I traveled the Manaslu circuit with a close friend and as two women trekking we had some concerns about safety before we arrived. Those concerns disappeared completely within the first 24 hours. From the airport pickup to the final day we felt looked after, respected, and genuinely cared for throughout our time in Nepal. Our guide was fantastic. He knew every tea house on the route, always chose the best ones, and called ahead on multiple days so rooms and meals were ready when we arrived. He was very attuned to our health and energy levels, checking in with us regularly and adjusting the pace when needed without making it feel like a compromise. The Serang Gompa monastery visit was one of the best decisions we made on the whole trek. If your itinerary includes it, do not skip it under any circumstances. It is a remarkable and very special place. The Manaslu circuit mountains are magnificent and the trail is far quieter than the more famous Nepal routes. The communities along the way are welcoming and genuine. For any woman considering this trek solo or with a friend, I would say go with complete confidence. We were looked after perfectly and came home already talking about coming back.

I did the 13 day Manaslu circuit and every single day was a highlight. The director Sandip answered every question I sent before the trek, usually within minutes, and made the booking process easy and reassuring. He covered every detail about the route, permits, and preparation and I arrived in Kathmandu feeling completely ready. Our guide Bashu was one of the most positive and caring guides I could have asked for. He checked on my health every day, explained the villages and culture as we passed through them, and helped me manage my pace on the harder sections. He was never impatient, never negative, and always found a way to keep the group feeling supported. Even on the toughest day crossing the pass his energy carried the whole team. The circuit itself is stunning from the first day to the last. The mountain views above the pass are on a scale that is genuinely difficult to describe. The tea house food, especially dal bhat, is perfect fuel for the trail and the local people are warm and welcoming everywhere you stop. Everything about this trek was more than I expected. I have already recommended it to several friends. If you are considering the Manaslu circuit, just go.

I came into this trek wanting everything organized so I could focus entirely on the experience rather than logistics and that is exactly what I got. The trip was planned carefully from transportation to lodging to daily scheduling. Nothing felt rushed and nothing was missed. Our guide Deepak Acharya was outstanding. He is deeply knowledgeable about the Manaslu region including its culture, food traditions, local communities, and mountain geography. Every day he added context to what we were seeing that made the whole experience richer. He is the kind of guide who genuinely elevates a trek rather than just leading the way. Our porter Samir was equally excellent. He carried everything with real dedication and with a consistently positive attitude that was genuinely motivating on long days. The Manaslu circuit is one of those places that shifts something in you. The scale of the mountains, the quiet of the trail, the warmth of the local families at the tea houses. I have done several treks in different parts of the world and this stands out as one of the most rewarding. Thank you to Deepak and Samir and to everyone on the team who made this trip possible.

My partner and I researched many agencies before choosing this one for the Manaslu trek and they fully matched everything we hoped for. Professional before the trek, professional during it, and genuinely attentive to every detail throughout the whole journey. Our guide Moti and porter Deepak were an outstanding team. Moti handled every situation with calm and real expertise, whether it was a trail blockage or an unexpected weather change. He knew the route completely and answered every question we had about the culture, the villages, the mountain names, and the history of the region. Deepak was always there, always positive, always working hard with a smile. Together they made us feel completely safe on every day of the circuit. The Manaslu region is truly unique. The local people are incredibly kind and the environment is unspoiled in a way that is rare anywhere in the world today. The views are on a scale that photographs cannot communicate. You have to stand in that landscape to understand what it does to you. We are already planning to return to Nepal and we will use this same team without any hesitation. A special thank you to Moti and Deepak for making this an experience we will never forget.

I arrived in Nepal not knowing what to expect and left with memories I will carry for the rest of my life. Our guide Raju was funny, warm, professional, and one of the most entertaining people I have ever traveled with. We talked about everything from buffalo farming to politics to his own life story. He kept the energy positive and light on even the hardest days. We sang Resham Firiri so many times on the trail that I still have it stuck in my head weeks later. When bad weather delayed our start, Sandip the director communicated quickly, offered flexible solutions, and made the whole adjustment stress free. That kind of responsiveness when plans change is exactly what you need when you are far from home. The scenery on the Manaslu circuit moves through so many different environments. The first days are through lush green hillside and then the landscape opens into massive mountain country. We had sunshine for almost all of our days. Above 3,000 meters we needed warm layers but the walking was always enjoyable. I would come back to Nepal specifically to do another trek with this team. Raju, if you ever read this, thank you for everything. You made this trip something truly special.

The level of organization I experienced was something I have not seen with other trekking companies. A staff member was waiting at the airport when I landed in Kathmandu and took me directly to the hotel. That same day I went to the office for a meeting and every question I had was answered fully and warmly. From that moment I felt completely confident about everything ahead. They provided a down jacket and sleeping bag for the higher altitude sections which I genuinely needed and was grateful for. At the end of the trek they also organized my transport to Pokhara, which I had not even thought to ask about. Every detail was handled before I had to think about it myself. The Manaslu circuit is one of the most spectacular and authentic trekking routes in Nepal. Far less crowded than Annapurna or the Khumbu, with genuinely warm local hospitality at every tea house and mountain views that never stopped being extraordinary. Above 3,500 meters the nights were cold but the gear provided was more than adequate. If you are thinking about doing the Manaslu circuit, do not wait. Road construction is underway at the start of the route and the lower section will eventually change. Go while it still has the wild and remote character it has today.

From start to finish this was the best trekking experience of my life. Our guide Santosh was exceptional in every way. He knew every tea house along the route, always called ahead to reserve the best rooms and pre ordered dal bhat for the group so it was hot and ready when we arrived. Every evening he sat with us and walked through exactly what the next day would look like, including what layers to wear and what terrain to expect. When any of us felt off he knew exactly what food to recommend and checked on us throughout each day without fail. We added the Serang Gompa monastery visit and it was absolutely the right decision. Do not skip it if you have the option. It is one of those places that stays with you long after the trek ends. Our three porters Binod, Sumrit, and Goman were incredible. Always smiling, always willing to help, and they genuinely lightened every single day on the trail. Binod went out of his way to help Santosh with meals and walked alongside us on many sections. We were a group of five and all five of us felt completely cared for the entire time. The company lends you down jackets and sleeping bags which was perfect for the higher sections. The pre trek briefing the night before departure was very thorough and we started Day 1 feeling fully prepared. The Manaslu circuit has views that I simply cannot put into words. Absolutely recommend this for anyone considering Nepal.

I have been telling everyone I know about this trek since I returned and I will continue doing so because it genuinely deserves a wider audience. The 23 day Tsum Valley and Manaslu Circuit route is the most complete Himalayan trekking experience available and Manaslu Treks and Expedition is the right company to do it with. Guide Sunil was professional, knowledgeable, and kind throughout all 23 days. On the practical side everything worked. Permits were in place, teahouse bookings were confirmed, the medical kit was comprehensive, and communication with the main office via Kiran on WhatsApp was smooth throughout. On the human side the journey was extraordinary. The Tsum Valley changed my understanding of what is possible in a mostly untouched high altitude community. The Manaslu Circuit section connected that cultural experience to world class mountain scenery. I did have a difficult day around day 12 when my knees ached so badly after a long descent that I sat at the teahouse that evening genuinely wondering how I would manage another 11 days. Porter Pemba noticed and without any fuss produced a knee brace from his personal kit that he lent me for the rest of the trek. The brace changed everything. By day 14 I had forgotten about my knees completely. The Larkya La crossing on day 21 was the culmination of everything and I reached the summit with unexpected ease having paced myself well through the long approach. Perfect in every way.

