Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek

This package of Manaslu Trek is 22 Days long. The number of days can vary depending on the routes and transportation modes, offers and packages you choose.

Guide is more than just someone that helps you with navigation, guide with knowledge of locality, way of life and also being responsible to attend to your other needs like finding you comfortable accommodation. Having a porter will help you carry your gears and belongings and you can travel at your pace while enjoying your trek. A guide can arrange for permits and TIMS for you and dealing with all other technical aspects of trekking.

Our daily trekking itinerary is 5-7 hours in lower altitude of 3500m and normally lasts from 3-4 hours daily on high mountains altitude excess of 3500 m. Steeper slope trekking is physically difficult than low latitudes trekking. This is a distant mountain trip, with long ascents, steep descents and straight roads after a straight trekking trails. For trekking, past hiking experience will be an added benefit, as it requires no technical knowledge and skills. Trekkers who can travel with a light day pack five to six hours a day at a respectable pace can take part on this journey.

Some days take longer hours of trekking so you need to be reasonably fit and ready for long days. Daily workouts and jogging a few weeks before the trip are a good time to enhance our endurance. In order to participate in the trek, all participants should be in good health with normal physical fitness and have a strong attitude, belief and determination. Before undertaking the trip it is very important to ensure that you are as fit to trek for long hours as possible. Before booking the trek, participants with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart and lung disorders and blood disorder should notify us.

The tea houses provide you with a bathroom attached to each room at lower altitudes. But the facilities are minimal as you walk upwards. 

Most of the time, you'll find a double room and a common toilet. Two beds with mattresses, pillows and warm blankets are available in the house. Single room is available on extra charge. Warm shower would also incur extra cost.

All the teahouses prepare healthy food and drinks. They serve both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. Also, alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages are available in the teahouses. Meat and Alcohol are not recommended during the trek. 

The internet service is available at lodges with an extra cost on Tsum Valley and on the Manaslu Trek circuit. You can contact your family and friends via lodges, but communication at high altitudes is via the safety phone. 

For any assistance during the trek, you will always be linked to Kathmandu's HSJ office. Often, the signal may be not very good before the high altitude, depending on the type of network you use. On your request, a separate local sim card can be issued for your good access to the connection (most of the places now have wireless internet services at extra costs).

Electricity for the camera and the handheld battery charge is accessible in the lodges of The Tsum Valley and Manaslu Circuit trek by charging all lodges. Most lodges are equipped with hydropower and some have solar panels. Water can be bought from nearby lodges and shops during a hike and boiled water can be filled at additional expenses. In the drinking water, a water purification pill is recommended.

You need Manaslu special permit with Conservation Area Permit, and Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) fees, Himalayan Social Journey will take care of all the necessary paperwork.

Please dont forget to bring your 4 PP sized photos for the TIMS and Permits.

Prior to booking the trek, you need travel insurance covering medical and urgent repatriation and helicopter rescue and evacuation costs for trekking members at high altitudes. Until you continue your trekking you should submit it to us.

The best months of trekking are Spring March, April and May, as the weather is bright and calm in these months and you can see high mountains, with Manaslu full of snow. Spring and May are the best months. Rhododendron is ideal for the spring season; all the rhododendrons turn into a wonderful garden and you can see them.

Autumn is another strong season for the Manaslu tour. The perfect months for trekking after monsoon in Nepal are September, October and November. During these months you have a beautiful view of the Himalayas and their people, because you can be part of Nepal 's biggest festivals in the fall.

Clothing

·         Trekking boots

·         Short-sleeved Trekking shirts

·         Trekking pants and jackets

·         Thermals underwear

·         Long-sleeved Trekking shirts

·         Insulating down jackets

·         Woolen cap

·         Trekking Gloves

·         Raincoats

First Aid

·         Diamox tablets

·         Sanitary pads / Tampons

·         Anti-nausea Medicines

·         Band-aids

·         Mosquito and insect repellents

Toiletries

·         Soap

·         Toilet Paper

·         Shampoo

·         Sunscreen

·         Moisturizer

·         Hand sanitizer

Accessories

·         Sunglasses

·         Sleeping bag

·         Cameras

·         Batteries

·         Water Bottle

·         Solar Chargers

·         Hot water Thermos

Important Documents

·         Passport

·         Travel Permits

There will be two people accommodated in each room for the duration of the tour. If you prefer private accommodation, you'll find the option for "single supplement" of USD 300. Important:  Please note that during the trek there are some lodges which won't have sufficient rooms to provide private accommodation. So, even if you purchase single supplement you will end up sharing a room for some days of the trek.

