Manaslu Tsum Valley Trekking Permit Cost
Trekkers required three different permits, such as:
- Manaslu Special (available from Nepal Immigration in Kathmandu and Pokhara) - It costs $100 from September to November for the first seven days plus $15 for each additional day, and $75 from December to August for the first seven days plus $10 per additional day per person. Also, a minimum of two people and a licensed guide is mandatory to obtain the Manaslu Circuit Trekking permit.
- Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP) (Nepal Tourism Board, Kathmandu, and Pokhara) - It costs 3000 Nepali rupees per person, which can be obtained from the Tourism Board in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
- Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) (Nepal Tourism Board, Kathmandu, and Pokhara) - Also, it costs 3000 Nepali rupees per person, which can be obtained from the Tourism Board in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Transportation for Manaslu-Tsum Valley Trekking
As per the package, Nepal Trekking Experts offers transportation by bus (available early in the morning only) from Kathmandu (Gongabu Bus Park) to Machhakhola (9/10 hrs) and Dharapani to Besisahar by a local Jeep (4/5 hrs), then we switch to another bus or van to Kathmandu (6/7 hrs). The bus might be congested, overcrowded (especially if you are traveling during festival time), not tidy, and stop in many villages to pick up and drop off more people en route, but it definitely takes a couple of hours longer than a private jeep to reach the final destination. However, you can take part of the experience and enjoy it as well. Otherwise, we provide private transportation on request, which costs a total of $200 to Machhakhola and $250 from Dharapani to Kathmandu.
Manaslu Tsum Valley Trekking Meals
Consider that you are in South Asia in Nepal and going through unexplored, very remote areas to experience the country's unspoiled splendor. Typically, the menus at each tea house in the villages are rather similar. Overall, you can choose from a variety of local dishes like Dal Bhat (rice, vegetable curry, lentil soup, pickle that can be refilled as much as you like), fried rice, dumplings (Mo Mo Tibetan meal), Thukpa, any style of potato (boiled or fried), spring rolls, or western dishes like pasta, pizza, noodles, any style of egg, porridge, muesli, chapati, Tibetan bread, etc.
Manaslu Tsum Valley Trekking Accommodation
The Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek lodging is not as luxurious as in the Annapurna, Everest, and Langtang regions, despite the fact that the Manaslu region is a relatively isolated, lesser-known, and less-frequented trekking route in Nepal. The tea house trek can be done similarly to other well-known hiking routes. Typically, you have to share a toilet and bathroom, and each room will have two beds. You may purchase a hot shower for about 3/4 of a dollar, depending on where you have been.
Telephone, Internet, and Battery Charging
Telephone
Nowadays, most villages have phone service and mobile reception. NCELL and Nepal Telecom are our two major sim card providers. Nepal Telecom is recommended by NTE for better reception in the Manaslu region.
Internet
Certain villages and tea houses like Philim, Chumling, Namrung, Lho, Samagaon, Samdo, Bhimthang, and Dharapani have internet, but consider that sometimes it may not be reliable due to weather and other issues.
Battery Charging
Despite being in a very remote trekking region, most of the tea houses have either electricity or solar power. Each tea house charges a small fee for device charging. A fully charged device costs roughly 2/3 of a dollar in rupees. Carrying a power bank may be useful during the trek in the Himalayas.
Manaslu Tsum Valley Trekking Difficulty
While the landscape is rugged with numerous landslide areas and the trail is uneven, you may encounter difficulties for the first few days. However, you will gradually build muscle and adapt to the terrain. Because the trek begins at 930 m above Machhakhola, you will gain elevation gradually, which will aid in acclimatization. Almost two weeks of walking six to seven hours per day on uneven trails and crossing 5060 meters will not be easy for anyone. This is why we recommend trekking, hiking, jogging, gym, cardio, and other physical activities before visiting Nepal. But don't be discouraged; this isn't an expedition, and the Manaslu circuit requires no special training or prior experience. We have successfully organized people ranging in age from 8 to 75. This trek is suitable for beginners and family groups.