After doing the Everest Base Camp trek two years ago I wanted something less crowded and more culturally rich. A friend who had done the Manaslu Circuit recommended I look at the Tsum Valley extension and after finding Manaslu Treks and Expedition I went straight for the 23 day version. Best decision I made in the planning process. Kiran sent me a detailed packing list and route breakdown within 24 hours of my inquiry and followed up the next day to check I had everything I needed. Guide Ramsharan led our small group with quiet confidence through the entire 23 days. His patience with my many questions about Buddhism, local history, and the natural environment never wavered. The days in Tsum Valley were the cultural highlight of my trekking life. Rachen Gompa on day 8 during morning prayers with mist still sitting in the valley below was so beautiful I genuinely could not speak for several minutes. On day 18 during the approach to Larkya La base camp I started crying unexpectedly. Not from pain or fear but from some combination of exhaustion and overwhelming beauty that I could not fully explain. Ramsharan sat with me until I was ready to walk on. That kind of human care is what makes this company different. Porter Karma carried my extra layers that day and walked beside me without making me feel self conscious. The pass crossing on day 21 was triumphant. This trek changed something in me.

I chose the 23 day version specifically because I wanted more than just the Manaslu Circuit. I wanted the full depth of the Tsum Valley and the longer itinerary delivers exactly that. Kiran explained the difference clearly during a long phone conversation and his honest breakdown of what each extra day offered convinced me immediately. From the moment we left Machha Khola on day 1 to the final bus ride back from Dharapani on day 23 every single day delivered something new and meaningful. Guide Nakul was steady, wise, and deeply good company for 23 days. He knew when to push the pace and when to slow down and got that calibration right for our group of three every single day. On day 6 approaching Chhekampar I twisted my left ankle on a loose stone and came down hard. The ankle swelled noticeably within the hour. Nakul assessed it carefully, strapped it with a bandage from the medical kit, and had me walk the final section of the day at half pace with porter Dawa carrying extra gear. The ankle was stiff for three days but functional and I completed the full 23 days without further problems. Standing at Larkya La on day 21 with the full panorama of Himalayan peaks in every direction around us was the moment I understood completely why people dedicate years of planning to experiences like this. Exceptional.

When people ask me how my trek was I struggle to summarise 23 days in a way that does them justice. The short answer is that it was the most meaningful holiday I have ever taken. The longer answer fills an entire journal. Guide Susam was with us for every one of those 23 days and by the end felt less like a professional guide and more like a genuinely knowledgeable friend who happened to know every mountain, monastery, and village on the route. The Tsum Valley section from Lokpa through to Mu Gompa gave us eight days of cultural depth that I had not expected to find on a trekking holiday. The monasteries were not museums. They were active living places with monks studying, cooking, arguing, and laughing. Around day 15 during the Manaslu Circuit section I had a 24 hour period of severe nausea that I can only attribute to a combination of altitude and something I ate. I could barely leave the teahouse room. Porter Tenzin sat outside my door for much of that night in case I needed anything. Susam rearranged the following day to a short rest stage to give me recovery time. By day 17 I was stronger than ever and the Larkya La crossing two days later was everything I had hoped for. Manaslu Treks and Expedition treated every aspect of this trip with professionalism and genuine human warmth. I will book with them again.

I had read everything I could find about the Tsum Valley before arriving in Nepal. Travel articles, trekking forums, academic papers about the culture. None of it prepared me for the physical reality of walking through it. The scale of the Ganesh Himal massif framing the upper valley, the quality of silence in the early mornings, the prayer wheels spinning endlessly outside Rachen Gompa, these things do not translate into words. They need to be experienced. And the 23 day itinerary gives you the time to experience them rather than rushing through. Our guide Praldah had the gift of knowing when to speak and when to let the landscape do the work. On a stunning morning above Nile he simply stopped walking, made a small gesture towards the mountains, and said nothing. We stood there for several minutes in complete silence. That was the best guiding I received on any trek. I did have a frightening moment around day 10 when I had a nosebleed that would not stop for nearly 30 minutes. I was already anxious about the altitude and this made it much worse. Praldah handled it with absolute calm and afterwards explained clearly what had caused it and what to watch for going forward. Porter Bikash stayed close to me for the rest of that day. The Larkya La crossing on day 21 in bright morning sunshine was the physical culmination of everything. Kiran had told me before I left that this would change me and he was completely right.

I am 58 years old and have been trekking since my twenties. I say this not to boast but to provide context when I say that the 23 day Tsum Valley and Manaslu Circuit trek is the single finest walking journey I have undertaken in my life. It has everything. Remote valleys untouched by mass tourism, high mountain passes that test your limits, ancient monasteries with living traditions, teahouse warmth on cold nights, and a team of people led by guide Dhana Sherpa who treated our wellbeing as a genuine personal responsibility throughout all 23 days. The Tsum Valley section gave me a window into a way of life that feels increasingly rare in a connected world. The children in Chhekampar greeted us each morning as we passed through and on the last evening in the valley a local family invited our group for dinner. That kind of generosity cannot be organised or scheduled. Around day 17 on the long climb above Dharamsala my left knee began sending strong signals of protest. I had ignored early twinges for two days and by this point it was genuinely painful. Dhana evaluated the situation, adjusted my pack weight with porter Pemba taking more, had me use both poles, and reduced my daily distance for the next two days. The knee recovered sufficiently to handle the Larkya La pass without further trouble. Manaslu Treks and Expedition manages this route with care and professionalism. Kiran builds a team that genuinely looks after you.

What separates the 23 day version from anything shorter is the depth of time you spend in the Tsum Valley itself. By having more days in the valley you visit both Mu Gompa and Rachen Gompa properly, you walk between the villages at a pace that allows conversation and observation, and you leave with a genuine understanding of Tibetan Buddhist culture rather than a superficial impression. Guide Sunil made the cultural content of this trek extraordinary. He had studied the history of the Tsum Valley formally and when he explained the significance of the sky burial sites or the particular murals inside Mu Gompa it was with the precision and passion of someone who genuinely cared that you understood what you were seeing. I had a rough few days around days 14 and 15 with stomach troubles that slowed me down and made the evenings miserable. Sunil sourced the right medication from a health post in a nearby village, adjusted the next day timing to give me more rest, and checked on me every hour through the night with quiet concern. Porter Pasang took on extra weight from my pack both those days without being asked. By day 16 I was completely recovered and tackled the approach to Larkya La on day 20 in strong form. Kiran had recommended this route to me over a phone call saying it was the best they offered and he was absolutely right. A breathtaking 23 day journey.

