Manaslu Circuit With Tsum Valley
Trip Overview
The Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley Trek, which revolves around the 8,000-meter top of Mount Manaslu, is one of the most popular treks in Nepal. This walk also includes Tsum Valley, a lesser-known site shielded from overtourism. Tsum is one of Buddhism’s hidden valleys to flee during troubled times. This valley became a haven for monks as tensions between China and Tibet increased. There are old monasteries and isolated settlements to be explored.
Mount Manaslu is the 8th-highest peak in the world, rising 8,156 meters. The first ascent was accomplished by a Japanese and Nepalese crew in the year 1956. Trekking in the vicinity of Manaslu offers views of the stunning Nepal Himalayan landscape. In addition to that, the Larkya La Pass offers breathtaking views of the Cheo Himal, Himlung Himal, and Himal Chuli peaks.
The Half Annapurna Circuit in the West can be compared to the Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley Trek in terms of landscape and terrain. There are now a number of teahouses and motels in the area, so a complete camping trip is not necessary.
Our 24-day Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek itinerary starts in Kathmandu, where we will take a breathtaking drive to Soti Khola via the most beautiful and bumpy road, in order to experience this amazing culture and unique landscape for the first time in our lives.
Transportation
Bus-Jeep
Per Day walking:
5 to 9 hours
Best Season
Oct-Dec / Mar-May
Group Size
2-14 Pax
Accomodation
Hotel/Tea House
Trip Grade
Strenuous
Max Height
5106M
Start/End
Kathmandu
Trip Highlight
- Visit Mu & Lungdang Gompas in Tsum Valley
- Travel a less-crowded Himalayan trekking route
- View beautiful scenes of glaciers, lakes, and peaks of the Himalayan region
- Live in Sherpa village and experience their traditional ways
- Get to taste the local cuisine of the Himalayan people
- Beginner-friendly trekking experience
- Visit one of the oldest monasteries in Nepal, Ranchen monastery
Download Complete Trip PDF
Detail Itinerary
On your first day in Kathmandu, our correspondent will welcome you and take you to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you may have free time to roam around the adjacent street of your hotel. In the evening we will have a tour briefing and Q&A session before going to dinner.Please have your questions ready to ask.Right after this tour briefing session we walk to the local restaurent for the first taste of the various Nepali cuisines available.Â
 Welcome Dinner
Hotel
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After breakfast, at about 9 am, we will take a city tour of Kathmandu, a medieval city, as time allows. We will visit Durbar Square, Swayambhunath (Buddhist hilltop temple), Pashupatinath (a famous Hindu temple in south Asia), and Boudhanath(The biggest Buddhist stupa in the world).
 Breakfast
 Hotel
You will drive through picturesque villages and cross the waters of the Trishuli to reach Dhading. From there, you proceed along the Dorandi Khola route north to Gorkha. Beautiful views of Ganesh Himal and Mount Manaslu can be seen from the route. Still, it will take us two hours to get from Arughat to Soti Khola, which is our target.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
7-8 hours drive
You will start your trekking of the day reaching the Budhi Gandaki River valley, passing by rice terraces on terraced farms. It will be quite the experience to traverse a cliffside slope at a distance via a wobbly bridge.
Travel past massive waterfalls to Khursane and arrive at the Gurung-populated village of Labubesi. Ascending the side ridge, the valley expands up to the riverbank. There will be a suspension bridge to cross before you get to Machha Khola village.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
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Our journey starts with a stroll across the suspension bridge, which leads to Tatopani, the location of a hot spring that is naturally occurring. You are able to bathe. After that, go along a route that leads to Dovan, where we'll pause for lunch. We will then proceed uphill until Yarubagar, then traverse the cantilever bridge to get to Jagat and the bridge that suspends over Yaru Khola.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
We'll go through various villages as we ascend towards Lokpa. Waterways becoming smaller, and the Syar River convergence is visible from the Tsum Valley. In order to reach Lokpa village, the very first settlement in Tsum Valley with a good view of the Manaslu mountain, we will hike on the right slope of the valley. It's actually a totally secret valley that was granted blessings by Padmashamva many years ago. From Lokpa village, you will have breathtaking views of Boudha Himal and Himalchuli.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
We will hike along the trail through a woodland to the south shore of the Siyar River. We are going to the north bank after crossing the Lungwaa and Sarli rivers. Proceed to Chumling village by gradually ascending from there.
