Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley Trek - 21 Days

Flying into Kathmandu on a crystal-clear day is itself a truly breathtaking experience.

Upon arrival, our team will meet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel.  And will assist you with the check-in process and provide an orientation about your daily activities. This will be your first overnight stay in the city of temples.

Kathmandu is the historical heart of Nepal, and has been a popular destination for tourists.  The city presents a wonderful combination of Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, and Western influence in the Valley.

We will arrange a professional tour guide for you and a private tourist vehicle with a driver to explore between monuments. The tour guide will take you to UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, and Boudhanath Stupa, the historical and cultural sites you’ll visit today. Offering panoramic views of the valley.

After completing your day tour, you will meet your trek guide at our office/hotel. He will brief you about the Trek and all the essentials. The Thamel has many trekking gear shops, where you can buy missing gear in the late evening and get ready for the trek.

Early morning, after breakfast, we will drive from Kathmandu to Machha Khola (870m), which takes about eight/nine hours. You drive along the Kathmandu-Pokhara Highway for the first part of the day; after Malekhu, you turn towards the hill bazaar of Dhading Bensi. After Dhading Besi, the road is still good up to Salyantar, but quite narrow.

After Salyantar, the road is bumpy and dusty, but the beautiful scenery and villages will make your day memorable. You will reach your destination, Machha Khola, late in the afternoon. There is a small market with a few shops, lodges, and donkeys that are kept there. Stay your first night in the mountains in Machha Khola.

You cross the Machha Khola [Fish Stream] and head upstream to the tiny village of Khorla Bensi and the hot springs at Tatopani. The valley sides are steep until they are impassable, and the route then switches to the left bank by way of a suspension bridge. The trail is quite exposed and challenging in places.

After a short section of forest path, you reach the single teahouse at Doban. Above Doban, the Budi Gandaki descends on an impressive series of rapids. Beyond this steep section, the river is much more placid, meandering across a broad gravel bed. At Lauri, you cross the river on a suspension bridge, and then climb on a high path to the fields of Jagat, where you stop for another night at mountain.

The trek from Jagat to Lokpa follows the Budhi Gandaki River, small villages, terraced fields, bamboo groves, and forests, which give a glimpse of rural Nepali life. You will also get to see traditional mani walls, chortens, and prayer flags, which reflect the Buddhist Culture.

On the way, you will see the beautiful views of peaceful mountains. After a few hours, you will reach Lokpa village, where we will stay overnight, perfect for resting. It is a small village with few teahouses.

After a delicious breakfast at the teahouse in Lokpa, we head to Chumling. We descend into the Lungwa River valley. After that, you climb through quiet forests of pine and rhododendron, which offers a peaceful hike. The trail follows through up and down a quiet forest, crossing some small suspension bridges, mani wall, and choretens.

The path is remote with no villages or teahouse in between. After a few hours, you cross the Syar Khola (a river) via a suspension bridge to reach Chumling village. Chumbling is a small, spiritual village which is located in the Tsum Valley. You can also visit three monasteries: Panago Gumba, Mani Dhungyur, and Gurwa Gumba. We can also get a view of Ganesh Himal on a clear day.

From Chumling, we trek to Chhokangparo. Upper Tsum valley (part of the Inner Himalaya) opens from Chhokangparo. Chhekamparo is a village situated on flat land and made up of two settlements, Chhekam and Paro.

From the valley, the Ganesh Himal range can be seen directly to the south, where it provides superb views of the Baudha and Himal Chuli peaks to the south-west. Some households in this village practice polyandry.

From Chhokangparo, we trek to Nile/ Chulle. This is the last village heading north in the upper Tsum Valley. Nile is on the western, sun-side of the Shiar Khola, about 20 minutes walk across from Chhule.

On the way, we pass the Piren Phu cave. Piren Phu (pigeon cave) is one of the most sacred caves in the Tsum Valley. It is located at the foot of a rugged cliff near the village of Burji. Milarepa, the famous Tibetan saint, was believed to have meditated here.

There are two separate gumbas attached to the rocky cave. Richly painted Buddhist murals, excellent artistic scripts carved on stones, long prayer flags, and significant Buddhists paper scripts make this cave one of the most important socio-cultural assets in the valley. Fantastic views can be had of the Shiar Khola, Rachen Gumba, the mountains, and settlements amidst huge agricultural land.

From Nile, the trail gradually ascends to Mu gumba, the largest monastery in the region. Mu Gumba is located at the highest and farthest point in the Tsum Valley. Mu Gumba was established in 1895 AD and is situated at an altitude of 3510m. The monastery houses religious books, including Kangyur, a life-sized statue of Avalokiteśvara, and images of Guru Padmasambhava and Tara.

Dephyudonma Gumba is one of the oldest monasteries in the Tsum Valley and is situated in the rugged mountains, a 2 hour walk from the village of Chhule and Nile. The history of this monastery is directly associated with the dawn of Buddhism in the valley. The monastery is run by Lama Serap of Nile Ladrang from the Kangin sect. 

From Mu Gumba we take the trail to Chhokangparo via Rachen Gompa, the path walks us through pine meadow and forest, offering a scenic view of Ganesh Himal and surrounding peaks. You rest at Rachen Gompa, a peaceful and remote monastery that reflects the Buddhist architecture.

