19 days Tsum valley Trekking

Name Tsum valley trekking
Transportation options Private vehicle/Local Transportation
Maximum Altitude Mu Gompa ( 3700m)
Best Season March-May & September-November
Meals Breakfast in Kathmandu, Breakfast Lunch and Dinner during Trekking
Accommodation Hotels in Kathmandu Tea Houses in Trekking
Trekking hours Approximately 6-7hr a day
Protected Area Manaslu Conservation Area
Major Attractions Himalchuli ( 7893m),Ganesh Himal( 7422m) Siringi Himal ( 7165m), Budhha Himal (6692m) . More importantly culture and tradition of Tsum people.

Tsum valley trekking is aspiring for the trekkers who want to explore the fraction of Buddhism in Nepal. People of Tsum valley follow unique Buddhism than rest of the Himalayan people of Nepal. Beyond, people have distinctive culture and tradition that always stuns the trekkers. Near yet hidden, Tsum valley trekking is great way to explore the cultural heritage and natural landscape together. Numerous ancient Gompas and Chortens are the major attraction for trekkers.

The trekking path follows the Budhi Gandaki river in the tropical climatic zone. Rich with subtropical and tropical evergreen-deciduous forest around Sotikhola and Jagat. Places like Lokpa and Chumling have lower temperate landscape and vegetation in accordance. Moreover, places like Chhokangparo, Nile and Ripchet have an upper temperate forest of birch, firs, spruces and rhododendrons.

Upper trekking region like Mu-Gompa and Rachen Gompa have sub-alpine climatic vegetation of dwarf bushes. Exploration around Mu-Gompa and surrounding trekker can notice alpine landscape. Terraced farming land in both upper and lower trekking region is common. Also, you can see lots of open flat grasslands in upper temperate and sub-alpine region. Eventually, peaks like Ganesh Himal, Siringi, and Buddha Himal add unique flavor and make Tsum valley trekking a complete package.

The lower trekking region has a mixed community of Brahmin, Chhetri, Magar, and Gurung. Obviously, the region highly becomes influential with culture and tradition of Tsum community as trekker diverges from Gampul. People in the region rarely interact with the outside world. It is the mysterious cultural and traditional aspects of people trekkers always find attractive. Agriculture, animal husbandry and temporary migration for work is the main income of livelihood.

Tsum valley trekking branches off from popular Manaslu Round Trekking at Gampul towards west-north. It is a popular tradition among trekkers to continue Manaslu Trekking after completion of Tsum Valley trekking. However, some trekkers find the itinerary lengthy.


Outline Itinerary

Day 1 International Arrival in Kathmandu (1300m)
Day 2 Sightseeing in Kathmandu,Permit preparation day, briefing by official executive, handing assignment to guide.
Day 3 Drive from Kathmandu to Soti Khola (710m)
Day 4 Trek Soti Khola to Machha Khola (900m)
Day 5 Trek Machha Khola to Jagat (1410m)
Day6 Trek from Jagat to Lokpa (2040m)
Day7 Trek from Lokpa to Chumling (2390m)
Day8 Trek from Chumling to Chhokangparo (3010m)
Day9 Trek from Chhokangparo to Nile (3361m)
Day10 Trek from Nile to Mu-Gompa (3700m)
Day11 Exploration around Mu-Gompa (3700m)
Day12 Trek From Mu-Gompa to Rachen Gompa (3240m)
Day13 Trek from Rachen Gompa to Dumja (2440m)
Day14 Trek from Dumja to Lungdang Gompa (3200m)
Day15 Trek from Lungdang Gompa to Ripchet (2468m)
Day16 Trek from Ripchet to Dobhan (1070m)
Day17 Trek from Dobhan to Soti Khola (970m)
Day18 Drive from Soti Khola to Kathmandu (1300m)
Day 19 International Departure

Note: This is a standard itinerary proposed for general trekkers which can be modified until then, that do not violate our business ethics and norms. We will always seek verification from our field experts before approving your itinerary.

Detailed Day to Day Itinerary

We will drive you straight to your hotel in private vehicle as soon as you land at Tribhuvan International Airport of Kathmandu . We will give you short briefing on our final agreed program. And if you are the first time traveler in Nepal we will give information about restaurant, ATM, money exchanges and other useful information until we meet for next day.


