Manaslu Advice from Mike Hamill
A Personal Welcome to Climbing the Seven Summits’ Manaslu Program from Mike Hamill
Manaslu is a mountain with a magnetic draw—not just for the awe-inspiring peak itself but also for its surroundings, with ancient trade routes crisscrossing the region, rich tradition emanating from the silent monasteries of Lho, and the tracks of the elusive Himalayan snow leopard, which seeks sanctuary in these quiet valleys. It’s a special mountain and a gem in the Himalayas, and we are honoured to be able to guide it.
I love seeing our clients enter the new realm of climbing 8000m peaks, and facilitating that safely and in good style is our top priority. I, along with all of the CTSS guides and team, will draw on decades of first-hand guiding experience to offer you the highest chance of success at an exceptional value. In fact, well over 150 summits have been achieved on 8000m peaks, beyond Everest, under my direct guidance, so we are well acquainted with the territory.
I also extend an invitation to Manaslu climbers to invite their friends and family to join them on this exotic journey by participating in our Manaslu Cultural Trek. You will have the opportunity to share many cultural experiences, as well as spend time at base camp. Friends and family will have the chance to complete the crossing of the Larkya-La pass and descend into the legendary Annapurna trekking circuit after bidding us farewell at base camp, allowing them to experience a high pass and a step onto two famous treks in one. This time together often makes these long expeditions more doable from a time-away perspective.
We look forward to sharing a great experience with you on Manalsu, and I look forward to communicating with you directly regarding the expedition options.
Best regards,
Mike Hamill
Owner and Director, Climbing the Seven Summits
Manaslu Training & Prerequisites
Experience Level
Climbing Manaslu requires serious fitness, the ability to perform well at altitude, a mindset to be away from home for six weeks, and a desire for rugged adventure travel. Climbers need to be experienced with solid cramponing skills and familiar with glacier and fixed-line climbing. Prior experience on high-altitude peaks is expected. If you want to join this expedition but are concerned with your experience level, we can work with you to get you up to speed before the climb. Please let us know, and we will be happy to help.
Manaslu is still a very remote and rugged place, with few of the creature comforts we have come to expect in the West. So, don’t plan on being pampered with smooth roads, 5-star tea houses, and blazing-fast internet. We strive to provide our climbers with all the creature comforts possible, but at the end of the day, this is remote Himalayan travel and true adventure travel.
Physical Training
You need to be very physically fit and able to dedicate time to climbing-specific training in the lead-up to your expedition. Being in top shape will also ensure you enjoy your climb, feel good throughout, and get the most out of the experience.
It is vital that your training closely simulates what you will be doing on the mountain. Traditional gym workouts or general fitness plans often lack targeted focus. Instead, you need to emulate long physical days (8+ hours) in the mountains
We recommend that you:
- Start specific mountaineering training at least three months in advance
- Train at least 4-5 days a week for an hour or more
- Focus on high-volume but low-intensity training
- Don’t forget to include cardio, strength training, and stretching in your routine.
- A good goal is to be able to comfortably climb 1,500 vertical feet per hour with a 40lb pack.
- Schedule a few weekends where you can spend two or more consecutive full days. Multi-day hikes that involve carrying a pack with significant elevation gains and descents are ideal.
Mindset
Mindset and mental preparation are integral to your success on any peak. You should be prepared:
- To be away from home/work for the duration of your climb
- Have a desire for rugged adventure travel
- Be open to receiving and deferring to guidance, support, and advice from your guides/expedition leaders (even if you are an experienced mountaineer)
- Be comfortable having open conversations with your guides
- Be able to work well in a team environment by being supportive and respectful of fellow teammates
- Be humble, respectful, and considerate even under pressure
Manaslu Expedition Beta & Route
Elevation: 8,163m
Duration: 42 days
Continent: Asia
Route: Northeast Face
Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced
Route Choice
We have chosen the Northeast Face (or the Standard Route) on Manaslu for the best summit chances and an opportunity to experience standing on top of the world’s 8th-tallest mountain.
Every expedition originates in Kathmandu, Nepal, a vibrant and culturally rich city, where the team will meet the day before for gear checks, a guide briefing, and to address any last-minute logistics.
