Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek

Your journey starts early in Kathmandu. Your guide meets you at your hotel before you leave the city by local bus. The road follows the Prithvi Highway out of the Kathmandu Valley, passing green hills, terraced fields, small roadside settlements, and deep river valleys. Around midday, the paved road gives way to gravel and rough tracks near Arughat. From here, the ride becomes noticeably bumpier as the bus moves over rocky sections, with the Budhi Gandaki River appearing alongside the road.

The final stretch follows the river gorge toward Machha Khola, the starting point of the trek. It is a small settlement in a warm, subtropical setting with thick vegetation around the river. Once you check into your local lodge, you have time to rest, stretch your legs, and organize your trekking gear. Dinner is served in the communal dining area before you settle in for the night.

The Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley trekking trail starts from Machha Khola. It follows the canyon, with the river nearby for most of the morning. You cross a long steel suspension bridge over the Machha Khola and continue along stone steps, sandy riverbanks, and short climbs. At Tatopani, you pass natural hot springs where steam rises from the rocks, and you may notice a light smell of sulfur.

After Tatopani, the gorge gets narrower, and the cliffs rise. The trail passes through bamboo forests, with cicadas and the river along the way. You’ll see mule trains carrying supplies. Stay toward the wall when they pass. A final climb up stone steps takes you into Jagat, where you find flagstone paths and nearby potato and maize fields. After checking into your lodge, you can relax with some ginger tea.

From Jagat, the trail first drops toward the river, then climbs through blue pine and oak forests. As you gain altitude, the air becomes cooler, and near Salleri you get your first view of Shringi Himal (7,187m). In Philim, you start to see Tibetan-style stone houses alongside Hindu influences. Then, the trek continues along cliffside paths, under large rock overhangs, and past waterfalls flowing through the gorge.

Once at Ekle Bhatti, you leave the main Manaslu trail and take the route toward Tsum Valley. The trail becomes quieter as it passes through a more remote gorge and dense rhododendron forest. After a steep staircase, you reach Lokpa. The village is remote and serves as the gateway to Tsum Valley. From here, you can also see the snow-covered walls of the Ganesh Himal range.

Today’s distance is short, but the trail is still difficult due to some steep sections. You leave Lokpa and descend toward the Lungdang River along dirt paths and stone steps before crossing a wooden bridge. The trail then climbs sharply up the opposite side of the gorge through a series of steep zigzags.

The climb warms you up quickly, while moss-covered trees and damp pine forest that surround the route cool you from time to time. Around midday, the final ridge opens the narrow gorge into a wider and sunnier valley. From here, prayer flags mark the approach to Chumling, the lower village of Tsum Valley. Stone houses with flat roofs, barley fields, and views of Shringi Himal shape the landscape.

Since you arrive early, you have time for lunch and a relaxed afternoon. You can walk around the village, hear yak bells in the distance, and visit Chumling Monastery, where local worshippers gather. The visit also gives you an early introduction to the spiritual traditions of the Tsumba people.

From Chumling, the trail crosses a suspension bridge and gradually climbs along the upper banks of the Shiyar River. Much of the route follows wide dirt paths and gentle stone sections, with long mani walls lining parts of the trail. As you approach 3,000 meters, the thinner air becomes more noticeable. The wind can also become stronger during the morning as it moves down the valley.

Around noon, you reach Chhekamparo, a twin village on a high, level plateau. The valley widens here, with steep cliffs and snow-covered peaks surrounding the settlement. The weather is generally cool and dry, and strong sunlight reflects off the surrounding landscape. After checking into your stone lodge, you can explore the old village paths and meet local residents, who may greet you with “Tashi Delek.” In the evening, you return to the lodge for dinner as the wind moves around the stone buildings.

The Upper Tsum Valley feels more remote as you continue beyond Chhekamparo. The trail climbs gradually across the wider valley floor and passes the stone villages of Ngakyu and Leru. Along the way, you can see farmers working in the fields and herding long-haired yaks. The air also becomes colder, drier, and thinner as you gain elevation.

One of the main stops today is Piren Phu, also known as Pigeon Cave. The cave sits high on a rocky cliff, and a steep set of steps leads up. It is associated with the Tibetan saint Milarepa. Inside, you can see statues and a footprint in the stone, while water drips through the cave. After visiting Piren Phu, you cross the river on a wooden bridge and continue toward Nile. The trail follows the emerald-green Shiyar River through open alpine meadows.

As the afternoon goes on, the temperature drops and shadows reach the surrounding cliffs. Nile is the valley’s northernmost village, with a quiet, windswept setting. Once you check into your lodge, you can gather around the central wood-burning stove. A warm dinner and garlic soup make a welcome end to the colder walk as your body continues adjusting to the higher altitude.

