356 Manaslu Circuit Nepal
Show Notes
The Manaslu Circuit is a less-crowded trek in the Nepalese Himalayas that encircles Mt. Manaslu, the world’s 8th highest peak. Ranging between between 130–175 km depending on the choices you make, this 13-to-16-day route starts in Machha Khola and features some dramatic landscapes including the challenging 5,106m Larkya La Pass, suspension bridges, and showcases the Tibetan-Buddhist culture.
In this podcast episode we catch up with New Zealand hiker Jonty Crane about his adventure on the Manaslu Circuit.
Podcast Overview
In this podcast episode we find out all about the Manaslu Circuit in Nepal:
- Podcast and Episode introduction (time index 0:01:17)
- What have you been up to since we last caught up with you? (time index 0:01:58)
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- How did you end up choosing the Manaslu Circuit in Nepal trip over everything else on offer? (time index 0:02:35)
- 3rd most popular trek at around 15,000 people a year
- How did you end up choosing the Manaslu Circuit in Nepal trip over everything else on offer? (time index 0:02:35)
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- Provide an overview of the Manaslu Circuit (time index 0:04:49)
- A local ‘road’
- Typical gradient
- Provide an overview of the Manaslu Circuit (time index 0:04:49)
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- What time of the year was your trip and why? (time index 0:10:15)
- Eg weather etc
- What time of the year was your trip and why? (time index 0:10:15)
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- Was this an organised trip (time index 0:12:47)
- Who did you go with and why?
- Was this a complicated process?
- Bad roads the norm
- Was this an organised trip (time index 0:12:47)
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- Now given the altitude of the Larkya La Pass at 5,106m was there any issue for you, or for that matter your group, with altitude sickness? (time index 0:16:06)
- Importance of proper travel insurance
- Now given the altitude of the Larkya La Pass at 5,106m was there any issue for you, or for that matter your group, with altitude sickness? (time index 0:16:06)
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- From a logistics perspective how did you get to the trail head? (time index 0:19:43)
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- As a generalisation what was the vegetation profile like? (time index 0:20:25)
- Mountains
- Forests?
- As a generalisation what was the vegetation profile like? (time index 0:20:25)
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- Was there any animal life on this trail? If so, what? (time index 0:21:48)
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- Now this brings us onto porterage. What did you carry with you each day and what did you send ahead? (time index 0:23:00)
- What sort of accommodation did you have on this trip? (time index 0:24:10)
- Tents, teahouse, hotels?
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- Speaking of gear was there anything outside the standard hiking gear that you needed to carry (time index 0:26:44)
- Key pieces of gear
- Hiking gear
- Personal gear
- Approximate pack weight
- Solar panels and power banks
- Microspikes
- Speaking of gear was there anything outside the standard hiking gear that you needed to carry (time index 0:26:44)
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- And the all-important question what was the food like? (time index 0:28:30)
- All/some provided as part of trip?
- What sort of food?
- And the all-important question what was the food like? (time index 0:28:30)
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- What did your typical day on this trip look like? (time index 0:32:17)
- Take us through from the start of the day to the end of the day
- Get up time
- Breakfast
- Walk
- Breaks
- Average distances each day
- What time did you usually get to Camp at the end of the day
- What was a typical day as far as distance/altitude change?
- What did your typical day on this trip look like? (time index 0:32:17)
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- What was the temperature situation like on this trail? (time index 0:34:38)
- Maximums to Minimums
- Daylight hours
- What was the temperature situation like on this trail? (time index 0:34:38)
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- What was the people interaction like on this trip? (time index 0:36:406)
- Other group members
- Staff
- What was the people interaction like on this trip? (time index 0:36:406)
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- What were the highlights for you? (time index 0:39:13)
- What, if any, were the negatives with this trip? (time index 0:40:27)
- No bugs
- Road walking
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- After doing this walk who would you say it is suitable for? (time index 0:41:58)
- One final question
- What’s your next great hiking adventure? (time index 0:43:43)
- Final Thoughts (time index 0:45:36)
- Close (time index 1:01:17)
Jonty Crane, the face behind the voice (image by Jonty Crane)
Manaslu Circuit 1 (image by Jonty Crane)
Manaslu Circuit 2 (image by Jonty Crane)
Manaslu Circuit 3 (image by Jonty Crane)
Manaslu Circuit 4 (image by Jonty Crane)
Resources
The company that Jonty used for this trip
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Publishing date
25 August 2026