Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek

Place: Thamel

On the first day of the Manaslu and Tsum Valley Trek, you will arrive in Kathmandu. Our representative will meet you at the airport and take you to the hotel. In the evening, they will explain the plan for your stay and introduce you to the crew. You will spend the night at the hotel in Thamel.

Place: Thamel

Day two of the Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek is dedicated to crucial pre-trek arrangements in Kathmandu. Your trekking agency and guide will give you a comprehensive briefing, during which the itinerary, safety guidelines, local customs, and essential information about the trek will be thoroughly explained. This will allow you to ask any questions and feel well-prepared.

Our trekking agency will also complete the paperwork for your Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (MRAP) and the Tsum Valley Restricted Area Permit. To get these permits, you need to provide your original passport, visa details, passport-sized photos, and proof of travel insurance. These permits are required to enter these protected areas and can only be obtained through a registered trekking company.

Place: Machha Khola

The third day of the Manaslu circuit and Tsum Valley trek begins with breakfast in Kathmandu. Today, we will leave the capital and reach Maccha Khola. The journey to Maccha Khola is long and can be uncomfortable due to bumpy roads. The jeep offers more comfort and flexibility, while the bus is a cheaper option, although it is less restful.

Depending on your chosen vehicle, reaching the first overnight stop takes about 7 to 9 hours. The last few hours will be over a rough road. After reaching Maccha Khola, you will enter your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Place: Jagat

Today’s Manaslu Tsum Valley journey begins by following the Budhi Gandaki River upstream. After crossing the Tharo Khola, you walk alongside steep cliffs, waterfalls, and rocky gorges. You will also walk through occasional landslide-prone areas. You will then pass through the small settlement of Kholabesi before reaching Tatopani, a natural hot spring where you can dip your feet or relax for a moment.

Continuing onward, you will cross a suspension bridge over the Budhi Gandaki, pass through the village of Dobhan, and climb up a stone staircase to Thado Bharyang. From here, the final stretch takes us uphill to Jagat. Jagat is a beautiful stone-paved village and the official gateway to the Manaslu Conservation Area. We’ll register our permits at the checkpoint here. Overnight stay at a teahouse in Jagat.

Place: Lokpa

Today marks our entry into the restricted Tsum Valley region. After a short climb up to Salleri, you’ll walk along scenic riverbanks and cross the Budhi Gandaki on a long suspension bridge. The trail gradually opens up as we head toward Philim.

At Ekle Bhatti, the trekking route splits. One continues along the Manaslu Circuit, and the other diverts to Tsum Valley. We take the right-hand trail that ascends through dense forest and narrow gorges toward Lokpa, the first village in Tsum Valley. Lokpa offers some of the first wide-angle views of Himalchuli and Boudha Himal. This hidden valley is said to have been blessed by Padmasambhava, the great tantric master who introduced Buddhism to Tibet. Overnight stay at a lodge in Lokpa.

Place: Chumling

The trek ahead starts getting tougher from the sixth day of your Manaslu Tsum Valley trek. As you move forward, you will see beautiful sights like a deep gorge, the Lungwa River valley, and forests of rhododendron, pine, and juniper. Ganesh Himal stands out as the tallest mountain. Also, there are no villages along the route, so you’ll be surrounded by untouched nature and its mesmerizing beauty throughout the trek.

After a final uphill push through thick pine and rhododendron forest, you will arrive at Chumling. Chumling is the first major village in the lower Tsum Valley area and is the gateway to the Upper Tsum Valley. Upon arrival, we can also visit two nearby Buddhist monasteries: Panago Gompa and Gurwa Gompa. Chumling has only a few simple houses, and since you will get here by lunchtime, it’s a great idea to explore these monasteries before settling down for the evening. Overnight stay at a local lodge in Chumling.