Indeed, it is secure and not risky trek. While there is always the possibility of avalanche because it is in mountainous areas, this is usually not dangerous. It's not a complex walk, the pitch is not rough, no tough moves, no sharp hits. That said, accidents can occur on any walk, so caution is of course required. A responsive acclimatization is important.

Yes, Himalayan Social Journey is flexible travel partner. It is possible to organize the private trip or private group trip to Manaslu. The minimum people for the group is 2 however supplementary charge will be applicable for the solo traveler wanting to do private trip.

You will also have the option to share the room with another solo traveler depending on your and their consent and interest.

In the average, you will be walking for 5-6 hours each day during the Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley Trek.

Insurance of the guide and porter is covered by the company. All our guides and porters are properly insured.

Yes, children are allowed to do the trek, however it is safe to not bring children under the age of 12 to do the trek as they may find it difficult and not able to walk. This could affect your trekking experience as well.

No, there is no age limit to do the trek. If the person is healthy and physically fit, they can do the trek.

Liquid needs and usage of our body is about 3-5 liters a day (13-21 cups). Several findings suggest that drinking carbohydrate and electrolytes (such as sports drinks) in a liquid is safer than moisturizing water at altitude alone. There is also a study done on the effect of tea in reducing the fatigue and mood boosting. Results have been positive. This being said apart from water, you can drink green tea, masala tea, and ginger tea and garlic soup.

The Tap water supplied along the trails are considered safe for drinking and local people drink it without treating, however for the foreigners, it is best that the tap water be only drunk after purification. There are two good options for having proper drinking water during the trek. You can bring water purification tablets or fill your bottle for a nominal fee from the recognized and regulated "pure water" stations along the trek. As the last alternative, you can also purchase bottled water at the lodges but this is not recommended. It is very important that you drink at least 3 - 4 liters of pure water daily during the trek.

You may have to apply and obtain necessary TIMS and Permits yourself if you are trekking solo or independently. If you are hiring trekking agency or guide, this will be taken care for you.

No, the company does not provide trekking poles, you will have to manage it on your own or our guide can help you buy it when you are in Nepal. The pair of trekking poles cost from $10-$15.

Yes, we do provide sleeping bags. The sleeping bags we provide are of good quality. They help you sustain the colder climate in Nepali mountains up to -25 degree Celsius of temperature. However if you need the one of your own, you can buy one here. Your guide shall assist you to get it here. Keep the track of the weather forecast of the area and pack your clothes accordingly. This would help you be prepared for the type of weather Nepali Mountains are accustomed to.

There are three ways to get a visa for Nepal

• Visa on arrival: You can get a visa on arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu or other designated entry points. The visa fee is USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days, or USD 125 for 90 days.
• Online application: You can apply for a visa online through the Nepal Immigration website. https://nepaliport.immigration.gov.np .The visa fee is the same as for visa on arrival.
• Nepalese Embassy or Consulate: You can also apply for a visa at a Nepalese Embassy or Consulate in your home country. The visa fee may be different, so check with the embassy or consulate.

Visa requirements

• Passport valid for at least six months from your planned entry date into Nepal.
• Visa application form.
• Passport-sized photo (Bring 4 )

Gratis Visa (Visa for Free)

Gratis Visa is issued free of cost in case of following categories of Visa applicants:

• Children below 10 years except US citizens
• Up to 30 days for SAARC Citizen - Bangladesh , Bhutan, India , Maldives , Pakistan , Sri-Lanka  (except Afghanistan) visiting Nepal for the first time in a given visa Year. Afghan citizen are eligible for Gratis Visa on Arrival only upon the recommendation of Department of Immigration. If you are an Afghan citizen, you can request concerned institution inviting you to Nepal for necessary paperwork with Department of Immigration to get you Gratis Visa 'On Arrival'.
• Non Residential Nepalese(NRN) card holder ( issued by MoFA /Nepalese diplomatic missions abroad)
• Chinese Nationals for 150 days

Nationals of following countries are requested to acquire Visa prior their arrival from their nearby Diplomatic missions (Embassies/consulates) of Nepal Government.

1. NigeriaGhana
2. Zimbabwe
3. Swaziland
4. Cameroon
5. Somalia
6. Liberia
7. Ethiopia
8. Iraq
9. Palestine
10. Afghanistan
11. Syria
12. Refugees with travel document

If your passport is not valid for at least six months, you will need to renew your passport before you travel to Nepal. You can renew your passport at your local passport office. The process of renewing your passport can take several weeks, so it is important to start the process early.

By air:

Nepal has Three international airports: Kathmandu, Bhairawa, and Pokhara. Currently, Pokhara airport does not handle international flights. However, there are a few flights to Bhairawa from few countries. The main international airport in Nepal is Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), located in Kathmandu. You can search TIA airport to book your International flight.