Our team will drive in arranged jeeps from Kathmandu to Besishar and from Besishar to Dharapani on the way to Base Camp. On the way out, we will drive from Dharapani to Besishar and from Besishar to Kathmandu.
The trek along the Manaslu Circuit (one of the least visited trekking regions of Nepal) starts with four days of hiking up the Dudh Khola Valley through small villages to Larke Pass. After crossing Larke Pass (5,160m), we drop into the Sama Gaun Valley, which we follow for an additional three days to Manaslu Base Camp.
Our schedule involves both moving days, where we trek to the next village, and rest and acclimatization days in between. The slow ascent is essential to allow your body time to acclimate and gives you a chance to explore each village we stay in. On some “rest days,” we’ll take a small day hike up to points of interest to give our bodies new high points.
While each village has its own charm, reaching Samagoan (the town just below Manaslu) is one of the highlights of the trek. An important cultural landmark, Samagaon’s large monastery (or Gompa) overlooks the village. The lamas here are ordained through succession, where the eldest son becomes the next lama. The people of Samagaon are mostly of Tibetan origin and live much as they did centuries ago as subsistence yak and crop farmers. It’s like stepping back in time!
Each trekking morning, after waking up and having breakfast at the teahouse, it’s time to load your daypack and hit the trail. Porters and yaks will bring the majority of your gear to your next night’s stay, allowing you to trek light, carrying only what you need for the day. You may bring a specific day pack for the trek, or you can use your partially empty climbing pack.
Most days of trekking last between 4 and 6 hours on trail at a moderate pace, with the occasional day or two containing longer stretches.
Once your team has reached Manaslu Base Camp, you’ll settle into Base Camp life. CTSS goes to great lengths and enormous expense to make our Base Camp as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. That said, please keep in mind where we are—living on one of the biggest mountains in the world, days from the nearest road, with everything you see either carried in by foot or helicoptered in. This perspective helps us all appreciate the little things and shrug off the rest.
When rotations begin, we approach the mountain via the Northeast Route and follow a slow acclimatization schedule.
Many expeditions rush this process and suffer the consequences during the summit bid because of improper acclimatization. This is not our strategy. We take a slow, methodical approach with approximately 3x rotations up the peak.
Each foray up the mountain tags successively higher altitudes and prepares us for the summit bid while allowing plenty of time to rest back at base camp in between. It is at rest that your body makes the necessary physiological adaptations to altitude and acclimatizes, and we want you to be comfortable, well-rested, and well-fed.
Along with rest, we spend our time at Camp strategizing our weather windows, conducting skills training, and discussing the climb to ensure you’re fully prepared for the next phase of the ascent ahead. We find that much of the stress associated with a summit bid can be alleviated through early preparation.
We use four high camps on the peak. Climbing from Base Camp to Camp 1 follows gradual glaciated terrain before ascending steeply to Camp 1 at 5,500m/18,000ft.
The route to Camp 2 at 6,250m/20,500ft is more varied and technical, comprising some of the steepest climbing (40-degree snow slopes with a few vertical ice steps) on the route with fixed ropes for security.
The route to Camp 3 at 6,800m/22,300ft undulates up and over glaciated bulges on more moderate terrain with a few intermittent steep sections supported by fixed ropes.
The route to Camp 4, at 7,450m/24,450ft, presents some more strenuous climbing with a long, consistent ascent. To prepare for summit day, it’s important to rest, refuel, and re-energize as much as possible at Camp 4.
An alpine start on summit day will see you climbing for the first part of the day in the pre-dawn darkness. It is not overly technical with a long traverse across a plateau before dog-legging up the more precipitous summit ridge.
The climb passes the false summit and finishes on an exposed ridge up to the true summit at 8,163m/26,718ft. Having summited the world’s 8th-highest mountain, we return to Camp 4 for a well-earned sleep before dropping all the way back to Base Camp the following day.
Guide Tip: When you wake up on summit day, you likely won’t feel 100%, and that is normal. Your key assessment is if you feel “good enough”. Do you have the energy to climb for 16- 20 hours under your own power? Can you take care of yourself and make good decisions? What can you do now to help yourself in the future? Have you taken in enough fluids and food? Are your extremities cold? If so, take the few minutes to warm them up before starting the climb. Always address issues early and understand that feeling “good” is relative.
