Highlights
- Adventure in the heart of the world’s 8th highest Mt. Manaslu and beyond.
- Explore the amazing ancient heritage cultures of Tsum and Manaslu Valleys.
- Fascinating scenery of towering snow-capped peaks with rugged mountain views.
- Charming traditional villages adorned with prayer monuments and monasteries.
- Walk from the remote Tsum Valley of Happiness to the highest point at Larke-La Pass.
Tsum Valley and Manaslu, both of these fascinating high country falls within restricted areas in Nepal. At one time, Tsum Valley and upper Manaslu were forbidden for foreign visitors. Then in 1992, the upper region of Manaslu was open for foreign visitors and trekkers.
Similarly, Tsum Valley flung its door open in 2008, and these marvelous adventure trekkers require a special permit. Includes MCA (Manaslu Conservation Area) entrance tickets, this makes the northern Gorkha district a special area around the Himalayas.
MANASLU & STUM VALLEY TREK ROUTE
Tsum Valley and Manaslu Circuit Trekking involves drives both ways to start the walk, and after completing the adventurous treks. The walk begins from a lower warm farm village of paddy areas, following the Buddhi-Gandaki River upstream, crossing exciting bridges. The trail leads to climb to reach a cooler hill covered in lovely forests of pines and rhododendrons trees. Walking from one exciting village to another then reach Jagat from here starts the restricted areas of Tsum Valley and Manaslu.
The first part of the adventure leads east toward remote Tsum, known as the Valley of Happiness. As the walk progresses our route diverts from the main Manaslu trail towards Tsum at Lokpa, Chumling, and Chokang-Paro. Then reach the last village at Nile to reach the main high destination of Tsum Valley at Mu Gompa.
The highest point around Tsum Valley at 3,700 m and 12,139 feet, enjoy the dramatic scenery of snow peaks. Located behind the massif Ganesh Himal, explore the monastery interiors of great cultural and religious of Buddhism.
On completing the end of Tsum Valley, after exploring lovely villages steeped with the traditional heritage of farm life. Our next adventure leads towards the main trails of Manaslu Circuit, situated in between the towering Manaslu and Ganesh Himal ranges.
The trail leads through lovely woodland to reach Lo-Gaon, an interesting village within high scenic Manaslu Valley. An exciting, scenic walk takes you to Sama-Gaon, located in the heart of Manaslu Valley. Have time in Sama-Gaon with rest days for acclimatization and exploring its viewpoints, which is en route to Manaslu base camp. From Sama-Gaon towards our final goal of the adventure to cross the high Larke-La Pass at 5,106 m. The walk follows through the last village of Samdo to Dharmasala at the base of Larke Pass.
The next early morning walk follows steep undulating ups to reach the top of Larke-La Pass amidst an incredible panorama of the giant mountain range. Facing the spectacular views of surrounding Himalayan peaks, a long downhill walk brings you to Bhimthang around Manang areas.
From Bhimthang is a lovely walk down to Dharapani village, where our adventurous walks complete with an exciting drive to Kathmandu. On reaching Kathmandu, our adventure concludes after a marvelous experience on Tsum Valley and Manaslu Circuit Trekking.
WHAT TO EXPECT ON TSUM VALLEY & MANASLU CIRCUIT TREKKING?
Tsum Valley & Manaslu Circuit Trekking is an exciting and worth the adventure of a lifetime experience. There are various wonderful things to expect on this adventurous walk around Manaslu, the world’s 8th-highest peak. The first impression of these adventures is the beautiful scenery of landscapes with rolling green hills and Valleys. Walk from the lower warm country of paddy fields to high green hills covered in lovely forests.
Line with tall rhododendrons, oaks, pines, and fir trees as the walk progresses toward higher country. The tree lines fade for short alpine bushes of juniper and azalea (dwarf rhododendrons). An amazing journey where the trails follow the Budi-Gandaki River upstream to its glacial source around scenic high Manaslu Valley. Close en route to Mt. Manaslu base camp on walk offers majestic views of the Mid-West Himalayas. Includes Manaslu, Ganesh, and Sringi Himal and walking through lovely traditional farm villages. Encountering Buddhist prayer monuments and monasteries, the villagers greet you with a cheerful smile.
The route around Tsum Valley and Manaslu is all uphill climbs with short down and gradual winding paths to enjoy. The exciting part of the adventure, apart from the views and the impressive cultures, is crossing a unique bridge. Which is attached to a high rocky wall edge above the Buddhi-Gandaki River. This type of bridge, called a Cantilever, is new in Nepal and around the Himalayas. Interesting to know about Manaslu Circuit High Valley, in the early days it was one of the major Trans Himalayan Caravan and Salt Trade Route of Nepal and Tibet. The trade still exists but in smaller ways than in the past before the 1960’s. The walking trails are a straightforward route through lovely woods and farm areas. After Jagat enters Upper Manaslu and Tsum Valley then reaches Manang, crossing high Larke-La, exploring the highland villages interwoven with Buddhism religion.
