Overview

Duration :
29 Days
Secondary Activity:
Nature and Culture
Max altitude :
5,160 m/16, 924 ft
Transportation:
Private Vehicle
Trip ends in:
Kathmandu
Accomodation:
Hotel and Lodge
Primary activity:
Trekking and Hiking
Group Size:
Min. 2 pax
Country:
Nepal
Trip starts from:
Kathmandu
Diffficulty:
Strenuous
Meals:
Nepali and Continental
Best Season:
Autumn and Spring
Trip route:
Kathmandu- Gorkha- Barpak-Laprak-Khorlabeshi-Jagat-Lokpa-Chumling-Gumba Lungdang-Chhokang Paro- Mu Gompa-Rachen Gompa-Chumling-Deng-Namrung-Lho-Samagaon-Samdo-Dharamsala-Larkya la Pass-Bhimtang-Gho-Tal-Besisahar-Kathmandu

Trip introduction

Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek provides us with a wonderful opportunity to escape ourselves through daily routine and completely immerse in the natural beauty around the 8th highest Manaslu Himalayas with cultural exploration at the hidden valley of Tsum. With less than a decade of its opening to outsiders, Tsum Valley has been successfully able to enchant visitors; with its diversity in topography and richness in Tibetan-influenced cultures and traditions.

Overview of Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek

We embark on the Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek as you arrive at Kathmandu and complete sightseeing around world heritage sites. At the beginning of the trek, we take a drive to Baseri, the starting point of this trip. We pass through, an exceptionally beautiful and naturally blessed Budhi Gandaki valley. Likewise, trekking along the way through beautiful forests, farmlands, pastures, settlements, and villages of mostly Gurungs and Magars; we enter the hidden Tsum valley leaving back the Manaslu Trail.

Tsum Valley

Tsum Valley is popular for its outstanding views of Himalayan ranges like Ganesh Himal and Manaslu etc. Along the way, we pass through numerous Buddhist monasteries watching the Tibetan-influenced cultures. Tsum Valley also offers insights into the lifestyle of tribes living there which will surely be a cultural shock to outsiders.  

Manaslu and Tsum Valley is a well-known homestay trek. But in the present scenario, plenty of tea houses also have developed around the trails. During the final days of the trek, we again catch up on the popular circuit route of Tal, and Syange, and drive back to Kathmandu.

Join this trek with Nepal Mountain Trekkers for professional arrangements. From lodging, food, safety, and others that make your trekking in Nepal holiday a memorable one. Simply fill out the Booking form and let us know about your interest. Or you can contact us directly by sending us an email to join this amazing trek in Manaslu Region.

Special Note:

If this itinerary doesn’t suit your requirement or if you want to customize it, please feel free to contact us. This trek could be customized as per your required time frame and budget limits.

Overview

  • Day 1
    Arrival in Kathmandu (1,365 m / 4,478 ft):
  • Day 2
    Kathmandu: Sightseeing and Trek Preparation:
  • Day 3
    Kathmandu to Gorkha (1,060 m / 3,478 ft):
  • Day 4
    Gorkha to Barpak (1,915 m / 6,263 ft):
  • Day 5
    Barpak to Laprak (2,100 m / 6,890 ft):
  • Day 6
    Laprak to Khorlabeshi (970 m / 3,182 ft):
  • Day 7
    Khorlabeshi to Jagat (1,340 m / 4,396 ft):
  • Day 8
    Jagat to Lokpa (2,240 m / 7,350 ft):
  • Day 9
    Lokpa to Chumling (2,386 m / 7,828 ft):
  • Day 10
    Chumling to Gumba Lungdang (3,200 m / 10,498 ft):
  • Day 11
    Day Hike to Landan Kharka(3,740m / 12,270 ft):
  • Day 12
    Gumba Lungdang to Chhokang Paro (3,031 m / 9,945 ft):
  • Day 13
    Chhokang Paro to Mu Gompa (3,709 m / 12,168 ft):
  • Day 14
    Day Hike Bhajyo (4,030 m / 13,222 ft):
  • Day 15
    Mu Gompa to Rachen Gompa(3,240 m / 10,630 ft):
  • Day 16
    Rachen Gompa to Chumling (2,386 m / 7,828 ft):
  • Day 17
    Chumling to Deng (1,860 m / 6,102 ft):
  • Day 18
    Deng to Namrung (2,630 m / 8,628 ft):
  • Day 19
    Namrung to Lho (3,180 m / 10,433 ft):
  • Day 20
    Lho to Samagaon (3,520 m / 11,548 ft):
  • Day 21
    Acclimatization Day at Samagaon:
  • Day 22
    Samagaon to Samdo (3,875 m / 12,713 ft):
  • Day 23
    Samdo to Dharamsala (4,460 m / 14,632 ft):
  • Day 24
    Dharamsala to Bhimtang (3,590 m / 11,778 ft) via Larkya La Pass (5,160 m / 16, 930 ft):
  • Day 25
    Bhimtang to Gho (2,515 m / 8,251 ft):
  • Day 26
    Gho to Tal (1,700 m / 5,577 ft ):
  • Day 27
    Tal to Kathmandu via Besisahar(760 m / 2,493 ft):
  • Day 28
    Relax Shopping and Explore Day at Kathmandu with Farewell Dinner in the Evening:
  • Day 29
    Departure Day:

