Manaslu Circuit Trek with Tsum Valley

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

The Manaslu Circuit loops around Mount Manaslu (8,163 m), climbing the Budhi Gandaki gorge from the warm middle hills, crossing the Larkya La at roughly 5,100 m, and descending into the Marsyangdi valley on the far side. Because the upper valley is a restricted area, trekkers walk with a licensed guide and a permit, which keeps numbers well below those on the Annapurna and Everest routes. The first days follow a narrow river valley through terraced villages, suspension bridges and stretches of trail cut into the cliffside. Above Deng the culture shifts: mani walls, chortens and Tibetan Buddhist villages such as Lho, Samagaon and Samdo, where yak herding and barley fields replace rice terraces. Manaslu fills the skyline from Lho onwards. Days are typically five to seven hours of walking, with two rest days built in for acclimatisation before the pass. Pass day is the long one: an early start from Dharamsala (Larkya Phedi), a steady climb over moraine to prayer flags at the top, then a steep descent to Bimthang. The trek suits walkers with some multi-day hiking behind them who are comfortable with basic teahouses and cold nights at altitude. No technical climbing is involved, but snow on the pass can make conditions harder outside the main seasons. A licence-verified guide you contact directly can adjust the pace and acclimatisation days to your group.

📅 Duration: 14-18 Days

🏔️ Max Altitude: 5106m

📝 Permit: Restricted (≈ US$167 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)