The Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek has only been opened to international and national trekkers in 2008. This unique trekking expedition will not only allow you to walk around the eighth tallest peak of the planet but also take a short detour of the Tsum Valley- one of the most remote valleys in the Nepalese Himalayas.
Framed between the wild mountain ranges of Himal Chuli, Bauddha Himal, Shringi Himal, and Ganesh Himal, Tsum Valley has retained its original and independent Tibetan Buddhist culture that has survived here over the centuries.
Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek is rich in Buddhist history and living tradition. Again and again, you will come across old monasteries, Mani walls, and picturesque chortens. On your Manaslu Tsum Valley trek, you will also learn the basics of the mentality of Tsumbas, their unique culture, customs of polyandry, language, and festivals.
During your return to Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek, you will have the opportunity to explore the majestic Manaslu, which will be your constant companion throughout the trek with its impressive elevation of 8163 m.
Along the way to Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek, you will come across the prominent Larke Pass, towering at an elevation of 5106 m. This pass is renowned for its remarkable beauty and fearsome status as one of the most challenging passes in the country.
Throughout the entire trek, you will be blessed with the stunning mountain views of Naike Peak, Manaslu North, Manaslu, Annapurna Himal, Gorkha Himal, Ganesh Himal, Shringi Himal, and Himlung Himal.
The Manaslu Tsum Valley trek is not very problematic in terms of altitude due to the slow ascent along the Budhi Gandaki Valley and later the Siyar Khola Valley.
The Manaslu Tsum Valley Round Trek is a challenging trek in Nepal that combines the Manaslu Circuit and the remote Tsum Valley, featuring a mix of stunning landscapes and rich Tibetan-influenced culture. It is considered a moderately difficult trek, requiring good physical fitness and stamina due to high-altitude passes like Larkya La (at 5,106 meters) and rough, steep terrain. This trek offers views of mountains like Manaslu (the world’s eighth highest peak), ancient monasteries, and unique cultural experiences, and requires permits, an experienced guide, and adequate travel insurance.
Trip Highlights
- Meditate at the shore of Lake Birendra and set foot at Manaslu Base Camp.
- Very varied landscape and the experience of walking through the Manaslu Conservation Area.
- Discover living Buddhist tradition in the untouched Tsum Valley.
- Incredible opportunity to meet Tsumbas, Gurungs, Tamangs, and Sherpas.
- Visit the most unique monasteries of Mo Gompa and Rachen.
- Hike along one of the most beautiful treks in Nepal.
- The trail is known for its steep and rugged paths. Trekkers must be prepared for long hours of walking and high-altitude conditions, with the highest point being the Larkya La Pass.
- Expect to see a wide range of scenery, from dense forests and waterfalls to arid, high-altitude terrain.
- Meditate at the shore of Lake Birendra and set foot at Manaslu Base Camp.
Hello and Namaste! A warm welcome to you in Kathmandu- the capital of Nepal and the city of legend. Our representative will be at your assistance at TIA from where he will drive you to your hotel where you can rest after your long flight.
If there is time, on this day you can get acquainted with the historical center of the capital of Nepal. You can visit Durbar Square, walk in Thamel Street, and if necessary, purchase the required clothing and equipment.
In the evening, our guide will organize a brief get-to-know-you program where you will get to meet the whole team and discuss about the Manaslu Tsum Valley trek route. After dinner, you can prepare for an early departure the next day.
After breakfast early in the morning, we will set out on our path that will take about 8 to 10 hours drive including a stop for lunch. The drive will be via private transport along the winding serpentine trail. As we past the edge of the capital and journey to the west, a gurgling Trishuli River welcomes us along the Dhading Besi route.
Next, the small settlement of Arughat of the marvelous Budhi Gandaki River Valley greets us with the amazing panorama of Manaslu and Ganesh Himal.
The trail ahead will lead us through Sotikhola which used to be the starting point for the Manaslu Tsum Valley trek. But we will proceed further to Machhakhola enjoying the green rice terraces of Khursasne and Labubesi.
Today is our first day of hiking. We will get up early, pack our things, have breakfast, and set off on a wonderful path along rivers, waterfalls, and mountains. We will continue our journey through the jungle of rhododendron trees and pine trees, the path winds up and down to Khorla Besi.
Enjoying the companionship of Ganesh Himal, we will go to the village of Tatopani with a small hot spring, and walk along a high suspended place above the Yaru Khola River. We will eat our lunch here, then we will cross the river on a suspension bridge and walk past Dovan and Thulo Dhunga.
