Manaslu Circuit Trek

The Ganesh Himal trek, usually sold as the Ruby Valley trek, crosses the hills between the Langtang and Manaslu regions, west of Syabrubesi. It is a village trek more than a mountain trek: the route links Tamang and Gurung settlements such as Gatlang, Somdang, Tipling and Khading, with homestays and small lodges instead of the teahouse strings of better-known routes. The name comes from the semi-precious stones once mined in the hills near Somdang. The scenery is terraced farmland, forests of pine and rhododendron and high summer pastures, and the day over Pangsang La (about 3,842 m) gives the trek's widest mountain view: the Ganesh Himal massif close by, with Manaslu and Langtang on either side on clear mornings. Because the high point stays below 4,000 m, altitude is less of a concern than on the classic routes, but the days are long and the trail climbs and descends constantly between valleys. Facilities are simple, and some stretches see few other trekkers. It suits people who want a quieter route with a strong focus on village life, or who have already walked Langtang or Annapurna. Licence-verified guides you contact directly can arrange homestays and translate along the way, which matters more here than on busier trails.

📅 Duration: 8-12 Days

🏔️ Max Altitude: 3842m

📝 Permit: Standard Parks

This route combines two restricted valleys north of Gorkha. It follows the Budhi Gandaki gorge from Machha Khola, turns east at Philim into the Tsum Valley, a Tibetan Buddhist enclave of stone villages and monasteries close to the Tibetan border, then returns to the main Manaslu trail to circle Mount Manaslu (8,163 m) and cross the Larkya La at about 5,106 m into the Marsyangdi valley. The Tsum section adds about a week: Chumling, Chhokangparo and Nile sit on broad terraces under the Ganesh Himal and Shringi ranges, and the trail ends at Mu Gompa near 3,700 m. Back on the circuit the culture of Nubri takes over, with long mani walls, Samagaon's wide valley and views of Manaslu's glaciers before the pass. Both valleys are restricted areas, so the trek is arranged through a registered agency with a licensed guide and two restricted permits. Lodges are simpler than on the Annapurna or Everest routes, especially in upper Tsum and at Dharamsala below the pass. It suits fit trekkers with three weeks to spare who want culture as much as mountains, and who are comfortable with long walking days and one big pass. Licence-verified guides you contact directly can tell you how they pace the Tsum detour and the Larkya La crossing.

📅 Duration: 18-22 Days

🏔️ Max Altitude: 5106m

📝 Permit: Restricted (≈ US$222 in permits)

The Tsum Valley is a high side valley of the Budhi Gandaki in Gorkha district, close to the Tibetan border. Restricted to foreigners until 2008 and still a restricted area today, it has kept a strongly Tibetan Buddhist way of life: stone villages, long mani walls, chortens and monasteries, and a local tradition of not killing animals. The trek follows the Manaslu Circuit trail up the Budhi Gandaki gorge from Machha Khola, then turns east at Lokpa into the Tsum. Lower Tsum, around Chumling, is green and terraced, with views towards Ganesh Himal. Above Chhokangparo the valley opens out into wide, dry fields at over 3,000 m. The walk passes Milarepa's cave, linked to the eleventh-century Tibetan poet-saint, and Rachen Gompa nunnery, and reaches Mu Gompa at about 3,700 m near the head of the valley. Most itineraries return the same way down the gorge. It suits trekkers who want a culturally rich, quieter route without crossing a high pass. The highest point is modest by Himalayan standards, but the lower gorge involves long, hot days with plenty of climbing. Because it is a restricted area, the trek is arranged through a registered agency with a licensed guide; licence-verified guides you contact directly can explain how they handle the permits and the route.

📅 Duration: 10-14 Days

🏔️ Max Altitude: 3700m

📝 Permit: Restricted (≈ US$72 in permits)