The autumn climbing season on the eighth highest mountain in the world, Manaslu, begins today with a record 466 climbers from around the globe leaving base camp to attempt the summit. Representing 39 teams, these climbers have received permits for the 2026 season and departed the Manaslu base camp in Gorkha earlier this week. The recent numbers are the highest number of climbers on Manaslu, a testament to the growing popularity of the mountain as a destination for international mountaineering tourism in Nepal. This record year for Manaslu coincides with one of the busiest periods for high altitude adventure tourism in Nepal.
Record Number Of Climbers Set Off On Manaslu Ascent
According to the latest report, 342 men and 124 women have joined the season’s Manaslu expeditions. The climbers set off from the base camp following a traditional puja ceremony conducted by a Lama at the base camp, as per Himalayan tradition before the climbers advance toward higher camps and the summit. The ceremony signalled the beginning of the latest stage in the expeditions toward the 8,163 meter summit.
Climber support staff member Bis Bahadur Gurung said that the climbers should complete their attempts at the summit within the next two to three weeks, depending on how their expeditions are progressing and how the mountain condition is. The heavy volume of climbers and expedition companies that have set off from Manaslu base camp should generate enough activity to sustain the Manaslu area throughout the entire autumn climbing season, keeping the flow of mountaineers, guides, support staff and other expedition personnel high. Their progress is a large contributor to the autumn mountaineering activity for Nepal in the weeks ahead.
Manaslu Climbing Brings In Record Revenue
The record level of climbers has also brought in a large increase in government revenue from mountaineering permits. According to the Department of Tourism, the government has generated Rs. 212.448 million in revenue from Manaslu climbing permits this season, thus the number of climbers and the permit revenue figures are the highest recorded so far. These figures are a good representation of the volume of this year’s mountaineering activity on the mountain.
The revenue generated from climbing permits highlights the contributions of mountaineering to the economic footprint of Nepal’s tourism sector. Alongside the permit fees, large scale expeditions fuel a network of other tourism related services such as expedition operators, mountain guides, porters, accommodation providers, transportation services and other businesses that provide support climbers before and during their journeys. The growing influx of climbers is also spreading the footprint of economic activity from the mountain to those supporting its visitors along the expedition route.
Manaslu Boosts Nepal’s Mountaineering Appeal
At 8,163 metres above sea level, Manaslu in Samagaun of Chumnubri Rural Municipality 1 in Gorkha continues to be one of the main destinations for high altitude mountaineering in Nepal. The mountain was first summited on May 9, 1956, and has since become a popular destination for international climbers looking to gain Himalayan expedition experience. The high altitude climbing and surrounding Himalayan landscape has turned the Manaslu area into an essential component of Nepal’s adventure tourism offering.
The autumn season is of key importance for Nepal’s mountain tourism calendar, and the record figures highlight Manaslu’s growing appeal among international mountaineers. The gathering of hundreds of climbers in the region also fuels economic activity in the local communities and across the extensive tourism supply chain that supports Himalayan expeditions. The season is also essential to climbing operators and the various local services that support the visitors in the Manaslu region.
Record Season Puts Manaslu In The Global Spotlight
Manaslu’s 466 climbers set off toward the summit of one the most formidable mountains in the world. The high volume of this year’s expeditions will allow Nepal to spotlight its mountain tourism sector, and the services that support international mountaineering activities. The volume of climbers that will take place in the region this autumn is also a key factor in bringing an international element to the season, and to Nepal’s wider adventure tourism market.
The combination of record level participation and Rs. 212.448 million in climbing permit revenue will be crucial for the tourism activity in the Manaslu area this season. As the climbers make their way towards the summit this season, the mountain will continue to be a focal point of Nepal’s autumn adventure tourism season. The outcome of the expeditions will also impact the overall contribution these visits will have on the season for Nepal’s mountaineering and tourism activities.
