Manaslu Circuit Trek with Tsum Valley Trek- 21 days

On arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, a representative of Altitude Quets will receive you and transport you to your hotel in Kathmandu. On arrival, you may settle in or go sightseeing around Thamel. You will meet your trekking guide today in the evening.

Today is meant for preparations for your Himalayan adventure. Your trek guide will conduct a detailed trek briefing on safety, altitude, equipment, and the trekking itinerary. While this happens, we take care of all the trekking permits that are needed for your trekking in the restricted Manaslu and Tsum Valley regions. You will have time to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu and do some shopping for your trekking.

Today starts with a pleasant drive in the beautiful countryside of Nepal. We will be driving through the countryside following the rivers of Trishuli and Budhi Gandaki Rivers and you will get to see terraces, villages, waterfalls, and winding mountain roads on the way to Jagat which is the official gate of the Manaslu Conservation Area.

The trek slowly ascends through thick forests, suspension bridges, and typical Gurung villages. After crossing Philim, the peaceful trails take you towards the secretive Tsum Valley. With the diminishing crowds, you will find the landscapes becoming more and more isolated and interesting from a cultural perspective.

Here lies the experience of actually being in a remote Himalayan valley. You will trek through the thick pine, rhododendron and Himalayan forest, and at intervals, you will see cliffs and mountainscapes.It's not all easy trekking, since it entails some ups and downs along the valley. At various times, you will cross small streams, hike on the narrow part of the hillside, and enjoy the calm atmosphere. As you near Chumling, the scenery begins to open up, and the villages that have been influenced by Tibetan culture begin to come into view, together with some stunning mountain ranges.

Chumling is a quiet and small village located above the Shiar Khola. It offers you views of the Ganesh Himal Range and the other Himalayan mountains. The afternoon is the best time to tour around the village and get to know the people and their lifestyle.

On today’s adventure, you get into the upper part of the Tsum Valley where the culture and landscape become more specific. Following breakfast, the route passes through the forested areas and traditional settlements to get to Chhokang Paro village, considered the most beautiful village in the valley. Here, the influence of Tibetan Buddhism is quite pronounced. You will see stone houses, prayer flags, mani walls, chortens, and prayer wheels on your way. The beautiful mountains and valley walls will create additional scenery during your hike.

From Chhokang Paro, your way goes to Lamagaon while you will be able to pay attention to the important Buddhist cultural places here. Rachen Nunnery is a place worth visiting in the Tsum Valley. This nunnery is one of the centers of Tibetan Buddhist culture where you can learn more about the tradition which has existed here for many years.

Moreover, you may visit Tsum Monastery depending on the schedule of your trip. Thus, it is not just sightseeing but rather an insight into the cultural and religious values of the valley. By the moment you reach Lamagaon, you will feel the increased height and cooler climate typical of the Himalayas. The best thing you can do here in the evening is to have some rest.

Today is one of the most satisfying days in the Tsum Valley. Once you are done with your breakfast, you begin hiking to Mu Gompa, which is the highest and one of the most significant monasteries in the valley.

The trail slowly gains height in the increasingly barren landscapes of the Himalayas. As you ascend, the vegetation gets sparse, while the view expands. The serene setting, dramatic mountain faces, and the old Buddhist architecture create an entirely different ambience from that of the earlier portions of the trek.

Mu Gompa is located at approximately 3,700 meters and is noted for its isolation and deep association with Tibetan Buddhism. You may take some time to visit the monastery and its vicinity, and depending on the weather, have a look at the beautiful vistas of the mountainous region. Due to the high altitude of the trek, it should be walked at a comfortable pace. There is no need to hurry as the purpose of today is to explore the beautiful high Himalayan setting and its atmosphere. Once done exploring Mu Gompa, head back along the same route and make your way to the Nile. The descending part of the journey should be relatively easier as you are losing altitude on the trek.

Today is relatively easy since you follow the same route through the beautiful Upper Tsum Valley. Breakfast and then you walk down to Lamagaon.

Following the same path will offer you another view of the scenery around you. You get the chance to enjoy the mountains, the forests, the villages, the mani walls, and the Buddhist monuments that you may have hurried past before. The journey down offers you some relief from walking at high altitudes for some time. You will notice that the landscape around you is becoming greener as you go lower in altitude. At Lamagaon, you will have an opportunity to relax in the calm atmosphere. In case you have not seen all the cultural monuments on the way up, you can spend the afternoon visiting the village and its surroundings.

Today marks the start of a big difference both in terms of altitude and the terrain you are moving through. Following breakfast, you depart from Lamagaon to descend towards Bihi Village. This trek starts to take you out of the high and dry territory of the Upper Tsum Valley into greener, forested regions. This is due to the gradual loss of height and increase in warmth. The trail follows through the traditional Himalayan settlements and the valleys of the Budhi Gandaki River as well as the neighboring mountain faces. This means that there are many bridges to cross and other natural landmarks as seen before.

