Tsum Valley Map: Where is Tsum Valley located?
The Manaslu Conservation Area of Nepal’s historical district, Gorkha, includes Tsum Valley, surrounded by Mt. Manaslu, Himalchuli, Shringi Himal, Boudha, Ganesh Himal, etc. Nestled to the east of the popular Manaslu Circuit, the valley presents natural wonders and unique cultures, influenced by Bon and Buddhism, from an elevation of 2000 m to 3500 m, where Tsumbas have preserved their ancient traditions since the valley is far from the impact of modern development.
The Nepalese Government has listed Tsum as a restricted area to monitor overtourism and a sustainable tourism approach in Nepal. Since it lies in an untouched corner of the Himalayas near the Tibetan border, few tourists embark on the Tsum Valley Trek.
Although it provides a raw discovery unlike popular Nepal trekking routes like Annapurna Base Camp, Everest Base Camp, or Langtang Valley, hikers may not choose it due to the difficult accessibility to reach the trek’s initial point. Two days of walking take you to the entrance of the valley after an exhilarating road-ride of 8 to 9 hours from Kathmandu.
Observe the following Tsum Valley Map to see how you can reach the Tsum Valley, often known as hidden Shangri-La.
Tsum Valley Trek Difficulty: Is It Suitable For You?
The Tsum Valley trek usually falls under moderate to challenging, as the route consists of remote, tough, and rocky terrain located at high elevations. Therefore it is crucial to consider the right time to embark on this journey as well as other elements of difficulty.
Below, we have explained the elements that impact the Tsum Valley Trek Grade:
The Remoteness of Landscapes: How hard the Path is to the Tsum Valley?
Even 10% to 15% of tourists do not prefer the Tsum Valley Trek due to the steep, rugged, and narrow trails, which require demanding ascents and fast technical descents, requiring a high degree of coordination and balance. At lower altitudes, hikers find cozy teahouses with single rooms, modern attached washrooms, internet service, internet services, hotshowers, and a variety of Nepalese cuisine.
However, the limited lodges with common services may not meet hikers' preferences. Shops and posts are fewer and in restricted areas, creating a problem when trekkers need immediate snacks or medical treatment. Although you do not gain Tsum Valley Trekking elevation gain like in the Everest or Annapurna region, less established trails and services are making it quite difficult.
Length and Duration of the Trek
The Manaslu and Kanchenjunga Circuit Treks are long and off-the-beaten-path trekkings in Nepal, which provide unique experiences. Tsum Valley Trekking is shorter than these routes, but as difficult as they are. You should walk 10 to 15 kilometers, which takes approximately 5 to 6 hours per day, leaving you exhausted. Although you prepare mentally and physically to hike through diverse landscapes, it takes 8 to 18 days to complete the exploration of the wilderness broadly. Trekkers may feel alone and uncomfortable in isolated areas with no network, which sometimes leads to returning without completing the journey.
High Altitude: Is it possible to walk on the high terrain of Tsum Valley?
Depending on the itinerary, the Tsum Valley Trek usually takes you to Mu Gompa (3700 m) or Dhephydonma Gompa (4060 m) as the highest point of the trek. Most adventurers know that the high possibility of acute sickness is above 2500 m due to thinner air. Lack of professional guidance and expertise in dealing with such problems makes your journey worse.
Symptoms of altitude sickness: Headache, dizziness, nausea, hard sleeping, swelling (face, hands, and feet), confusion, loss of appetite
How Does the Changeable Weather of the Tsum Valley Contribute to Its Difficulty?
Although you select the optimal trekking seasons for venturing into the Tsum Valley Trek, which features stable weather and mild temperatures, inconsistent climate might bring problems, impacting the Tsum Valley Trail Conditions while passing varied climatic zones from lush subtropical forests to high pasturelands. Therefore, Timing matters for any trekking in Nepal due to such potential risks on the trails.
