Manaslu: A Trekker's Guide

The Manaslu trek is one of the finest and most scenically spectacular in Nepal. At 198km it is long, wilder and remoter than Everest and Annapurna treks, and needs about three weeks. Also covers Thonje to Jomosom (Manang area) via the Thorong La and exit to Pokhara via Bagnes Tal.

Armington, Stan: Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya (Lonely Planet, 7th ed., 1998) – this popular guidebook includes the Manaslu and Annapurna Circuit treks.

Baume, Louis: Sivalaya – the 8000 metre Peaks of the Himalaya (Gastons-West Col, 1978) – background history of climbing Manaslu, Annapurna, etc.

Bezruchka, Stephen: Trekking in Nepal (Cordee/The Mountaineers – frequently updated) – although rather too bulky to carry on trek, this book should be consulted by anyone planning to trek in Nepal for the first time. Sensitively written, the author’s chapter on ‘Interacting with Nepal’ gives lots of food for thought.

Chorlton, Windsor: Cloud-Dwellers of the Himalayas (Time-Life Books, 1982) – describes life in Nar-Phu, the remote region of Manang District.

Gilchrist, Thomas R.: The Trekker’s Handbook (Cicerone Press, 1996) – excellent advice for trekkers from an experienced trek leader. Written with intelligence and humour – but don’t let Tom’s tales of woe put you off.

Gurung, Harka: Vignettes of Nepal (Sajha Prakashan, Kathmandu, 1980) – travels in assorted mountain regions of Nepal by a distinguished one-time Nepali government minister.

Inskipp, Carol: A Popular Guide to the Birds and Mammals of the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACAP, 1989) – a slim handbook, useful to carry on trek.

Neate, Jill: High Asia – An Illustrated History of the 7000 metre Peaks (Unwin Hyman, 1989) – as its title suggests, useful background to several peaks seen from trails described in this guide, written by a noted bibliophile.

O’Connor, Bill: Adventure Treks in Nepal (Crowood Press/Cicerone Press, 1990) – includes mention of the Rupina La route, but not the full trek.

O’Connor, Bill: The Trekking Peaks of Nepal (Crowood Press, 1989) – describes routes for climbers on several peaks mentioned in this guide.

Paterson, David: Heart of the Himalaya (Peak Publishing, 1997) – essentially a collection of enticing photographs and essays that whet the appetite for trekking in Nepal.

Reynolds, Kev: Annapurna – A Trekker’s Guide (Cicerone Press, 1993) – route guide for the Annapurna region; includes trails followed by the Thorong La option described within the pages of the present book.

Snellgrove, David L.: Himalayan Pilgrimage (Shambhala, 1989) – scholarly account of his epic journey of 1956. Includes Manaslu and Annapurna regions.

Stevenson, Andrew: Annapurna Circuit (Constable, 1997) – a very readable narrative account of one man’s experience of trekking in the Annapurna region. Although he stays in lodges and does not stray into the Manaslu Himal, Stevenson’s observations of the landscape, local people and fellow trekkers will strike an accord with sensitive Himalayan travellers. Of particular interest to readers trekking the Thorong La option.

Styles, Showell: The Moated Mountain (Hurst & Blackett, 1955) – recounts an unsuccessful attempt on Baudha.

Swift, Hugh: Trekking in Nepal, West Tibet and Bhutan (Hodder & Stoughton, 1989) – gives outline detail of the Manaslu Circuit by the ‘trekker’s trekker’ – an idiosyncratic and highly enjoyable handbook.

Thomas, Bryn: Trekking in the Annapurna Region (Trailblazer Publications, 3rd ed., 1999) – describes treks in the Annapurna region.

Tilman, H.W.: Nepal Himalaya (Cambridge University Press, 1952 – now contained in a collection of The Seven Mountain Travel Books, pb, Diadem/The Mountaineers, 1983) – some of the best mountain travel writing available, entertaining and of high literary content.

Willison, Bert and Bourke, Shirley: People Within a Landscape (The Mountaineers/The Four Sherpa Trust, 1989) – although the Manaslu range is not included, the neighbouring Annapurna Himal is, in this photographic book which looks at the Nepal Himalaya from a trekker’s perspective.