How High Is Manaslu? Manaslu Height in Metres and Feet (2027)

Mount Manaslu is 8,163 metres (26,781 feet) high, the eighth-highest mountain in the world. It stands in the Gorkha District of Nepal, about 64 km east of Annapurna. Older books and websites often give 8,156 m (26,759 ft), but 8,163 m is the current figure from Nepal's government.

Manaslu, the "Mountain of the Spirit", rises like a white double-pointed tooth above the Budhi Gandaki valley. Trekkers with Majestic Trails Nepal walk right to its foot on the Manaslu Circuit Trek, and from Samagaun its summit fills the sky.

This guide explains exactly how high Manaslu is, why different heights appear online, where the true summit is, and how close you can get on foot.

Manaslu Height at a Glance

Here are the key Manaslu facts in one place, using the current official height.

Manaslu Height: 8,163 m or 8,156 m — Which Is Correct?

The correct current height of Manaslu is 8,163 m (26,781 ft). This is the figure in Mountaineering in Nepal: Facts and Figures 2018, published by Nepal's Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, and it is now used by the Nepal Tourism Board, Wikipedia, and most expedition operators.

The older figure of 8,156 m (26,759 ft) comes from earlier surveys and still appears in guidebooks, news stories and some trekking websites. The difference is only 7 m (22 ft), but it is worth knowing which number is current.

• 8,163 m (26,781 ft): The current official height from Nepal's government.
• 8,156 m (26,759 ft): The older height, used widely until the 2010s.

At Majestic Trails Nepal, we use 8,163 m as the main figure, because it is the most recent official height.

How Manaslu's Height Has Changed Since 1953

Manaslu's elevation has been published as at least four different figures in 70 years. Climbing journals from each era show exactly which number was in use.

The pattern is clear: early expeditions measured Manaslu lower, the 8,156 m figure took over from the 1970s, and Nepal's latest official data now gives 8,163 m. In 1953, the first Japanese team turned back at 25,427 ft (about 7,750 m), on a mountain they then believed was just over 8,000 m high.

Manaslu Height in Feet and Metres

Manaslu's height in feet is 26,781 ft, which equals 8,163 metres. The older figure of 8,156 m converts to 26,759 ft.

To convert any height yourself, multiply metres by 3.281 to get feet.

The True Summit of Manaslu: Where Is the Real Top?

The true summit of Manaslu is the highest point of a narrow, knife-edge ridge at 8,163 m. For many years, most climbers stopped at a lower fore-summit on the same ridge, a few metres short of the real top of Manaslu.

Why Climbers Stopped Short

The summit ridge is steep, corniced and exposed, with drops of thousands of metres on either side. The point where ropes usually ended was easy to mistake for the top, especially in cloud or wind.

• Distance: The usual stopping point is about 20 m (66 ft) along the ridge from the true summit.
• Height difference: About 3–6 m (10–20 ft) lower, depending on the snow.
• Terrain in between: A small dip and an intermediate top on a corniced crest.

What the Records Show

Summit researchers, led by mountaineering statistician Eberhard Jurgalski, studied summit photos for years. Their findings, reported in the American Alpine Journal in 2021, showed that the majority of people claiming a Manaslu summit for more than a decade had not stood on the true top. A 2016 review by the Himalayan Database found only 15 of 175 claimants it checked had reached the true summit.

• 1956: The first summit team did reach it. Toshio Imanishi wrote in the Himalayan Journal that they reached a sharp pinnacle, saw the true top about 35 ft (11 m) higher across a gap, and climbed down and up again to stand on it.
• 2010s: Hundreds of climbers each autumn stopped at the end of the fixed ropes on the fore-summit.
• 2022: A team of seven Sherpas fixed ropes all the way to the true summit, so climbers could finally follow the line to the real top.

Did you know? Manaslu is one of the hardest 8,000 m peaks to verify, along with Shishapangma, because both have a false summit separated from the true top by a sharp, corniced ridge.

Is Manaslu Higher Than Everest?

No. Manaslu is 8,163 m (26,781 ft), while Mount Everest is 8,848.86 m (29,032 ft), so Everest is about 686 m (2,251 ft) higher. Manaslu is the eighth-highest mountain on Earth, and Everest is the first.

Is Manaslu Harder Than Everest?

For climbers, Manaslu is usually considered one of the more achievable 8,000 m peaks, and many people climb it as preparation for Everest. But it carries a high avalanche risk, and its narrow summit ridge is a real challenge. For trekkers, our Manaslu vs Everest Base Camp guide compares the two treks in detail.

How Tall Is Manaslu Compared With the World's Highest Mountains?

Manaslu is the eighth-tallest of the world's 14 mountains over 8,000 m. It sits just 4 m below Dhaulagiri and 37 m above Nanga Parbat.

Manaslu's Rank Among Nepal's Highest Mountains

Manaslu is the seventh-highest mountain in Nepal, and unlike most of Nepal's giants, it stands entirely inside Nepal, not on the border.

1. Everest: 8,848.86 m (29,032 ft)
2. Kanchenjunga: 8,586 m (28,169 ft)
3. Lhotse: 8,516 m (27,940 ft)
4. Makalu: 8,485 m (27,838 ft) — see our Makalu height guide
5. Cho Oyu: 8,188 m (26,864 ft)
6. Dhaulagiri: 8,167 m (26,795 ft)
7. Manaslu: 8,163 m (26,781 ft)
8. Annapurna I: 8,091 m (26,545 ft)

What Does "Manaslu" Mean?

