Experience the magnificence of Mt. Manaslu while trudging along the subtropical chain of mountain foothills to the arid trans- Himalayan pastures bordering Sit sang with Manaslu circuit and Tsum valley trek.
The Manaslu Circuit Trek is a remote and challenging trip with rough steep tracks and culturally fascinating sights. Linked to Tibet in the upper Buri Gandaki (called Nupri ‘the western mountains’) and the Tsum Valley, this adventurous trek passes through the Larke-La (5215 m) pass while flaunting the spectacular views of Mt Manaslu (the eighth highest mountain in the world) in the backdrop.
The trek itself is very diverse with varying landscapes of lush green meadows, sub-tropical forests to up-close views of Manaslu mastiffs. Passing through Gurung villages, this trail is one of the challenging and strenuous treks in Nepal as the higher elevated Larke-La Pass requires technical skills while descending a slope of right after the pass and long side trip to Tibetan border from Sambo.
Anyone intending to do this trek must be in good shape with some trekking experience in high altitudes. People with a respiratory problem should be cautious and consult their doctor before heading for this trek as the trail elevates above 5000m increasing the chances of getting HAPE or HACE due to the thin air at high altitude.
If you intend to trek to the untrodden paths in the Manaslu region of Nepal, then, this combination of the Manaslu Circuit with Tsum Valley is just the trek for you.
Experience trudging in the off the beaten paths of the once forbidden Tsum valley while circuiting around the Manaslu region of Nepal with Manaslu valley and Tsum valley trek!
Trip Code
MCTV22
Starts
Soti khola
Finishes
Dharapani
Duration
23 Days
Difficulty
Hard
Group-Size
2 - 14
Age
Minimum 16
Seasons
Mar-May,Sep-Nov
Elevation
5215 m/ 17109.6ft
Trip View
2642
Activities
Trekking
Travel Style
Comfortable
Trip popularity
TRIP FACTS
Mount Manaslu (8,156m) is the eighth highest peak in the world from where 10 peaks of over 6,500m can be seen.
Toshio Imanishi and Gyalzen Norbu were the first to climb Mount Manaslu on 9th May 1956 as a part of Japanese Expedition Team.
Manaslu and Tsum Valleys are the valleys reminiscent of paradise which can only be reached with enormous hardship.
Tsum is said to be a beyul, one of the hidden valleys which Padmasambhava blessed as refuges to be discovered when the planet is approaching destruction and the world becomes too corrupt for spiritual practices.
This trek features all the great aspects of the classic trek in Nepal: epic scenery, spectacular suspension bridge crossing and even the Larkya La Pass (5,160m).
Why this Trip
Manaslu Circuit is off the beaten trek that takes you to remote places of Nepal offering you beautiful sceneries and wildlife. It is a half camping trip in a most comfortable way.
Trip Notes
•We reserve the right to change and that the program may be reversed. Things can happen that make it impossible to meet them as planned. If any meeting or plan would not be feasible, we always try to find an equivalent alternative. In Nepal, you always have a plan B and C!
