Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek

Driving to Machha Khola from Kathmandu is the beginning of this exciting Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek. This ride to the starting point of the trek is scenic, heading west from the capital of the country. While the first leg of the ride is mainly smooth with some bumps and potholes, the 2nd half is drastically different.

After reaching Dumre, we will take a right turn and head north towards Aarughat village. From there, the road becomes rugged and bumpy, a typical hilly countryside road. Passing by Budhi Gandaki Gorge, Soti Khola, and following a river upstream, we will subsequently reach Machha Khola after about 9 hours of driving.

Drive Distance : 160km

On the 2nd day of the Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek, we will cover about 16 km, which will gain us about 470 meters of elevation. The trek starts with following the Budi Gandaki River upstream, gently ascending through a dense forest of Rhododendron and Sal. After about 1.5 hours of trekking, we will reach Khorlabesi village, our first resting point.

Continuing the trek, we will go over undulating trails to get to Tatopani. From there, we will cross a suspension bridge, leading us to the village of Dobhan. Passing by Yaru Bagar and Tharo Bharyang, we will arrive at our first checkpoint of the trek. After having our permits validated, we will soon reach Jagat.

Trek Distance : 16 km

The elevation gain of the 3rd day of the Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek is approximately 900 meters. The initial part of the day features a gentle climb alongside the Budi Gandaki River. Going through a forest of pine and rhododendron, we will soon arrive at Salleri village. After a brief rest, we will descend to Sirdibas village before ascending once more.

After crossing a bridge, we will ascend gently all the way to Philim village, a huge Gurung settlement, which serves as the entrance to the Tsum region. After lunch at Philim, we will get on the final climb of the day, featuring a sharp ascent to Lokpa.

Trek Distance : 13 km

Compared to the previous trekking days, this day is rather short, which means more rest and less trek. Today’s total trek distance is a little longer than 7 km, which should take us about 5 hours to cover. By the end of the day, we will have gained a net elevation of 150 meters.

Heading deeper into the restricted Tsum valley, we will ascend through a dense pine and rhododendron forest. Shortly after, we will cross a suspension bridge and follow a trail to Ripchet village. Following a short rest at Ripchet, we will continue the trek as we pass by a forest before reaching Chumling.

Trek Distance: 7km

Day 5 of the Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek features an 8 km trek distance with a net elevation gain of 645 meters. Starting the day, we will descend towards the Lungwa River for a short while. Soon after, we will ascend a series of switchbacks through a lush forest. After crossing this section, we will reach a wide open space with a great scene of the peaks in the north.

After about 3 hours of trekking, we will cross an old suspension bridge over the Syar River. This is the starting point of a climb over a narrow ridgeline. This part of the trek features a picturesque scene of the Ganesh and Baudha peaks. Soon enough, we will reach our destination of the day, Chhokangparo, also called Chekampar.

Trek Distance: 8km

Today, we will gain over 330 meters of elevation, trekking for about 6 hours and covering 9.5 km. Leaving Chhokangparo, we will ascend deeper into the valley, heading northeast. The initial portion of the trail is accompanied by a view of the Himalchuli and Ganesh Himal peaks. Soon after, we will reach the banks of the Syar River.

Following the riverbank, we will reach Phiren Phu cave, a popular religious site where Guru Milarepa is believed to have meditated. It is one of the cultural highlights of the Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek. After a short visit to the cave, we will continue ascending and reach Nile.

Trek Distance: 9.5km

This is the first acclimatization day on the Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek itinerary. To make the most of our time, we will go on an acclimatization hike to Mu Gompa. Departing from Nile, we will head west, passing by small grasslands and arid sub-alpine vegetation. Following a 2-hour ascent, we will cover about 5.5 km and reach Mu Gompa.

This religious site is centuries old, with ancient murals, vibrant paintings, and prayer wheels. We will explore the gompa, the courtyard, and enjoy a scenic view of the valley below before heading back to Nile to spend the night. Round-trip, we will cover about 11 km of total distance.

Hike Distance: 11km

In comparison to the previous day, we have a really long day ahead of us. The trek duration is 6 to 7 hours with a net elevation loss of 975 meters. Leaving Nile, we will descend alongside the curves of the Syar River. Going downhill, we will pass Chule village, followed by Phurbe.

Continuing the descent, we will head towards Rachen Gompa, one of the few nunneries in the region. From there, we will pass by Domje, Kowo, Tanju, and more settlements to reach a dense forest. Passing through the forest, it’s a mix of plain and descending trails. After a short while, we will reach the destination of the day.

Trek Distance: 17.5km

Day 9 of the Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek starts with following the Syar River downstream. After about 20 minutes, we will cross a suspension bridge over a small stream. Heading sharply downstream, we will first pass a pine and rhododendron forest with occasional terrace farmlands.

