Trip Details

  • Destination: Nepal
  • Trip Difficulty: Moderate
  • Trip Style: Tea House Lodge Trek
  • Transport: Private Vehicle / Bus
  • Food: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
  • Accommodation: Hotel + Tea House Lodge
  • Group Size: 2
  • Max Elevation: 4200m

Manaslu Tsum Valley trekking is another popular trip to the Manaslu region. Mt. Manaslu (8,156 m), is the eighth highest peak in the world. Tsum Valley is one of the most exciting and least explored mountain valleys in the Manaslu region, besides it is also regarded to be a sacred valley. This trekking, therefore, is combined with the trip to a high mountain pass, a rocky and sloppy mountain range, along with the incredible valley, picturesque settlements of various ethnic communities residing alongside the trail, as one of the highest mountain peaks. Similarly, you will retrace at the side of a classic route to Mt. Manaslu.

Therefore, while trekking, you will not only have an opportunity to explore the range of mountains located in the Manaslu and Annapurna region but also Tsu, one of the most secret and incredible valleys, the picturesque settlements resided by various ethnic communities, their unique rituals, culture and lifestyles and many more, you also can extend your trekking to another amazing mountain valley called Nar-Phu valley as well. You will have an opportunity to explore around not only the rocky and sloppy hills but also the numerous Buddhist monasteries, and the holy land because Tsum Valley is regarded to have been mediated by Buddhist saint Milarepa and Buddhist Guru Padmasambhava, therefore this is one of the most adventure and pilgrimage trekking.

Alongside the picturesque trail, you will have awesome views of the mountains namely Mt. Manaslu, Himalchuli, Ganesh Himal, and numerous other mountains located in the areas, take beautiful snaps of the mountains, incredible valleys, rocky and sloppy hills, the snow-capped mountain pass namely Ngula Dhoj Hyang (5,093 m), Yamdro Pass (5,326 m). Therefore, this is regarded to be one of the adventure trekking trips in the country.

Manaslu Tsum valley trekking begins with a short drive from Kathmandu to Arughat and then your journey continues alongside Soti Khola, Machha Khola, and Jagat, your voyage passes through Chumling, Chhokangparo, and then enters into Dupchet and then Thongbu, Lungdang, Rachhen Gompa, Dumje and finally reach around Tsum valley and after making an excursion all around, you will get back to Arughat alongside the Soti Khola and then get back to Arughat, from where you will catch a public bus and then return to Kathmandu.

Best Time to Trek

March to May and September and November are considered the best time to trek in Tsum Valley. Because the weather plays an important role in completing the trek, we recommend you not to trek in the winter or rainy season. If you trek from March to May you can have clear skies, snowy mountains, and a variety of rhododendron flowers blooming at their best. If you pick September to November then there is no other time like this, due to the perfect weather.

Physical Condition, Medical and Health Requirements

During the trek, trekkers have required a maximum of 6-7 hours of walking every day. Thus, you need a good level of fitness and a strong determination which means this trek needs someone with a lot of get-up-and-go. Even though the Tsum Valley trek is well-planned with an awareness of Altitude sickness or Acute Mountain Sickness, we suggest not to trek for those guests who have heart lung, or blood diseases. The highest point of the trek is a visit to Ganesh Himal Base Camp at an elevation of 4200 meters, therefore we advise you to consult your doctor for vaccination and other medical requirements for the Tsum Valley trek due to potential Altitude sickness. Although previous trekking experience is not required for this trek, however, it would be an additional advantage.

Detail Itinerary

  • Day 01Arrival in Kathmandu
  • Day 02Trek preparation
  • Day 03Drive to Sotikhola via Arughat (730 m/2896 ft) 7-8 hours' drive
  • Day 04Trek to Machhakhola (890 m/2965 ft) 6-7 hours
  • Day 05Trek to Jagat (1,400 m/4593 ft) - Lunch at Dovan (1,340 m)
  • Day 06Trek to Lokpa (2,040 m/6692 ft) 5-6 hours
  • Day 07Trek to Chumling (2,386 m/7828 ft) 5-6 hours
  • Day 08Trek to Chhokhangparo (3031 m/9944 ft) 5-6 hours
  • Day 09Trek to Nile (3,361 m/1126 ft) 3 hours
  • Day 10Nile to Mu Gompa (3700/12139ft)-back to Chhokhangparo (3030 m) 6-7 hours
  • Day 11Trek to Gumba Lungdung (3200 m) 5-6 hours
  • Day 12Day trip to Ganesh Himal Base Camp (4,200 m) 7-8 hours
  • Day 13Gumba Lungdung to Lokpa (6-7 hours)
  • Day 14Lokpa to Lapu besi (6-7 hours)
  • Day 15Dovan to Sotikhola (6-7 hours)
  • Day 16Soti Khola to Kathmandu via Arughat
  • Day 17Final Departure
  • Day 01 Arrival in Kathmandu

    Nepal Adventure Team representative receives you at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfers you to the respective hotel. After completing the check-in procedure, you can relax in your comfortable hotel. Then you will join the welcome dinner party in the evening at a typical Nepali restaurant where you can enjoy authentic Nepali cuisine assisted by folk cultural programs.

