Tsum Valley is a pristine valley in the northern part of the Manaslu region. This landscape of this region serves as a great trekking route for trekkers of all skill levels. Listed as a restricted area until 2008, this trekking route is just 7 hours away from the capital of Kathmandu.
Trekkers will walk through the remote landscapes in the foothills of the Himalayas during this trek. You can observe the awe-inspiring views of the snow-capped mountains, including Ganesh Himal, Boudha Himal, Sringi Himal, and others. The breathtaking views of the Himalayan sunrise and sunset along the trail will spellbind you.
The trail of this trek passes through the upper Budhi Gandaki river valley and the Tibetan settlements including Chhokangparo, Philim, Lokpa, Nile, and others. The remote, unexplored Tsum Valley is rich in Tibetan heritage and culture. You can observe the spectacular Chortens, Buddhist monasteries, and mani prayer walls along the trail. The cultural aspect makes the trek quite a unique adventure.
Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley Trek is a moderately challenging trek. This high altitude trek also requires uphill and downhill climb along the steep and narrow paths. Hence, you should prepare well and acclimatize to tackle altitude sickness along the trail. This stunning trek is available at a reasonable price.
Read further for the detailed Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley Trek Itinerary and other relevant information.
Significant Highlights of the Trip
- Awe-inspiring mountain views of the Annapurna II, Gyaji Kang, Himlung Himal, Mt. Manaslu, Nemjung, Cheo Himal, and Kang Guru mountain
- Crossing the magnificent Larkya La Pass (5,213 m), the highest point on the trek
- Passing by the virgin landscapes of Tsum Valley and the Manaslu region
- Incredible sunrise from various points along the trail
- Exploration of the culture, tradition, and lifestyle of the Gurung, and Tamang community
- Spotting the rare and endangered wildlife of the region including the snow leopards, Agali Blue Sheep, Pika, Himalayan Tahr, and others
- Tasting the delicious local cuisine
- Incredible hospitality of the Nepalese people
- Pilgrimage of the various monasteries of the region including Mu Gompa, and Rachen Gompa
The Final Say
Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley Trek is an off the beaten trek in the Northern part of the Manaslu region. The remote landscapes of the Tsum Valley provide an incredible adventure to all trekkers. You can observe the breathtaking views of the snow-capped mountains, including the Ganesh Himal, Boudha Himal, Sringi Himal, and others.
Moreover, you will have an opportunity to explore the rich Tibetan culture and heritage. There are many Buddhist monasteries, Chortens, main prayer walls, nunneries, and others. The trails pass through the upper Budhi Gandaki river valley and the unique Tibetan settlements. Overall, the Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley Trek is an incredible adventure in the region. Contact us for more details regarding this spectacular trek.
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Maximum Altitude: 1350 meters
Drive Duration: 7-8 hours
Our staff and representative will pick you up in Kathmandu and take you on a scenic drive to Sotikhola. The Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley Trek itinerary starts with a scenic drive from Kathmandu to Soti Khola. We will pass through the beautiful village settlement of Arughat, the headquarter of Dhading district.
Arughat is a green hilly village in the region. We will then continue our drive to Soti Khola as the drive passes alongside the Budhi Gandaki river. The drive passes through the Gurung and Magar settlements and the millet and paddy farms to arrive at Soti Khola. We stay overnight at a teahouse in Soti Khola.
Maximum Altitude: 870 meters
Trek Duration: 6-7 hrs
After breakfast, we will begin our trekking journey from Soti Khola to Machha Khola. We will cross a bridge in the Soti Khola, and continue our trek to the Sal forests. The trail then passes through a ridge over a substantial rapid to arrive at the Budhi Gandaki river.
We then trek to the village of Machha Khola through the uphill and downhill trail. There are two tropical waterfalls along the steep rocky trail. We then descend through the rice planted terraced farmed hills and then ascend for a short while to reach Labubesi, a Gurung village in the region.
Moreover, the trail then leads us to the twisted path that ascends and then descends to arrive at a sandy riverbed. After a trek of a few hours, we will arrive at the Machha Khola Village. Machha Khola (870 meters) is a small village settlement. You will stay overnight at a teahouse in Macha Khola village.
