| Trip code | |
| Package name | Tsum Valley and Manasalu Combination |
| Duration | 22 |
| Max. elevation | 5135 m |
| Level | CHALLENGING |
| Transportation | By Bus |
| Accomodation | Guesthouse |
| Starts at | Kathmandu |
| Ends at | Kathmandu |
| Trip route | Arughat-Mu Gompa-Samdo-Larkya la pass -Dharapani-Besisahar |
| Cost | USD 1,700 per person |
One of the most remote treks in Nepal's Himalayas is the Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek. The Ganesh Himal, Siringi Himal, and Boudha hills provide a grand background to this walk. The Tibetan border town of Tsum, which translates to "vibrant" in Tibetan, is situated in the center of the most isolated and hidden Himalayan valley. This Manaslu Tsum Valley walking trail is surrounded by rock walls constructed of thousands of stone slabs that have been carved with drawings of divinities and written with prayers. It also features isolated artistic chortens, monasteries, religious orders, and prayer flags.
A representative of Adventure Glacier Treks will meet you at the arrival gate of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Kathmandu. And you will be transferred to a hotel, after which there will be a briefing about the necessary procedures, the climbing route, and your climbing permit. Depending on your arrival time, you can spend your free time visiting nearby temples or taking a break.
We will analyze the gear you need for the treks and, if we have any, recommend that you buy, rent, or receive it from us. The Kathmandu Valley may be explored in a single day. If you'd like, we may arrange for a tour guide to assist you as you tour Kathmandu (it costs extra).
After breakfast in Kathmandu, we will drive to Machha Khola. Seeing the road condition, the bus ride may be lengthy, so brace yourself and prepare to enjoy the scenery. The road can be bumpy at times. Experience the thrill of a local ride.
Cross a river and ascend to Khorla Besi from Machha Khola. You will slowly walk along a beautiful river valley, passing by waterfalls and landslides. The trail will take you to Tatopani village, which is known for its natural hot springs, and then across the Budhi Gandaki river on an exciting suspension bridge. You will climb up to Thado Bharyang after passing through Doban and crossing another suspension bridge over Yaru Khola. The way leads to Jagat from here.
To get to Sirdibas (1,430 m), the first Buddhist town on this walk, we will go along the riverbank, cross a steep ridge at Salleri (1,440 m), where we will get spectacular views of Sringi Himal (7,187 m), and then descend. Before crossing Nepal's largest suspension bridge and continuing uphill to the Gurung village of Philim (1,590 m), we will be trekking upriver through fields of millet, millet, and potato as well as blue pine, poplar, and oak forest. A large region of pine trees can be reached after hiking for about an hour through Ekle Bhatti (1,600 m), then ascending above the Marvelous Gorge. It will take around 6 hours to reach Lokpa.
Today's hike will include the most challenging hills and steps, but it will be delightful as we stroll through a lovely mixed forest, listening to the sounds of birds, a river, and a soft wind. We typically have to cross the footbridge to reach Chumling. Although it's a little more difficult, the trek is shorter than our usual one. Visit the old gompa (Tibetan monastery), the traditional homes, and the lovely stone streets while walking through Chumling. There is a 4-hour hike from Lokpa to Chumling.
We begin our tour today by going through fertile farmland that is surrounded by high stone walls that keep out animals. beautiful, authentic-looking Tibetan classic homes with stone arched gates, mani walls, and fuel bundles on the roofs. With long suspension bridges on the opposite bank, far above the village of Ripchet (2,468 m), the hike across the Serpu Khola takes us to Upper Tsum and the sizable village of Chhokangparo. You can enjoy great views of the 7,422-meter Ganesh Himal while trekking across the big slip that is now covered in a forest (3,010 m).
The path winds through small villages and ascends reflecting growing cliffs through plain fields. We go to Milarepa's Cave, where we can see Milarepa's footprint and where the Buddha's bringer to Tibet is said to have meditated. We'll walk across Shiar Khola. Nile and Chule, two villages on opposite sides of Shiar Khola, are home to the oldest Buddhist monasteries. The chortens are fantastic and very authentic, and today is probably one of the best days on our trek for seeing a lot of beautiful scenery. (7-hour journey).