    • Meals: Welcome Dinner
    • Accommodation: Hotel
    • Place: Kathmandu
    • Altitude: 1350 m
  • Day 02 Trek preparation

    After breakfast, you will join a guided city tour to places like historical and spiritual values including the world heritage sites of Kathmandu valley. You will first visit Kathmandu Durbar square, a landmark historic attraction that lies in the Basantpur area of Kathmandu. Then you will pay a visit to Swoyambhunath, famously known as “The Monkey Temple”. It is one of the most ancient and religious Buddhist sites in Kathmandu. Soon after Swoyambhunath, you will explore Pasupatinath, which is also one of the most sacred Hindu religious sites in the world. Then for the last visit, you head for Boudhanath, which lies about 6 kilometers east of Kathmandu and is the largest stupa in the valley. After your meaningful sightseeing, you will join a pre-trip session where Nepal Adventure Team will introduce you to your trekking guide and other crew member and discuss the trek at Nepal Adventure Team’s office. Your team leader will give you a quick briefing about your trek as well. You stay overnight in Kathmandu.

    • Meals: Breakfast
    • Accommodation: Hotel
    • Place: Kathmandu
    • Altitude: 1350 m
  • Day 03 Drive to Sotikhola via Arughat (730 m/2896 ft) 7-8 hours' drive

    Today you are going to start your day with an early morning breakfast. Then you will start your adventure trek with a scenic drive towards Sotikhola. You will drive west from Kathmandu, through Prithivi Highway. You can have a beautiful river view of the Trishuli river, after a few hours you will reach Dhading Besi, the headquarters of Dhanding Districts. Passing through the greenery hills you move forwards to Arughat. The roads here now get a little rough and tough but the beautiful view of Mt. Manaslu and Ganesh Himal Range will keep distracting you from a bumpy ride. Finally, you then reach Sotikhola after two hours drive from Arughat. In total, it takes about seven to eight hours of driving to reach Sotikhola, including the multiple stops for a short break and lunch. After you reach Sotikhola, you will stay at a comfortable and cozy lodge in Soti Khola and have a good sound sleep.

    • Day 04 Trek to Machhakhola (890 m/2965 ft) 6-7 hours

      Today you head towards Machhakhola which takes you about six to seven hours. You are going to start your trek by crossing the bridge and walking through the beautiful Sal forest, you then climb onto a ridge above the huge rapids of the Budhi Gandaki. Continue on you then reach Khursani, by passing through the rocky and troublesome trail. Near khursani, you will admire the two wonderful small waterfalls. Then you will be trekking down to Lapu Besi (880 m), which is a small Gurung settlement through the terrace rice field you reach Lapu Besi. Continuing on the rocky trail, climbing up and down on the wide gravel bars. Your trail then takes you to the sandy banks of the Budhi Gandaki river. At last, you reach Machhakhola where you are going to spend your night.

      • Day 05 Trek to Jagat (1,400 m/4593 ft) - Lunch at Dovan (1,340 m)
        Today, yet again you are going to walk up and down and across the sandy river bed. Later, you will cross Tharo Khola to reach Khorla Besi (960 m). Continue on a narrow trail and a few more ups and downs you can find a small trackside hot spring at Tatopani. As you trek further, the valley gets narrower, you then climb over a ridge and cross the Budhi Gandaki river via a suspension bridge. After crossing the bridge, you continue to climb on a wide, well-designed staircase across a landslide and then over a ridge that takes you to Dovan (1000 m). Here in Dovan, you reward yourself with a hearty lunch and you continue on following the trail which now ascends up to the Budhi Gandaki river. Enjoying the beautiful nature, you arrive at Yuri Khola (1363 m). From here you have to climb more stone stairs to reach Tharo Bharyang. Then passing through paved stones and climbing over a ridge you then reach Jagat, which lies on the west side of the Budhi Gandaki river.
        • Day 06 Trek to Lokpa (2,040 m/6692 ft) 5-6 hours

