Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek

Meals and Accommodation on Tsum valley Trekking

This is a teahouse-based trekking route. We will be eating and sleeping in the lodges throughout the trekking. The lodges are quite standard in lower places but it gets very basic when we go higher. Most of the lodges will have a twin room perfect for couples, friends, or families. The lodges are very basic, they only provide basic beds and blankets. Himalayan Leisure, Inc. provides sleeping bags on request which is required for the trek.

The package also includes 3 nights of accommodation in Kathmandu at a tourist-standard hotel. It will be a private air conditioning room with an attached toilet / bathroom. The room comes with a complimentary buffet breakfast.

The package includes 3 breakfasts and 1 dinner in Kathmandu. Moreover, it includes 18 breakfasts, 18 lunches, and 17 dinners on the trek. The meals on the hike are going to be very basic in comparison to cities like Kathmandu.

Some of the meals for the breakfast are porridge, oatmeal, Chapati, Tibetan bread, noodle soup, eggs (boiled/scrambled/fried/omelet, etc.), toast, pancakes, muesli, hot drinks, etc.

Lunch items are similar to Nepali Dal Bhat Set (rice, lentils, curry, pickle, papad, yogurt, etc), noodles, pasta, vegetable items, curries, pizza, spaghetti, fried noodles, sandwiches, soups, egg items, slices of bread, Momos (Dumplings), potatoes and various deserts will be available.

The dinner will be similar to the lunch. Since we will have plenty of time to eat and sleep we can also order meals that take longer to cook such as steaks and grilled items. All our meals are served hot and fresh. The ingredients are locally available herbs and spices which makes the meals tastier and healthier.

Best Season for Manaslu Tsum Valley Trekking

The best time to visit the Manaslu Tsum Valley region is Spring and Autumn.

The months of spring (March, April, and May) are full of sunshine with the forests blooming with various wildflowers such as Rhododendrons. The skies are clear, wide, and open during this time. The early days of March are still cold and the Larke Pass can be closed due to high snow levels. The days start to get warm in mid-March making it the perfect time to trek in Tsum valley and Manaslu.

The temperature varies from day to day. It will be warmer in lower places and gradually gets colder as we go higher and higher. The temperatures in lower areas can be around 20C to 25C during the daytime and 5C to 10C at night time, similarly, the temperature will be around 15C to 20C and the lowest temperature can be as low as -5C in higher areas during the night time. The temperatures may differ depending on weather conditions.

The months of Autumn (September, October, and November) are another perfect season to trek in Tsum - Manaslu region. Compared to the months of Spring, the temperatures in Autumn goes lower. As monsoon season ends around the beginning of September, the days after monsoon are favorable for trekking in Nepal. The skies are crystal clear and the views are marvelous. This season is also famous because the majority of major Nepalese festivals such as Dashain, Tihar, Chhath, etc. are in Autumn. You will also have a chance to experience the festivals during these months. Nepalese festival celebrations are popular all over the world.

The temperature is slightly warmer in lower areas compared to high-altitude places like Dharmashala, Chhekanparo, Nile, and Bhimtang. In lower areas, the temperature is between 20C to 25C whereas in higher altitudes it can go up to -10C. The month of November is extremely cold as it's the pre-winter season in Nepal.

This particular itinerary to Tsum Valley and Manaslu is not possible during the months of December, January and February as it includes a day to cross Larke Pass which is not possible during winter due to heavy snow in the pass. Moreover, the lodge in Dharmashala remains closed during the months of winter.

The months of monsoon (June, July, and August) are not recommended for trekking unless these are the only available months for you. The days are full of rain and it will not be a great idea to trek during these months. The rivers and streams will have higher water flow and there are risks of landslides and flooding which may close the trail. Unless you cannot manage other months to trek, we do not recommend you select the months of monsoon for trekking in Tsum Valley and the Manaslu Region.

How difficult is Tsum Valley Manaslu Trek?

This is one of the most challenging treks in Nepal. There are a few reasons to explain why the trek is challenging. The first thing is that it's a 2.5-week-long trek which is not suitable for beginners and kids. It's not easy to walk continuously (6 - 8 hours every day) for that long without having a great fitness level, without previous multiday hiking experiences, and with young kids. We will be walking about 12 to 15 kilometers every day.

The second reason is its high-altitude trekking which includes a high-altitude pass crossing over 5000 meters. Walking at a high altitude is another very difficult part of the trail. This trekking includes long walks, steep ascending and descending, and rocky trails.

