Tsum Valley Trek with Manaslu Circuit

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Highlights of Tsum Valley Trek with Manaslu Circuit

Diverse Scenery and Culture: Experience a trek that offers a mix of stunning landscapes and rich cultural encounters.

Tranquil and Complete Trek: Enjoy the serenity of one of Nepal’s most fulfilling treks, away from the crowded routes.

Breathtaking Mountain Views: Witness the awe-inspiring mountain panoramas, cascading waterfalls, and the beautiful Budhi Gandaki River in the Manaslu region.

Immersive Buddhist Heritage: Explore the vibrant Buddhist heritage of Tsum Valley, featuring monasteries, nunneries, chortens, and historical monuments.

Achieve the Summit at Larkya La: Feel the sense of accomplishment as you conquer the challenging Larkya La Pass.

Extra Adventures with Side Trips: Enhance your journey by embarking on exciting side trips, like visits to Mu Gompa, Gompa Lungdang, Ganesh Himal Base Camp, Kal Tal, the Tibet border, Pungen Gompa, and Manaslu Base Camp.

Tsum Valley Trek with Manaslu Circuit

Image Credit: https://www.trekkingtoeverest.com/trip/manaslu-tsum-valley-trek/

Thinking about trekking in Nepal? Considering the Tsum Valley and Manaslu Circuit Trek? Searching for a detail information to embark on this adventure?

The Tsum Valley and Manaslu Circuit Trek is a thrilling 22-day adventure that lets you explore the majestic Mount Manaslu, towering at 8,163 meters, and the hidden Tsum Valley.

This trek, created in the early 1990s with the Tsum Valley part added later, offers a sense of discovery, taking you far from the crowded trekking routes.

With daily treks lasting about 7 hours, it’s a tough journey that requires a high level of physical fitness.

During the Tsum Valley part, you’ll venture into altitudes above 3,000 meters and conquer the formidable Larkya La Pass at 5,160 meters, sometimes facing snow, ice, and even using fixed ropes.

The trek reveals stunning waterfalls, challenging rocky trails along cliff edges, Gurung villages surrounded by rice and millet fields, thrilling suspension bridges, and many Buddhist landmarks like mani walls, chortens, and shrines, especially in the Tsum Valley area.

Known as a hidden valley, Tsum Valley shares strong cultural ties with Tibet as the trek nears the Tibetan border. You’ll have chances to meet Buddhist monks and nuns and explore Milarepa’s Cave.

Don’t forget to keep an eye out for beautiful mountain birds like the Lophophorus, which is Nepal’s national bird.

This trek is perfect for those who want to experience a variety of landscapes and cultures all in one journey. While it demands stamina, the payoff is incredible views of snow-covered peaks and a truly unique adventure.

Manaslu Tsum Valley Trekking Permit

To trek in the Manaslu Tsum Valley, you’ll need three types of permits:

Manaslu Special Permit: You can get this permit from Nepal Immigration offices in Kathmandu and Pokhara. It’s priced at $100 for the first seven days from September to November, with an additional $15 for each extra day. From December to August, it costs $75 for the initial seven days, plus $10 per additional day per person. To obtain this permit, you need at least two people and a licensed guide.

Manaslu Conservation Area Project Permit: This permit costs 3000 Nepali rupees per person and is available at the Tourism Board offices in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Annapurna Conservation Area Project Permit: Similar to the MCAP permit, this one also costs 3000 Nepali rupees per person and can be acquired from the Tourism Board offices in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Getting to the Trailhead of Manaslu Tsum Trek

The Manaslu Tusm valley trek starting point is Soti Khola. To reach Soti Khola, you can take a road trip from Kathmandu. During this road trip, you’ll traverse a variety of landscapes, transitioning from lively urban areas to picturesque villages as you steadily progress toward the trailhead. The distance covered is approximately 126 km (80 miles), and the journey typically takes around six hours by jeep or eight hours by public transportation.

Manaslu Tsum Valley Trekking Meals

When it comes to meals during the Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek, it’s essential to keep in mind that you’re exploring remote and uncharted regions in Nepal, situated in South Asia. The menus available at various tea houses in the villages tend to offer similar options. You’ll have a range of choices, including local dishes like Dal Bhat, lentil soup, and pickle, fried rice, dumplings, Thukpa, potato curry, spring rolls, as well as Western-style dishes.

