Manaslu Tsum Valley trek - 19 Days

You will arrive in Kathmandu at least two days before the trek. Please make sure you have an extra office day (weekday) before the trip departure date. We need one day to acquire a special permit for the Manaslu trek, and to apply for this permit, we require your passport with a Nepal visa. In the meantime, if you missed the online trip briefing, it will also provide us time to conduct an in-person trip briefing. On the third day, we drive from Kathmandu to Sotikhola - the trek start point.

We offer free Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) pick-up and drop-off service. Upon your arrival at TIA, you will find a Discovery World Trekking representative holding a pamphlet with your name on it. After greeting you at the airport, they will take you to your hotel in a private vehicle. While on your trip back home, our representative will transfer you from the hotel to the airport.   

Tsum Valley with Manaslu Circuit Trek includes 18 nights of lodge-to-lodge stays at the best available lodges in trek regions. Three nights hotel stay in Kathmandu before and after the trek is required but not included in the package. Kathmandu has a wide range of hotels for all budgets and tastes. 

Tsum Valley Trek takes place in high elevations around the world’s 8th-highest peak, which means your body needs enough carbohydrates, protein, and other nutrients. You will get enough nutritious food in trek regions, but you will have limited choices. 

We provide 19 breakfasts, 19 lunches, and 18 dinners during the trek. 

Some of the popular menu items are -

Nineteen breakfasts - Oatmeal, Corn Flakes, French toast with Jam, Butter, Cheese, Honey Tibetan bread or Chapati, Local Tsampa porridge, Eggs, Pancakes, Muesli Breads, Fruits, Vegetables, Hot Drinks (varieties of teas and coffees, hot chocolates, etc.)

Nineteen lunches - Dhal, Bhat, Tarkari, Tibetan Bread, Various Soups, Sherpa Stew, Steaks, Sandwiches, Momo (dumplings), Macaroni dishes, Tenduk Spaghetti Noodles, Thukpa, Pasta, Vegetable curry, Potatoes, Vegetables, Salad Pizza (Tomato, Mushroom, Mixed), Snacks (Papad, Prawn), Desserts, (Rice Pudding, Apple pie), etc

Eighteen Dinners - Dhal, Bhat, Tarkari, Tibetan Bread, Various Soups, Sherpa Stew, Steaks, Sandwiches, Momo (dumplings), Macaroni, Tenduk Spaghetti, Noodles Thukpa, Pasta, Vegetable Curry, Potato items, Vegetable and Salad Pizza (Tomato, Mushroom, Mixed), Snacks (Papad, Prawn), Korean Raman, Desserts (Rice Pudding, Apple pie), Hard Drinks, Steaks, etc 

We will provide you with fresh, hygienic, tasty, and nutritious food. The menu consists of traditional, Asian, and Western cuisine, but as we go up, the menu gets shorter. We highly recommend you take liquids - green tea, lemon tea, hot lemon, ginger tea, and garlic soup(must) at high altitudes in addition to fresh vegetable items.

Though plenty of non-veg items will be available at trek regions, we do not recommend them because the meat might not be hygienic. We highly encourage you to avoid dairy, alcoholic drinks, caffeinated items, and hot chocolates, as experts suggest avoiding such items during high-elevation treks.

The best time for Tsum Valley with Manaslu Circuit trek is from March to May and September to November.

It is a perfect season for Tsum Valley with Manaslu Circuit Trek. During this time, you get stunning views of Mt. Manaslu and regional glaciers. Temperatures start increasing from the mid of March, and with clear skies, snow peaks appear at their best. 

On the trails, you will find the rhododendron flowers blooming in a variety of colors. Winter snow melts away by the end of March, clearing the route to cross Larkya La Pass. Daytime temperatures in lower lands (from Sotikhola to Ghap) can reach up to 24°C, and in upper mountains (from Lho to Bhimtang) up to 18°C. The nighttime temperature in the highlands can drop to -4°C.

Autumn is also a perfect season for the Tsum Valley and the Manaslu Circuit Trek. This is a peak tourist season due to the favorable weather. Generally, the monsoon ends by the end of August. From mid-September, the weather is stable, and the skies become clear, letting you enjoy the stunning mountain views. 

Tourists also come to trek during autumn because Nepali festivals - Dashain, Tihar, Chhat- fall in this season. 

Daytime temperature in low lands (from Sotikhola to Ghap) may reach 25°C, and in high mountains (Lho to Bhimtang), it reaches up to 15°C. The nighttime temperature in high regions falls to -6 °C. From December, the temperature dips, and snowfalls start in high trek regions. The lodge at Dharmasala closes during this time, and crossing Larkya La pass is almost impossible due to heavy snowfall.

Tsum Valley & Manaslu Circuit Trek package provides a rest day in Samagaun (3530m) for proper acclimatization to prevent the risks of acute mountain sickness. 

Starting the trek from Soti Khola (730 m), we trek in low elevations for several days while exploring isolated Tsum Valley before heading to Samagaun. It provides plenty of time for our body to cope automatically with the existing high-altitude environment and helps in reducing the risk of altitude sickness.