Today takes you up to Mu Gompa, so it is worth starting early while the air is still cold and the trail is quiet. As you leave the lower valley, the landscape opens up and becomes more barren, with dry alpine grass covering the slopes. The climb is steady, so keep your pace slow to adjust to the thinner air. As you get closer, Mu Gompa comes into view on an isolated, wind-exposed hill near the Tibetan border. At 3,700 meters, the monastery offers wide views across the surrounding peaks and glaciers.

Inside Mu Gompa, you can see yak-butter lamps and old woodwork, while morning prayers and bronze cymbals fill the monastery. After exploring the monastery, have lunch before descending to Anni Gompa, also known as Rachen Gompa. The nunnery sits against the valley walls in an isolated setting. From there, the trail continues back toward the Nile on a gentler downhill route. By evening, you are back in the village with time to rest and think back on the places you visited during the day.

The return from Nile follows much of the same trail, but the valley looks different as you walk back down. You pass through Chhekamparo again before continuing toward Chumling. With every drop in elevation, the air warms and becomes easier to breathe. The dry alpine landscape slowly gives way to greener forests and terraced fields, and you get wider views of the valley and the distant peaks of the Manaslu range.

Around midday, you stop for lunch at a sunny spot beside the river and take a break. You may also meet local families you saw earlier in the trek and exchange greetings along the way. By the time you reach Chumling, the warmer air and lower elevation are very noticeable. Take a hot shower, rest your legs, and get ready for the next day, when you leave Tsum Valley and rejoin the main circuit trail.

It feels different to be back on the main Manaslu route after the quieter trails of Tsum Valley. You leave Chumling and descend through steep forest steps toward the canyon floor, where the two trails meet again. The route follows cliffside sections and crosses several high suspension bridges over the Budhi Gandaki River. From here, the trail switches between steep stone staircases and flatter stretches beside the river, giving you plenty of variety throughout the day.

After lunch at a small teahouse in Nyak, you continue through bamboo and pine forests. Short, steep climbs appear along the way, and the weather can change quickly, with cool shade under the trees followed by warmer, sunnier sections. You cross another suspension bridge over a deep, rushing waterfall gorge before reaching Deng. The village sits on a small shelf above the river, with terraced fields around it. After checking into your lodge, take time to rest and review the route ahead with your guide before heading toward the higher sections leading to Larkya Pass.

You leave Deng for another long day of gradual climbing. The trail crosses the Budhi Gandaki several times on high bridges. It then continues through forests of blue pine, oak, and rhododendron. As you move away from the lower gorge, the air becomes cooler and clearer. Near Ghap, you pass detailed stone mani walls carved with Buddhist figures and designs. Some sections are steep and rocky, so watch your footing as you climb.

Later in the day, the trail gets steeper as it passes through a darker forest. Soon, the trees open up, and Namrung comes into view. The village has stone-paved paths and distinctly Tibetan-style architecture. It also serves as an important cultural center in the Nupri region. From here, you can look back toward Shringi Himal and the jagged ridges of Ganesh Himal. The air feels cooler at this elevation, and clear evenings may offer views of the stars. Spend the night at a local lodge and enjoy a hearty dinner with the hospitality of the Nupri community.

From Namrung, you continue through high alpine pastures and traditional stone settlements. Once at Lho, Mount Manaslu (8,163m) comes into view. This is your first close look at the world’s eighth-highest mountain, and you get a better sense of its size as you walk beneath it. You can also visit Ribung Monastery in Lho and hear the morning bells across the village.

Beyond Lho, the trail drops briefly into a forested ravine before climbing again toward Shyala. The village offers wide views of Himalchuli, Peak 29, and Manaslu, making it a good place to stop for lunch. In the afternoon, you follow a broad alpine valley as the Budhi Gandaki narrows into a smaller stream. Dry glacial moraine covers parts of the trail on the way to Samagaun. At 3,530 meters, the air feels colder and thinner. Once you reach the village, settle into your lodge and prepare for a two-night stay.

Samagaun gives you a full day to slow down and let your body adjust before the trail climbs higher toward the pass. You can choose the day’s activity according to your energy level. Option A (Birendra Tal) is the gentler choice, with a morning walk across rocky moraine toward the turquoise glacial lake below the Manaslu icefall. The lake sits beneath the surrounding mountain walls, and after visiting it, you return to Samagaun for a quieter afternoon.