Detail Itinerary

Day 1 : Arrival in Kathmandu (1,365 m / 4,478 ft)::

As soon as you arrive at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, and pass the immigration, you will see our representative waiting for you with your name and marigold flower to welcome you to Nepal. He will be transferring you to the hotel in the private vehicle of our office.

Day 2 : Kathmandu: Sightseeing and Trek Preparation::

After having your early meal, you will start your day with a visit to the Nepal Mountain Trekkers office at Thamel. After being introduced to our team including the tour guide, trekking leader, and director of operations, you will head for necessary trekking preparations, getting needed equipment with the initiation of Kathmandu sightseeing around world heritage sites. Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple, and Boudhanath Stupa are UNESCO world heritage sites that you will explore till sunset.

Day 3 : Kathmandu to Gorkha (1,060 m / 3,478 ft)::

After having breakfast, you will be traveling in a comfortable jeep from Kathmandu to Gorkha from where your real trekking days would begin. Gorkha is a good place to start the Manaslu Circuit – easier to get to than Arughat – the road from Dhading to Arughat is dreadful – Gorkha is about 400 meters higher than Arughat (cooler) – and it is really worthwhile climbing up from Gorkha town center to the palace and temple on the ridge above with great views of the mountains including the Manaslu Massif.

Day 4 : Gorkha to Barpak (1,915 m / 6,263 ft)::

Your jeep will drive you to Barpak – the real start of your trek and a big prosperous village that was the epicenter of the earthquake in April 2015 – it was badly damaged – most of the houses had heavy stone (slate) roofs that collapsed all too easily during the earthquake causing death and serious injury. Now there are many temporary tin buildings in Barpak– houses, shops, and schools. Ironically in some ways, Barpak was lucky – being the epicenter it became the focus of national and international relief efforts – it took many days for help to reach other severely damaged more remote villages.

Day 5 : Barpak to Laprak (2,100 m / 6,890 ft)::

A lovely walk up over a ridge – Mamche (2,700 meters) – with great views of Ganesh Himal and then down to Laprak. Laprak was also badly affected by the earthquake. Its current site has been assessed as being unsafe – too prone to landslide and as a result, a huge project is underway to build New Laprak. Coming down from Mamche, you will come to New Larprak first. It is 500 meters above Old Laprak. Contractors are in the process of building a ‘housing estate’ of hundreds of identical small four-roomed houses (ground floor area of 6.9m x 4.35m) – using specially designed (CSEB) concrete blocks, steel reinforcing rods, metal trusses, and corrugated iron for the roof. A few of the houses were nearing completion. Old Larprak is quite a large village – there were no obvious signs of it getting ready to move to the new site.

Day 6 : Laprak to Khorlabeshi (970 m / 3,182 ft)::

From Laprak you will walk down and then up to Singla, then a bit down to Khorla where you will have lunch at a very simple restaurant, before dropping steeply down to Khorlabeshi beside the thundering Budi Gandaki.

Day 7 : Khorlabeshi to Jagat (1,340 m / 4,396 ft)::

An easy walk from Khorlabeshi, crossing the Budhi Gandaki several times – one section being a cantilevered metal walkway across a cliff face above the Budhi Gandaki replacing a section of trail that was lost as a result of the 2015 earthquake. Jagat feels like a compact trading post in a narrow section of the Budhi Gandaki gorge. You might catch a glimpse of Shringi Himal ahead.

Day 8 : Jagat to Lokpa (2,240 m / 7,350 ft)::

An easy walk to Ekle Bhatti for lunch and then a beautiful climb up through Bhutan pine forest with flowers including lovely delicate delphiniums to the only lodge at Lokpa, which is 300 meters below the main village. The lodge is not great and is often full – Lokpa needs another lodge!

Day 9 : Lokpa to Chumling (2,386 m / 7,828 ft)::

The walk from Lokpa to Chumling is more challenging than you might expect. It involves a lot of steep up and down. You realize by the end of it why Tsum Valley has remained isolated until very recently. You cross another newer section of the cantilevered metal walkway across a cliff face. The collapse of this section of the trail in 2016 left Tsum Valley almost cut off from Nepal for a few months. A while before you arrive in Chumling you cross a suspension bridge over the Shiar Khola and one more climb brings you up into a more open valley and you can see why people have chosen to live in such an inaccessible place for hundreds of years – plenty of terraced fields on the north side and mature Bhutan pine forest on the south side of the valley. Just before we arrived, we were greeted by two sweet little boys, who offered us bouquets of wildflowers. The Tashi Delek Hotel at Chumling has been open for less than a year and is really comfortable and well-run. One small criticism – it could do with another toilet! That afternoon we visited the new health post in Chumling designed by Sonam and amazingly met Sonam and Sherab on their way to show other visitors the health post. We joined the tour – the new clinic is beautiful and built following the earthquake resilience principle– with dressing dry stone walls with timber ring beams; traditionally carved Bhutan Pine windows and doors, green corrugated iron roof, and cleverly designed bamboo panels closing off the void under the eaves.

