Tsum & Manaslu Circuit Trek: A Cultural Odyssey to Shangri-La

Guided tour of Swayambhunath Stupa with valley panorama. Explore Patan’s Durbar Square, Royal Palace, and world-class Museum. Evening at Basantapur and Kathmandu Durbar Square; exit through Ason Bazaar.

7-hour scenic drive through towns, villages, jungles, rivers, and waterfalls, with mid-hill Nepalese culture and mountain views. Overnight in Jagat, a Gurung village at 1,410 m where MCAP permits are checked; beans, potatoes, and maize are farmed together.

4-hour trek. Traverse corn and potato fields, cross the 2021 landslide area, and pass through bamboo, rhododendron, and pine forest. Cross a long new bridge over the Budhi Gandaki, climb stone stairs with views of Siringi Himal, and cross the Shiar Khola to reach Chumling. Visit the traditional village with ancient chortens, mani walls, and monasteries, with views of Ganesh Himal, Cherku Himal, and Siringi.

4-hour trek. Pass small villages and a local school, climb a ridge with chortens, and pass Lamagaon (3,202 m). Visit Rachen Gompa (3,240 m), a major nunnery, and optionally Tsum Monastery. After Burji village, climb 20 minutes to Milarepa’s cave (Piren Phuk), a sacred meditation site. Cross the Shiar Khola and pass Phurte, Pangdun, and Chule (3,347 m) with its impressive kani gate. Cross the bridge to Nile, a traditional village with yaks and Tibetan-robed children.

6-hour trek. Start early up the west bank with sunrise over the valley walls. Final climb through dry Tibetan country with rows of chortens to Mu Gompa (3,700 m), a large monastery with over 100 monks. Optionally visit the nuns’ meditation center (30 min) or Dhephyudoma Gompa (4,000 m, 2 hours). Border views toward Tibet and extensive yak pastures. Return down-valley via Chule and Phurre, traverse to Rajen Gompa (3,240 m) for a visit, then descend to Chhokangparo.

6-hour trek. Walk 2 hours to the small gonpa at Gho (2,485 m), descend to Dhumje (2,440 m) with its herbal medicine clinic, then climb steeply through pines and rhododendrons past prayer flags to Gumba Lungdang. This hilltop nunnery (40–50 nuns) has an absorbing 6:00–7:30 pm puja. Camp in the gonpa yard or stay in basic monastic accommodation. Incredible mountain panorama in all directions.

6-hour trek. Descend from Gumba Lungdang, cross the Laudang Khola at Dumje, and follow the southern bank of the Shiar Khola over gorges and wobbly bridges to picturesque Ripchet (2,470 m). Descend steep stairs to Ghumlong Bhatti (2,130 m), then climb through pristine temperate forest to Lokpa.

5-hour trek. Excursion to Pungyen Gonpa (4,050 m) at the end of Pungyen Valley for stunning Manaslu views, grazing yaks, and vultures. One of the oldest Tibetan monasteries in the region, built by Nubripa settlers. Return in 45 minutes, have lunch at Shyala, then take 2 hours to Sama Gaon, one of the largest villages here, known for buckwheat, wheat, barley, and potato farming, and ancient salt trade ties to Tibet. Optional 30-minute walk to Sama Gompa camp.

Acclimatization day. Relax or take an optional excursion to Manaslu Base Camp (4,800 m, ~6 hours with packed lunch) or Birendra Lake.

4-hour trek descending to the Budhi Gandaki, crossing a bridge, passing mani walls and juniper/birch forest to Kermo Kharka, then down to the river and up to Samdo, the last village of the Manaslu Valley. Views of the Lajyang La (5,098 m) route to Tibet; Chinese and Tibetan beer and food available. The high altitude and dry air slow your pace.

Walk 4 hours from the last village, descending to the Budhi Gandaki, crossing a wooden bridge, and gradually climbing past two icy streams to Larke Phedi (Dharmasala). Pass the ruined Larke Bazaar, an old trade fairground for Tibetans, Nepalese, and Sherpas. Afternoon free to rest before the pass crossing.

8-hour trek. Early start with a steep climb over Larke glacier moraine, views from Cho Danda, Larke Peak, glacial lakes, and Himalayan flora/fauna. Larke La summit has prayer flags and panoramas of Himlung, Cheo Himal, Kang Guru, Larke Peak, Annapurna II, and Lamjung Himal. Steep descent over scree and loose gravel (some snow/ice) to grassy moraine, then to Bhimthang/Bemathang, a green valley with lodges, prayer flags, Manaslu views, and rhododendron forests.

5-hour walk. Nearby ridge offers views of Manaslu, Lamjung, Himlung, and Cheo. Relaxed downhill walk across Yak pasture, over the Dudh Khola bridge, through rhododendron forest to Karcher, then across cultivated fields and a ridge to Gho, a small summer pasture for cattle and yak herders with four lodges.

3-hour walk and 4-hour drive. Pleasant downhill forest walk to Tilje village beside the Marsyangdi River, then a short climb and suspension bridge to Dharapani, junction of the Annapurna Circuit and Manaslu routes. Lunch, then drive ~4 hours via Taal Besi, Chamje, Jagat, Ngadi, and Bulbule past terraced paddy fields to Besisahar, headquarters of Lamjung district.

5-hour drive past farm villages and towns, joining the Kathmandu–Pokhara highway at Dumre, then back to Kathmandu. Afternoon free.

Guided tour of the Pashupatinath ghats and temples, Bhaktapur’s medieval squares and palaces, and Nyatapola Temple (a UNESCO site). Finish at Boudhanath, one of the world’s largest Buddhist stupas.

Enjoy breakfast and some leisure time before transferring to the airport for departure.