Manaslu Trek with Tsum Valley - 23 Days

Our airport representative will be receiving you at Tribhuvan International airport and transfer to Hotel. Overnight at Hotel.

The next morning after breakfast you will leave for a full day sightseeing tour around the Kathmandu valley. You will visit the center of pilgrimage Pashupatinath Hindu Temple and Swyambhunath. These are very ancient and historical pride of Nepal importantly enlisted in UNESCO World Heritage sites. The biggest Buddhist Stupa at Boudhnath and the fine arts and historical architecture of Kathmandu Durbar Square reflect the uniqueness and diversity in Nepalese culture. On the journey back to the hotel, you can travel around the local areas, gullies and lifestyle. You can perhaps take a relaxed walk through the famous streets like Thamel.

We can take a bus/Jeep from Kathmandu to Arughat in the morning on the Kathmandu-Pokhara road to Malekhu than turn right to Dhading Besi road. After reaching Dhadingbesi, we will drive up hills to Muralibhanjyang through the beautiful villages than drive downhills to Arughat with Ankhu River view, Mountain views, Jungle, etc. In Arughat, a pleasant market town straddling the Budhi Gandaki riverside. Overnight at Guest House.

You will be leaving Soti Khola, The path moves up as it crosses the river with several high glimpses and overlooks. We’ll be passing hot springs at Tatopani on the way. The distance to be covered is 14 km which takes about 5 to 6 hours walking. You will be returning to a guest house for dinner and night stay. Trek through local villages on the more scenic upper road where there is a choice, staying on the left bank (true right) of the Budhi Gandaki, which you will be following to its source. It can be hot and humid so wet rice, maize and millet are the main crops and you may see monkeys in the forests. Trek on through shady sal forests then climb up and down for some time on an exposed track blasted from the cliff and views way below of wild rapids, eventually dropping to the Labubesi. Overnight at Guest House.

You will have your breakfast at the guest house then proceed with your trek to Jagat. Jagat lies to the west side of the river Budhi Gandaki. Climb over a ridge and cross the Buri Gandaki on a new suspension bridge, circle under cliffs and climb a little to Doban. The Shyaule Bhatti lodge is 40mins later then 20mins to Manaslu Santi and Thulodhunga (‘big rock’) lodges where you can take tea and look at the wild gorges ahead. After a landslip and Yaruphant (1140m) cross the bridge across the Yaru Khola (1363m) and emerge onto river flats at Yaru (1140m). Look downstream at the massive rockfall that chokes the river. Just past Yaru, cross to the true right bank and enjoy easy up and down to Jagat, a neatly flag stoned village where Jagat is collected on Tibetan trade. You will need to show your MCAP permit at an office on the left. It has stone-paved paths. Small villages come across the trail. Small villages come across the trail. Overnight at Jagat.

This is the entrance to Tsum Valley. When the trek continues you must cross the river Syar from the valley of Tsum where the valley of Tsum leads to the right. Lokpa Village is the first village in the Tsum Valley Villages that offers fantastic Manaslu views. Food and lodging are reasonable at Lokpa. The distance covered will be 15 km with an altitude of 1340m to 2240m. 6 to 7 hours will be covered by walking.

You will cross the Syar river and walk to the village of ChumlingThe distance covered is 8.4 km with an altitude of 2240m to 2347m. This will take you around 4 hours walking. After 1hr climbing enter the Ekle Bhatti, then traverse high above a spectacular gorge, entering a largely uninhabited area of pine trees. Eventually drop to a trail junction going left to Ghap and right to the Tsum Valley, just above Gum Pul. Climb on a well-graded but exposed track through pines and rhododendrons, looking down on the other trail across the river. Descend through beautiful forest, crossing two new bridges, circle under a huge bluff on the river then climb steeply on deteriorating exposed stairs. After about 30mins start to traverse north through pines and rhododendrons, still climbing and with very steep slopes. The hidden valley of Tsum stretches enticingly ahead. Eventually, descend to a deserted bhatti Ghumlong on the river. The path straight ahead climbs steeply to Ripchet 2470m. in about 1hr; the path to Chumling (2360m) crosses the small river on a wooden bridge and up. After about 30mins, below Chumling, take the level track to right (east) for 15mins to arrive Chumling and check out the old gompa, the traditional houses, orchards, clinic, and beautiful stone streets. From here on trails are lined with artistic chortens and mani walls made of thousands of stone slabs carved with deities and prayers. Overnight at Guest House.

This trek will lead you from the lower valley to the upper valley. The path continues down the Syar River to Domje and then climbs over 500 meters to Chhokang Paro, the largest city in the Tsum valley. The distance here will be covered by about 10.2 km. It will take 5 hours.