From now on, we will go higher and higher through the pine and rhododendron forests, colorful Tibetan villages with their monasteries, and the exceptional views of Shringi Himal.
As yesterday, we will climb for a while and reach Salleri, then a short downhill path will take us to Sridibas from where there are gorgeous views of the Shringi Himal (7155 m). Then, another breathtaking large suspension bridge, and then a long steep climb will lead us to the village of Philim, whose local population is the Gurungs.
We will have our permits checked here, then proceed to enter the authentic Tsum Valley. A short gentle ascend along the narrow gorge through the pine forest will take us to Ekle Bhatti and lastly, Lokpa Village beautifully nestled between Budhi Gandaki and Siyar Khola.
Departing from Lokpa village after breakfast, we will walk along the southern shore of the Siyar Khola. Then, we will climb through the dense pine forest along the steep rock faces of the Sardi Danda.
After climbing down from the hill for about 30 minutes, we will reach the beautiful Lungwa Khola. Then follow the steep ascent to Gumlung and cross the Siyar Khola to reach Chumling village which offers us the magnetic view of Ganesh Himal.
The village has retained its intimate atmosphere not clogged with tourist infrastructure. In the evening, we can explore its three monasteries: Pango Gumba, Mani Dhurgyur and Gurwa Gumba.
After breakfast, we will follow the trail towards the east and traverse the small picturesque village of Dumje (2,460 m). The path here branches off: one leading to Ganech Himal Base Camp and the other to our destination.
Staying on the main path, we will move on to cross the Serpu Khola and ascend to Gho village. Watch the impressive view of Ganesh Himal en route. Then a gentle climb through the terraced farm, we will reach Chaurikharka.
A beautiful stone path will climb us towards our overnight destination of Chhokang Paro.
After breakfast, we will resume our hike towards the east. Along the route, we will pass a small local school. Then walking past Lamagaon, we arrive at the Piren Phu cave above Lar village. These pigeon caves are of great spiritual importance to Buddhists. Milarepa – Tibet’s great yogi – is said to have meditated here in the 11th century.
After the cave exploration, we will continue further along the flat farmland towards Phurbey, Chhule. We will now climb for about 20 minutes and reach Nile Village.
After resting in the village and having our lunch, we will then ascend for about two hours to reach Mu Gompa. As the name suggests, this is the largest gompa (monastery) in the valley. We will explore its beautiful complex and its architecture. Then, we will descend back to our lodge in the Nile for our overnight rest.
Without much effort, we will follow the path via Nile Chhule through the wide valley to Pangdung (3,258 m). then, we will follow the Siyar Khola and walk past the Kaling and Bhajyo villages. The trail from here will now lead us to Bursi Village where Rachen Gompa is located.
We will first settle into our lodge and then go on to visit the large monastery. There are the life-size statues of the primordial Buddha Amitabha and Avolikoteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Equally remarkable are the statues of Guru Rinpoche and the female protective goddess Tara, as well as many other traditional wall paintings. Nearby, there is another monastery that houses nuns of the Ngak-Pa sect.
Our journey to Chumling today is a comfortable one, with slight ups and downs, mostly downhill. Along the way, we will pass through the picturesque villages of Pungdun, Phurbey, Lamagaon, Chhokang Paro, and Dumje before reaching Chumling for an overnight stay.
Leaving Chumling after breakfast, we will depart from Tsum Valley and continue our path through the forest. We will cross very deep gorges on the new suspension bridge. After a few climbs and descents via the stairs, we arrive at Lokpa.
We will cross another suspension bridge to go straight to Philim where we will eat our lunch. After lunch, we will continue on the trails that pass through the village of Ekle Bhatti. After crossing the ridge and the narrow path, we will arrive at Deng.
Leaving Deng behind, we will head east to ascend the Rana Bridge from where we will continue onwards to Bihi Phedi. Then few steep climbs and descents will lead us to Ghap Village. Here, the population mainly consists of ethnic Tibetan Sherpa people, now residents of Nepal.
Then a beautiful trail of pine, oak, and fir forests leads us to Namrung via Kutang. Namrung has a sauna and a French bakery with a coffee machine.
Exiting Namrung after breakfast, we will climb steadily for about two hours to reach the Lihi village located above a fork in the gorges. Then we will climb for another 45 minutes through a fabulously beautiful ancient forest, along a mountain stream, past emerald green dams to reach Sho located at an altitude of 3000 m. From here you can see the Himalayan peaks of Manaslu North and Manaslu Central (8100 m).