I have trekked extensively across Nepal, India, and South America and this 23 day route through Tsum Valley and the Manaslu Circuit is the finest multi day trek I have completed. The length is genuinely necessary. You need time to acclimatise to the altitude, to process the cultural depth of the Tsum Valley, and to build the physical and mental reserves required for the Larkya La crossing. Manaslu Treks and Expedition handled the permits which are genuinely complex for this route requiring both the Manaslu Restricted Area Permit and the Tsum Valley permit. Everything was organised without any stress on our end. Guide Ramsharan had a calm authority that made every decision on the trail feel trustworthy. When the weather closed in above Chhekampar on day 9 he made the call to stop early and we stayed in a small teahouse run by an elderly couple. The hot soup they made that evening and the warmth of the yak dung fire remains one of my favourite memories of the entire 23 days. Around day 19 approaching Larkya La my altitude headache returned after a mostly healthy run and I felt genuine anxiety about the high pass ahead. Ramsharan adjusted our wake up time, ensured I ate properly, and kept the pace steady on the ascent. The pass crossing itself took 7 hours and was the hardest physical effort of the trek but Porter Karma was right there with extra snacks and encouragement the whole way. Exceptional in every regard.

The truth about trekking for 23 days is that there will be moments when you seriously consider stopping. For me that moment came on day 13 during a long relentless climb above Samdo in deteriorating weather. The wind picked up sharply and the trail became increasingly steep and I genuinely sat down on a boulder and thought I was done. Guide Nakul sat down beside me without saying anything for a few minutes. Then he pointed to the ridge line and said we were closer than I thought and that the next teahouse had the best dal bhat on the route. We laughed and somehow I stood up and kept moving. That teahouse did have exceptional dal bhat. Looking back those low moments are as much a part of the journey as the high ones and I am grateful Nakul understood that instinctively. The Tsum Valley section earlier in the trek had been spiritual and deeply moving. Rachen Gompa on day 7 during early morning puja was unlike anything I had experienced. The Larkya La crossing on day 21 was brutal in terms of effort but the panorama from the top was so extraordinary that I stood there for much longer than we had planned. Porter Tenzin had been steady and kind throughout all 23 days. Kiran sent a WhatsApp message around day 10 asking if everything was going well which I found genuinely touching. Manaslu Treks and Expedition delivered exactly what they promised.

I booked this trek eight months in advance after seeing a photograph of the Tsum Valley and spending weeks trying to find the right operator. Kiran at Manaslu Treks and Expedition responded to my first email within hours and over the following weeks answered every question I had about the route, permits, fitness requirements, and gear. His communication throughout the planning phase was exemplary. Our guide Susam was assigned to our group of two and he was perfect for us. He matched our pace without effort and was genuinely interested in ensuring we had the deepest possible experience rather than just completing the route. Entering the Tsum Valley through Lokpa on day 4 felt like crossing an invisible boundary into another era. The prayer flags, the mani walls, the yak herders moving slowly across the upper pastures, none of it felt like performance. It was simply life continuing as it had for centuries. Around day 12 I had the first nosebleed of my adult life, caused by the dry altitude air above Nile village. It was unexpected and alarming and I panicked slightly. Susam was immediately by my side, calm and unhurried, and within 15 minutes it had stopped completely. He monitored me for the rest of that day and we adjusted altitude gain for the next 48 hours. Porter Mingma had hot tea at every stop which helped enormously. The 23 days gave us a complete journey in a way that shorter versions simply cannot replicate. An extraordinary company and an extraordinary route.

The 23 day version of this trek gives you something the shorter versions cannot. It gives you time. Time to acclimatise properly, time to sit in a monastery courtyard and watch daily life unfold, time to have conversations with your guide that go beyond trek logistics and into real human connection. Our guide Praldah was one of the most interesting people I met during my entire time in Nepal. He had been guiding in the Tsum Valley for over a decade and his respect for the local culture and environment was evident in everything he did. He never walked past a mani stone without going around it on the correct side and he made sure we all did the same. Around day 8 I got my worst blisters of the entire trip on a long downhill stretch approaching the Tsum Valley floor. Both heels were raw by evening and I was quietly dreading the next morning. Porter Pemba noticed I was walking awkwardly at dinner and without any fuss went and found proper blister plasters from his pack. That small act of kindness made the next four days manageable. The Larkya La crossing on day 20 in brilliant October sunshine with a light snowfall from the night before dusting the pass was simply breathtaking. Kiran checked in via WhatsApp during the trek to make sure everything was going well which I thought was a really thoughtful touch from back in Kathmandu. Manaslu Treks and Expedition ran this flawlessly.

I came to Nepal specifically for this trek after spending a year reading about Tsum Valley and the Manaslu Circuit. I had done shorter treks in Nepal before but nothing remotely approaching 23 days. Kiran at Manaslu Treks and Expedition had communicated with me via email for several weeks answering every question patiently. On arrival in Kathmandu the team was waiting at the airport exactly as promised. Guide Dhana Sherpa led us for the full 23 days and his depth of knowledge about both the natural and cultural landscape was remarkable. He grew up near the Manaslu region and could point out medicinal plants, identify bird species by call, and explain the lineage of every major gompa we visited. I had one truly difficult moment around day 11 when a bad night of altitude symptoms left me genuinely wondering if I should turn back. I had barely slept, my head was pounding, and I sat at breakfast unable to eat. Dhana sat with me for 45 minutes telling me stories about the valley while making sure I drank warm lemon tea. He rearranged the day to include a rest stop at Mu Gompa where the stillness and beauty of the place completely reset my mood. Porter Bikash had tea ready at every rest stop. The views of Ganesh Himal from the upper Tsum Valley on a clear morning are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Twenty three days well spent.

Most people know the Annapurna Circuit or Everest Base Camp. Far fewer know about Tsum Valley and even fewer do the full 23 day version. I found Manaslu Treks and Expedition through a friend recommendation and after reading their website I contacted Kiran via WhatsApp. He was responsive and warm and sent me a detailed PDF of the route within a day. What struck me during the trek itself was how the pace of 23 days allowed the landscape to change gradually around you. You move from dense subtropical forest along the Budhi Gandaki through alpine meadows and eventually into the high desert plateau of the Tsum Valley feeling every transition. Our guide Sunil was quietly exceptional. He did not fill every moment with commentary but when he spoke about the history of Rachen Gompa or the significance of the mani walls stretching for hundreds of meters through the valley floor the information was precise and fascinating. On day 7 I slipped on a wet wooden bridge near Lokpa and went down hard on my elbow. It bled quite a bit and frightened the group. Sunil cleaned and bandaged the wound professionally and kept everyone calm. The elbow healed fine within a week. The Larkya La pass crossing after 19 days of preparation was exhilarating. Porter Pasang carried our heavy bags with tireless good humour. This is the trek I will be recommending to everyone for the rest of my life.

Twenty three days is a serious commitment for anyone with a job and a life back home. I went back and forth on whether to do this or a shorter version for months before Kiran called me directly after I sent an inquiry email. He explained what the extra days specifically gave you in the Tsum Valley and by the end of that call I had completely changed my mind. I am so glad I did. Our guide Ramsharan led us through the full length of the Tsum Valley and his cultural knowledge was extraordinary. He had personal connections in several villages and in Nile we were invited into a family home where the grandmother had never met a foreign trekker before. That kind of experience simply does not happen when you are rushing through. The Manaslu Circuit section added an entirely different character to the trip. The approach to Samagaun with Manaslu dominating the horizon stopped me in my tracks on day 14. Around day 16 I had a bad night with stomach cramps and spent most of the next day resting at Samdo. I felt terrible and honestly considered whether I could continue but Ramsharan made sure I stayed hydrated and brought digestive medicine from the teahouse owner. By day 18 I was feeling strong again and the Larkya La crossing was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Porter Karma was always cheerful and carried my extra weight without complaint. Manaslu Treks and Expedition organised every permit and logistic perfectly.