By land: There are multiple land entry points along the borders of Nepal, India, and China. These entry points include Kakarvitta, Birgunj, Bhairahawa, Nepalganj, Dhangadhi, Mahendranagar, and Kerung(china boarder)

If you've booked a multiday tour or trekking package with Himalayan Social Journey, we'll pick you up from the airport. Upon arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, our representative will be there to greet you with a sign displaying your name and our company's name. We'll then take you to your pre-booked hotel.

To make the pick-up process smooth, kindly share your flight details, including flight number and arrival time. If there are any changes to your arrival plans, please inform us as soon as possible so we can arrange your pick-up accordingly. Travel with us for a hassle-free experience!

Please keep this thing in your mind that there are some airport touts and scam artists who take advantage of tourists. They might offer to carry your luggage and they want a large amount of money. Sometimes they intimidate our drivers and even take away their signs. Anyway...if you want someone to help you with your luggage you can give them NOT MORE THAN 1 - 2 DOLLARS. This is a small hassle that tourists sometimes face upon arrival at the airport. Do not stress about this but just be aware not to give more than a few dollars for their luggage handling if you choose to take someone's services. Nepalese in general are very kind and hospitable people.

The official currency of Nepal is the Nepalese rupee (NPR). Major foreign currencies such as USD, AUD, and EURO are accepted for VISA.

There are plenty of ATMs in these major cities, so you can easily withdraw cash from your foreign currency bank account. Credit cards are also accepted in some shops and restaurants, but they are not as widely accepted as cash.

On the trek, you will only need to use Nepali rupees. You can exchange your foreign currency for Nepali rupees at your hotel, money exchanges, or the airport. Himalayan Social Journey representatives will also be happy to help you exchange money.

If you have booked a trekking or multi-day tour with Himalayan Social Journey, the orientation meeting usually happens at your Kathmandu hotel around 4 or 5 pm. Our team will provide you with the specific details upon your arrival.

If you're arriving early or leaving late, please ensure to arrange extra hotel accommodations by contacting reser[email protected]. Let us know if you'll be extending your stay in Nepal, and we'll book your additional nights. Also, kindly share your flight details with us to facilitate a smooth pick-up and drop process.

When you book a trip with us, the standard accommodation arrangement is on a twin-sharing basis. This means two people will be staying in each room throughout the trip. However, if you prefer to have a room to yourself or if you're traveling alone, you can choose the "single supplement" option. By selecting this option, you'll have a private room during the trip, but please note that there will be an additional cost for the single room arrangement according to tour / trek.

For each tour date, there will be several separate groups, each with a maximum of 14 people and their own experienced English-speaking guide. During the trek, there will be a suitable number of porters available to carry your luggage. Additionally, if you prefer to do a private tour or trek with your own group, that is also possible. 

Nepal has five main seasons: summer, monsoon, spring, autumn, and winter. Each season offers unique experiences and weather conditions.

Winter (Late Dec - Feb): Cold temperatures, great for festival tours and special highlights.

Spring (Mar - May): Magical rhododendron blooms, ideal for trekking and peak climbing.

Monsoon (Jun - Aug): Low season with rain, but perfect for nature lovers and discounts on hotels.

Autumn (Sep - Nov): Peak season, clear weather, and popular trekking regions fill up fast.

You can check the live weather condition via this website https://www.accuweather.com

The hotel in Kathmandu where you'll stay during the trip offers complimentary storage services. You can leave your luggage and extra clothing that you won't need for the trekking / tour. Rest assured, you can collect them once the trek and tour are over.

Don't forget to bring both TWO and THREE-pin travel adapters! If you don't have them, you can purchase them at supermarkets or electronic shops in Kathmandu. Our guide will be there to assist you if needed. You can get information about plug and voltage in below link.

https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/nepal/

Most places in Nepal are covered by mobile network providers, especially Ncell and Nepal Telecom. You can use data services for communication. You can buy a SIM card at the airport counter. There are also free and paid Wi-Fi services in most tea houses in Nepal during trek.

Here are some tips for staying connected while you are in Nepal:

• Buy a SIM card as soon as you arrive in Nepal. This will give you access to data services and allow you to make calls and send text messages.
• Check the coverage map of your mobile network provider before you travel. This will help you to know where you can expect to have good reception.
• If you are planning on visiting remote areas and need to be in connected on Internet , you may want to consider renting a satellite phone. This will give you access to communication even in areas with no mobile network coverage.
• There are many free and paid Wi-Fi hotspots in Nepal. You can find these at hotels, tea houses, restaurants, cafes, and even some temples.

