The Manaslu Tsum valley trek is a remote trek that takes you through the less-traveled trekking trails. You will walk into the wild forests, along with beautiful landscapes. You will walk along the beautiful riverbanks enjoying the natural waterfalls and springs.
Everything about this trek is a highlight. You’ll see the purest form of nature here. This region remains untouched by modernism, and thus preserves its originality. This trek bestows the trekkers with numerous natural and cultural wonders.
The mesmerizing views of the Himalayan peaks including Mt. Manaslu, Simrang, Hiunchuli, Ngadi, Ganesh Himal, Larkye Peak, Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kanguru, and Mt. Annapurna II will guide you to the Tsum valley. The changing landscapes, forests, grasslands, hills, and amazing wildlife are remarkable.
This trek is culturally enticing. In the Manaslu region and the Tsum valley, you can see the blend of Buddhist and Tibetan culture. People here are poor with a very basic and primitive way of living. However, they have hearts of gold. They are lovely and highly hospitable. The simplest way of life, the unique houses, and traditions will keep you amazed.
The Tsum valley is a place influenced by Buddhism. You’ll see lots of mani walls, chortens, and Buddhist shrines there. There are lots of unique and historic monasteries in the Tsum valley. Some of them are Mu Gompa and Rachen Gompa, and Gompa Lungdang.
During this trek, you might also see some Buddhist festivals. During the festivals, people burn juniper incense to purify the air and nature. They hang the colorful prayer flags and they also install Mani Walls. They believe that doing these will bring happiness to the entire living beings.
During this trek, you will pass through the Larkya La pass 5160 meters. Crossing this pass is a challenge. The pass, being a high altitude pass remains covered with snow most of the time of the year. Trekking to Manaslu and Tsum valley in winter is very tough. From the top of the pass, you will see the alluring views of Mt Manaslu, the eighth highest peak in the world, so close.
Limelights of Manaslu Circuit Trek with Tsum Valley
- Viewing majestic views of Mt. Manaslu, 8156 meters, the eighth highest peak in the world.
- The blend of traditional Buddhist and Tibetan culture.
- The traditional lifestyle, and the warm hospitality of local people.
- Visiting Buddhist monks and nuns and visiting the Milarepa’s Cave.
- Diverse wildlife including Himalayan Thar, Blue Sheep, Leopard, and other species of animals.
- Trekking to the Tibetan border.
- The brilliant views of icefalls, frozen lakes, Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kangguru, Mt. Manaslu, Larkye peak, and Annapurna II from the Larkye La pass.
- The age-old Buddhist monasteries, chortens, and gompas in the Manaslu region and Tsum valley.
- Navigating the novel trek routes in the Manaslu region.
- Witnessing Shangri-la; a popular trade route between Nepal and Tibet.
Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Kathmandu (1320m)
Day 2 Drive to Sotikhola (700m), 6 - 7 hours by Private Jeep (7 seaters)
Day 3 Trek to Machhakhola (870m), 5-6 hours
Day 4 Trek to Jagat (1350m), 6-7 hours
Day 5 Trek to Lokpa (2250m), 6-7 hours
Day 6 Trek to Chhumling (2386m), 6-7 hours
Day 7 Trek to Chhekampar (3011m), 5-6 hours
Day 8 Trek to Mu Gumba (3700m), 6-7 hours
Day 9 Trek to Chhekampar via Rachen Gumba, 6-7 hours
Day 10 Trek to Lungdang Gumba (3400m), 7-8 hours
Day 11 Trek to Lokpa (2250m), 5-7 hours
Day 12 Trek to Bihi Phedi, (2000m), 5-6 hours
Day 13 Trek to Namrung (2630m), 6-7 hours
Day 14 Trek to Sama Gaun (3520m), 3 -4 hours
Day 15 Acclimatization Day
Day 16 Trek to Samdo (3860m), 3 hours
Day 17 Trek to Dharmashala (4460m), 4 hours
Day 18 Drive to Bhimthang (3590) via Larkya La Pass (5160m), 7-8 hours
Day 19 Trek to Dharapani (1950m), 7-8 hours
Day 20 Drive to Kathmandu (1320m) or Pokhara (820m)
Day 21 Departure
Tsum, A Beyul
People say that the Tsum valley is a Beyul. Beyuls are the hidden valleys that are holy lands according to Guru Rinpoche Padhmasava in the 8th century. According to Nyingma beliefs, the locations of the Beyuls remain hidden beneath the rocks and inside caves, monasteries, and stupas.
Beyuls, according to Buddhism, are reminiscent of heaven on earth. Beyuls are the places where physical and spiritual worlds exist together. Beyuls are sacred places. One can only reach there with lots of hardship.
According to some Buddhist texts, the hidden lands will reveal when the spiritual tradition gets corrupt. There are spiritual treasure finders who are responsible to find the gateways to the valleys. There are some protective forces to protect the sacred kingdoms. The force exists as snowstorms, mists, snow leopards, or mystical Yeti in the mountains.
There are seven major Beyuls hidden beneath the lap of sacred Himalayas. Among them, four lies in Nepal. The Kyimolung in Gorkha district is the Beyul that extends over Tsum and Nubri valleys. The word ‘Kyimolung’ means the valley of Happiness.
