Overview
TSUM VALLEY & MANASLU CIRCUIT TREKKING:
‘enjoy dramatic changes of landscapes on daily scenic walks around Manaslu’
Highlights:
“An adventure of great combination covering the best of Gorkha district.
Enjoy walk from green valley to cooler hills and towards cold mountain zone.
Explore around lovely traditional farm villages adorned with ancient cultures.
Exciting views on scenic walks to cultural and hidden Tsum valley of happiness.
Trekking around picturesque Manaslu valley and crossing high Larke-La pass”
Short trip Profile:
Mode of Trek: On best available local Lodges on treks.
Trek Grade: Moderate to Adventurous.
Highest Spot: Crossing Larke-La Pass at 5,106 m / 16,752 feet.
Region of trek: Nepal Mid-West Himalaya around Manaslu Himal.
Trek Duration: 20 Nights / 21 Days with drives both ways.
Total Trip: 24 Nights / 25 Days from arrival to final departure
The best seasons for Tsum Valley & Manaslu Circuit Trek:
The best times for Tsum Valley & Manaslu Circuit Treks, are spring and autumn/fall seasons. Spring begins from March to May, and autumn from September to November.
Springtime with longer sunny days, is the best season for treks around the Himalayas. But cold mornings, late afternoons, and nighttime can expect snowfall sometimes. During spring from March to May, the whole valley and hills will be ablaze with wildflowers in full bloom. Especially the rhododendrons of various species and colors from tall trees to bush, as well the national flowers of Nepal.
The next best time is autumn from September to November, most days are fine and clear. But shorter sunlight hours, much cold morning and late afternoon until nighttime. Can expect snowfall sometimes above 3,000 m high on walks and climbs. During autumn from the middle of November, most villages and lodges will be closed for the winter. All locals from Tsum Valley and higher Manaslu areas will migrate to the low region to escape the freezing winter.
Geographical Landscapes & Vegetation:
Nepal is a landlocked country with the world’s highest peaks and mountain range known as the Himalayas’. The country with five categories of landscapes from the lowlands of the Terai belt. Which extends from east to far west, then towards north starting with Siwalik / Churi Hills. Then stretches to the Mahabharata range of high mid-hills and continues towards higher hills and ridges, known as Greater Mahabharata.
The landscape then ends with a massif of mountains, the Himalayas, or an evergreen snow range of peaks. The treks take you around the Far North Mid-West Himalayas towards Ganesh Himal and around Manaslu Himalayas. Views of Ganesh and Manaslu Himal massif can be seen, throughout the walks.
The Tsum Valley and Manaslu Circuit is a perfect adventure destination for stunning views of Ganesh, Manaslu with Annapurna Himal. On treks to Tsum Valley & Manaslu Circuit, leads from mid hills within mixed species of vegetation.
From rainforest to alpine woods, higher above 1,500 m, walking on forested paths lined with rhododendrons, blue pines, and firs. Includes oaks, hemlocks, and magnolia with some bamboo grooves. Higher above 3,000 m the tree lines drop for short alpine bush of juniper and azalea.
In spring time from March to May trekkers will be delighted walking through beautiful forests. The right time when rhododendrons are in flowering seasons. The whole valley and hills will be a paradise with spectacular wildflowers in bloom. The walk takes you from farm villages to the complete mountain wilderness crossing the highest point Larke-La Pass. To reach the picturesque Manang area, amidst lovely forest and wide grassy meadows.
Religion, Cultures, and History:
Nepal with two major religions Hinduism and Buddhism, mostly populated by Hindus’ approx. 70 %. Includes Buddhism of 25 % the rest 5 % are other minor religions. But the higher hills and mountainous regions are inhabited by Buddhist followers. On this trek, will encounter villages stepped with Buddhist monuments and monasteries.
The main natives of Tsum Valley, are Tsumbas from Lokpa onwards, and around higher Manaslu from Jagat village. Trekkers will witness strong traditions of Tibetan heritage cultures. The Upper Manaslu people are known as Bhot. It means a tribe descendent from Tibet, including the Tsum people Tsumbas, both are closely related.