          You will follow the sandy banks for a bit and then descend to Sirdibas (1430 m). Following the steep path, you will continue upriver on the left bank after crossing a suspension bridge to reach Philim (1590 m). It is a beautiful Gurung village surrounded by terrace rice fields. You then walk past Philim to the north, along with the view of the narrowing valley across a forest. Walking further you reach Ekle Bhatti (1600 m). Passing through the gorge and the pine tree forests, your trail descends down to Tsum valley. Climb further on zig-zag steps, you can have a first glimpse of the narrow lower Tsum valley. Finally, walking through the forest, you reach Lokpa (2040 m), surrounded by rice fields where you can have a spectacular view of HimalChuli (7893 m), Ganesh Himal (7422 m), Shringeri Himal (7187 m), and many more. You are going to stay at a comfortable lodge in Lokpa.

          • Day 07 Trek to Chumling (2,386 m/7828 ft) 5-6 hours

            Your trail descends half an hour towards Lunga Khola, along with the view of Ganesh Himal and Boudha Himal you continue moving on the zig-zag difficult trail for two hours through a pine forest you then reach Gumlung (2130 m). Your trail follows the steep path until you reach Ripchet (2470 m), further moving onwards very carefully due to the difficult trail, you cross a wooden bridge over a Shier Khola towards Chumling, your destination for today. You are going to stay overnight tonight. You can visit old Gompa and traditional beautiful houses, accompanied by Shringeri Himal in Chumling.

            • Day 08 Trek to Chhokhangparo (3031 m/9944 ft) 5-6 hours

              Today you head towards Chhokhangparo. unlike all the other days, today you are going to walk a relatively easy trail. During the trek, you will cross the long suspension bridge on the opposite bank. Continue on your stop for lunch at Rainjham (2400 m). Then you move along with Ganesh Himal side by side, with the beautiful view you continue walking to cross Serpu Khola. Finally, the beautiful village of Chhokhangparo awaits you nestled under cliffs. You stay overnight at Chhokhangparo.

              • Day 09 Trek to Nile (3,361 m/1126 ft) 3 hours
                Today you are going to walk towards the Nile. Due to the fact that altitude sickness generally occurs above 2,500 meters, you must watch for signs of altitude sickness during the walk. You head east to Lamagaon (3202) through the rice fields and river to the huge courtyard of the Rachen Gompa (3240 m), also known as Nunnery Gompa which is a female equivalent of Kopan Monastery. Moving on, you visit to cave Milarepa’s cave (Piren Phu). You Pass through the villages of Phurbe (3251 m), Pangdun (3258 m), and Chule (3357 m). Finally, you reach the Nile (3361 m) after crossing the bridge over Shier Khola. You stay overnight at the Nile.
                • Day 10 Nile to Mu Gompa (3700/12139ft)-back to Chhokhangparo (3030 m) 6-7 hours

                  Today you leave your bag pack in Nile and head for MU Gompa. You trek the east side of the river, your trail ascends to Mu Gompa (3700 m), the largest monastery in the Tsum valley region. Located at the highest point of the Tsum valley Mu Gomba provides you beautiful mountain view. After exploring Mu Gomba you returned to the Nile, collect your bag pack and head down to Chhokhangparo. You stay overnight in Chhokhanparo.

                  • Day 11 Trek to Gumba Lungdung (3200 m) 5-6 hours

                    Today you leave behind Chhokhangparo. After about two hours of walking on the trail, you reach Gho (2485 m). Continue on, you cross a wooden bridge over Shier Khola to reach Dumje (2440 m) where you can find Tibetan medicine herbal clinic and school. Passing through the pine and rhododendron forest you will walk a zig-zag steep trail to reach Gomba Lungdung (3200 m) which is a small Gomba, perched on the ridge above the rhododendron forest for nuns. You stay overnight at Monasteries, watching beautiful mountains in all directions.

                    • Day 12 Day trip to Ganesh Himal Base Camp (4,200 m) 7-8 hours

                      Today you will visit Ganesh Himal Base Camp. You will walk through a slightly difficult trail. Passing through the forest you will reach Lundung Khola on the west bank on the wooden bridge which is poorly managed. Then you climb up to the rhododendron forest onto a ridge through the steep trail which leads you to Kharka where you can find stone huts. Continue on you will find a track on grassy land and moraine of the Torogumba glacier, after a couple of hours of walking finally you reach the Ganesh Himal base Camp. You will spend some

                      time admiring mother nature and then return to Gumba Lungdung. You stay overnight at Gumba Lungdung.