I had been planning a major trek for three years and when I discovered the 23 day Tsum Valley and Manaslu Circuit combination I knew immediately this was it. The extra days compared to shorter versions of this route make an enormous difference. You move slowly through the Tsum Valley without feeling rushed and you actually have time to sit with the monks at Mu Gompa rather than just photographing the entrance and leaving. Kiran from Manaslu Treks and Expedition spent nearly an hour on a WhatsApp call with me going through the day by day itinerary before I committed. He answered every question I had and a few I had not thought to ask. Our guide Nakul was outstanding throughout all 23 days. He was patient with our group of four who had very different fitness levels and always made sure no one felt left behind. Around day 9 somewhere above Chhekampar I developed a splitting headache from the altitude that I genuinely thought might end my trek. I remember sitting on a rock thinking I could not continue. Nakul sat beside me without rushing me at all, gave me some paracetamol, made sure I drank a full litre of water, and after 40 minutes we walked on at half pace. The headache was gone by the next morning. The Larkya La pass on day 20 was the most physically demanding thing I have ever done but standing at 5160 meters with Manaslu filling the sky was worth every uphill step. Porter Dawa never stopped smiling through all 23 days which says something about the spirit of this team.

I have done more than 15 treks across Nepal, Peru, and Patagonia and the 19 day Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley route stands alongside the very best of them. The Tsum Valley section from Lokpa to Nile and Mu Gompa is a completely different Nepal from the popular trails. The villages are quiet, the monasteries are active and welcoming, and the Ganesh Himal views from the upper valley are simply spectacular. Manaslu Treks and Expedition organised everything flawlessly. Guide Nakul had an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of Tibetan Buddhist iconography which made every monastery visit a genuine learning experience rather than just sightseeing. On day 11 approaching the high point of the Tsum Valley loop my breathing felt unusually laboured and I started to worry about altitude sickness. Nakul immediately adjusted our pace and arranged an extra acclimatisation stop at Nile village. After one full rest day I felt completely normal again and we continued on schedule. Porter Karma was always a step ahead with hot water and snacks at the right moments. The Larkya La crossing on the Manaslu Circuit portion on day 17 completed what had been an extraordinary journey. I told Kiran in my post trip email that this was among the best organised treks I had ever done and that remains completely true.

Sweden has some beautiful mountain scenery but nothing in Europe remotely prepares you for the sheer scale and spiritual atmosphere of the Manaslu and Tsum Valley region. I almost chose a shorter trek but I kept reading about Tsum Valley being one of the last truly hidden Himalayan corridors and eventually I could not justify missing it. Kiran at Manaslu Treks and Expedition was easy to reach on WhatsApp and never made me feel like I was asking too many questions in the planning phase. Guide Ramsharan was calm and thoughtful and clearly passionate about this region. The highlight of the cultural side was undoubtedly Rachen Gompa on day 8 where we watched a group of monks practice a traditional ritual dance in the courtyard. Around day 6 I developed a mild headache that I initially ignored but Ramsharan noticed I was quieter than usual and gently suggested we take a longer rest stop. That kind of attentiveness is exactly what good guiding looks like. Porter Tenzin carried our heaviest bags with an energy that genuinely seemed effortless. The Larkya La crossing in October with the first dusting of snow on the trail made for one of the most dramatic mornings of my life. I returned home having seen and felt things I will carry with me forever.

I knew almost nothing about the Tsum Valley when I booked this trek. I had seen a photo of Mu Gompa somewhere online and sent an inquiry to Manaslu Treks and Expedition more out of curiosity than commitment. Kiran responded within a few hours with a detailed breakdown of the route and what made the 19 day version special. After reading it I was committed immediately. Our guide Sudip Sherpa had done this route more than 40 times and his depth of local knowledge was remarkable. He knew individual families in Tsum Valley villages and we were invited into one home for homemade chang which we politely tasted. The terrain changed dramatically throughout the 19 days from tropical river gorges along the Budhi Gandaki to barren high altitude landscape above Samdo. Around day 15 during the Larkya La approach the temperature dropped sharply overnight and I had not fully prepared for how cold the pre dawn start would be. Sudip lent me an extra glove liner without making a thing of it. The pass crossing itself took about 6 hours and the panoramic view of Himalayan peaks on the descent towards Bimthang was completely overwhelming. Porter Bikash was dependable throughout and always had a warm smile even on the hardest days. An absolute five star experience from start to finish.

The Tsum Valley is Nepal best kept secret and after completing this 19 day trek I understand why those who discover it become completely devoted to it. The combination of the Manaslu Circuit with the Tsum Valley extension means you get both the world class mountain scenery of Manaslu and Ganesh Himal alongside an incredibly preserved Tibetan Buddhist cultural corridor. Manaslu Treks and Expedition arranged every detail from permits to teahouses without a single hiccup. Guide Praldah had an infectious enthusiasm for the Tsum Valley that made every monastery and village stop feel genuinely exciting. On day 8 I tripped on a tree root outside Chhekampar in the early morning before the trail was fully visible and twisted my ankle slightly. It swelled a bit but porter Pemba helped wrap it and I walked with a trekking pole for the next two days. By day 10 I had completely forgotten about it. The Larkya La pass crossing was the physical centrepiece of the 19 days. We set off at 4am in total darkness with headlamps and reached the summit just as the sun was touching Manaslu peak. It was a moment of pure joy. I have recommended this trek and this company to every friend who has expressed even the slightest interest in Nepal.

Coming from Argentina where I do a lot of high altitude trekking I thought I was well prepared for the Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley combination. And while my fitness held up well the cultural depth of this trek was something I had not anticipated at all. Tsum Valley is a restricted area which means visitor numbers are limited and the environment feels genuinely untouched. Guide Susam was extraordinary at reading group energy. On the days when motivation was low he would add historical context or point out something remarkable in the landscape that would immediately lift everyone spirits. The monasteries of Mu Gompa and Rachen Gompa were my personal highlights. Around day 14 I had a nosebleed from the altitude near the Larkya La approach which lasted about 20 minutes and was alarming in the moment. Susam immediately had me sit down with my head tilted forward and applied gentle pressure. He was completely calm which helped me stay calm too. The bleeding stopped and we continued at a slower pace. Porter Mingma helped carry extra gear that day without any fuss. The final descent to Dharapani on day 19 was bittersweet. I did not want it to end. Manaslu Treks and Expedition delivered one of the best managed treks I have ever been on.

I am usually a cautious traveller and I spent a long time researching this trip before committing. After emailing Manaslu Treks and Expedition I had a video call with Kiran who walked me through every detail of the 19 day route. His knowledge and reassuring manner convinced me this was the right choice. Our guide Dhana Sherpa was exceptional. He spoke four languages and translated for us during a beautiful ceremony at Rachen Gompa where local families were making offerings. Around day 7 I woke up at 3am with a severe stomach ache. I had probably eaten something that did not agree with me at dinner the night before. Dhana was up immediately and brought rehydration salts and a light biscuit within ten minutes. I rested an extra two hours the next morning and was back on the trail feeling much better by midday. The Tsum Valley villages of Nile and Chhekampar are so perfectly preserved they feel like stepping into a different century. Porter Pasang carried my main pack on the harder days and was always cheerful which helped everyone mood. The Larkya La crossing on a clear crisp October morning with unobstructed views of Manaslu was exactly the moment I had hoped this trek would deliver.

