Tsum Valley and Manaslu Circuit trek -19day

Your journey begins with an early morning drive from Kathmandu, heading west along the Prithvi Highway. The road takes you through scenic countryside, with views of terraced farms, flowing rivers, green hills, and charming villages. You’ll cross the Trishuli River to reach Dhading Bensi and then continue toward Arughat. The drive follows the Dorandi Khola River, moving north through the Gorkha region. Along the way, you'll catch your first glimpses of Manaslu and Ganesh Himal on clear days. From Arughat, it's another two hours on a rougher road before reaching Soti Khola, where the trek officially begins.

After breakfast, we begin our first day of trekking by heading north through a narrow valley alongside the Budhi Gandaki River. The trail winds through lush forest and small hillside villages, with occasional views of the distant Himalayan peaks. As we move ahead, the valley slowly opens up, and we pass several streams and waterfalls. One of the highlights of the day is reaching Lapubesi (880m), a quiet village with beautiful scenery. You may hear or see monkeys, birds, and other forest animals along the way. From there, we descend along a gentle, curving trail that brings us to Machha Khola, where we stop for the night. 

You will hike upstream from Tharo Khola to Kholabeni, seeing beautiful rock formations and waterfalls along the way. The trail takes you through landslide-affected areas and across a bridge to reach Kholabesi. Ahead, you’ll find the hot springs of Tatopani, where you can take a short break.  After leaving, you'll continue on a mix of stone stairways, rocky footpaths, and forested sections, gradually ascending through villages like Dhovan, where you’ll stop for rest or lunch. At Jagat, the entrance to the Manaslu Conservation Area, we will register our permits at a local police checkpoint. 

Today, we officially enter the restricted region of Manaslu. The trek begins with a short climb up to Salleri, offering beautiful views of the surrounding hills. From there, the trail continues along the Budhi Gandaki River, and we cross a long suspension bridge. As we move ahead, the valley opens up near Philim, a lively village with terraced fields and friendly locals.

Passing through Ekle Bhatti, the trail splits one path heads toward the main Manaslu Circuit, while the other leads us into Tsum Valley. We take the route toward Tsum, hiking through forested paths and small village settlements. As the trail goes higher, the rivers become narrower, and you’ll reach the point where the Syar River from Tsum Valley joins the Budhi Gandaki.

From here, we continue on the right side of the valley, climbing gently until we reach Lokpa, the first village in Tsum Valley. Lokpa is peaceful and offers the first clear views of the Manaslu Range, including Himalchuli and Boudha Himal. This area is known as a hidden valley, believed to be blessed by Padmasambhava, one of the key figures in Tibetan Buddhism. Lokpa gives you a real sense of entering a sacred and quiet Himalayan world, untouched by modern life.

After breakfast in Lokpa, we begin the trek toward Chumling, following a quiet and remote trail into Tsum Valley. On a clear day, you’ll be treated to amazing views of Baudha Himal (6,672m) and Ganesh Himal VI, which appear above the forested hills along the trail.

First, the path descends to the Lungwa River Valley, then climbs steadily through a lush forest filled with rhododendron and pine trees. This part of the trail feels peaceful and untouched, as there are no villages between Lokpa and Chumling. So, you will need to carry the lunch package during the trek. We cross a bridge over the Syar Khola River and soon arrive at Chumling, a small but important village with a health post and three traditional Buddhist monasteries: Panago Gumba, Mani Dhungyur, and Gurwa Gumba.

Today, the trek takes us deeper into the upper Tsum Valley, entering a more remote and peaceful part of the inner Himalayas. The trail follows the Syar River, passing through beautiful forested areas and small farmlands. We eventually reach Domje, the largest settlement in Tsum Valley. From Domje, the path climbs steadily uphill until we reach Chhokangparo. On clear days, you’ll get breathtaking views of Himalchuli and Ganesh Himal. In Chhokangparo, you’ll experience the warm hospitality of the Tsombo people, a local Tibetan-influenced community.

After breakfast, we continue trekking through the upper part of Tsum Valley, passing through small farming villages and open fields. As you walk through Ngakyu Leru, you’ll see local people working in their fields. After passing Lamagaon, from there we take a short hike to visit the famous Milarepa’s Piren Phu Cave, where his footprint is said to be preserved in rock. The cave, also called Piren Phu (Pigeon Cave), is one of the holiest places in the valley. There are two small Buddhist monasteries built into the cliff, with beautiful wall paintings, prayer flags, and ancient scriptures, making this spot spiritually and culturally significant.  After the visit, we will cross  a suspension bridge over the Shiar River and continue walking through a few more quiet villages before reaching Nile.