For a more demanding day, Option B (Pungyen Gompa) and Option C (Manaslu Base Camp) take you higher into the mountains. The route climbs the grassy ridges above Samagaun, while Manaslu Base Camp reaches 4,800 meters. The thinner air calls for a slow, steady pace, and strong winds and cold temperatures become more noticeable higher up. At Base Camp, you can see tents used by international climbing expeditions, along with large seracs and ice fields. Whichever option you choose, you return to Samagaun in the afternoon for dinner and another night of rest.

With Larkya La Pass getting closer, today’s walk is shorter and more relaxed. The morning sun takes time to reach Samagaun because of the large wall of Manaslu, so the village can still feel cold and shaded when you leave. The trail climbs gradually through dry terrain with low juniper bushes and alpine grass. It follows the smaller Budhi Gandaki stream as you move higher. At this altitude, each step takes more effort, and the wind becomes a regular part of the walk. You also pass old chortens and weathered stone structures along the way.

By late morning, you cross a wooden bridge over a side river, then make a short, steeper climb to Samdo. The village is home to Tibetan refugees and lies only a day’s walk from the actual border. Since you arrive before lunch, you have plenty of time to rest and drink fluids. Prayer flags move in the wind around the settlement, and you can hear yaks nearby. Later, your guide can take you on a short acclimatization walk up the ridge behind the village before you return for an early night.

You leave Samdo with a short descent toward the final wooden bridge over the upper Budhi Gandaki. After crossing it, the river slowly falls behind as the trail turns toward the base of Larkya Pass. The route climbs across glacial moraine and open stone terrain. Trees and bushes disappear completely at this altitude, leaving mostly rock, ice, and sky. Shaded sections remain very cold, while the high-altitude sun provides some warmth as you keep walking.

By midday, you reach Dharmasala, also known as Larkya Phedi. Basic stone shelters provide a place for trekkers to rest before crossing the pass. Spend the afternoon resting, drinking plenty of hot water, and getting your gear ready for the early start. At 4,460 meters, the air is thin, and you may notice some pressure in your head or feel nervous about the pass ahead. Dinner is served early, around 05:00 PM, in the stone dining room. Afterward, get into your sleeping bag and try to get some rest for a big day tomorrow.

Get ready for an early start because today is the longest and most demanding day of the trek. You leave Dharmasala around 04:00 AM, when temperatures are below freezing. Your headlamp provides most of your light as you start climbing across the Larkya Glacier moraine after a quick breakfast of porridge. The climb is long and steady, with snow and rocky ground underfoot. Keep a steady pace and focus on your breathing as you gain altitude. As daylight arrives, Cheo Himal and Himlung Himal gradually come into view.

After several hours of climbing, you reach the prayer-flag-covered summit of Larkya La Pass (5,106m/ 16,782 ft). This is the highest point of the trek, with wide views across the central Himalaya. Take some time for photographs before beginning the long descent toward Bhimtang. The trail drops across loose scree and snow-covered slopes, which can strain your knees and quadriceps.

The descent continues for several hours, and the scenery changes as you lose altitude. The temperature rises, and the barren landscape gradually gives way to alpine meadows. By mid-afternoon, you reach the greener Bhimtang Valley. Check into your lodge, enjoy a hot meal, and finally rest after a long day on the trail.

The change in scenery after Larkya Pass is hard to miss. You wake to views of the western face of Mount Manaslu before leaving the high meadows around Bhimtang. The trail soon enters forests of blue pine, oak, and rhododendron. After several days around rock, snow, and sparse alpine vegetation, thick greenery and the smell of damp earth tell you that you are losing elevation.

The route follows the Dudh Khola, or Milk River, through the forest, with maintained paths and wooden footbridges along the way. The thicker air makes the walk feel easier. Around midday, stop for lunch at a forest clearing near Karche, with birds and the river nearby. In the afternoon, you pass agricultural settlements such as Goa, where farmers grow crops including corn and millet on the terraces. The warmer weather means you can switch back to lighter clothing.

Later, you cross a major bridge over the Marsyangdi River and reach Tilche, a stone village along the classic Annapurna Circuit route. This is your final night on the trail. Enjoy dinner with your guide and porters, share stories from the trek, and celebrate completing the trekking section before heading back to Kathmandu the next day.

On our final day, we will trek from Tilche to Besisahar, which takes about four to five hours. The trail will be relatively easy. It allows us to reflect on our incredible journey through the Manaslu and Tsum Valley.

Upon reaching Besisahar, we will arrange transportation back to Kathmandu, which takes around six to seven hours. Our drive will be scenic, and we will pass through many remote settlements along the far views of the Himalayas. Finally, our 17-day adventure will end, and our guide will take you to your hotel.