Manaslu Circuit Trek with Tsum Valley - 18 Days

Our adventure begins with a scenic drive along a smooth blacktop road toward Salyatar, followed by an off-road journey to Soti Khola and Machhekhola. The first four hours take you to Dhading Besi, the district headquarters of Dhading (1,050 m), and onward to Taribesi, Sallantar, and Aarughat..From there, the terrain becomes more rugged as we transition to rougher roads en route to Machhekhola. Along the way, you'll enjoy ever-changing landscapes and stunning views, making this drive a memorable part of your journey. We'll spend the night in Machhekhola, serenaded by the soothing sounds of the nearby river.

How did you like the drive the other day? Well, from this day, you can completely forget another drive or flight for 16 days. Yes, on the second day, we begin the trekking adventure. On this day, the trekkers set off on a walking journey from Machhakhola to Jagat. This trek takes about 7 hours to complete and covers 13 miles or 22 km.

Regardless of the length of the route covered, the Global Adventure Trekking team, along with the natural beauty, makes it fun and adventurous for the trekkers. Throughout the day, amazing valley vistas, greenery, remote lifestyle, tradition, and locals accompany and encourage you. Once you reach Jagat, it's time to freshen up, have dinner, and take a sound nap.

Another day brings new adventures to the Manaslu Circuit with the Tsum Valley Trek journey. The walk on the third day takes trekkers to another beautifully settled village, Lokpa. Lokpa stands at an altitude of 2240 meters and is around 15 km, or 9.3 miles, from Jagat.

Before starting our walk to Lokpa, trekkers need to complete the ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit) and MCAP (Manaslu Conservation Area Permit) formalities. Starting with a decent ascent over a rocky ridge to Salleri, the route takes us to a descending trail to Sirdibas. On continuation, the valley widens up, and we reach Ghatta Khola. Moving a little more forward leads us to a suspension bridge, hike up to Philim. Philim is a massive village settled mainly by the Gurungs. Stop for lunch and then continue the walk towards  Chisopani and walk through the jungle, finally, to Lokpa.

After spending the night at Lokpa, our guides wake you up early in the morning, as we have to set off on a six-hour journey on the fourth day. The Manaslu Circuit with the Tsum Valley Trek route leads to a more remote part. Besides, the trekkers can also sense gradual changes in the temperature and weather. After walking through forests, rivers, waterfalls, villages, locals, and so much more for adventure, we enter a village named Chumling.

Chumling is a village of Buddhism. Yes, this small village in the Manaslu Tsum Valley region has a lifestyle highly influenced by the Buddhist religion. Along with that, the views of the mountains that you get from this village are also stunning. Moreover, you can also see colorful prayer flags and stone-carved mantras in the monasteries of this small village.

On the fifth day of the Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek, we finally entered the 3000-meter altitude. Trekking from Chumling to Chhekamparo can be a little more difficult than any other day due to the altitude barrier and temperature changes. Amazing views of the Ganesh Himal and the overall valley make the journey somehow soothing and easy for the trekkers.

Abundant beauty follows us throughout the day as we pass through different suspension bridges, villages, monasteries, and much more. Keeping a slow pace is the best way to make the trek even more comfortable. Passing through Rainjam across Serpu Khola we climb for over two hours on a well-graded but exposed track to upper Tsum and the joint villages of Chokhangparo, stone houses with a few iron roofs nestled under cliffs. Chhekamparo is situated on flat land and consists of 2 settlements, Chokhang and Paro. You will have the best view of Himchuli (7,893 m.) and Ganesh Himal (7,140 m.). 

Today's journey begins as the trekkers have their breakfast in the village and are completely ready. We make the walk a little more free and effortless, as there won't be much to walk. We head east through small villages and pass a local school. The magnificent view here pauses our trekking, and we stop for the honor of the amazing nature. Gradually climbing over a ridge of Chortens, we pass Lama Gaon (3,202m.) through the flat fields, looking across the extensive crops and river to the huge courtyard of the Rachen Gompa/Nunnery Gompa (3,240 m.)

Besides, this part of the Tsum Valley Trek with Manaslu Circuit offers an opportunity to interact with the friendly locals who speak Tsumba, the Tibetan language. We can also explore the town before crossing the Shiyar Khola, pass through the hamlets of Phurbe (3,251 m.) and Pangdun (3,258 m.), and pass an unusual round stupa before reaching the larger village of Chhule (3,347 m.) through an impressive entrance gate. Heading upstream to cross the bridge and climb to the Nile (pronounced Nee-lay). The Nile is the last village heading north in the upper Tsum Valley. This area is massively deforested.

Prepare yourself to dive into the peak of religious beliefs and aspects, as on the seventh day, we reach Mu Gompa. Mu Gompa is the largest Gompa in the entire Manaslu region, making it highly sacred and religious. You can see monks and other pilgrims meditating, worshiping, and performing their daily rituals. You are free to explore the Gompa with proper respect for the area and the religious practices.

Also, remember that Mu Gompa lies in the most remote part of the Tsum Valley. Therefore, to make it easy for the trekkers, we return to the Nile for an overnight stay. However, you must not panic about walking too much because the trek of the day takes just 5 hours.

On the eighth day of the Manaslu Circuit Trek with Tsum Valley exploration journey, the guides bring you back to Chumling from the Nile. As it is a returning journey, the trek of the day won't be too difficult for the trekkers. You can come back to Chumling within 6 hours and also explore around Chumling.