There, you may observe the Tibetan Buddhist groups leading distinct lifestyles. To the left of the settlement, you will also see the Ganesh Himal range.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
We are now entering the core Himalayan region known as the Upper Valley. The main settlement in the Tsum Valley, Domje, is reached by following the trail as it descends down the Syar River. We keep going upward from Domje till we reach Chhokangparo. When the skies are clear, Chhokangparo offers breathtaking views of Ganesh Himal and Himalchuli.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
You'll follow a leisurely, level track to the north of Siyar Khola during the first part of the walk. The remote villages of Bursi, Pungdun, Lar, Lamagaun, Phurbey, and Chhule, will be passed along the route. In between the trek, you may also make stops at the Milerapa Cave and the Rachen Gompa. Before reaching Nile for the night, the route slightly rises.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
You will become more and more immersed in the customs and lifestyles of the people as we hike more into the Tsum Valley and gain an understanding of the local way of living. You will load up with your stuff and start your adventure by climbing after breakfast. In addition to being the highest peak in the valley, Mu Gompa is a Buddhist shrine.
A renowned Bhutanese monk named Drupa Rinpoche, who rested and prayed in the surrounding caverns, founded the monastery. In the shrine, you will see a lot of monks meditating and chanting. The vistas of the peaks nearby are crystal clear from this high height.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
Today's journey should be a little bit simpler as you depart from the Mu Gompa and go downhill in the direction of the Rachen Gompa, an important holy site in the Tsum Valley. By taking the paths that lead along the My Gomoa, we will reach the Gompa situated in the Shiar Khola Valley. Rachen Gompa is situated near the Chinese and Nepalese borders.
The Avalokiteshvara sculptures, which depict an incarnation of Buddha with 1000 limbs, at the Gompa grounds will amaze you. This happens to be one of the biggest towns in the Tsum Valley and is home to the Anis (female monks) from Ngak-Pa, a Tibetan tantrik sect.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
Today is going to be an experience of a long day. After departing from the Gompa, we will travel through both high and low-elevation areas as we journey back to Chumling. Ascending from Chhokung Paro, you will follow the path that leads to the Gho. The broad views of the Himalayas throughout this day's hike make it a very thrilling experience.
Proceeding forward, you will over a suspension bridge close to the Gho, advance into Rainjam Village, and then take the descending road that descends to the Tsum Valley, ultimately arriving at Chumling. You will savor the mouthwatering local cuisine and kind welcome of the local guesthouse at Chumling following an exhausting day of hiking in the area.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
To get to Lokpa Village, we will be traveling alongisde the Shair Khola riverbank. On a good day, the trail may pass past sizable herds of goats and sheep. Following Lokpa, the route falls as we pass the Budi Gandaki on a sturdy bridge. From there, it enters a small canyon and begins to rise steadily through the river valley, alternating between ascent and descent.Â
We travel via a forest of bamboo and over a river by a suspension bridge to arrive at Nupri, which is the Gurung settlement of Deng (1860m). This is where you'll join the second part of the journey, the Manaslu circuit. Before arriving at Deng, the route will cross over Buddhist stone pillars.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
We trek up to Rana Village (1,910m) from Deng and then continue on to Bhiphedi (2,130m). Before reaching Ghap (2160m), the trail begins to wander through and out of the ridges of the valley, crossing the Serang Khola.
After leaving Ghap, we ascend steadily through the woods of Rhododendrons, and the valley gets steeper. You will arrive at Namrung Village, which serves as the entrance to the Nupri area, after making a few crossings of the untamed rivers. The people that live in Namrung Village are descended from Tibetans.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
Once we leave Namrung, we walk through multiple entrances leading to the Mani Wall, numerous shrines, and a few settlements. After that, the valley widens, and Sho Village is traversed by our path. This town is well-known for its superb views of Mt. Manaslu and Manaslu North and is home to numerous yaks.
