About Tsum Manaslu hidden Route
Manaslu and Tsum Valley are one of Nepal's exciting classical routes offering a variety of fascinating landscapes and different cultures. In the lower part, the trek leads through Hindu culture areas while people in the upper parts follow Tibetan culture and lifestyle. Spiritual places can be visited on the way for those who are interested to observe Tibetan Buddhist culture. Especially Tsum Valley has been hidden away for a long time and opened to foreigners only in 2008 many people there still follow authentic traditional lifestyles. Tibetan-style settlements and holy Buddhist places can be seen on the way.
After a scenic drive, the trek starts in Machhakhola. For several days the trek follows along the Budi Gandaki River through a green valley and views of the high mountain range in the North, before we reach the mountain areas. We will stay in tea houses all along the trek, which has improved a lot over the last years, with food coming from the local farms that grow potatoes, buckwheat, barley and green vegetables. The trek is moderately difficult and includes the crossing of a high pass – Larke La with 5161 metres.
The major highlights of the trek are spectacular views of Mt Manaslu (8163m), the world’s 8th highest mountain, and of the mountains around like Ganesh Himal, Siringi Himal, Simnang Himal and many others. Buddhist monasteries and holy places like Rachen Gompa, Gumba Lungdang, a Milarepa cave, Mu Gompa, Serang Gompa, Kalchhuman Lake (Kal Tal), Pung Gyen Gompa, and Hinang Gompa can be visited on the way and Rui-La at the Tibetan border. This long and beautiful journey conducted by Himalayan Ecological Trekking is regarded as one of Nepal’s best and still relatively untouched treks.