Tsum Valley Trek
Also known as Tsum Valley (Hidden Valley / Beyul Kyimolung) Trek.
Tsum Valley Trek is a moderate 10-13-day homestay/teahouse trek in the Manaslu region of Nepal, reaching 3,700 m. It starts at Machha Khola and ends at Machha Khola.
Key facts
- Region
- Manaslu (Gorkha (Chum Nubri Rural Municipality))
- Duration
- 10-13 days, 5-7 hours walking per day
- Distance
- 130 km
- Maximum altitude
- 3,700 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate — Lower maximum altitude than most Manaslu-region treks (3,700 m at Mu Gompa) and no high pass, but the valley is remote, days are long with big gorge climbs, and facilities are simple homestay/teahouse standard. Many operators grade it 3-4; side trips toward Ganesh Himal Base Camp push it toward 4.
- Trek type
- Homestay/Teahouse, out-and-back route
- Best season
- Autumn (Oct-Nov) and Spring (Mar-Apr)
- Guide
- Mandatory. Restricted area: RAP issued only through a registered agency with a licensed guide. Minimum 2-trekker rule reportedly removed 22 March 2026 (solo permits now possible) per agency sources; guide requirement unchanged.
- Restricted area
- Yes — special permit required
- Budget cost
- NPR 98,000–130,000
- Comfortable cost
- NPR 140,000–200,000
- Guided cost
- NPR 140,000–350,000
- Getting there
- Kathmandu → Dhading Besi (paved, ~3h) → Arughat → Soti Khola → Machha Khola (rough track, ~4-6h); total 8-10h by bus, 7-9h by jeep. Return by the same road.
- Altitude sickness
- Moderate: the itinerary gains altitude gradually and sleeps no higher than 3,700 m, but trekkers pushing on to Ganesh Himal Base Camp (~4,200 m) or the passes toward Tibet can be affected.
Weather
Because the trek tops out at 3,700 m it stays feasible later into winter than the Manaslu Circuit, though upper-valley nights are very cold and some lodges close Dec-Feb. Monsoon (Jun-Sep) brings leeches and landslides in the lower Budhi Gandaki gorge. The valley sits in a partial rain shadow, so shoulder-season weather is relatively stable.
Permits
- Tsum Valley Restricted Area Permit (RAP) — NPR 6,080 for foreigners. Where to get it: Through a registered trekking agency at Department of Immigration, Kathmandu
- Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP) — NPR 3,000 for foreigners. Where to get it: Nepal Tourism Board office, Kathmandu (or via agency)
- Chum Nubri Rural Municipality fee — NPR 2,280 for foreigners. Where to get it: Collected locally / via agency
Itinerary
- Day 1: Kathmandu to Machha Khola, 0 h, 869 m — Drive via Dhading Besi and Arughat
- Day 2: Machha Khola to Jagat, 6-7 h, 1,340 m — Tatopani hot springs, Budhi Gandaki gorge
- Day 3: Jagat to Lokpa, 5-6 h, 2,240 m — Philim village; turn-off from the Manaslu trail into the Tsum Valley
- Day 4: Lokpa to Chumling, 4-5 h, 2,386 m — Steep gorge trail above the Shiar Khola, first Ganesh Himal views
- Day 5: Chumling to Chhokangparo, 5-6 h, 3,031 m — Entry to upper Tsum (Chhekampar); Tibetan-style twin villages, Ganesh Himal panorama
- Day 6: Chhokangparo to Nile, 5-6 h, 3,361 m — Milarepa's Piren Phu cave, Phurbe and Pangdun villages, Rachen Gompa side trail
- Day 7: Nile to Mu Gompa, 2-3 h, 3,700 m — Mu Gompa monastery (largest in the valley), arid trans-Himalayan scenery
- Day 8: Mu Gompa to Rachen Gompa, 4-5 h, 3,240 m — Optional morning hike toward Bhajyo/Ganesh Himal viewpoints; Rachen nunnery
- Day 9: Rachen Gompa to Chumling, 6-7 h, 2,386 m — Retrace through Chhokangparo; Gumba Lungdang side-trip option
- Day 10: Chumling to Philim, 5-6 h, 1,570 m — Descend the Siyar Khola gorge back to the Budhi Gandaki
- Day 11: Philim to Machha Khola, 6-7 h, 869 m — Jagat, hot springs at Tatopani
- Day 12: Machha Khola to Kathmandu, 0 h, 1,400 m — Drive back via Arughat and Dhading Besi