Maximum Altitude: 1345 meters
Trek Duration: 6-7 hours
After breakfast, we start our Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley Trek from Machhakhola to Jagat. We will cross a suspension bridge through the pristine Machha Khola. The trail then continues towards Jagat and passes through the uphill and downhill routes to arrive at Tharo Khola. We will cross the Tharo Khola to arrive at the Khorla Besi.
Moreover, the trail passes through the rocky terrain to arrive at Tatopani. It is a famous village full of natural hot springs. We then take the trail along the left bank of the river as we cross the suspension bridge over the Budhi Gandaki river. You will then ascend the stone staircase, and cross a forest to arrive at Doban.
Furthermore, we cross the Doban Khola through the suspension bridge. We then pass through the village of Daman and arrive at Yaru Khola. The trail then descends through the stone steps until we arrive at Tharo Bharyang. We will cross the west bank of Budhi Gandaki river and ascend for the final time to arrive at Jagat. We will stay overnight at a teahouse in Jagat.
Maximum Altitude: 2240 meters
Trek Duration: 5-6 hours
After breakfast, we start our trek from Jagat to Lokpa. The trail leads us to the restricted areas of the Tsum Valley. You will require a restricted area permit to complete this section of the trek. After showing the permit and completing all formalities at the checkpoint in Jagat, we continue our trek.
We start our ascend over a rocky ridge that leads us to the village of Salleri. The trek from Salleri descends to Sirdibas. The valley then widens towards the route to the Ghatta Khola. We will walk along the riverbed and then cross a hanging bridge over the river to climb up to Philim.
Furthermore, Philim is a large Gurung village where you can observe a Japanese school. After arriving at Philim, you will trail towards the settlement of Ekli Bhatti and head towards Lokpa. You will rest and stay overnight at a lodge in Lokpa.
Maximum Altitude: 2385 meters
Trek Duration: 7 hours
After breakfast, we continue Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley Trek from Lokpa to Dumje. The trek then turns uphill into a ridge top. From the ridge top, you can observe the majestic views of the Ganesh Himal. We will then arrive at the Ganesh Himal Base Camp and continue towards the village of Chumling.
Furthermore, Chumling is a lovely settlement in the south of the Shingri Himal and is also known as lower Tsum. The train then leads us to the beautiful Dume village. We stay overnight at a teahouse in the village of Dumje.
Maximum Altitude: 2385 meters
Trek Duration: 7 hours
From Dumje we trek to Nile – Chule. The trek then leads us to Chile. The beautiful trek provides you with incredible views along the trail. We follow the trail that passes through uphill and downhill sections and the beautiful forests of the region.
Furthermore, after trekking for a few hours, we arrive at the Nile, which is the last village before the Upper Tsum Valley. This lovely village lies at the west side of the Shiar Khola. It is just 20 minutes from the village of Chule. We also visit the famous Piren Phu cave and Burji Village. We will spend the night at a teahouse in the Nile – Chule.
Maximum Altitude: 2385 meters
Trek Duration: 3-4 hours
After breakfast, we will start our trek from the Nile – Chule to Mu Gompa. The beautiful Gompa lies in the Nepal – Tibet border. We then follow the majestic trail that takes us to the west and then a short ascend us to Mu Gompa. The trail climbs uphill from the Nile before we arrive at the Mu Gompa.
Mu Gompa (3700 meters) is a beautiful Gompa and also the highest point of our trek. The trek allows us to observe the beautiful landscapes and Tibetan culture of the region. The Gompa also consists of religious books, Avalokiteshwara, and portraits of Guru Padmasambhava.
Furthermore, there are more than 100 monks in the Mu Gompa. There are Seasonal Yak pastures in Mu Gompa all around. We can observe the beautiful Lungdang Glacier in the east. The snow-capped mountains look enchanting from the Gompa. You will stay overnight at a teahouse in Mu Gompa.
After breakfast, we start our acclimatization and exploration tour of Mu Gompa. You can observe the big pastures around the Gompa. These pastures at an altitude of 5000m is a great site to collect Yarsagumba.