As you climb to the higher points, gaining elevation, the weather also becomes more unpredictable, creating challenges including sudden heavy rainfalls, snowfalls, and strong winds. Hiking through diverse topographies becomes very difficult due to natural hazards such as landslides, floods, and avalanches. The blockage of the main trail may force you to return from the halfway point of the journey or select a more strenuous alternative way, contributing to the Tsum Valley Trek Challenge level.
How can you prepare for the Tsum Valley Trek to avoid more challenges?
Well, the right preparation is key to a successful Tsum Valley Trek to make your journey more enjoyable and manageable.
What Physical Fitness For Tsum Valley Trek?
Tsum Valley is not only for an extraordinary encounter, since it may also present you with challenges along the trail, requiring a sound body and mental health to handle the situation. Therefore, build your strength and readiness to navigate difficult sections, including icy, snowy terrain, glacial moraine, and landslide-prone areas. Being healthy enough helps you walk for long days without suffering more. To enhance leg power and achieve emotional balance, do cardiovascular exercises and yoga practice, or meditation 1 or 2 months before the trip.
Daily short hikes with some loads to the nearest destination, including steep ascents and descents, help to strengthen your legs and core and balance on Tsum Valley’s Trails. When you are involved in yoga or breathing exercises, enhancing lung capacity, hiking at a high altitude above 2500 m will be easier. By reducing such risks of getting injured or incurring altitude sickness, you can enjoy the surreal charm of nature in a serene environment. We advise you to prepare in the right way to make your Himalayan journey a rewarding exploration rather than a strenuous activity.
Cardiovascular exercises: Hiking, Running, Jumping, Swimming, Cycling, etc.
Why Mental Preparation Matters for the Tsum Valley Trek?
As mentioned earlier, Tsum Valley Trekking is not only about making yourself physically strong but also preparing yourself to deal with the unexpected circumstances that may especially arise due to the changing weather of the Himalayas. Make sure you can take pleasure in remote areas with no internet and connect with your loved ones sometimes.
Do not expect modern facilities during the trek, as the Tsum Valley Trail takes you to secluded settlements with limited teahouses, offering common rooms and food. Losing patience may lead to getting back from the halfway point. Therefore, engage in meditation or mindful practice for developing tolerance and adaptability to rapid transitions such as simple accommodation or trail obstruction.
Relish every moment of the trek, immersing yourself in authentic culture and a tranquil atmosphere, maintaining emotional stability when you feel loneliness and exhaustion as you can not connect with your family members in remote places. In addition, carry diaries, comics, novels, other books, and games to keep yourself busy, and connect with fellow trekkers to not feel monotonous, far from modern technologies. In this way, mental resilience is also key to completing the trek together with physical Fitness for the Tsum Valley Trek.
Which is the optimal period for the Tsum Valley Trek?
The situation becomes worse when rainfall or snowfall takes place during the time of navigating demanding trails, whether at lower or higher elevations. To ensure smooth hiking with stable weather and comfortable warmth, choose trekking seasons such as spring (March-May) or autumn (September-November). Crystal clear skies and lush forests of blooming rhododendrons and other wildflowers will enhance the trekking experience.
Minimal rainfall, snowfall, and chilly winds allow you to enjoy panoramic vistas of towering mountains, including Mt. Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Nagadichuli, Himalchuli, etc. The stunning environment of Tsum Valley also allows you to take wonderful pictures of breathtaking scenery, as the clouds do not disturb as much as during monsoon and winter.
Who Should You Hire for a Safe and Successful Tsum Valley Trek?
Considering the Tsum Valley Trail conditions, we advise hiring a seasoned Nepal trekking guide to ensure a safe and more joyful journey. The Nepal government has made it mandatory to hire a guide to obtain trekking permits for any trekking. Hiring a porter is also the best idea to hike without stressing about heavy loads. Independent trekking in such untouched and restricted areas is very dangerous since trekkers may not be able to navigate every trail and predict the weather in the area.
