How acclimatization is built into the Manaslu, Kanchanjunga and Makalu itineraries
The short version
Every itinerary spends a fixed number of nights at set altitudes and includes dedicated rest days before the hardest crossing. Your guide carries a pulse oximeter and a standing evacuation protocol on all three.
The passes on these routes are long, cold days at high altitude, and there is no easy way out partway through. We do not rely on fitness alone. Each itinerary is built so your body spends time at height before it has to cross.
Climb high, sleep low
On rest days there is an optional side hike that takes you higher than the village you are sleeping in, and you come back down to sleep at the same altitude as the night before. The extra altitude exposure helps your body adjust; sleeping lower lets you recover. The hikes are optional. The rest day itself is not.
Manaslu Circuit
| Day | Stop | Altitude | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Samagaon, rest day | 3,530m | Optional side trip toward Manaslu Base Camp (about 4,800m) or Pungyen Gompa, then back to Samagaon for the night. |
| 10 | Samdo, rest day | 3,860m | Optional climb toward the old Tibet trade route above the village. |
| 11 | Dharamsala (Larke Phedi) | 4,460m | Staging night directly below the pass, so pass day is shorter. |
| 12 | Larkya La to Bimtang | 5,106m / 3,720m | 8–9 hours, starting by headlamp to clear the pass before afternoon wind. |
Kanchanjunga
| Day | Stop | Altitude | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Ghunsa, rest day | 3,595m | Optional climb to the ridge above the village. |
| 11 | Khambachen, rest day | 4,050m | Optional side hike toward the Jannu Base Camp trail. |
| 13 | Lhonak to Pangpema and back | 4,780m / 5,140m | Out and back to North Base Camp, returning to Lhonak to sleep. This works as built-in rest. |
| 15 | Ghunsa to Cheram | 3,870m | The Sele La complex: three linked passes above 4,200m, scheduled with a weather buffer day. |
Makalu Base Camp
| Day | Stop | Altitude | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Khongma Danda, rest day | 3,560m | Optional short hike toward the ridge above camp. |
| 11 | Langmale Kharka, rest day | 4,410m | Optional climb toward the moraine above camp. |
| 14 | Makalu Base Camp, exploration day | 4,870m | A full day at base camp with an optional viewpoint climb, before the return journey. |
| 8 & 16 | Shipton La complex | about 4,170m | Crossed in one push on the way in and again on the way out. |
What your guide checks
On all three routes your guide carries a first aid kit, a pulse oximeter and a standing evacuation protocol. On Manaslu, altitude is checked and logged at every stop above 3,000m. On Kanchanjunga, an assistant guide joins the team above Ghunsa for the more demanding upper sections.
We only attempt the Sele La complex and the Shipton La complex with a clear forecast, because of the exposure and the route-finding demands in poor visibility.
What you should know before you book
- These routes have thinner rescue infrastructure than Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Circuit.
- Travel insurance with high-altitude evacuation cover is not included in our price. You arrange it yourself.
- If you plan to carry Diamox, talk to your doctor before the trip. Our packing lists say the same.
A note on advice
This post describes how our itineraries are paced. It is not medical advice. Anyone with a medical condition should see a doctor familiar with high-altitude travel before booking.
Frequently asked
How many acclimatization days are there?
Manaslu has two rest days, at Samagaon and Samdo. Kanchanjunga has rest days at Ghunsa and Khambachen plus the Lhonak to Pangpema out-and-back. Makalu has rest days at Khongma Danda and Langmale Kharka plus an exploration day at base camp.
What does climb high, sleep low mean?
On a rest day you take an optional hike that goes higher than the village you sleep in, then return down to sleep at the same altitude as the night before. The extra altitude exposure helps your body adjust.
What does the guide carry?
A first aid kit, a pulse oximeter and a standing evacuation protocol on all three routes.
Is high-altitude evacuation insurance included?
No. Travel insurance with high-altitude evacuation cover is not included in our price, so you arrange it yourself.