Manaslu Circuit with Tsum Valley Trek – 19 Days

Tsum Valley — Tsumba, the 'sacred valley' — is a side branch off the Manaslu Circuit that stayed effectively sealed from the outside world until 2008. It runs north from Lokpa towards the Tibetan border, and the people living in it, the Tsumbas, speak a Tibetan dialect and follow a religious tradition traced to Milarepa, the 11th-century Tibetan yogi who is said to have meditated in caves here. The valley's most distinctive feature is a living vow. Under a non-violence covenant reaffirmed by the Tsumba community, the killing of animals is forbidden throughout the valley. As a consequence wildlife shows almost no fear of people — blue sheep and Himalayan tahr graze near the trail, and the valley functions as an unofficial sanctuary. The upper valley holds Mu Gompa at 3,700m, a monastery on an open plateau within sight of the Tibetan border, and Rachen Gompa, a large nunnery on the valley floor. Staying overnight at Mu Gompa, where the acoustics of morning prayer carry across the plateau, is one of the more affecting experiences available on any Nepal trek. The nineteen-day itinerary walks into Tsum first, which serves as excellent acclimatisation, then rejoins the Manaslu Circuit at Deng and continues to Samagaon, Samdo and over Larke La at 5,106m. You get the cultural depth of Tsum and the full high-altitude circuit in one trip. Both Tsum and Manaslu are restricted areas requiring separate permits, a licensed guide and a minimum of two trekkers.