Place: Rachen Gompa

Starting from Chumling (2,386m/7,828ft), the trek to Rachen Gompa (3,240m/10,630ft) takes about 6-7 hours and involves a gradual climb. Along the way, you’ll enjoy beautiful views of the Himalayas, including the Ganesh Himal range. The trail passes through small villages, allowing you to see the culture and way of life of the Tsumba people, who are closely connected to Tibetan Buddhism.

When you reach Rachen Gompa, a significant Buddhist nunnery established in 1936, you can explore its detailed murals, ancient Buddhist texts, and the calm spiritual environment created by the locals.

Place: Nile

On your eighth day of your Manaslu Tsum Valley trek, the trek takes place from the peaceful Rachen Gompa and descends to Nile village. Nile is the last village in the Upper Tsum Valley. It sits on the west side of the Shiar Khola River. You will stop here for a bit to rest and enjoy the beautiful views.

After that, you will continue your hike towards Mu Gompa. Mu Gompa is one of the most sacred points of the Tsum Valley Trek. It offers a glimpse into the rich Buddhist heritage of the area and breathtaking views of the mountains. After exploring Mu Gompa and the surrounding region, you will return to the Nile for the night. This day will be filled with cultural experiences and a sense of awe for the spiritual hub of the upper Tsum Valley.

Place: Chumling

You will hike down from the Nile, the last village in the upper Tsum Valley, to Chumling in the lower Tsum Valley today. This trek usually takes about 6 to 7 hours and covers around 12 kilometers. Walking down, you will see the plants becoming greener and more varied.

You will leave behind the dry landscapes of the higher altitudes. The trail goes through forests and along the Siyar Khola river, giving you enjoyable views as you enter the lower Tsum region and reach the friendly village of Chumling, where you will stay overnight.

Place: Deng

After leaving Chumling, you will have a long downhill walk to Lokpa village. The day 10 Manaslu Tsum Trek begins on a boulder hill where you can catch a glimpse of Sringi Himal in the distance. You will walk alongside the Shair Khola River, and the path will treat you to glorious views of Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, and other snow peaks surrounding the region.

Along the way, you will also pass over Ghatta Khola and trek through maize, millet, potato, and vegetable fields. Following the trek in a dry canyon, you will pass over a spot of bamboo forest to reach the Deng River and continue trekking along the bank of the Budhi Gandaki River to finally reach Deng village.

Place: Namrung

The eleventh day of the Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek is again exciting as you continue to go downhill. Today, you are on the Manaslu Trekking trail again. You begin the day by climbing up and then descending to the Budhi Gandaki River. You’ll walk through several small villages like Gaap, Rana Gaon, and Bhiphedi.

One of the main highlights on this day will be the stunning view of Shyaula Peak. After several hours of walking, you will reach Namrung, which has the best tea shops and hotels. The village is beautiful and offers a magnificent view of hills and valleys.

Place: Lhogaon

Today we will trek from Namrung to Lho. The trail climbs through a forest and passes barley fields and small villages like Lihi. From Lihi, you’ll get amazing views of Himal Chuli and Ganesh Himal. The trail then goes downhill to the Simnang Valley and crosses the Hinang River, where you can see the peak of Ngadi Chuli. After passing the village of Sho, the path climbs again through prayer wheels and forest trails. Finally, you will reach Lho.

Lho is a large and peaceful village on a ridge with stunning views of Manaslu mountain and the Naike Himal. In the evening, you can hike to a nearby viewpoint called Kani to watch the sunset over the mountains. The village also has a beautiful monastery called Ribung Monastery. If you wake up early, you can also enjoy the sunrise from Lho.

Place: Samagaon

Today’s trek from Lho to Samagaon is short and scenic. At first, you will pass through the peaceful village of Shyala. The views of Mount Manaslu are stunning throughout, which appear even more majestic as you get closer to Samagaon. You’ll reach the Samagaon village by lunchtime, giving you plenty of time to rest or explore.

