Manaslu is 8,163 m (26,781 ft), the world’s eighth-highest mountain, in the Mansiri Himal of the Gorkha district in west-central Nepal. Its name comes from a Sanskrit word often translated as Mountain of the Spirit. Base camp sits above the village of Samagaun at roughly 4,700 m.

Autumn, from late August into October, is Manaslu’s prime season, and the mountain is the most popular autumn 8,000er in Nepal. It is relatively straightforward for an 8,000-metre peak, well supported by commercial operators, and easy to reach, so many climbers use it as a first 8,000er or as preparation for Everest. In 2026, more than 300 foreign climbers are expected on the mountain.

Manaslu is often called a killer mountain locally, with more than seventy deaths recorded and a fatality rate around two to three percent in some years. The defining hazard is avalanche and serac fall, especially between Camps 2 and 3. Major avalanche disasters struck in 1972, 2011 and 2022, the last of which also claimed the ski mountaineer Hilaree Nelson.

For decades many climbers stopped at the fore-summit, a rounded high point just below the actual top, and claimed a Manaslu ascent. The true summit is a sharp, corniced knife-edge that is exposed and dangerous. In autumn 2021 a team led by Mingma G pushed to the genuine main summit and reframed what counts as a real Manaslu ascent, and reaching the true summit is now the standard many climbers hold themselves to.

The standard commercial line follows the Northeast Face, the route of the 1956 first ascent, from base camp through Camps 1 to 4 (roughly 5,500 m, 6,300 m, 6,800 to 7,300 m and 7,450 m). It is only slightly more technical than Cho Oyu or Shishapangma, on glacier and steep snow, but it is a long climb from a low base camp with serious objective avalanche danger. Climbers need solid fixed-line skill, glacier travel and high-altitude fitness.

Since a September 2025 change, autumn is Manaslu’s official high season, with a climbing royalty of about 3,000 US dollars per person, while spring was reduced to about 1,500. You also need a Manaslu Restricted Area permit and conservation-area permits, and climbing must be arranged through a registered Nepali operator with a licensed guide. Confirm current fees and rules with the Department of Tourism before booking.