Discover the hidden wonders of Tsum Valley and Manaslu, topped with a thrilling helicopter ride. This journey blends peaceful trekking trails with breathtaking Himalayan panoramas for an adventure like no other.
Destination
Nepal
Duration
16 Days
Activities
Trekking and Heli Tours
Accommodation
Hotel/Guesthouse
Meals
B.L.D
Max. Elevation
4800m.
Group Size
Min. 2 Pax
Best Time
March to May and Sept to Dec
Do you want to explore Manaslu and Tsum Valley on one trip? But have limited time? Well, we present to you the Manaslu Tsum Valley Heli Trek! It is a 16-Day journey that is exciting and adventurous with the combined thrill of a helicopter ride.
The trek has numerous highlights, especially a unique touch of Buddhist culture. Hence, the trek is ideal for those who have a keen interest in Buddhism. There are prayer flags, stupas, and old monasteries along the way!
So, why wait? Just send us an inquiry, and we shall arrange the rest of the trip for you! We’re ready, are you?
Interesting Highlights
Visit the UNESCO World Heritage sites- Pashupatinath Temple, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath Stupa, and Kathmandu Durbar Square.
Enjoy a bumpy yet scenic drive from Kathmandu to Maccha Khola.
Walk along the suspension bridges and enjoy the sounds of rivers and birds.
Cross small villages which have a unique architectural structures.
Interact with the local villagers and learn about their lifestyles, dialects, and many more.
Indulge in local cuisines like Tibetan, Sherpa, and Nepali dishes.
Explore the wilderness of the Manaslu Conservation Area and watch for endangered animals.
Visit Buddhist monasteries, gompas, and stupas along the route.
Witness the aerial views of the Himalayas, mountain ranges, the valley, terraced farms, and spectacular landscapes from the helicopter ride.
Route Overview
Before we move on with the rest of the overview, here is a brief route overview for the Manaslu Tsum Valley Heli Trek.
When you reach the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, you’ll be greeted by one of our staff at the airport. He’ll wait for you and will hold a Nepal Hiking Team display board. Then, we continue our itinerary with a sightseeing tour in Kathmandu’s UNESCO sites. You’ll visit Boudhanath Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu Durbar Square, and Swayambhunath Stupa.
We then continue the trip with a scenic drive from Kathmandu to Maccha Khola, then a hike to Jagat, Chisopani, Chumling, and Chokhangparo. Further, we begin the hike to Nile, Mu Gompa, and back to Chumling, Deng, Namrung, Lho Gham, and Samagaon. In Samagaon, we take a day to rest there. You have choices for short or long hikes. The full-day hike is towards Manaslu Base Camp. Alternatively, there are half-day walks either across the valley or to Birendra Tal. With this, we reach the end of the trip with a helicopter ride back to Kathmandu, bidding farewell to the trip.
How difficult is the Manaslu Tsum Valley Heli Trek?
It’s totally normal for these questions to arise while embarking on a trek. The Manaslu Tsum Valley Heli Trek is a moderate trek accessible for beginners and experienced trekkers.
The terrains are rocky and are mixed with steep uphill and downhill. However, with daily cardio exercises and a healthy diet, you can trek in the Manaslu region easily. Moreover, on the way back, you’ll be hopping on a helicopter ride instead of retracing the route. Hence, this will make the hike much easier.
Second of all comes the altitude level. In the trek, the most high-level altitude that you’ll reach is 4800m at Manaslu Base Camp. At this level, there are chances of acquiring altitude sickness. But worry not! This is where we enter! Our guides are well-trained professionals who have multiple years of experience. They’ll carry medical kits, measure your oxygen levels and make sure you acclimatize well to withstand these altitude levels.
Hence, you can be assured of your health and safety with us!
When to Hike?
Before booking the trek, let’s check out when is the best time for the Manaslu Tsum Valley Heli Trek. The best for the trek is March-May and September- November.
March-May belongs to the spring season, which is considered to be one of the best seasons for treks. Likewise, the autumn season ( September- November) is also the season adored by hikers. During these seasons, the weather conditions will be favorable for hiking, and you’ll enjoy the trek to the fullest.
We recommend avoiding hiking during the monsoon or winter seasons because the weather conditions can be unfavorable. It's best to stick to the optimal time for trekking.
Alternate Treks
Do you still want to look for other Adventures? If you want, you can check out some of our recommended alternative treks.
Let’s talk about the Tsum Valley with Manaslu Trek, a breathtaking 20-day hike that doesn’t involve a helicopter ride. This trek takes you on a journey through the Tsum Valley and Manaslu region, allowing you to delve deeper into their beauty, and culminates with a thrilling ascent over the Larke La pas at 5206m. However, it’s important to note that this trip is marked as strenuous and challenging.