Even though no technical knowledge is required for this trek, trekkers with previous trekking/hiking experiences will add an advantage. Similarly, regular training such as jogging, cycling, cardio exercises, hiking, etc. will help you to train well and get ready for the trek.

It is recommended to avoid this trek for people with severe health conditions such as diseases related to your heart and lungs. It is also advised to consult with your physician if you have pre-existing medical conditions.

Group vs Solo Trekking

Unfortunately, we require a minimum of 2 people to signup for this trek as per the Nepal Immigration Rules. This is a restricted area of trekking and requires an organized group trekking from a Government Licensed trekking agency such as Himalayan Leisure, Inc. Individual trekking and trekking without a government-authorized trekking agency is not allowed in Manaslu and Tsum region. It requires special immigration permission to enter this zone which can be applied only via a licensed trekking company.

We are capable of organizing the trek between 2 to 32 people at once. Under special conditions, we might be able to offer services for bigger groups or even solo travelers and we humbly advise you to contact us in such cases.

Our Tsum Valley Manaslu Trekking price is based on group size. The larger the group is, the lower the cost becomes. We handle groups with all different personalities, genders, races, and fitness levels. We provide a leader and add assistant guides based on the group sizes.

Communication during the Tsum Valley Manaslu Trek

Mobile phone receptions are available on the trek. It won't be available every day but it's available randomly on a regular basis. Several places also offer separately paid WiFi internet service. The connection might not be perfect but good enough to keep in touch with your friends and family. It's recommended to buy a Nepalese Sim card to stay in touch with your close ones.

Himalayan Leisure, Inc. also stays in touch with our team members whenever possible. Our leaders send us regular updates about the trek, the conditions of group members, and our team and update us promptly if any unexpected event occurs. Not every village has an internet connection or cellular service and in that case, the team member will have to go to the nearest place to contact us in case of emergency. Unfortunately, that's the only option available.

Personal Expenses on Tsum valley Manaslu Trekking

Personal nature expenses such as hot and cold drinks, water, hot shower, snacks and desserts, WiFi, battery charging, laundry, and mobile services are considered personal nature expenses, and they are not included in the tour package. We recommend carrying USD 10 to USD 15 (equivalent to Nepali rupees) per day per person for your personal expenses. This amount will cover basic needs every day in a median value.

Battery charging is available almost throughout the trek at an additional cost. This may sound strange to pay for battery charging but unfortunately, it involves huge costs to provide electricity in such places and the lodges make minimum charges to use these services. In many places, it's a solar-powered service that may not work in case the sun is not strong.

Various options for drinking water are available. The best and highly recommended option is to use purified spring water which is safe for the environment. Bottled water is available in several places. Boiled water is available at additional costs but it is advised to use it only after purifying it. Water purification methods such as Steripen, Iodine tablets, Chlorine, etc. can be used to filter the water.

Transportation for the Trek

Free complimentary airport transportation in Kathmandu is provided on a comfortable private vehicle such as a car, jeep, van, or bus based on the group size.

There are a few different transportation options available. As per the original itinerary, we will be taken by a public bus to Soti Khola to start our trek. This will be an approximately 9-hour drive from Kathmandu. Kindly note that the transportation/road conditions in Nepal are not like those in developed countries. Among the 9-hour drive, about a 4-hour drive will be on a dirt / bumpy road but unfortunately, that's the only way available. Similarly, the trek ending point; Dharapani to Besisahar drive will be on a shared public jeep. This is an approximately 2.5 hours drive to Besisahar. From Besisahar, we will take either a minivan or a public bus to Kathmandu which takes about 5 hours. The road between Besisahar to Kathmandu is comparatively better than the road from Kathmandu to Soti Khola.

Staff for Tsum Valley Manaslu Trekking

We provide government-trained and licensed, highly experienced trekking guides with first aid knowledge. This ensures your safety during the trek. Our staffs are well behaved and maintain perfect relationships with valuable guests. Our staffs show an amazing gesture to the clients. Our staff are treated well by the company and are insured for NPR 1 million which is almost double the government-recommended amount.

Similarly, our porters are treated fairly and respected for their hard duties. A porter will not be allowed to carry more than 20-25 kilos on the trek and can be shared by 2 people if the total combined weight is below 25 kilos. Since the Manaslu Tsum Valley Trekking includes difficult and narrow path walks, we recommend our clients keep their porter-bag weight at a minimum and we recommend you not to carry unnecessary things that you may not use on the trail.