Tsum Valley Trek

Detail Itinerary

• Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1350 m)

  Upon your arrival at the Tribhuvan International airport, the representative of Destination Himalaya treks gives you warm welcome in the adventurous Himalayan country Nepal. Then, transfer to the hotel for an overnight stay.

• Day 02: Drive from Kathmandu to Soti Khola (700m) 8 hrs drive

  In the morning, drive to Soti Khola in a public bus admiring the beautiful views on the way. After 8 hours, arrive at Soti Khola. Overnight in a teahouse.

  Option: You can also ride on a private jeep for a comfortable ride.

• Day 03: Trek from Soti Khola to Machha Khola (930m) 5-6 hours

  Cross a bridge and pass the Sal tree forest. Ascend and descend on the rocky trail and pass waterfalls, and Liding and Lapu Besi. Then, arrive at Machha Khola. Overnight in a teahouse.

• Day 04: Trek from Machha Khola to Jagat (1340m) 6-7 hours

  The trail path is narrow and ascending and descending from here to reach Khorlabesi. Next, cross the villages of Tatopani, Dobhan, and Tharo Bharyang. Ascend for a while and reach Jagat for an overnight stay.

• Day 05: Trek from Jagat to Lokpa (2240m) 6 hours

  Cross the longest suspension bridge here after passing Sirdibas. Then, climb uphill to Philim and Ekle Bhatti. Pass through the forested trail and reach Lokpa for an overnight stay.

• Day 06: Trek from Lokpa to Chumling (2386m) 4 hours

  Walk on a steep trail through pine and rhododendron forests and cross Ripchet. From here, proceed on an ascending trail and arrive at Chumling. Overnight in a teahouse.

• Day 07: Trek from Chumling to Chokhang Paro (2386m) 4 hours

  Admire the stunning views of Ganesh Himal and traverse a bridge. Pass Gho and climb uphill for a few hours to reach Chokhang Paro. Overnight in a teahouse.

• Day 08: Trek from Chokhang Paro to the Nile (3361m) 4 hours

  Walk on an ascending trail and traverse a suspension bridge. Pass through the villages of Phurbe, Pangdun, and Chhule. Ascend slowly as the altitude is rising. Traverse a bridge and walk a little further and arrive at Nile. Overnight in a teahouse.

• Day 09: Trek from Nile to Mu Gompa (3700m) 3-4 hrs

  The trail is ascending but adoring the surrounding vistas reach Mu Gompa. The century-old monastery preserves religious relics and books. Explore the beautiful monastery which has a big statue of Avalokiteswara and images of Goddess Tara and Guru Padmasambhava. Overnight in a teahouse.

• Day 10: Trek from Mu Gompa to Rachen Gompa (3240m) 4 hours

  From Mu Gompa, descend towards Rachen Gompa. On the way, there is an ancient Milarepa Cave. Visit the cave and get a glimpse of the footprint of Milarepa on the rock. After a short visit, proceed further and arrive at the largest nunnery Rachen Gompa in the Tsum valley. Explore the Gompa where you can see Buddhism-related paintings and murals. Overnight in a teahouse.

• Day 11: Trek from Rachen Gompa to Gumba Lungdang (3200m) 6 hours

  Traverse Chokhang Paro and a bridge to reach Dumje. Then, a steep ascend trail on a zigzag and rough trail. Walk past the forest and arrive at Gumba Lungdang. Get stunning views of snow-capped mountains and explore the Gumba. Attend the evening prayer inside the Gomba and overnight stay.

• Day 12: Trek from Gumba Lungdang to Ganesh Himal Base Camp (4200m) and back to Gumba Lungdang 7-8 hours

  The trek to Ganesh Himal Base Camp is tough due to the rough trail, and high elevation. So, climb slowly and walk through the pine and rhododendron trees forest. After a few hours, reach the base camp. The stunning surrounding views of Lamjung Himal, Manaslu Himal, Ganesh Himal, and other peaks make the ascend a worthy experience. Click some pictures and back to Gumba Lungdang for an overnight stay.

• Day 13: Trek from Gumba Lungdang to Lokpa (2240m) 5-6 hours

  The trail consists of several ascends and descends and a flat path. Walk on these trails crossing several rivers and beautiful Ripchet village and reach Lokpa. Overnight in a teahouse.

• Day 14: Trek from Lokpa to Jagat (1340m) 5-6 hours

  Walk on a descending trail and pass several villages of Philim, Sirdibas, and Gatte Khola. Admire the picturesque beauty throughout the trail. Arrive at Jagat for an overnight stay.

• Day 15: Trek from Jagat to Lapu Besi (900m)

  Cross a suspension bridge and walk through the lush forest. Cross alongside several rivers including Machha Khola. A short descent walks from there to reach Lapu Besi. Overnight in a teahouse.

• Day 16: Trek from Lapu Besi to Arughat (535m) 5-6 hours

  An easy trek starts with descending and passing Soti Khola and other settlements. Arrive at Arughat for an overnight stay. 

• Day 17: Drive from Arughat to Kathmandu by Public bus for 6-7 hours

  Take a public bus or private jeep ride at your convenience to return to Kathmandu by enjoying scenic views. Take a rest at a hotel. In the evening, join us for a cultural farewell dinner. Overnight in a hotel.

