Manaslu Circuit with Tsum Valley Trek
-
Manaslu Region, Nepal (Tsum Valley, Larkya La Pass 5,160m, Manaslu 8,163m) -
24 Days
Popular Searches
Press ESC to close
The ultimate 24-day Himalayan expedition combining Tsum Valley ("Hidden Valley of Happiness") with the full Manaslu Circuit. Cross Larkya La Pass (5,160m), explore ancient Buddhist sanctuaries, and circumnavigate the world's 8th highest peak.
This 24-day masterclass in Himalayan exploration links two of Nepal's most restricted, culturally profound, and visually staggering regions into one epic, continuous traverse. You will begin by tracing the deep, sweltering gorge of the Budi Gandaki river before branching east to plunge into the mystical Tsum Valley—the "Hidden Valley of Happiness." Here, near the Tibetan border, you will immerse yourself in an ancient, untouched Buddhist sanctuary, exploring the sacred caves of Milarepa and the remote outposts of Mu Gompa and Lungdang Gompa. After absorbing the profound silence of this "Ahimsa" (non-violence) zone, your expedition pivots westward, merging onto the legendary Manaslu Circuit. You will circumnavigate Mount Manaslu (8,163m), the eighth-highest peak on Earth, passing through traditional Nubri settlements and high-altitude alpine deserts. The ultimate physical climax demands conquering the icy, lung-busting heights of the Larkya La Pass (5,160m) before plunging back down into the lush, rhododendron-draped forests of the Annapurna region to complete a flawless circuit.
Your monumental Himalayan adventure begins as you touch down in the vibrant capital of Kathmandu. Upon clearing customs, you will be warmly welcomed and transferred to your hotel. Your evening is dedicated to a comprehensive expedition briefing with your lead trekking guide. Because you are entering two strictly monitored border zones, we will finalize your complex Restricted Area Permits tonight. You will also run through a thorough gear check to ensure you are completely prepared for the harsh, unheated teahouses of the upper valleys.
You will board a rugged 4x4 jeep early in the morning to escape the Kathmandu Valley. The drive is a visceral adventure, taking you along the paved Prithvi Highway before veering off-road at Dhading or Gorkha. The road becomes incredibly bumpy, dusty, and dramatic as it hugs the steep, plunging cliffs of the Budi Gandaki river gorge. By late afternoon, you will arrive at the bustling, low-altitude settlement of Machha Khola, where the air is warm, thick, and highly humid.
Your foot journey officially begins today. You will trek through the narrow, sweltering gorge, navigating rocky trails that undulate constantly. You will cross several long suspension bridges over the raging Budi Gandaki and pass the natural hot springs at Tatopani. Climbing a steep, well-crafted stone staircase, you will eventually arrive at Jagat, a beautifully paved village that serves as the official entry checkpoint and gateway for the restricted conservation area.
You will continue up the main trail through Salleri and Philim, walking through dense, sub-tropical forests of pine and bamboo. Shortly after Ekle Bhatti, the trail splits. You will officially leave the busy Manaslu Circuit behind, veering eastward into the narrow, intimidating gorge of the Shiar Khola. The trail here is wild, steep, and deeply forested. You will climb relentlessly through the heavy canopy until you break out at the small, isolated settlement of Lokpa, your very first official stop inside the hidden Tsum Valley.
The trail today is challenging, involving a steep, knee-jarring descent down to the roaring river followed by a massive, sweat-drenched climb up the opposite canyon wall. As you gain elevation, you are rewarded with your first jaw-dropping, unobstructed views of the Shringi Himal. You will arrive in Chumling, a beautiful village featuring traditional Tibetan-style stone houses, ancient mani walls, and historic monasteries, marking your true immersion into the ancient Tsumba culture.
