Tsum Valley Trek

Welcome to Nepal. Upon your arrival at Kathmandu airport, you will meet our representative who will transfer you to your hotel after customary welcome rituals. Remaining time is free for independent activities.

Today, you will enjoy a sightseeing trip in Kathmandu Valley while we take care of your permits. Visit Swoyambhunath Stupa, Kathmandu Durbar Square and Pashupatinath Stupa – all three are UNESCO World Heritage sites – and return to your hotel. After lunch, you will attend a trip briefing session with your guide who will also check your gear. Do some last minute shopping, pack your bags and get ready to enjoy amazing time in the mountains.

The day begins with a drive to your trek starting point at Soti Khola. The drive is pleasing as you get to see the beautiful countryside of Nepal today passing through beautiful villages and terraced fields, and crossing several snow-fed rivers. Once you leave the highway, however, the road is unpaved which adds thrills to your drive. A drive of some eight hours will take you to Soti Khola from where your trek to Tsum Valley begins. You will stay in a cosy teahouse.

Your holiday in the mountains begins in earnest today. This will give you an idea of how a typical day in the trek looks like. The day will begin with breakfast at your trek. You will walk for about six hours in average and have lunch after a walk of about four hours. Your walk will follow the Budhi Gandaki River which originates from the glaciers of Mount Manaslu. You will get introduced with the ups and downs pretty early as the trail often contours high above the river before falling again to the river bank. You will stop for lunch at a beautiful settlement of Lapubesi. A walk of couple of hours after lunch will take you to Machhakhola where you will spend your night. Machhakhola is a small settlement sitting near the confluence of Machhakhola and Budhi Gandaki. Machhakhola translates into river of fishes in Nepali.

The trail today goes along Budhi Gandaki River. After a short walk, you will reach the settlement of Khorlabesi after crossing a small rivulet on a suspension bridge. The walk is pleasing as the trail passes through forested area with lush vegetation. You will also pass by a natural hot spring site. Continuing further, you will stop at a place called Dobhan for lunch. As the name suggests, Dobhan means confluence in Nepali, this settlement sits near the confluence of a small rivulet with Budhi Gandaki. After lunch, the valley opens up a bit as you reach a short cantilever section. It narrows down again, but opens up again soon. After a short walk, cross the river and trek to the village of Jagat and further to Salleri where you will spend the night.

Today you will leave the main Round Manaslu trail and enter Tsum Valley. After a short walk from Salleri and passing through the settlement of Sirdibas, cross the river on a suspension bridge and make climb to Philim. You can have lunch here or continue further to Eklebhatti where the Tsum Valley trail splits. The left one progresses to the Manaslu Base Camp, while the right one climbs up toward Tsum Valley. No sooner you enter Tsum Valley, you will notice a different vibe as the trail is less crowded. The trail could be all to yourself as only a few trek to Tsum Valley compared to Manaslu Circuit or the Everest or the Annapurnas. After a walk of couple of hours from Eklebhatti, you will reach your destination Lhokpa with beautiful terraced field sitting amid a thick forest.

You are officially in Tsum Valley as Lhokpa is considered an entry point to the sacred valley. The trail enters forested area of rhododendron, juniper and pine after leaving Lhokpa and gradually makes a descent to Lungwa River valley. The trail offers mesmerizing view of Bouddha Himal and Ganesh Himal, among others. They valley narrows down but opens up once you reach Gumling and then to Chumling. Explore the village after you take some refreshments in your teahouse. Chumling is a small settlement with a health post and communication facility. You can see people busy in household and farm works. You can also visit Panago, Mani Dhungyur and Gurwa monasteries.

Chhokang Paro, which is made of two settlements Chhokang and Paro, sits on a flat land above the river which we have been following since departing Lhokpa. Weather permitting, we can enjoy beautiful views of Himchuli, Bauddha Himal and Ganesh Himal peaks from the trail. The trail passes through the settlement of Rainjam to Serpu Khola and then to Gho. From Gho, a tiring climb of couple of hours will take you to Chhokang Paro. Chhokang Paro is considered the entrance to Upper Tsum Valley. After checking into your lodge, you will have time to explore the village and the surroundings.