Day 10 : Chumling to Gumba Lungdang (3,200 m / 10,498 ft)::

It’s a lovely easy walk from Chumling to Dumje – most of the time you are high above the Shiar Khola. Just after crossing a suspension bridge and just before Dumje you leave the main trail to Chhokang Paro and cross a wooden bridge over the Shiar Khola. From Dumje you climb steadily and sometimes steeply up, about 1,000 meters, through a mixed forest of pine, hemlock, and birch to Gumba Lungdang. On the way, if it is clear you should see Ganesh 1 and 2 and Lumbo Himal as well as more distant views of Himal Chuli and Nadi Chuli. The monastery and the accommodation there were almost completely destroyed by the earthquake in April 2015. For the next year or so, while the reconstruction is underway, if you want to stay at Gumba Lungdang it is best to carry your own tents. There are three small tents there but like most heavily used tents their zips are failing. The nuns are hospitable and will feed you well but please don’t be too demanding – their lives must be hard enough already. Awesome views of sunset on Ganesh 1 and sunrise on Ganesh 2 are possible from Gumba Lungdang but for us, it was cloudy and only partially cleared before we left.

Day 11 : Day Hike to Landan Kharka(3,740m / 12,270 ft)::

Today you will acclimatize and hike up to Landan Kharka to explore more beauty from a higher altitude. To be more precise, you will hike up for the marvelous view of Ganesh Himal.

Day 12 : Gumba Lungdang to Chhokang Paro (3,031 m / 9,945 ft)::

First, you have to retrace your steps down to Dumje and re-join the main trail. We had lunch in Gho shortly after rejoining the main trail and then climbed up to Chhokang Paro – crossing some landslide areas requiring extra care. We stayed in the Tashi Delek Hotel, which is a large and well-run hotel with comfortable rooms, a beautiful dining room, and a naughty but nice – gas boiler hot shower. You can see the sunrise on Baudha Himal and Himal Chuli from the hotel. With a lot of help from a kind local man, we managed to find Sonam’s family home and stayed for Masala tea and cookies with Pema (Sonam’s half-brother) and Pema’s mum. Look out for the café – Tsum Valley Café. You can get delicious espresso, cappuccino, macchiato, etc – Pema had been a barista at Himalayan Java in Kathmandu. This is a delightful treat in Chhokang Paro!

Day 13 : Chhokang Paro to Mu Gompa (3,709 m / 12,168 ft)::

From Chhokang Paro to Mu Gompa there is a road – not joking – there is a road but there are no buses, cars, or motorbikes – just one tractor. It is said that one day this road will connect Arughat to Tibet – we will see. The easy walk from Chhokang Paro to the Nile is through beautiful, fertile, large, flat fields – the amazing and valuable productive land of the upper Tsum Valley. Lots of Chortens, mani walls, and gompas on the way – leaving you in no doubt that you are amongst Buddhists. Beyond the fields, to the east and west, the near-vertical walls of the valley become the snow-capped, 6,000-meter peaks of Cherke Himal, Kipu Himal, and Langju Himal. After the Nile, the valley narrows and the fields cease. Mu Gompa was busy with trekkers – the rooms were full so we had to pitch our tents. The Gompa is perched upon an east-facing slope, austere but well-maintained. You can climb up a bit further to a nunnery not far from Mu Gompa or for the really energetic you can climb at least another 1,000 meters above the monastery for great views. If you are lucky, from Mu Gompa, you can see sunset and sunrise on Ganesh 2 to the south.

Day 14 : Day Hike Bhajyo (4,030 m / 13,222 ft)::

The walk further north to Bhajyo is on the road for the first hour. Then you have to cross two short but unstable and a bit scary landslide areas. After that the trail is easy – through yak Kharkas with blue sheep and marmots grazing in the sunshine – the slopes above and below are covered in shrubs showing their autumn colors – berberis rose and dwarf cotoneaster. You can tell from the quantity of litter that Bhajyo becomes a very busy small town during May – the Yarsagumba gathering season. Almost all of the litter comes from Tibet, China – which is only an easy 3 hours walk away. The cans and bottles should go back to China on the mules that brought them into Nepal and be recycled. Having cleared some of the litter, we pitched our tents and repaired one of the dry stone walled, tarpaulin-covered shelters abandoned by the Yarsagumba gatherers to use as our kitchen. Bhajyo is a beautiful spot – a great place to relax amongst the high mountains in the afternoon sunshine – Langju Himal and Tabsar look spectacular – but bitterly cold in the shade first thing in the morning. Thanks to Min, D.B., and Bikash we managed to enjoy soup, spaghetti with sweet chili and tomato sauce, various noodles, 3 in 1 coffee, and peppermint tea – perfect. After lunch, we walked up beyond Thongbu (4,500 meters) to get a clear view of the pass and a Chorten on the border between Nepal and China. D.B. and Bikash would love to have walked right up to the border but sadly we didn’t have time.

