Manaslu Circuit Trek with Tsum Valley Trek

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.

This day’s trek takes you through an amazing river valley followed by a climb through the thick forests of pine and rhododendron. Crossing some suspension bridges, you will reach Chumling village, which is one of the first traditional villages of Tsum Valley, and where the Tibetan Buddhist culture becomes more prominent.

Following the Shiar Khola, this day’s trek includes the picturesque villages of Chhokang Paro and ends at Lamagaon. You will get to visit the historic monasteries of the region that include Tsum Monastery and the famous Rachen Nunnery of Tsum Valley.

This is surely going to be one of the most cultural highlights of the whole expedition. Early breakfast in the morning and start ascending up to Mu Gompa, which is the highest and biggest monastery in the Tsum Valley region. This monastery was established in the later half of the 19th century and is located near the Tibetan border. You will be witnessing some stunning views of Ganesh Himal, Pika Himal and other snow capped mountains from the mountain. Also you will find ancient mani walls, fluttering prayer flags, yaks and even some small settlements during this part of the walk. Stay inside the monastery and get some interaction with the resident monks before heading back to Lamagaon village.

Get ready after breakfast and leave the Tsum Valley. Start descending down through the Shiar Khola and follow the same path back to the village of Lokpa via some more suspension bridges, pines and rhododendron forests and even some waterfalls, cliffs and Buddhist sites. This way you will see Tsum Valley from a different point of view and finally reach back to Lokpa.

Departing from the Tsum valley, the trek route joins again with the original circuit around Manaslu. After a descent through peaceful forests, the trail crosses the Budhi Gandaki River using suspension bridges. Further along the route are traditional Gurung villages, terraces, and river gorges while enjoying the view of the surrounding hills and falls. The path follows down towards Philim and continues further to the north passing the village of Bihi which is heavily influenced by Tibetans in their architecture, prayer wheels, and culture.

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.