Tsum Valley Manaslu Trek

Bharal Airport Representative will receive you upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) and transfer you to the hotel in Kathmandu. The trip details and itinerary will be discussed. You can enjoy the clamor of Thamel in Evening.

One of our guides will accompany the guests for their sightseeing excursion in Kathmandu where they will be visiting the Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath Stupa – The Monkey Temple, Boudhanath Stupa and Pashupatinath Temple, all of them declared as the UNESCO World Heritage sites.

After taking a nice breakfast;Soti Khola which lies at an elevation 700 meters above sea level.  Kathmandu to Soti khola distance is 141.3 kilometers / 87.7 mile it takes 8-9 hours by drive. The elevation of Soti Khola to Machha Khola which is 869 meters from sea level and it takes about 6 hours total time. Alternatively you can still plan on going a bit further to Khorlabeshi (970m). The village of Machha Khola is bigger than Khorlabesi and you could do washing and flashing yourself at fresh Machha Khola water. Overnight in Machha Khola.

The fifth day your Manaslu and Tsum valley trek today has some ups and downs which will make our trail challenging to some extent. From Machha Khola, we will cross the Tharo Khola and reach Khorlabesi. Khorlabesi is another small yet beautiful Gurung village. After another short steep climb, we will reach Tatopani, a hot-spring site where we will be spending some time to enjoy the natural sauna. Then we will climb over a ridge, crossing the Budhi Gandaki River through the suspension bridge and climb up the staircase and a ridge to finally reach Doban. After crossing another suspension bridge, we climb another stone staircase, go down to the river and climb the stairs again to reach Thado Bharyang. We will walk here in Nepal’s first cantilever bridge. Then we will cross the west bank of Budhi Gandaki River, climb over the ridge and walk along the river to reach Jagat village. We will here in Nepal’s first cantilever bridge. It is the entry checkpoint of the Manaslu Conservation Area. We will stay here for a night.

Today we will enter into restricted region of Tsum Valley. Guide will register your permit in checkpoint at Jagat. On the very first part you will trek a little bit through riverbank. After some up and down through Shridibas settlement of Philim come into your sight. Pass through suspension bridge and stop in Philim for lunch. Explore village of Philim and Japanese made school there. As you pass by Ekle Bhatti trail get separated toward Tsum and Manaslu. Pass through the welcome board and hike up toward Lokpa. You might feel like it is early to stop in Lokpa (2240m) but next settlement Chumling is far to go further. Overnight in lodge at Lokpa.

Today our plan is to make Chumling from Lokpa and it is only 4-5 hours of hike but it is demanding and there no any lodges in between so don’t forget to carry energy bar or snickers. Trail completely passes through silence of tropical forest. You will encounter numerous up and down until you arrive small suspension bridge. Trail gets diverted from this bridge toward Ripchet and Chumling. You will cross the bridge and walk pass by small stone wall made by the side of trail. Chumling is not that far from this point. There are few teahouses by main trail. Late afternoon you can make small side trip to upper part of Chumling, there are few teahouses too. There is monastery at the upper end of village you can go for view of Ganesh Himal. Personal hygiene is not that good so use hand sanitizer every thirty minutes or whenever possible. Depending on season fields might be covered by barely or buckwheat. Big  Chorten on middle of field helps to enrich the view of small valley. Stay there for overnight.

From Chumling; the day begins with a cross over a suspension bridge onto the opposite bank. We rejoice the great views of Ganesh Himal. Walk past Rainjam to Serpu Khola crossing another bridge we arrive at the Gho Villag having local teashop. Another continues 2 hours climb to Tsum takes us to the stunning traditional village of Chhokangpar. Weather permitting; enjoy the views of Himalchuli at 7893 meters and Ganesh Himal at7140m. Stay overnight at Chokhangpar in Tashi Delek lodge.

Today it is easy walk of 5-6 hours to Nile from Chhekampar. We may visit Milarepa Cave (locals called it Piren Phu). The entrance fee was NPR 300 as of 2015. Though it is an easy walk to Nile; we may feel altitude as we go higher so it is recommended to walk gently above Chokhangparo, better to be careful of altitude problems. We hike through Phurbe and Pangdun. Leaving old historic Stupa of Buddha in a way crossing the village of Chhule, climb upstream and cross the bridge to finally arrive at Nile. If you consider we can make your visit to a famous monastery of Chhule which is located in the top of area.

After a nice breakfasts; we go hiking to make a exploration day to famous and religious Mu Gompa without taking our luggage. We are now almost close to the Tibetan border. Walk to the west bank of the valley through the Tibetan landscapes. Climb up to the Mu Gompa. We also visit the monastery. Then after, we make a visit to the Dhephu Doma Gompa. We descend down to hotel for lunch and get our baggage and trek down to Chhekamparo via Rachen Gompa a Buddhist nunnery and retrace back to Chhekamparo.

It is same way back to Lokpa via Chumling again though there is an alternative trail via Ripchet that detour at the bridge. Here, we will be following the trail into forest again that takes 6 to 7 hours. Spending a night at Lokpa we will arrange to shift towards Deng. Stay overnight at guesthouse.