Day 15 : Mu Gompa to Rachen Gompa(3,240 m / 10,630 ft)::

The next morning you will retrace your steps to Rachen Gompa exploring Buddhist Culture with a look around Chortens, Mani Walls, Mani Stones, Prayer flags, and so on. Rachen Gompa is a famous monastery run by Nuns.

Day 16 : Rachen Gompa to Chumling (2,386 m / 7,828 ft)::

Again you will retrace your steps back to the lovely Chumling with views of Shringi Himal stopping for coffee, masala tea, and cookies in Chhokang Paro. This day you will be walking the previous route enjoying the same view from a different angle.

Day 17 : Chumling to Deng (1,860 m / 6,102 ft)::

From Chumling you will endure the arduous walk back to Lokpa and then drop easily down through the forest to re-join the main Manaslu Circuit trail to reach Deng. The main trail squeezes its way through the Budhi Gandaki gorge crossing the river several times on long suspension bridges.

Day 18 : Deng to Namrung (2,630 m / 8,628 ft)::

Today you will be following the main trail to Bihi Phedi or a slightly longer route up to Bihi Village – a proper village very close to the Manaslu Circuit trail, but without any lodges, it seems hardly any trekkers. Beyond the village, you will descend steeply back down to the main trail and then on to Ghap for lunch. After Ghap the Budhi Gandaki valley widens. At one point you will cross a suspension bridge over the river and from the bridge you can see the Budhi Gandaki forced under a natural stone arch. Then it’s a sustained climb up a beautifully built stone staircase to Namrung. Surprisingly Namrung has a very smart-looking and luxurious (presumably) but expensive hotel.

Day 19 : Namrung to Lho (3,180 m / 10,433 ft)::

An easy half days walk to Lho with great views of Himalchuli at the head of Hinang Glacier before Sho- famous for apples. In the afternoon you will walk up to the large and prosperous-looking Ribung Monastery and climb up to the top of the hill behind, for clear views of the Manaslu Massif. You can also walk up a short distance from the hotel to a popular viewing point near Ribung Monastery to watch the magnificent sun rising on Manaslu.

Day 20 : Lho to Samagaon (3,520 m / 11,548 ft)::

After breakfast, you will make an easy half-day walk to Samagaon to photograph another classic view of Manaslu with a Chorten in front of it near Lho and then stop for tea at Shyala, a sleepy village, with magnificent clear views of Himalchuli, Nadi Chuli, Manaslu, Naike peak, Larkya peak, and Samdo and Saula Himal. In the afternoon you will walk up to Birendra Tal – about an hour’s walk from Sama.

Day 21 : Acclimatization Day at Samagaon::

Today you will rest in Sama for acclimatization and if you can then manage the four-hour walk up to Manaslu Base Camp (4,770 meters) – a truly amazing spot with spectacular views of Manaslu, Manaslu North, and Naike Peak. The base camp is a collection of large yellow tents with a kitchen and dining tent.

Day 22 : Samagaon to Samdo (3,875 m / 12,713 ft)::

Another very easy walk from Sama to Samdo still following the much-diminished Budhi Gandaki – no fields and no big trees – just some small birch, juniper, and larch trees and lots of scrubby bushes including berberis and rose.

Day 23 : Samdo to Dharamsala (4,460 m / 14,632 ft)::

A beautiful and, apart from the altitude, easy walk up to Dharamsala with truly impressive views of Samdo Peak, Naike Peak, Larke Peak, Cheo Himal, and briefly Manaslu and Manaslu North.

Day 24 : Dharamsala to Bhimtang (3,590 m / 11,778 ft) via Larkya La Pass (5,160 m / 16, 930 ft)::

Along the rough rocky trail, across the glacial moraine with wonderful views of sunrise on Larke Peak, you will make your way towards Bhimtang with prayer flags blowing in the wind along steep and in places icy zigzag descent. You can enjoy fine views from Bhimtang of sunset on Manaslu as well as Phungi Himal, Nadi Chuli, and Cheo Himal. Himlung, Ponkar Peak, and Kang Guru.

