24 Day Manaslu Tsum Vally

Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness. Day 01: Arrival in Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Kathmandu & Transfer to Hotel. After you land, one of the representatives from Himalayan Sanctuary Adventure will be waiting to receive you at the airport. After a brief introduction, you will head towards the hotel in Thamel. After some rest, visit us at our office. We will introduce you to our staff and guides for the Manaslu Trek. Overnight at Kathmandu. . Day 02: Trek Preparation Day. Day 03: Drive Kathmandu to Sotikhola (710m). Wake up early in the morning. After having your breakfast, get ready. Recheck your luggage. Our hotel representative will be there to receive you at the hotel. From there, we will drive to the bus park to catch a bus. The bus will drive you towards the west of Kathmandu valley. The ride from Kathmandu to Dhading Besi over a blacktopped highway is comfortable. You can amuse on the views of green hills, beautiful terraces, cultivations, and some rivers. After we cross the Trishuli river, the bumpy drive begins. It will take nearly three hours to reach Arughat. You can relish on the diverse landscapes, greenery, and countryside life while riding. At Arughat, we will take a rest for a while. Arughat is a small town with a Newari settlement. From Arughat, we will again drive towards Soti Khola. The two hours bus/jeep ride begins after crossing a bridge over the Budhi Gandaki River. Driving across the Gurung and Magars, you observe their small and beautiful villages. You behold the field of millet and paddy on the way to Soti Khola. Overnight in Soti Khola.. Day 04: Trek to Machhakhola (870m). After having an early morning breakfast, we will begin to trek. We will cross the suspension bridge over Soti Khola. The trek route passes through a forest of Sal until we will reach a ridge. From the top of the ridge, we will see the splashing Budi Gandaki river. On continuing further, we will reach Khursane. From there, the trail is rocky. The trail passes through some tropical waterfalls, cliffs, and terraces. Walking past the terraced fields, we will walk up to Labubesi. Labubesi is a beautiful village of Gurungs. From Labubesi, the trail goes uphill along the sandy riverbed of Budi Gandaki river. After walking for some time, we will reach Khanibesi. From Khanibesi, you will see a stunning north-east view of Ganesh Himal. Ambling the beautiful trail, we will descend towards Machcha Khola village. Overnight at a tea house in Maccha Khola village.. Day 05: Trek to Jagat (1340m). On the next day, we will set off on the trekking trail towards Jagat. The trek begins as we will follow the narrow trail towards Tharo Khola. We stroll the meandering trail along the Budi Gandaki river. Upon crossing a suspension bridge before we reach Khorlabesi. From Khorlabesi, you will see a beautiful view of Ganesh Himal. From Khorlabesi, the trail involves frequent ascends and descends. We will walk over the beautiful trail before we reach the famous hot-spring at Tatopani. You can take a relaxing dip in the hot spring for some time. From Tatopani, we will begin to climb another ridge. We will again cross the suspension bridge over the Budhi Gandaki. After crossing the river, the trail comprises of a stone staircase. We will cross a landslide after finishing to climb the staircase. Now, we will reach Doban. We will again cross a suspension bridge and start climbing the stone staircase. The trail now dips down to a river and again climbs some stairs. After some time, we will reach Thado Bharyang. The trail continues after crossing the west bank of Budhi Gandaki. We will climb over a ridge and follow the trail along the riverside until we reach Jagat. From Jagat, we will see fascinating views of Shringi Himal. We will also see some mani walls and chortens. Overnight at a lodge in Jagat.. Day 06: Trek to Lokpa (2,240m). Today is the day when we will enter the restricted area of Tsum valley. At the checkpoint in Jagat, you must register your restricted area permit. We will start to trek after a nice morning breakfast in Jagat. The morning view of Shringi is impressive. We will follow the trail alongside the river for a while. The trail passes through some climbing and descending sections. After walking for some time, we will get a sight of the settlement at Philim. We will cross a suspension bridge before we reach Philim. We will stop for lunch at a local lodge there. There is a school in Philim. We will explore it and also the village as we walk along the trek route. You will see a welcome board at the conjunction of the Ekle Bhatti trail and the Manaslu- Tsum Valley trail. From there, we hike to Lokpa; our destination of the day. We will stay at a local lodge overnight.. Day 07: Trek to Dumje (2,460m). Today is again a long day on the trek. Starting after a filling breakfast in Lokpa, we will begin walking uphill. The trail passes uphill and takes us to a