Manaslu Tsum Valley Trekking Accommodation

Accommodation during the Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek is generally less luxurious compared to the more popular trekking regions like Annapurna, Everest, and Langtang. Despite being relatively isolated and less frequented, the tea house trek in the Manaslu region offers accommodation similar to other well-known trekking routes. Typically, you’ll find shared toilets and bathrooms, and each room usually has two beds. You may also have the option to purchase a hot shower for approximately 3/4 of a dollar, depending on your location along the route.

Telephone, Internet, and Battery Charging

During the Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek, you’ll find limited telephone and internet connectivity, especially in the more remote areas. In some villages like Chumling, Philim, Namrung, Samdo, Lho, Bhimthang, Samagaon, and Dharapani, you may come across teahouses with Wi-Fi facilities but be prepared for slow and unreliable connections.

For battery charging, most teahouses offer the service for a fee, which increases as you ascend to higher altitudes. You can charge your devices in common areas, but it’s a good idea to carry spare batteries or a power bank to ensure you have enough power, especially for longer treks.

Manaslu Tsum Valley Trekking Difficulty

The Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek presents some initial challenges due to rugged terrain and uneven trails, but these difficulties ease as you adapt to the environment. Starting at a lower altitude and gradually ascending helps with acclimatization. Trekking for nearly two weeks, averaging six to seven hours daily on uneven terrain and crossing the formidable 5,060-meter pass is demanding. Therefore, it’s advisable to engage in physical activities like hiking, trekking, cardio, jogging and gym workouts before travelling to Nepal.

A Sample 21 Days Manaslu Circuit Tsum Valley Trek Itinerary

Day 1: Drive from Kathmandu to Soti Khola (8 hrs) – Altitude: 700 m / 2296 ft

Day 2: Trek from Soti Khola to Maccha Khola (6 hrs) – Altitude: 930 m / 3051 ft

Day 3: Trek from Maccha Khola to Jagat (6 hrs) – Altitude: 1340 m / 4396 ft

Day 4: Trek from Jagat to Lokpa (5 hrs) – Altitude: 2240 m / 7349 ft

Day 5: Trek from Lokpa to Chumling (5 hrs) – Altitude: 2386 m / 7828 ft

Day 6: Trek from Chumling to Chekampar (6 hrs) – Altitude: 3031 m / 9944 ft

Day 7: Trek from Chekampar to Nile (6 hrs) – Altitude: 3361 m / 11026 ft

Day 8: Day Trip to Mu Gompa (6 hrs) – Altitude: 3700 m / 12139 ft

Day 9: Trek from Nile to Chekampar (5 hrs) – Altitude: 3031 m / 9944 ft

Day 10: Trek from Chekampar to Chumling (5 hrs) – Altitude: 2386 m / 7828 ft

Day 11: Trek from Chumling to Deng (6 hrs) – Altitude: 1860 m / 6102 ft

Day 12: Trek from Deng to Namrung (6 hrs) – Altitude: 2630 m / 8628 ft

Day 13: Trek from Namrung to Lho (4 hrs) – Altitude: 2957 m / 9701 ft

Day 14: Trek from Lho to Sama Gaun (4 hrs) – Altitude: 3530 m / 11581 ft

Day 15: Acclimatization Day (Day Trip to Manaslu Base Camp or Pungyen Gompa) – Altitude: 4400 m / 14435 ft

Day 16: Trek from Sama Gaun to Samdo (3 hrs) – Altitude: 3865 m / 12680 ft

Day 17: Acclimatization Day (Day Trip to Tibet Border) – Altitude: 5000 m / 16404 ft

Day 18: Trek from Samdo to Dharmasala (4 hrs) – Altitude: 4460 m / 14632 ft

Day 19: Trek from Dharmasala to Bimthang via Larkya Pass (10 hrs) – Altitude: 3590 m / 11778 ft

Day 20: Trek from Bimthang to Dharapani (7 hrs) – Altitude: 1970 m / 6463 ft

Day 21: Drive from Dharapani to Kathmandu (10 hrs) – Altitude: 1300 m / 4265 ft

Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek Cost

Planning a 15-21 day Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek, covering permits, lodging, transport, guides, and other expenses, may roughly range from USD 1,200 to USD 2,500 or higher, depending on your specific preferences and travel approach. Please keep in mind that these expenses can differ based on personal decisions, group size, and your desired level of comfort throughout the trek.

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