Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek

Traveling 160 kilometers to Machhakhola, a tiny town in the Himalayan foothills, from Kathmandu is a beautiful drive that takes around 8-9 hours, subject to the traffic and the state of the roads. Following the  Prithvi and Kalu Pandee Highway, the route passes through lovely hills, tiny villages, and rural areas. At an elevation of 930 Meters, Machhakhola is renowned for its amazing views of the mountains, jungles, and authentic Newari culture.

You will have a glimpse of the amazing views, terraces, and verdant slopes of Langtang Himal, Annapurna, Manaslu, and Ganesh Himal. You will arrive at Machha Khola after traveling through farmland, waterfalls, and the villages of Gurung and Magar.

Activity: 8-9 Hours Drive

Accommodation: Lodge

Meal: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Max Altitude: 930m/3,051ft. (Machhakhola)

The Manaslu Tsum Valley trek path is fairly challenging, with several ascends and descends to Jagat. Starting the trek, you will follow the Tharo Khola route from Machha Khola to Khorlabesi, a smaller, more charming Gurung settlement.

After one more short but strenuous ascent, we will reach Tatopani, a hot spring area where we will spend a few minutes unwinding in the natural hot spring. You will next reach Dovan by going across the suspension bridge over the Budi Gandaki River and climbing the stone steps. Continuing the trek, we will go through Yaruphant, after which we will cross the Yaru River. You will pass the Cantilever bridge in Yaru Bagar, which was constructed in 2016 using Swiss technology in the wake of a devastating earthquake.

After that, you are going to cross the Budi Gandaki River, once again, on the western bank, ascend the hill, and follow the water’s way to reach Jagat. Today we will have trekked for around 6 hours to reach our night stay destination. Situated on an even plain, Jagat is a sizable Gurung settlement. At the Manaslu Conservation Area entry point in Jagat, we will have to work out our permits at the entry checkpoint. Our trek guide will help you get these permits.

Activity: 6-7 Hours Trekking

Accommodation: Tea House

Meal: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Max Altitude: 1,410m/4,626ft. ( Jagat)

You will climb a rugged hill to reach Salleri after ascending through this agricultural settlement, which is where you are going to be greeted with stunning views of Mount Sringi. You will ascend to Lokpa, which is situated in the northern region of Philim, after passing the longest suspension bridge in Nepal and trekking down to the old Buddhist village of Sirdibas.

You will pass through forested areas and reach Ekle Bhatti after about sixty minutes of ascending. Our Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek path will lead you to a stunning gorge and crossroads as it winds amid the pine woods. You are going to stay the night in Lokpa.

Activity: 6-8 Hours Trekking

Accommodation: Tea House

Meal: Breakfast / lunch / Dinner

Max Altitude: 2,040m/6,693ft. ( Lokpa)

The majority of our hiking route into Chumling Village is along the Sheyar Khola, a tiny river. Even though it’s only 7.2 kilometers, it takes four leisurely hours to complete because of the serene, untamed scenery and sound of the river. We will be climbing around 550 meters throughout the trip today.

An easy trek of 6.8 km from Lokpa to Ghadhi Khola takes 3 hours. We will get to see another cantilever bridge on the slopes beside Shyar Khola and pass a tiny suspension bridge within the first 40 minutes of an effortless, wild, and relaxed trek. The route becomes steeper before crossing this cantilever bridge, but the recently constructed steps and a rest area with trees canopy and a water faucet make it seem simple. With the shimmering river, chilly gusts, and Mt. Buddha in the background, this steep section only takes twenty minutes to complete.

After that, the trail becomes somewhat steep for another twenty minutes, till it reaches Ghadhi Khola. The steep mountains and other natural features cause the path segment between Lokpa and Ghadhi Khola to be sloped, having both climbing and descending sections.

Activity: 6-7 Hours Trekking

Accommodation: Tea House

Meal: Breakfast / lunch / Dinner

Max Altitude: 2,970m/9,744ft. (Chumling Village )

We trek for five to six hours today, from Chumling to Chhekampar. Our path descends to Domje by following the Shiar Khola. As we hike, we witness the jaw-dropping vistas of Himal Chuli, Lumbo Peak, and Ganesh Himalayan range. This mountain range has a total of seven summits. The hike will be challenging for us today because there will be plenty of uphill walking and elevation increase.

After passing the water-powered Buddhist prayer wheel, we go through a thick pine forest rich with wildlife. We pass into Dumje village after looping high over Syar Khola. After there, the route descends sharply to the Sarphu River.

Activity: 6-7 Hours Trekking

Accommodation: Tea House

Meal: Breakfast / lunch / Dinner

Max Altitude: 3,010m/9,875ft. (Chhekampar)

Today’s trek is rather simple as we traverse the expansive valley, passing by several towns, mani walls, Chortens, and Gompas. Firstly, we will get to Ngakyu Leru, a flourishing community that grows potatoes, apples, wheat, buckwheat, and mustard.

