Accommodation and Foods during the Manaslu Trek

Manaslu is a less-explored trekking trail than the famousAnnapurna Base Camp and Everest Base Camp making it the unique and untamed region. The Manaslu Trek offers stunning beauty of the region including lush forest, whispering rivers, ranges of sub-tropical to alpine landscapes and breathtaking Manaslu. Manaslu Circuit is a moderately difficult trek that takes to an altitude of 5,106 meters at Larkya La Pass. 

As the trek takes you through diverse landscapes, remote villages and close outlook of the majestic Mount Manaslu, trekkers also wonder about the availability of accommodation, food options and its quality throughout the trail. This immersive Trek offers a unique experience with well accommodation and food that reflects the cultural and remote nature of the region. 

Here more details about the accommodation, food, drinks and services that you can expect from the Manaslu Circuit Trek:

Accommodation during the Manaslu Circuit Trek

Manaslu Circuit used to be a camping or tent trek but now, the time has changed. Trekkers will find enough tea houses and some basic guesthouses along the Manaslu Circuit journey. The locals established these teahouses providing basic facilities and modest services to the trekkers/guests. So, basically you will be staying at tea houses along your trip.

Teahouses or Guest house: Teahouse generally means a small kind of lodge which is run by local peoples with very basic and simple amenities. It gives the touch of remoteness and authentic feeling of staying in the himalayan, unmodernized region. In the lower region you may get a single room with an attached bathroom. But the higher you go, the more basic the accommodation becomes. 

Generally, the teahouses offer reasonably comfortable accommodations with a twin sharing room that is small and simple furnished with a bed, blanket, pillow and a small tea table. Though the rooms are small, it is very cozy and has comfortable beds.

Every tea house has a big dining area where the trekkers gather and discuss their journey every evening. The dining area has a fireplace used as a heater and to boil water. They use dry woods and yak poops to light up the fire which gives the proper vibes of a village and traditional heater.

Almost at every point of the trek, you will get comfortable accommodation with proper bedding and blankets. But in Dharmashala, there are very few teahouses with limited rooms due to the high altitudes. You have to share a room with around 7-8 people and there is no proper bed. You have to sleep on the mattress on the floor with a single blanket, in such situations sleeping bags will be a better and wise option.

Restrooms: Most of the tea houses have standard western style toilets and bathrooms with cold water showers. They also provide hot showers for an additional charge. But, the high altitudes have squat toilets, located outside the lodges. It is recommended to bring your own toilet paper and hand sanitizers, as there are minimal facilities.

Power Supply and Internet availability: The tea houses have hydropower electricity at lower regions and the upper regions use solar energy. The kitchen, dining area and rooms are lit with solar power. Though, there will be a lack of charging plugs and the dining area has a charging station where everyone can charge their phone, powerbank and torchlight which cost you extra. Somewhere in the tea houses offer charging plugs inside the room.

Teahouses in the lower area provide free WiFi, the WIfi coverage is usually weak. That’s why it's better to use mobile data in network available areas. You can buy an NTC or Ncell SIM card in Kathmandu, but we recommend you to get an NTC SIM because in Manaslu area there is more availability of NTC network than Ncell.

Food during Manaslu Circuit Trek

Manaslu Trekking offers a great opportunity to experience the authentic flavours of the Himalayan Cuisine. The Manaslu circuit Trekking trail has numerous locally owned tea houses that provide accommodation and food to the trekkers. Our ManasluTrek package includes  only three meals a day i.e. breakfast, lunch and dinner. The food offered in the tea houses has diverse menu items, so you can choose whatever you want.

The Manaslu Circuit Trek passes through several ethnic villages and the food offered there reflects the cultural and traditional cuisine of the region with both Nepali and Tibetan touch. You will find both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food options in the Manaslu Trek. Though we don’t recommend you to consume non-veg food items, as the meat at high altitudes strain your metabolism and it is not fresh which can cause digestive issues. 

As the Manaslu region is a remote area where there is no good mode of transportation, some food items are not fresh there. So, it's better to have fresh vegetables which are also healthy and provide your body with enough nutrients and minerals.  While trekking in Nepal, there are some Nepali foods that you must try. Here are some of the food items, you are suggested to try at least once:

Breakfast during the Manaslu Trek

Trekkers begin their hike early in the morning, so breakfast during the Manaslu Circuit Trek is served in the early morning from 6 am to 8 am. You will have breakfast in the teahouse where you spend the night. Watching the stunning sunrise and mountains and enjoying the delicious and warm breakfast provides an ultimate pleasure. 

Breakfast cost varies from $4 to $8 per person which depends on your choice of food and altitude.

There is various options for breakfast and some are mentioned below:

Pancakes: You will find several types of pancakes such as banana, plain, apple and chocolate with honey, jam or peanut butter.

Omelets: if you want to have something simple and light, you can go for omelette. You can customize it with desirable fillings like vegetables, local spices and cheese. 

Tibetan bread: It is the most like breakfast by the trekkers while trekking in the Himalayas. It is served with vegetable potato curry, honey, peanut butter or jam.You can add eggs, and cheese as per your choice.

Cereals: Cereals with milk, yogurt and fruit, and some porridge, muesli will be a great choice for morning light breakfast.

French toast: French toast is served with honey or jam  and cheese which is an effective way to start your day. 

Breakfast Set: The breakfast set usually includes chapati, tibetan bread, bread toast, boiled egg or omelette and hot beverages like tea and coffee.