•What follows is a general flow of events. Expect the unexpected and prepare to be flexible
•A trekking permit is a must to travel to controlled areas. Permit, however, is issued only to groups. Individual trekkers will not be issued trekking permit
As soon as the airplane lands, you’ll sense the beginning of adventure. Our representative will be at airport to greet you and escort you to the hotel. Savor the taste of hustle and bustle in Kathmandu, where everyone would seem busy but never too busy to greet you with smile. In the evening, we will brief about the itinerary and later we will go for nice dinner. Overnight stay at hotel;
Kathmandu valley is an ancient city with diverse cultures and traditions. It has significant part in the history of Nepal. Home to 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, it has been chosen as a cultural and historical site of study and excursions throughout the history. We’ll observe some of the UNESCO world heritage sites in Kathmandu throughout a day. Overnight stay at hotel;
In the morning, we leave Kathmandu and drive all the way to Arughat. From Arughat we pass through hydroelectricity project, well cultivated -rice/millet fields until Maltar. Budhi Gandaki valley now appears narrow and steep; trail crosses through Arkhet Khola and finally reaches Sotikhola. Overnight stay at Sotikhola;
Today our trek begins. After breakfast, we trek towards Gurung village Labubesi (880m). Leaving Labubesi behind we further trek to Machhakhola (900m), from where we can have access to the area of Ganesh Himal. Overnight at Machhakhola;
Leaving Machhakhola and passing through Khrolabesi, we reach a hot spring called Tatopani. Here we can relax for some time but we need to continue our trek to Jagat (1410m) along beautiful forests. We will reach at Dovan after few hours, below which flows the massive Budi Gandaki River. As the elevation increases, the trails and the scenery undergo a complete transformation. Jagat is a humble village with average accommodation teahouses and above average sceneries. Overnight stay at Jagat;
From Jagat, we will climb over the ridge to Salleri (1440m); which has wonderful views of Mt. Shringi (7187m). We descend through Sirdibas and again climb up to Philim (1590m) surrounded by rich fields of maize, potato and millet. Overnight at Philim;
On this day, we traverse through pretty forests opening up to the views of the narrowing valley. We climb up for a short time before we reach Ekle Bhatti (1600m) then meander high above a spectacular gorge, entering woods of pine trees. Later we go down to a junction that has two ways to Ghap and Tsum. We take right and head towards Tsum valley. We walk for decent amount of time and reach Lokpa (2240m), surrounded by barley fields. After further walk we reach Chumling. Overnight stay at Chumling;
After breakfast, we will cross the suspension bridge from the east of the hotel and pass through well cultivated farming land of maize and potatoes. We can find traditional Tibetan houses on the way. Up the valley to the east are superb views of several of the 7000m-7400m mountain peaks such as Mt. Ganesh. We will also encounter long suspension bridges, and we will reach the perched village of Ripchet (2468m). We will cross the Serpu Khola and climb for 2hrs to upper Tsum and the joined villages of Chhokang-Paro (3010m). Overnight stay at Chhokang Paro;
We will depart from Chhokanparo to Nille after breakfast. We head east through small villages and past a local school, climb over a ridge of Chortens and past Lamagaon(3202m) through the flat fields, looking across the extensive crops and river. We will visit to the huge courtyard of the Rachen Gompa Nunnery (3240m). This Gompa only allows women to enter. Then we will cross the Shiar Khola, pass through hamlets of Phurbe (3251m) and Pang dun (3258m) and pass an unusual round Stupa before reaching the larger village of Chhule (3347m) through an impressive entrance gate (kani). The children here all wear the Tibetan dressing gown called chubas and there are many yaks. We will then head upstream to cross the bridge and climb to Nile (3361m).Overnight stay at Nile;
We leave Nile at dawn after breakfast, enjoying sunrise on the narrowing valley walls, yaks being put to pasture and a day with just a light Pack. The final climb up to the large Mu Gompa (3700m) is through dry Tibetan country, with rows of Chhortens and widening mountain vistas. Mu Gompa is the largest monastery in the region. The Gompa lies at the highest and most remote part of the Tsum Valley. We pass through Kalung, Chhule, Phurbe, and Rachen Gompa. Overnight stay at Mu Gumba;
After beautiful morning sunrise with 360-degree view of the mountains around us, we'll gradually bid farewell to our destination and return Chokkang paro. It is considerably an easy day compared to all other days of the trip. Overnight at a teahouse in Chokkang Paro;
