Tsum Valley Trek was long prohibited from entering, and it only opened to travelers in 2008. Tsum Valley is home to Tsumbas, the direct descendant of Tibetans, the Tsum Valley trekking offers a raw, unspoiled trekking experience.
We have an adventurous 18 day excursion to Tsum Valley, fully guided and supported by professional local guide who ease the venture and make it more meaningful.
Tsum Valley Trek is for experienced trekkers who can adjust without modern convenience and are not afraid to go offbeat. This incredible trek venture will give you lifelong memories, teach you a lot, and shape you as a strong individual.
If you are on a quest to explore the untouched parts of the Himalayas, far from the mainstream trekking routes, then Tsum Valley Trekking is the answer. Located east of the Manalsu, bordering Tibet, Tsum Valley is a hidden Shangri La, which is rarely discussed in trekking industry.
Being part of the Manaslu region, you can also do the Tsum Valley trek with the Manaslu circuit.
Even though the starting point of the trek is situated only 8-9 hours away from Kathmandu, only a few trekkers approach the Tsum Valley for trekking because of its isolation and lack of adequate tourist infrastructure. Tsum Valley is a restricted area within the Manaslu Conservation Area. Solo Tsum Valley Adventure (without a guide and registered local trekking) is prohibited.
Moreover, you must trek in a group of at least two people and must have a certified trekking guide. All these factors and expensive trekking permits keep the crowd away from the Tsum Valley walking trail, making trekking in the Tsum Valley a privilege only a few travelers have.
During the Tsum Valley walking Holidays, you can explore untouched and unspoiled ancient villages and Tibetan Buddhist roots. Look forward to old monasteries such as Mu Gompa, Dhephu Doma and Gumba Lungdang. The friendly and very welcoming locals host the trekkers.
Being close to them gives you a first-hand experience of their customs and practices. Along the way, the nunneries, chortens, and prayer wheels express the region's cultural abundance. Tsum Valley Trek offers a very different trekking experience than the famous EBC Trek or Annapurna base camp trek. The scenery is quite distinct, too.
The overnight stays in villages like Chumling, Chhokangparo, Nile, and Gumpa Lundang are fabulous. You'll take a side hike to Ganesh Himal base camp, walking on thrilling glacier moraine.
You will have the Trail to yourself. There was no disturbance, no crowd at all. There will be just you, your thoughts, and vast mountain vistas. Book the Tsum Valley trek early with Outfitter Himalaya to give yourself ample time to prepare. Our travel consultants will help you with booking and further information about the trek.
There are many attractions during the Tsum Valley trekking in Nepal and we have listed some of the highlights below.
Tsum Valley trail is sometimes less explored by trekkers, so it has seen less growth. There is no crowd, even during peak trekking season. You can enjoy tranquil trekking and solitude.
Tsum Valley Trekking program is perfect for experienced trekkers who are aware of high-altitude mountainous terrain or have previous trekking experience in the Himalayas.
Tsum Valley is known as a hidden Shangri La. Only a few travelers even know about this valley. Tucked in the lap of the Himalayan Mountains, a trek to Tsum Valley presents you with a magical venture.
Tsum Valley remains unexplored and unspoiled. You will get to experience authentic, raw trekking. Likewise, the residents of this valley are called Tsumbas. They are descendants of Tibetans and are connected to their roots. Practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism, you'll get to see the unique cultures and traditions of the locals.
One of the divine essences of Tsum Valley is its centuries-old monasteries and many stupas, prayer wheels, Mani walls and Chortens scattered around the trekking route.
All the major villages of the Trail have a monastery; among them, the most important are Mu Gompa, Doma Gompa, Ranchen Gompa, and Gumpa Lundang. And the best part is you will visit most of these monasteries while trekking with us.
The Mu Gompa was established in 1895 AD by Lama Sherab Dorje Drukpa Rinpoche of the Drukpa Kagyu sect. Located at 3,510 meters around Nile village, the hike to this monastery is outstanding. In the monastery, you can see religious books, statues, and images of safes and deities.
Tsum Valley hike offers close views of some of the most stunning Himalayan mountains, such as Manaslu (8,163 m), Ganesh Himal (7,422 m), Himalchuli (7,893 m), Boudha Himal (6,672 m), and Shringi Himal (7,083 m).
Tsum Valley odyssey is awe-inspiring. You get to behold views of diverse sceneries as you go from Machha Khola (2,920 m) to Ganesh Himal base camp (4,200 m). You will see lush river valleys and green hills, vast meadows and glacier views as the trek progresses.
Manaslu region is a restricted area in Nepal and demands particular restricted area permits to trek. Tsum Valley is located inside the Manaslu region.
