Tsum Valley Manaslu

The Manaslu trek is more popular after this remote and spectacular Tsum Valley area is opened officially. Though the area is in difficult narrow, rough, steep, ridge, rocky tracks, its close links to Tibetan culture and its existing stage is the main attraction to any explorer or trekker to gain new experiences.

Drive to Arughat via Dading by bus or private jeep over winding road with view of terraced rice field. First half journey will be bit busy due to main western highway but less traffic. Driving over graveled unpaved road with puddles or landslide due to monsoon can be bumpy and rough joyride. Local houses along the road and activities of local people are quiet amazing experience. Trek begins from low land by Soti Khola river bed with hot and humid. Field covered with rice, maize, millet close to village. Trekking through wild bush, jungle with steep up and down, narrow to broaden ridge trails between rocky hills are quite common. Also you can see wild bee hive on the high rocky cliffs, langoors peeping on you surprisingly and gracefully flowing noise of river will definitely enchant you. In between you will come across in villages of Gurung, Magar, Chetri, Bramin tribes with little tea-shops will cold drinks bottle in cold water will attract you to stop by Chautara (resting place under Banyan or Sal trees) will be so relaxing and experience local kids or ladies by the Dunge Dhara (stone tap) or local people chatting loudly. Slates and stone houses with cattle shade underneath are typical village houses.

Smooth trek through Lami Chautara, Chisapani, Ekle Bhatti. Easy walk up to Gampul where trail separate for Larkya pass and Tsum valley. We take upper route entering narrow, ridge route to the forest. Continue until Lokpa (2240m) for lunch stop. After descend rocky forest route on the side of Siar Khola sometime steep narrow slope across until bridge over Siar Khola and head steep up by the ridge to Chumling (2360m). Opposite you see Ripchet village at 2470m and upper above separate route to Chumchet and Chumling village with Gompa. Beautiful open view from Chumling of Ganesh Himal range around 7000m and above steep cliffs, Puchen Himal. If time allow explore above route to stone paved street of Chumling village, carved old small monastery (gompa). After Chumling, you will experience Buddhist area as you see Mani walls (Stone slates paved with picture of Buddhist icons or special Pray), stupa and prayer flags fluttering. After the top big rock and entering the stone Welcome gate is the Tsum valley area. You see big farming land and only can trek between stone walls protecting farm land. The valley opens here into spacious fields of barley, maize, buckwheat and potato. You see Chhokamparo village with black stone houses with many new lodges.

Excursion to Rinchen gompa who associate with Kapan gompa of east north of Kathmandu valley is a school for nuns. Mu Gompa is another monastery close to Tibet border and return to Larkya route crossing the suspension bridge over Shiar khola. Trek continue to Deng, Lho with excursion to Ribung monastery which is link with Maisoor monastery and continue trek up to Syala through pine and rhododendron gully with moss and glacier stream. Once cross over the pass Syala, arrive at plateau with excellent surrounded mountain views of Manaslu (8163m), Himchuli, and Manaslu North (7157m). After descend through Pungyen glacier river crossing new bridge continue trek to the large village of Sama Gaon. A big school supported by foreign aid and continue walk through yak pastures, potato, barley field and stone houses. Sama is one of the biggest traditional village with river canal flowing in between. Another excellent close view of Mt. Manaslu and other mountains.

Pokhara, about 150 km by returning to the junction at Mugling and travelling over west bridge. A nice place to stay around and relax. Early visit to Sarangkot, 1590 meter will make a superb panoramic western mountain view including Mt. Machapurchere (Fishtail), Mt. Annapurna ranges, Mt. Dhaulagiri.

Possible excursion trek to Pungyen Gompa or to Manaslu Base Camp (4900m) or Birendra Tal (3450m) which is a glacier lake, under the Manaslu Glacier. A better view of Manaslu and depending on the time of year lake can be frozen and possible to see avalance. Continue trek, easy walking through yak pastures up a broad valley with long Mani walls, marmots in all directions standing on their burrows to Samdo and finally ascend to the highest area to cross the Larkya La (pass) over rocky terrain marked with poles is the longest day trek, ending at Bhimthang and continue to Dharapani and trek and drive back to Kathmandu

NOTE: All trips can be customized as per your interest, fitness level and schedule.