Your descent to Bihi Village which is located 1,990 meters up the valley is definitely noticeable since it is the first time you are below 3,000 meters altitude for some time. This is a picturesque traditional village located amidst the green hills and majestic Himalayan terrains. Following your arrival, it is nice to take it easy in the village and feel the change in the scenery since entering the Tsum Valley area.

The trek route will deviate from the main track in order to make an enjoyable trip to one of the most ancient and respected monasteries of the Nubri area named Serang Gompa. The path goes up along the pine and rhododendron forests with occasional glimpses of the magnificent view of the surrounding peaks. Once arrived at the destination, spend some time exploring the peaceful monastery admiring its beautiful murals and prayer halls.

After having a peaceful morning at Serang Gompa, go down to return back to the normal trail of Manaslu trekking route and move on to reach Namrung. While going higher into the Himalayas, you will see the environment changing from subtropical forest to alpine environment. Tibetan villages, beautifully crafted mani stones, spinning prayer wheels, and decorated chortens can be seen along the trail. Once at Namrung, admire the amazing views of Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, and Himalchuli while exploring one of the most culturally enriched villages of the region.

The trekking today will be considered one of the most scenic treks in the trip. You will ascend along the alpine forests and villages, coming across Lho village where you can find an impressive Ribung Monastery. Pass through Shyo village to reach Shyala village. This charming village, situated amid towering Himalayas, gives a great view of the peaks such as Manaslu, Himalchuli, Ngadi Chuli, Peak 29 (Nagdi Chuli) and Manaslu North.

While the conventional trek route ends at Sama Gaon, this route makes an interesting deviation to the amazing Pungen Gompa. Located under the huge glaciers of Mount Manaslu, this monastery provides the best viewpoint of the mountain excluding Base Camp. Get mesmerized by the hanging glaciers, icefalls, and stunning mountain view before going down to Sama Gaon which is the biggest settlement in the upper region of Manaslu. Explore this village with its traditional Tibetan architecture and culture.

This day will be devoted to acclimatization for a safe journey up to Larkya La Pass. The rule of "climb high and sleep low" gives you two options: either hike up to the beautiful lake of Birendra or go even further up to Manaslu Base Camp to get breathtaking views of Mount Manaslu, glaciers, and the other peaks. You may spend some time in the ancient monasteries of Sama Gaon and meet the local villagers.

Today's rather short walk will take us up a gentle climb via large glacial valleys, yak grazing land and alpine environment. As vegetation starts getting sparse, the view of the great mountains like that of Manaslu, Samdo Peak and others will occupy most of our attention. Upon reaching the small Tibetan refugee village of Samdo situated within a few kilometers of the Tibetan border we will be experiencing a fascinating combination of the Himalayan culture, tradition of trading and amazing mountain landscapes.

After breakfast, the walk will take us gradually towards the last village before crossing the Larkya La Pass called Dharmasala or Larkya Phedi. The route takes us up a gentle slope over a rocky Alpine landscape where we cross many glacial streams and gain better views of the Larkya glacier and surrounding snowy mountains. We reach here to rest and prepare ourselves for the next day's pass crossing.

This is the most challenging but also the most rewarding day during the whole trek. Start your morning early and begin climbing the Larkya La Pass via moraines and snow-covered trails. On summiting the Larkya La Pass, savor your moment and enjoy the stunning vistas of Mount Manaslu, Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kang Guru, Annapurna II, and many other mountain peaks around. Continue down the rugged glacial descent into alpine meadows until you finally reach the scenic valley of Bhimtang.

Descend through rhododendron and alpine forested area with numerous scenic valleys flowing out of glacial rivers. Traverse several suspension bridges and pass by Gurung villages while the landscape turns from rugged alpine area to lush green hills. You will spend the night in Gowa or Tilche, depending on the conditions and availability of accommodation.

After your breakfast, proceed to Besisahar via Tilche and then head for Kathmandu through the beautiful Prithvi Highway. During the drive, take in the stunning views of rivers, farms, hilly terrain, and villages as you think about the great journey that you have experienced in the Tsum Valley and Manaslu Circuit. Arriving at Kathmandu, settle at your hotel for a peaceful night or have some celebration of completing your trekking experience.

This reserve day gives us leeway in case of any weather delay or other issues that may arise during the trekking period. In case of no complications, you will get a day at leisure where you can enjoy visiting the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Kathmandu, shopping at Thamel for souvenirs or crafts, or just taking time off from your mountainous activities.

The exciting trip through the sacred Tsum Valley and Manaslu Circuit comes to an end today. After breakfast, you will be transferred by our Altitude Quest representative to Tribhuvan International Airport as per your international departure flight time. We hope the wonderful experiences in Nepal's amazing mountains, warm communities, and Buddhist culture will stay with you forever.