Manaslu with Tsum Valley Trek - 22 Days

Once you arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport, the representatives from Mountain Treks Nepal will be there to greet you at the airport. You will be transferred to your hotel in Kathmandu, where you may take a short rest. The vibrant city presents a very different picture of what makes up the cultural heritage of Nepal, and you can explore the nearby streets or rest in the tranquil surroundings of the hotel.

Kathmandu is a city of temples with multiple UNESCO world heritage sites, including places like Pashupatinath, Boudhanath Stupa, and ancient Kathmandu Durbar Square. The architecture and historical significance of the buildings make it one place that very well gives an entry point to a high-immersion culture, thereby initiating your adventures waiting for the all-luring, intoxicating atmosphere.

On the second day of the 22 Day Manaslu Circuit Trek with Tsum Valley, we make sure that all permits and equipment are ready for trek preparation. We will attend a detailed briefing conducted by your trekking guide on safety, logistics, and itinerary. 

It’s an off-end day for you to shop in the colorful alleys of Kathmandu’s Thamel area for some last-minute equipment. Or you can visit the holy Pashupatinath Temple or the Swayambhunath Stupa.

Today, we will travel the distance of 7-8 hours to the starting point of the 21-Day Manaslu Circuit Trek with Tsum Valley, Machha Khola. The drive carves out of the highway and approaches the Gurung village of Machha Khola, winding alongside the Trishuli River and giving you a peek into terraced farmlands, dense forests, and rolling hills as it takes you there. 

During the drive, you will be traveling along the Budhi Gandaki River from where you will be welcomed by the magnificent view of the snow-capped mountains like Ganesh Himal. After arriving in Machha Khola, you stay at a lodge enjoying traditional Nepali cuisine.

On the fourth day, the trek follows the Budhi Gandaki River along with suspension bridges and rugged trails, leading to Kholarbesi, a small village in between the hills with the sweet blessing of the hot springs of Tatopani. 

The trek takes you through subtropical forests and terraced fields to Dobhan, which is a lovely village surrounded by lots of green. During this journey, you can enjoy the spectacular views of the Ganesh Himal and with several cascading waterfalls, a taste of things to come on the trekking path of nature.

Starting the trek, you will exit over the Dobhan Khola and follow the eastern bank of the Budhi Gandaki in order to reach Thulo Dhunga. The gradient will now change, and the valley will open to the clear at Yaruphant. Crossing the old suspension bridge over the Yaru Khola and fed by Ganesh II and VI, you will climb up to Thado Bharyang and then cross to the west bank of the Budhi Gandaki.

From there, you will continue upwards to the historic village of Jagat, which marks the entrance and checkpoint to the restricted Manaslu Conservation Area.

At this point, you will cross the assembly with the tributary and proceed over a cliff-side path at Salleri, blessed with the best views of the North Sringi Himal (7187m/23580ft). You will descend to Sirdibas, which is the first place to start noticing Buddhism around here. 

Another suspension bridge takes you over to the eastern bank of this river and establishes a new steep climb to Philim, as rich Gurungs may find it. Here, you can get access to explore the Chholing Sandu Gompa amidst beautiful golden fields of maize and millet.

Today, you will hike to Chumling from Philim via Lokpa village. The trail stretches through the village of Chisopani and the Ekle Bhatti at 1,600m/5,250ft. Then, it descends through the amazing waterfall into a gorge and a junction with the so-called “New Bridge.” To the east, a zigzag path rises through blue pine and rhododendron woods and continues to Lokpa and the constricted Lower Tsum Valley, with some 4,000 people settled into 18 villages.

You will be crossing forest streams while you take a steep climb up the Siyar Khola gorge. The summit marked with flags offers spectacular views of Shringi Himal or the awesome sight of colorful grain fields. Travel down to Gumlung and Siyar Khola before crossing a suspension bridge and climbing up to Chumling, where Tibetan-style roofs await you.

A new journey starts on the seventh day of the 22 day Manaslu Circuit Trek with Tsum Valley. You will pass from the lush green forest over a newly formed landslide into another passage under a suspension bridge. After passing through the water-driven prayer wheel, you will arrive at Tanju and the Damphe Gompa, both splendid with hundreds of ceramic statues of Chenresig.

From Dumje, you will have glimpses of the Ganesh Himal and Baudha Peak before going down to the Sarphu Khola, which drains the Syakpa Glacier. The trail climbs for about two and a half hours, taking you past Gho and into the tranquil Upper Tsum Valley.

As you approach the actual in-central connection of Chhokang and Paro, also known as Chhekampar, you get to see these magnificent chortens set against the mighty backdrop of Ganesh Himal. Overnight stay at Chhekampar.

Today’s exploration will take you to a beautiful settlement at Chheka at first. From there, you must cross the river north and, along Kaye’s local school, pass the Ngakyu and Leru villages. Also, there lies the Rachen Nunnery across the river. The trail then climbs toward Lama Gaon and on to Burji, close by Milarepa’s Cave. 