Yarsagumba is a medicinal purpose that gets used for various purposes. You can find two mountain passes in the east and the west of the Gompa, including Thapla Bhanjyang (5104m) and Mailatasachin Pass (5093m). You can also go on a hike of the base camp of Pika Himal.
Moreover, the hike to Kalung (3820m) or Bhajyo (4030m) is also on the cards. You can then rest and observe the incredible views of the Tibetan landscapes from these peaks. The pilgrimage of the 600-year-old Dhephu Doma Gompa (3900m) is also available.
Furthermore, we will then take a short uphill hike that takes around 30 to 45 minutes towards the west. You can also observe some ancient Thankas inside the Gompa. You can then find the rare and endangered wildlife including snow leopards and musk deer during the trail.
Maximum Altitude: 2385 meters
Trek Duration: 5-6 hours
We trek to Mu Gompa to Rachen Gompa after breakfast. The trek from the Mu Gompa starts with a descent down through the valley to Chule. We will arrive at Phurba after a few hours of trekking. The trail leads us to the pristine Siyar Khola valley where you can find the beautiful Rachen Gumba.
Moreover, there is a beautiful nunnery in the premises of the Gompa in the border of Nepal and Tibet. Rachen Gompa is a beautiful gompa full of Buddhist Nuns. The Gompa has a monk or a nun from each household. We will stay overnight at a teahouse at the riverbank of Siyar Khola near the Rachen Gompa.
Maximum Altitude: 2385 meters
Trek Duration: 7 to 8 hours
We continue our Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley trek from Rachen Gompa to Chumling. The trail down to the village of Chumling is along the same path that we took earlier. You can observe the best surrounding mountain vista along the trail.
Furthermore, the view of the Tibetan side beyond the Himalayas is incredible. We pass through unique village settlements to arrive at the lower Tsum or Chumling village. Chumling is a lovely village area where we stay overnight at a teahouse.
Maximum Altitude: 2385 meters
Trek Duration: 4 to 5 hours
This day, we trek from Chumling to Deng. The trail then descends as we observe the magnificent snow-capped mountains, including the Ganesh Himal and Mt. Manaslu. We trek on the grassy slopes and steep gorge of the region. The trail then takes along the difficult parts on the trail.
Moreover, we pass through the riverbed of Budi Gandaki, and we cross the river on a bridge. We pass through the bamboo forests and arrive at the pristine Deng Khola. The trail then leads us to arrive at Deng village. It is a picturesque village where we stay overnight.
Maximum Altitude: 2630 m
Trek duration: 6-7 hours
From Deng we continue our trek to Namrung. The trek takes around 7 hours to complete. We pass through the pristine Budhi Gandaki River and then climb to the Rana gaon. We then trek for approximately 45 minutes to arrive at Bhimphedi.
The trail then continues for two hours to arrive at Ghap. We have our lunch at the village and continue our trek through the lush forests. We then cross the river and then continue our trail through dead pine trees. The trail then leads us to Suksum as we climb to Namrung after climbing for around 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Furthermore, we can observe the Tibetan lifestyle and culture of the region. The trail then leads us to the beautiful village of Narung village. You can observe the beautiful Himalchuli Range, Saula Himal, and other mountains. We will stay overnight at a lodge in Namrung.
Maximum Altitude: 3500 m
Trek duration: 6-7 hrs
After an early breakfast, we begin our trek from Namrung to Samagaun. The trails pass through the villages of Banjam, Sho, Lho, Lihi, and Sayla. We can observe the oldest monasteries in Lho and pay our pilgrimage.
Furthermore, there is a monastery which has 200 monks living and studying in the monastery. The trail to Lho passes through the steep trails. We can observe the beautiful Ganesh Himal, North Himchuli and Naike peak from a different perspective. You will stay overnight at a lodge in Lho.
Maximum Altitude: 3500 m
Trek duration: 6-7 hours
We start our trek from Lho to Samagaon and arrive at the crossroads that leads us to the Hinayang monastery and the majestic Larkya La pass. It takes around 1 hour 30 minutes to arrive at Lho and 2 hours to arrive at Sayla from Lho. From Sayla, you can observe the panoramic sunrise overlooking the majestic mountains of north Himalchuli and Nadi Chuli Manaslu.
