22-Day Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek: Discover the Hidden Himalayan Beauty
A 22-day trek to Manaslu and Tsum Valley is basically a long, slow, and amazingly calm and magical walk through the serene and quiet mountains of Nepal. It is like an easy adventure where every step reveals something new and beautiful. In fact, this trek is a combination of going around the giant Manaslu mountain as well as going deep into the tranquil Tsum Valley, a place that is considered both sacred and secret. So, twenty-two days give a person enough time to see it all at a slow pace, inhale the fresh air, meet good people, and enjoy the soft silence of the valley. This trip is like one long tale with lots of lovely chapters made of mountains, rivers, and forests and with warm villages as characters.Geography
The trek goes through the Manaslu Conservation Area, a place that keeps on changing as you move along. At the very beginning, the area is low, green, and warm. You follow the rivers, cross the bridges, and walk through the woodlands that are the homes of birds and high trees. Step by step, you move to a higher place, and the surrounding world gets colder and quieter. The mountains are coming closer and look bigger. The villages are getting smaller and more far apart. Tsum Valley is like a secret closet off the main trail, hidden behind huge mountain walls. It is a wide, high, and very calm valley. Further, the trek takes you to places covered with snow, rocky trails, and high mountain passes. The land goes up and down like gentle waves giving you new views every day.
Culture
Culture is a shining and attractive item of this journey. The people of Manaslu and Tsum Valley are the followers of the traditions of Tibetan culture. Their villages are colorful with the flags of prayers waving like little rainbows. There are prayer wheels that glow when the people touch them. There you see mani walls consisting of stones with carved prayers. You see the old monasteries where the monks are busy in prayer, meditation, and lighting butter lamps. The people here live simple, pleased, and happy lives. They farm the land, take good care of their animals, and really love to serve the trekkers. Their calm smiles are like making you feel safe and at peace with yourself. Passing through their villages is like going through living history.
Nature
Nature on this 22 day trek is like a huge drawing that keeps on changing the color daily. The lower parts are full of green forests, clear rivers, waterfalls, and different animals such as monkeys, and birds; and the higher you go the lower are the trees, the air becomes colder, and the mountains become bigger. Sometimes you may find snow on the ground or on the peaks. Sometimes yaks may be seen feeding on the hills. Sometimes blue sheep climb rocks. Far above you, eagles are circling in the sky. Nights are full of stars that shine like tiny lights. The sunrises and sunsets are lit softly on the mountains. Nature here is felt to be pure, strong, and full of lovely magical forces.
Daily Rhythm
Daily life on the trek is very simple and peaceful. A person wakes up early when the sky is just changing the color from dark to bright. Tea houses provide breakfast. After eating, you are out for a walk. The path may be going up a hill, down a valley, through a village, or along a river. Walking is slow and steady as the aim is not to use up the trail very fast but to spend time in each and every spot of the trail. Lunch is taken in a small village where one can rest, eat, and breathe. After lunch you continue walking till you reach the next tea house for the night. Tea houses are good places to have a warm meal and a comfortable bed. Evening is of a very peaceful nature. One sits near a fire that is giving off warmth, takes tea, talks softly, or just rests. Then one goes to bed in the early hours of the night to be ready for the next day. Each day is as gentle and as simple as this one.
Tsum Valley Experience
The Tsum Valley is the most tranquil part of the trek. Entering the valley is like going into a completely different world. Everything goes silent and very slow. The valley is quite large but it is protected by very high mountains. The villages are very small and consist of stones. One can see the ancient monasteries sitting on hills. One can see the caves where meditation by the holy ones was done for long periods in the past. The people here are the followers of the oldest traditions and live quite normal lives. The valley is like a place where time goes very softly. The air is always cool and clean. The mountains always look kind and strong. Spending time in Tsum Valley is like a lesson to slow down, breathe deeply, and like simple things. It leaves a feeling of tranquility inside one's heart.
High Altitude Experience
The higher you go, the less there will be oxygen in the air and more time the body will need to get used to it. That is what the 22 days trek plan with several rest days of light activities is all about. On these rest days, you limit walking to a short distance, but you take a bit of a walk to a higher place so that your body can get used to the thin oxygen. The pace of walking at high altitude is very slow and yet it is very special. One can moan his/her own breath. The world goes very quiet. The mountains appear very big and near. One feels very brave and very satisfied with every step. Even small moments become very big because of the air, the light, and the silence.
Larkya La Pass
The crossing of Larkya La Pass, a very high and snowy mountain pass is a moment most important of this trek. The segment of the journey after which this part of the trek is located. One starts off very early in the morning so that walking can be done safely when the snow is still hard. The rising is done slowly and consistently. One can only do very small steps at a time because of the low oxygen and the road is covered with snow. The very first thing that one sees once one reaches the top is the view. Snowy mountains go on and on beneath the sky. The world down below appears to be very small and very quiet. The cold wind kisses one's face softly. One is very proud to be able to do so. Just a moment in time, this little moment, but it becomes one of the very brightest memories of the whole journey.
People You Meet
Along the trek road you encounter numerous people who make your journey warm and full of memories. Honest smiles are the greetings of the villagers. Kids wave their hands to you as you pass by. Liars in the tea house cook delicious food for you. Guides and porters are your companions, they share their stories and help you stay safe. The lives of other trekkers may turn parallel to yours in walks, smiles, talks, and rests. These people may be considered as the main reason for the trek to be friendly, safe, and full of kindness, despite the fact that the mountains are huge and silent. Being with them gently becomes a big part of the thrill.
Emotional Journey
The 22 days on this trek take the person through his emotions. He feels joy at seeing new views. The silence of the valley brings him peace. Sometimes he feels tired but still he says the feeling is a good one because it is brought by real adventure. He is bewildered by the sight of a snowy peak gleaming in the sun. He is also thankful when someone serves him warm tea. He is full of self-esteem at reaching high places. The trek is a tutor of patience, calmness, and love for nature. It makes its students see the small things like the sound of a flowing river, the warmth of a fire, or the color of the sky at dawn. In the end, one's heart turns out to be very full.
Conclusion
The Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek for 22 days is quite a lengthy but very peaceful walk through the mountains, forests, and holy valleys. It lets you have enough time to explore, learn, feel, and breathe. It lets you see the quiet beauty of the forgotten villages, the deep calm of Tsum Valley, and the proud strength of high mountains. It links you to the kind people, simple routines, and gentle nature. When the trek closes, you are carrying with you the memories of snowy peaks, friendly smiles, prayer flags waving in the wind, and peaceful nights under bright stars. This trek turns into the story that you carry along with you forever, a story of calm, courage, and beauty.