Altitude sickness is preventable but can be life-threatening if you ignore the symptoms. Our trekking leaders and guides have extensive first-aid training and are well-experienced in the Himalayas. We use oximeters to monitor your oxygen level, and it helps in early altitude sickness detection. We guarantee that your well-being will be in reliable hands. 

Your trek leader or guide will suggest precautions against altitude sickness. The best way is to take your time while trekking and drink plenty of water - at least 4 liters a day. If altitude sickness is severe, the only cure is to descend immediately. Please note that your trek leader has the authority to continue the trek or stop climbing based on the overall condition of the team. It is essential to understand that some persons are more vulnerable than others.

Tsum Valley and Manaslu Circuit is a challenging trek. We explore the isolated section of Tsum Valley and spend a day for rest in Samagaun 3,530m before heading to Larkya La Pass to continue in the Manaslu circuit.

Our day-to-day trekking itinerary in lower lands (below 3500m) is 5 to 7 hrs, and in the high mountains (above 3500m), the trek is generally 3 to 4 hrs a day. We will take regular breaks to take in the stunning mountain views. 

Trekking at higher altitudes is physically more demanding than trekking at lower altitudes. This remote mountain journey involves long climbs, steep descents, and straightforward roads.

Past hiking experience would be an added advantage, although no technical experience and skills are necessary. Trekkers who can hike 5 to 6 hours a day at a decent pace with a light day pack can complete this trip.

Some days require longer walking hours, so you must be reasonably fit and prepared for long days. Exercising regularly for a couple of weeks before the trip will enhance your stamina. Please remember the fitter you are, the more joy you will get from the trek.  

To join the trek, all participants should be in sound health along with a positive attitude, self-confidence, and strong determination. Participants with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart, lung, and blood disease should inform us before booking the trek.

Due to permit requirements, we need at least two trekkers for this trip. If you are a solo traveler, we can form a team for you. Discovery World Trekking can handle all group sizes, and we add one assistant guide for teams with 12 or more members. If you have your team, the bigger your team is, the more discount you can get.  

Every day you will be rewarded with a unique trekking experience- enjoying the scenery, taking photos, and exploring the local villages. During the trek, our experienced, friendly, and qualified Sherpas/guides will be sharing information and historical facts about the places you are trekking. Porters will carry your luggage. However, we expect you to carry a small backpack to keep your valuables and important documents.

The day starts with an early morning hot cup of tea/coffee. After breakfast, we set off on the day’s walk around 7 AM to 8 AM, depending on the duration and nature of the day’s hike. After trekking for three to four hours, we will serve you lunch around midday while on the route to the next destination, and we continue after about an hour of rest. The afternoon walk is generally shorter- about two to three hours. 

Once we reach our overnight lodge/tea house/tent, we snack on the extra dietary food. Then, you can explore nearby places before dark. We serve dinner from around 6 PM to 7 PM. After dinner and before going to bed, you can indulge in friendly conversations and discuss the experience of that day. The expedition leader/guide will brief you about the next day’s plan. After this briefing, you can enjoy playing Monopoly, and cards, or watching available mountaineering documentaries. Most foreigners indulge in light and fun Nepalese language learning from our crew or read books before heading off to bed for a well-deserved sleep.

During the Tsum Valley and  Manaslu Circuit Trek, you can use internet service at lodges for an extra service charge. But once we reach high altitudes, communication will be through the phone.

We communicate with all our trek teams through the trek leader at least once a day to ensure that each trek member is safe and comfortable. You can easily buy a local sim card in Kathmandu, but the mobile signals may not be strong enough at high altitudes. 

Our valuable clients are responsible for meals and accommodations in Kathmandu. Kathmandu has a wide range of hotels that suits every budget and taste. In addition, trekkers need to bring personal spending money for various things -including travel insurance policy purchase, visa processing, snacks, hot (tea/coffee) and cold drinks, tips to the trekking crew members, souvenirs, etc. We recommend you bring cash (major currencies) and exchange them for Nepali Rupees in Kathmandu. 

Throughout the lodges at the Tsum Valley and Manaslu Circuit trek regions, electricity for the camera and mobile battery recharge is available but comes with extra cost. 

During the trek, you can buy either packed mineral water from local lodges and en-route shops or fill your water bottle with boiled water that you can buy in tea houses/ lodges. We suggest you use water purification pills. 

Tsum Valley and Manaslu Circuit Trek grade is challenging and comes with high altitude trekking risks such as - potential altitude sickness, landslides, and other unforeseen events.

Travel insurance is compulsory for this trek. All trekking members must provide a copy of their comprehensive travel insurance policy certificate to Discovery World Trekking before starting the trek. The policy must cover medical and emergency repatriation - including helicopter rescue and evacuation expenses at the highest trek altitudes (up to 6000m).

We can recommend insurance companies based on our clients' experiences, but we do not sell insurance policies. Trekkers are kindly requested to send their detailed insurance information once they book the trek. In emergencies, we will use your insurance policy and documents for quick and effective rescue and cover medical costs.