The hike today is shorter, but it's important since we're going to the highest point of the Tsum Valley. The trail goes from Nile to the western side of the valley, where it becomes closer to the border with Tibet. As we go into the dry, open highlands, the scenery changes. You will witness pastures where yaks are raised and stunning views of the Himalayas. The trail takes us to Mu Gompa, which is one of the most important and tallest monasteries in the area. Mu Gompa is in a quiet, rural location, and there are chortens (Buddhist shrines) all around it. The view of the mountains and valleys around it is excellent. There is also Dhephu Doma Gompa, which is another old monastery. You can truly experience the Tibetan Buddhist culture that influences life in this remote section of the Himalayas. There is a lot of magic in this area.

Leaving Mu Gompa behind, the trail winds down toward Rachen Gompa, a serene monastery located near the border of Nepal and Tibet, surrounded by towering Himalayan peaks. From there, the route continues through the quiet villages of Chhule and Phurbe. These villages offer an authentic look at Tibetan-influenced mountain culture. If you're lucky, you might spot blue sheep (bharal) grazing along the rocky slopes or even the rare Himalayan marmot and birds such as Himalayan griffons and snow pigeons. As the landscape gradually changes, trekkers move into a lush, forested area before finally arriving at the peaceful settlement of Chhokangparo, where the day’s journey concludes.

Trek starts with an 8.4 km / 5.2 mile walk from Chhokangparo (3,010m / 9,903ft), to Chumling (2,386m / 7,827ft), usually around 5–6 hours with a total elevation change of 624m – 2,076ft. 
Trek Distance: 8.4 km/5.2 miles.
Highest Altitude: 3,700 m/11,026 ft.
Trek Duration: 5-6 hours
Leaving Chhokangparo behind, you descend through terraced fields and traditional stone villages until you reach Gho, a quiet hamlet nestled along the hillside. Here, you’ll cross a swaying suspension bridge, offering incredible views of the river below. The trail continues toward Rainjam Village, a small, peaceful stop where locals live simple lives rooted in Tibetan culture and farming traditions. From Rainjam, the path leads you further down into the lower Tsum Valley, where the air grows warmer and the forests denser. After a full day of walking through changing landscapes, rich with cultural heritage, mountain views, and natural beauty, You’ll arrive at Chumling, a charming village surrounded by pine forests and rolling hills, where you'll settle in for the night.

The trail starts with a downhill section, which makes the trek easier than it was the last few days. You walk along the calm banks of the Shiar Khola until you reach Lokpa Village, a well-known intersection where the Tsum Valley trail meets the main Manaslu Circuit. On clear days, you might see big groups of sheep and goats with local herders. The trail goes down to the Budhi Gandaki River after Lokpa. You cross a strong bridge and enter a tight gorge that is really dramatic. You will cross another river on a suspension bridge, which will take you into the Nupri region. This is the point at which the culture changes, and you enter a region more influenced by Tibetan culture. The last part of the journey goes through thick bamboo forests, and then you arrive at Deng, a small but friendly Gurung village where you'll spend the night. You'll be surrounded by the sounds of the jungle and the rushing river.

We go from Deng to Rana Village (1,910 m), which is surrounded by calm scenery, peaceful settlements by terraced fields, and rolling green hills. The trail goes through green valleys and over Serang Khola before ending in Bhiphedi (2,130 m). We walk through bamboo and rhododendron forests, cross rivers, and climb difficult slopes to get to Ghap (2,160 m). You may also pass ancient mani walls, Tibetan prayer flags, and small Buddhist shrines (chortens), which are the entryway to the Nupri region of the Himalayas. After reaching Namrung, you will see a gateway to the upper Manshu region. 

The walk from Namrung takes you through a series of Buddhist mani walls, entrance gates, and little gompas. This shows how spiritual this area is. As you go higher, the scenery gets better and better, with wide alpine valleys and excellent vistas of the Alps. The path goes past Sho Village, which is noted for its huge herds of yaks and beautiful views of Manaslu (8,163m) and Manaslu North (7,157m). 
Following the river's right bank, you'll slowly rise in height while taking in stunning views of Ngadi Chuli (Peak 29). A few hours of trekking through fragrant pine and rhododendron forests brings you to Shyala Village, a charming settlement with jaw-dropping panoramas of Phungi, Manaslu, and Himal Chuli. The villagers depend on yaks, potatoes, and barley to survive the high-altitude climate. As we continue hiking, you will see Ganesh himal, Himalchuli and Manaslu.  After a certain amount of time, you will reach Samagaon, and you’ll also spend an extra day here to acclimatize before continuing toward higher altitudes.