                      • Day 13 Gumba Lungdung to Lokpa (6-7 hours)

                        Today you will head back to Lokpa, you are going to start early. Following the trail, you will descend down from Gumba Lungdung you reach Dumje where you will cross the Shier Khola. Climb over some deep gorge, pass through dense forest and cross a suspension bridge to Ripchet (2470 m). Continue on you will walk the steep stairs of Ghumlung, which you passed through already, and then passing through a dense pine forest, you reach Lokpa. You stay overnight at Lokpa.

                        • Day 14 Lokpa to Lapu besi (6-7 hours)

                          Today returning back you head for Dovan. You will walk down the trail which takes you to Philim. Following the same Budhi Gandaki trail, you descend down to Sirdibas. Continue on you then reach Jagat, after crossing a few suspension bridges. Moving on you reach Dovan. Stay overnight at Dovan.

                          • Day 15 Dovan to Sotikhola (6-7 hours)

                            Your trail follows the Budhi Gandaki river which takes you to Tatopani. After Tatopani you will walk towards Khorla Besi, you will also cross Tharo Khola and head down to Machhi Khola. Continue on you will walk along with Budhi Gandaki River to reach the beautiful village Lapu Besi. Walking through the steep rocky trail you then reach Khursani and through the Sal forest, you reach SotiKhola after crossing a bridge.

                            • Day 16 Soti Khola to Kathmandu via Arughat

                              Today you descend down to Arkhet. Then you cross the Arkhet Khola, leaving behind the Budhi Gandaki valley. You arrive at Sante Bazaar and passing through a hydroelectric plant you then reach Arughat Bazaar.

                              From Arughat, you drive back to Kathmandu by private jeep or a bus, along the banks of Trishuli and Marsyangdi River with the splendid view of greenery hills and forests, mountains, terrace rice fields, and villages. You will have a scenic drive through Prithivi Highway. Soon after you reach Kathmandu you will be transferred to your respective hotel. Later you will join a farewell dinner in the evening, you will celebrate your successful adventure trek.

                              • Day 17 Final Departure

                                After so many days of traveling together, we will bid our farewell to each other. Nepal Adventure Team will take you to the airport about three hours before the scheduled flight. Have a safe flight back to your home country and we hope you will plan your next adventure trek with us.

                                What's Included

                                Included

                                • The airport picks up and drops by private vehicles.
                                • All ground transportation from Kathmandu to Arughat by regular bus.
                                • All accommodation in tea houses, lodge accommodation during the trek.
                                • A Three-star hotel in Kathmandu
                                • All standard meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner).
                                • Welcome and a farewell dinner
                                • English-speaking, government license holder trek leader and assistant guide for above six Pax, with a porter to help you with your luggage (2 trekkers:1 porters)
                                • All porterage’s cost and coverage for trek leaders, including their meals, salary, lodging, transportation, and other expenses.
                                • Sleeping bag, down jackets, duffel bags and walking pole for the trek (down jacket, sleeping bags and walking pole are to be returned after the trip)
                                • All government local taxes and official expenses.
                                • Nepal Adventure’s Team company’s t-shirts and medical kit.
                                • Nepal Adventure Team company’s appreciation of certificate after successfully completing the trek.
                                • Rescue arrangements
                                • All necessary paperwork and permits for the trek

                                Excluded

                                • Nepal Visa fee
                                • International airfare to and from home city
                                • Travel and rescue insurance
                                • Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, bar bills, hot showers, battery re-charge) and extra porters
                                • Tips for guides and porters
                                • Travel insurance

                                Client Reviews

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                                  Rating Review by: Johnson, Australia

                                  Unbeaten Trail and Tibetan Buddhism main Attraction

                                  When I came to Nepal, I had no idea how I’d be treated and how my experience would be since this is the first time I was traveling to Nepal. But from what I experienced, I must say that it is one of the most beautiful countries with the friendliest people. I went along with Nepal Adventure Team members who organized my trek. They introduced me to the Tibetan Buddhist people there. I was scared that I would not be getting good accommodation since the area is said to be remote. However, my tour manager had it all under control. I got to have nice clean rooms and hot Nepali meals. I am planning on going on yet another tour with Nepal Adventure Team in November 2018.

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                                  Rating Review by: Amelia, Canada

                                  Rich Culture, and Trans Himalaya Region

                                  If you are planning to go to the Tsum Valley trek or any other trek in Nepal then I highly recommend that you contact with Nepal Adventure Team. They are the best travel agency that I have ever traveled with. From my landing here in Nepal to departing for home, the team has made me feel at home and I’ve never had a single difficulty throughout the trek. One of the best things about the trek beside the magnificent Manaslu was the interesting people and their rich culture.