Do I Need Permits for Manaslu Circuit Via Tsum Valley Trek?
Yes, you’ll need several permits for trekking in Manaslu Tsum valley. This trek passes through some villages that share open borders with Tibet. These areas are among the restricted trekking areas in Nepal. For trekking in such areas, you’ll need special permits called a restricted area trekking permit.
The permits required for the trek along with their costs are as follows:
Manaslu Restricted Permit Cost
The Manaslu Restricted Permit fees are:
From September to November: USD 70 for the first week. For an additional number of days, you have to pay USD 10 per day.
From December to August: USD 50 for the first week. For an additional number of days, it costs you USD 7 per day.
Tsum Valley Permit
The Tsum valley permit costs USD 35 per person for a week. The time period for Tsum valley permit and Manaslu permit are the same.
Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP) Cost:
You must also get the MCAP. The permit costs for MCAP are:
For SAARC nationals: NPR 1000 per person (Including Govt. Tax)
For other nationals: NPR 3000 per person (Including Govt. Tax)
Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) Cost:
Likewise, you should get an ACAP too. The permit cost for ACAP is the same as of MCAP.
Note: You must get a TIMS card if you are planning on trekking to the Annapurna region afterward. Also, there are various procedures and criteria for obtaining these permits. Contact Us. Mount Mania will help you apply for all the required permits.
Best Season for Manaslu-Tsum Valley Trek
The time of Autumn (September, October, and November) and Spring (March, April, and May) are the perfect times for the Manaslu- Tsum valley trekking. These are the times when the weather and climate in the Manaslu region remain quite stable.
Autumn is the most popular time for this trek. During Autumn, skies are blue and clear. The surrounding is so clean. You can have the perfect distant views. Also, crossing the Larke La pass is easier as there will be less ice and snow.
Spring is the second-best time for this trek. It is the time when the wildflowers including Rhododendrons are at total bloom. Walking through the wild forests filled with the alluring aroma of wildflower is an incredible experience.
Foods & Accommodation During Manaslu Trek Via Tsum Valley
The Manaslu Tsum valley is a teahouse cum camp trekking. You will find tea houses and lodges on your way for teahouse trekking. You must do camp trekking at places where there are no lodges and teahouses to stay.
The teahouse accommodation during the trek isn’t so luxurious. The trek route is remote and so are the tea houses and lodges. They provide basic facilities and services. The Manaslu circuit via Tsum valley is one of the rising trekking destinations. Thus, teahouses and lodges with better facilities and services are under construction.
Teahouses are basic. You can order for porridge, tsampa, noodles, and roti, at most of the places. They are common food cuisines in the region. Along with the local cuisines, you can also have some continental, Indian and Nepali foods like Pasta, Pizza, Mo. Mo, soup items, Potato items, Dal Bhat, Hot drinks Tea & Coffee, etc.
There are some local lodges also called Bhattis where they serve only Dal-Bhat on order. They’ll provide hard beds and sleeping near to the smoky kitchen is hard.
During the Manaslu round Tsum valley trek we will provide you with comfortable dining, kitchen, crew, restroom, and tents. We will also provide some sleeping materials like mattresses and sleeping bags. We will also bring experienced cooks to prepare food for everyone.
Things You Must Know Before Manaslu Tsum Trekking
Experience & Fitness
Trekking to Manaslu Tsum Valley doesn’t demand any trekking experiences from your past. However, to beat the challenges that the trek has to offer you, you must always be in shape and be strong. Trekking in the Himalayas isn’t as easy as you expect it to be. To sustain the high altitudes, rocky terrains, and the Larkey La pass, you must have better strength.
To boost your physical endurance for trekking, you can practice some training. You may practice running, skipping, cycling, swimming, and other workouts. You can also go on short hikes to nearby hills before you go on the actual trek.
Acclimatization
Trekking to Manaslu- Tsum valley means you are trekking to a very high altitude. This trek takes you to the Larkye La pass which is at a very high altitude. Trekking to altitudes higher than 2500 meters means you are under the risk of altitude sickness.
Acclimatization is a key to success during the high altitude treks. Acclimatization ensures proper resting time and adapting time to your body at the higher altitudes. Also, acclimatization will help you sustain your strength.
You must take good care of your health during the trek. Drink plenty of water, walk steady, take rests at intervals, and others. All these will keep your body strong enough to prevent altitude sickness.
Terms and Conditions for Permits
Trekking to the restricted trekking destinations is not allowed in Nepal. You must get the special permits for this trek. They are the restricted Manaslu permit and the Tsum valley permit. Getting these permits isn’t easy. You can only apply for the permit after you meet some criteria for getting them.
Contact Us. We can get the permits for you. If you are alone, we can also arrange for a trekking partner, which is mandatory.
Final Review,
The Manaslu circuit trek via Tsum valley is a wonderful trekking route in Nepal. This trek route is perfect for the trekkers who are willing to explore the less traveled trekking trails. Even in the trekking seasons, this trek route sees less traffic than other popular trek routes in Nepal. So, if you want to skip the hustles and bustles with tons of traffics in trekking trails, choose this trek route.
Need Help Planning a Trip to Nepal?
If you have any queries regarding the trek, feel free to contact us. Mount Mania will schedule you the best itinerary for your Manaslu Tsum valley trek.