The Tsumbas and Manaslu Bhot are the highlanders of the Mid-West Himalayas of the Mansiri Himalayan range. Located in the Gorkha district far North Mid-West, migrated around the high Himalayan mountainous region of Nepal through Tibet. Heritage and cultures are associated with their Tibetan predecessors who migrated to Nepal’s high country as early as the 9th to 10th Centuries AD.
On this Tsum Valley and Manaslu Circuit trek follow through nice farm villages adorned with Buddhist prayer walls and monuments of Stupa. Trekkers can visit the monasteries of great cultural and religious interest on this trek to Tsum Valley & Manaslu Circuit.
Food & Accommodation on Tsum Valley & Manaslu Circuit Trekking:
The accommodation on Tsum Valley & Manaslu Circuit treks, spending overnights in simple lodges around villages and remote, isolated settlements.
The first part of the journey from Machha-Khola to Jagat and Lokpa villages the lodges with simple cozy rooms. Most lodges have common baths and toilets, where trekkers need to pay extra for the hot showers.
Two places where lodges are very simple and basic on this trek at Mu Gompa and Dharmasala. Sometimes trekkers have to spend overnights in dorms with other fellow members of the treks. But other lodges to the Nile and en route Manaslu Circuit at Lo, Sama-Gaon till Bhimphedi. Facilities are much better with standard rooms with huge dining rooms. Few places on this trek where trekkers can find attached baths and toilets depending upon the areas of overnight stops.
The food menu provides from Continental, Chinese, Indian, and Nepali, including Tibetan dishes. But at Mu Gompa, the food and accommodation is basic because of its harsh terrain. Due its isolated location from the outside world for centuries, it might get better as the flow of visitors increases.
Similarly, at Dharmasala or Larke Phedi before Larke-La pass the foods are nice and simple. As well as the guest houses, sometimes during high seasons when it gets overcrowded with trekkers. Might have to spend overnights in tented camping provided by lodge owners.
Overviews:
Tsum Valley & Manaslu Circuit Trekking is a blend of both wonderful adventures around Nepal’s Far North Mid-West Himalayas. The walks take you from the lower warm farm country towards the far and remote North of Gorkha district. Reaching Tsum Valley of Happiness, the hidden Himalayan Shangri-La at Mu-Gompa, and then ending at beautiful Manang areas. After crossing the highest point of the adventures over Larke-La Pass completes this awesome journey.
Tsum Valley & Manaslu Circuit Trekking takes you around the former forbidden country of the Himalayas. The Upper Manaslu opened for outside visitors in 1992 and Tsum Valley in 2008.
From then on, few groups of trekkers seldom ventured around these hidden land beyond the massif Ganesh and Manaslu Himal. At present, from the last few decades, it has become one of the most sought adventure destinations for all trekkers. Due, to its fresh and pristine environment with undisturbed by the mass flow of visitors.
As Tsum Valley and Manaslu Circuit fall within the Restricted Areas in Nepal, all trekkers need special permits. The reason behind as Tsum Valley & Manaslu Circuit is the ancient Trans Himalaya Caravan and Salt Trade Route. In the early day yaks and mules passed through these high valleys laden with goods of both Nepal and Tibet.
The first part of the journey takes you to the hidden corners of Tsum is known as the Valley of Happiness, as the name comes from an old Tibetan ‘Beyul Kyimolung’. The walk leads east following the Buddhi-Gandaki and Sayer Rivers, crossing exciting bridges to reach lovely villages around Tsum Valley.
The trek heads right up to the end of Tsum at Mu Gompa, around a fascinating country with glorious scenery. After a great experience around Tsum Valley visiting the ancient monasteries of Mu and Rachen Gompa.
The adventure continues towards our next destinations reaching around the high valley of Manaslu. Walk through interesting villages of Namrung, Lo, and Sama Gaon to reach the end of Manaslu Valley at Dharmasala. At the base of high Larke-La Pass, the next morning a long climb reaches on top of Larke-La pass.
After enjoying the incredible panorama of the surroundings towering Snow Mountain range, then downhill to Dharapani village within Manang district. At Dharapani our adventurous walks complete for an exciting drive back to Kathmandu. Reaching Kathmandu, the great experience on Tsum Valley & Manaslu Circuit Trekking concludes.
View Photos
Video Preview
+977-9851129532
info@nativeeverest.com.np
Days 24