You will be able to view Manaslu, Himalchuli, and Ganesh Himal in the east as we ascend. You will eventually be able to view the two rows of homes that make up Sama Gaon's core area.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
Acclimatization helps your body adapt to the changing atmosphere, so we will take a day off and rest at Sama Gaon.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
Along the journey, you'll see old mani walls and stone pavilions, and then you'll cross a wooden bridge. As you pass through juniper forests, Manaslu offers you a view of the Larkya Glacier. You get to Larkya Phedi after a difficult trail climbs to the wall of a canyon close to the glacier.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
With a steady ascent, you will arrive at the top of Larkya La Pass(5106M), which offers close-up and unobstructed views of Mount Manaslu. After a while, you will come to a grassland and a natural spring where the valley widens to a more expansive meadow and a trail leading to the Bimthang village.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
The trail's first section descends from Bimthang to a glacier stream, over a wooden bridge, and then descends to a Rhododendron woodland. The route will go through an oak and rhododendron woodland before arriving at Tilje village after crossing the river at Gho. We will reach Dharapani by leaving the settlement and traveling down the Marsyangdi Valley's ridge to a lengthy suspension bridge.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
It is mostly off -road drive in a four wheeled double cab local jeep to Besisahar from Dharapani.It takes about 6 hours to get to Besisahar from Dharapani.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
6 hours jeep
You will then have a lengthy trip to Kathmandu from Besisahar. You will be dropped off at your hotel to rest and freshen up. You may spend the evenings dining locally or shopping for Nepalese arts and crafts.
Breakfast,Lunch
Hotel
7 hours drive
This is officially the last day of your Manaslu Circuit with Tsum Valley Trek. After morning breakfast at your hotel we would like to hear your feedbacks and trekking experiences so we can improve our service for future clients. Depending on your international flight time we will drop you off at the international airport.
Breakfast
What's Included In The Package
- All (international and domestic) airport transfers on a tourist /Private vehicle.
- Twin-sharing/double accommodation in hotel for 3 nights in Kathmandu including breakfast.
- Kathmandu valley sightseeing tour fees/Guide/Transportations.
- Twin-sharing guesthouse accommodation during the trek.
- All your standard meals during the trek (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner), with a cup of tea.
- Experienced, first-aid trained, government licensed, English-speaking trekking guide.
- All the necessary permits (Manaslu Area special permit, Trekking permit & Local authority permits)
- Porters during the trek for carrying luggage (1 porter for 2 clients with Max 22 kgs weight limit in total).
- Wages, accommodation, meals, gear, insurance for all staff.
- All administrative expenses and government taxes.
- Trip completion certificate by Avventura Himalaya.
- Evacuation assistance in case of emergency.
What's Excluded In The Package
- International air fare.
- Nepal Visa.
- Emergency Evacuation/s and medical treatments.
- Upgrade of accommodations.
- Travel Insurances.
- Emergency evacuation(s), Accidents, recovery & additional transport.
- Change in Itinerary due to cancelled helicopter flight or unavoidable delays on route i.e. landslides etc, extra or cancelled accommodation etc.
- Personal Expenses.
- Excess luggage above recommended levels.
- Some meals, all kind of bottled drinks, Internet services, hot showers etc.
- Tips for the guides, porters and drivers.
Fixed Departure Date For 2024
Essential Information
Before booking
- Choose the right trip, considering your health, physical ability, and experiences.
- Read the terms and conditions properly.
- Make sure the payment is delivered to ensure the final confirmation.
After Booking
High-altitude activities in Nepal are not just physically demanding, they are a test of your fitness. It’s not a suggestion, it’s a necessity to ensure you’re physically ready for these adventures. By committing to physical training, you’ll not only be prepared, but you’ll also be confident and ready to take on the challenge.
For Trekking
- For multiple days of trekking at high altitudes of over 4000m-5000 m, ensure you have trained yourself well. Box jump, circuit and resistance training, and endurance training like hiking, running, cycling, or swimming can be beneficial.
- Feed on the right nutritious food rich in protein, healthy fat, and carbohydrates.
- Keep yourself focused and determined, which helps to strengthen your willpower for the next challenge ahead.
International Flights arrangements:You are responsible for arranging the international flight ticket and travel insurance, which can cover emergency evacuation and medical treatment. Our package doesn’t include this service.
Route Map