Our Manaslu expedition is fully supported by our incredible Sherpa team, who fix the lines, establish the route, prepare, and stock our camps. Each climber, therefore, only needs to carry what they will use for each day of climbing (and occasionally, on acclimatization days, carry a small amount of their personal gear to cache at the next camp). We have a high level of redundancy and safety. On the summit bid, you will be paired with a one-on-one personal Sherpa in addition to your guide (s).
Our guide and Sherpa staff are second to none. Our guides are the most experienced and tenured mountain leaders in the world. They traverse the Seven Summits and guide 8,000-meter peaks every season. You can trust them to make conservative and safe decisions in your best interest and work hard to see your goal come to fruition. Our team of Sherpas is simply the cream of the crop and is led by our sirdar, Tendi Sherpa. Tendi has notched a dozen Everest summits on both the south and north sides of the mountain, beyond many other summits worldwide. Tendi is an internationally certified guide and co-owns a logistics company based in Kathmandu, recognized as one of the best in the business.
Returning to Manaslu Base Camp after climbing Manaslu is a time of celebration and rapid transition. Basecamp will be buzzing. After checking in with the Expedition Leader, consider taking some time to decompress before entering the fray of questions about one of the biggest and most improbable adventures on planet Earth! Relax, smile, reach out to friends and family back home to share your unique experience and let everyone know you are safe and well.
Soon enough, you’ll want to begin your exit from Base Camp by heading back down the valley, out to Kathmandu, and finally catching your flight home.
How to Choose The Right Manaslu Expedition
Researching and choosing the right expedition company to support you and help guide you through all logistics, as well as be there for you on the mountain, is essential. You want to do your homework so you feel 100% confident in your choice and can focus on the climb.
We encourage you to look closely at both the big picture and the small details. Consider a company’s priority on safety, the quality and experience of its guides, its reputation, and the level of care they provide.
Safety & Success
Your safety and success are the top priorities, in that order.
A climbing company should invest heavily and plan extensively for your safety.
We have an unparalleled safety record, and the well-being of our clients factors into every decision we make during expeditions. Although we like to stand on the top of mountains more than anyone, we believe that climbing is a round-trip endeavor, and getting you back to your loved ones safely is paramount. We take many safety precautions, including bringing multiple communication devices, high-altitude safety equipment, medical kits, and the highest-quality gear to ensure a safe environment in which to climb.
At CTSS, we prioritize the safety of our climbers by employing guides with extensive experience on Manaslu and around the world. By using the Northeast Face, we give you the highest chance of success and the best climbing experience available on the mountain.
With our expertise, experience, and infrastructure, you can stack those odds in your favor. We offer a longer acclimatization progression to ensure proper acclimatization and mitigate the risks of altitude sickness. Many guide services, especially local companies, rush their clients up the mountain to cut costs. We are deeply committed to our reputation for safety and success, continually striving to enhance our programs and maintain our hard-earned status.
Decision-making in the mountains is crucial, and our guides are among the best in the business. They have a hunger to summit whenever it’s safe to do so and have a proven track record. All of our programs acclimate conservatively to mitigate the risk of altitude issues and to give participants the highest chance of success.
Leadership
Look for guides who are seasoned experts with a patient, conservative, and well-planned strategy to give you the best opportunity for success. They should be adept at managing the team, able to draw on extensive experience, and able to “thread the needle” when it comes to picking the best summit window.
Our mountaineering guides and staff are second to none and will guide you through the many nuances of climbing Manaslu, which will allow you to be successful. From start to finish, we will work with you to make sure you’re as prepared as possible to reach your goal of standing on top of the 8th-tallest mountain in the world. Often, being able to troubleshoot problems before they occur can make the difference, and this is where CTSS’s vast experience becomes crucial.
Seven Summits Specialists
Climbing the Seven Summits is the world’s premier Seven Summits specialist. We focus primarily on the mountains of the Seven Summits, but Manaslu is one of our favorite peaks for preparing climbs on Everest. After decades of guiding in Nepal, we are well-prepared to create the perfect climbing experience for you. We love the diversity of the “Seven Summits” and the challenge of climbing them all, which is why we focus on these climbs and climbs to prepare you for these types of objectives.
Values & Philosophy
Does an operator have strong values?