Tsum Valley region is protected under the Manaslu Conservation Area. The Trail winds through forests and pastures to the alpine zone. On the way, you will see many species of plants, flowers, animals, and birds. The forests range from subtropical to alpine.
Tsum Valley trekking itinerary includes two acclimatization days. One is in a Nile village, and you hike to Mu Gompa and Doma Gompa from there.
Likewise, on the second rest day, we will visit Gumpa Lundang and walk to the Ganesh Himal base camp. Both these rest days are essential for acclimatizing our bodies and allowing us to explore the far-stretched points.
During the Tsum Valley trekking holidays, accommodation mainly includes a home stay and lodges/teahouses. You spend nights in locals' houses, which give you a close insight into the local lifestyle and practices.
You will be amazed by their simple living and kind heart. The locals are welcoming and very hospitable. You will love their company during your resting time.
Here is the detailed program for the 18-day Tsum Valley Trek. The 18-day program is a guideline itinerary that includes your arrival and departure days to and from Nepal and a day tour in Kathmandu.
The airport representative of Outfitter Himalaya will welcome you to Tribhuvan International Airport.
We will use a private vehicle to escort you to the hotel in Thamel. We have pre-booked the rooms, so they will be ready for you to check in immediately. The rest of the days is free to explore yourself.
Today, we will go sightseeing and make trekking permits. Because of the restricted area permit, we need your passport to apply for the special trekking permit. One of our expert tour guides will accompany you while visiting monuments. You'll see the Monkey Temple, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Boudhnath Stupa, and Pashupatinath Temple.
In the late afternoon, we have a briefing in our office. We'll hand you duffel bags and some other equipments to use during the trek. The trek guide will then brief you on the venture and help you with the final packing.
After breakfast, we will begin our journey to Soti Khola, where the Tsum Valley trek begins. The drive is smoother than half the way and gets bumpy from Arughat onwards. We can see rushing rivers, lush green hills, and mountains on the way.
Leaving Soti Khola, we cross many suspension bridges and walk through lush rhododendron forests. The Trail also ascends via terraces and small villages to Machha Khola. The Trail is abundant in vegetation and offers beautiful landscapes.
The Trail ascends to Tatopani (930 m) and climbs over a ridge. After crossing the Budi Gandaki on a shaky suspension bridge, we walk on stone stairs following a narrow valley trail.
The Trail passes by Doban (1,000 m), and we walk for an hour before reaching Shyaule Bhatti. We then walk through a landslide area and follow a rough trail to Jagat.
We will register our permits in Jagat and leave the village. Following an uphill rocky ridge, we reach Salleri and descend to Sirdibas. The valley widens and continues to Ghatta Khola.
We will walk upstream on a long suspension bridge and ascend to Philim. Then, we will trek through a lush forest and climb north from Gum Pul to Lokpa.
The Trail descends for an hour to Lungwa Khola. We'll ascend through rhododendron and pine forests for a few hours. We will reach Gumlung and cross Siyar Khola before reaching Chumling. Along the Trail, we can see stunning mountain landscapes.
Today, we begin the day by crossing a hanging bridge on the opposite bank. We can see gorgeous mountain views of Ganesh Himal. Trekking through Rainjam, we cross another bridge over Serpu Khola and arrive at Gho village.
From here, we will walk for two hours to enter Tsum Valley. Our first village will be Chhokangparo. On a clear day, the view of Himalchuli and Ganesh Himal from this village is excellent.
Leaving Chhokangparo, We walk to Ngakyua. Further, walking past remote settlements such as Leru and Lama Gaun, we will stop by Milarepa cave. The Trail then continues to Burji, Phurbe, and Pangdun villages. Then, walk past Chhule and finally reach the Nile for an overnight stay.
We have an acclimatization day. Acclimatization days are good opportunities to explore the area and hike to hidden corners. On this day, we will walk to Mu Gompa, following the valley's west side.
Mu Gompa is the largest monastery in Tsum Valley. After this place, we will ascend to Doma Gompa and return to the Nile to spend the night.
We trek back to Chhokangparo, following the same Trail. On the way, we will pass Lar village and stop by Rachen Gompa. The Trail offers superb mountain views. Before reaching Chhokangparo, we'll cross a suspension bridge.
The Trail descends to Gho village and crosses the Dumje Bridge. We will stop at Amchi, a traditional Tibetan nunnery. We will have some delicious Tibetan tea before trekking further. We must travel for another 2-3 hours before Gumpa Lundang arrives.
Today, we take another acclimatization day and hike to the Ganesh Himal base camp. The Trail needs to be better marked. We have to follow in the footsteps of our mountain guide carefully. After passing by a few houses, we will walk along a dusty zigzag route. The Trail continues through the lush forest, crosses Lundang Khola via a wooden bridge, and steeply ascends to a ridge.