Walking along the gentle path, we will reach the Lho village- a large village with a strong Tibetan Buddhist influence. Then hiking along a forest path past spruces and rhododendrons, the path takes us to the Tibetan settlement of Shyala.
Today we have a short acclimatizing walk to Samagaun. We have plenty of time to explore the Ribung monastery en route which offers some incredible views of Peak 29 and Himalchuli.
After exploring the monastery, we will then go to Samagaun just an hour and a half from Shyala. We will rest for the whole afternoon today as we have enough time to explore Samagaun tomorrow.
Samagaon is the largest village in the Manaslu region. The majestic double-headed peak of Manaslu rises above the village. From here climbers begin their journey to base camp.
As an acclimating hike, we will ascend to Lake Birendra (3460 m) for about half an hour. It is a freshwater lake located on the Manaslu Glacier near the Pun Hien Glacier and Gompa in Samagaun. The lake is formed by several powerful waterfalls and streams falling from a melting glacier on the slopes of Manaslu. The water has a beautiful bluish tint and is very cold. From different angles the outlines of the lake change. The lake bears the name of the late king, beloved by all Nepalese.
Then, we will ascend to Manaslu base camp ( 4800 m). From the trail to Manaslu Base Camp, you can see the lake, the Budhi Gandaki Valley, and our two previous stops in Shyala and Samagaon. The trek from Samagaon to Manaslu base camp (1300 m elevation gain) is not difficult.
It is a good walk after which we will return tour lodge in Samagaun.
After breakfast, we will set off from Samagaun to approach Larke Pass in the coming days. Today also we have a short acclimating walk to prepare us for the long and strenuous hike coming our way in days ahead.
Today, we will follow the old trade route from Tibet to Nepal and walk past the Kermo Kharka, a small yak pasture. The path will now lead us to the wooden bridge over the Budhi Gandaki River. After crossing the bridge, we will climb to White Kani and arrive at Samdo.
Near Samdo there is an observation deck that offers beautiful views of the surrounding area. If we have enough energy, we will definitely hike to the deck
The route today offers us an impressive view of the northern face of Manaslu. We will make our way to Dharmashala also known as the Refugee Camp or Larke Phedi.
The path is completely obvious, it is impossible to get lost. In the gorge between the hills, we will cross a small river of Salka Khola, then, climb the hill of Dharmashala. It is a high-altitude camp with few lodges where trekkers can spend the night before climbing the pass. Enjoy the magnanimous views of Larke Peak, Naike Peak, and Syacha Glacier from its top.
We will rise early at 3 am, and after breakfast, we will depart towards Larke Pass at approximately 4 am to meet an unforgettable sunrise with a view of the fantastically beautiful peaks. We have to climb 700 m and then go down 1570 m. First, we will climb a small Danda behind Dharmashala and walk along the Larke Glacier moraine.
Enjoying the view of Cho Danda, we will continue our climb over frozen lakes to reach the top of the Pass. The pass itself is incredibly beautiful – we are surrounded by sharp dark rocks and there is a view of the surrounding peaks – Himlung Himal (7126m), Cheo Himal (6820m), Gyaji Kung (7030m), Annapurna II ( 7937), and Kang Guru (6981m).
We will enjoy the peaks and real solitude in the Himalayas. At the pass, we drink tea and contemplate the beauty of the surrounding majestic mountains.
Beyond the pass, we have to overcome a steep 600-meter descent along the ridge. Then we will go down the slope and along the moraine of the Ponkar glacier to arrive at Bimthang situated at the confluence of three glaciers. This is about 4 more hours of descent, however, it is already quite easy.
On the descent, the peaks of Lamjung Himal (6983 m), Annapurna II (7937 m), and Annapurna IV (7525 m) will open to our eyes.
After breakfast, we set out again passing the yak pasture of Sangure Kharka on the way. A 3.5-hour hike will lead us to Karche (2700m). Gradually, the trail leads us to a fairy-tale forest of conifers, rhododendrons, Himalayan birches, and junipers. Then, it goes down the slope to the Dudh Khola River.
We will then pass by the settlement of Gho from where we will hike downhill along the western bank of the river to reach the village of Tilche (2300m). From here, we will move on to cross the Dudh Khola and ascend to Marshyangdi valley which will then take us to Thongje village.
Taking the main path of the Annapurna trek, we will turn left and walk towards Dharapani.