As you push higher, the steep, narrow gorge miraculously opens up into a massive, wide, and relatively flat U-shaped valley. You have officially entered "Upper Tsum." The agricultural terraces here are expansive, growing barley, maize, and potatoes. The air thins noticeably as you cross the 3,000-meter mark, arriving at the twin villages of Chhokang and Paro. The hospitality of the locals here is legendary, and the sheer scale of the surrounding mountain walls is breathtaking.
To ensure your safety in the thinning oxygen, today is a mandatory active rest day. You will spend the day exploring the incredibly preserved local culture. You can hike across the wide valley to visit the Rachen Gompa, a massive, revered nunnery painted with intricate Buddhist murals. You will notice the profound silence of the valley—a result of the strict Buddhist "Ahimsa" principles where all animal slaughter is banned, creating a uniquely peaceful atmosphere.
You will trek further north today, moving ever closer to the Tibetan border. The tree line vanishes entirely, replaced by the stark, arid, and beautiful high-altitude plateau. You will walk past traditional chortens and massive mani walls, passing through traditional farming hamlets. You will arrive at the village of Nile in the early afternoon, the last permanent settlement in the upper valley, allowing you plenty of time to rest and interact with the local herders.
You will embark on a spectacular day hike to the highest and most remote monastery in the Tsum Valley. A steep, highly scenic ascent brings you to Mu Gompa, a sprawling monastic complex surrounded entirely by snow-capped peaks and yak pastures. You will spend hours exploring this extreme, mystical environment, listening to the monks chant in the freezing high-altitude air, before making the rapid, oxygen-rich descent back to your teahouse in Nile to sleep.
This is one of the most culturally significant days of the expedition. Descending further down the valley, you will branch off the main trail to visit Piren Phu (Milarepa's Cave). This incredibly sacred site is where the legendary 11th-century Tibetan Buddhist yogi meditated, leaving his footprint in the rock. After exploring the cave, you will tackle a steep, demanding climb up a forested ridge to reach Lungdang Gompa, a remote nunnery that offers what is widely considered the absolute best, most terrifyingly close view of the Ganesh Himal range.
You will wake early to watch the sunrise illuminate the Ganesh Himal in brilliant gold before beginning a massive descent. You will drop back down through the dense pine and rhododendron forests, rejoining the main Shiar Khola trail. The return of richer oxygen and the lush green canopy will provide a massive surge of energy as you hike back into the familiar village of Chumling for your final night in the Tsum Valley.
You will bid farewell to the Hidden Valley today. Descending rapidly, you will pass back through Lokpa and drop all the way down into the deep, sweltering gorge of the Budi Gandaki river, officially merging back onto the main Manaslu Circuit. You will turn north, following the roaring river through a steep, bamboo-lined canyon, navigating constant, undulating climbs and descents until you reach the tiny Gurung settlement of Deng.
The valley begins to steepen dramatically as you enter the Nubri region, an area heavily influenced by Tibetan culture. The trail weaves through dense forests of fir and rhododendron, crossing the river multiple times on soaring suspension bridges. You will climb a long, beautifully constructed stone staircase that forces you to dig deep into your stamina reserves, finally emerging at the stone-flagged streets of Namrung. Here, you will be rewarded with spectacular views of Siring, Ganesh Himal, and Mt. Himal Chuli.
You will notice the architecture and culture become exclusively Tibetan as you push higher. Trekking past sprawling barley fields and ancient mani walls, you will ascend through the village of Lihi and the beautiful settlement of Sho. As you make the final push into the sprawling village of Lho, the clouds will often part to reveal a staggering, impossibly close view of the twin peaks of Mount Manaslu dominating the skyline directly above the local Ribung Gompa.
The walk today is relatively short but visually mind-bending. You will trek through a mystical, moss-draped pine forest, dropping down to a stream before climbing onto a high plateau leading to Shyala village. From here, you are completely surrounded by high peaks: Himal Chuli and Peak 29 to the left, Manaslu and massive glaciers straight ahead, and other snow-capped giants to the right. You will continue to Samagaon, the largest and most important village in the region, where you will spend the next two nights.