Day 25 : Bhimtang to Gho (2,515 m / 8,251 ft)::

You will cross both lateral moraines and the river of meltwater emerging from Salpudanda Glacier before descending through mature forest mainly of silver fir on the other side of the glacial valley from Bhimtang. As you lose height, the forest changes later dominated by hemlock and then Bhutan pine. There are clearings and fantastic views back to the Cirque of white-fluted peaks. You will stop for lunch at Kharche – a Kharka in the forest where red-berried cotoneaster trees predominate. Finally, you will reach Gho, a proper village with fields of buckwheat and millet, cattle, and sheep.

Day 26 : Gho to Tal (1,700 m / 5,577 ft )::

From Gho, you will be dropping rapidly and easily mostly on a newly cut but unused road down to Dharapani where you will join the Annapurna Circuit trail. After a pleasant walk down to Tal getting used to the unfamiliar site of 4-wheel drive vehicles heading up to and down from Manang, you will arrive at the beautiful Tal, happily off the main road, with delightful waterfalls, pretty gardens, and great excitement.

Day 27 : Tal to Kathmandu via Besisahar(760 m / 2,493 ft)::

The first part of the walk down from Tal is beautiful – a steep zigzag trail down beside the thundering Marsyangdi trapped in a deep vertical-sided gorge to Chamje. The road on the other side of the river has been cut into the cliff face high above the river and even makes a three-quarter turn around a tower of rock – a lapse in the driver’s concentration would be lethal. From Chamje the rest of the walk is on the road and mercifully fairly short. Then you will enjoy the drive down to Besi Sahar admiring the views of the impressive Chinese hydroelectric project at Nadi Bazar and of the Manaslu Massif now some distance away but still completely clear. In Besi Sahar, you will change to a comfortable car for the drive to Kathmandu.

Day 28 : Relax Shopping and Explore Day at Kathmandu with Farewell Dinner in the Evening::

Today is all yours, you can go shopping and explore the nearby places during the daytime and in the evening you will be taken out for a farewell dinner as a complimentary treat by Nepal Mountain Trekkers.

Day 29 : Departure Day::

Today will be your final day in Nepal, as we drop you at International Airport for your scheduled international flight towards your onward destination.

Price Includes

  • Airport Pick-up and drop service
  • 4 nights Hotel in Kathmandu (Hotel Green Horizon or similar standard)
  • All accommodation during the trek in the best hotels/tea houses in the area (differing according to the price you wish to spend)
    • Sanitation: The accommodation we provide will be neat and clean with warm hospitality and quality services.
    • Single/Twin-sharing Accommodation (as per budget): Your group won’t have to share your accommodation with anyone else so your privacy is protected.
  • All foods during the trek: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner; any items on the menu as much as you wish to consume.
    • We provide hygienic and safe meals to re-energize you.
    • We request you not to waste your meals for it is difficult to transport food in the rural area.
    • You are not allowed to share your meals with anyone else from another group.
  • Transportation costs: Comfortable Drive from Kathmandu to Trek Start Point(Gorkha/Barpak) and Jeep Drive from Tal to Besisahar and Private Vehicle from Besisahar to Kathmandu
  • Professional and Highly experienced English-speaking Trekking Guide licensed by the Government. Including their lodging and food.
    • Local Staff: Our guides are locals of the region which ensures that you will surely get to explore a bit more during the trek than with any other guides.
    • Experienced: With the experience of more than a decade of working in this field, our trekking guides possess excellent knowledge of briefing during the trek as well as they are experts in handling all kinds of critical situations that might occur during the trek.
    • Insurance: Nepal Mountain Trekkers have an insurance policy for all our trekking staff.
  • Porters (1 porter for 2 trekkers with a max load of 25 KG). Including their lodging and food.
    • Local Staff: The porters we hire belong to the same region where we trek in order to provide employment opportunities to the locals as well as to make you explore every prospect of the region.
  • Trekking permits: Manaslu Conservation Area fees, Manaslu Special Permit (Seven Days Only), Tsum Valley Special Permit (Eight Days Only), Annapurna Conservation Permit, and TIMS card
  • First aid medical box
  • All required trekking gear like Sleeping bags and down jackets made available on rent
  • T-shirt, Duffel Bag, and Trekking Map with company logo
  • Rescue Management Service
  • 13% VAT and 10% company service charge
  • Farewell Dinner

Price Excludes

  • Visa fee to enter Nepal (Visa Information)
  • International flight tickets and extra baggage charges
  • Extra night accommodation and meal costs in Kathmandu due to any change in the scheduled itinerary
  • Travel insurance/ Rescue operation costs
  • All personal expenses (laundry, electronic device charging cost, all alcoholic beverages, and soft drinks, etc)
  • Tip for guide and porters

Trip Gallery

Trip Map:

Equipments

Head

  • Sun hat or scarf
  • Light balaclava or warm fleece hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Head Torch
  • Suncreams(40+) and Lip Balms

Upper Body

  • Cotton t-shirts and thermals
  • Fleece jacket
  • Waterproof jacket
  • Down jacket