Shortly after, we will pass Lokpa village and continue heading down, after a short break. Losing elevation, the trail gets wider and passes by many suspension bridges with more trees and vegetation in the surrounding area. It will not take us long to reach the village of Deng. Sitting at 1860 meters, this village is a bit warmer than our previous night stops.

Trek Distance: 14.5km

Following the Budi Gandaki River, we will ascend from Deng and head towards the village of Rana. After catching our breath at Rana, we will continue the trek, cross a suspension bridge, and arrive at Bihi Phedi village. Passing this village, we will shortly reach Prok village. From there, the trail goes through a bamboo forest, offering occasional scenes of Shringi Himal.

Our lunch will be served at a nearby village named Ghap. Post-lunch, the trail ascends once again with Mani walls and chortens en route. Soon enough, we will arrive at the village of Namrung.

Trek Distance: 15km

On the 11th day of the Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek, we will leave Namrung, get our permits checked at the checkpost, and ascend gently following a stream uphill. As we gain elevation, we will get to enjoy scenes of Naike, Ganesh, and Himal Chuli peaks in the distance. Our first stop of the day, Lihi, is not that far.

From Lihi, we will descend gently towards Simnang valley and cross a bridge over Hinang River. Soon enough, we will enter the village of Lho, where our lunch will be served. After a reenergizing meal, we will get on the final ascent of the day. This climb is tiring but very doable.

Trek Distance: 11km

After a satisfying breakfast at Shyala, we will start the day with an ascent. This part of the day offers majestic views of the alpine terrain and landscape. Gaining elevation gently, we will pass glacial moraines, chortens, and make our way to Pungen Gompa. Sitting at 3870 meters above sea level, this gompa offers a great view of Manaslu, Himalchuli, and Nadi peaks.

Pungen Gompa is a historic site showcasing the Tibetan Buddhist culture and architecture. Following a short visit to the gompa, we will descend towards Sama Gaon. This final portion of the day is a short descent, taking about 2 hours to complete. The net elevation loss of the day is 250 meters.

Trek Distance: 15.5km

Today, we will visit a monastery for a morning prayer session before leaving the village. This is the shortest trekking day of the Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek itinerary, so we have some time to roam around before starting the trek. The initial part of the trek passes across glacial moraines with views of Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, and Himal Chuli.

Following the Budi Gandaki River uphill, we will reach Sho village in about an hour. Resting there, we will enjoy a close view of the Manaslu North peak and the Manaslu massif. From there, it will not take us long to reach our destination of the day.

Trek Distance: 9km

This is the last acclimatization day on the Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek itinerary. Today’s acclimatization hike takes us to Rui La pass, reaching almost 5000 meters, one of the highest points of the trek. Following a steep ridgeline, we will traverse the Saya Khola valley and start the hike. After about 5 hours, we will reach the summit of the pass, featuring a majestic scene of Pungyen and Fukang glaciers. Enjoying the scenes, we will have our lunch there before heading back to Samdo village to spend the night.

Starting the day, we will trek across an alpine setting, descending a little towards the Budi Gandaki river. We will cross the river over an old bridge, leading us to Larke Bazaar. This marks the start of a gentle ascent passing by the ruins of an abandoned settlement. Soon after, we will reach the final climb of the day, a steep ascent leading us to Dharamshala, also known as Larke Phedi.

Trek Distance: 6km

From Dharamshala, we will be covering about 24 km to reach our destination of the day, making it the longest trekking day of the Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek itinerary. We will start the day rather early, ascending over moraines and rocky slopes. As we gain elevation, the trail steepens; this climb lasts about 2.5 hours, taking us to the summit of the Larkya La Pass. This is the highest point on the trek.

The scene for the top encompasses the Manaslu glacier, Himlung Himal, Kang Guru, Cheo Himal, Annapurna II, and more. After a short break at the summit, we will begin the descent to Bhimtang. This drop over rugged terrain passes by a couple of lakes before reaching a grassy plain.

Trek Distance: 24km

Today is yet another long trekking day. The trail starts with a descent towards Dudh Khola, crossing it eventually, and reaching Hompuk village. From there, we will continue descending and enter wide trails with greenery all over. Soon enough, we will reach Karche, followed by the popular resting spot of Yak Kharka. After a short rest, we will head towards Gho village, followed by Tilije, and eventually reach Dharapani. Thus ends the last trekking day on the Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek.

Trek Distance: 16km

After early breakfast,   On our drive from Dharapani (1963), the junction of the Annapurna circuit path, we pass through a security check. We board a vehicle (sharing Jeep) from dharapani and are dropped off at besisashar (760).

We catch a different vehicle (local Bus) at Besisahar and return to Kathmandu then you’ll be taken to a hotel in Kathmandu, where we will have a farewell dinner, and after that you can spend your own time in Kathmandu.

Trek and Drive Distance : 220 Km