Moreover, some of the other snow-capped mountain peaks of the region include North Manaslu, Nike peak, Saula Himal, Siringi Himal. The yaks graze in the vast meadows of the region. The village is a commercial hub and one of the oldest in the region. You will stay overnight at a base camp in Samagaon.
After breakfast, we start our acclimatization tour of Samagaon. You can explore the famous Birendra Tal near the village of Samagaon. The Pungen monastery and Basecamp is also an excellent acclimatization spot. The Base Camp trek takes around 5 hours trek and is just 6 km away.
Moreover, you will reach the elevation of 4800m. Manaslu glacier is one of the stunning glaciers in the world. You can visit the numerous caves in the area as well. From the Pungen monastery, you can observe the panoramic view of the snow-capped mountains. You will stay overnight at a lodge in Samagaun.
Maximum Altitude: 3800 m
Trek duration: 4-5 hours
The trek takes you on a climb for around 3 hours on a steep uphill trail. The awe-inspiring snow-capped mountains, including Manaslu, Syaula Peak, Naike Peak, Larke peak, Himchuli, and Cho peak will spellbind you.
Samdo (3800m) is a beautiful village in the region. There is a micro Hydropower Project that provides electricity to the area. You will rest and spend the night at a teahouse in Samdo.
Maximum Altitude: 4450 m
Trek duration: 4-5 hours
This day, the trail then passes through the Budhi Gandaki River and crosses it through a wooden bridge. We then pass through the Larkya Bazaar and Salka Khola to arrive at our destination of Dharmasala.
Moreover, the trek covers a total distance of 7 km in around 4 hours. You can also spot some blue sheep on this journey. It is also called the Larkya Phedi. We spend the night at a teahouse in Dharamsala.
Maximum Altitude: 5213 m
Trek duration: 8-9 hours
The trail starts early in the morning to observe the breathtaking sunrise overlooking the snow-capped mountains. You will get the outstanding views of the mountains including Annapurna II, Cho Himal, Himlung Himal, Kang Guru Himal, Cho and Larke peak, and others.
Furthermore, we then cross the Larkya La Pass at 5213m, which is the highest point of Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley trek. From the Larkya La pass, you can observe the best views of the Himalayan ranges. We then descend downhill from the majestic pass through a grassy moraine. After a trek of 9 hours, we arrive at a teahouse in Bhimtang where we stay overnight.
Maximum Altitude: 5213 m
Trek duration: 8-9 hours
From Bimtang we trek down to Tilije. We pass through the big meadows at Bimtang, and we cross the glacial stream over a wooden bridge. The trail then passes through the forests of coniferous and Rhododendron trees before arriving at Hompuk village.
We then descend through the Dudh Khola riverbank and pass through the wonderful scenario. After some time, we arrive at Karche and observe the landslide section. The trail then leads us through a steep climb and descent.
Moreover, we then pass through the Gho village and later arrive at Tilije. The trail passes through the beautiful fields and Oak and Rhododendron trees to arrive at Tilije village. Tilije is a beautiful Gurung village. We stay overnight at a teahouse in Tilije.
Maximum Altitude: 1860 m
Trek duration: 7-8 hours
After an early breakfast, we start the trekking journey from Tilije to Besisahar via Dharapani. The trails pass through the rare and unique settlements to arrive at Dharapani.
We then move downhill to the pristine Dudh Khola famous for its milky liked textured water. We continue our climb through the pine jungle. After trekking for a few hours, we will reach Besisahar. We spend the night at a teahouse in Besisahar.
Maximum Altitude: 1440 m
Drive duration: 7-8 hours
After breakfast, we start our drive from Besisahar to Kathmandu. The scenic ride takes you alongside the Marsyangdi River as we overlook the green hills and settlements. We pass through the winding hilly roads to arrive at Kathmandu after almost 7-8 hours. Our Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley Trek comes to an official end. We will stay overnight at a hotel in Kathmandu.
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