Manaslu Circuit & Tsum Valley Trek — 19 Days

The Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley combination is one of the most rewarding 19-day treks in the Himalaya — a two-in-one restricted area journey that pairs the dramatic high-pass circuit around Manaslu (8,163 m) with a descent into Tsum Valley: a hidden Tibetan-Buddhist enclave that was closed to outsiders until 2008 and remains one of the most culturally intact communities in the entire mountain world.

The Manaslu Circuit section follows the Budhi Gandaki north through magnificent gorge scenery, past Nubri villages at Samagaon and Samdo, and over the Larke La (5,106 m) at dawn with Manaslu's enormous north face overhead. The Tsum Valley detour branches northwest at Lokpa, climbing through ancient juniper and rhododendron forest to the farming villages of Chhule, Nile, and Mu Gompa: a walled monastery complex at 3,960 m that serves as the spiritual centre of the valley. The Tsum people are of Tibetan origin and speak a distinct Tibetan dialect; their monasteries contain murals, thangkas, and ritual objects that have not changed since the 15th century.

Combining both restricted areas in one 19-day loop is the most efficient way to experience the full depth of the Manaslu region. The two permits cover different areas; both are included in our price.

The Tsum Valley Difference

Tsum Valley is not a trekking destination in the conventional sense — there are no tourist teahouses with printed menus, no satellite internet, no shops selling Snickers bars. What there is: genuine Himalayan Buddhist village life, ancient gompa architecture, snow leopard territory, and the kind of silence that has disappeared from the more visited trekking regions. Fewer than 2,500 foreign visitors enter Tsum per year. The combination trek covers the circuit's dramatic mountain landscape AND the valley's cultural depth — two very different experiences, back to back, making this one of the most richly varied treks in Nepal.

Best seasons: October–November and March–May. Permits: Manaslu + Tsum restricted area permits (both included). Max altitude: Larke La 5,106 m.