There are various major cultural historical and religious places around Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur for sightseeing. Pashupatinath, Bauddhanath, Swayambhunath, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Kathmandu Durbar Square and Patan Durbar square are our top lists. Most of them are listed on UNESCO world heritage sites. Later in the evening we will arrange dinner with your trekking guide so you can know each other and talk about your trekking itineraries.


After your breakfast in Kathmandu hotel we head west of Kathmandu following zig-zag asphalt road by the bank of Trishuli river. After Dhading Beshi we drive further north west on gravel dirt road till we reach place Arughat. This small town used to be economic hub for traders few decades back. The vegetation around the region is tropical type which we see until we reach Sotikhola. From Arughat we drive by the bank of raging Budhigandaki river.We can see beautiful terraces of crop fields all around you during our driving.


We trek small ups downs in between tropical forest just above the raging Budhi gandaki river. The trail is on steep vertical cliffs in deep gorges.You can see terraces of crop fields all over. Just climbing few meters and again dropping to river bed and short easy climb will take you to our next overnight stop Machha Khola. A small settlement dominated by Gurung community.


You can see and feel gradual change in landscape as we trek to Jagat. The gorges become more deep and narrow. We cross Budhi Gandaki to reach Dobhan. After trekking the ridge of Dobhan we walk ups and downs by the side of river bed. And upon crossing suspension bridge on Yaru Khola we take short climb just before dropping to river to reach Jagat. The river bed becomes flat calming down Budhi Gandaki river. On the other side of river bank we see tea houses where we spend the night.


The trekking is a bit longer but full of fun and new cultural exposures of local people. After crossing suspension bridge on Jagat our trek heads further North. We trek by the bank of Budhi Gandaki river in between deep cliffs on either of side to reach other big settlement Philim. You can see the Siringi Himal for the first time from Salleri. Further trekking we reach Gampul from where Tsum valley trekking branches off to the right hand side from Manaslu Round Trekking . 2 hr trek from Gampul to reach Lokpa.


From Lokpa we start an easy trek in between shallow forest of rhododendron and pine trees. We can see beautiful Buddha Himal (6692m) and Himalchuli (7893m) peaks at the horizon. Crossing Sardi Khola bridge and climbing we follow the river further North. The forest gradually fades and we can see beautiful Siringi Himal(7165m).Passing by chortens we reach beautiful village of Chumling. You can see flat and open terraced fields on Chumling where people grows seasonal crops.


Crossing the suspension bridge we mostly trek in upper temperate region. We can see people working hard in highly slope terraced farmland. We pass by many chortens and manis wall along the way. Ganesh Himal looks beautiful and much closer. Tsum valley looks beautiful and deep down the at the south. Steady climbing up and crossing Serpu Khola and passing by the chortens we reach Gho village. From Gho the trekking path is easy in between the forest of pine to reach the amazing Chhokangparo village. Ganesh Himal and Himalchuli looks more astonishing from the village of Chhokangparo.


We climb steadily from Chhokangparo. We pass numerous chortens and manis wall. Looking back from the top you might realise how beautiful Chhokanparo village is. Leaving behind the village we gradually enter the sub-alpine climatic zone of Tsum valley. We see open dry meadows with sparse green bushes and terraced farms often. Chortens are more common with ancient paintings and decorations. We explore old Rachen Gompa monastery and continue easy trek to Chhule. Crossing the Sardi Khola and trekking upstream for a while from Chhule we reach Nile.


From Nile the trekking follows the Sardi Khola for the most of the time. Again the trekking day is short but the continuous gain in altitude makes the climb difficult. We trek in deep valley of Sardi Khola surrounded by peaks and exposed slopes. After crossing the river and passing snowy path we reach Mu-Gompa.We have enough day to explore around Dhepu Gompa just above Mu-Gompa.


The day is allotted as rest day to explore Gompas and natural beauty of the Tsum valley in details. We visit the oldest and the biggest Mu-Gompa monastery of the region. Visiting nearby Tibet boarder will be fun to enjoy the landscape at deeper section of the Himalaya. We climb the ridges and Yak Kharka to view the mountain landscape of the region.


