Tsum Valley Trek lies in northern Gorkha. It is rich in ancient art, culture, and religion. The locals here trace their origin to Tibet and speak their own dialect. Being one of the remotest Himalayan valleys, the pristine beauty of this valley makes the trek much more enjoyable and pleasant. The valley provides outstanding views of several mountains, including Ganesh Himal, Shringi Himal, and Boudha Himal.
The treks to the Tsum Valley were restricted as recently as 2008. The villagers are highly spiritual evident from the several monasteries located here. The Rachen and Mu Gompas are the most prominent monasteries in this valley. This region is also rich in biodiversity, and the forests, rivers, and caves make this valley worth visiting.
Your trek will start with a scenic drive to Arughat, followed by Soti Khola. We follow the Budhi Gandaki valley upstream in the north, passing by many villages and forests full of rhododendron and pine trees. From Soti Khola, we head to Jagat and then to Lokpa, the entrance to the Tsum Valley.
From Lokpa, we head further north to Chumling, the home to three famous monasteries – Pango Gumba, Gurwa Gumba, and Mani Dhungyr. This village also provides fantastic views of Manaslu (8,163m), Himal Chuli (7,893m), and Ganesh Himal(7,140m). The next day you will leave Chumling and head to Chhokangparo past Domje village, the largest in the Tsum Valley.
As the trails slowly ascend, the sub-tropical forests give way to alpine pastures and high mountain deserts. From Chhokangparo, we head northwards, passing Milarepa Prien Phu Cave (the most sacred cave in this region), and then Phurbe to reach the Nile. After spending a night at the Nile, we head further north and reach Mu Gompa, the northernmost point of the trek.
People believe that the Buddhist Guru Milarepa meditated in the caves within the mountains of Tsum Valley. The Shear Khola (river) that starts from the Ganesh Himal glacier drains this valley into the Budhi Gandaki River.
After reaching Mu Gompa, it is time to return. We take a slightly different path from Phurbe, reaching Rachen Gompa on the ninth day. From Rachen Gompa, we start walking south, reaching Domje, from where we head to Ganesh Himal Base Camp (4,800m) via Gumba Lungdang.
From Ganesh Himal, we head back to Lokpa and then to Jagat. After spending a night at Jagat, we head to Lapu Bensi and finally to Arughat, from where we take a local bus back to Kathmandu.
Overview
Tsum Valley Trekking ,Hidden within the pristine beauty of Gorkha, the TSUM valley trek lies before the Manaslu range of Nepal. Manaslu is the world’s eighth-highest mountain, with a height of 8,163 meters. The Valley lies in the central north of Nepal, in the northern part of Manaslu.
This pristine mountain harbours many beautiful valleys that lie within a few hundred kilometers range from Kathmandu. One such remote valley in Nepal is the Tsum Valley. The tourists have recently recognized the unbelievable natural beauty and the rich culture of Tsum.
The Tsum Valley trek is the most underrated adventure in Nepal. The name Tsum represents a Tibetan word that marks “Tsombo”; meaning is Vivid. Even the name reflects the diverse culture, unique lifestyle, and myth/ mystery of this village. From the insight into the polyandry system (off-course illegal) to the tales of Yeti or Abominable snowmen, the valley has so much to uncover.
The Tsum Valley Trek with Manaslu is a one-of-a-kind trek during which you can see panoramic mountain vistas. You can see Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Himalchuli, and dozens of other peaks on the journey.
This trek is a hidden jewel of Nepal, where its visitors can see several ancient monasteries, gompas, Mani Walls, rotating prayer wheels, and fluttering prayer flags along the route. The rich Tibet culture will surely give you salvation and peace.
Recently upgraded to a teahouse trekking trail, you can now conquer Tsum’s beauty while enjoying the comfort and luxury of newly built teahouses.
Trip Highlights
- The Tsum Valley was not open to outside trekkers until 2008.
- This is a conservation area, with unique and elusive wildlife befitting this remote area.
- Not only are there rough mountain trails but pine and rhododendron forests, valleys, and rivers.
- Mt Manaslu is the 8th highest mountain in the world!
- Visit the cave where the ancient Buddhist scholar and yogi, Milarepa, meditated hundreds of years ago.
- Meet locals whose culture is very close to Tibet, in fact, many people living in this area migrated from Tibet in the distant past.
- Experience the Tsum Valley’s unique festivals, such as Lhosar (Tibetan New Year).
- Discover the hidden valley’s sacred monasteries, such as Mu Gompa and Rachen Gompa, which are rich in history and spiritual significance.
- Get a glimpse across the border into Tibet.
- Walk over high suspension and cantilever bridges with the rivers raging below.
