Manaslu was only opened to trekkers in the 1990s, and sees far fewer trekkers than Everest or Annapurna. Approaching the circuit via Rupina La means we’ll likely see no other trekkers the first ten days, and by staying high we avoid the heat of the lowlands and enjoy spectacular mountain views. The culture once over the pass is pure Tibetan, little changed over the centuries. While the second pass, Larkya La, is higher, it is generally felt to be easier, in part because the back side of Rupina La is often snowed in. The last few days overlap the Annapurna circuit, giving us a sense of what we missed in the remote hinterlands, and enhancing our appreciation of just how special this trek is. We first scouted this trek in 1977, and have been taking groups over Rupina La since 1984.