We trek down through the same trekking path we took earlier. Now again we can see greener vegetation of small bushes and meadows down the valley of Sardi Khola. We cross the village of Nile and Chhule along with terraced farming land. Today we explore Milarepa’s cave and shrine on the way down.Stone walls, chortens and manis are something to capture in camera. We spend the night at Rachen Gompa.


The trekking becomes livelier with greener vegetations. We start to see and meet local peoples which make trekking more fun and pleasant. We visit the shining Gompa and Chhokongparo Gompa as well. After Gho village we head to Dumja village. The small village has upper temperate climatic zone with forest of Himalayan pines, firs and spruces. We visit to Dumja monastery.


Today we climb steep up in between the forest of pine and rhododendron to reach Lungdang Gompa. Passing by beautiful manis and ancient chortens we see beautiful Ganesh Himal in the horizon.The Ganseh Himal ranges look much more closer and beautiful. We visit the monastery and trek around the ridges to capture the spectacular view of the region.


We descend down the same path we took earlier to reach village of Gho from Lungdang Gompa. Passing by the Dumja village, we descend further to Chumling village. On the way down we see the Rainjam monastery just adjacent to our trekking trail. We mostly trek on the lower temperate landscape and can see the dense forest when we trek to Ripchet.


The trekking day seems longer but the trekking path is fairly easy. After passing Sardi Khola and Lokpa we reach Gampul, where Manasalu Round Trekking branches off. We follow down the Budhi Gandaki river and trek by the bank of river passing by numerous settlements to reach Dobhan


From Dobhan we again follow the river with smalls ups and downs to reach Soti Khola. The trekking day is fairly hot in tropical region.We see high ridges and dense evergreen dense forest o either side of trekking. You can enjoy the last trekking dinner with your guide and porter as a tribute to their hard work for making your trekking successful


We drive on off road from Soti Khola to Arughat. From Arughat the road is better to Dhading Beshi. We enjoy nice black-topped drive from Dhading Beshi to Kathmandu. Driving by bank of numerous rivers on hilly region of Nepal is for sure fun.


Our office representative will be in your hotel 3 hour prior your flight time to drop you at Tribhuvan International Airport.


what's included?

  • All Airport Transfers.
  • Accommodation in Kathmandu with Bed and Breakfast.
  • Tea House Accommodation during Trekking.
  • 3 Meals in Trekking Breakfast Lunch & Dinner.
  • Air and Road transportation as per the agreement made.
  • All the necessary trekking staffs and porters for the trekking including 1 English speaking guide.
  • All the paper works and documents required for the trekking including all the permits.
  • Sleeping Bag.
  • Salary, wages, food, accommodation and transportation of all the Nepalese staffs during trekking.
  • Insurance of all the Nepalese staffs during trekking.
  • First Aid Kit Bag(specially for Nepali staffs).
  • All local taxes and fares.

What's not included?

  • International Flight Fare.
  • Visa fees.
  • Travel Insurance (mandatory) of all the clients that needs to cover medical and Helicopter evacuation.
  • Expenses of Personal nature (Laundry bill/Telephone bill/Equipment Charging Bill/Bar bill etc).
  • Expenses incurred due to the unexpected situation (Strike/Natural calamities).
  • Tip to trekking staffs.
  • All Expenses not mentioned on Cost Includes section.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Tsum valley trekking

1. What is Round Tsum valley Trekking?
Tsum valley trekking gets name after one of the hidden valley in Manaslu trekking region, Tsum. This isolated valley is visited only by few trekkers.

2. How can I go to Tsum valley Trekking?
Road transportation is the only available option to go to Tsum valley trekking. Driving equally on asphalt and gravel road to Sotikhola from where the trekking starts the next morning.

3. What is the landscape features of Tsum valley trekking in general?
The trekking starts from tropical region with dense forest, terraced crop fields alongside the Budhi Gandaki river. The trekking continues to one of the most beautiful valley of the Manaslu region through temperate, sub-alpine and alpine villages and climatic zone.