This can sometimes be a little harder to identify, as it’s more of a feeling than a sales pitch, but you should get a sense of a company through its small interactions, care factor, attention to detail, corporate social responsibility, and responses to you.
Mountaineering can be high-risk and stressful, so pick an operator who has strong core values and a team mentality that aligns with yours. When things get challenging, you can rely on open lines of communication, knowing they will do what they can to support you.
It is this team cohesiveness that flows through to each climber and helps them stand on top.
Manaslu Travel Guide
Expedition Meets in: Kathmandu, Nepal
Continent: Asia
Currency: Nepalese Rupee
Population: 28 million
Official Language: Nepali
Seasons to climb: Himalayan Fall: September to December
Things You Need to Know:
Meeting Location:
The first day of your itinerary is your arrival day, meaning you can arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport at any time on that first day. You can spend this day settling in, relaxing, and shaking off the jet lag. Our hotel in Kathmandu provides very comfortable accommodations.
You will formally meet the team on Day 2 for Gear Checks and a Guide Briefing. On this day, your guides will conduct a compulsory briefing to review all the specifics of your expedition and climbing schedules, weight limits for porters, packing instructions for the upcoming week, and any updated logistics. If you have any questions, this is a great time to ask them.
Tourist Visas:
Nepal’s visa policy is relatively relaxed and straightforward. Citizens of almost any country can obtain a visa on arrival at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport or at any land border. You can also get a visa at the Nepal embassy or consulate in your home country.
For most of our expeditions, you will need a 30-day visa or a 90-day visa.
Tourist visa can be extended for a maximum period of 150 days in a single visa year (January – December)
Visa requirements can change at any time, so it is advisable to check with your travel agent or the nearest embassy for the most up-to-date information.
Getting There:
You will need to fly into Kathmandu on or before the official arrival day of your expedition. A CTSS representative will pick you up at the airport. Please advise us of your arrival time and flight number well in advance. If you experience a delay travelling, let us know immediately.
Domestic Transportation:
Your domestic transportation in Nepal is included in the cost of your expedition.
Money:
In Kathmandu, there is good access to ATMs and credit card facilities at most shops and restaurants; however, it is advisable also to have adequate Nepalese rupees and carry small denominations. Once you are in the Khumbu, access to ATMs is minimal, and while they can be found in the bigger hubs like Lukla and Namche, outages can be common, so it’s best not to rely exclusively on being able to access cash as you go. Responsibly carry adequate amounts of local currency for your needs and reserves for emergencies. We advise our clients in our team emails as to how much cash they should bring. USD is also selectively accepted..
Tipping:
Tipping has become increasingly common in Nepal in recent years, primarily due to the rise in tourism.
It is customary for your guides, porters, and Sherpa staff to receive a tip. To make this process easier, CTSS will collect and distribute the Sherpa Tip Pool fairly and advise you on the current amounts. In major tourist areas, hotels and restaurants often include a 10% service charge, which typically serves as a tip. In smaller, local eateries, it’s rare to see this, and then it is up to your discretion.
Adapters:
Nepal actually uses three plug types: C (two round pins), D (three round pins in a triangular pattern) & M (three round pins). Therefore, consider purchasing a reliable universal adapter that provides all the necessary options. Additionally, it’s essential to note that Nepal operates on a 230V supply with a frequency of 50Hz. If this differs from your home’s voltage, consider purchasing a voltage converter to prevent damage to your devices. For instance, the standard voltage in the US is 120V, and some older devices won’t handle a 230V supply.
Tap Water:
The tap water and river water in Nepal are unsafe to drink, so please use bottled water, purification tablets, or boiled water for drinking and brushing your teeth. Make sure you drink plenty of water. Your body requires more at altitude.
Personal Safety:
Despite perceptions, Nepal is a relatively safe destination for travelers, with a low rate of serious crime. However, you should still take sensible precautions.
Watch out for pick-pockets and bag-snatching, particularly in airports, on buses, and in popular tourist areas like Thamel, Sanepa, and Kupondol in Kathmandu. Avoid walking alone and refrain from carrying or displaying large sums of cash. Keep valuables in a hotel safe if possible. Behave in Nepal as you would at home, err on the conservative side in terms of dress and behaviour. Be respectful and always let your Guide know if you’re going to venture out and what your plan is. Generally, we prefer to travel and stay together as a team.
