Manaslu Circuit with Tsum Valley Trek

20 Days  |  Maximum Altitude: 5,106 m  |  Challenging

Introduction

The Manaslu Circuit with Tsum Valley Trek is one of the greatest off-the-beaten-path journeys in Nepal. It combines two very different but equally rewarding trekking routes into a single 20-day expedition that takes you from the subtropical lowlands of the Budhi Gandaki River valley up to the high Tibetan plateau world of upper Manaslu and through the remote, sacred hidden valley of Tsum, ending with the dramatic crossing of the Larkya La pass at 5,106 metres. This is a trek for those who want something beyond the well-trodden Everest and Annapurna routes.

The Tsum Valley is a Himalayan Buddhist pilgrimage valley tucked between the Sringi Himalaya and the Nepal-Tibet border. It was only opened to foreign trekkers in 2007 and remains one of the least visited and most culturally intact valleys in all of Nepal. The name Tsum comes from Tibetan and means vivid. The valley has been a place of spiritual retreat for centuries. According to local tradition, the Buddhist saint Milarepa meditated in caves in the valley's upper reaches, and there are ancient monasteries at Mu Gompa and Rachen Gompa that continue to practice an unbroken tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. The Tsum people are ethnically Tibetan, speak their own dialect, and live by farming, yak herding, and the weaving of woollen textiles. The valley is a place where hunting and killing of animals is strictly prohibited by ancient custom.

The main Manaslu Circuit follows the Budhi Gandaki River in a wide loop around the base of Manaslu, the eighth highest mountain in the world at 8,163 metres. The route passes through remarkable cultural and geographic diversity, from the tropical lower gorges with their bamboo forests and rice terraces to the high Tibetan-influenced villages of Samagaon and Samdo, where the landscape becomes arid, the people practice Bon and Buddhism, and Tibet is visible across the high ridges. The crossing of the Larkya La is the dramatic climax of the circuit, a high-altitude pass that delivers you from the Manaslu world into the green valleys of the Annapurna Conservation Area and the town of Dharapani.

Trip Details

Duration:  20 Days

Maximum Altitude:  5,106 m (Larkya La Pass)

Difficulty Level:  Challenging

Best Season:  March to May and September to November

Start Point:  Kathmandu via Machha Khola

End Point:  Dharapani to Kathmandu

Trek Style:  Tea House and Lodge Trek

Average Walking Hours:  5 to 7 hours per day

Trek Region:  Gorkha District, Manaslu Conservation Area

Major Highlights

• The Hidden Valley of Tsum: Tsum Valley is one of the most culturally intact and spiritually significant valleys in Nepal. The ancient monasteries of Mu Gompa and Rachen Gompa, the cave retreat sites associated with Milarepa, and the warm hospitality of the Tsum people make this section one of the most moving cultural encounters available anywhere in the Himalayas.

• Close-Up Views of Manaslu: The Manaslu Circuit provides exceptional close-up views of the eighth highest mountain in the world. From Samagaon in particular, the south face of Manaslu appears enormous and close. The optional side trip to Manaslu Base Camp at 4,800 metres brings you directly to the foot of the mountain.

• Larkya La Pass Crossing: The crossing of the Larkya La at 5,106 metres is the defining day of the Manaslu Circuit. An early morning departure, a long climb across the glacier, and a dramatic descent into the Annapurna Conservation Area make this one of the most satisfying high-pass crossings on any Nepal trek.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1:  Arrival in Kathmandu   (1,400 m)

Our team meets you at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfers you to your hotel in Thamel. The evening is free. This trek requires a government-licensed guide as it passes through a restricted area, so the briefing and permit paperwork tomorrow are important.

Day 2:  Briefing and Permit Preparation in Kathmandu   (1,400 m)

A full route briefing at the Friendship Trekking office. Your guide explains the Tsum Valley section, the acclimatization plan for Manaslu, and what to expect at the Larkya La. Permits are sorted today including the Manaslu Restricted Area Permit, Tsum Valley permit, and Manaslu Conservation Area Permit. The afternoon is free.

Day 3:  Drive Kathmandu to Machha Khola  (930 m)

A long drive of seven to nine hours west from Kathmandu via Gorkha and Arughat Bazaar to Machha Khola, the starting point of both the Manaslu Circuit and the Tsum Valley approach. The road is rough in sections but the Budhi Gandaki gorge scenery is dramatic and the journey gives a first taste of the remote world ahead.

Day 4:  Trek Machha Khola to Jagat   (1,340 m)

The trail begins gently along the Budhi Gandaki River, crossing suspension bridges and passing through warm subtropical villages of Gurung, Magar, and Brahmin communities with rice and millet terraces on the hillsides. You pass through Tatopani and Dobhan before reaching Jagat, the last major settlement before the restricted area checkpoint.

Day 5:  Trek Jagat to Lokpa, Enter Tsum Valley   (2,240 m)

At the Jagat checkpoint you register your restricted area permit. The trail continues up the Budhi Gandaki before branching east along the Shiar Khola stream, climbing steeply into the Tsum Valley. Lokpa is the first village of Tsum and marks the official entry into one of the most protected and culturally preserved valleys in Nepal. The architecture changes immediately as you enter. The stonework is more refined, the mani walls more elaborate.

