On our first day, we will leave Kathmandu by local bus and enjoy the scenic ride along the Trishuli River towards Dhading. The journey takes approximately 4 hours. Then, we will continue on a rough road to Arughat, followed by a local jeep ride to our final destination for the day, Dhoban. It takes approximately 5 hours. You also have the option to upgrade to a private vehicle for a more comfortable journey, but there will be an additional cost.

Today’s adventure begins with crossing a suspension bridge over the Budhi Gandaki River. We then ascend through narrow gorges, witnessing the dramatic change in vegetation from lush greenery to a more sparse landscape. After a long climb, we reach a sandy plain and descend to the charming village of Jagat (1350m). The village is known for its traditional stone houses and cobbled streets.

The trail continues with another crossing of the Budhi Gandaki River, followed by a beautiful balcony path overlooking the river. We pass through fishing villages and farms before reaching Philim, a larger town with shops and a significant school. Here, we settle in for the night at a comfortable lodge. The trekking journey took approximately 6 ½ hours.

Get ready for a day of trekking, with uphill and downhill sections as we follow the gorges of the Budhi Gandaki River, now a powerful mountain stream. We’ll turn right onto a picturesque pine forest path before crossing another bridge over the river, leading to Lokpa village. Then, we’ll descend with great views of the Shyar Khola River, cross a suspension bridge, and climb up to the village of Chumling. We’ll stay overnight at a comfortable lodge. The trek will take approximately 7 hours.

Today’s journey starts with a gentle descent to the Shyar Khola River and the village of Domja. We then ascend the right bank, reaching the first village of upper Tsum Valley, Chekam Paro. This village boasts a backdrop of the majestic Ganesh Himal, with peaks exceeding 7000 meters. The large houses with Tibetan-style interiors hint at the village’s rich history as a trading center between Nepal and Tibet. We will spend the night at a lodge in Chekam Paro. Trekking time is approximately 5 hours.

We will start our journey at the wide plateau where winter wheat and barley are cultivated, surrounded by the stunning views of the Ganesh Himal and its neighboring peaks. Along the way, we’ll see peaceful yaks grazing. A key highlight of the day is a visit to the Rachen Nunnery, which serves as a center for female Buddhist practitioners.

Finally, we will reach Nyle, the last village in the Tsum Valley. There you can visit the clinic of a local Amchi (Tibetan doctor) if available. We’ll spend the night at a cozy lodge. The trek will last for approximately 4 hours.

Today, we will go on an exciting trek towards the Tibetan border, with the ultimate goal of reaching the historic Mu Gompa monastery. Adventurous trekkers have the option to continue climbing to an altitude of 4000 meters, where they can enjoy exceptional panoramic views of the surrounding Himalayan mountains.

We will get the opportunity to explore Milarepa’s cave, an important pilgrimage site that provides insight into the life of the revered Tibetan Buddhist yogi. After our exploration, we descend to Lama Gaon and spend the night in the rooms at the monastery. The trekking will take 4-6 hours with a total elevation gain/loss of approximately 650 meters.

Today, trekkers should prepare for an ascent through forests. Our goal is to reach the peaceful Lungdang Gompa, a monastery inhabited by nuns. You will experience the tranquility of this serene environment, where you may spot birds, mouflons (wild sheep), and if you’re lucky, even leopards. Overnight accommodations are available in rustic rooms at the monastery. It took trekking time approximately 6 hours.

On day 8, you have two options to choose from:
Option 1: Trek to Ganesh Himal Base Camp

This challenging but rewarding trek takes you to Ganesh Himal Base Camp, a rarely-visited destination. The trail passes through beautiful conifer and rhododendron forests before reaching Landan Kharka. From there, the path follows the moraine alongside the Torogumba Glacier, requiring careful navigation on steep sections.

You will have the opportunity to witness the majestic Torogumba Kharka before reaching Ganesh Himal Base Camp, where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the entire Ganesh Himal range. After taking in the views, you will retrace your steps back to Lungdang Gompa for the night. This trek will take approximately 7 hours.

Option 2: Rest and Explore Lungdang Gompa

Take this opportunity to explore the surrounding area, observe the daily lives of the nuns at the monastery, or simply relax and soak in the peaceful atmosphere. There might also be a chance to interact with local villagers who occasionally visit the monastery.

Today, we will trek alongside the Lungdang Khola River, passing through Domje village. We then cross the Shyar Khola River and ascend the gorges on the left bank. The trail takes us through Ripchet village, a small plateau settlement, before continuing through the forest to reach Lokpa, where we spend the night at a comfortable lodge. The trek will take approximately six hours.