After resting, the path descends into a narrow valley and passes through small traditional villages. We reach our destination, Chhokangparo village, which is a small village that provides a warm welcome and is perfect for resting. We spend our night at the teahouse in Chhonkangparo.

After a delicious breakfast at Chhhokangparo, we start our trek to Lokpa, the path descends through quiet forests of rhododendron and pine. We rest at Ripchet, a small settlement with beautiful views of Ganesh Hima. The journey continues down remote valleys and riversides until we reach Lokpa. We stay overnight at the teahouse in Lokpa. This route is scenic, culturally rich, and quite remote, requiring proper permits and, ideally, a guide for a safe and enjoyable trek.

After early breakfast, we begin our trail from Lokpa with a descent through a quiet forest towards the Budhi Gandaki River. Here we rejoin the main Manaslu trail, the path enters a narrow and dramatic section of the Budhi Gandaki Gorge. Along the way, you pass waterfalls near Nyak Phedi and walk through quiet pine and bamboo forests. After crossing the rivers, we reach the Deng Village. One of the villages that is influenced by Tibetans with mani walls and stone houses. Continuing onward, the trail passes small hamlets and terraced fields before reaching Bihi Phedi, a peaceful riverside village surrounded by beautiful hillside views.

The trek from Deng/Bihi Phedi to Namrung, the trek follows along the Budhi Gandaki River via forests, waterfalls, and typical Tibetan-influenced villages. You then pass small settlements, such as Bihi and Ghap, with mani walls, prayer wheels, and terraced fields along the way. From here, there is a steady climb through the rhododendron and oak forests, and you reach Namrung, a beautiful village with stone houses, monasteries, and great views of the Ganesh Himal and Shringi Himal. You will stay overnight here.

After an early breakfast, we continue our trek from Nmarung to Sma Goan, the trail passes scenic Tibetan-influenced villages like Lihi, Sho, Lho, and Shyala, with stunning views of Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, and Himal Chuli. You’ll see chortens, mani walls, barley fields, and the impressive Ribung Monastery in Lho. After crossing open alpine meadows and glacial streams, you reach Sama Gaon, a large traditional village surrounded by incredible mountain scenery and perfect for acclimatization.

You can rest today or spend the day exploring Sama Gaon and its surroundings. We can hike to beautiful Manaslu Base Camp via the stunning Birendra Lake, or take a walk to a peaceful monastery, Pungen Gompa, with great views of Manaslu and the glacier. This rest day is perfect for acclimatization and enjoying the culture and mountain scenery of the region.

The gentle trek from Sama Gaon to Samdo begins through wide alpine valleys, yak pastures, and glacial streams. As you go higher, the breathtaking views of Manaslu, Naike Peak, and the surrounding mountains begin to unfold beautifully. The trail is quite gradual and easy to follow, crossing mani walls and small shelters now and then. You arrive at Samdo, a traditional Tibetan village close to the Nepal–Tibet border, known for its stunning landscapes and peaceful atmosphere—an ideal place to rest before heading toward the Larkye Pass.

We start trek from Samdo to Larkye La Phdei, the trail follows climbing through open rocky terrain with views of the snow-covered and the Larke Glacier. The alpine meadow, small brooks, and traditional yak shelters mark the passage of this track towards high altitude. A gentle ascent brings you up to Dharamsala, which is the last overnight stoppage before crossing Larkya La Pass. It’s a simple but important overnight point for rest and acclimatization before the big pass day.

Today gonna be the toughest day of the trek. After an early breakfast, we head to Larkye La Pass from Larkye La Phedi through rocky and snowy terrain. From the pass, one can get spectacular panoramic views of Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kang Garu, and Annapurna II. Afterwards, the trail descends to Bhimtang via alpine meadows, yak pastures, and forests at 3,590 meters above sea level, a tranquil village with breathtaking views of Manaslu, Lamjung Himal, and peaks around.

Today is a long day of walking, so start early after breakfast at Bhimtang. The beginning of your day will take you straight downhill through the rhododendron and pine forests until you arrive at the Dudh Khola River, which you will follow back to its source.

You will cross over a wooden bridge and then pass through several small villages, such as Kachre and Goa, where you will be able to see many apple orchards. The walk downhill will take you along the path from a cold mountain view to an area of green forest and farmland.

After 5 hours of trekking, you will arrive at Tilje, a beautiful Gurung village featuring stone-paved streets and traditional Gurung homes. You can stop for lunch at either Goa or Tilje; wherever you decide is your choice. Tilje is famous for its locally produced apple brandy.

After lunch, you will share a jeep back to Besisahar. The drive will take approximately 3 hours and will take place along the bank of the Marsyangdi River. You will see many waterfalls, hills, and small villages along the way. You will arrive at Besisahar in the late afternoon or evening and spend the night in Besisahar. 

Take a scenic bus drive from Besisahar back to Kathmandu, passing terraced hills, rivers, and traditional villages along the way. Relax and enjoy the countryside views as you return to the capital, completing your Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley adventure. You will stay overnight at a hotel in Kathmandu.

As we have completed the trip, it is time to return home or embark on your next journey. You can even join our next adventure trips in the Himalayas if you wish to. If not, our airport team will take care of your airport escort and say you our last goodbye till the next adventure holidays.