ridge. As we reach the top of the ridge, we observe the most beautiful views of the Ganesh Himal. Also, we will reach the Ganesh Himal Base Camp. On continuing further from the base camp, we will trek towards Chumling. Chumling is a beautiful village located towards the southward direction of the beautiful Shingri Himal. It is also called as lower Tsum. From Chumling, we again walk over the trekking route towards Dumje village. Dumje is a beautiful place with local lodges for accommodation. Overnight in Dumje.. Day 08: Trek to Nile- Chule (3,361m). After having a nice and warm breakfast in Dumje, today, we will trek towards Chule. Enjoying the splendid views along the trek route, we will walk over. We will follow the standard trekking route. The trail contains various uphill and downhill sections. At some parts, we will trek through the forests. After walking, we will finally reach Nile. Nile is the last village on the trail before we reach Upper Tsum Valley. The beautiful village lies on the west side of the Shiar Khola. The village of Nile is 20 minutes farther than Chule. On the way, we will visit the Piren Phu cave and the Burji Village. There are lodges at Nile where we will stay for an overnight.. Day 09: Trek to Mu Gompa (3,710m). Today, you will trek very close to the Nepal-Tibet border. From Nile, we will follow the trekking trail towards the westward direction. The hike to Mu Gompa is short. A gentle uphill climb from Nile and we will reach Mu Gompa. Mu Gompa is the highest point on our trek, 3700 meters. The gompa is near to the Tibetan border. So, we will have a chance to rejoice the Tibetan landscapes. The place is influenced by Tibetan culture. So, we will see more of the Tibetan lifestyle and culture. The Mu Gompa has a beautiful monastery with more than 100 monks. The monastery houses some religious books, a statue of Avalokiteshwara, and images of Guru Padmasambhava. Seasonal Yak pastures surround the Mu Gompa in all directions. Also, we will see the Lungdang Glacier towards the east. The views of high peaks surrounding the gompa in all directions are enchanting. Overnight at Lodge.. Day 10: Exploration day around Mu Gompa. Today, we will spend the whole day exploring the area. The place is beautiful with big pastures surrounding the Gompa. People go to the pastures at 5000m during early monsoon to collect Yarsagumba. It is a medicine that is half a caterpillar that grows into a plant during monsoon. Yarshagumba is sky-high expensive. One kg of it costs US$10,000 in China. Towards the east and west of the Gompa, there are two passes: Mailatasachin Pass (5093m) and Thapla Bhanjyang (5104m) respectively. On this day, one can hike to the base camp of Pika Himal. There are some trekkers who make a climb to Kalung (3820m) or Bhajyo (4030m) as a day trip. From these places, one can get the best views into Tibet. If you want to climb the pass and come down, it will take around 6 to 7 hours. You can also visit the 600-year-old Dhephu Doma Gompa, 3900m. The gompa isn’t so far. A short uphill hike of around 30 to 45 minutes over the westward track will get you there. There are some ancient Thankas inside the gompa. There are also chances of seeing snow leopards and musk deer during this hike.. Day 11: Trek to Rachen Gompa (3,240m). After the exploration day around Mu Gompa, we will start to trek towards the Rachen Gompa. Following the trek route, we will trek down to the valley through Chule. From the valley, we will again continue descending till we reach Phurbe. We will reach at the Siyar Khola valley that homes the Rachen Gumba. The gompa is a nunnery that lies in the footsteps of gigantic mountains. These mountains are the borders of Nepal and Tibet. Rachen Gompa is an ancient gompa. It is one of the beautiful gompas in Nepal. The gompa is a home of large number of nuns. An individual family in the Tsum valley has at least one member who is either a monk or a nun. Overnight at a local lodge in the riverbank of Siyar Khola.. Day 12: Trek down to Chumling (2385m). After spending a night at a local lodge, we will trek down to the village of Chumling. We will follow the same trail that we used previously. While trekking, we will see the best surrounding vistas. We relish being a part of the life beyond the Himalayas. Leaving some beautiful villages behind, we move on towards lower Tsum or Chumling village. Chumling is a beautiful village. It is one of the large villages in this area. At Chumling there are various lodges where we can stay overnight. Overnight in Chumling.. Day 13: Trek to Deng (1860m). From Chumling, we walk downhill to the village of Deng. While descending, we luxuriate in the magnificent views of glistening peaks. The striking views of Ganesh Himal and Mt. Manaslu keep on accompanying us as we trek down. We will walk through a steep gorge and grassy slopes. Be more careful while walking through the difficult parts on the trail. We will descend down to the riverbed of Budi Gandaki. We