You will be continuing your trek from Chhokang Paro to the Nile to Mu Gompa. On this trip, Mu Gompa is the northern point and is home to a large monastery. In Monastery we will find the rooms and we can spend the night with monks. The distance covered will be 15 km with an altitude of 3031m to 3700m. You will welcome by tsampa porridge and Tibetan butter salt tea. On three sides now are tantalizing views of the border with Tibet, with frequently used passes to the east (Ngala Dhojyang or Mailatasachin Pass, 5093m) and west (Thapla Bhanjyang, 5104m) just out of sight. Some people climb to Kalung (3820m) or Bhajyo (4030m) and camp, making a day trip to the passes for a view into Tibet. From Mu Gompa, there are extensive seasonal yak pastures in all directions, the Lungdang Glacier to the east, and high peaks in all directions. In the early monsoon, in pastures at 5000m, many Tsumba collects the most expensive natural medicine in the world, known as yarsagumba. The isolated 600-year-old Dhephu Doma Gompa (3900m) is 30-45mins uphill on the obvious westward track. The inside of the gompa has been repainted by monks from Tibet and there are some ancient thankas. Overnight at Mu-Gompa.

This destination to Chhokang Paro will be going through Rachen Gompa. Rachen Gompa is a monastery and you will also visit the sacred cave i.e. Piren Phu. The distance covered will be 16km with an altitude of 3700m to 3031 m with 6 hours of walking.

The distance covered will be 12 km with an altitude of 3031m to 3200m. it takes 6 hours by walking and night stay at Gompa

The distance covered will be 20km with an altitude of 3200m to 2240m with a walking distance of 7 to 8 hours. Overnight stay at Mountain Lodge.

The distance covered will be 9km with an altitude of 2240m to 1860m with 4 to 5 hours of walking. After taking hot Breakfast, you will Continue from Lokpa down the exposed track until the track from Philim comes in from the left. Turn right, cross the Buri Gandaki on a solid bridge after about 1hr, and traverse to Nyak Phedi. Enter a very narrow gorge up and down, up and down. Cross to the suspension bridge. After about 2hrs reach to Deng (1800m), Night stays at Mountain Lodge.

Today we will enter a beautiful forest of fir and rhododendron with many birds, staying on the south bank, cross north on a bridge with a roaring narrow canyon below then cross back to the south bank on a new swing bridge with grey langurs watching. The main trail now climbs on well-made stairs. After about 1hr, climb a zigzag from the river to the neat village of Namrung (2660m) with shops, restaurants about the flag-stoned square. The distance will be 17km long with an altitude of 1860m to 2630m. this will take 7 hours by walking and then night stay at Mountain Lodge.

Pass mani walls, fields, and houses through Banjam, enter the fir, rhododendron, and oak forest before climbing to Lihi (2900m). Most people from here onwards wear traditional Tibetan dress, with the children in small chubas. There are some particularly fine paintings in the kani (gate arches) that you pass before Sho. A leisurely walk onwards, in and out of gullies to Lho (3180m; Lho Gaun) with the excellent views of Manaslu (8163m) and Manaslu North (7157m) from the mani wall at the far end of the village and from the gompa on the hill to the west. The views of Manaslu are stupendous. Easy walk to Shyala (3520m) up a pine and rhododendron gully with moss and gin-clear stream. Enjoy 360° views from here. Another easy hour to the large village of Samagaon offers great views of Manaslu, a beautiful old Monastery, a typical Tibetan village, and many mountains. Day-long acclimatization trips can be taken from here to Pungyen Gompa or to Manaslu Base Camp (4900m) An afternoon walk to the Kargyu Chholing Gompa is recommended. Overnight at Guest House. The distance covered will be 17 km with an altitude of 2630m to 3520m. Walking 7 hours and night stay at Mountain Lodge.

You will be staying at Sama Gaun and you have the option to visit three different places here. You will be spending a whole day ay Sama Gaun. Since this is an acclimatization day, the three places are:
Option1: Hike to Pungen Gompa and back to Sama Gaun.
Distance: 14 km. Altitude: 3520 meters – 4050 meters – 3520 meters. Walking for 6 hours. Night Stay at Mountain Lodge.
Option 2: Hike to Birendra Tal and back to Sama Gaun.
Distance: 4.3 km. Walking for 2 hours. Night Stay at Mountain Lodge.
Option 3: Hike to Manaslu Base Camp and back to Sama Gaun. Distance: Around 17 km. Altitude: 3520 meters – 4400 meters – 3520 meters. Walking 7/8 hours.