Day 6:  Trek Lokpa to Chumling  (2,361 m)

The trail descends to the valley floor and crosses a series of suspension bridges before climbing again to Chumling, one of the larger settlements in Tsum. The whitewashed houses, prayer wheels at every village entrance, and the sound of monks chanting from a nearby monastery give Chumling a deeply peaceful character.

Day 7:  Trek Chumling to Chhekampar   (3,010 m)

Continuing into the upper Tsum Valley, the landscape becomes more open and the Tibetan influence more pronounced. You pass through Domje and cross high bridges over rushing streams before reaching Chhekampar. From here the high peaks of the Sringi Himal and the border range with Tibet are visible.

Day 8:  Chhekampar to Nile, Excursion to Mu Gompa   (3,361 m)

From Nile you make a day excursion to Mu Gompa, the spiritual heart of the Tsum Valley. The monastery at 3,700 metres is the most sacred site in Tsum and the residence of the valley's head lama. The complex is ancient and the religious paintings and statues inside date back many centuries. According to local belief, the site was blessed by Guru Rinpoche himself. The excursion takes around four hours round trip and the views from the monastery across the valley are extraordinary.

Day 9:  Nile to Deng, Rejoin Manaslu Circuit   (1,804 m)

Today you leave the Tsum Valley and descend back to Chumling before continuing down to the Budhi Gandaki to rejoin the main Manaslu Circuit at Deng. The descent is significant and the change from the high, arid Tsum world back into the green lower gorge of the main circuit is dramatic.

Day 10:  Trek Deng to Ghap  (2,230 m)

The trail follows the Budhi Gandaki upstream through increasingly dramatic narrow gorge scenery. You cross several suspension bridges and pass through the small villages of Rana and Bihi before arriving at Ghap. The mani walls along this section are extensive and many of the stones are beautifully carved with Buddhist images.

Day 11:  Trek Ghap to Lho via Prok   (3,180 m)

The route climbs through the valley passing Prok, a traditional village perched on a ridge with superb views of Manaslu's north face appearing for the first time. The sheer scale of the mountain from this angle is striking. From Prok the trail continues to Lho, a small village with a monastery and the first close-up views of the full Manaslu massif.

Day 12:  Trek Lho to Samagaon  (3,530 m)

The landscape transitions into the high Tibetan plateau world as you approach Samagaon. The vegetation becomes sparse, the buildings turn to flat-roofed stone and mud construction, and the people are ethnically Tibetan. Samagaon is the main settlement in the upper circuit and a good base for acclimatization. The views of Manaslu here are outstanding.

Day 13:  Acclimatization Day in Samagaon   (3,530 m)

An essential acclimatization day before the high camp days ahead. The optional side trip to Manaslu Base Camp at 4,800 metres takes around five to six hours round trip and brings you to the foot of the south face of Manaslu. Alternatively, a shorter hike to the sacred Birendra Lake at around 3,900 metres is equally rewarding. Rest well in the afternoon.

Day 14:  Trek Samagaon to Samdo   (3,875 m)

A shorter day of around three hours through the upper valley to Samdo, the last village before the pass. Samdo sits close to the Tibet border and on clear days the Tibetan plateau is visible to the north. The atmosphere at this altitude is noticeably thinner and the night here is cold.

Day 15:  Trek Samdo to Dharmasala (Larkya Phedi)  (4,460 m)

A relatively short walk of three to four hours up to Dharmasala, also known as Larkya Phedi, the seasonal settlement at the foot of the Larkya La pass. This is the last stop before the crossing and the highest and most basic accommodation on the trek. Go to bed as early as possible. Tomorrow begins before 4 in the morning.

Day 16:  Cross Larkya La Pass to Bimthang  (5,106 m / 3,590 m)

The great day of the trek. You leave Dharmasala in the early morning darkness and climb across the Larkya Glacier to the pass at 5,106 metres. The climb takes around four hours and the last section across the glacier requires crampons in icy conditions. At the top, the prayer flags mark the watershed between the Manaslu and Annapurna worlds. The descent to Bimthang is long, dropping over 1,500 vertical metres into a green valley that feels like a different planet after the high plateau. Bimthang is a small settlement surrounded by forest and rhododendron with close views of Himlung and Cheo Himal.

Day 17:  Trek Bimthang to Dharapani   (1,860 m)

A long descent through forest and farmland, following the Dudh Khola downstream to Dharapani where the Manaslu Circuit connects with the Annapurna Circuit route. The trail passes through the apple orchards and terraced fields of the lower valleys. On arrival at Dharapani a vehicle meets you for the drive back toward Kathmandu.

Day 18:  Drive Dharapani to Kathmandu   (1,400 m)

A drive of around six to seven hours back to Kathmandu via Besisahar. The road follows the Marsyangdi valley south and then the Prithvi Highway east. On arrival in Kathmandu the evening is free and the Friendship Trekking team joins you for a farewell dinner.

Day 19:  Rest Day in Kathmandu   (1,400 m)

A free day for rest, shopping, and any last sightseeing in Kathmandu. The old cities of Patan and Bhaktapur are both accessible by taxi and well worth a visit if you have energy after the trek.

Day 20:  International Departure   (1,400 m)

Our team transfers you to the airport. Twenty days through two of the most remote and culturally rich regions in Nepal, ending with one of the great high-pass crossings in the Himalayas. Thank you for trekking with Friendship Trekking.

ITINERARY

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