A professional guide manages logistics and handles any situation, whether you suffer an injury or loss along the way. Learn more about local cultural heritage through the guide with an extensive description in the English language. Trekkers can make close ties with the inhabitants of Tsum Valley with the help of a guide.
Therefore, you should choose the best trekking agencies in Nepal that can manage the best guides and porters who help you to enjoy the journey and enhance trekking by allowing you to savor the beauty of the hidden gems without physical strain.
Why should you obtain a special permit and travel insurance for the Tsum Valley Trek?
Preparation for the Tsum Valley Trek also includes completion of work related to all required paperwork. Since the Tsum Valley is a restricted area and the most isolated part of Nepal, you need special permits. Essential permits are a Trekkers Information Management System) card, an MCAP (Manaslu Conservation Area Permit), and a TVRAP (Tsum Valley Restricted Area Permit) to avoid getting penalties. The government has standardized these permits to ensure trekkers’ safety and monitor overtourism for sustainable tourism in Nepal.
In addition, the culture and biodiversity conditions of Tsum Valley, nestled to the Tibetan border, are fragile, requiring these types of rules to preserve the environment and ensure trustworthy tourism. Travel insurance is similarly very crucial to obtain the right travel insurance that covers helicopter evacuation above 2500 m in case of emergency treatment requirements, as remote areas like Tsum Valley has only a few basic, shared health clinics.
Save your extra expenses for medicines, hospital stays, and other unexpected events on Remote terrains of Tsum Valley, like flight delays or cancellations, individual gear damage, loss, or theft. Therefore, permits and travel insurance are not only for formality, as they guarantee a secure and more enjoyable Himalayan trekking experience. Ready to embark on this off-the-beaten-path trek with a peaceful mind, even though several factors impact the Tsum Valley Trek difficulty.
Does strategic packing help to reduce the Tsum Valley Trek Difficulty?
Uncertain weather conditions in Tsum Valley often require trekking gear for every climate to ensure your safety, from monsoon to winter equipment. However, you should pack your bag very carefully without carrying unnecessary things, which increases the extra load. Some essential things that you should not miss are as follows to reduce the Tsum Valley Trek Challenge level:
Clothes
- Thermal base layers
- Down Jacket
- Waterproof outerwear
- Trekking pants
- Gloves
- Warm hat, etc.
Footwear
- Reliable and durable Trekking boot with good ankle support
- insulated boot liners or warm socks
- Slippers
Trekking gear
- Sleeping bag
- Trekking pole
- Duffel bag and daypack
- Tsum Valley Trek Map
- Reusable water bottle
Toiletries, Safety material, and personal belongings
- Toothbrush and Toothpaste
- Hand Sanitizer, Biodegradable soap, and shampoo
- Sunscreen, Lip Balm, Insect repellent
- Water purification tablet and First Aid Kit (including high-altitude-related medications)
- Moisturizer
Others
- Camera (optional)
- Headlights and a power bank
- Essential documents (permits, travel insurance, and a copy of the passport)
- ATM Card, and some cash
How to Handle Altitude Sickness in Tsum Valley?
Since this trek takes you above 3000 m, you might feel symptoms of altitude sickness in Tsum Valley. Therefore, you should always be alert and listen to your body before continuing the journey ahead. Eat nutritious food and drink plenty of water to avoid such problems. Better to stay away from smoking and alcohol throughout the journey. You should not walk far from your friends, as sometimes altitude sickness makes your situations worse, and you need your fellow trekkers help.
How is Adventure Trek Nepal’s Tsum Valley Trek Itinerary tailored, considering the trek’s difficulty?
We have tailored the Tsum Valley Trek itinerary, allowing trekkers to hike with gradual ascents and descents without forcing rush walks. As you land at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, our representative from Adventure Treks Nepal will transfer you to the hotel where you will stay. Attend a welcome dinner organized by us and meet your guide as well as fellow trekkers, where you can ask questions regarding the journey to your guide.