Vaccinations:
Consult your doctor or a travel clinic in your home country for the most up-to-date information on immunizations for Nepal and China. The recommended vaccinations are typically Diphtheria-tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningitis, hepatitis A and B, cholera, typhoid, and rabies. Malaria shouldn’t be a problem in Kathmandu or on the climb. If you plan to travel to lower-elevation areas before or after the climb, you should consider malaria chemoprophylaxis.
Manaslu City Tours & Nepal Extensions
City Tours & Nepal Extensions
Nepal is one of the world’s most popular destinations. With incredible landscapes and a rich culture, once there, it is genuinely worth seeing as much of the country as possible. We can seamlessly organize various fantastic customised excursions and extensions for you, either before or after your expedition.
Contact us for any requests so that we can plan them seamlessly for you.
Pre-Trip Full Day Kathmandu Cultural Tour – $250
Kathmandu is one of the world’s most exciting, culturally rich cities. Unique and overflowing with sights, smells, sounds, and tastes, it’s both chaotic and charming. It is a city of true contrast that needs to be experienced to be understood. During our Kathmandu Cultural Tour, an English-speaking guide will lead you through the best of the city’s history and culture.
Paragliding in Pokhara (Annapurna Region)
Take in the spectacular views of the Himalayas while paragliding over Lake Pokhara. Nepal offers some of the best flying in the world, with low-lying valleys, high, cold mountains, and natural rising thermals that you can share with the hawks! You can fly with world-class pilots in tandem or stay longer and benefit from their wealth of experience, and you can get your international license in Nepal. Spend a few days at the Lake and truly unwind with a change of scenery.
Trek the Annapurna Circuit or Sanctuary Walk
On a mission to tick off the best treks in the world? Why not take advantage of your fitness and experience the Annapurna region with either the Sanctuary Walk (slightly shorter and slightly lower altitude) or the Annapurna Circuit (somewhat longer and crosses the 5,416m Thorong La pass into the Mustang region).
Jungle Safari in Chitwan National Park
One of Nepal’s greatest drawcards, Chitwan National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that protects 932 square kilometers of forest and grasslands. It is arguably the best place in Asia to view wild game, including horned rhinos, monkeys, deer, and over 500 species of bears. If you are lucky, you may even spot a leopard, sloth, elephant, or even the elusive Bengal tiger!
Visit the Upper Mustang
Trekking in the Upper Mustang is a rare privilege, and it has only been open to non-Nepali for over 15 years. Here, you will experience the way of life of true mountain people, who for hundreds of years had minimal contact with the rest of Nepal and retained their rich cultural heritage. In many ways, visiting Upper Mustang is similar to visiting Tibet, as it is geographically part of the Tibetan Plateau.
Manaslu Personal Sherpa + Extra Oxygen
Personal Sherpa + Extra Oxygen
$12,995 USD
Having a personal Sherpa and additional oxygen is one of our most popular add-ons for its benefits and cost-effectiveness. It adds a level of safety and improves summit success.
One of our Sherpas will climb with you on each rotation throughout the entire expedition. Above Base Camp, they will help you stay safe, check your technical rigging, set a pace, save you precious energy by carrying most of your personal gear, and offer feedback about the climb. Having an attentive Sherpa in your corner can be invaluable on a peak like Manaslu, especially if this is your first time above 8000m.
Expedition Leader Mike Hamill and Sirdar Tendi Sherpa hand-pick our climbing Sherpa, who are the best in the business. They are all knowledgeable, kind, strong, experienced, respectful, and very proficient.
Combine this with extra oxygen, and you will not only be safer but also climb stronger, stay warmer, and mitigate your chances of frostbite. Running a higher oxygen flow rate at these extreme altitudes is highly beneficial and can be considered an added level of safety.
Manaslu Extra Oxygen
Extra Oxygen
$5,995 USD
All our expeditions allocate a very generous supply of oxygen. We plan to run an oxygen flow of approximately 3L/min during the day and 1L/min while sleeping. With the advanced technology of our hyper-efficient, state-of-the-art oxygen masks, this is usually more than enough. We give you three bottles, so the long story short is that you don’t need extra oxygen.