Lunch/Dinner During the Manaslu Trek

Lunch after a few hours hike is crucial to recharge your energy store for further walk. Lunch is served in the tea houses along the trail from 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM. The menu is similar to what you find in many trekking trails in Nepal. You will have one or one and half hours for lunch break where you can rest for a while. 

And Dinner is provided at the end of the day at the tea house where you're gonna spend night. You will be having dinner at around 6 pm to 8 pm. The dishes served for dinner are similar to lunch, but you will find some additional food options. Since it is a cold night at high altitudes, dinner is served in the dining hall heated with a traditional firewood stove where every trekker gathers and shares their day activities. 

Since, the day hikes end at around 3 to 4 pm in the evening, you can have light snacks or ask the staff for a quick dish before dinner. 

Depending on the altitude, variety and portion of the food, the lunch and dinners come for $ 4 to $ 10.

Here are some list of food available for lunch and dinner in the tea houses:

Nepali Dal Bhat: Dal Bhat Tarkari is basically lentil soup, rice and vegetable curry (can also be meat or fish) served with pickle and papad (thin crispy wafer). It is the beloved staple food of Nepal that is taken twice a day. It is the most preferred food by the trekkers as it provides necessary energy to your body. In the Manaslu region, you will mostly get local, pure organic and delicious foods. It is the only food which you can refill often for the same price. 

Thukpa: Thukpa is a hearty noodle- based soup filled with vegetables, legumes, and meat that you can have for both lunch and dinner. It is a warm and satisfying choice after a tiring walk in the high himalayas.

Fried Rice: Fried rice is also a popular dish for trekkers who want to go with lighter options. It is usually served with vegetables, meat, eggs and plain as per your choice.

Momos: Momos is the most popular dish in Nepal and loved by almost every Nepalese and foreigners also. It is basically a steamed dumpling with the inner filling of vegetable, meat, paneer, potato and cheese. You can order momo with achar and also jhol momo (Momo with soup).

Chowmein: If you want to go for something familiar, chowmein is a great option. It is served with vegetables, chili, meat, and egg with the touch of Tibetan taste.

Pasta or Spaghetti: You can also have pasta or spaghetti made with vegetables, eggs or meat and seasoned with tomato ketchup. 

Pizza: Pizza is also available for lunch and dinner which is seasoned with yak cheese, some veggies, tuna, and meat. However, it is Himalayan style pizza and is not the same as in the city. 

Rice with curry: You don't want to go with a heavy course of Dal Bhat, you can also have plain rice with veg or meat curry.

These are the common food items available in the tea houses of Manaslu Circuit. The foods are hearty, simple and prepared to keep you energized for daily hikes. However, the food options are less in the higher altitudes than in lower altitudes. The availability of food items depends on the season you are trekking. 

Drinks During the Manaslu Circuit Trek

Staying hydrated is crucial for any successful and smooth trek. The Manaslu Trek takes you at an elevation of 5,106 meters (Larkya La Pass) where there is low oxygen level and your body needs more hydration. There are various drink options throughout the trail for hydration and warming up your body during the cold evenings and mornings.

Drinking Water during the Manaslu Trek

Amidst all, water is the primary source of hydration during the trek. There are abundant natural streams and water sources along the trail, but it is important to be cautious about the water quality. 

You will not have pure drinking water supply during the trek, so the tea houses will offer boiled or filtered water to their guests. Though the boiled water is offered for free at the tea house you stayed at, you need to pay a small amount of $1 to $2 for a liter of boiled or filtered water at the tea houses on the trail. You can also use purifying tablets or drop and use the natural stream water. It would be best, if you carry your own water bottle with an in-built filtration system. 

Hot Drinks during Manaslu Trekking

Hot drinks like Nepali black tea and coffee are easily available and preferred drinks during the trek. Having hot tea or coffee in the morning, after a tiring day is a soothing way to warm your body in the cold mountains. You can go for black tea, milk tea, butter tea, honey or ginger tea, masala tea, Tibetan tea, mint tea, green tea or lemon tea, there are various types of tea you get to taste. Except for tea and coffee, trekkers also love to drink hot lemon, hot chocolate, garlic soup, hot ginger honey which are best option to prevent mountain sickness.

Soft drinks during manaslu trip

Soft Drinks like Sprite, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Fanta, Red bull are available in the lower elevation. You can use these soft drinks to quench your thirst. Due to the unavailability of transportation, these kinds of drinks should be carried by local people which makes it little more expensive than in the city. However, we don't recommend hikers to have those drinks, as it makes your body dehydrated.

Alcoholic Beverages during Manaslu Circuit Trekking

Manaslu is a remote region, so it is hard to bring branded alcohol in the higher altitudes. People of the Manaslu region produced local wines having unique flavour and their own cultural value. Local wine called raksi and some beer, rum, whiskey and vodka are available. But it is highly not recommended to drink alcoholic products in the higher elevations which dehydrates your body and increases the risk of altitude sickness.

Conclusion, Trekkers are provided with enough food, drinks and accommodation facilities in the Manaslu Circuit Trekking. But you can't expect luxurious accommodation like in the Everest region. You can smoothly finish your trek with comfortable accommodation and various range of food options. 

If you require further information about the Manaslu Trek, you can freely contact us via mail info@adventurehikers.com, and Whatsapp (+977 9851311073). We will give our best to provide you with the true information and help you.