Secondly, consider the Tsum Valley Trek. It is an 18-day journey that will leave you astonished and wanting more. You’ll have the opportunity to explore the Tsum Valley thoroughly on this journey.
Overall, the Manaslu Tsum Valley Heli Trek is a wonderful trekking journey. If you are interested in this trek, do send us an inquiry so that we can organize this trek for you.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival Day
NHT will greet you at the airport and bring you to the hotel.
Day 02: Guided Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing Tour
We will begin our sightseeing tour of Kathmandu Valley today.
The tour includes visits to cultural heritage sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List, such as Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath Temple, Pashupatinath temple, and Bouddhanath Stupa. Because of their distinctive architectural integrity, these historic sites evoke a sense of nostalgia. Enjoy the opulent palaces, literary quintessence, ancient priceless paintings and sculptures, and Nepal's brief biography.
Day 03: Drive From Kathmandu - Machha Khola (900m/2952ft) Duration: 8-9 Hours
We will drive to Macha Khola. The first four hours are on paved roads to Dhading Besi, the district headquarters of Dhading (1050m), but Macha Khola's segment will be on rougher surf.
Day 04: Machha Khola to Jagat (1340m/4395ft) Walking Distance: 22.2 Kilometers/13.8 Miles, Duration: 5-6 Hours
We will travel through the Tatopani hot springs after passing the Machha River and Khrolabesi. The path winds through the woods before we reach the Budhi Gandaki Valley, where we cross the Dovan Khola. The landscape changes dramatically as the elevation rises before we approach Jagat, white sandy areas along the riverbank.
Day 05: Trek Jagat to Chisopani (1660m/5,445ft) – Approx. 4/5 Hours Walk
We must complete the ACAP procedure in Jagat. We start today's journey by ascending over a rocky ridge to Salleri and then descending to Sirdibas via a flat level course. The valley widens slightly as the trail climbs to Ghatta Khola. Philim is a large village populated mainly by Gurung. The town is well-known for its Japanese-built schools and police stations. We reach Chisopani after walking past Philim to the north via a forest with views of the shrinking valley.
Day 06: Trek Chisopani to Chumling (2,386m/7,827ft) – Approx. 6/7 Hours Walk
We leave Chisopani and walk for about 30 minutes through the gorge, where we can see a large and stunning waterfall. This day is challenging because there is a climbing path that runs almost the road's whole length. We descend through the pine and rhododendron tree forest to the path that leads to Tsum Valley. Trekkers can see panoramic views of the mountains along the way.
As we continue our journey, we pass through Lokpa, a small but lovely village. It lies along the old trail. We must descend for half an hour to Lungwa Khola and then climb for two hours north through pines and rhododendrons before reaching Gumlung. We arrive in Chumling after passing the Siyar Khola, which lies in the valley's lower reaches. Chumling lies on the south face of the Shingri Himal, with a stunning view of the Shringi Himal. You can also tour the old Chumling Gompa and the village's stone streets.
Day 07: Trek Chumling to Chokhangparo (3,010m/9,903ft) – Approx. 4/5 Hours Walk
Today, after breakfast in Chumling, we begin our walk to Chokhangparo by crossing the river's suspension bridge on the opposite bank
The breathtaking views of the valley and Ganesh Himal more than compensate for today's walk. Then we travel across fertile agricultural land rich in maize and potatoes. The houses are traditional Tibetan, with firewood barricades on the roofs but no flat roofs since it rains and snows here. Cross a massive slip where rocks and floodwaters cleared the field even up onto the opposite bank, killing five people in 1999, but a forest of new trees now replaces it. Spectacular views of Ganesh Himal and long suspension bridges on the way up the valley to the east are visible.
We climb for over two hours on a well-graded but exposed trail to upper Tsum and the enter villages of Chokhangparo, stone houses with a few iron roofs nestled under cliffs, passing through Rainjam crossing Serpu Khola. Chokhangparo is a flat land village comprised of two towns, Chokhang and Paro. The region follows Tibetan Buddhism; thus, you will see the influence of Tibetan Buddhism prevalent in Nepal. If weather permits, you will see a splendid view of Himalchuli (7893m) and Ganesh Himal (7140m).
