Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek

A full day drive west out of Kathmandu to Machha Khola, following a mix of paved highway and rougher unpaved road for the final stretch. This marks the start of the trek and the entry point into the Budhi Gandaki river valley.

The trail follows the Budhi Gandaki River, crossing several suspension bridges and passing through small riverside villages before reaching Jagat, where permits are checked in detail for the first time.

A steady climb away from the main river trail brings you to Lokpa, the last village before the trail splits toward Tsum Valley. From here the route leaves the standard Manaslu Circuit path and turns into the Shiar Khola valley.

The trail climbs into the Shiar Khola valley and enters Tsum Valley proper at Chumling, where the character of the trek shifts from river gorge walking to a quieter side valley.

A moderate day of walking brings you into Upper Tsum, with fields of barley and buckwheat common along the trail depending on the season, along with the first clear views of the peaks surrounding the valley.

The trail passes close to Rachen Gompa, a working nunnery worth a short visit, before continuing to Nile, one of the highest permanently inhabited villages in Tsum Valley.

A day hike to Mu Gompa, the largest monastery in the Tsum Valley region and the highest point reached on this side of the trip, before returning to sleep at Nile.

A long descent retracing the route back down the Shiar Khola valley to Chumling, with views facing a different direction than on the way up.

The trail passes back through Lokpa and on to Deng, where it rejoins the standard Manaslu Circuit route. From this point the itinerary follows the same trail a standalone circuit trekker would walk.

A steady climb through forest and small settlements to Namrung, where the local architecture and culture begin to show a stronger Tibetan influence.

A scenic day with the first close views of Manaslu itself, as the trail climbs out of forest into more open alpine terrain.

A relatively short day to Samagaon, one of the main acclimatization hubs on the circuit and the base for the rest day that follows.

A planned rest day at Samagaon, commonly used for an optional day hike toward Manaslu Base Camp or the Pungyen Gompa viewpoint before returning to sleep at the same elevation.

A shorter, gentler day to Samdo, a village close enough to the Tibetan border that it was historically a trading post.

A short day in distance but a meaningful one in altitude, reaching Dharmashala, also called Larkya Phedi, which exists mainly to stage the pass crossing the next day.

The longest and most demanding day of the trek. An early start gets you over Larkya La before the wind typically picks up later in the day, followed by a long descent to Bimthang.

A descent through forest and pasture land as the trail drops into the Marsyangdi Valley system, with the vegetation and terrain changing noticeably along the way.

A drive rather than a trekking day, through Dharapani and on to Besisahar, where the restricted area portion of the trek effectively ends.

A road transfer back to Kathmandu, typically most of a day depending on road and traffic conditions.

A buffer day built into the itinerary to absorb any delays earlier in the trip, particularly around the pass crossing, before the onward flight home.