I booked this trek through Manaslu Treks and Expedition after reading about the Tsum Valley for years and never quite finding the right company to make it happen. Kiran called me on WhatsApp to go over the itinerary in detail and answer questions that the website had not fully addressed. That personal attention before the trip had already given me confidence. Guide Sunil led our small group of three through the Budhi Gandaki gorge section which was dramatic and utterly beautiful. As we entered the Tsum Valley around day 5 the architecture changed noticeably. Stone houses with flat roofs decorated with prayer flags lined the narrow walking paths. At Mu Gompa on day 10 we attended morning prayers at 5am. The monks were completely unbothered by our presence and the chanting echoed out across the mountains in a way I will never forget. The Larkya La pass on day 17 was cold and windy but our team made sure everyone had enough layers and that we set off before first light to avoid afternoon weather. My only small note is that day 13 was very long with a steep descent that punished my knees but porter Karma helped carry some of my gear without being asked which made a real difference. Absolutely outstanding 19 days.

Coming from India I had trekked in the Himalayas several times but the Tsum Valley circuit was something entirely different in character. This is a hidden gem that most tourists never see because of the restricted area permits required. Manaslu Treks and Expedition handled all the paperwork smoothly. Our guide Nakul introduced us to the gompa caretaker at Rachen Gompa and we were invited inside for butter tea which was one of the warmest human moments of the entire trip. Around day 9 I slipped on a wet stone crossing a small stream above Chhekampar and scraped my knee quite badly. Nakul had the first aid kit out before I even had time to feel properly upset about it. The wound was cleaned and dressed within minutes and I barely noticed it the next day. The view of Ganesh Himal from the upper Tsum Valley is genuinely one of the most beautiful panoramas I have ever seen in my life. Porter Dawa was always ahead at camp making sure the tea was ready before we arrived. The entire 19 days felt completely safe and well organised and I would recommend this specific trek above all others for anyone seeking something away from the crowds.

I had originally planned to do just the standard Manaslu Circuit but after speaking with Kiran via email about the Tsum Valley extension I was so glad I went for the full 19 days. Tsum Valley is considered one of the most sacred and preserved Himalayan valleys in Nepal and after experiencing it firsthand I completely understand why. Our guide Ramsharan was patient and deeply knowledgeable about every aspect of the region from the wildlife to the local agricultural practices. We saw snow leopard tracks near Nile village which was one of those unexpected moments that becomes the story you tell forever. The climb to Mu Gompa was steep and on day 12 my legs felt like lead but Ramsharan kept the pace manageable and made sure porter Tenzin was always nearby with extra snacks. The Larkya La crossing came on day 17 and the wind that morning was brutal but the views of Manaslu summit were so overwhelming that the cold barely registered. I want to say this was my last big trek but honestly I am already looking at the Manaslu Treks and Expedition website planning a return. Thank you for everything.

The Tsum Valley portion of this 19 day adventure was unlike anything I had experienced before. We entered through the restricted area permit zone and the moment we crossed into the valley it felt like the rest of the world simply ceased to exist. I had been trekking in Nepal for years but nothing prepared me for the serenity of Chhekampar village or the ancient murals inside Rachen Gompa that date back hundreds of years. Our guide Sudip was extraordinary. He explained the Tibetan Buddhist culture and traditions in a way that made each monastery visit meaningful rather than just a checkpoint. I remember standing at Mu Gompa at nearly 3700 meters looking across towards the Ganesh Himal range and feeling a deep sense of stillness. One evening around day 11 I developed a mild headache from the altitude which had me worried but Sudip immediately had me drink extra water and rest an extra hour before the next day climb. By morning I was completely fine. The Manaslu Circuit portion was equally stunning with the Larkya La pass crossing at 5160 meters being the ultimate highlight of the whole 19 days. Kiran had communicated all the details with me over WhatsApp before I booked and his honest breakdown of the schedule helped me make the right decision. The teahouses arranged by Manaslu Treks and Expedition were always warm and the food was consistently good throughout. An absolutely life changing journey.

I manage a demanding professional schedule and when I take time off I want the experience to be as good as it can possibly be. I do not want to spend my limited holiday time managing discomfort that could be avoided. At the same time I am not interested in sanitized resort tourism. I want genuine adventure, real wilderness, actual physical challenge. The Luxury Manaslu Circuit Trek with Manaslu Treks and Expedition gave me all of that in perfect combination. The private jeep to the trailhead meant we arrived ready rather than exhausted. The premium lodges at the key stops were genuinely comfortable by any standard, not just trekking standard. The food was substantially better than I had experienced on previous Nepal treks. And the level of personal service from both the guide and the company was exceptional. Kiran communicated with me through the planning process with a responsiveness and personal attention that I associate with high-end service businesses, not adventure travel agencies. He understood what I needed and delivered it. Our guide was Sunil and he was magnificent. He managed the fifteen days with a combination of technical competence and human warmth that made every day feel both safe and meaningful. On day eleven I slipped on a wet stone section of trail and went down hard, more shocked than hurt. Sunil was beside me immediately, assessed the situation quickly, helped me to my feet, and had us moving again within five minutes. His calm competence in that moment was reassuring beyond measure. Porter Tenzin was a wonderful presence throughout the trip. The Larkya La crossing in good conditions with Manaslu and the full Himalayan panorama was the finest single view I have ever seen from anywhere on earth. Manaslu Treks and Expedition delivers the luxury Manaslu experience exactly as promised. Outstanding in every way.

When my husband suggested a trekking honeymoon in Nepal my first response was honest confusion. When he explained that the luxury version of the Manaslu Circuit meant premium lodges, private transport, good food, and a professional team dedicated to making it the best possible experience, I became considerably more enthusiastic. We booked with Manaslu Treks and Expedition and I can say without any reservation that it was the finest trip of my life. Kiran, the owner, treated our honeymoon booking with a level of personal attention that went well beyond what I expected from an agency. He contacted us by email and WhatsApp in the weeks before departure, shared specific recommendations for what to bring for the premium lodge experience versus standard trekking kit, and arranged a beautiful private dinner at our Kathmandu hotel the evening before we left for the trailhead. Those personal touches made an enormous difference. Our guide was Dhana Sherpa and I cannot imagine a better person for a honeymoon trek. He was discreet when we wanted privacy, engaging and informative when we wanted company, and had this gift of finding moments in the landscape that were particularly beautiful or meaningful and quietly drawing our attention to them. Watching the sunrise on Manaslu from the meadow above Samagaun with Dhana's soft commentary about the mountain's history and the morning light on the glacier was one of the most beautiful experiences of my adult life. I had a brief altitude headache on day eight that worried me slightly since we were only halfway through the trip. Dhana reassured me calmly, adjusted our afternoon schedule, and by morning it was gone. His handling of it was completely unfussy and exactly right. Porter Pasang was wonderful throughout. The Larkya La crossing on our twelfth day was the crowning moment of a perfect trip. Manaslu Treks and Expedition created a honeymoon we will talk about for the rest of our lives.