Day 08: Trek Chokhangparo to Nile (3,361m/11,058ft) – Approx. 5/6 Hours Walk
When you climb from Chokhangparo, you may experience symptoms of altitude sickness. As a result, we recommend that you take care and drink lots of water to stay hydrated. We travel east, passing through small villages and a local school. The beautiful view here brings our trek to a halt in honor of the beautiful nature. We gradually ascend over a chorten mountain, passing Lama Gaon (3202m) through the flat fields, looking across the vast crops field and river to the massive courtyard of the Rachen Gompa/ Nunnery Gompa (3240m) with excellent pilgrim accommodation. The Himalayan Thar dominated these terrains; hence you will get to see them a lot. The people speak Tsumba, which is similar to the Tibetan language. We can also pay a brief visit before crossing the Shiyar Khola, passing through the hamlets of Phurbe (3251m) and Pangdun (3258m). We'll also go through an unusual round stupa before arriving at the larger village of Chhule (3347m) via an impressive entrance gate.
Then we pass through the well-kept villages of Lar (micro hydropower), Phurbe, and Pangdun. We exit the old historic Buddha Stupa in a way that crosses the town of Chhule. The children here all wear chubas, which are Tibetan dressing gowns. Also, you will see many yaks grazing around the place.
Upstream to cross the bridge and ascend to the Nile (pronounced Nee-lay). In the upper Tsum valley, the Nile is the last village to the north. This village has a significant number of households and lies on the Shiar Khola banks. Both towns are typical, with livestock compounds built into the houses and protected huts to dry crops.
Day 09: Nile to Mu Gompa (3,700m/12,174ft) Day Hike, 6-7 Hours
We're getting close to the Tibetan border now. Trek through Tibetan landscapes to the valley's west bank. Climb to the top of the Mu Gompa. This Mu Gompa is the region's largest monastery. Mu Gompa lies at the highest and most isolated point in the Tsum Valley.
Day 10: Trek Back To Chumling
Leaving the charm of Tsum valley, we retrace our route back to Chumling.
Day 11: Trek to Deng (1,860m/6100ft) Duration: 7 to 8 Hours
We climb steeply up onto a beautiful trail before descending to cross the water. We go through a few small towns before ascending to an impressive valley. There, we come across Mani stones (prayer stones) cut into roadside cliffs, suggesting that we have reached Tibetan territory. We take a two-hour round trip excursion to the remote settlement of Prok in the afternoon.
Day 12: Trek from Namrung to Lho Gham (3180m/10430ft) Duration: 3-4 Hours
We continue our journey from Namrung. The trek eventually ascends into the alpine, where you'll catch the first sight of Mt. Manaslu and Manaslu north. After this, on the route, many locals dress in chubas.
Day 13: Trek to Samagaon (3500m/11480ft) Duration: 6 Hours
After Lho, we walk through the stone gate and the village's long Mani stone wall, with a perfect view of Peak 29 ahead. You can take a side trip to Pungen from here to get a close-up view of Manaslu. The trail leads the Pungen lateral moraine towards Sama.
It takes another 20 minutes to get to Sama Gompa for the night.
Day 14: Explore Around Samagaun
Explore/Sightseeing. You have choices for short or long hikes. The full-day hike is towards Manaslu Base Camp (approximately a 6-7 hour round trip). Alternatively, there are half-day walks either across the valley or to Birendra Tal.
Day 15: Heli Flight Back in Kathmandu
Today, we take an exciting heli flight back to Kathmandu. From the flight, capture the aerial view of mountains and deep gorges in your mind.
Day 16: Departure/Adventure Ends
Nepal Hiking Team's representative will drop you off at the airport approximately 3 hours before your scheduled flight.
If the above Manaslu Tsum Valley Heli Trek itinerary does not meet your needs, we can design individualized travel plans based on your preferences and specifications.
All ground transportation by private vehicle, including airport transfers
Three nights’ accommodation with breakfast at a 3-star category hotel in Kathmandu
Full-day guided tours of Kathmandu, including entry fee, tour guide, and transportation
Full board meals with tea/coffee (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) during the trek
Best available twin sharing lodge to lodge for accommodation during the trek
Private Heli Shuttle from Samagaun to Kathmandu as per itinerary.
One highly experienced, helpful, and friendly guide, porter (1 porter for two people) and their food, accommodation, salary, equipment, and accidental insurance for all staff
Manaslu and Tsum valley special trekking permits as well as Annapurna and Manaslu conservation fees.
Down jacket and sleeping bag use while trekking, if required.
Duffle bag for trekking, it is to put your trekking belongings
Nepal Hiking Team T-shirt, trekking map, and trip achievement certificate
First aid medical kit with the provision of Oximeter to monitor oxygen level and heartbeat
Government taxes and office service charge
Cost Excludes
Meals not specified in the ‘Meal Inclusions’ in the itinerary.’