After breakfast, we will continue from Lokpa down the exposed track until the track from Philim comes in from the left. We will then turn right, cross the Buri Gandaki on a solid bridge and traverse to a welcome bhatti just around the corner for tea and a last look up the Tsum Valley. We will then enter a very narrow gorge with loose tracks, up and down, up and down. We will cross to the east bank (true left) at one point and then back again to the west bank on a sloping suspension bridge. Then we will enter Nupri (‘the western mountains’) through bamboo forests to Deng (1800m), inhabited by Gurungs who practice Buddhism. There are quite a few lodges here after the Mani wall. Overnight stay at Deng;
We leave Deng after breakfast and climb to Rana (1980m) and pass the trail up to Bhi (2130m; Bhi). We will continue in and out of canyons, cross the Serang Khola coming from the north and climb steeply again before finally circling into Ghap (2160m; Tsak). From Ghap, we will enter Namrung. Overnight stay at Namrung;
From Namgrung, we will depart for scenic village of Syala. Syala is a beautiful village that’s offers 360 degree view of mountains and hills. Overnight at Syala;
In the morning we can see the glorious sunrise from the Syala and after the breakfast, we head for Sama Gaon which is around 2-3 hours of walk. Upon reaching our tea house, we rest for a while and start walking up towards Manaslu Base Camp for acclimatization. Overnight stay at Sama gaon;
From Sama Gompa we will head towards Samdo via Kargyu Chholing Gompa and pass through rivers, juniper and rich forests and stone huts of Kermo Kharka. From Kemo Kharka trail gets rougher, crosses the Buri Gandaki and after a long walk we reach Samdo (3860m). Overnight at Samdo;
Today, we start our day by crossing wooden bridge over Budi Gandaki River and hike. We hike for a short period of time until we see Larkya Glacier. We cross through the beautiful fields and rivers and reach Dharamsala after about 5 hours of walk. Overnight at Dharamsala;
On this day, we make a short climb after wrapping up with our morning breakfast and reach a valley on the north side of Larkya Glacier with exquisite view of Larkya Peak. The trail is now going to be rougher and indistinct as it crosses the moraine to the south and grassy slope. We cross through the Larkya Pass (5100m) and reach Tauhuche. Later, we walk further towards Bhimtang to spend the night. The whole walk will take us about 5 hours that day. Overnight at Bhimtang;
The trail drops from Bhimtang and cross glacier stream. After climbing over the glacier we enter rhododendron forest to reach Hompuk (3430m). We will then pass through Karache, Gho and finally reach Tilije (2300m). Overnight at Tilije;
Today, we walk through stone-paved path passing through beautiful village alongside river and reach Dharapani where our trekking journey stops and we hop onto a jeep and reach Besisahar after few hours of bumpy jeep ride. Overnight at Besisahar;
After breakfast, we head towards Kathmandu. We pass through Trishuli River and picturesque villages which takes about 5-7 hours to reach Kathmandu Valley. Upon reaching Kathmandu, you will be transferred to Hotel. Overnight at Hotel;
Depending on your flight time, you will be transferred to the airport. The airport check-in is 3 hours prior to the departure time and the hotel checkout time is usually 12 P.M. Our representative will meet you at the hotel and transfer you to the airport.
For nights in cities, we use standard/superior standard/deluxe rooms whereas, during the trek we use lodges/tea houses/guesthouses/home stay for our clients, and whatever is available and accessible. We also arrange sleeping bags for our clients, on their request.
We believe in operating small intimate group to provide personal attention and services to our guests. Small groups can enjoy the trek hassle free and enjoy the customized trip according to their need and suitability. We do not incorporate more than 14 People in a group, unless we get special requests from our clients.
Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley Trek is a restricted area and requires special permit. It is little bit hard to do this trek so you must be fit, strong and healthy while doing this trek and also Manaslu circuit trek is restricted which required special permit.
Yes, Nepal can proudly boast as one of the safest countries in South Asia for women, you will find people very friendly and respectful especially towards women. Locals are very respectful and welcoming toward women and tourist in general and our guides will make sure you are comfortable and safe while trekking in remote areas.
We make sure to take security measures during trek to make your trip delightful. We hire experienced and license holding guides to safeguard your life in mountains. We suggest you to follow the guide’s instruction carefully and take responsibility for personal belongings. Always keep your valued belongings near you and lock the door from inside during the night.
Manaslu Manang and Tsum Valley Trek is trekking region and mostly we spend our night at Guesthouse. In Guesthouse, you can get pasta, noodles, bread, soup etc. Dal Bhat (Rice, Lentils and Vegetables) are great way to gain energy for the strenuous trek. As you trek higher it’s better to avoid meat because non-vegetarian is heavy meals which may cause food poisoning so we avoid it.