I have done difficult treks before in uncomfortable conditions and I have always been glad I did them. But at a certain point in life the question becomes not whether you can endure discomfort but whether the discomfort adds to the experience or simply detracts from it. For me on the Manaslu Circuit the answer was clear: the landscape and the physical challenge are the thing, not the hard mattress or the cold morning bathroom. Choosing the luxury version meant I could give my full attention to the mountains. Manaslu Treks and Expedition, and specifically Kiran who handled our booking, understood this completely. He recommended the luxury option based on what I described to him in our phone call and he was right. The private jeep transfers, the premium lodges at key stops, the better food quality in the upper villages, all of it translated into a quality of daily experience that let the mountains do their work. Our guide was Susam and he was one of the best travel companions I have had in thirty years of adventure travel. Intelligent, warm, deeply knowledgeable about the Manaslu region in particular and Himalayan culture in general. He also had a wonderful instinct for when I needed information and when I needed silence, and the silences in that landscape are as valuable as anything spoken. On day nine the altitude was getting to me more than I had expected. A persistent headache that sat behind my eyes and made the afternoon rest genuinely necessary rather than optional. Susam adjusted our pace the following morning without making it a discussion, simply setting off at a rhythm that worked for me. By day eleven I was fully acclimatized and moving well. Porter Mingma was superb. The luxury lodge at Samagaun with Manaslu filling the window was a moment I will never forget. Manaslu Treks and Expedition is excellent.

My partner and I have trekked extensively in Nepal over the years, always on the standard budgets, always in the smallest teahouses, and we have loved every minute of it. But for our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary we wanted something different. We wanted the mountains and the trails we love with a level of comfort that would let us be fully present in the landscape rather than managing the discomforts of basic accommodation at the end of each day. The Luxury Manaslu Circuit Trek with Manaslu Treks and Expedition was exactly what we were looking for. Kiran himself managed our booking and was thoughtful and attentive throughout the planning process. He arranged small touches that made it feel genuinely special rather than just upgraded, a welcome dinner in Kathmandu, a private vehicle to the trailhead, a small surprise at our lodge in Samagaun to mark the anniversary. Those details matter. Our guide was Ramsharan and he was wonderful. He has an extraordinary depth of knowledge about the Nubri region and a wonderful ability to make the cultural encounters along the route feel meaningful rather than performative. He took us to meet a family in Samagaun who have lived in that valley for generations and the hour we spent with them over tea and local food was one of the finest experiences of the whole trip. I had a nosebleed on day ten, my first ever at altitude, and despite being with my partner and feeling embarrassed about it Ramsharan handled it so matter-of-factly that within minutes we were all treating it as a minor footnote rather than a crisis. His calm is genuinely infectious. Porter Bikash was excellent. The premium lodges made the high altitude nights genuinely comfortable. The Larkya La was breathtaking. Manaslu Treks and Expedition exceeded every expectation.

I want to be upfront that I considered the standard Manaslu Circuit Trek for a long time before choosing the luxury version. The price difference is significant and I asked Kiran about it specifically during one of our WhatsApp calls before booking. He was completely honest: the mountain and the trail are identical, the difference is in the transfer, the accommodation at the lodges, the food quality at certain stops, and the overall level of attention. For me, at this point in my life, those things matter. I am not twenty-five with a tent and unlimited energy. I wanted to experience one of the world's great mountain circuits without sleeping in a stone room with a thin foam mattress and sharing a toilet with twenty people. That is exactly what I got. The private jeep from Kathmandu to Arughat was comfortable and efficient and meant we arrived at the trailhead rested rather than rattled. The premium lodge at Samagaun was genuinely lovely, clean rooms with proper bedding, hot water that actually worked, a dining room with a view of Manaslu that you could sit in over a long dinner and just absorb. Our guide was Nakul and he was exceptional. His care for the group was total and his knowledge of the region is encyclopedic. I had a difficult night at Dharamsala where the altitude made sleeping nearly impossible and he checked on me at about 2am when he heard me moving around. That kind of attentiveness is not something money can buy directly but it is what comes from working with a company that hires and values the right people. Porter Dawa managed our bags flawlessly throughout the fifteen days. The Larkya La crossing was magnificent and arriving at the premium lodge in Bimthang after the pass crossing with a hot meal and a warm bed waiting was a genuinely beautiful thing. Manaslu Treks and Expedition delivered this experience perfectly.

I have had the Manaslu Circuit on my trail running bucket list for five years. A high altitude circuit through restricted area Nepal with the Larkya La Pass as the centerpiece, beautiful technical trail, remote wilderness, and a mountain that most trail runners never get close to. This year I finally did it with Manaslu Treks and Expedition and everything about the experience exceeded my expectations. Kiran, the owner, called me via WhatsApp after my initial inquiry and spent a long time helping me understand how the trail running version of the circuit worked. He was patient with my many questions and genuinely knowledgeable about the specific demands of running at altitude versus trekking. Our guide was Praldah and he was remarkable, a man who understood trail runners in a way that felt very specific. He briefed us each morning with the kind of terrain intelligence that runners actually need, surface conditions, gradient profiles, technical sections, where you could open up and where you had to dial back. On day ten I took a small tumble on a descent toward Bimthang when my tired legs misjudged a step on loose scree. I went down hard on my hip and lay there for a moment assessing the damage. Praldah was crouched beside me before I had finished the assessment, hands already checking the injury with calm efficiency. It was a bruise and nothing more. He helped me up, watched me take a few steps, and then said right, shall we finish this descent. We finished the descent. The lower gorge sections of the Budhi Gandaki have some of the most beautiful runnable trail I have ever been on. The upper sections above Samagaun are more about careful movement at altitude but no less extraordinary. The Larkya La at 5160 meters in trail shoes with poles in hand was the finest moment of my running life. Porter Karma was brilliant throughout. Manaslu Treks and Expedition is without question the right company for this adventure.

I run about 80 to 100 kilometers a week at home in the UK. Hills, trails, mountain routes. I thought I was prepared for the Manaslu Circuit running trip. I was prepared for the running. I was not fully prepared for what 4000 plus meters of altitude does to a body that is used to operating at sea level. Day eight was my worst day. I had been fine up to that point, moving well, enjoying the trail, logging good distances on the runnable sections. Then on the approach to Samdo I hit a wall that had nothing to do with muscle fatigue and everything to do with oxygen. I slowed to a walk, then to a slow walk, and then I sat on a rock beside the trail and put my head in my hands and thought seriously about whether I was cut out for this. Our guide Sunil sat beside me and said nothing for about two minutes. Then he told me a story about a very experienced ultra runner who had come through on this same route the previous year and had exactly the same experience in exactly the same place and had gone on to cross the Larkya La in outstanding style. He said altitude humbles everyone the first time. He said the humbling was part of the point. I got up. I made it to Samdo. The next morning I felt better and each subsequent day I adapted further and by the time we hit the approach to the pass I was running sections I would not have believed possible four days earlier. Kiran at Manaslu Treks and Expedition had set this trip up with real understanding of what trail runners need. Porter Tenzin was excellent. The Larkya La was spectacular. This company knows what they are doing.

