- 12
- 5160m
Manaslu Circuit with Tsum Valley Trek is an interesting and exciting adventure around Far North Mid-West of Nepal and within the remote wild country of northern areas of Gorkha district where we have combined both and the best of the region of central Himalaya.
Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley Trekking lead you to the most fascinating and wildest region where you will be incomplete ambiance within the pristine and hidden valley of Tsum which the native knows by the ancient Tibetan name as “Beyul Kyimolung” which means Valley of Happiness.
Tsum Valley will be our first visit which is east of the Manaslu area and behind the massive bulk of Ganesh Himal also known as Yangri in the local language of Tsum and Manaslu region.
The walk leads after a great long and interesting drive from the capital Kathmandu to reach low warm areas around heavy agricultural farm villages of Gorkha district at Arughat town and then starting walks from Soti-Khola village, where the walk follows on the same trail of Manaslu route, past Jagat and Philm to reach the first village of Tsum at Chumling.
From Chumling enter into the windswept territory to reach the remote and impressive villages of Chokan-Paro with Ni-le having an exciting time facing outmost views of high snow-capped peaks then reaching our first highlight of the adventure on reaching Mu Gompa, a place with old monastery enriched with ancient artifacts and tall idols of Lord Buddha and other famous Gurus.
Enjoying marvelous moments where the walk leads to visit another nice village of Rachen with its monastery which is worth visiting before joining our treks on the main trail of Manaslu at Lokpa and Namrung villages.
The adventure leads behind the great Tsum Valley of happiness as walk enter the main wide trail of Manaslu with a superb panorama of the Manaslu range of peaks as the journey continues from one place to another to reach a major village in Sama-Gaon situated on route to Larke-La pass and towards Manaslu base camp.
At Sama-Gaon explore local cultures and the interesting traditional life of Manaslu villagers where the walk leads to the valley rim of Manaslu, and the next morning climb high to the top of Larke-la pass with the overwhelming panorama of surrounding great peaks.
Slowly, the walk leads to a long descent back into green lush vegetation with tall trees of rhododendrons and pines at Bhimthang a wonderful spot within the forested surroundings and then downhill to reach Dharapani village where the walk completes taking a drive back to the low warm area at Besisar headquarter town of Lamjung district.
From Besisar a scenic and exciting overland brings you to Kathmandu to conclude our most remarkable and fascinating adventure with an awesome experience on Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley Trekking.
Best Seasons for Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley Trekking:
From March to May and September to early November months of the year, where March to May longer days with sun-light hours till late afternoon with clear days for excellent views of snow-capped peaks and pleasant walks, can get cloudy with light rains and can snow on higher elevations sometimes.
March to May when hills are alive with seasonal wild-flower in bloom especially rhododendrons of various species from tall trees to a bush, September to early November is another best time for clear views of peaks and walks but shorter days and sunlight hours due to autumn or fall season.
Much colder nights and mornings including around shades can snow sometimes around higher hills with more freezing temperatures with chances of snow on Larke-La pass.
From mid-November onward Tsum and Manaslu villagers migrate to low warm areas to escape the cold and harsh winters, where most villages will be deserted and lodges will be closed from November onward till March and April months.
Best Alternative Treks
In the evening group welcomes dinner in a nice authentic Nepalese restaurant with a cultural program to give you a glimpse of local culture with music and dance while having your dinner.
Trek continues with a climb towards Machha Khola for an overnight stop, a small farm village with teashops and nice simple small lodges for an overnight stay, where Maccha means Fish hence the name as Machha Khola (stream).
From here walk upstream towards Bensi village a place with a natural hot spring known as ‘Tatopani’ in Nepali.
A walk continues where the valley becomes turns narrow and crosses over a bridge to reach Doban located on a high shelf of Burigandaki River, with refreshing stops walk leads across Lauri stream to cross again over bridges and then descend into an open valley of Yara Khola, then walk for another hour to reach Jagat village for an overnight stop.
Jagat a nice-looking farm village of moderate size after Arughat; people are of mixed races with Magar, Chettries, Brahman, Manaslu Bhotia (Tibetan-looking tribes), and some Newar people.
After Philim walks leads around farm terraces of golden agriculture fields of wheat, and barley, as the climb, leads above a rocky ridge within a forest of bamboo to reach Dyang village and the adventure leads further to reach a small farm village at Lokpa, where Manaslu and Tsum valley separates on next day walks.
Entering a country where tree lines drop for a few short juniper and willow trees, the journey continues with grand views of Ganesh and Manaslu Himal range of peaks, walk finally completes reaching Ni-le village with time to explore a meditation cave of great Buddhist saint ‘Guru Milereppa’ of 11th century.
After Ghap enters into alpine woodland as the trail meanders to climb as the valley opens out and crosses a large stream flowing from Lidana peak glacier.
On walks views of Manaslu the local name is Kutang (Manaslu) with Pang Phuchin 6,335m, Saula Himal 6,235m with a range of unnamed peaks, walk from here on a slow uphill as altitude gains slowly heading past farm village to reach Namrung for overnight stop, this village with another name as Sho Namru.
With a pleasant stop at Namrung, morning heads into spread out farm fields with Yak herder huts and shelters, Manaslu valley people are much engaged in farming during summer.
From here walk leads to a high and scenic valley all the way to Lo-Gaon a nice village for an overnight stop, and an attractive village of high Manaslu valley, at Lo-Gaon enjoy close views of towering Manaslu North Face.
At Lo-Gaon, visit the village’s old interesting monastery with numerous corten and Mani walls facing views of Ganesh Himal in the east.
Walk for a few hours further as the day ends on reaching at Sama-Gaon a village, with super close views of Mt. Manaslu.
A walk continues finally ending at Samdo village with a short climb to reach a small flat plateau where the village is located, a moderate size village of more than forty houses with about two hundred villagers living in this highly harsh country.
A walk continues crossing a few icy streams to reach Larke Phedi means the bottom of the pass, also known as Dharmasala means ‘travelers’ rest house/shade’, where in early days also called Larke Bazaar, (where trade and bartering were held between merchant-traders of Gorkha-Manaslu-Manang people and Tibetans on this remote isolated spot).
At Larke, Phedi afternoon is free for short walks and preparations for the next early morning long climb and descent crossing the high Larke-La pass to reach Manang areas.
From the top of Larke-La panorama of Himlung, Cheo Himal, Kang Guru, and Annapurna II include a series of Manaslu peaks, and then descent back into tree lines through Larcia, as walks lead on moraine ridge to Tambuche at the bottom of Larke-la pass, where a short walk takes you at Bhimthang for overnight.
Bhimthang is a wonderful spot situated on a wide green valley with a number of lodges adorned with prayer Mani walls, surrounded by green tall trees of rhododendron pines and oaks.
Walk into a beautiful forest to reach a small clearing in the middle of a forest at Ghoa for an overnight stop, a cattle and yak herders summer pasture with a temporary settlement.
From Tilje shortstop climbs for short while after crossing over a bridge to reach the nice village of Dharapani located on the junction of the popular Annapurna and Manaslu circuit route with the district of Manang.
After a refreshing break at Dharapani drive following the Masrsyangdi River downstream to reach a low warmer farm area and a large area of Besisar, a headquarter town of Lamjung district with overnight stops in a nice lodge and hotels.