will cross the river over on a bridge. Now, the trail becomes wider as it passes through bamboo forests. We will walk through the forest and will reach the Deng Khola. We will cross the river to reach Deng village. Deng village is a small and beautiful village with few lodges for accommodation. Overnight at a local lodge in Deng.. Day 14: Trek to Namrung (2630m). We will start to trek from Deng. Following the Budi Gandaki river, it is nearly one hour. Then, we will cross the river and walk uphill for additional one hour to reach Rana. The trails ahead of Rana are not straight. We will follow the zigzags until we meet the trail from Bhi. Now, the trail meets the stone steps. We will climb on the steps. We will walk up and down past waterfalls and streams. After walking for around 3 hours, we will reach the Shringi Khola suspension bridge. After crossing the bridge, we will ascend the trail towards Ghap village. We will take lunch in the village and will start again. Walking across the green fields and into deep forests of firs, we will walk alongside the Shringi river to reach a waterfall. We will cross the river on a wooden bridge. After crossing the river, we will climb a long way through for nearly 2 hours. After the walk, we will finally reach Namrung. Namrung is the entrance to Upper Nuri. At Upper Nuri, there are the Tibetan inhabitants. They speak a different language. Overnight in Namrung.. Day 15: Trek to Lho (3180m). From Namrung, the trek route climbs steep uphill through a forest. Along the trek route, there are large barley fields at some places. You will reach a place called Lihi, 2900 meters consisting a group of houses and some of the beautiful chortens. Towards the south of Lihi, we will see the magnificent views of Himal Chuli 7893 meters. We will also see the alluring view of Ganesh Himal towards the east. From Lihi, the trail descends towards the side valley of Simnang and then to the Hinang river. There is a chorten near the river from where we can see Ngadi Chuli 7873 meters. We will continue further to Sho. AT Sho, we will see the clusters of houses. The trail now climbs up towards Shrip. We will walk past a large prayer wheel en route to Shrip. After a steep climb, we will reach the ridge. Lho is a large village situated over the ridge. From the village, we get the first sight of Manaslu North and Naike Himal. There is a local monastery called Ribung monastery above Lho village. Also, a place called Kani near Lho village is a perfect viewpoint for sunset and sunrise. We will hike to Kani in the evening for sunset views. Also, you can get up early to see the majestic sunrise views over Manaslu Himal. Overnight in Lho village.. Day 16: Trek to Samagaun (3500m). Today is a kind of acclimatization day. We will take a short hike of 2 to 3 hours upto Samagaon. While trekking along the trek route, we will see the most splendid views of Mt. Manaslu. The walk is easy. We will stroll through the Shyala village, 3520 meters. From Shyale, the trail goes uphill into pine and rhododendron forests. You will relish to see a beautiful stream on the way. We will walk for another hour to reach the Samagaun. As we get reach closer to the village, the alluring vistas of enchanting Himalayas go on disappearing. Instead, we will see large green pastures, herds of yaks, and lots of stone houses. Samagaun is a large village. Overnight stay in Samagaon.. Day 17: Acclimatizing day at Samagaun. Today is our acclimatization day. This day is mandatory since we already reach higher altitudes. We will rest in Samagaon for the whole day today. We will explore the large and beautiful village. We will take a short hike to the Birendra Tal and the Anie Gompa. If you are a strong and fit person, you can make a visit to Pungyen Gompa. The Gompa is at quite a distance from Samagaun. Visiting the Pungyen Gompa is the most attractive thing about today. From the gompa, we will see the extraordinary views of the glaciers. After our acclimatization hike, we will trek back to Samagaon for the overnight stay.. Day 18: Trek to Samdo (3860m). Today is another short yet a challenging day on the trek. The trail passes through the Birendra Tal, 3450 meters, near the Manaslu Glacier. Trekking in this part is very tough during winter. The trek route descends until we reach the main trail to Samdo. We will walk through the beautiful Yak pastures. You will see the Juniper forests around. We will climb a ridge and again descend to the Budi Gandaki river. After crossing the wooden bridge over the river, we will continue to walk towards Samdo. Samdo village is a beautiful village. The remote lifestyle, the beautiful nature and culture are impressive. You will see a lot of yak herding at the village. In the village, you’ll see more sheds for cattle than the houses. From Samdo village, you can see the beautiful Samdo Peak. If you want to trek to Larkya La trail, you can go on an afternoon acclimatization walk of 3 to 4 hours up the