From Ngakyu Leru hamlet, we can travel to Ranchen Gompa by way of the suspension bridge that crosses the Syar Khola, as a side trek. Following the path through Lamagaon, we will come upon its magnificent monastery. The next settlement is Burji, where, we may visit the Chi Phu Gompa and Milarepa’s (Piren Phu) cave. We will cross a suspension bridge just before Burji Village and go into the next section of Syar Khola. After that, the path goes on to Pangdun and Phurwa Monastery. The road leading to the spacious settlement of Chhule is marked by an impressive gate and temple.

If you are really interested in Buddhism, you should also go to Gonhgye Gompa in Chhule, where the lead monk is an ocean of knowledge. There is additionally a waterfall that crosses the Gonhgye Gompa. We pass lengthy mani walls with beautiful traditional artworks and carvings as the trek continues.

We may go along the valley’s edge to a monastery located atop a rock after arriving at Nile. Seeing the Himalayas in all of their glory as the sun sets over the peak would be an incredible experience if the weather is favorable.

Activity: 6-7 Hours Trekking

Accommodation: Tea House

Meal: Breakfast / lunch / Dinner

Max Altitude: 3,361m/11,027ft. (Nile Village )

We begin our walk to Mu Gompa after breakfast. In addition to being the highest spot on the Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek, Mu Gompa is also the largest monastery in terms of size. Mu Gompa is our main destination of the trek. The path to today’s destination climbs over high, dry terrain with vistas of high peaks, culminating at Mu Gompa.

The final inhabited town in Tsum Valley, Mu Gompa, is situated magnificently atop the Syar Khola and can be reached on foot from the settlement of Nile in about three hours. The hiking track appears to be short and easy, however it is primarily slope. However, the magnificent vistas of the High Himalayas and surrounding mountains, the tranquility brought about by the strong wind, and the splendor of the monastery make the hike worthwhile.

You may take in the stunning display of sacred literature, and statues of Tara, Guru Padmasambhava, and Avalokiteshwara, while you explore the monastery. The vista of the Longnang Glacier is outstanding, and the neighboring yak farms provide a tranquil setting.

We will also visit the 600-year-old gompa, Dhephu Doma. Here, you will be able to see ancient Thankas, a form of traditional artwork. As a part of the reward, we will enjoy incredible panoramas of the magnificent Ganesh Himal pyramid from this site.

We will take short treks to the hills above Dupchet if you are up for it. If not, we will get back to Nile.

Activity: 3-4 Hours Trekking

Accommodation: Tea House

Meal: Breakfast / lunch / Dinner

Max Altitude: 3,699m/12,136ft. (Mu Gompa)

The walking distance between Nile and Chhekampar is around 14 km, which we will traverse in roughly four hours. The trail initially travels through Lamagaon at 3,020 meters above sea level. Across the river, we can see the vast compound of the Rachen Gompa. After that, the walk continues past tiny settlements and a neighborhood school before climbing to a hill with chortens. Following that, we will reach Chhekampar in about 30 minutes.

Activity: 5-6 Hours Trekking

Accommodation: Tea House

Meal: Breakfast / lunch / Dinner

Max Altitude: 3,010m/9,875ft. (Chhekampar)

Trekking from 3,010 meters above sea level to 2,240 meters above Lokpa will lead you through memorable scenery and culturally diverse settlements. The hike usually takes five to six hours to complete. We will descend around 770 meters from Chhekampar to Lokpa.

Your hike today is going to take you through pine and rhododendron woods, as well as other beautiful woodlands. You’ll see more greenery as you get down. We will pause to recover after around three hours of walking, and then we will resume our journey. After a few hours of walking, we will arrive in Lokpa, a little town nestled into the hill that is renowned for its stunning vistas and traditional architecture.

Activity: 6-7 Hours Trekking

Accommodation: Tea House

Meal: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Max Altitude: 2,240m/7,349ft. (Lokpa )

This expedition, we’ll be dropping down to Jagat even lower. You will be leaving Tsum Valley and returning to the Budhi Gandaki River path on this day of backtracking to Jagat. We will hike to Ekle Bhatti by following the Manaslu circuit’s main track. We trek along the roaring waters of the Budi Gandaki as they pour into Jagat.

We will continue to drop height as we travel through the quaint villages of Philim, Sirdibas, and Salleri, as well as across the suspension bridges once again. From here, we shall cross the Pang Khola bridge and go in the direction of Jagat’s Gurung settlement.

Activity: 6-8 Hours Trekking

Accommodation: Tea House

Meal: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Max Altitude: 1,340m/4,396ft. (Jagat)

There’s a distinct viewpoint when descending along the walking paths you hiked up at the start, and the ride is pleasant and effortless. The journey is made more culturally interesting by traversing Gurung and Brahmin settlements, which offer insights into the locals’ ancestral ways of life. The variety of the terrain, which includes clean waterfalls and beautiful jungles set against turquoise skies, heightens the sensation of thrill and adventure.

The trip from Machha Khola to Jagat is about 22 kilometers long. From Machha Khola, Jagat may be reached in five to six hours, traveling via the Gurung settlements of Yuru Khola, Dobhan, Khorlabesi, and Tatopani along the Budi Gandaki valley.

Activity: 6-7 Hours Trekking

Accommodation: Tea House

Meal: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Max Altitude: 930m/3,051ft. (Machhakhola)