Early morning after breakfast, we will jump in our jeep and begin our scenic drive through Bhulbhule, Khudi, and Besisahar. Then, we will move along the Prithivi highway, enjoying the beautiful scenery of hills, deep rivers, terraced fields, small towns, and mountains till we reach Kathmandu.
We will take you to your hotel where you can rest and take a hot bath. In the evening, we will have a cultural farewell dinner with our entire team.
Today your adventure in Nepal comes to an end! Enjoy your last moments in Kathmandu, walking around the city and or shopping for souvenirs. On your way home, you will have plenty of time to plan your next adventure in the amazing, mystical Himalayas.
Cost Includes
- Gorkha Tsum Valley Permit.
- Gorkha Manaslu Permit.
- Manaslu conservation area project (MCAP).
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP).
- Tourist Information Management System (TIMS).
- Government licensed holder, Good speaking English, great experience guide.
- Down jackets, duffel bags, sleeping bags, and trekking poles are provided by Everest Allpine Trekking but should be returned after the trek.
- All staff wages, food, drinks, accommodations, transportation, and insurance.
- One strong sherpa helper for carrying your baggage & 1 porter for 2 trekkers.
- Everest Allpine Trekking first aid kit carried by Guide.
- Water Purification Tablets for tap water.
- Helicopter service will be covered by your travel insurance in case of an Emergency.
- All Government taxes and official expenses & ground transportation.
- Oxy meter for checking pulse and oxygen level (AMS) Acute Mountain Sickness.
- Everest Allpine Trekking provides complementary sunblock Cap.
- Trip Certificate provided by Everest Allpine Trekking.
- Farewell dinner Nepalese cultural meals and live show performance.
Cost Excludes
- International airfare tickets.
- Nepal entry visa fee (visa obtained on arrival at the international airport in Kathmandu).
- Additional accommodations, food, and drinks in Kathmandu (if you stay extra day).
- Your personal medical & travel insurance,
- Dessert, sweet items like chocolate, cake, pie, pudding, any extra expenses.
- Excess baggage includes luggage weight is 15 kg maximum,
- During the trek, Hot showers, Mobile, Camera, Power bank,k any battery charging, Wi-Fi Internet,
- Kathmandu Sightseeing entrance fees ($ 25-30 USD per person).
- Personal first aid kit.
- Tips for guide & porter (tips are most expected) .
FAQS
The Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek is a remote and culturally immersive trekking adventure in northern Nepal. It combines the Manaslu Circuit, which circles the majestic Mt. Manaslu (8,163m)—the world’s 8th highest mountain—with a side trip into the secluded Tsum Valley, a spiritually rich area with strong Tibetan Buddhist influence, ancient monasteries, and sacred caves. This trek is perfect for those seeking both natural beauty and cultural depth, away from Nepal’s more commercial trekking routes.
The trek usually takes 20 to 24 days depending on your itinerary, acclimatization schedule, and side trips. You’ll be trekking a total distance of approximately 177 to 200 km (110 to 125 miles) over the course of the journey.
The highest point is Larkya La Pass at 5,160 meters), a thrilling high mountain pass that offers panoramic views of Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kang Guru, and Annapurna II.
Tsum Valley is known as the “Hidden Valley of Happiness.” It remained isolated from modern influence for centuries. You’ll encounter: Mu Gompa (3,700m) – A spiritual monastery perched in the highlands. Rachen Gompa (3,240m) – A serene Buddhist nunnery. Traditional Tibetan villages, yak pastures, and stunning alpine scenery.
Teahouses serve a set menu with popular options such as: Dal Bhat (lentil soup, rice, and vegetables) – Unlimited refills! Noodles, fried rice, pasta, momos (dumplings), and chow mein Porridge, pancakes, Tibetan bread, eggs, tea, and coffee We recommend eating vegetarian meals to avoid any hygiene issues, especially in higher and more remote areas.
You can hire a porter if you don’t want to carry yours. Porters are available at checkout. They can carry up to 20 kg (44 lbs) per person. You’ll only need a daypack with essentials like water, snacks, and a camera.
We rate this trek as moderately to highly challenging due to: Daily walks of 6–8 hours Remote terrain and limited infrastructure High altitude, especially at Larkya La Pass Previous trekking experience and good fitness are highly recommended. We’ll support your pace and provide acclimatization days to help.
You’ll stay in teahouses, which are local mountain lodges run by Nepali families. In Tsum Valley, accommodation is basic but authentic, often with wooden rooms, shared bathrooms, and limited heating. Blankets are usually provided, but we recommend bringing or renting a -10°C rated sleeping bag.
Map