I have done trail running trips in Patagonia, Norway, the Dolomites, and various races across the UK and Europe. The Manaslu Circuit for trail runners with Manaslu Treks and Expedition is the best running trip I have ever done. I say that understanding that it is not purely a running trip in the conventional sense. The altitude above 4000 meters means that a significant portion of the route is covered at fast hiking pace rather than actual running. But the sections that are runnable are extraordinary, and the overall experience of moving through that landscape under your own power, faster than a trekking group but slower than the mountains, is something completely unique. Kiran set the whole trip up and his pre-departure communication was excellent. He understood what trail runners needed in terms of information and gave it clearly. Our guide was Susam and he was genuinely superb. He had worked with trail running groups before and understood the specific demands and expectations of runners, the need for accurate surface information ahead of each day, the importance of knowing where the technical sections were, the places where speed was possible and where caution was essential. I had one nosebleed on day nine above Samdo that gave me a brief fright at 3600 meters. Susam handled it with complete calm and reminded me that I had been pushing slightly harder than the acclimatization schedule recommended and that the altitude was simply registering its opinion. He was tactfully correct. I eased off for the rest of that day and the nosebleed did not recur. The run across the approach to the Larkya La base camp with Manaslu filling the sky above and the glacier visible ahead was one of those moments that justifies all the training and all the miles. Porter Pemba kept our gear perfectly organized throughout. This is the real thing.

I want to be honest with anyone considering this trail running package: the altitude is not a minor inconvenience. It is the central challenge of the whole experience and how you manage it determines everything else. I learned this the hard way around day seven when I pushed the pace on an uphill section between Namrung and Lho and my body sent back a very clear response in the form of a throbbing headache that arrived around midday and stayed through the evening. Our guide was Ramsharan and his handling of that situation was textbook. He brought me to a halt, had me sit down, and said something I have thought about many times since. He said runners always try to run through problems that are not running problems. The altitude is not a running problem. It is an altitude problem and it requires an altitude solution. He was right. I rested, rehydrated, ate properly, and the next morning I was moving well again. I had booked this trip through Manaslu Treks and Expedition after Kiran, the owner, had explained via email exactly how the trail running itinerary differed from the standard trekking version. The pacing is designed to build altitude tolerance while still allowing genuine running on the runnable sections, and the itinerary is smart about where you push and where you conserve. The lower gorge sections of the Budhi Gandaki have some genuinely exhilarating runnable trail, relatively flat sections along the river with fantastic views and good footing, and covering those at running pace with the gorge walls rising on both sides was one of the great running experiences of my life. The Larkya La crossing in running gear, with poles and a minimal pack, felt like the right way to finish the whole journey. Porter Dawa managed our support gear throughout without a single problem. Manaslu Treks and Expedition are excellent and Ramsharan is exceptional.

I have been trail running for eight years, mostly in the Alps and the Scottish Highlands, and I had been looking for something that would push me into genuinely new territory both physically and in terms of landscape. The Manaslu Circuit for trail runners with Manaslu Treks and Expedition was exactly that and then some. I reached out to Kiran, the company owner, after seeing their trail running package online and he called me back on WhatsApp within hours. He was refreshingly honest about what running at altitude above 4000 meters actually feels like compared to running at sea level, and he made it very clear that the Larkya La section was not something to approach with a road runner's mindset. His briefing was thorough, practical, and set exactly the right expectations. Our guide was Nakul and he was outstanding in every way that matters for trail running support. He knew the terrain intimately and was able to brief me each morning on what kind of surface was ahead, which sections were runnable and which required careful foot placement, and where the altitude would demand a shift to fast hiking rather than actual running. That local knowledge is genuinely irreplaceable. On day five I took a fall on a technical descent above the Budhi Gandaki gorge. Nothing serious but I went down on my hands and knees on loose rock and sat there for a moment taking stock. Nakul was beside me in seconds, calm and practical, checked my hands and knees, helped me back up, and looked me directly in the eye and asked if I wanted to continue at running pace or dial back to hiking for the rest of the day. I ran. Carefully. The Larkya La crossing at 5160 meters is an entirely different experience when you are covering it in running gear. The altitude above 5000 meters makes actual running impossible without serious acclimatization but fast hiking with poles was deeply satisfying and the panorama from the top was something I will carry for the rest of my life. Porter Bikash was excellent and managed the gear support perfectly. Manaslu Treks and Expedition run this trail running package with real expertise and genuine care. I will be back.

There are experiences in life that you know, even as they are happening, that you will carry with you forever. The Manaslu Circuit Trek was one of those for me. Not because it was easy, it was the hardest physical undertaking I have done, but because the combination of landscape, culture, human connection, and personal challenge created something that felt genuinely transformative. Kiran at Manaslu Treks and Expedition had communicated with me by email and then by phone before I booked. He has a gift for explaining complex logistics clearly and for managing the expectations of clients without either terrifying them or giving them false comfort. By the time I arrived in Nepal I felt well-prepared. Our guide was Sunil and the thirteen days I spent in his company were extraordinary. He is one of those rare people who is equally good at the practical dimensions of guiding and the human dimensions of accompaniment. He managed the logistics flawlessly and he was also a genuine companion, curious, funny, generous with his knowledge and his time. I had a genuinely frightening nosebleed on day nine at Samdo. It came without warning and it was heavy and it did not stop for nearly twenty minutes. I was alarmed and I showed it. Sunil was completely calm. He sat with me, managed the bleeding practically and effectively, and spoke to me in a quiet steady voice about what was happening and what it did and did not mean. By the time it stopped I was calm too. His composure in that moment was the most valuable thing he could have given me. Porter Tenzin was reliable and warm throughout. The Larkya La was everything I had hoped. Manaslu Treks and Expedition deserve every one of these five stars.

Manaslu is the eighth highest mountain in the world. When you are standing in the villages of the upper Nubri valley and that mountain is right above you, that fact becomes something more than a statistic. It becomes a physical experience of scale that resets something fundamental in your sense of what is normal and what is large. I did the Manaslu Circuit Trek with Manaslu Treks and Expedition and I would not have wanted to do it with anyone else. The company was recommended to me by a friend and Kiran, the owner, lived up to every aspect of that recommendation. He spoke with me via WhatsApp before I booked, was honest and thorough about the demands of the trek, and set a clear expectation of what I would experience. Our guide was Susam and he was brilliant. He has a quality of quiet leadership that makes a group move naturally and well without any obvious management. He knows this route intimately and his knowledge extends far beyond the trail itself into the geology, the ecology, the history, and the living culture of the Nubri communities. On day seven I slipped on a wet section of trail below a waterfall and sat down hard on my left knee. It was not serious but it was painful and Susam was beside me within seconds. He checked the injury carefully, cleaned and dressed a small cut, and helped me back to standing. He then walked just behind me for the next ninety minutes, saying nothing, but positioned in a way that told me he would be there if I needed steadying. I did not need to ask. He just did it. Porter Karma was a wonderful presence throughout the trek. The Larkya La crossing on day eleven was the finest single day of trekking I have ever experienced. Manaslu Treks and Expedition are simply the best.

I have spent a lot of time in Nepal over the years. I have done the classic routes, the Everest region, the Annapurnas, Langtang. Each time I came back I felt that something was missing, that the more popular routes had become almost too managed, too well-trodden, too comfortable in a way that removed a certain quality of genuine encounter. The Manaslu Circuit gave me back what I had been missing. I booked with Manaslu Treks and Expedition through a recommendation from a trekking friend and the experience confirmed why they had been recommended. Kiran called me after receiving my email and the conversation that followed covered everything I needed to know and several things I did not know I needed to know. He has a comprehensive understanding of the route and a genuine investment in making sure clients arrive prepared. Our guide was Ramsharan and he transformed what was already a superb route into something truly extraordinary. His knowledge of the Nubri cultural landscape is remarkable and he has relationships with communities along the route that opened doors for us that would have stayed closed otherwise. We were invited into a family home in Samagaun for tea and the hour we spent there was one of the most meaningful of the whole trip. I had one bad afternoon on day nine when the altitude was clearly affecting my sleep quality and I arrived at the teahouse feeling heavy and headachy in a way that worried me. Ramsharan did not minimize it, checked me properly, and prescribed rest and fluids and a lighter dinner. By morning I was fine. His calm handling of those moments is the mark of experience. Porter Dawa was excellent. The Larkya La was magnificent. This company is exceptional.

