return to JFK at 9:30 AM
                           Arrive JFK at 9:30 PM

Statistics (vs. Kala Patthar)

Distance roughly 110 miles (vs 55)
No helicopter use. Only long jeep rides.
11 trekking days (+37% more)
Highest altitude 16,752’ (vs. 18,519”)
Total altitude gain    13,701’ (vs. 9,117’)