Tsum Valley with Manaslu Trek

Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, a representative from the Nepal Hiking Team welcomes you and guides you through the hotel procedure. The assigned guide provides a short tour description for the next day.

Today, you explore four of the UNESCO World Heritage sites present in Kathmandu. They are Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupatinath temple, Bouddhanath stupa, and Swyambhunath temple.

Enjoy artistically rich palaces, cultural essence, old paintings, sculptures, and a brief history of Nepal.

A designated guide picks you up at the hotel early in the morning. Then, you take a drive from Kathmandu to Macchakhola, passing by Sotikhola. The drive covers both smooth and rugged roads.

With a scenic drive, enjoy the beauty of Nepal's countryside. Witness the distant snow-capped mountain views of Ganesh Himal from the Macchakhola.

Your hiking journey in the Tsum Valley with Manaslu Trek starts today. The trails are rugged, and there is ongoing road construction on the beginning trails from Maccha Khola.

After walking for about an hour, you get to the Kholabesi and head towards Tatopani (a natural hot spring). Then, the hike follows the path of a lush forest and a suspension bridge over the Budhi Gandhaki River, reaching Dovan.

Continuing the hike, you come across another suspension bridge that marks the nearing of Jagat. After crossing it, you come across stairways, make a short climb, and reach Jagat (the entry point of the Manaslu Conservation area).

Today, you head towards the village of Chisopani (cold water). After a while, you come across the Salleri viewpoint, which is covered with fields of rice and millet.

Along the route, enjoy stunning views of the Shringi Himal. The trails come across Kani Gate to Sirdibas, a Gurung settlement. After that, you come across Ghatte Khola (watermill). The mill is used for grinding corn.

Continuing the hike, there is a steep uphill before Philim. The path becomes less steep, and approximately in one hour, you reach Chisopani.

Leaving Chisopani, you cross the gorge and walk for about half an hour, which offers a big and beautiful waterfall view. This day is challenging as it is an ascending path that stretches almost the entire route.

After entering the pine and rhododendron tree forest, descend to the trail that leads us to Tsum Valley. Continuing the walk, pass through a small beautiful village called Lokpa. It is along the old trail route.

From Lokpa, you descend for half an hour up to Lungwa Khola and then climb on a zigzag trail for a further two hours north through pines and rhododendrons until we reach Gumlung. After crossing the Siyar Khola, you finally arrive at Chumling. It is the lower Tsum Valley.

Chumling is located on the south face of the Shingri Himal, from where we can see an eye-catching view of Shringi Himal. You can also visit the old Chumling Gompa and the stone streets of the village.

After breakfast at Chumling, you start hiking towards Chokhangparo by crossing the suspension bridge on the river's opposite bank. The scenic views of the valley and views of Ganesh Himal amply compensate for today's walk.

Then you traverse through the rich farming land of maize and potatoes. The houses are classic Tibetan with barricades of firewood on the roof but without flat roofs, as it rains and snows here. 
Cross a huge slip where rocks and flood cleared the area even up onto the opposite bank, killing five in 1999, but is now covered with a forest of new trees.

Up the valley to the east are superb views of several of the 7000-7400m Ganesh Himal, of long suspension bridges on the opposite bank, and far above the perched village of Ripchet (2468m).
Passing through Rainjam and crossing Serpu Khola, climb for over two hours on well-graded but exposed track to upper Tsum and the join villages of Chokhangparo, stone houses with a few iron roofs nestled under cliffs.

Chokhangparo is situated on flat land and consists of 2 settlements, Chokhang and Paro. If the weather permits, enjoy the views of Himalchuli (7893m) and Ganesh Himal (7140m). Some households practice polyandry down here. This area is prominent for its Tibetan Buddhist heritage.

Ascending from Chokhangparo, you might get symptoms of Altitude sickness. So, we recommend you take precautions about it and drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated.

We head east through small villages and past a local school. The magnificent view here pauses our trekking and stops for the honor of the amazing nature.

Gradually climbing over a ridge of chortens, you pass Lama Gaon (3202m) through the flat fields, looking across the extensive crops and river to the Rachen Gompa/ Nunnery Gompa (3240m) with excellent pilgrim accommodation.

Thar is often sighted near here. The friendly people speak Tsumba, related to Tibetan, but often little Nepali and are quite unused to visitors.

You leave the old historic Stupa of Buddha in a way crossing the village of Chhule. The children here all wear the Tibetan dressing gown called chubas, and there are many yaks. Heading upstream to cross the bridge and climb to Nile (pronounced Nee-lay).

The Nile is the last village heading north in the upper Tsum valley. This area is massively deforested and is situated on the banks of the Shiar Khola.

Both villages are in traditional style, including livestock compounds into the houses and sheltered verandahs for drying crops.

You are now almost close to the Tibetan border. Walk to the west bank of the valley through the Tibetan landscapes.

Climb up to the largest monastery in the region (Mu Gompa). The Gompa lies at the highest and most remote part of the Tsum Valley.

Today, retrace through the village of Chumling as we pass by Chho Syong, Nile, and Chokang Paro village. This day, leave behind Tsum Valley, but take beautiful memories of the Tsum with you.

Today, the hike continues towards Deng. You reconnect with the Manaslu circuit trekking trail and pass through the village of Lokpa, Nyak, and reach Deng. Witness the stunning views of Ganesh Himal and Shringi Himal along the trail.

Today you scramble steeply up onto a spectacular trail and descend to cross the river. You pass through some small settlements and then ascend to an impressive valley.

There you can encounter Mani stones (prayer stones) carved into wayside rocks, a sign that you are entering a Tibetan territory. In the afternoon, make an excursion to the small settlement of Prok, a two-hour round trip.

Pass the stone gate and long Mani stone wall of the village after Lho, with a full view of Peak 29 ahead. You can make a side excursion to Pungen to get a very close-up view of Manaslu from here.
 
The trial follows a lateral moraine of Pungen towards Sama. It takes another 20 minutes to reach Sama Gompa from there for a night halt.

Today is our acclimatization day at the beautiful settlement of Samagaun. It is essential to acclimate. 
You hike to the sacred Pungyen Gompa of Manaslu region. There, you can see beautiful Pungyen glaciar with surprising view of the Manaslu range.

Or, you can choose to hike to Manaslu Base Camp or Birendra Tal today. The hike to the base camp takes around 6-7 hours, and to the Birendra Tal is a half-day walk.

Today, cross pasture areas and gradually ascend to the valley. Fantastic views of the mountains, especially Manaslu, are ahead of us as we reach Samdo (3875m), a Tibetan refugee village.

This remote village is only a day's walk from the Tibetan border. In the afternoon, you can explore the village and the surrounding hills.

After crossing a couple of streams, you reach the Larkya Bazaar. This is a village that thrived from trade with Tibet years ago. After a steady climb, you reach Dhramsala, rest stop for today.

Climb towards the Cho Chanda until you reach the steep snowed-up Pass.

Enjoy 360-degree panoramic views of Mount Manaslu, Annapurna II, Himlung, and Cheo Himal. You can also witness Gyaji Kung, Kang Guru, Namjung Himal, and Larke Peak.

Gently climb towards paddy fields and head towards our next destination, Tilije. You pass through the Kharcha La pass before our destination.

Today, you descend towards your next destination, Dharapani. After you get there, you take a final drive to Kathmandu, and end your Manaslu trek with Tsum Valley.

Our representative drops you off at the airport approximately 3 hours before your flight. Our Tsum Valley with Manaslu Trek trip ends with the See you next time.