To prepare your body for the extreme altitudes ahead, today is a vital active rest day. You have two incredible options: a shorter, highly scenic hike to the turquoise, glacier-fed waters of Birendra Lake, or a grueling, all-day push up the lateral moraine to the official Manaslu Base Camp (approx. 4,800m). Choosing the Base Camp hike will push your physical limits but offers an unparalleled, up-close look at the chaotic seracs of the Manaslu glacier and the expedition tents of climbers attempting the 8,000m summit.
You will leave the main valley behind, following the Budi Gandaki river as it dwindles to a small glacial stream. The tree line vanishes completely, replaced by a harsh, beautiful, and wind-scoured alpine tundra. The trail is wide and gradual, passing long mani walls and offering continuous, jaw-dropping views of the Manaslu massif. You will arrive early in the afternoon at Samdo, a tiny, rugged village sitting just miles from the Tibetan border, originally settled by Tibetan refugees.
The air is exceptionally thin, making every step of today's short trek deeply fatiguing. You will cross a wooden bridge over the Budi Gandaki and begin a steady, relentless climb up the side of the valley, passing the ruins of the Larkya Bazaar. You will navigate rocky moraines to reach Dharamsala (also known as Larkya Phedi), a bleak, wind-battered cluster of basic stone huts. You will eat dinner early and attempt to sleep, mentally preparing for the massive alpine start tomorrow.
The absolute physical crux of your expedition. You will wake hours before dawn in sub-zero temperatures. The climb up to the pass is not technically difficult, but it is a grueling, seemingly endless slog over frozen rocky moraines and packed snow. Reaching the summit of Larkya La (5,160m), you are rewarded with a mind-blowing, 360-degree panorama of Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kang Guru, and Annapurna II. What follows is a massive, knee-jarring, and deeply fatiguing descent down steep, loose scree slopes, eventually dropping off the ice and limping into the stunning, valley-floor pastures of Bimthang.
Your retreat from the extreme altitude accelerates rapidly. You will drop down from the high pastures, crossing a glacial stream and joyfully plunging back into the vibrant, thick forests of rhododendron and pine. The massive loss in elevation and the return of rich, heavy oxygen provides an incredible surge of physical energy. You will hike along the Dudh Khola river, descending all day until you reach the bustling, culturally rich Gurung village of Tilche to celebrate your successful pass crossing.
You will walk through agricultural fields and cross the river to officially merge onto the famous Annapurna Circuit trail at Dharapani. Turning south, you will trek down the wide, roaring Marsyangdi river gorge. The air becomes noticeably warmer and more humid as you drop further into the middle hills. You will arrive at the picturesque village of Tal, completely situated on a flat river basin at the base of a towering, dramatic waterfall.
You will complete a short, final trek out of the river basin, navigating the rocky trails to reach the main road-head at Dharapani (or Syange/Jagat, depending on current road conditions). Your trekking boots finally come off! You will board a rugged jeep or bus for an incredibly long, 8-to-10-hour bumpy drive out of the mountains. Arriving back in the sensory overload of Kathmandu late in the evening, you will transfer to your hotel for a desperately needed, luxurious hot shower.
Because your massive 22-day expedition ran perfectly on schedule, you now get to enjoy a full, unrestricted rest day in the capital. This serves as a vital safety buffer for any unexpected delays on the Larkya La pass. Assuming you are safely back in the city, you can spend the day exploring the ancient stupas of Swayambhunath or Boudhanath, shopping for souvenirs in Thamel, and enjoying a massive farewell dinner with your trekking team.
Your epic 24-day trans-Himalayan journey comes to an end. Depending on your flight schedule, you will be transferred to Tribhuvan International Airport for your onward journey, heading home with the elite accomplishment of conquering both the Hidden Valley of Tsum and the formidable Larkya La Pass.
No equipment information available.
Every Journey Is Carefully Crafted To Bring Your Travel Dreams To Life.
Popular Searches
Tap backdrop or drag down to close