Lower Body

  • Lightweight cotton pants (long)
  • Waterproof pants
  • Inner thermals

Feet

  • Thin inner socks (3 pairs)
  • Thick, warm wool hiking socks
  • Comfortable hiking boots
  • Shower sandals

Hands

  • Gloves (Cotton and Waterproof)
  • Creams
  • Sanitizer

Accessories

  • Sleeping bag rated to -10°C +
  • Trekking bag (Rucksack)
  • Duffel bag
  • Large plastic bags (for keeping items dry inside trek bag)
  • Trekking poles (optional, recommended)
  • Water bottle or camel bag
  • Toiletries and Tissue Papers

First Aid Kits

  • Personal Regular Medicines
  • Knee Caps
  • Bandages
  • Ointments
  • Blister Tape
 

CLIENTS REVIEW

What our customers say about us

Tsum Valley Manaslu

Thank you to Ramesh at Nepal Mountain Trekkers and Expeditions for organising our group trip. We could not fault this company everything ran smoothly, our very experienced and knowledgeable guide TB kept us safe. TB went way beyond his duties of a trekking guide, even providing us with bed tea each morning. His infectious laughter and sense of humour kept our spirits high. We would not hesitate in recommending this fantastic company

Lyn Taylor

Tripadvisor

Zuverlässlich, Erfahren, Familiär

Eine kompetente Trekkingagentur, auf die man sich in jedem Fall verlassen kann! Der Besitzer, Ramesh Dakal, war lange selber Porter und anschließend Guide (speziell für hohe und anspruchsvolle Routen), sodass er die nötige Erfahrung besitzt, um auch außergewöhnliche Expeditionen zu ermöglichen. Er ist ein wirklich liebenswürdiger Mensch, der nicht nur seinem Interesse, sondern auch dem seiner Mitarbeiter und seines Landes folgt. Auch sein Team (Porter und Guides) ist ausgezeichnet. Auf meinem Trekk um den Manaslu hatte ich einen wirklich tollen Guide an meiner Seite, der gutes Englisch sprach, und mir von sich aus viel über Land und Leute erzählt hat, sodass ich in ihm nicht nur einen verlässlichen Führer, sondern auch einen Freund gefunden habe. Mir wurde genug Spielraum gelassen, um den Trekk auf meine Bedürfnisse anzupassen und Ramesh und seine Guides geben sich generell große Mühe auf die individuellen Wünsche einzugehen. Das, die große Expertise aller Mitarbeiter und die familiär/freundschaftliche Umgangsweise zeichnen Nepal Mountain Trekkers aus. So unterscheidet sich das Unternehmen deutlich von anderen Agenturen, die in Kathmandu wie Pilze aus dem Boden schießen und von denen viele sehr unzuverlässlich sind. Wer für die Zeit in Kathmandu noch eine Unterkunft sucht, dem sei Ramesh’s Hotel “Horizon” wärmstens ans Herz gelegt. Es ist eine kleine Oase im hektischen Kathmandu und die Mitarbeiter sind auch hier alle äußerst herzlich. Ramesh’s Büro ist gleich um die Ecke, sodass man mit ihm in einer freien Minute bei einem Tee äußerst lohnend plaudern kann.

Julius

Tripadvisor

DIE top Agentur

Obwohl die Agentur noch relativ “jung” ist, so kann ich sie nur bestens und von Herzen empfehlen!
Dies nicht nur, weil Ramesh und all seine Guides sehr zuvorkommende, hilfsbereite, einfach liebe und tolle Leute sind und einen guten Job machen. Sondern auch, weil das Wissen und Können, dass mit den Leuten in diese junge Agentur hineingekommen ist, “riiiesig” ist!
Ich kenne Ramesh seit 13 Jahren, war mit ihm, oder über seine Agenturen bereits über sieben mal auf diversen Trekks. Immer war alles ausgezeichnet organisiert. Dass heisst nicht, dass immer alles so lief wie geplant, aber dank der jeweiligen Begleitungen konnte immer alles umorganisiert, alle und jegliche Probleme gelöst werden.
Ramesh kennt sein Land sehr gut, war bereits als Porter unterwegs auf den Trekkinrouten. Diese Erfahrungen kommen seinen Gästen zu gute und fast alle Wünsche und Anliegen können erfüllt werden und auch Trekkinrouten abseits der grossen Touristenrouten sind dank seiner Planung machbar.
Und auch ich kann nur empfehlen, immer einen Guide auf Trkking mitzunehmen. Den nicht nur Kenntnisse über Land und Leute werden vermitttelt, auch der Zugang zu vielen Familien und Orten ist viel rascher und intensiver möglich, wenn einheimische Begleitung dabei ist.
Diesen März waren wir ins Tsum-Valley unterwegs. Ein weiteres, schönes Tal, dass einem die Tibetische Kultur nahe bringt und die Herzlichkeit der Bewohner einem unvergessliche Erinnerungen bescheren.

