manaslu trekking without guide

You cannot Trek Manaslu circuit without guide although it is close competitor to Annapurna Circuit – Manaslu Trek is now slowly emerging as best teahouse trekking trail in Nepal. Being restricted region one needs to obtain special restricted area entry permit and need to be accompanied by at least one government authorized license holder trekking guide. There is one alternatives of Manaslu Trek Without Guide that is to hire porter guide who can assist you for backpack up to 10 -12 kg and posses trekking guide license. I have seen many of trek operator published that freelance guide can’t issue the permits; they are right in some sense. What I had read is some blog state freelance guide can issue permit for Everest, Annapurna and Langtang but not for Manaslu and other restricted region like Upper Mustang, Kanchenjunga and Tsum Valley. My question to them is how does freelance trekking guide like me issue permits for Everest and Annapurna then?? I bet they don’t have an answer because we take help of some local trekking agencies while issuing the permits only difference that exist is it is little bit complicated to issue the permit for Manaslu and Tsum.

That's me heading toward Manaslu Base Camp - On distance you can see a guy with red jacket. His name is Chandra Gurung and he is a Expedition Leader for Everest and Manaslu

All paper is needed to issue the permit like tax clearance, foreign exchange paper, crew member’s insurance and authorized by Trekking Agency Association of Nepal (TAAN). The main problem there is issue of personal insurance of guide, which I found is the main reason why local travel agencies refuse to issue permit for freelance guides or charge more amount. But for my case I had my own personal insurance from one of the renowned company named Nico Insurance (P) Ltd. Nepal. For the first time I had been to Manaslu and Tsum Valley Trek as a Guide, he was from Netherland and we had explored the entire region within Manaslu and Tsum including Gumba Lundang Base Camp, Here is a link to my Manaslu Trek Blog where you can see my first experience in Manaslu in February, a winter adventure. Apart from that I had been to most of the other trekking region like Kanchenjunga, Everest, Annapurna and Langtang. I am also interested for peak climbing however I can’t lead climbing group because I am not authorized and skillful for leading peak climbing. I had scaled Island Peak and Lobuche in Everest Region, Yala Peak in Langtang Region and Pisang Peak and Thorong Peak in Annapurna. Now my to do list is Larke Peak in Manaslu.

Descending down to Birendra Lake from Manaslu Base. Tasha and Me with our porter Anil during our Manaslu Trek

So finally if you are looking to hire a guide for Manaslu you can contact me any time, I will get back to all those email when I got time and internet access as sometime I might be busy on trekking but don’t worry nowadays there is Wi-Fi all the way up to Samdo on Manaslu Circuit Trek. Even if I’m busy I can recommend you some other freelance trekking guide who are my colleagues and they are also specialize for Manaslu Trek.

See my Manaslu Trek Itinerary that I implement with my trekking friend, This is the shortest possible time span for Manaslu Trek. Soon I will post my another itinerary including Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek.

Keep yourself update about the Manaslu trek after earthquake.

15 Days Manaslu Trek Itinerary