Porter
As per the tailored-made packages, porter is excluded. But if you would like to have porters, we will be more than happy to offer them. Normally, we provide a porter for two people, and he carries 20 kilos. A porter makes a massive difference in terms of avoiding carrying a burden of kilos and enjoying the beautiful surroundings. I am pretty sure you are fit enough, but if you ask me, I would recommend a porter since it makes a huge difference on the high altitude, rugged, and uneven trails.
Manaslu Tsum Valley Trekking Gear Checklist
- Raincoat, poncho, or combination jacket and trousers
- One down jacket or Gore-Tex jacket
- One down vest
- Windproof trouser
- Two pairs of hiking pants
- One pair of shorts
- Four pair T-shirts
- One fleece jacket
- One or two pairs of base layers
- Six pairs of hiking socks and a couple of pairs of thicker socks
- Two pairs of gloves—one pair light fleece, the other waterproof/windproof
- Undergarments
Footwear
- Ankle-supporting water-resistance trekking boots
- Flip-flops for leisure time around camp or one pair of sneakers
Other Equipment
- Sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm, a sun hat, a woolen or fleece hat, a first aid kit, a Swiss army knife (optional), a luggage cover, a headlamp, trekking poles, a gaiter (optional), crampons, water purification tablets or steripen, extra batteries, an adapter, a power bank, water bottles/camel bags/thermos, washing powder or multi-purpose soap, shampoo, a small towel, antiseptic hand wash, toiletries, female hygiene products, wet wipes, whistle, mosquito spray (optional), earplugs, reading books, playing cards, or chess
- A sleeping bag rated to minus 10–20 degrees Celsius extreme temperature depending on trekking seasons
- Backpack (50–60 liters)
- Daypack (20–30 liters)
Travel Insurance
It is one of the most important things you'll need overseas, particularly when trekking in Nepal. A policy that covers loss and theft, medical and hospitalization, evacuation from high altitude, and adventure activity coverage are among the basics you'll need. A wide variety of policies are available, so make sure to shop for the best possible options. You need to have a policy that's specific to the maximum height on your trek, bearing in mind that several companies place restrictions on that score—look closely at the fine print so that you're sure to get the right coverage, especially in the event of an emergency such as altitude sickness—helicopter evacuations are horrendously expensive.
Also note that most medical treatment and facilities in Nepal, such as hospitals, require payment upfront or approval from your insurance company, so it’s wise to choose a policy that pays the bills directly rather than lumping the burden on you and leaving it till later for the insurer to reimburse you.
Nepalese Currency and Payment
The currency of Nepal is the rupee. The ideal currencies for exchange are those of the USD, AUD, GBP, Swiss Franc, Canada Dollar, and SGD, as well as the Euro, any of which can be readily exchanged in either Kathmandu or Pokhara.
Credit and debit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted in major tourist-class hotels, restaurants, airlines, and larger stores in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Patan, Pokhara, etc. A surcharge of 3.5% is typically levied on all purchases or payments.
ATMs are also very common in Kathmandu and Pokhara, with Thamel being a particular area of focus for their use. Some ATMs only allow a daily maximum of Rs 10, 000 to be withdrawn, while others allow for as much as Rs 35, 000. A charge of USD 4 is usually applied per transaction, on top of which your bank may also apply a fee of its own.
Can I get an on-arrival visa in Nepal?
On arrival in Nepal, you can obtain the requisite visa at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu, or you can choose the alternative of applying for it at the Nepalese Embassy or Consulate in your home country before departure. The visa is also available at land-based points of entry such as Birgunj, Kakarbhitta, Bhairawa, Belhiya, Nepalgunj, Dhangadi, and Mahendranagar. The Kodari Pass is the access point from Tibet where the visa can be obtained.
While you can use different modes of payment at the visa fee counter, we advise you to bring cash in the following currencies: US dollars, euros, Swiss francs, pound sterling, Australian dollars, Canadian dollars, Hong Kong dollars, Singapore dollars, and Japanese yen. Credit card payments are also available nowadays.
As per a recent update, the visa fee costs you the following amounts:
- Multiple entries for 15 days—USD 30 or equivalent
- Multiple entries for 30 days—USD 50 or equivalent
- Multiple entries for 90 days—USD 125 or equivalent
- You should also have a minimum of six months of validity remaining on your passport.
- Visa extensions are available from the offices of Nepal Immigration in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
For more details, please go through the Nepal Immigration website or contact us.