A Mountain to know: Manaslu, Nepal

Elevation: 8,163 m / 26,781 ft

The eighth-highest mountain in the world, situated in the west-central part of Nepal in the Mansiri Himal

The name means "mountain of the spirit" and she's often considered (incorrectly) one of the safer of the fourteen "8,000m peaks" due to relative accessibility. The peak itself sits just off a popular local trekking route

Don't be fooled, the unusually warm climate creates rainfall and heavy snow making the route especially avalanche-prone and dangerous

If you're planning an approach, as usual in the Himalayas aim for Spring or Autumn to avoid the monsoon and keep an ear out for any government closures of other 8,000m peaks such as Cho Oyu. This can redirect crowds to Manaslu and cause trouble.

For anyone wishing to stay slightly lower (and safer) whilst still pushing limits, the Manaslu Circuit Trek is considered (rightly) one of the most striking in Nepal.

It's also off the beaten track, away from the so-called "teahouse treks" or busy routes to Everest Base Camp and along the Annapurna Circuit.