Join us on this epic trail-running adventure as we circumnavigate Manaslu, one of the highest mountains on the planet.
Located in western Nepal, Manaslu is arguably one of the most majestic mountains in the world. Our journey begins at 700m with a variety of terrain along the way which has everything from great canyons and lush forests that characterise the entry valleys. It doesn’t take long for us to sight the first snow-capped peaks, as we run through ancient villages and over the high mountain pass of the Lakya-La (5,160m).
The region is impressively remote with small villages sprinkled throughout the mountain valleys we visit. We’ll see yak traders on their way back from neighbouring Tibet which is just a handful of miles away from where we are running.
It’s not only the mountain landscapes that are impressive; the local hospitality also unveils itself in a spectacular and curious way for us to explore.
Trip Adventure Grade: C3
About
Gallery
About The Host
This retreat has been forged together from love and desire to explore magnificent places whilst keeping fit and achieving something special along the way.
The whole team behind this retreat has many years of experience in trail running and the adventure travel industry. We’ve run and explored everything from 5km to 100-mile endurance feats.
We’ve been incredibly lucky to explore the lengths and breadths of the world through our work, but our combined experience puts us in the best stead to share our running adventures with you, whatever your running ability.
Itinerary
Things to keep in mind
FAQ
What is the weather like?
Temperatures by day can be very warm, particularly due to the strong and direct sunlight at higher altitudes. It can get very cold overnight, early mornings and after dusk.
In October you can expect clear mornings with clouds developing in the afternoons; hot during the day, but cooling quickly once the sun goes down.
Please be mindful that it will be very cold at altitude once the sun goes down with temperatures hovering at 5 degrees and below (Celsius).
We send out a thorough kit list to help ensure you have everything you need.
Can you cater for dietary?
Kathmandu has a wide variety of restaurants, everything from Italian, Indian, American and everything in between. There is something here to suit all taste buds and dietary requirements.
Dhal Bhat is the national dish of Nepal which local people eat twice a day. Dhal Bhat is a wholesome and tasty meal, served thali style with rice, dhal lentils, fried local vegetables, and local chilli with a poppadum or cracker. Dhal Bhat is served almost as much as you can eat and you will continually be asked if you would like more of anything once your plate is empty.
In the mountains, Dhal will feature heavily. The good news is to save you from monotony local menus can be quite varied and you will find dishes like macaroni, noodle soups and even pizzas being offered in even the remotest of places.
For vegetarians, the mountains of Nepal are a wonder. Fresh vegetables grow everywhere, and meat is rarely offered given the importance placed on local poultry, cows and yaks.
Gluten and lactose intolerances can be catered for. Please do let us know so that we can plan appropriately for you in advance.
What are the trails like?
Not only are the mountains spectacular, but the trail runs through a great variety of terrain every step of the way – it is a wonder.
Lush forests and canyons characterize the entry valleys where we will spend our time traversing wide dusty trails at altitudes of 700-1000m. We follow along the banks of wide glacial rivers and undulating trails.
The terrain slowly becomes more mountainous the higher we go, picking our way through large boulder fields and dry plains where gigantic mountains – seemingly in touching distance – surround us. All the while the trail is very obvious as we pass through one charming village after the next.
Bear in mind this is Nepal, there is a lot of uphill travel involved in our journey which has been staged carefully to allow us to acclimatize and trail run as we go.
What does a typical day look like?
A typical day on the experience will see our porters leaving our teahouse each morning around 05:00, transporting your soft luggage to our destination for that day. By the porters taking our luggage means we can set out with our light packs, carrying everything we need and to make the experience more enjoyable. It's also worth stressing we salary each of our porters giving them a proper income.
On average we will be on our feet between 2-6 hours a day covering distances ranging between 10-18km.
We will leave our teahouse after breakfast to depart at 08:00. Leaving in the morning is the best time as the weather is almost always clear and the temperatures are lower. This is when the day is at its most comfortable and the morning light is perfect for photos.
We will make stops for drinks and use the local facilities as and when we need to, with a scheduled stop for lunch around noon. Our lunch stops will be a sit down to eat a hot meal or whatever you prefer from the local menu.
We will reach our daily destination around 14:00-15:00. Checking into our tea house with time to relax and freshen up. Explore local villages, have a briefing over dinner and be tucked up in our beds usually by 20:00, as is the way in the mountains, for us to get some well-deserved rest before our departure the following morning.
What about trail running at altitude?
Altitude and the potential sickness that can come about from it need to be taken seriously. Altitude sickness can develop when you are physically active at high altitudes without having become acclimatised to the lower pressures experience there.
Tolerance ranges widely from person to person. People who are more fit tend to have less trouble with AMS, but that said even very fit people are vulnerable if they ascend too high in a short time frame, without proper acclimatisation.
AMS can affect people at altitudes as low as 2,400m, but serious symptoms are very rare below 3,700m. At 5,000m the amount of oxygen available with each breath is only 55% of that at sea level.
As a matter of course, we have managed this experience carefully to ensure that appropriate levels of daily acclimatisation are included to maximise individual’s adjustment levels.
All of our guides and local staff are trained to recognise the signs of early-onset altitude sickness. Each day you will be given a health check, which includes the use of an oximeter to check your oxygen saturation levels, as well as checking your pulse.
All of our guides are highly experienced in working at altitude and know how to look after our team members.
It is vitally important that you share information about your health and any symptoms you may experience on other n expeditions. Failure to do so not only puts yourself at risk but your fellow team members as well.