Manaslu & Tsum Valley

What to expect:

A unique hiking experience in Nepal in October – circuiting the Manaslu, one of the mighty 8,000-meter peaks in the Himalayas, as well as exploring the Tibetan-influenced and remote Tsum Valley. We hike for three weeks in a region of Nepal’s Himalaya, where there is still no car road going through. A Nepalese guide and friend who I met on my first trip to Nepal is joining us. Surya has been a guide for more than ten years and knows the Himalayas like the back of his hand. This region is heavily influenced by Buddhism, which is particularly present because of the region’s proximity to the Tibetan border. At university, I focus among other things on religious city planning in Nepal and Tibet as well as religious art in the Himalayas in my South Asian Studies degree, so I am particularly pleased to introduce you to the architectural highlights of the region on this tour. On several rest days we explore local monasteries and holy sites of Buddhism and immerse ourselves in the special atmosphere of this place, which unfolds its fascination through the surrounding eight-thousand-meter peaks of the Himalaya.

Physical requirements:

The trek is fundamentally different from the hut tours in the Alps. While we hike on non-technical hiking trails, the difficulty of the tour lies in the length of the daily stages and the extreme altitude and associated cold that we constantly expose ourselves to. Please also read about altitude sickness in the Health section. We hike almost continuously over 3000 meters and up to almost 5200 meters over three weeks. It is very cold at night and in the early morning and evening hours and the sleeping rooms can also have temperatures below zero at night. Food at such altitudes is generally sufficient, but not as rich in minerals and nutrients as in the valley. You should have already done several multi-day tours in the mountains, have solid basic fitness and (be able to) prepare your body for the tour. You should have no previous health problems or known problems with altitude, hike consistently and steadily at your own pace, and be hardy against the cold. In addition, your physical condition should not suffer easily due to the simple accommodation and food in the mountains.

Service included:

• Organized trekking by a qualified Hiking guide and a local guide
• Luggage transport on the trek by porters (max. 10 kg)
• Detailed information material before departure on safety, health (i.e. vaccinations, acclimatization), entry & visa, etc.
• Online Info Meet-Up before departure including getting to know the group
• Individual travel advice over the phone if you wish to extend your trip
• A group of max. 10 guests (min. 4 guests)
• Airport transfer to the hotel on the day of arrival and departure
• 4 hotel nights including breakfast in Kathmandu in double or twin rooms
• Transport by jeeps from the hotel to the start and from the end of the hike back

Extra costs on tour:

• Travel to Kathmandu
• Visa (approx. 50 €)
• Trekking permits (approx. 240 €)
• Accommodation & food on the trek (approx. €25-30 per day)
• Showers, Wi-Fi and battery charging fees on the trek (approx. 2-5 € each)
• Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu
• Tips

Additional costs may vary and are for guidance only.

Accommodation:

In Kathmandu we sleep in a very nice 4-star hotel with a beautiful large garden in the heart of Thamel, where most of the restaurants, cafes and outdoor shops are located. Here we can prepare perfectly for our trek and end our time together after our return.

On the tour we sleep in teahouses run by locals from the region. There is usually a room where cooking takes place with an adjoining dining room that is heated and where people spend the day and evening. The bedrooms are usually twin or multi-bedrooms in the same or adjacent buildings. These rooms are generally not heated and are equipped with simple wooden beds including a mattress, a pillow and a blanket. Washrooms provide cold running water and there are usually western style toilets. Some accommodations offer (warm) showers at an additional cost. The higher you go, the simpler the accommodation becomes and there may also be simple wells and Asian toilets (directly in the ground). You often have to pay extra for Wi-Fi, if available, and charging power devices.

Food:

The cuisine in the teahouses is surprisingly diverse, from traditional Dāl bhāt, fried rice and delicious soups to pizza and pasta. Porridge and muesli are also very popular alongside the typical bread with scrambled eggs option. Only vegetables and fruit become less and less available the higher we trek. Water must be boiled before you can drink it.

Travel:

You travel individually to Kathmandu, where there is an international airport. The tour price includes an airport transfer on the day of arrival and departure. Nepal is an incredibly diverse travel destination and the Kathmandu Valley alone with its three royal cities, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan, and countless monasteries and temples is worth exploring for a week or two. There is also Chitwan and Bardia National Park with a diverse range of wildlife (including rhinos, elephants, tigers, leopards, etc.). I spent six months in Nepal in 2019 and can give helpful tips for extending your trip. Of course, Surya is also a never-ending source of knowledge on the trek for travel tips in Nepal.

To enter the country, you need a passport (which is valid for at least 6 months beyond the duration of your trip) and a visa, which you can get with most nationalities upon arrival at the airport in Kathmandu. Further information can be found on the Nepalese immigration authority website.

Health and Safety:

On the trek we hike up to an altitude of 5160 meters and sleep up to 4460 meters. Although we take a lot of time to acclimatize, some people may experience problems with the altitude, which at worst may lead to descending early from the trek. You can find further information about altitude sickness on the website of the UK’s national health service (NHS).

There are no special vaccination regulations for Nepal. However, a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if you are traveling from an infected area. In addition to standard vaccinations, protection against hepatitis A and typhus and, if necessary, against hepatitis B, rabies and Japanese encephalitis may be considered. It is recommended to speak to a medical professional well in advance of the trek.

In general, you can find out more about health issues on the NHS fit for travel website and about travel and safety on the UK foreign office's website.

Additional Infos:

I gave an online talk about my travels in India and Nepal in 2019/2020 that are available on YouTube:

Jo's solo travels in Nepal

Jo's solo travels in India

Programme:

Day 1 – Arrival
We meet at the hotel in Kathmandu, where we also sleep the last two nights of the tour, so we can leave any additional luggage at the hotel during the tour. In the afternoon there is the opportunity to get together for chats in the hotel garden. In the evening we go for dinner together in Thamel, where Surya, our Nepalese guide, also joins.

Day 2 –  Kathmandu
After breakfast there is a detailed tour briefing with a discussion of the packing list. Afterwards there is time for questions and individual discussions with me and Surya about the tour. If you still lack equipment or provisions, you have the opportunity to go shopping in the afternoon. Otherwise, you can use the time to pack and explore Kathmandu to get in the mood for the tour soaking in the special atmosphere of this city. In the evening we go for dinner together again.

Day 3 – Drive to the start
After breakfast we take jeeps to the town from where we start our trek (7-8 hrs). If time permits, we can take a stroll in the afternoon.

Day 4 – Day 22
We start our trek after breakfast. For a detailed itinerary that reflects the trekking route please contact me directly.

Day 23 – Drive back
After breakfast we drive back to Kathmandu in jeeps (6-7 hrs).

Day 24 – Kathmandu
Today is free time for sightseeing, shopping or simply eating lots of delicious food together. In the evening we end the tour together in a restaurant. Day 24 also serves as a reserve day in case we have to take an extra day off during the trek due to bad weather or slow acclimatization. Departure on day 24 is therefore not possible.

Day 25 – Departure
Today everybody can meet up for breakfast, yet you can start your travel home or onwards at any time.

Note that our hiking days may differ from the described programme due to weather and path conditions or the physical ability of the group.