Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley in 21 days: is the combined trek worth it?
Written by our trekking team
Photo: Remote Nepal Treks.
The short version
Yes, if you have three weeks. The combined trek is the fullest way to see the Manaslu region, and it costs you one transfer day, not a second trip. You walk up Tsum first, through Chumling, Chhokangparo and Nile to Mu Gompa (about 3,700m), come back down and join the Manaslu Circuit at Deng, then follow it over the 5,106m Larkya La. The week in Tsum is also very good acclimatization for the pass. It's 21 days, 16 on the trail, every night in a teahouse or basic lodge, and it needs at least two trekkers.
How the two routes fit together
The Manaslu Circuit and the Tsum Valley Trek start the same way: the drive from Kathmandu to Machha Khola and the walk up the Budhi Gandaki gorge to Jagat. Past Philim the trails split. The circuit carries on north toward Deng and the Nubri valley. Tsum turns off into its own side valley toward the Tibet border.
Our combined trek walks both branches, one after the other. You go into Tsum first, come back to the main trail, and then walk the full circuit.
| Days | Section | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Kathmandu, Machha Khola, Jagat | The drive, the gorge, Tatopani hot springs |
| 4–9 | The Tsum Valley | Lokpa, Chumling, Chhokangparo, Nile, Mu Gompa |
| 10 | Chumling to Deng | Back to the main trail, onto the circuit |
| 11–16 | The Nubri valley | Namrung, Lho, Samagaon (rest day), Samdo, Dharamsala |
| 17 | Larkya La to Bimtang | 5,106m, ~26km, 8–9 hrs |
| 18–21 | Tilije, Besisahar, Kathmandu | Jeep via Dharapani, buffer day |
Why Tsum first makes the pass easier
Doing Tsum first also helps on the pass. By the time you reach the higher villages of the circuit, you've slept at 3,361m in Nile and walked up to about 3,700m at Mu Gompa. Then you come back down to Deng (1,860m) and climb again through Namrung and Lho, with the full rest day at Samagaon (3,530m) still to come.
So when you leave Dharamsala (4,460m) for the Larkya La on Day 17, it's your second time climbing high on this trip, and the body has had more than two weeks to adjust. Our acclimatization post explains why that pattern works.
Two very different weeks
The Tsum week is quiet and gentle by Himalayan standards. Tibetan Buddhist villages, mani walls, chortens and gompas, and a high point with no pass. It's the most peaceful part of the trip. Our Mu Gompa post covers the high day.
The circuit week has the big mountain scenery. You see Manaslu's summit ridge from the gompa terrace at Lho, spend two nights at Samagaon, and cross a real high pass into Bimtang's glacial meadow with Manaslu's west face behind you.
Both regions are restricted areas, so you'll see far fewer trekkers than on the Everest or Annapurna trails.
Photo: Remote Nepal Treks.
Permits and group size
You carry four permits: a Tsum Valley RAP, a Manaslu RAP, the MCAP (checked at Jagat and again at Namrung) and the ACAP, because the route finishes through Dharapani. Only a licensed agency can arrange the RAPs, and we file all four.
The Tsum RAP needs at least two trekkers, so this trek does too, even though the Manaslu Circuit on its own can be done solo. A licensed guide walks the whole route, and porters carry the group gear.
Lodging and food
Every night on the trail is in a teahouse or basic lodge, never a tent. That's 17 nights on trek. Rooms are twin-share with shared bathrooms, and they get more basic higher up, especially in upper Tsum and above Samagaon. Meals are included: dal bhat with refills, noodle soups, momos, porridge and Tibetan bread.
Who it suits
We grade it Challenging, the same as the circuit alone. There's nothing technical. What you need is steady fitness for back-to-back days, because 16 days on the trail is long, and ideally at least one multi-day teahouse trek behind you, preferably one above 4,000m. We don't recommend it as a first high-altitude trek.
If three weeks is too long, pick one. Our post on the Manaslu Circuit or Tsum Valley helps you choose.
What it costs
We haven't published a price for the combined trek yet, because the Tsum permit fees and porter rates are still being confirmed. Ask us for a quote and we'll reply with a firm figure. For a reference point, the Manaslu Circuit on its own is $1,650 to $2,100 per person depending on group size.
All 21 days are on the combined trek itinerary.
Frequently asked
How long is the Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley trek?
21 days from Kathmandu and back, with 16 days on the trail. You do Tsum first, then the full Manaslu Circuit over the Larkya La.
Does doing Tsum first help with the Larkya La?
Yes. You sleep at 3,361m in Nile and walk up to about 3,700m at Mu Gompa before you start the circuit's climb, and there's still a full rest day at Samagaon before the pass.
Can I do the combined Manaslu and Tsum trek solo?
No. The Tsum Valley RAP needs at least two trekkers, so the combined trek does too. The Manaslu Circuit alone can be done solo with a licensed guide.
What permits do I need for Manaslu and Tsum?
Four: a Tsum Valley RAP, a Manaslu RAP, the MCAP and the ACAP. We file all of them for you.
Is the combined trek teahouse or camping?
Teahouse. Every night on the trail is in a teahouse or basic lodge, 17 nights in all.