• Day 18: Final Departure

  We hope you had great fun and collect some sweet memories from the trek. Our representative transfer you to the airport for the final departure.

• Travel Info

  Accommodation

  Accommodations in the Tsum Valley Trek are mostly locally operated teahouses/guesthouses. A simple room with basic facilities but comfortable at the same time. In the lower regions, one can get a room with an attached bathroom too. But at the higher region and the peak seasons, room sharing must be done. The bathroom is also outside in the higher region. You must pay an additional amount to use the electricity, Wi-Fi, laundry, and hot bucket water.

  Meals

  The 3-course full meals are served during the entire trek in the Tsum Valley. Since the Manaslu region is remote, don’t expect to get all types of meals. The meals are simple but with good energy portions for the trekkers to trek. Nepali Dal-Bhat is a good energy source for trekkers. Besides this, noodles, soups, fresh green vegetables, hot tea, etc. are served. The people here is a believer in Buddhism and doesn’t kill animals. So, there is the least chance of getting meat products. It is always a good idea to carry some light snacks and choco bars with you.

  Drinking water

  Drinking water is easily available. You can fill up the water at the teahouses paying an extra amount or purchase bottled water. It is convenient to carry a water bottle and water purifying kits for safety.

  Communication

  The internet connectivity and phone networks are stable in the lower regions whereas it is hard to find the networks in the higher region. For the use of Wi-Fi, pay an additional charge at the teahouses or purchase a local sim with a data pack. And for emergencies, there is a satellite phone facility.

  Transport

  Manaslu region is an off-beat trekking trail. Hence, the trails are not much developed compared to the Annapurna region. There is no airway transport facility like the Everest region and hence this region has no airport. One and the only best means of transport in this region is a public vehicle or private jeep ride to Soti Khola.

  Starting and Ending points

  The starting point is Soti Khola and the ending point is Arughat.

  Required Permits

  Tsum Valley Restricted Area Permit

  • USD 40/week per person + USD 7/person (each day after a week) [Sep-Nov]
  • USD 30/week per person + USD 7/person (each day after a week) [Dec-Aug]

  
  Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP)

  • Foreigners- USD 30/person
  • SAARC- NPR 1000/person

  
  Travel Insurance

  Travel Insurance is very helpful and a safety net for travelers/trekkers. Travel Insurance must cover all medical emergencies, flight cancelations, emergency evacuations, loss of luggage, and altitudes over 3000 m.

  Safety and our guides

  We assure you 100% when it comes to safety. Our client’s safety is our main concern. Our guides are certified and well-trained with years of expertise in this field. They are technically competent and have excelled in safety performance. They always carry essential safety equipment, gear, and first-aid kits. For the safety of our trekkers, the itinerary is properly scheduled and acclimatization rest days are properly set up to adjust to the high altitude and prevent altitude sickness. If any queries concerning safety, feel free to share them with our guides. We are always there for your services.

  Best time for Tsum Valley Trek

  Spring (Mar-May) and Autumn (Sep-Nov) seasons are the best time for the Tsum Valley Trek. The weather is clear and sunny during these seasons. Despite the trail being off-beat and rough, the trail is comfortable to walk. Rainy and Winter season treks are not recommended and are only for experienced trekkers. Only a few adventurous trekkers dare to trek during these seasons. During these seasons, the trails are slippery, muddy, and snowy. Also, the availability of accommodation is very less. So, we recommend you plan carefully if you want to trek during the off-season.

  Tsum Valley Trek Difficulty

  Tsum Valley in the Manaslu region is remote, and therefore the trek is challenging. The trails are least developed, off-beat, and rough. There are several ascend and descend which makes it tougher for trekkers to trek. Besides this, high elevations, changes in climate, and unavailability of all major facilities are other factors that make this trek difficult. But, with proper planning and assistance before the start of the trek, this Tsum Valley trek is possible. We recommend you participate in exercises, day hikes, and physical training months before starting the trek. Also, take necessary health tests before trekking to high altitudes. You can completely trust our assistance and guidelines throughout the trekking journey.

  Acclimatization and Altitude Sickness

  Acclimatization rest is necessary during trekking. So, in between the treks, upon reaching your daily destinations acclimatize properly. It helps to prevent altitude sickness and adjust to higher altitudes. Ganesh Himal Base Camp at an elevation of 4200m is the trek’s highest point. Altitude sickness in the mountains is normal. It can happen to anyone. By acknowledging its symptoms and with accurate preventive guidelines, altitude sickness can be cured.

  Symptoms of Altitude Sickness

  Primary: Headache, nausea, gasping, appetite & sleep loss, dizziness, fatigue, vomiting

  Extreme: primary symptoms and hallucinations & unconsciousness

  Preventive Guidelines

  • Immediately inform the guide
  • Warm-up, and body stretch before the trekking journey
  • Drink water and Hydrate yourself at regular intervals
  • Frequent urination throughout the journey
  • Ascend slowly and gradually
  • Take plenty of rest and sleep
  • Avoid salty foods, alcohol, and smoking
  • Descend immediately when it’s difficult/uneasy
  • Take medicine consulting a guide