Trekking · Nepal
The Tsum Valley Trek
A 10–14 day trek into a sacred hidden Buddhist valley off the Manaslu route, rich in Tibetan culture and monasteries like Mu Gompa.
The Tsum Valley is a sacred, hidden Buddhist valley that branches off the Manaslu trail towards the Tibetan border. Sealed off for generations and opened to trekkers only in 2008, it remains one of Nepal's most culturally intact corners — a restricted area where you trek with a licensed guide and at least two companions. The reward is a living Tibetan Buddhist world of gompas, mani walls, sky-burial sites and villages where hunting is forbidden by religious vow.
Overview and highlights
"Tsum" comes from the Tibetan word for vivid, and the valley lives up to it: barley terraces, chortens and prayer-flag-draped ridges framed by Ganesh Himal and the peaks along the border. Highlights include the cliff-side Milarepa's Cave (Piren Phu), the village monasteries of Chhokangparo and Rachen Gompa, and the remote, windswept Mu Gompa at the head of the valley near 3,700 m, the spiritual heart of upper Tsum. The valley is famous for its peaceful, deeply devout communities.
Itinerary
A representative 12-day plan combining the approach with the valley looks like this:
| Day | Stage | Approx. altitude |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drive Kathmandu to Soti Khola / Machha Khola | 900 m |
| 2–3 | Machha Khola to Jagat to Lokpa | 2,040 m |
| 4 | Lokpa to Chumling | 2,390 m |
| 5 | Chumling to Chhokangparo | 3,030 m |
| 6 | Chhokangparo to Nile / Chhule | 3,360 m |
| 7 | Visit Mu Gompa and Milarepa's Cave | 3,700 m |
| 8 | Descend to Chhokangparo | 3,030 m |
| 9–10 | Chhokangparo to Chumling to Lokpa | 2,040 m |
| 11 | Lokpa to Machha Khola | 900 m |
| 12 | Drive out to Kathmandu | varies |
Many trekkers continue from Lokpa onto the Manaslu Circuit trek for a fuller three-week loop.
Difficulty and fitness
This is a moderate trek with no high pass on the valley itself, topping out near 3,700 m at Mu Gompa. The challenges are remoteness, long valley days and very basic lodges rather than extreme altitude. Regular hikers with reasonable fitness cope well, but the gentle gain still means you should understand altitude sickness and not rush the climb to the upper villages.
Best time
Autumn (October–November) and spring (March–May) offer the clearest weather and the best chance to catch a monastery festival. Winter is cold and many lodges close, while the summer monsoon brings rain, leeches and landslide risk on the lower Budhi Gandaki trail.
Permits and cost
Tsum is a restricted area, so you need the Tsum Valley Restricted Area Permit (RAP) — about USD 40 per person per week from September to November and roughly USD 30 per week from December to August — plus the MCAP conservation permit at about USD 25–30. If you also walk the Manaslu Circuit, you must buy the separate Manaslu RAP as well. A registered agency, licensed guide and at least two trekkers are required; see trekking permits in Nepal. Guided trips typically run USD 900–1,500, and travel insurance covering remote-area trekking and evacuation is strongly advised.
Accommodation
Simple teahouses and homestays line the route, so you carry a daypack and sleep in village lodges. Standards are more basic than on busier trails — expect shared rooms, plain food and limited electricity higher up — so bring a warm sleeping bag and few expectations of comfort.
Getting there
The trek begins with a long drive from Kathmandu to the Soti Khola or Machha Khola trailhead in Gorkha, the same approach as the Manaslu Circuit, and returns by the same road. Because the two routes share a trailhead and diverge at Lokpa, Tsum pairs naturally with Manaslu or, for a different restricted-area experience, the Nar Phu Valley trek. For packing and acclimatisation advice, read our Nepal trekking guide.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Tsum Valley trek?+
On its own the Tsum Valley trek takes about 10 to 14 days, depending on how far up the valley you go and your road transfers. It is most often combined with the Manaslu Circuit into a longer cultural traverse of roughly three weeks.
Where is the Tsum Valley?+
Tsum is a remote, hidden Himalayan valley in the Gorkha district, branching north off the Manaslu trail near Lokpa towards the Tibetan border. Long sealed off to outsiders, it is a deeply traditional Tibetan Buddhist enclave that only opened to trekkers in 2008.
What permits do I need for the Tsum Valley?+
You need the Tsum Valley Restricted Area Permit (RAP) plus the Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP) permit, and if you continue onto the Manaslu Circuit you also need the Manaslu RAP. As a restricted area it requires a registered agency, a licensed guide and a minimum of two trekkers.
How much does the Tsum Valley RAP cost?+
The Tsum Valley RAP costs about USD 40 per person per week from September to November and around USD 30 per week from December to August. MCAP adds roughly USD 25–30. Combining Tsum with the Manaslu Circuit means buying both restricted-area permits.
How hard is the Tsum Valley trek?+
It is moderate by Himalayan standards — there is no high pass on the valley itself, with the upper monasteries around 3,700 metres. The challenge is the remoteness, basic lodges and long valley days rather than extreme altitude, though good fitness still helps.
When is the best time to trek Tsum Valley?+
Autumn (October to November) and spring (March to May) are the best seasons for clear weather and to coincide with monastery festivals. Winter is cold and quiet, and the summer monsoon makes the lower trail wet, leechy and landslide-prone.
