Tsum Valley Trek

Warm Welcome to Mt. Everest 8,848.86m Himalayas! We pick you up from Tribhuvan International Airport and drop you off at home in Nepal. Where we had booked. After resting, we come here to brief you about our program.

This morning we leave Kathmandu for our long trek to Manaslu. Drive by local bus to Arughat through the beautiful Nepalese countryside.

Arughat is a small town in eastern Dhading and west of Gorkha district; explore the valley becomes wilder, prettier, and narrower and descend to Soti Khola 710mtrs.

Crossing near steep cliffs we have to be careful when walking this path. Sometimes it may be a problem of traffic with trekkers and donkeys where there is a very narrow trail. Safe Side” means giving a turn to the donkey if they are coming through from another side. Finally, we reach Machha Khola Gurung village near Fish River (Machha Khola) and Buri Gandaki. Overnight at lodge.

The starting point crosses the Machha Khola and then passes below large Gurung villages that are far above the track. We pass a few houses, like Lower Khorla Bensi 960mtrs, which was largely destroyed by huge rocks 22 years ago. Here they sell their organic coffee.

Continuing up and down over a couple of ridges to Tatopani (hot spring) 930mtrs, where there are hot water spouts under the sheer cliff. Walk up the river to a ridge, cross Buri Gandaki on a rickety suspension bridge, and arrive in Jagat 1400 m. Overnight at the lodge.

After breakfast, we will reach a neatly flagstoned Gurung village of Jagat, a place for Tibetan trade and a checkpoint of the Manaslu Conservation Area Project Permit.

Leaving Jagat, after 10 minutes we cross the suspension bridge of the Dudha Pokhari Khola and walk slightly uphill to Salleri, then walk through Nepali flat and gorgeous view of Sringi Himal 7,161mtrs. We climb up and down to Sirdiba, cross a Buri Gandaki suspension bridge, and climb up to Philim for around 45 minutes. and walk 1:30 hours to Lokpa in a quiet place. Overnight at lodge view of the Himalayas.

We have a hot breakfast at Lokpa, then trail descending to River riverbank and slightly ascending to the top.

The trail climbs up to tall pine trees and beautiful grasslands hugging the mountainside, then reaches the gate of Tsum Valley in Lokpa. This is the lunch after that, there is no place to eat before Chumling, 3-4 hours up and down to Chumling. Overnight at the lodge.

Crossing the suspension bridge at the corner of Chumling, the trail goes through small villages and the rich farming land of maize and potato as well as buckwheat. The houses are classic Tibetan with barricades of firewood and roof terraces along a mountainside trail until Renjam.

We will cross the Sarpu Khola on a suspension bridge and climb up to Gho. Gho is the final place to have something to eat before we push up to Chhekampara. Some simple food is available here before we walk uphill to Chhekampara. After 2-3 hours you will reach the biggest village in Tsum Valley, and overnight at a simple lodge.

The trail leads lead us to explore the joined villages of Chhokang and Paro and climb North to a retreat where Lama Kongchog died after 26 years of meditation. His child reincarnation, found in the village, was the subject of the award-winning DVD “Unmistaken child”.

Our trek leads to the East passing small villages and past a local school. Climb over a ridge of Chortens and past Lamagaon 3,302mtrs through the flat fields, looking across the extensive crops and fast-flowing river to the huge courtyard of the Rachen Gompa 320mtrs. This nunnery monastery is managed by the main Kathmandu Kapan Monastery. We can walk up to visit Milarepa Cave, one of the most sacred caves in the Tsum Valley.

The great Buddhist Yogi Chyuchin Milarepa, the famous Tibetan saint, was believed to have meditated here. Again, cross the Shiar Khola to the village of Phurbe 3,251mtrs. Further up to Chhule and have lunch there and after that follow the Shiar Khola and take way to left and up to Mu Gompa. Overnight at the Monastery, Mu Gompawith Spectacular Mountains and valley view.

On this day, we can day hike to Chhyosing Glacier, somewhere uphill of Mu Gompa, and can also visit the nunnery monastery Dhyphyudoma Gompa at 4,000 m.

The area is home to fauna such as blue sheep, Yaks, Naks, Chauris, and the rare sighting of Pika, all surrounded by high peaks. Today, we can leave our things in your lodge, and after breakfast, we can head on for the day hike. After the day’s excursion, we return to our campsite at Nile. Overnight at Gompa 3700mtrs.

After breakfast, we head across the river to Lamagaon and walk down to Chhekam parka on our previous trail for 2 hours. Continuing on a small gompa is reached at Gho 2,485mtrs. Following the narrow trail to the left through the village and dropping to a wooden bridge over the Shiar Khola, cross the bridge to Dumje 2,440mtrs.

There are many small villages worth exploring along the way otherwise Dumje is also small with about eight houses and some adjoining cattle sheds.

Here is the way divides, one way to Gumba Lungdang (if you have time and interest, you can visit there too) and one way can go back down and overnight at Dumje.

The trek climbs up some deep gorges and shaky cantilever bridges to picturesque Ripchet village 2,470mtrs. Take time to look around at this perched fertile valley of potatoes, barley, and buckwheat with evocative Chortens in the field backed by pine forest.

Downstairs to Ghumlung 2,130mtrs to the river bank. After that ups and down again climb up a hill through pine and rhododendron forest to Lokpa 2,240mtrs, a good place to have lunch. After lunch, we returned the same way when we climbed up to Tsum.

On the way down passing through grassland and pine forest to Ekle Bhatti then will reach Philim. Overnight at lodge.

After breakfast, we trek from Philim to Tatopani, where you can freshen up a little again. These days are crossing through forests, fields, and the villages of Salleri, Jagat, and Dovan, and we have lunch in Dovan.

After two weeks of trekking, I am sure your excitement will build knowing that you can visit this hot spring once more. Tatopani only has four or five houses, with the majority being lodgings.

Most of the way following the Buri Gandaki River and Gurung villages, Khorla Bensi, Machha Khola, where we will stop for lunch break, then trek to Labu Bensi and overnight at the lodge

The last day of this trek is following the Buri Gandaki River and different villages and walking on the road through Soti Khola, Arkhet Bazaar where we break for lunch. Then keep following the Buri Gandaki River to Arughat Bazaar overnight at the lodge and relax the last night in mountains.