The trail goes down to Gumpul where we reconnect with main Manaslu trail. Crossing on the top of stunning gorge and entering the mainly unoccupied area of pine trees previous to drop to a trail junction at New Bridge, we will be following the trail towards the left to Ghap, the Budhi Gandaki and then entering into its narrow gorge on an up-and-down trail with river crossings. After a suspension bridge the trail enters bamboo forest and rises to the village of Deng, hike further towards Rana and Bhi Phedi then to Ghap that takes approximately 7-8 hours depending on your pace and stamina to walk. Overnight in guest house at Ghap.

Today; it is an easy starts in the beginning, then we will rise up through the bamboo tree and the woodland of Rhododendron along the Budhi Gandaki River. The hydro electric plant will take us to Namrung. We might have lunch break here. Then resume trekking to Lhogaon from Namrung. We are ascending quietly by passing from the outsized stream gracefully downward from the Lidanda Glaciers. At Sho (3,000m), we will take some time for lunch. Arriving at Lho at the elevation of 3180 meter, we are taking pleasure from that breath taking scenery of Manaslu. We will put our camp in Lho (3,180m), viewing amazing small Gompa. Stay overnight in a tented camp.

On this day; it is short walk to Sama Gaun (3520) via Shyo. Walk through the blue pine and juniper pine woodland and soon we walk through very wide and flat fiend and can see the beautiful Sama gaun (3520m) in distance. Sama gaun is one of the attraction in this trek having monasteries, religious monuments and locals. Overnight stay in lodge at Sama gaun.

Today, it is rest and acclimatization day as it is very important to get acclimatized considering AMS (Altitude Mountain Sickness). The elevation goes higher and air becomes thinner now. It is always suggested to hike in higher and sleep in lower that makes you properly acclimatized, to drink more water is recommended. Hike slow and gentle walk is always wise. If you feel fine and strong; Sama Gaun offers several day long hike. Day hike to Pungyen Gompa, Manaslu Base Camp and Excursion to Birendra Lake is very popular to do day excursion. Overnight at Sama Gaun.

Today, we descend to the Budhi Gandaki River, that has turned north and follow it to a bridge over a side stream. The trail to the left leads to the Manaslu Base camp. The Larkya la Trail passes several mani walls as the valley begins to widen. It is an easy trail on a shelf above the river passing the juniper and birch forests of Kermo Kharka. We drop off the shelf, cross the Budhi Gandaki on a wooden bridge and climb steeply onto a promontory between two forks of the river. From a stone arch we can view a large white kani. Finally passing through the kani we find Samdo ((3780m). Overnight in Samdo.

Even today, we continue our walk down the edge, cross the wooden bridge over Budi Gandaki and begin walking upward. Upon crossing two streams and witnessing the Larke Glacier we go around the valley of the Salka Khola and climb up again to the stone guest house (4460 m), which is not a lodge but a kind of shelter called Dharmshala, also known as Larke Phedi. This is the highest altitude we sleep. he short walk today also leaves plenty of time for acclimatization and relaxing in the afternoon. Overnight in Dharmashala.

After a short climb, we reach a valley on the north side of the Larke Glaciers from where we can enjoy great views of Cho Danda and Larke Peak. Finally, we walk across moraines of the glacier, making a gradual ascent which becomes steeper only in the last section of the pass. From the pass, there are outstanding views of Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kangguru and the huge Annapurna II. It is a longer day than usual to Bimtang, but to walk into these low pastures with the evening mist coming in with Mt. Manaslu looming close by is an overwhelming experience. Overnight in Bimthang.

From a ridge at Bimthang, we can enjoy great views of Mt. Manaslu, Lamjung Himal, Himlung Himal and Cheo Himal. We descend further and cross a high pasture (Sangure Kharka) followed by a bridge over Dudh Khola. We walk through rhododendron forest and follow a trail through a narrow valley until we reach the highest cultivated land of the valley at Karche, 2785 meters. We pass across fields before making a steep climb over a ridge. The trail comes off the ridge in a big, sweeping arc to the river bank at 2580m. A short distance beyond is the village of Gho. Due to yesterday's tiredness we might take an overnight rest at Gho (2500m) having some nice lodges.

Cross a suspension bridge at the end of Gowa and follow easy trail to Tilche then climb over a small ridge and enjoy the stone paved trail as it passes through a beautiful village and walk down to Dharapani now we walk on unsealed road and cross another suspension bridge over Dudh Khola We then cross the bridge over Dudh Khola and climb up through a chorten-shaped arch, pass a mani wall and reach the Thonje village. At the village, we go through a police checkpoint and continue to Dharapani. We have entered the Annapurna circuit section from Dharapani. Further down, we come across Karte village and after quite a bit of walking we cross a bridge over Marshyangdi Khola. We also come across some mani walls before reaching the village of Tal then trek to Chyamje.

Today is second last day of our trip. We ride a 4WD sharing local jeep to Besisahar then take a connecting local micro hiace van to Kathmandu which could be a very long ride. If you can allow a extra day we can stay at Besi Sahar and take a deluxe local bus next day. Overnight in Kathmandu. Your guide will take you to your hotel.

The amazing Nepal trekking ends once we bid farewell. Our Airport Representatives will take you to Airport and with promise to meet again we bid farewell.