At Samagaon, we take a day to acclimatize to the higher altitude and thinner air. During this time, we explore the village and learn about local life and Buddhist culture. Trekkers also have the option to hike to Manaslu Base Camp or visit Birendra Lake (Tal) and climb the ridge to Pungyen Monastery. Pungyen Monastery, located south of Samagaon, is about a 4- to 5-hour hike and offers spectacular views of the surrounding glaciers. Birendra Tal, a glacial lake at 3,450 m, is famous for the dramatic sight of ice blocks falling into the lake.

Trek starts with an 18.5 km / 11.4 mile walk from Sama Gaon (3,530m / 11,581 ft) to Dharmasala (4,480m / 14,698ft), usually around 8–7 hours with a total elevation of 950 m / 3,111 ft.
 Trek Distance: 18.5 km/11.4 miles
Highest Altitude (4,480m / 14,698ft),
Trek Duration: 7 - 8 hrs
The day begins with an early morning departure from Sama Gaon, following a gentle trail that winds through terraced fields and alongside ancient mani walls, a constant reminder of the deep spiritual roots of this region. After crossing a wooden bridge over the Budhi Gandaki River, the trail begins to gradually climb toward Samdo Valley, a remote area not far from the Tibetan border. Along the way, you’ll cross two glacial streams and get your first close-up views of the Larkya Glacier, a vast river of ice flowing down from the high peaks. You will arrive at Dharmasal, also known as Larkya La Phedi, which is not a lodge but rather a rest area to prepare for crossing Larkya La Pass the following day.

Today is an exciting day as we cross Larkya La Pass (5,160 m). We leave Dharamsala, trek over the moraine, and descend to a small lake. The trail becomes rough and steep as we navigate the south side of a grassy slope."

The trail follows the moraine to a point marked by two landmarks, with prayer flags guiding our way as we descend past four frozen lakes. We then climb again to reach Larkya La Pass (5,160 m / 16,929ft), which offers breathtaking views of Himlung, Cheo, Kang Guru, and Annapurna II."

After enjoying the views from Larkya La Pass, we follow the moraine west along steep, rough bends. The trail then descends more gently into a small meadow. As the valley widens, we pass many walls and small houses before arriving at Bhimtang. 

After leaving Bhimtang, the trail climbs over a glacial moraine and down to the dudh khola. You cross a little wooden bridge and enter a gorgeous, green woodland with blooming rhododendrons and pine trees. You will see wonderful vistas of the mountains as you descend down, including Phungi, Manaslu, Manaslu North, Cheo Himal, and Himlung Himal. The peaceful Sangure Kharka meadow is only a short walk away. It's a beautiful location to relax and is surrounded by alpine vegetation. After there, you'll go through a landslide region and up a short but steep hill to a ridge where there are prayer flags.  Once you get to the riverbank at gho, you'll stay here.

Trek starts with a 13 km / 8 mile walk from Gho (2,550m / 8,367ft) to Tal (1,700m / 5,577ft), usually around 7-8 hours with a total elevation change of 850m / 2,790 ft. 
Trek Distance: 13 km/8 miles.
Highest Altitude: 2,550 m/8,367 ft.
Trek Duration 7-8hrs
Today, the trail is full of different things, going past open fields, thick rhododendron and oak forests, and small towns on the hills. After a hike, you arrive in Tilije, a lively village with people from many different cultures, including Gurung, Magar, and Tibetan. After there, you'll cross the Dudh Khola and take a beautiful trail along its bank, slowly going down through a forest of scrubby trees. On the route, you go through the village of Thonje. You cross a wooden bridge and go under an arch that looks like a chorten, which is a symbolic entrance to this spiritually rich area. A long suspension bridge over the Marsyangdi River leads you into Dharapani. After a continuous trek, you will see prayer flags, mani walls, and chortens. you will reach Tal.

In the morning, we take a local jeep or bus from Tal (1,700m/5,577ft) to Besisahar. It takes four to five hours to get there. We may glimpse the last of the native hillside life along the way in little towns and villages like Bhulbhule and Khudi. We need to arrive to Besisahar before 3 p.m. so we can catch the last bus or jeep to Kathmandu. It takes 5 to 6 more hours to drive from Besisahar to Kathmandu. We leave the highlands and follow the beautiful Marsyangdi River. As we drive along the Prithvi Highway to Kathmandu, the road meets the Trishuli River. This is where our spectacular journey over the Himalayas comes to an end.