Manaslu means "Mountain of the Spirit". The name comes from the Sanskrit word manasa, meaning "intellect" or "soul". Locally it is also known by its Tibetan name, Kutang.

Manaslu's Height in Climbing History

Manaslu was first explored by Western and Japanese climbers in the early 1950s and first climbed in 1956. These are the key moments on its slopes.

• 1950: British explorer H. W. Tilman sees Manaslu from Larkya La and spots a possible route to the summit.
• 1953: A Japanese team led by Yukio Mita reaches about 7,750 m (25,427 ft) on the north-east face before turning back.
• 1954: Villagers in Samagaun, who blamed earlier expeditions for an avalanche that destroyed Pungyen Gompa, turn a Japanese team away.
• 9 May 1956: Toshio Imanishi and Gyalzen Norbu Sherpa, of a Japanese expedition led by Yuko Maki, make the first ascent.
• 25 April 1972: Reinhold Messner reaches the summit by the steep South Face, but two of his team die in a storm.
• 4 May 1974: A Japanese women's expedition reaches the top, the first time women climbed an 8,000 m peak.
• 12 January 1984: Maciej Berbeka and Ryszard Gajewski of Poland make the first winter ascent.
• 9 November 1986: Jerzy Kukuczka, Artur Hajzer and Carlos Carsolio make the first ascent of Manaslu East (7,894 m).
• 23 September 2012: An avalanche kills 11 climbers, one of the worst disasters on the mountain.
• 2022: Ropes are fixed to the true summit for the first time in years.

How High Can Trekkers Go Near Manaslu?

You do not need to be a climber to stand at the foot of Manaslu. On the Manaslu Circuit Trek, these are the high points you reach, with how far each one is below the summit.

The best place to see Manaslu's full height is Samagaun. On the acclimatisation day there, you can walk to Birendra Lake and Pungyen Gompa, or take a longer day hike of 7–8 hours to Manaslu Base Camp, where climbers start their expeditions. A few days later, you cross Larkya La, with Manaslu's west face rising beside you on the way down to Bimthang.

Manaslu Treks With Majestic Trails Nepal

We run three Manaslu treks, all with licensed guides and the restricted area permits the region requires.

• Manaslu Circuit Trek (15 days): The classic circuit, with an acclimatisation day in Samagaun for Birendra Lake or Manaslu Base Camp, then Larkya La.
• Best Short Manaslu Circuit Trek (11 days): The same route at a faster pace, for trekkers with less time.
• Manaslu Circuit With Tsum Valley Trek (20 days): Adds the hidden Tsum Valley and Mu Gompa (3,700 m) before the circuit.

Manaslu Height FAQs

These are the questions people ask most about Manaslu's height and the mountain itself.

How tall is Mount Manaslu?

Mount Manaslu is 8,163 m (26,781 ft) tall, making it the eighth-highest mountain in the world.

Is Manaslu 8,163 m or 8,156 m?

The current official height from Nepal's government is 8,163 m (26,781 ft). The older figure of 8,156 m (26,759 ft) still appears in some books and websites.

What is Manaslu's height in feet?

Manaslu is 26,781 ft (8,163 m). Using the older figure, it is 26,759 ft (8,156 m).

Is Manaslu higher than Everest?

No. Everest is 8,848.86 m (29,032 ft), about 686 m (2,251 ft) higher than Manaslu.

Is Manaslu harder than Everest?

Manaslu is lower and is often climbed as preparation for Everest, but it has a high avalanche risk and a narrow, exposed summit ridge. For trekkers, the Manaslu Circuit is generally more remote and demanding than the Everest Base Camp trek, though Everest Base Camp goes higher.

Is Manaslu hard to climb?

Yes. Although it is considered one of the more achievable 8,000 m peaks, climbers face avalanche-prone slopes, crevasses, extreme cold, and a corniced ridge to the true summit.

How many people have died on Mount Manaslu?

By 2008, Manaslu had seen 53 deaths against 297 ascents, and more climbers have died since, including 11 in the 2012 avalanche. That makes it one of the more dangerous 8,000 m peaks, mostly because of avalanches.

What is the true summit of Manaslu?

The true summit is the highest point of Manaslu's summit ridge, about 20 m beyond and 3–6 m higher than the fore-summit where many climbers used to stop.

What is the 2nd tallest mountain in Nepal?

Kanchenjunga, at 8,586 m (28,169 ft). Manaslu is the seventh-highest mountain in Nepal.

How far is Manaslu from Everest?

Manaslu is roughly 240 km west of Everest in a straight line, in the Gorkha District of central Nepal.

How high is Manaslu Base Camp?

Manaslu Base Camp is about 4,800 m (15,748 ft), a day hike from Samagaun on the Manaslu Circuit Trek.

What does Manaslu mean?

Manaslu means "Mountain of the Spirit", from the Sanskrit word manasa, meaning "intellect" or "soul".

Conclusion: Manaslu is 8,163 m (26,781 ft)

Mount Manaslu is 8,163 m (26,781 ft) high, the eighth-highest mountain on Earth and the seventh-highest in Nepal. The older 8,156 m figure is not wrong so much as out of date, and the real top lies a few metres beyond the fore-summit where many climbers once stopped.

Whichever number you read, the Mountain of the Spirit is one of the most impressive sights in the Himalayas, and you can walk right to its foot without climbing a single rope.