In the afternoon, you can climb to the Ribung Gompa and its surroundings. You can also hike to Pungyen Gompa, which lies below the eastern face of Manaslu and offers a closer view of the glacier and surrounding peaks. You can also visit the nearby glacial moraine or explore a small cave near the monastery. If you’re tired, relaxing in Samagaon and soaking in the mountain atmosphere is just as rewarding.

Place: Samagaon

The 14th day of the Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek is an acclimatization day at Samagaon. Although it’s a rest day, you have a few great options for light exploration. You can go on a short hike to Birendra Tal, taking just a couple of hours, or a more strenuous hike to Birendra Lake, which takes 5 to 6 hours. Birendra Lake offers stunning views and great photo opportunities.

For a challenging option, you can hike to Manaslu Base Camp (4,880m / 15,748 feet) in about 7 hours to witness the amazing views of Manaslu Glacier and the surrounding peaks.

Place: Samdo

Today, you will move from Samagaon after spending a day adjusting. From Sama Gaun, it’s a short hike to Samdo. Further, the trail doesn’t have a steep uphill section. Samdo is an interesting village mainly inhabited by a Bhotia community that follows Buddhism. Once in Samdo, you can visit Samdo Peak or the nearby area from Samdo town. If you visit the peak, you will walk through the valley with grazing yaks and cross the Budhi Gandaki River to reach White Kani village.

Place: Larkya Phedi

After a good breakfast at Samdo, you will begin your trek towards Larkya Phedi, commonly referred to as Dharamsala. This section of the trek acclimatises you to the challenging Larkya La pass. The climb becomes steeper as we head toward the base of the Larkya La Pass. Along the way, we pass two streams and get our first close views of the Larkya Glacier. The path curves around the Salka Khola Valley and gradually ascends to Larkya La Phedi, also known as Dharamsala. This is a basic resting point with a stone shelter, not a full lodge.

At Dharamsala (4,470m), we rest for the night and prepare ourselves for the challenging Larkya La Pass crossing the next day. You’ll enjoy breathtaking views of the glacier and the mighty Manaslu along the way.

Place: Bimthang

This is one of the longest and most challenging days of the trek. We start early in the morning to take advantage of good weather conditions and avoid afternoon winds at the high pass. The trail climbs gradually over rocky terrain as we make our way to Larkya La Pass, the highest point of the Tsum Valley trek at 5,106 meters.

From the top of the pass, you’ll enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of mountains like Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kang Guru, and Annapurna II. After soaking in the views, we begin a steep and sometimes slippery descent toward Bimthang. We trek through glacial moraines and eventually reach greener pastures as we descend. After a long day, we finally arrive at Bimthang, where we rest and spend the night in a cozy teahouse or lodge.

Place: Dharapani

The eighteenth day of the Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek involves trekking from Bhimtang to Dharapani, starting the day with a rich breakfast at an elevation of 3,720m. You will descend by about 1,900m as you trek about 21km in about 8 hours. The trek begins with views of wide meadows and then follows along the Budhi Khola river. You will hike through the river and trek through beautiful rhododendron forests. In a few hours, you’ll arrive at Tije, also renowned for its apple orchards and local wine. It’s another hour’s trek from Tije to Dharapani, where you stay overnight in a tea house or a lodge.

Place: Thamel

On this day of the Manaslu circuit Tsum Valley trek, we will drive all the way. We start from Dharapani (1,820m) to Besisahar (760m) on a jeep covering about 220 km. From Besisahar, we will switch to a bus for the return trip to Kathmandu or Pokhara, which takes approximately 9 hours. We’ll stop for lunch along the way at a local roadside restaurant. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you will check into a comfortable 3-star hotel in the lively Thamel area for an overnight stay. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner at a traditional Nepali restaurant, complete with a cultural dance performance to celebrate the completion of your trek.

The final day of the Manaslu Tsum Valley trek starts with breakfast. After breakfast, depending on your flight schedule, our team will arrange your transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your journey home. We hope you had an unforgettable experience exploring the Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley, and we look forward to welcoming you back to Nepal again.