The day won't be very tiring, but still, the Global Adventure Trekking team arranges the best (as per the location) dinner for you.

Today, a new destination and route await the trekker to take them even closer to the highest point of the Tsum Valley Manaslu Circuit Trek. Not to mention, we walk through a descending route to the Budi Gandaki River through the forest.

On the way, trekkers also cross a couple of bridges to reach the Deng. Of course, we will stop at Lokpa for lunch. Once we cross the Budi Gandaki, the trail is ascending for quite some time. Deng is a small settlement with certain facilities at the Guest House.

On the 10th day, trekkers reach a small and beautiful settlement of the Manaslu Circuit Trek with Tsum Valley, Namrung. Reaching the village requires the trekkers to cross multiple small settlements, Mani stones, and steep trails. Besides, reaching Namrung also means entering the Tibetan territory. Therefore, you can see that the people here are highly influenced by the Tibetan way of living.

And we cross the 3000 meters threshold yet again after entering Lho Gaun (3180 meters). We begin with a sloppy ascent through the alpine leading to the first spectacular view of the Manaslu and Manaslu North. Therefore, you can mark Lho Gaun as the starting point of the real Manaslu vistas.

As we leave Lho Gaun on the 12th Day and pass the stone gate and the long Mani stone wall, the route offers us a full view of Peak 29 ahead. Walking up straight on this route takes us to another small and beautiful village, Sama Gaun. The settlement stands at an altitude of 3500 meters in the Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek route. On the way to Sama Gaun, trekkers also get a chance to go for a side excursion to Phungen. Phungen provides the closest view of the Manaslu Peak.

As you reach Phungen and follow a lateral moraine path, within just 20 minutes, you will reach the Sama Gaun.

As we are already at an altitude of 3500 meters, trekkers might need a day to rest. Therefore, the thirteenth day of the Manaslu Circuit Trek with Tsum Valley exploration is considered an acclimatization day by Global Adventure Trekking. Remember that the safety and enjoyment of the trekkers are what we focus on the most.

Even on the rest day, you must not be lazy. Therefore, we have two options for the trekkers: full-day and half-day treks. With full-day trek options, you can go to the Manaslu Base Camp (6-7 hours round trip). Besides, there are also several half-day trips like a trip to Birendra Kale.

On the fourteenth day, the trekkers leave Samagaon and set their feet towards a village named Samdo. The village is located at an altitude of 3690 meters, and you need to cover 10 km from Samagaon to reach here. On our route, we will be crossing pasture areas with many domestic animals grazing. Gradually, the path leads towards an ascend, taking us to the valley.

Samdo, a Tibetan refugee village in the Manaslu Circuit Tsum Valley trekking area, offers majestic views of the Manaslu Peak. If we walk for about half a day from Samdo, we can reach the Tibetan border as well, but we will not be doing that. However, the trekkers are free to explore the village after reaching there and interacting with the locals. Moreover, the Global Adventure Trekking team encourages you to try different local cuisines before returning to the lodge for dinner.

We start the trek early in the morning after breakfast to reach Dharmashala. Dharamshala is also known as the Larkya La Phedi (base of Larkya La) and is situated at an altitude of 4450 meters. In the first portion of the trek, we walk from Sama Gaon to Samdo through the terraced farming accompanied by Mani Walls. Once you reach the Samdo valley, a Mani wall marks the beginning of the Larkya La Pass.

From there, we cross two streams and reach a place to witness the mighty Larkya Glacier. After that, the journey takes us to Salka Khola Valley and with an ascend, we reach Dharmashala. Dharmashala is not a lodge but a place to rest. We dedicate 15 days to get the most amazing view of the Larkya Glacier and the tall Manaslu Peak.

Today is the day when we reach the tallest or the highest point of the entire Manaslu Circuit Trek. Yes, on the sixteenth day, the trek goes from Dharmashala to Bhimtang taking us over the Larkya La Pass (5220 meters). Remember that this is one of the longest and toughest sections of Manaslu Circuit Trek with Tsum Valley. Also, we make sure to reach and descend from the Larkya La Pass as soon as possible as there are risks of strong wind blows.

Starting with a gentle ascent and leading to the rough, steep, and grassy slopes, we reach the four frozen lakes and then to the final steep taking us to the Pass. We get the most amazing views of the Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kanguru, Minjung, and the huge Annapurna II from the Larkya La Pass. After spending some time in the Thorung La pass, we descend to the west into the set of steep, rough switchbacks as it crosses the moraine, then descend more gently on loose gravel to another grassy moraine at 4,450m. From there, the trail becomes much easier as we make our way to Bhimtang (3599 meters).

We are on the second-to-last day of the trek when we make our way from Bhimtang to Dharapani. Lovely paddy fields, greenery, local villages, and so much more exist on the route to take you towards the end of the Manaslu Circuit Trek with Tsum Valley exploration. The final part of the Bhimtang to Dharapani takes us through rhododendron blooms and fig trees.

From Dharapani, we take a private jeep drive to Besisahar. The drive takes around 4 hours and takes us through a scenic route. We take some rest in Besisahar, have our lunch, and take deep breaths before getting on another bus drive from Besisahar to Kathmandu. Overall the journey from Dharapani to Kathmandu covers 397 km (246 meters) and takes 10 hours.