All foreigners except Indian nationals must have a valid visa to enter Nepal. On-arrival visa is available at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and at entry and exit points along the Nepal border.

A visa application requires a passport with at least six months of validity, one passport-size photo, and visa fees. The current visa cost is US$50 for 30 days which you can pay in cash (major currencies). Children under ten will get a free visa.

Citizens of China and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) get free visas.

Citizens from Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, and Afghanistan may not receive on-arrival visas. If you are a citizen of these countries, contact your local Nepalese embassy.

Visa regulations can change without prior notice. So please visit https://www.immigration.gov.np/ for recent visa information.

We recommend you add a few extra days in addition to your trek duration so that you will not miss your international flight back home in case of trek delays. 

Nepali Rupees (NPR/Rs) is the local currency.

(1 USD = ~ 130 NPR).

You can exchange most foreign currencies through local banks and legitimate money exchanges in Kathmandu and all over Thamel. These institutions display ongoing exchange rates visibly. If you are carrying INR (Indian Rupees), only INR notes of 100 and 2000 are legal in Nepal. 

Despite having the security advantage of a traveler's cheque, we advise you for cash exchange to avoid hassles like lengthy processes and high bank commission rates. You can withdraw cash (in Rupees only) from one of the many ATMs in Kathmandu and Thamel itself. Several of those ATMs are open around the clock. The maximum withdrawal amount from ATMs is 35,000 Rupees for a 500 Rupees processing fee if you are using a foreign card. If you use the money exchange facilities at banks and financial institutions, they charge a service fee of four percent or more.

The luggage weight limit is 9 kg per trekker. We assign one porter to carry luggage for two trekkers. Porters will not carry more than 18 kg of luggage. We expect you to bring a small backpack with you for your valuables. Please bring only the essentials to the trek. You can leave excess luggage at your hotel or the Discovery World Trekking store for free.

Discovery World Trekking guarantees client safety, security, and satisfaction. Your safety is our primary concern. We are always ready to face any situation and carry all necessary gear, equipment, and first aid kits. Our leaders and guides have completed extensive first-aid training.

If a trekker gets altitude sickness, based on the situation, your trek leader has the authority to decide whether to continue or descend immediately. We deploy a rescue helicopter to bring you back from high elevations (funded by insurance) in case of emergency. Further, we trek as a group to ensure everyone's safety.

We strongly believe that our environment has to be protected from the negative effects of tourism and try our best to preserve the environment. Discovery World Trekking works together with the Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP) to organize eco-friendly trips that meet the expectation of both travelers and local communities in trek regions.

During the Tsum Valley and Manaslu Circuit Trek, our well-experienced guides/Sherpas accompany you to make your journey comfortable and memorable. All guides have government-issued trek certificates and years of experience in trekking/hiking. 

Porters will carry your luggage. For every two trekkers, we assign a porter. Each porter will carry no more than 18 kgs of combined weight. So your luggage limit is 9 kg. If you require we can arrange one porter per person.

Our crew members are local people from the high Himalayas. So their physical endurance at high altitudes is very high. All our staff members are precious to us. We pay them well and take care of their insurance, clothing, food, and lodging. They receive medical care when ill or injured. 

We always make sure our staff members are happy as we believe that only happy people can make others happy. Our team members have: 

• intensive Wilderness First Aid Certificate
• government-issued Trekking Guide Certificate
• fluency speaking English and other major Languages
• conservation and Biodiversity training
• rock climbing experience

Nepali culture accepts tipping. Tipping is at the traveler's discretion and should reflect the quality of service provided. We advise you to tip collectively at the end of the trip. 

Discovery world trekking is a Nepal government-authorized and bonded trek and tour operator. We have been providing our services for more than a decade. Our company is a member of the Trekking Agency Association of Nepal (TAAN) and the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA). 

Therefore, you can book trips with Discovery World Trekking with confidence. We require a ten percent trip cost for trip booking. You can pay by bank transfer, western union, or online from our website.

We request you to email your other necessary documents like passport copy, passport size photos, travel insurance policy, and arrival, and departure flight details within a week of booking the trip.

You can pay the remaining trip cost in cash or by bank transfer or credit card after arriving in Nepal. Furthermore, we will also email you payment details and modes of payment.

It is best to book in advance but for those unable to do so for whatever reason, Discovery World Trekking has a special provision for a last-minute booking. In the case of a last-minute booking, you need to clear 100% of the trip payment 2 days before trip departure. We require one office day to get special Manaslu and Tsum Valley trek permits.

We do our best to operate treks at any time, but in case of last-minute booking, you cannot hold us responsible for delay due to changes beyond our control - such as bad weather or unavailability of lodging. Contact us at 977- 9840055491 (Paul) or email us at [email protected] for details.

After completing the trek, you may want to stay a couple of days extra in Nepal. During this time, we can arrange other activities for you - such as exploring places in and around Kathmandu, Chitwan jungle safari, paragliding, rafting, or canoeing. 

After the Tsum Valley and Manaslu Circuit Trek, Discovery World Trekking will host a farewell dinner. After dinner, we will provide you with a printed trek achievement certificate. It is also a great time to give us your feedback.