Travel insurance
International airfare
Nepal entry visa: you can obtain a passport quickly upon your arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu. (a multiple-entry tourist visa suitable for 30 days can be obtained by paying the US $ 50 or equivalent foreign currency. Similarly, multiple-entry tourist visas for 90 days can be obtained by paying the US $ 100. Please bring two copies of passport-size photos.)
Cold drinks, bottled or boiled water, snacks, and other personal expenses
Hot shower during the trek
Personal trekking equipment
Tips and gratuities for trekking staff and drivers
Manaslu Tsum Valley Heli Trek Route Map
Travellers‘ Reviews
Read our genuine feedback from past travelers with Nepal Hiking Team sourced from TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook, and Trustpilot.
Great experience during Manaslu Circuit
We completed the total 12-day Manaslu Circuit Trek, which was absolutely incredible! Our guide, Dip, shared with us a lot about the region and both Nepalese and Tibetan cultures, adding a whole extra dimension to our tour.
Beforehand, we planned the itinerary so we had a clear idea of what to expect. However, Dip adjusted the day-to-day schedule based on the weather and our fitness level, customizing the experience to meet our personal needs. This flexibility made the trek even more enjoyable and a great experience. Allowing us to make the most out of our 12 days on the trail.
D
- Excellent
Ms. Dewi
18th May 2024
Manaslu Circuit in team of 5x50
We made a 14-day Manaslu Circuit incl. transportation from Kathmandu to the trek start and to Pokhara after the trek. That included 3 side treks to Himalchuli Base Camp, Manaslu Base Camp, Rui La Pass (Tibetan border).
We are a group of 5 high school friends turning 50 this year that reconnected after many years.
From the very beginning we got a very professional service from Ganga who was achievable, responsive, flexible, provided suggestion, etc. That standard was kept by him throughout and after the trek.
Our guide Krishna turned to be a unique young person. Perfectly organized, very responsible, maturely reacting to unexpected challenges that are inevitable taking into account nature, team and length of the trek. At the same time professionally relaxed and making good team spirit, ensuring everyone and everything is OK. We could feel all the time we are in good hands and could enjoy the unique experience. He also managed to organize on the way a few elements that were not certain and we treated them as 'best case scenario', like 2 nights in the Buddhist monastery being a base for us to make the Himalchuli Base Camp 1-day side trek. I myself made the Annapurna Circuit exactly 25 years earlier when we organized everything ourselves and had no guide or porters so in the beginning I was even a bit embarrassed how caring and committed Krishna and the 3 porters were.
Finally we all made the trek exactly according to the daily itinerary. That was a splendid experience that we'll for sure remember forever. Highly recommended!
- Guided by Krishna Gurung
- Excellent
Mr. Tomasz
5th May 2024
Manaslu circuit, a very Nepalese experience
Our group of 7*60-year-olds took on the Manaslu Circuit trek, including the challenging Larke Pass.
The journey was tough, and we recommend having a good level of fitness and preparation before attempting it.
A huge thank you to our guide, Dipendra! His guidance, knowledge, and encouragement were instrumental in helping us complete the trek successfully. Dipendra’s thoughtful suggestions and small adjustments, like a day hike to Manaslu Base Camp, were invaluable for acclimatization and boosting our confidence for the challenges ahead.
Well done, Dipendra and Nepal Hiking Team!
B
- Excellent
Mr. Brendan C
3rd May 2024
Manaslu Circuit & Larke Pass
What a trip it was!
Our group of seven trekked the Manaslu Circuit and crossed the Larke Pass, guided by Dipendra from the NHT.
Although we faced challenges at times, Dipendra’s expertise, deep local knowledge, and caring attitude made the experience enjoyable and successful for everyone. His commitment to supporting our group throughout the trek—and even after it—was truly appreciated.
A big thank you to Nepal Hiking Team, Dipendra, the assistant guide, and our hardworking porters for making this journey so memorable!
I
- Excellent
Mr. Ian C
30th Apr 2024
A challenging but rewarding trek- Manaslu circuit Trek in Nepal
Our group of 13 hikers took on the Manaslu Circuit trek with Nepal Hiking Team, and the experience was truly astonishing as we journeyed through stunning valleys adorned by white snow-covered mountains.
The Nepal Hiking Team managed every detail seamlessly—from airport pickup and a city tour of Kathmandu to transportation, accommodations, and meals throughout the round trip to Manaslu.
Our guides (Arun, Gokal, and Surin) were not only knowledgeable but also helpful. Their attentive care made the trek all the more enjoyable. A special touch we appreciated was the fresh fruit served after dinner each night.
I wholeheartedly recommend Nepal Hiking Team and look forward to trekking and using their services again in the future!