You will be having your breakfast and lunch at Sama Gaun residence. The distance covered will be 9 km with an altitude: 3520 meters – 3875 meters. It takes about 3:30/ 4 hours walking. Easy walking through yak pastures up a broad valley with long mani walls Finally leave the treeline behind, although low-lying juniper is all around, climb to a ridge and drop to cross the Buri Gandaki on a wooden bridge. It takes few minutes to reach the white stupa above and immediately behind is Samdo (3870m), a very picturesque village dedicated to yak herding, so much so that there are more animal and fodder shelters than human accommodation. Side valleys and Samdo Peak call out for afternoon wandering. The Larkya La trail is ahead up the valley and left. You can see the main track for Tibet over the Lajyung Bhanjyang, 5098m) sloping up to the right from the Larkya La trail and you can make an excellent afternoon acclimatization walk of 4-5hrs return to 4500m up this trail, seeing lots of blue sheep and yaks and entrancing views, but the pass itself is a full day trip. The first village and road in Tibet are about 2hrs beyond the pass with access currently blocked by China even for locals. There is a lot of Chinese/ Tibetan drinks for sale in Samdo. Overnight at Guest House.

After hot Breakfast, Descend beyond Samdo on a broad trail, dropping to cross the river and Pass the trail to Tibet to the right and climb left after a mani wall. Cross two ravines on narrow tracks, very icy towards winter. There was Larke Bazar (market) from Tibet to trade in this area. After gradually climb to the north-west side you will reach Dharamsala (Larke Phedi, Larkya Resthouse) is now a seasonal village with freezing rooms and tents. The views are marvelous. You will see a large herd of blue sheep and some Himalayan animals in this place. Overnight at Camp. The distance will be 6 km. Altitude: 3875 meters to 4460 meters.

Today we have to note that if snow has fallen overnight and there have been high winds, then there may be less snow as you climb making the pass still crossable. Climb steadily over the ridge behind Dharamsala and beside the large lateral moraine of the Larke Glacier. The climb is not difficult but it is long and rocky underfoot, particularly as you top the moraine. Descend past four frozen lakes and make a final tiring climb to the left up to Larkya La (5160m), marked by prayer flags. It takes about 3-5hrs to reach the pass and it can be very cold and windy with a risk of exposure if under-equipped or ill. The peaks to the west are Himlung (7126m) near Tibet and Kang Guru (6981m) and Annapurna II (7937m) in the Annapurna Range. There are several places where snow or ice would make this treacherous and some groups fix a rope on the steepest piece. Make a long descent on loose gravel to a welcome more level area with grassy moraine, where the angle eases. The track now runs left of the large lateral moraine, rocky at times, in a widening and beautiful valley all the long way to very scenic Bimthang (3720m; ‘plain of sand’), a descent of 1400m in about 3hrs. The views during the descent are huge – icefalls and mountains in all directions, a medial glacial lake (Pongkar Tal) between the Pongkar and Salpudanda Glaciers, and the joining of these two glaciers with a third glacier to form the Bhimtang Glacier whose lateral moraine towers over Bimthang. Overnight at Guest House. The distance will be 15 km. Altitude: 4460 meters to 5160 meters to 3590 meters. Walking 8/9 hours

Today we will walk south below Bimthang behind the moraine wall for some time before crossing the Bhimtang Glacier, which can be loose underfoot. Climb up the far moraine wall quickly to avoid stone-fall and enter the beautiful forest. If you are in rhododendron season, the mauves, reds, pinks, and whites are stunning amongst the huge pines and the views of the back of Mt Manaslu are superb. Descend rapidly along the true right bank of the aptly named Dudh Khola through Hompuk (3420m) in a forest clearing. Gentle riverside walking continues rapidly to Surki 2700m. for lunch. In the next hour, you will see many signs of a glacial flood, with tree trunks smashed and banks undermined, the track becoming quite rough. Climb steeply over a ridge and drop to Goa (2560m) the first real village since Samdo. The valley becomes more agricultural as you pass fields and copses of oak and rhododendron. Then you will each to Tilje village, Pass under a stone arch, cross the Dudh Khola and descend rapidly towards the Marsyangdi Valley to the north bank and climb up to join the main round-Annapurna trail, over the Marsyangdi River on a long suspension bridge. Turn left into Dharapani (1963m). Overnight at Guest House with a clean hot shower. The distance covered will be 22km with an altitude of 3590m to 1963m. this will cover 8 to 9 hours of walking distance and night stay at Mountain Lodge. There is another option too i.e. Bhimtang to Tilje with is 22km with an altitude of 3590m to 2300 meters. It will take you 7 hours to walk.

Today we will take transport ( Jeep) on way to Besisahar with the views of Marshyangdi river, waterfalls, villages, mountains. It takes about 4/5 hours to Besisahar. Then, we will drive for Kathmandu, after 2 hrs drive, the road will meet the regular Prithvi highway (KTM-Pokhara) at Dumre than continue to drive through the bank of popular Trisuli River. The last part of driving is uphills for a couple of hours then you will reach Kathmandu Valley. Overnight at Hotel.

Our Representatives will drop you to Kathmandu International Airport for your onward destination and hoping to see you next time.