Marlies B

Tripadvisor

Manaslu Tsum Trek – 10th October to 4th November 2017

Overview:
This is a near perfect trek. It is a stunningly beautiful area where you have a grandstand view of the big mountains yet they are intimate, and there is much that is culturally fascinating. Magnificent sunrises and sunsets on big white peaks – we can’t get wait to go back!
Ramesh of Nepal Mountain Trekkers had organised everything really well, and our guide Min, and porters, DB and Bikash were excellent and were fantastic companions.
We very much recommend our itinerary as below.

We drove from Kathmandu to Gorkha, then to Barpak to start the trek. This is a big prosperous village, which was the epicentre of the earthquake in April 2015. We walked from there to Larprak over a ridge, Mamche, at 2,700 metres. There are great views of Ganesh Himal from Mamche.
Larprak was also badly damaged and there is a huge reconstruction effort to rebuild it in a safer site, New Larprak.
We walked from there to join the main Manaslu circuit at Khorlabeshi, by the thundering Bhudhi Gandaki. We followed the river, to Jagat, and then headed into the amazing Tsum Valley.
We passed through Lokpa to Chumling, which is a delightful village. There are beautiful terraced fields and mature Bhutan pine forests. We visited the newly constructed health post, built to be earthquake resilient and using local material as well as traditional building methods.
After Chumling, we walked to Gumba Lungdang. That’s a lovely walk through pine, hemlock and birch forest, with views of Ganesh 1 and 2, and Lumbo Himal as well as more distant views of Himalchuli and Ngadi Chuli. The monastery was nearly completely destroyed and if you want to stay there, it is best to have your own tent. The nuns do have 3 tents but they are not in good condition. They do feed you well though from their vegetable garden. There are awesome views of Ganesh Himal if it is clear.
We walked from there to Chhokang Paro, another delightful village, with lots of mani walls and chortens. Look out for the Tsum Valley Café run by Pema – he had been a barista at Himalayan Java in Kathmandu, and makes fantastic espresso, cappuccino, macchiato etc. What a delightful and surprising treat!
From Chhokang Paro, it is an easy walk to Nile through beautiful fertile large flat fields, the amazing and valuable productive land of the upper Tsum Valley, and lots of chortens, mani walls and gompas leave you in no doubt that you are in Buddhist land. Beyond the fields, the near vertical walls of the valley become the snow capped 6,000 metre+ peaks of Cherke Himal, Kipu Himal and Langju Himal.
Mu Gompa is fascinating and from there you can see sunset and sunrise on Ganesh 2 to the south.
We went from there to Bhajyo at 4,030 metres. It is a beautiful spot, though you need tents to stay here – a wonderful place to relax, with Langju Himal and Tabsar towering over you. We walked from there to another pasture, Thongbu, 4,500 metres, to get a clear view of the pass and chorten on the border with Tibet.
From there, we retraced our steps back to Mu Gompa, then to Nile, where we stayed in delightful Mingma’s Homestay. We went from there back to Chumling, Lokpa, then re-joined the main Manaslu circuit trail and on to Deng,
From Deng, it is worth visiting Bihi village, above the main trail at Bihi Phedi. Bihi is a lovely traditional village, which hardly sees trekkers, and there is a newly reconstructed school, built of wood, again with earthquake resilience principles and very aesthically pleasing with traditional styles. We walked to Namrung, which is charming.
The next day we walked to Lho and up to the impressive Ribung monastery.
From a viewpoint close to the monastery, we saw sunrise on Manaslu – absolutely awesome.
The walk from Lho to Samagaon is spectacular, we passed through the sleepy village of Shyala, where there is a magnificent amphitheatre of mountains – Himalchuli, Ngadi Chuli, Manaslu, Naike Peak, Larkye peak, Samdo Peak, Saula Himal. It is truly heart stopping.
Samagaon is a delightful village and what a location. One could easily spend days there. We made a day hike to Manaslu Base Camp – fantastic views of the huge shimmering glaciers and of Manaslu, Manaslu North and Naike peak. We got nice cups of tea at base camp – they were on a lull, the October climbers had gone and the November ones had not arrived yet.
We tore ourselves away from Samagaon, to Samdo, which is high and fascinating. It is a Tibetan village that moved over the border to its current location when the Chinese entered Tibet in the 1950s. It was very icy and white when we were there. We had hoped to walk to the border with Tibet, but the snowy conditions made this difficult.
From Samdo, it is an easy walk to Dharamsala at 4,460 metres. It was perfectly clear and the views of Samdo Peak, Naike Peak, Larkye Peak, Cheo Himal, Manaslu and Manaslu North were wonderful.
Dharamsala accommodation is not great, but the location is staggering. We were extremely lucky and had a perfect crossing of Larkye La, seeing sunrise on Larkye peak; and as we headed down, the most amazing views of Cheo Himal, Himlung, Pongkar peak, Kang Guru, then Lamjung Himal and peeping over it, Annapurna 2. We passed by large glaciers, the Salpudanda glacier and walked down to Bhimtang.
Bhimtang has the most wonderful sunsets and sunrise and is surrounded by a myriad of high peaks.
From Bhimtang, it is a very fine walk to Gho, through an ancient and magnificent forest, with regular views back onto a cirque of white fluted peaks and glaciers.
Gho is a proper village, with fields of buckwheat and millet, and flower gardens and we stayed at a lodge with a warm solar shower…
After Gho, we drop down to Dharapani to join the Annapurna circuit. We stayed in gorgeous Tal with its waterfalls, pretty gardens and delicious food.
From Tal the first part of the walk to Syange is beautiful with the thundering Marsyangdi river in a deep gorge. After that we hit the road, and from Syange, we took a jeep to Besisahar. – and from there, by car, back to Kathmandu.

