Prince Khalifa of Bahrain climbs Mt. Manaslu

Kathmandu: The expedition team of Bahrain’s Prince Sheikh Nasser Mohamed Hamad Mohamed Ali Khalifa has successfully climbed the 8,163-meter-high Mount Manaslu.

According to the Seven Summit Treks, which is managing the ascent, the Prince reached the summit of Mt. Manaslu at 6:10 am on Thursday.

Earlier, an 18-member team of Prince Khalifa of Bahrain, including three British nationals, had reached Manaslu base camp on Wednesday after completing the 6,119-meter-high Lobuche mountain in the Khumbu region.

After a few days of practice, the expedition team climbed Manaslu.

The group is the first expedition team to Nepal after tourist activities came to a standstill last April due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This expedition team was given special permission by the Nepal government in the middle of the pandemic.

Other members of the expedition include three British nationals who have been instructors of the Bahraini royal family and members of Bahrain’s Royal Guards.

The team is accompanied by 50 highly experienced mountain guides, including four world record holders guides. Among them is Kami Rita Sherpa, who has climbed Mt. Everest 24 times. He has set three world records in climbing. The team also includes Mingma and Chhangdawa Sherpa brothers who have climbed all the 14 mountains above 8,000 meters and share world records. Similarly, Tashi Lakpa Sherpa, who is also a member of the team, is the youngest person to climb Mt. Everest without oxygen. Another member of the team, Sanu Sherpa, has also climbed all the 14 mountains above 8,000 in the world.

Prince Khalifa of Bahrain plans to climb the highest peak, Mount Everest, next season. According to Mingma Sherpa, chairperson of the Seven Summits, climbing Lobuche and Manaslu is a kind of training and practice for climbing Mt. Everest.

The Government of Nepal and the mountaineering sector have interpreted the visit of the Prince of Bahrain during the pandemic as a good sign for the restoration of the mountaineering and tourism sector.

The expedition team arrived in Kathmandu on a private plane and stayed in quarantine for seven days as per government rules and flew to Lobuche Himal by helicopter. On October 3, the expedition team successfully climbed Lobuche.

From there, they reached Manaslu base camp by helicopter again via Kathmandu.

Mingma, Chhangdawa, and Kami Rita Sherpa, who are affiliated with the Seven Summits, said that the climb has succeeded in making Nepal’s mountaineering more visible on the global stage and has given new hope to the tourism that has fallen into despair due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

All Photos by Seven Summits Trek Pvt. Ltd.