Manaslu or Cho Oyu: Which Is the Better First 8,000 m Peak?
By Blake Penson, Founder of ExpedReview · Everest summiter · Seven Summits climber · 20-year mountaineer · Industry expert
Last reviewed: 20 October 2026 · Editorial picks are ranked only by verified ExpedReview reviews; sponsors cannot buy a position.
The short answer
Cho Oyu has the better safety record (0.56% deaths per member against Manaslu's 1.27%, Himalayan Database), while Manaslu is cheaper and easier to access from Nepal. Summit rates are similar (44.0% vs 45.7% summits per member). Manaslu's median listed price on ExpedReview is US$16,850 versus US$29,000 for Cho Oyu, and only Manaslu has verified reviews.
| Key figure | What it is |
|---|---|
| 0.56% | Cho Oyu deaths per member (HDB) |
| 1.27% | Manaslu deaths per member (HDB) |
| US$16,850 | median listed Manaslu price (ER) |
| US$29,000 | median listed Cho Oyu price (ER, 9 listings) |
How do they compare on the numbers?
| Measure | Manaslu (8,163 m) | Cho Oyu (8,188 m) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expeditions | 801 | 1,367 | HDB |
| Members | 7,085 | 9,208 | HDB |
| Summits | 3,238 | 4,056 | HDB |
| Deaths | 90 | 52 | HDB |
| Summits per member | 45.7% | 44.0% | HDB |
| Deaths per member | 1.27% | 0.56% | HDB |
| Royalty, spring / autumn | US$1,500 / US$3,000 | Set by Chinese authorities (Tibet side) | Nepal DoT |
| Median listed price | US$16,850 | US$29,000 | ER |
Which operators have verified Manaslu reviews?
| Operator | Verified reviews | Avg rating /5 | ERTI | Base | Lowest price (ER listing or operator site) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Furtenbach Adventures | 8 | 4.95 | 4.76 | Austria | US$29,919 |
| Dream Himalaya Adventures | 2 | 5.00 | 4.86 | Nepal | US$14,300 |
| Pioneer Adventure | 2 | 5.00 | 4.26 | Nepal | US$16,500 |
| Elite Exped | 2 | 5.00 | 3.95 | Nepal | US$24,259 |
| Climbing The Seven Summits | 1 | 5.00 | 4.90 | United States | US$27,995 |
| Summitclimb | 1 | 4.80 | 4.62 | United States | US$16,850 |
| 360 Expeditions | 1 | 5.00 | 4.61 | United Kingdom | US$21,500 |
| Kobler & Partner | 1 | 4.80 | 4.30 | Switzerland | US$12,490 |
ExpedReview has no verified Cho Oyu reviews yet, so we do not rank Cho Oyu operators.
Which should I pick?
Pick Cho Oyu if you want the lower recorded risk and can accept Tibet permit uncertainty and a higher price. Pick Manaslu if you want a Nepal-based autumn climb with more operator choice. Either way, check the operator's oxygen plan and avalanche policy on the upper mountain.
What else should you plan for?
| Item | Figure or guidance | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Guide/Sherpa ratio | Guide-to-client ratios vary; a personal climbing Sherpa on summit day is standard; Imagine Nepal caps teams at 15 foreign climbers | Operator pages |
| Weather | Post-monsoon autumn window; summit winds and avalanche risk after heavy snow decide timing | General pattern |
| Acclimatisation | Two rotations to Camp 2 before the summit push (Madison 2027 itinerary) | Madison Mountaineering |
Frequently asked questions
Is Manaslu or Cho Oyu safer?
Cho Oyu: 0.56% deaths per member versus 1.27% on Manaslu (Himalayan Database).
Is Cho Oyu cheaper than Manaslu?
No. Median listed price on ExpedReview is US$29,000 for Cho Oyu (9 listings) and US$16,850 for Manaslu.
What is the Manaslu permit fee?
US$1,500 in spring and US$3,000 in autumn for foreign climbers (Nepal Department of Tourism, effective 1 September 2025).
Sources
- Himalayan Database, '8000m Peak Comparison' report (himalayan-database.climbing-history.org/reports/8000m-peaks), Nepal records.
- Nepal Department of Tourism, 'Updated Royalty and Insurance Provisions (effective from 01 September 2025)', tourismdepartment.gov.np/pages/mountaineering-fee.
- ExpedReview database (expedreview-prod): approved, verified reviews, operator listings and listed prices, queried 20 Oct 2026 with read-only SELECT queries.
How ExpedReview data works: counts are approved, verified client reviews on ExpedReview as of 20 October 2026. ERTI is ExpedReview's trust index, a summary of review evidence and operator conduct on the platform; it is one input, not a guarantee. Listed prices are each operator's lowest "from" price on ExpedReview and change often. Historical fatality and summit ratios describe past expeditions, not your personal odds.