Kit Oi and Robert

Tripadvisor

Manaslu Circuit and Marsyangdi Valley, Annapurna, Nepal Trekking

We had arranged with Ramesh from Nepal Mountain Trekkers to do the Manaslu/Tsum trek as a part camping/part tea house trek. We had had Min (Sanjeev) as our guide before and specifically asked for him to guide us again. The team was very considerate of our needs and our comfort and we were well looked after. There were problems, which were out of their control – the weather was not settled and for the first part of the trek we did not have clear views of the peaks; there had been several landslips which made part of the trek difficult; and the main trail into Tsum valley was destroyed so that it was very difficult to go there. Despite these substantial difficulties, we had a great trek around Manaslu, and found the villages of great interest. They are culturally fascinating and we enjoyed conversations with people we met on trek, specifically Nyima from Gyap and Nyima from Samdo who are involved with development projects in their villages. Look out for solar showers in 2017 in Samdo, which are for the local people but also for trekkers and should raise some money for the community. It is inspiring to see again the resilience of the local people as they re-construct after the earthquake as this area was one of the epicentres of the 2015 earthquake. Crossing the Larkye La was not easy, but stunning and we have to mention Syam, our cook, who popped up unexpectedly at different parts of this walk to hand us drinks and snacks. That lifted our spirits no end! As we had extra time, because we had not been able to go into Tsum valley, we did part of the Annapurna circuit, went to Tilicho Lake, Moon Lake and Ice Lake. Here the weather was kinder and we got perfect views of peaks and blue lakes. As we came down again, we spent a night at Temang and saw the most fantastic sunset on Manaslu from there. Apart from the cook Syam, we wish to comment on Min who again was an excellent guide. When there are difficulties, he told us clearly what these were and involved us with making decisions about what to do. We would ask for him as our guide for a future trek. We also had DB (Dhan Bahadur) as our porter/guide for the Annapurna part and could not ask for a better companion. He is very helpful, and sociable, and very helpful when we found parts of the trails difficult. What could have been done differently? The main thing is that it would have been helpful to find out before the trek that it was difficult to get into Tsum and we could have adjusted plans in Kathmandu and got different permits, for example to Nar Phu instead. The Department of Immigration, who issue the permit for Tsum, should have known that the trail into Tsum was closed and stopped issuing permits – their colleagues based in the villages near the beginning of the Tsum Valley trek had certainly known for a number of days before we were approaching that part of the trek. Also on the Annapurna circuit the ‘road’ is having a significant impact. There is a real need for alternative walking trails to be made, maintained and clearly signposted. The ‘road’ has made it possible for the well acclimatized to visit amazing spots like Tilicho Lake in five rather than fourteen days. This means that the hotels and lodges in Manang and above are becoming overcrowded. Overall, we are very happy with the experience. We’ll just have to plan to go back to Tsum Valley another time, and would like to re-visit the high villages of Manaslu, and for a next trek, would plan to incorporate side treks, like walks to the border with Tibet. Thank you to all at Nepal Mountain Trekkers for an excellent trek.

Kit Oi & Robert

Tripadvisor

Amazing family trek with very caring, professional guides.

Our family came to Nepal and found Ramesh while we were staying at Hotel Horizon. He was incredibly helpful in arranging a trek that we could do with our 6 month old daughter.

We did an 11-day trek to Tsum Valley with Suman, Daljit and Ammar, who all took amazing care of us and our friend who trekked with us. The trek was ideal for us, since we wanted to go someplace with less tourists, and where we could learn about local culture as much as possible. We stayed in comfortable guesthouses and one monastery, and had wonderful interactions with our hosts along the way. Suman even helped us arrange a blessing with a local Lama in the Tsum Valley to pray for our family.

The views the whole way were incredible, the people won our hearts, and it was truly a lifetime highlight.

Thank you so much Ramesh, Suman, Daljit, and Ammar! Hope to see you again

Andrew G

Tripadvisor

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