Manaslu Circle

[Daniel]

I have not trekked this circuit, just commenting on the safety concerns. The maoist problems have been in the remote west and some in the Tarai. The Manaslu circuit is in central Nepal somewhere east/north-east of the Annapurna region. There should not be any safety concernes. May I add that the maoists have not harmed or threatened tourists.

[Andrees]

i think that for the Manasly circle you still need a trekking permit and your journey has to be organized by a trekking agency. In the last years you also had to take a liason officer with you. Ask for more details at some agencies, I am not very sure about the details. I have not been around Manaslu but I have spoken to many people. Some just organized it on the spot in Kathmandu within 3 days and no problems. They al liked the yourney very much, it must be a wonderfull trek. From my own experience in november I know that it can be very cold, so have extra warm clothes (e.G. down jacket) with you. I would also buy some strips of codeine sulpahate in Kathmandu, its simple the only drug that helps again the very hard wintercought wich nearly everyones gets when trekking in late november. As for the security, I think that on the trek you will not have problems, till now, not a single tourist was threatened. The most dangerous thing is still the danger of altitude sicknes and you should inform you properly and have some dexamethasone +diamox with you and secondly the bus drive to Gorkha (but the tourist buses are luckily not so unsafe than the local ones and this risk is not a new one).
Have a great experience Andrées

[raaj]

Dear Whitney
As andreas said you cannot just trek around Manaslu.It has to be orgnised thru an agency like mine and a liason officer from the authorities is a must.You are passing thru a pass over 5000meters so you have to be prepared for it.Should you need the itenerary and expected cost I can email you the details.Mind you it is an expensive trek and is better done with a group of atleast six very good freinds you know well.
regards Raaj