valley. If you are hiking in the afternoon, wear a down jacket. The place is cold as it sits at a high altitude. Overnight in Samdo.. Day 19: Trek to Dharamasala (4480m). We will start after a nice breakfast in Samdo. The trek route from Samdo descends on a wide trail. The trail drops down to the Budi Gandaki river. We will cross the river and follow the trekking trail again. On the way, we will see a mani wall. We will climb through the forests of Junipers. If you are trekking in April, there are chances of seeing lots of Marmots. We will now cross two ravines. The tracks are narrow. We will cross a few streams. We will also get a sight of the Larkya glacier. We will cross two ravines which will be icy during winter. We will then climb through a valley to reach the village of Dharamsala. Dharmasala is a seasonal village. There are some lodges there. The rooms are primitive with small, dirt-floored, and dark stone rooms. Also, there is a camping area in Dharmasala. The camping area is nowadays filthy with rubbish and toilet trenches. But apart, the herds of Himalayan Goats and Blue Sheeps over the hills near the campsite are beautiful. Some trekkers say that they encountered Snow Leopards in the area. Overnight in a guesthouse in Dharamsala.. Day 20: Cross the Larke pass (5213m) trek down to Bimtang (3720m). Today, we will be crossing the Larke Pass. Crossing the pass can be difficult if there is snowfall or high wind during the night. As you ascend up you might see snow. Be more careful while stepping over the iced rocks or snowy bumps. We will make a steady climb enjoying the exquisite view of Larkye peak. We will climb over the ridge beside the lateral moraine of Larke Glacier. The climb is not difficult but it is long and rocky underfoot, particularly as you top the moraine. While descending, we will walk past four frozen lakes. On top of the pass, we see the colorful prayer flags. At the top, the temperature can be very low. Icy winds blow frequently. Make sure you pay heed to it and have clothes to keep you warm enough. From the top, the stunning views of Mt. Himlung 7126 meters, Kang Guru 6981 meters, and Annapurna II 7937 meters will leave you spellbound. After completing the ascents, we will now descend the steep. Be watchful while you are descending. At some places on the trails, there will be ice and snow. Some portions of the descents are arduous however some are easy. The descent is bewitching. We will see the amazing views of icefalls, mountains, glacial lakes, and the Bimtang glacier. Walking through the loose gravel, grassy moraines, and rocky trails, we will trek towards Bimtang. The longer day ends after we reach Bimtang. The view of Mt. Manaslu seen from the valley is enchanting. Overnight in Bimtang.. Day 21: Bimtang to Tilije (2300m). After having breakfast in Bimtang, we will again set off on the trekking trail towards Tilije. We will start with a descent. Walking through the big meadows at Bimtang, we will cross a glacial stream over a wooden bridge. Again, we will walk down through the forests of coniferous and Rhododendron trees towards Hompuk village. The trail continues on descending following the Dudh Khola riverbank. Passing through the wonderful vegetation and beautiful sceneries feel wonderful. After some time we will reach Karche. Following Karche is a landslide. After the landslide section, we will make a steep climb and descend, After that, we will reach the Gho village. From there, we will again continue towards Tilije. The trail passes through beautiful fields and Oak and Rhododendron trees. Finally, we will enter Tilije village. Tilije is a Gurung village. There are good lodges for overnight stays. Also, Tilije is famous for the local brandy. Overnight in Tilije.. Day 22: Trek to Dharapani and drive to Besisahar (760m). We will leave the Tilije village crossing the bridge over the Dudh Khola. We will follow the trail along the riverbank. We will descend down through the forests of Shrubs into Marshyangdi valley. There, we will cross the Dudh Khola again. We will walk past the mani walls to reach Thonje village. Dharapani isn’t so far from Thonje village. We will reach there after crossing the bridge over Marsyangdi River. We will pass through a police checkpoint before reaching Dharapani. From Dharapani we will take a jeep or bus to Besisahar. Overnight in Besisahar.. Day 23: Drive back to Kathmandu from Besisahar. Today is our last day on the trek. We will drive along the riverbanks of Marsyangdi and Trishuli River. On the way, we can enjoy the beautiful terraced fields, diverse landscapes, splashing rivers, hills, and mountains.. Day 24: Departure Day. As your last day in Nepal, head out for a brief souvenir shopping session near the hotel in Thamel Market. We will pick you from the hotel and transfer you to TIA before the departure. The Manaslu circuit will remain with you forever alongside the lifelong memories and experiences from the trek with Himalayan Sanctuary.