It's a relatively easy walk today. The trail is mostly on the leveled surface and you will gain only about 300 meters today. The trail passes through beautiful terraced fields, sparse settlements, chhortens, mani walls and ancient monasteries. Explore Chule monastery, which lies on the way, and also Nile monastery which is located right at the village of Nile where you will be staying for the night.

You will reach Mu Gumba – the farthest point of this trek – today. As usual, start walking after eating breakfast at your teahouse and continue upward along the banks of the Shiar Khola. You can see the valley narrow down and the trail rises above the river as you climb upward. A hike of about three hours will take you to Mug Gumba. Mu Gumba is one of the oldest monasteries in the region. From Mu Gumba, a trail continues northward to Yangdol La Pass which is used for trade with Tibet. You can see yak trains bringing supplies from Tibet. After lunch, explore the monastery and interact with the Lamas to know more about Tibetan Buddhism.

Time to retrace your steps back. Bid adieu to Mu Gomba and follow the same trail downward through the settlements of Nile, Chule, Pangdun and Phurbe. After Bursi, however, the trail splits and we take the new trail on the left bank of the river toward Rachen monastery. Rachen monastery is an important nunnery in Tsum Valley. The monastery, along with Mu Gomba, is believed to have been built in the 1930s. After lunch at Rachen Gumba, cross Shiar Khola to join the main trail and continue to Chhokang Paro. Stay in one of the teahouses here.

Leaving Chhokang Paro, the trail drops for a couple of hours to the settlement of Gho. From Gho, descend to the river and climb across to the small settlement of Dumje. Go behind the Tibetan clinic and start climbing up pine and rhododendron forests toward Gumba Lungdang. Gumba Lungdang -- a nunnery -- is perched on a ridge above a river Lungdang River that originates from Ganesh Himal. The monastery houses some 40 nuns. In the evening, participate in the special worship at the monastery. Dormitory .

Carrying lunchpack in your daypack, make a descent on a zigzag track to the lower track and continue up the valley. Afte a short walk, the trail drops to the Lungdang River which you will cross on a creaky wooden bridge to reach the west bank. The climb through pine and rhododendron forests is steep initially. The trail starts to flatten, however, as the trees make way to beautiful yak pastures. Going further, you will reach moraine of the glacier coming from Ganesh Himal which offers you breathtaking views of Pabil, Ganesh II and Salasungo peaks. After enjoying the views, return back to Gumba Lungdang.

A long day awaits! After early breakfast, leave Gumba Lungdang and reach Dumji. Cross the Lungdang River but continue on the left bank of Shiar Khola river to climb to the settlement of Ripchet (2470m). Enjoy the picturesque view of the expansive barley and potato fields. Chhortens and player flags make the scene even more pictuesque. Leave Rupchet by descending on stone pave trail to the river at Ghumlong (2130m). You join the main trail here. Make one final push through thick forest to Lkhopa where you will spend the night.

The trail descends from Lokpa and soon reach the confluence of Shiar Khola with Budhi Gandaki. Continue downstream of Budhi Gandaki to the bustling settlement of Philim. Make further descent to Sirdibas and Jagat to reach the beautiful and then to the small town of Dobhan which sits on a river confluence.

Last walking day of the trip. Continue the walk along the Budhi Gandaki through Tatopani, Khorlabesi and Machha Khola to reach the road head at Soti Khola. Check into one of the lodges.

After breakfast, board a private car and start a pleasing drive toward Kathmandu. It's a dirt track initially, but you will enjoy drive on a busy black-topped road as the day progresses. Most of the drive is along Budhi Gandaki and Trishuli rivers. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, we will tansfer you to your hotel. In the evening, attend a farewell dinner hosted by the company to celebrate the success of your trek.

Your last day in Nepal! After breakfast, our representative will transfer you to the airport for your return flight. While returning home, you will have plenty of time to reflect on the good memories that you had during the trek and plan your next holiday.