Trekking downhill from Mu Gompa, we will visit Rachen Gompa Nunnery, the female equivalent of Kathmandu's main Kopan Monastery, with its massive courtyard. From where you walked two days ago, you probably have the best views of Tsum valley.
Walking back to Chhokangparo, via the previously traveled route for two hours until reaching the little gompa at Gho (2,485 m), and then walking down to the Shiar Khola, and over to Dumje, a community of eight dispersed dwellings and a school and clinic for Tibetan herbal medicine. Trekking steeply up from Dumje through stunning forests of massive silver pines and rhododendrons The Gumba Lungdang (3,200 m), likely the valley's oldest monastery, is located on a ridge with breathtaking views. There are 40 monks living in this gompa, and every evening from 6 to 7:30 is a very important time for puja.
Our efforts are rewarded with some of the best views of the imposing Ganesh Himal and the surrounding alpine landscape as we make the roughly four-hour hike to the base camp. We retreat down the trail to Gompa Lungdang after taking enough time to enjoy the panora
As we make it to Ripchet on our return, we take the diversion, which offers us a fresh and satisfying view of the surroundings.
Our attention returns to the trail through the Manaslu region and to our final destination of Larke La Pass as we say goodbye to our stay in the magical Tsum Valley. The Budhi Gandaki River welcomes us and directs us westward towards Pewa before continuing up the valley's steep sides to Deng.
Until we reach Ghap, the track leads us gently through woodlands. From there, it gradually gains altitude as we follow the river's nearby swirling white water. We enter Namrung after one more difficult climb.
Tibetan culture has a strong influence on the surrounding area. The cliffs are disappearing as we trek to a valley with views of Manaslu (8,163 m), Manaslu North (7,157 m), and Naike Peak (5,515 m). We continue through forests of fir, rhododendron, oak, and Khani to the village of Lihi, which has a few gompas. We hike through the Shrip Gorge and over the Hinan Khola into the village of Lho. Trek through dense forests from Lho to a plateau at Shyaula (3,520 m), with spectacular views of Himalchuli (7,893 m), Ngada Chuli (7,879 m), and Manaslu. Because we arrive before lunch, we have enough time to visit Pungyen Gompa and Manaslu Glacier Lake (Birendra Tal). (6-hour trip with stops).
The trail today appears to be easy, as it is mostly flat through juniper and birch forests via Kermo Kharka, and then we hike down to cross the river. After reaching the merging of the Budhi Gandaki and Shyale Khola valleys, the village of Samdo is a Tibetan refugee settlement just below the Pang Puchi's summit (6,335 m). Tibetans, pilgrims, traders, and smugglers all used the last valley. We can rest and explore Samdo's village ( 3-hour trek).
We have the option of taking an interesting 8-hour side trip to the Tibetan border with our packed lunch and plenty of drinking water or simply walking around Samdo and observing their daily life, which is also very interesting. It not only allows you to observe daily life, but it also shows you the various stories of the locals.
We descend to 3,850 meters to cross the Budhi Gandaki before ascending through juniper and tundra in and out of ravines to the Larkya Guest House, the final stop before Larkya La. (the pass). Dharamsala is another name for this location (4-hour trek).
We must leave early in the morning to catch the sunrise over the pass (5135 m) and to avoid the strong wind after midday. Before beginning the steep hike down to Bimtang, please keep your torch handy as you begin the long, impressive trek over countless ridges to the prayer flags and cairns. When the sun shines on the half-frozen lakes on the pass, they are breathtaking.
We trek from Bimtang through the forests and pastures of the Dudh Khola Valley to Dharapani, where we join the more popular, but less spectacular, Annapurna Circuit Trek, thanks to Manaslu. (8-hour journey).
We will descend from Dharapani. To reach Jagat, we descend near the Marsyangdi Nadi Gorgeto. (6-hour journey). While trekking down from Dharapani, you will be treated to a stunning scenic view.
For the first half of the day, we will travel to Besisahar in a Jeep. You will get a view of the village surrounding Besisahar. After we have refreshed, we will take a bus from Besisahar to Kathmandu. It will take us about ten hours to travel from Besisahar to Kathmandu.