This holy site contains chapels, meditation caves, and a gompa. You will also encounter Chi Phu Monastery, rising slightly farther east, and meet Langju Himal’s embrace before reconnecting the trail at Phurbe.

Later, you must cross a bridge and go into Ngakyu to the south of the river to reach Rachen Gompa. The valley bends north, arriving at Pangdun, which has its stupa and prayer wheel before going beyond Phurbe. 

Chhule opens a gate into its massive entrance – it is considered one of the major attractions besides the historic Gonhgye Monastery. Then, you will cross Siyar Khola and then reach a beautiful village along the Nile.

Today’s hike focuses on reaching Mu Gompa which is the highest point in Tsum Valley. The hike from the Nile to Mu Gompa climbs steadily through the dry and desolate areas peppered with many chortens and prayer flag poles. There are fine sights of Ganesh Himal, Churke Himal, and Poshyop Glacier.

In Mu Gompa, there is a ruined monastery that is described as a stronghold of Tibetan Buddhism and can accommodate up to 500 monks. It provides both internal understanding and external views as well of the mountains in the vicinity. For those in need of some expeditions, a simple walk to the Dhephu Doma Nunnery gives broad views with good geography and a good, clean atmosphere.

From Mu Gompa, you will make your way back towards Chhekampar, moving through beautiful landscapes with varied views of the valley. You will have a great time during the descent, for the enchanting mani walls and gompas will all be within easy reach.

Chhekampar returns to a broad plateau with a gentle warmth from the locals. Spend the afternoon walking around the village to appreciate some of its cultural attractions, meet the villagers, or relax and take in the quiet mountain surroundings.

The trek begins by retracing the path to the small gompa at Gho, then descends to a wooden bridge leading to Dumje, a village with a Tibetan herbal medicine clinic and school. From Dumje, you will ascend steeply for about 3.5 hours through pine, oak, and rhododendron forests, passing a mani wall and navigating an exposed route before reaching a gompa. 

This 110-year-old gompa, home to about 20 nuns, offers stunning mountain views and an engaging late-afternoon puja ceremony. Visitors may attend and request permission to stay overnight on the veranda, with access to the kitchen and facilities.

From Dumje, the trail crosses the Langdang Khola and follows the south bank along the Siyar Khola, taking a lower route across deep gorges via new bridges. It climbs to the fertile lands of Ripchet, a village adorned with chortens and surrounded by fields of barley and buckwheat. 

Beyond Ripchet, steep stairs lead down to Gumlung by the river, followed by another forested ascent to the village of Lokpa, completing a scenic and culturally rich part of the trek.

On the 12th day of the 21-Day Manaslu Circuit Trek, you will continue on the trail until reaching the junction with the Manaslu trail that leads from the direction of Philim. From there, you will cross the Budhi Gandaki River just below and its junction with the Siyar Khola River. The path then goes into a narrow gorge and follows a path that has a number of river crossings. 

Later, you will find yourself in a thick bamboo forest as the way channels up to the village of Deng, which is situated at an altitude of approximately 1800m (5906 feet). 

Deng is the first village to enter Kutang or Lower Nupri, which is rich in culture, having been part of Tibet up to the middle of the 1840’s century. 

From Deng, the path drifts to the eastern bank of the river, then scrambles in a crosswise line of rise and fall to Rana. The path then smoothes into a soft slope and takes you down to the lodge in Bihi Phedi, which enjoys a rather commanding view of the river from high above.

The trek starts just above the river, and the path along the trail crosses the Serang Khola and turns through an S-shaped gorge that is ringed by cliffs. Ahead to the right, rough cliffs with a waterfall flow are seen above the maize and wheat fields. 

Then, the valley widens and bends to the northeast, and beyond a bridge is a well-preserved Kani spanning a charming village of Ghap (2250m/7382ft) with carved mani near the entrance.

Bamboo, rhododendron, and oak forests teeming with birds like the Himalayan Pheasant are passed as the path climbs. The trek continues after crossing wooden and stone footbridges across a narrow gorge, following steep inclines towards Namrung, which is a checkpoint on marshaling the Tum Khola and Budhi Gandaki confluence.

Namrung is the last settlement before going into the Upper Nupri, which is of Tibetan origin – people speak a unique dialect and wear big chubas. The path goes through green forests and then barley terraces before finally reaching Lihi (2900m). Here chortens and the sight of Himal Chuli (7893m) attract the trekkers. 

After walking over a double-span bridge over the Hinang Khola, the still out from Sho (2960m) plods up with a view of Ngadi Chuli (7873m). On the way to Lho, Manaslu (8156m) and its chain appear. Ribung Monastery of Lho is home to as many as 150 monks and is a good place for scenic sunrise pictures.