4. Why Tsum valley trekking is not so popular itinerary?
The trekking region has no 8000m mountain. Moreover, the Tsum valley being one of the nearest trekking destinations it is still remote. As well, the trekking region does not offer high level of luxury comparing to other trekking regions. However, the raw culture and tradition of Tsum people, numerous old monasteries and chortens are some of the highlights of trekking.

5. What kind of weather and temperature can I expect during trekking?
The weather and temperature is highly unpredictable on mountain but generally during March April May (spring) and September October November (autumn) you can expect clear and warm day while evening will be cloudy and cold. The temperature is freezing in morning and evening in upper trekking region while lower region is considerably cold.

6. What equipments do I need to trek to Tsum valley Trekking?
Good pair of trekking boots, thermal wear, fleece jacket, Down jacket, light weight wind cheater, trekking pants and shorts, long sleeve and short sleeves T-shirts, rug sack or duffle bag, personal day bag, gloves, enough pair of socks, sunglasses, headlight, woolen beanie caps, water bottle, personal toiletries , gadgets and books depending on number of days .

7. I am amateur trekker in Nepal, is this trekking suitable for me?
Yes amateur trekker can trek to Tsum valley under our strict guidelines without any difficulties.

8. How flexible is Tsum valley trekking itinerary?
There is always possibility to add or remove 1-2 days on this standard itinerary with exchange of some emails. But we will never compromise with the safety issue of clients neglecting the delicacy of this trekking region. As well trekker can combine this trekking with Round Manaslu trekking.

9. What if I finish Tsum valley trekking before schedule date?
We strongly advise you to follow the agreed final itinerary since we do not refund the trekking money. But somehow if you finish trekking earlier, we will always try our best to adjust the reservation of your accommodation in Kathmandu but cannot be guaranteed.

10. What permits and documents do I need to trek to Tsum valley trekking?
Special permit issued by the Department of Immigration, Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP) and Trekking Information Management System (TIMS) card is required to trek on this region.

11. What kind of food and Room can I expect during Tsum valley trekking?
Generally the food is fresh, tasty and can choose range of dishes from menu cooked by moderately professional cooks. You will get comfortable and clean common twin bed room throughout trekking. However, the trekker cannot get same level of luxury they get during Manaslu Round.

12. What about drinking water during trekking?
Plastic water bottle are available in tea houses but it is highly recommended to avoid plastic bottles and use boil water instead. As well you may buy high grade water purification tablets on your home country or in Nepal.

13. What can I expect from Nepali staff?
Guide speaks good English so there will be no any problem for communication while porter might or might not speak English .You can always speak with your guide to know more about the porter if you like. Nepalese trekking guide are friendly and responsible with good sense of humor so you can open up for any conversation you like.

14. Do I need to buy Medical and evacuation Insurance?
Yes this is mandatory. You can purchase the insurance policy on your home country or we can assist you to buy the policy in Nepal.

15. Do I need special vaccination or Medical assessment before starting Tsum valley trekking?
Generally any kind of vaccination is not required. But,if you have long term health problem and under regular surveillance of your doctor it is recommended to consult your doctor. Though we provide basic medicines to our Nepalese staff but for you we advise to bring the general medicine from your own country.

16. Is there risk of Acute Mountain sickness (AMS)?
Yes there is high risk of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). Especially,if you choose random trekking itineraries and do not follow the standard itinerary. But we always provide you the best and safe itineraries to avoid this deadly situation.

17. What should I do if I get Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)?
We are always concerned with your safety. We suggest talking with your guide ASAP and descend to safe altitude. If the situation doesn’t get any better we evacuate you immediately with helicopter.Hence, take you for further medical examination to designated hospitals and clinic.

18. What is the price of Tsum valley trekking?
We have provided you various options on our website to know approximate price regarding the trekking in Nepal; however there is always room to reach final agreement through private emails if there is any. And we assure you there will be no any extra cost once we reach the agreement.

You are always welcome to send us private messages for the information that you could not find in this section regarding Tsum valley trekking. We will always provide the accurate information within 12 hours upon receiving your messages.

CANCELLATION

Free cancellation up to 60 days prior departure, after which the deposit becomes non-refundable.