We will then trek to grassy flats, walk past the Toro Gompa glacier moraine, and climb to the base camp of Ganesh Himal.
We begin the day with a delicious breakfast and start descending toward Ghumpul. The Trail descends through rhododendrons and pine forests and rejoins the Manaslu trail again. We pass by remote villages and relish the fantastic scenery of Lokpa.
Leaving Lokpa, we descend to Philim. We will walk along the Budi Gandaki River, ascend, and descend towards Philim. From here, we will walk downhill and cross a suspension bridge over the Budhi Gandaki River.
Further, passing by Sirdibas via Ghatte Khola, we walk on a rocky path to Jagat for the night stay.
The Trail descends to lower Jagat. We then walk on a rugged path and cross a suspension bridge. Further, the Trail descends through lush forests to Yarubagar. The route then becomes rocky and descends through dense woods.
We cross multiple bridges and keep walking via the forested path to Machha Khola.
Early in the morning, we will begin our scenic ride to Kathmandu. The drive becomes comfortable after passing by Arughat Bazaar. We enjoy the beautiful landscape until we reach Kathmandu. The view of the Ganesh Himal range is also superb at the start of the drive.
We will leave you in the hotel to rest and unpack. Spend the remaining day shopping and meet the team late for a farewell dinner.
The trek has ended. You can either extend your trip with us or leave for your home country today. Our airport team will drop you at the international airport terminal for your home flight.
We suggest you to hire a porter to carry your bag pack while on trek, trekking with a light day pack is much easier and you enjoy your trekking holidays to the fullest. A trekking porter carries about 20-22 Kg (about 10-11 Kg from each of you), and we suggest to hire a porter in between of two trekkers.
Tsum Valley trek is demanding, and experts rate it strenuous and are perfect if you dare to challenge yourself physically and mentally.
You must walk 5 to 7 hours daily on the steep, rough mountainous Trail.
Likewise, you will spend many days climbing 3,000 meters. Hence, reasonably good physical fitness with high endurance and willpower is a must for this trek.
The Trail begins through subtropical forests and gradually ascends along the Budhi Gandaki River. You will walk past beautiful waterfalls and cross many hanging suspension bridges.
Along the way, there are many steep uphill climbs. Once you leave behind the tree line, you walk mostly on pastures and rocky, narrow trails.
Altitude sickness is a significant concern during the Tsum Valley trekking. Even though the chance of trekkers getting altitude sickness is minimal, thanks to our well-designed itinerary and ample acclimatization days, you still have to be careful while trekking.
Refrain from doing anything (like drinking alcoholic drinks, smoking, not getting enough sleep, not eating a proper diet, or ascending more than 500 meters a day) that may trigger symptoms of altitude sickness.
If you suffer from altitude sickness during the Tsum Valley trekking, our expert mountain guide will give you first aid. He will ensure you get rid of all the symptoms before ascending further.
Below are some of the early symptoms of altitude sickness (acute mountain sickness):
To prepare for the Tsum Valley trek in Nepal, you can hike or participate in other cardio activities such as swimming, cycling, and jogging.
Similarly, go on long walks regularly with a backpack weighing 5 kg. It will help you build your walking habit. You can focus on strengthening your core and add cardio to the routine for gym bodies. You have to improve your stamina, strength, and walking.
We provide a well-trailed trekking guide for the Tsum Valley Trek Cost. Our guides are trained and know the Trail well. We provide a city guide for the city sightseeing tour in Kathmandu and a trekking guide for the whole trek; we provide additional/assistant guides for more than eight people.
Porters are not included in our price, however you can add one if you need while booking the trek.
Transportation from Kathmandu to the trek start point (Soti Khola) and from the trek end point (Machha Khola) to Kathmandu is included in our price and is on a local public bus. It is the best way to experience the local style of travel. However, it may also be uncomfortable, so we have provided an option to upgrade to a private Jeep, which you can add on when booking.
Tsum Valley Trekking Cost includes a total of 17 nights of accommodation. Three nights are in tourist-standard 3-star hotels in Kathmandu, and 14 nights are in tea houses/guest houses/Home stays. The most common accommodations are tea houses, guest houses, and home stays. These basic lodges provide meals and a place to sleep for trekkers.
They are typically family-run establishments where the locals offer a warm welcome and a glimpse into their unique culture.
The Tsum Valley Trek package includes 47 meals (17 breakfasts, 15 lunches, and 15 dinners) served in hotels/lodges. You have breakfast, dinner at the Lodges, and lunch at the Lodge along the Trail. We advise you to bring water purification pills or medicine when you come for them, or you can also buy bottled or boiled water.