However, if you can afford it, we highly recommend it. Consider it cheap insurance. With the extra oxygen, you can run at a higher flow rate, which will keep you warmer, allow you to move faster on summit day, and reduce your fatigue levels, all of which contribute significantly to your safety.
Additionally, if you are delayed on the mountain for any reason (for instance, due to weather or traffic) or misplace your bottle, which can happen periodically, having the extra Os may save your summit bid.
The extra oxygen option includes an additional bottle delivered to the upper mountain (we will discuss the best strategy for using this extra oxygen). With the extra oxygen, you can run high flow (4 – 5L/min) throughout summit day and start oxygen at Camp 2 (vs Camp 3 on the standard allocation)
Please note that extra oxygen is non-refundable and non-transferable
Manaslu Accommodation Upgrades
Manaslu Accommodation Upgrades
Single Rooming Add-On
$1,250 USD
We are happy to arrange single-room accommodations throughout the expedition for you, including in Kathmandu and during the trek to Base Camp. This might be a great option if you snore or are easily awakened by others who do snore.
Having a single room en route to Manaslu Base Camp helps climbers stay healthy and adds a bit of comfort and personal space that can go a long way on such a long expedition. Once at Base Camp, you will have a standard tent to spread out in. Please note that tent accommodations above Base Camp are double-occupancy for safety and warmth.
Please note that tent accommodations above Manaslu base camp are double-occupancy for safety and warmth.
Manaslu Executive Add-On
$15,000 USD
Our Manaslu Executive Add-On is redefining the Manaslu experience from start to finish. By comparison, other expedition models are outdated, having undergone minimal changes since the inception of commercial climbing.
Climbers who choose our traditional service option will no doubt live in style and comfort. Still, those who choose our Manaslu Executive Add-On will live in unparalleled comfort and luxury—the best Manaslu has to offer throughout the entire expedition. This extra can be added to any of our climbing options. We firmly believe that comfortable, well-fed climbers perform much better at altitude and are more successful.
The signature piece of our Manaslu Executive model is our heated and humidified two-room personal house tents at Manaslu Base Camp. Your double walled house tent comes replete with insulation and carpeting, an entry way gear room with room to hang your clothes and a heated bedroom/study which includes a desk and chair to create a workspace that allows professionals and business executives to productively use valuable down time at base camp to continue to manage work obligations or to simply keep up with friends and family and update social media. Your house tent also features a heater, humidifier, overhead light, power and charging facilities, a garbage bin, a cot bed with mattress and pillow. We will even have your breakfast beverage of choice brought to your room each morning at the time you designate.
Please note that tent accommodations above Base Camp are double-occupancy for safety and warmth.
If you are short on time, consider combining our Manaslu Executive Add-On with our Manaslu Speed Ascent program to enjoy luxury and minimize your time away from home.
The Manaslu Executive Add-On is non-refundable, non-transferable, and suitable for single rooming. Couples can be accommodated at an additional surcharge of $1,995 USD
Manaslu Helicopter Options
One-way helicopter from Kathmandu to Samaguan: $3,500 USD
Many of our climbers say that one of the best experiences of their entire expedition is taking a helicopter flight back to Kathmandu, which provides an aerial view of the peaks they’ve been climbing and the mighty Himalayan range. It is, without doubt, one of the most scenic, adventurous mountain flights in the world.
Furthermore, while people initially think they will want to undertake the trek out, we’ve found that after six weeks on the mountain, the draw of civilization, reconnecting with family and friends, and enjoying that well-deserved beer can be irresistible.
Two-way helicopter in and out of Manaslu Base Camp: $6,995 USD
You can also take a helicopter into the mountain (this must be combined with our Speed Ascent program and pre-acclimatization in a Hypoxico tent at home), which can shave up to 10 days off your schedule if you are pressed for time. These flights require a minimum of two passengers.
Note for all helicopter options: If you would like to include a helicopter option in your expedition, please let us know BEFORE your trip so we can pre-book your flight and include this in your trip total. We cannot guarantee availability if you decide to add a helicopter flight during your expedition. Further arranging services from the mountain or at short notice may attract an additional service fee. All helicopter flights must be paid in advance, with no exceptions. Baggage weight limits apply. These options do not include medical, evacuation, and rescue helicopters, which will be organized for you in liaison with your trip insurer in the event of an emergency – this is another reason why good coverage in your policy is essential.
