The Himalayas have been a part of mainstream media for decades. Movies depict harrowing adventures. Articles recount individual quests to reach base camps. Podcasts discuss the environmental impact of trekking. Instagram floods with photos of prayer flags and snow-covered peaks. People see the images, hear the stories and decide they too want to explore the region, be it the Khumbu Valley or the Annapurna Conservation Area. And so, they book a trip, pack their bags and head out seeking that which they’ve only experienced second-hand. 

The green hillsides of the lower Tsum Valley

Because of this, and the region’s growing accessibility, thousands flock to the Himalayas every year, particularly to the Everest and Annapurna regions. During peak season, the tea houses get quite crowded. On the trail you can’t go an hour without passing other tourists.

Women in the Tsum Valley wearing traditional Tibetan clothing

But, there are many alternatives to these highly trafficked routes, a region in which you can return to the heart of Himalayan exploration: Manaslu  and the Tsum Valley. From the interesting culture to its elevation, the route checks off all the same boxes as EBC or ABC while also, perhaps surprisingly, proving more trekker friendly. Here are just a few reasons to add the Manaslu and Tsum Valley Circuit to your bucket list.

Sunrise over Ganesh in the Tsum Valley

THE VISTAS

Walking into Tsum, the Ganesh Himal range dominates the landscape, its snow-covered peaks towering above. Yangra stands at 7422 metres, with a whopping 17 other peaks surpassing 6000 metres. Small villages sit at their base, only adding to their grandeur. The further into the valley you walk, the more you feel surrounded by quintessential Himalayan mountains. 

An elderly nun tending to a Gompa in the valley

In Manaslu, you’ll have exceptional and varied views of Manaslu, or ‘Mountain of the Spirit’.An 8000 metre+ peak, it is the 8th tallest in the world, and one of only three 8000-metre peaks that sits entirely in Nepal. At its top are two distinct horns, which give Manaslu a unique appearance, and one that changes dramatically as you circle it.

At the trek’s end you even have a chance to catch a glimpse of the Annapurna range. The final two days bring you through this conservation area, full of rhododendron forests, flowing rivers, and similarly massive peaks. 

Families farming in the Tsum Valley

To discover the remaining four reasons that the Tsum & Manaslu Trek is one of Nepal’s best, check out the complete article at Inside Himalayas.

And if you decide this trek’s for you, here’s everything you need to know to plan and execute a successful adventure!