I am a solo female trekker with about ten years of experience on various routes in Asia and South America and the Manaslu Circuit with Manaslu Treks and Expedition was the best trekking experience I have ever had. I want to be specific about why. First, the company. Kiran, the owner, responded to my initial safety-focused questions with complete seriousness and thoroughness. He did not brush off my questions about solo female safety on the route, he answered them all directly and honestly and then offered additional information I had not thought to ask for. That set the tone. Second, the guide. Our guide was Nakul and he was absolutely exceptional. His situational awareness, his care for the individuals in his charge, his knowledge of the route and the culture, all of it was first class. When I had a difficult day on the climb between Deng and Ghap where altitude and a mild stomach upset combined to make me feel genuinely unwell, he adjusted the group's pace without drawing attention to it, found me a place to rest for an hour in the middle of the day, and was matter-of-fact and reassuring about my condition without minimizing it. By evening I was eating normally and by the next morning I felt completely fine. His calm competence in those moments of difficulty is what a good guide is worth. The Manaslu Circuit is a spectacular route. The lower gorge sections are unlike anything on the more commercial trails, the Nubri villages are extraordinary cultural encounters, and the Larkya La crossing is a genuine achievement that you feel in your whole body and your whole mind when you stand at the top. Porter Pemba was wonderful. Manaslu Treks and Expedition get every possible star.

I want to describe the Larkya La crossing in honest and specific terms because I think most reviews give you the outcome but not the experience. Here is what it actually feels like. You leave the teahouse at Dharamsala at around 4am in complete darkness. The cold at 4450 meters is the kind of cold that makes your face hurt. You turn on your headlamp and you can see the trail disappearing upward into the darkness ahead and you cannot see the top. The first hour is a steady climb through rocky terrain that is manageable but demanding. By the second hour you are above 5000 meters and every step requires conscious management of your breathing. You stop every twenty steps or so and breathe deeply and then continue. There are sections where the trail becomes very steep and your legs begin to send signals that they have had enough. This is where our guide Praldah was invaluable. He had this steady presence just behind me that communicated without words that stopping was not a serious option. Not through pressure but through calm accompaniment. I had a nosebleed at around 4700 meters. It lasted about eight minutes and Praldah dealt with it completely calmly, made a small practical joke about the mountain having its own way of welcoming people, and when it stopped we kept moving. And then you reach the top. The prayer flags snapping in the wind, the panorama of the entire Himalayan chain in every direction, the physical relief of standing still combined with the emotional weight of having gotten there. I stood there for a long time. I booked with Manaslu Treks and Expedition after Kiran explained the route to me via email. Porter Pasang was excellent throughout. This is the finest trek I have ever done.

The Manaslu Circuit Trek is one of the great trekking routes in the world and I am genuinely grateful that I did it with Manaslu Treks and Expedition because the quality of their operation elevated an already extraordinary experience into something truly special. Kiran, the company owner, was involved from the very first inquiry. He responded to my email personally, called me on WhatsApp to discuss the itinerary in detail, and sent me a series of genuinely useful preparation notes in the days before departure. His care for the pre-trip experience of his clients is evident and appreciated. Our guide was Dhana Sherpa and I have been struggling to find the right words to describe how good he was. Technically excellent, deeply knowledgeable about the mountain environment and the cultural landscape of the Nubri region, patient, funny, and genuinely kind. On the morning of the Larkya La crossing he came to my bunk at 3:45am with a small cup of sweet milk tea and said in this very matter-of-fact way that it was going to be a good day. That small human gesture in the pre-dawn cold was the thing that got me out of the sleeping bag. I had struggled with a persistent low-grade headache from day eight through day ten, a dull aching pressure that made the high altitude sections more challenging. Dhana monitored it carefully, adjusted the pace on the days it was worst, and ensured I was taking the right steps to manage the acclimatization. When it finally cleared on day eleven I felt like a different person. The views from the Larkya La are beyond description. The descent to Bimthang through moraine and then suddenly green valley is one of the great transitions in trekking. Porter Karma was wonderful. This company and this guide are exceptional.

People often ask me which trek in Nepal they should do if they can only do one and my answer now is always the Manaslu Circuit. It has everything. The dramatic gorge walking of the lower Budhi Gandaki valley, the ancient Buddhist villages of the Nubri region, the extraordinary mountain scenery around Samagaun and Samdo, and the culminating challenge and reward of the Larkya La Pass. No other trek I have done in Nepal combines these elements so completely. I booked with Manaslu Treks and Expedition after speaking with Kiran by phone. He was clearly knowledgeable and clearly passionate about the region and talking to him made me feel that I was booking with people who genuinely cared about the experience rather than just running a commercial operation. Our guide was Sunil and he was excellent from start to finish. He managed the group with quiet skill, kept the pace appropriate for the altitude and terrain, and enriched the cultural dimension of the trek immeasurably. When we stopped at the monastery in Lho he spoke with the monks as friends and we were shown parts of the building that tourist groups normally do not see. Those moments of genuine connection with local communities are what make a trek memorable. I had a frightening moment on one of the suspension bridges in the lower gorge, around day three or four, when the bridge swayed more violently than I expected and I froze halfway across. Sunil was behind me, spoke calmly and steadily, and talked me across to the other side step by step. I was embarrassed about it but he said absolutely nothing except to hand me a piece of chocolate on the other bank and keep moving. That was exactly right. Porter Tenzin was superb. The Larkya La crossing was magnificent. Manaslu Treks and Expedition are the gold standard.

I want to write this review specifically for people who are considering the Manaslu Circuit but are not sure if they are experienced enough. I am not an experienced high altitude trekker. Before this trip the highest I had been was about 3500 meters on a relatively easy route in the Annapurna foothills. The Manaslu Circuit with the Larkya La Pass at 5160 meters was a significant step up. I found Manaslu Treks and Expedition through online research and reached out to Kiran with a lot of questions about whether someone at my experience level should attempt the route. He called me on WhatsApp and spent a long time being genuinely honest about the demands of the trek while also explaining how the company managed altitude risk through careful pacing and acclimatization days. He helped me make an informed decision rather than just trying to secure a booking. I found that trustworthy. Our guide was Susam and he was absolutely the right person for a less experienced trekker. He was attentive and educational without being condescending, and he monitored the group's altitude response carefully throughout the trek. On day six I had a bad headache that had been building since we left Namrung and Susam took it seriously from the first mention. He had me rest for two hours in the afternoon, ensured I drank more than I thought I needed, and checked my condition several times through the evening. I thought about whether I was going to be able to continue. I genuinely considered whether the pass was too much for me. But by the morning of day seven the headache was gone and Susam's confidence that I was ready to continue turned out to be exactly right. The Larkya La crossing was the most difficult and most extraordinary physical experience of my life. I crossed it and I am immensely proud. Porter Mingma was brilliant throughout. Manaslu Treks and Expedition made this possible.