There are plenty of water stations on each stop on the route. You can easily fill up the bottle from the open taps. We recommend that you bring water purifier tablets with you or at least get it from Kathmandu before you depart for trekking. You can also buy mineral waters but we usually recommend tap water which is pure and it helps us not promoting plastic bottled water.
We use private car for sightseeing inside the Kathmandu Valley and to drive towards Sotikhola we will use jeep. We also drop and pick up from the starting and ending point of trek on private car or Jeep depending on the number of travellers.
Spring season (March to June) and autumn season (September to December) are the best time to do this trek, in winters it is difficult to trek in snow and harsh cold.
Before coming to Nepal make sure that you are covered by insurance policy for the altitude of 5500 meters. In the case of an emergency like altitude sickness, dehydration or any medical conditions ask your tour leader/guide to contact us as soon as possible so that we can manage/arrange helicopter for the rescue. Then you will be transferred to hospital for the treatment.
Trekking in Manaslu Manang and Tsum Valley is a little bit hard and tiresome activity that requires a lot of physical movement so pack your active wears and trekking pants for at lower altitudes. Weather at high altitude is unpredictable so carry a light weight waterproof jacket along with thick down jacket, pant and thermal innerwear to escape severe cold. Needless to say that, Good shoes are very important for trekking in rough and snowy terrain, so invest on good quality shoes or rent it from us in a minimum price. As you are trekking in remote village try to wear modest clothes to quickly gel up with the local people without hesitation.
We contact the lodge/guesthouse owner for reservation of the room before trekking on a particular day. On other days, porters reach the destination on advance and book the rooms for you. But there are always going to be exceptions but even in those cases, we may have to be flexible about very basic sleeping arrangements. We always try to make sure that we have everything well arranged.
All our Guides are trekking experts holding license from Nepal Tourism Board, Nepal Government. They are the most valuable assets of the company. Guides know the trekking route like the back of their hand and use their expertise in ensuring your safety in the mountains.
While trekking in higher lands you need to pay for charging the electronics upon request to the owner. The best idea always is to bring your power bank with you. It is easier and cheaper.
In some villages, you can make local and international calls from telephone provided by the guesthouse owner after paying the price directly. Our guide also provided with a mobile phone in case of emergency you can call from his mobile and make a call.
If you need extra day to complete the trekking, you will need to inform the guide in advance and the guide will let the company know. Adding a day to trekking can result in many changes in other arrangements such as transportation, guide’s schedule, flight details, hotel bookings and all, so we really do not recommend this to our clients unless there is an emergency case. But it is true that those changes could be made but it will cost extra. The best way to do it is to inform the agent company about it.
Before coming to Nepal make sure you are covered for diphtheria & TB, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, malaria, typhoid, polio and tetanus. Make sure you are in best shape to complete the trekking without any complication.
Usually, we have to walk about 7-9 hours a day. But it should not be taken as certain thing because the hours of walk depends on clients' speed. So it is really relative.
To confirm your booking, a deposit of 15% of total trip amount is required if you are booking at least a year in advance before trip departure date. If booking is made between 100-364 days before the trip departure, you'll need to pay 20% to confirm the trip. If payment is made between 99-60 days, 25% of the total trip amount will need to be paid and if booked between 59-30 days, 50% of the total trip amount needs to be paid and finally, if you are booking 29 days prior to trip departure, then 100% payment should be made. The payments can be easily made by the bank transfer. The due balance is payable on arrival in Kathmandu with cash (preferably USD/EURO) or card on POS/credit card machine. Please note that non refundable fee is 10% or $200 whichever is greater.
You cannot use the credit card during the trek. You have to withdraw the money before you start the trek. You can use credit card only in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
You have to carry your personal bags with water bottle and medicines remaining bags will be carried by porters to make you easy to trek. The weight limit for porters is 15 KG.