Today, we transitioned from the Tsum Valley to the Manaslu Circuit trek. We descended to join the main Manaslu Circuit trail and then ascended the right bank of the Budhi Gandaki River, following a long path through the forest to reach Deng. The trek took approximately 6 hours.

Today’s adventure follows the Budhi Gandaki River, which has turned into a rushing torrent. We’ll follow the river through narrower gorges before ascending to Rana village. The trail becomes more pleasant with a balcony section and we’ll stop for a delicious lunch break at Bihi village. After that, we’ll cross to the right bank and continue ascending through the forest. This less frequented trail might have you encountering loggers along the way.

Finally, we’ll reach Prok village, which is perched on a plateau clinging to the Himalayan slopes. You’ll see traditional houses connected by paved alleys and surrounded by lush fields of tender green. You can see the region’s diverse birdlife, including the majestic Himalayan Monal. We’ll settle in for the night at a cozy lodge in Prok. The trekking will take around 4-5 hours.

Many trekkers regret not taking the time to explore Himalayan villages more thoroughly. It’s a shame to go through the effort of traveling so far into the Himalayas without getting to know the lives of the people you encounter. Therefore, we’ve decided to visit Prok Village to address this. The Prok village is not often visited as it’s off the main trekking trail.

You can take a leisurely walk through the village to observe different stages of fieldwork such as plowing, harvesting, and grain sorting. You’ll also have the chance to visit monasteries overlooking the village, the local clinic, and the women’s house. There you will get an opportunity to purchase small handwoven bags. Additionally, you can experience dinner with a Tibetan-style family around the hearth.

Today, we say goodbye to Prok and head towards Manaslu. You must get ready to witness the first views of the majestic Manaslu (8156m) and Himal Chuli (7893m) peaks. The peaks dominate the Himalayan horizon. Our trekking duration is around 5 hours, with an ascent of 1040m and descent of 500m.

On this day we have an exciting option for those seeking an adventurous challenge. You can have an excursion to the Pungen Glacier, at a height of 4000 meters. This magnificent glacial landscape is surrounded by a breathtaking panorama of towering peaks, including HimalChuli, North Peak, Ngadi Chuli (Peak 29), and Manaslu itself.

For those seeking adventure, there is an option to reach Milarepa’s monastery, built by the revered Tibetan Buddhist yogi. Alternatively, those looking for a more relaxed day can follow the main trail directly to Sama Gaon. The trek takes approximately 6.5 hours and involves a 700m gain and 400m elevation loss.

Today’s journey takes us to Sama Gaon, a village situated on a small plateau at the foot of Manaslu’s 8000-meter peaks. You will witness yaks grazing peacefully amidst this exceptional landscape. We ascend to Sama Gaon Monastery and a smaller trail leads to a more prominent path that ascends towards Manaslu Base Camp.

You can enjoy a delightful picnic lunch with a view of the turquoise Birendra Lake, surrounded by the majestic 8000-meter Himalayan giants. The Manaslu Glacier flows into the lake, and occasional large blocks breaking off can cause the lake to overflow with a deafening roar. It’s advisable to stay above the lake. After our picnic, we’ll continue the trek towards Samdo, following the trail above the lake.

Samdo Village is a charming village that is home to naturalized Nepali Tibetan refugees. The itinerary highlights the opportunity for wonderful encounters with the locals, potentially through a local organization like Samdo Avenir. The trek takes approximately 2 ½ hours with an ascent of 400m and a descent of 50m.

Today’s trek is intentionally shorter to help us acclimatize to the rising altitude. We will ascend to the village of Dharamsala, which provides basic but comfortable accommodations. The trek will take about three hours, with an elevation gain of 700 meters and a descent of 50 meters.

Today’s journey involves the exhilarating crossing of Larkya Pass at an altitude of 5060 meters. This high mountain trek promises stunning views of glacial lakes and snow-capped peaks, making every step worthwhile. The challenging trek will span approximately nine hours, with an elevation gain of 650 meters and a descent of 1500 meters.

We will be following the Dudh Khola River to reach our final destination for the day, the Darapani village. This village marks our official entry point onto the more frequented Annapurna Circuit trail.

Here, you will find a wider range of accommodations and amenities compared to the remote villages we have encountered throughout the Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley sections of the trek. It took 8 hours to walk, with an elevation gain of 500m and a descent of 1700m.

Today is the last day of our amazing adventure. We will say goodbye to Darapani and start our descent towards Besisahar. We took a local jeep for the descent. From Besisahar, we will travel by road back to Kathmandu. This journey will give us a chance to look back on the incredible experiences and stunning landscapes we encountered during the trek.