This is the 15th day of the 21-day Manaslu Circuit Trek, and we will start the hike with an early breakfast in Lho. The trail goes through the Budi Gandaki River and then passes a long mani wall and steeply descends to the Damonan Khola. It then moves up in a gentle slope through a lovely mixed forest to Shyala (3,520m/11,549ft), which is a treeless settlement. You can have a magnificent view of the Himal Chuli, Ngadi Chuli and Manaslu mountains, which heavily surround it with glaciers extending further forward. 

Further on, you will catch a route that leads over the Numla Khola that sheds off the Pungyen glacier, after which a secondary route cuts off to the Pungyen Gompa. A wide valley stretches out to Sama Gaon, a Buddhist village, where you can get insights into Tibetan Buddhism. Also, there lies a Kargyu Chholing Monastery, which is rich in prayer flags and mani walls.

We have already reached Sama Gaon at 3530 m, so acclimatization and rest are widely advised. It is also the regional hub of Nupri, offering a glimpse into traditional mountain life. The village thrives on weaving chubas from local and Tibetan wool alongside yak, Tokyo, and horse-trading. You can explore beautiful places around like the Labrang Gompa, founded 500 years ago, the Kargyu Chholing Monastery, and the Guru Rinpoche statue. 

For acclimatization, you must focus on hydration and nutrition with enough rest. Apart from acclimatization, you will have multiple hiking options around, such as the trek to Birendra Tal, with views of the Manaslu Glacier, or the challenging ascent to Base Camp (4,900m). The Pungyen Nunnery (3,870m) offers spectacular views of the Manaslu range, with trails weaving through dramatic landscapes.

The trail from Sama Gaon to Samdo is an appealing one that has a number of yak pastures and terraced fields on its way along the Budhi Gandaki River, as it gradually heads upwards over a distance. Around Samdo, the setting changes to one of high altitude with an abundance of rugged ridges and glacial valleys.

Samdo allows for a wonderful view of the other hills, such as Simrang Hill, Ngadi Chuli and Larkye Peak, which surround this village; flanked by rocks, the Tibetan village of Samdo is very beautiful. Being close to the Tibetan border, it is an interesting area to discover local customs or even trade for night accommodation in Samdo.

If you sweep around the northern village fields and the remaining part of the Larkya Bazaar, you will cross over the Budhi Gandaki River. From here, the river goes north into Pana Danda Valley. The westward trail, which cuts through lush vegetation of scrub juniper, rhododendron and granite covered with lichen, provides fair views of the Syacha Khola Valley. It would not be long before the Syacha Glacier, which comes down from the Manaslu North ridge, appears. 

You will then follow a trail that climbs up to the Larkya Glacier from where Dharamsala, the guesthouse at Larkya La Phedi, sits. You can go out to take pleasuring short walks and enjoy the views of Larke at 6249m and Naike Peak at 6291m.

Still focused on the successful navigation of the 21-Day Manaslu Circuit Trek with Tsum Valley? Then the next highlight is crossing Larkya La Pass at 5,100 meters. Following an early breakfast in Dharmasala, the next leg of the journey takes you on a lengthy trek, which depends a lot on the weather, such as strong winds or storms could escalate the trek’s difficulty further. 

With a sea of prayer flags in the background, you will pass through four frozen lake beds and climb towards the Larkya La pass. You can get a perfect view of Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kang Guru and Annapurna II from the top. The path resumes over the moraine, and the last descent is towards Bhimtang; mani walls and a stretched valley accompany scattered houses as you approach there.

Today’s trek is interesting as it starts with a steep descent towards the Budhi Gandaki River, from where you will enter a thick rhododendron forest that leads to Karche, which is a farming community located in the upper Budhi Gandaki valley. Following the riverbank, you will travel to Gho, and then you will go a little deeper in the direction of Dharapani. 

The track is easy because the walk is through a number of fields and pastures before you finally reach Tilje which is a big Gurung village well known for its brandy. Crossing a number of mani walls, it is possible to get to Thonje village and finally reach Dharapani. It is a memorable trip as nature and people are well integrated and in harmony.

Our last day begins with a morning meal in Dharapani. Then, we travel by local bus from Dharapani to Besisahar, taking around 6 to 7 hours. As we go, the scenic sites of Marsyangdi River, Bhulbhule, Khudi, and several villages become visible. We intend to reach Besisahar no later than 3 PM so that with the last bus heading to Kathmandu, we can travel. 

While going to Kathmandu, the last bus will cross the confluence of Marsyangdi and Trishuli rivers and then proceed eastwards along the Prithivi highway. The scenery includes wonderful views of the terraced fields as well as the tall peaks in the background, which are quite striking for the observers as we move with them from one point to another.

Be prepared for your transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your departure flight, and finally, say goodbye to Nepal. You will bid farewell to the Mountain Treks Nepal Team and fly to your home country. The journey through Manaslu and Tsum Valley has come to a close. However, one will retain beautiful images of Himalayan sceneries and the culture.