If you would like to book extra activities such as Paragliding, Bungy jump, Mountain flight, Heli Tour , Bhaktapur Sightseeing many more programs. You can find updated price and program detail in this link: https://hsj.com.np/tourtype/daytours. You can book by contacting us at [email protected] For longer excursions such as Bhutan, Tibet, India, and any other treks also, we can help but please contact us immediately at [email protected]

If you have purchased a voucher from any deal company, please come in contact with us with the voucher code (redemption code) so that the voucher can be redeemed on time. Since we need time to purchase your domestic air ticket and make other arrangements, kindly confirm your spot with your suitable date at-least 2 months prior to the commencement of the tour. Your booking on a particular tour date is subject to availability of spots. You can redeem you voucher through this link too : https://hsj.com.np/voucher-redemption

A typical suggestion for tipping is to allocate around USD 50-60 for the guide and porter if you're happy with their service. However, the amount you decide to tip is entirely up to you, and you can give whatever you feel is appropriate based on the excellent service they provided during your tour / trek

Packing List for Tour:

Pack appropriate clothing for the weather conditions during your visit. Include comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and insect repellent. Don't forget essential travel documents, a camera, and any necessary medications.

Packing List for Trekking

Hiking

• Trekking Poles - 1
• Daypack - 1
• Backpack - 1
• Packcover
• Water Reservoir - 1

Sleeping

• Sleeping bag - HSJ will provide
• sleeping bag liner

Clothes

• Underwear - 3
• Socks - 3
• Bra - 3
• base Layers pant - 1
• Trekking Tshirt - 3
• Trekking Pants - 2
• Rain Pants - 1
• Hiking Shoes/ Boots - 1
• Gloves - 1
• Hat - 1
• Down Jacket - 1
• Wind Breaker - 1
• Sandles -1

Miscellaneous

• Sunglasses - 1
• Books or E-reader (optional)

Hygene/Saftey

• Microfiber towel - 1
• Toothbrush - 1
• Toothpaste - 1
• First aid kit - 1
• Medicine kit -1
• sunscreen -1
• sewing kit -1
• Soap/shampoo - 1
• Comb or brush - 1
• Period supplies - 1
• Toilet paper - 1
• sanitising gel - 1

Electronices

• Camera
• Phone
• Extranel Hardrive (optional )
• Head touch
• Power bank for charging Phone

Packing List for Climbing:

Clothing

• Trekking boots
• Short-sleeved trekking shirts
• Trekking pants and jackets
• Thermals underwear
• Long-sleeved Trekking shirts
• Insulating down jackets
• Woolen cap
• Trekking Gloves
• Raincoats

First Aid

• Diamox tablets
• Sanitary pads and tampons
• Anti-nausea Medicines
• Band-aids
• Mosquito and insect repellents

Toiletries

• Soap
• Toilet Paper
• Shampoo
• Sunscreen
• Hand sanitizer

Accessories

• Sunglasses
• Sleeping bag
• Cameras
• Batteries
• Water Bottle
• Solar Chargers
• Hot water thermos

Important Documents

• Passport
• Travel Permits

Peak climbing gears (HSJ will provide)

• Climbing Helmet: Choose a good-quality climbing helmet. Make sure your warm cap fits under your helmet.
• Climbing Boots: High-altitude, insulated, stiff-soled climbing boots.
• Crampons: C2 crampons that fit the climbing boots.
• Climbing Harness: Good-quality climbing harness.
• Ascending device or Jumar
• Descending or belay device
• Tape sling: UIAA tested a 220cm open tape sling or a 2 x 120 cm closed tape sling.
• Carabiners: 2 x lockable carabiners. 2 x non-locking carabiners
• Prusik loop: Best quality Prusik loop
• Ice ax: An ice ax with a wrist strap for climbing

If you cancel the trip for any reason, the 20% deposit amount will not be refunded. If you have paid the full trip amount and need to cancel, you will receive your money back, but a cancellation charge of 20% will still apply.

For voucher holders who purchased vouchers from deal companies, we must adhere to their cancellation policy. However, under both circumstances, we are flexible and can reschedule your trip for a later date. To cancel any trip, please make sure to provide written notification of your cancellation.

Sometimes travellers are unable to finish the scheduled trek/tour due to the various reasons or they ended up not completing the trek/tour for health or personal reasons. In this case please realize that we cannot offer you any refunds for unused days on the tour. You have to understand that our costs are the same as we have an obligation to pay our guides , porters, drivers for the time they have committed.

Our commitment is to offer you an unforgettable journey with the best services. We take our responsibilities seriously and conduct all programs in Nepal according to the rules and regulations of Nepal Goverement. If needed, we can provide alternative itineraries for a delightful holiday experience. Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns. We're here to help!