The next day, you explore historically and culturally significant places in the capital city, such as Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Soyambhunath (Monkey Temple), Durbar Squares (Patan, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, etc. After 5-6 hours, return to the hotel and take preparation sessions to hike on the Tsum Valley trekking trails safely. Early morning, prepare to drive from Kathmandu alongside winding rivers, traditional settlements, terraced fields, and green hills to Machhakhola (730 m).
Wake up in a peaceful environment in Machhakhola with a golden sunrise over the Himalayas, have a hearty breakfast, and make your way to Arughat Bazar via Soti Khola and then to Jagat. Continue the journey from Salleri along a riverbank after crossing ascending trails, taking you to a suspension bridge that leads towards Philim. Walk for a few hours, reach Ekle Bhatti, and follow the more rugged and steep trail towards Tsum Valley, getting off the Manaslu Circuit Trek route.
Traversing several remote terrains of Tsum Valley, gompas, monasteries, and verdant woodland, reach Lokpa and Chumling with panoramic vistas of Boudhha Himal and Ganesh Himal VI. Descending trails take you to Lungwa River, and again, the uphill paths adorned with rhododendrons and pines lead toward Chumling. Begin the hike towards the upper portion of the Tsum Valley, following the riverside of the Syar River, and reach Domje, the largest village in the Valley. As you reach the Chookang Paro, following the uphill trails, you can enjoy awe-inspiring vistas of different surrounding mountains.
As you ascend to Lamagaon, the more continuity you need to reach the Nile settlement with two routes, one through Rachen Gompa and another directly to the Nile. Proceeding on the journey through more rough and steep sections of the Valley, reach Phurbe, where the suspension bridge awaits you to cross it, and then ascend from there until reaching the places having bridges before arriving at the Nile for a wonderful overnight stay.
Today is the day to hike to Mu Gompa (3700 m), the highest point of the Tsum Valley. witnessing magnificent views of mountain giants and breathtaking vistas of the Lungdag Glacier. There is no settlement up here, and it is believed that Mu Gompa has been in existence for more than 7 decades. On the way to this settlement, you get a golden opportunity to learn about Tibetan Buddhism through Dephyu Dolma Nunnery Gompa, which is almost 600 years old. After exploring these wonderful vantage points, return to the Nile via the same way for the night’s stay.
Follow the same path you used to ascend to get back to Phillim via Chumling, and then reach Khorla Bensi by walking via dense forests filled with rhododendrons and pines. Continue to reach Macchakhola, where you conclude the official hiking, and return to Kathmandu with an exciting drive. On the 14th day, you have a full leisure day; you can rest, heal your pain from trekking, and stroll around bustling markets of Kathmandu such as Thamel, Asan, Lagankhel, and Boudha to buy souvenirs for your loved ones before leaving the country of the Himalayas for your homeland.
In the evening, attend a farewell dinner organized by our trekking company with cultural dances and music. On the 15th day, our official will drop you off at the airport 2 or 3 hours before the scheduled flight, and you will head to your nation with indelible memories of the mountainous landmarks. In this way Adventure Trek Nepal's itinerary lets you complete your journey without forcing rush walk, providing enough time to delve into the serenity of the Tsum Valley in a supportive way to avoid challenges.
Conclusion
Besides several challenges during the hiking in remote terrains of Tsum Valley, take advantage of the peaceful wilderness, far from the chaos of modern cities. Test your hiking capability in such pristine and isolated areas, and create memories with your families and lovely people, since it is achievable with the right preparation.
If you want a more affordable and easier adventure than Tsum Valley, we have various packages for 2025 and 2026. Our itineraries are also customizable, and we make changes, suiting hikers regardless of physical fitness level and age. To know more about the Tsum Valley Trek, you can contact us on WhatsApp or by email.
Other beginner-friendly or moderate treks in Nepal, such as the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek, Langtang Valley Trek,Mardi Himal Trek, Everest Panorama Trek, Annapurna Dhaulagiri Trek, etc, are available with us. However, you should prepare 6 or 7 weeks before venturing into any trek to enhance the entire trekking experience.
