Manaslu & Tsum Valley Trek(5,160 m)

Trek at a glance

Trek highlights

About this trek

The Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek is a 20-day journey through two of Nepal's most restricted and least-visited regions, blending deep Buddhist heritage with dramatic high-altitude scenery.

Tsum Valley sits apart from the main Manaslu trail, cradled in a horseshoe of peaks — Ganesh Himal and Sringi Himal among them — where the Shar Khola and Budhi Gandaki rivers meet. Monasteries such as Mu Gompa (3,700m) and Rachen Gompa have watched over this landscape for centuries, preserving Tibetan Buddhist tradition largely undisturbed by the outside world.

From Kathmandu, the route runs up the Budhi Gandaki valley through Jagat, Lokpa, Chumling, Chhokangparo, and Nile, each stop revealing more of the region's monasteries, prayer flags, and unhurried village life. A side visit to the Milarepa Piren Phu Cave, a sacred meditation site, adds further depth to the cultural experience.

Leaving Tsum Valley, the trail rejoins the Manaslu route through Deng, Namrung, and Sama Gaon, where Mount Manaslu fills the skyline. A rest day at Sama Gaon allows time to explore Pungyen Gompa or hike to Manaslu Base Camp before pushing on to Dharamsala, the staging point for Larkya La.

The trek's high point comes at Larkya La Pass (5,160m), with sweeping views of Himlung Himal, Manaslu, and Annapurna II. The descent into Bhimtang crosses into the Annapurna Conservation Area, through forests and alpine meadows, before the final stretch to Tal and the drive back to Kathmandu.

Note on Permits

A special permit is required for both the Manaslu and Tsum Valley restricted areas, and this must be arranged in Kathmandu using your original passport and a valid Nepali visa. This itinerary includes a dedicated day in Kathmandu for permit processing, a trip briefing, and a gear check before setting out on the trek.