Tsum is the Valley of Happiness, as it is known from ancient times. Due to its fertile valley, it yields high-altitude crops and vast grazing pastures for animals to graze on. The higher side of Tsum Valley is an extension of the Tibetan vast plateau, where trade and bartering still exist. Tsum Valley Trekking remained one of the secret countries of Nepal in the in the North Mid-West, well hidden from the outside world.
Located beyond massif Ganesh and the Manaslu Himalaya range of towering snow-dusted mountains with verdant and arid valleys, Tsum Valley Trekking, or Tsum the Valley of Happiness, comes from an old Tibetan language called ‘Beyul Kyimolung’. Where trekkers can observe the beautiful and magnificent country, where villagers greet you with a wide, open smile. As well as walking in the close harmony of rich cultures and traditional hospitality that every guest receives. An enjoyable and exciting adventure to explore around Tsum Valley, far and off the beaten path.
Away from mainstream trekking trails, this is this is truly a marvelous area to visit, along with glorious views of the staggering mountain range. Tsum, the Valley of Happiness Trekking, begins with an exciting drive from the Kathmandu valley to reach Gorkha district. Around low, warm sub-tropical areas of paddy fields within Aarughat Town and towards Maccha-Khola.
As the adventure starts, follow the glacial Buddhi-Gandaki River, heading up towards cooler green hills. The views of towering white peaks appear as the walk follows through the mountain villages of Jagat, Philim, and Deng. On leaving the main trail of the Manaslu circuit, our route diverts towards Tsum Valley, our main destination. An exciting trek, crossing over bridges with ups and downs to reach Lokpa and then entering Tsum Valley at Chumling.
From here onwards within this beautiful and hidden country, where villages have retained their age-old culture of Tibetan Buddhism, it is an exceptional place to experience. Upon entering the Tsum Valley, one encounters lovely villages like Chokang-Paro and Nile. Finally, reaching the main highlight of the adventure at Mu Gompa, the highest spot of the journey. Mu Gompa is the largest monastery in Tsum Valley, housing more than hundreds of monks.
It is an amazing place to be directly behind massive Ganesh Himal bulky peaks, which fall on route to the Tibet border. Exploring the remotest parts of Tsum Valley amidst the dramatic scenery of rugged windswept terrain with staggering towering snow mountains. The return journey leads to another lovely area of Rachen Gompa, enriched with colorful traditional cultures.
Then leaving the last villages of Tsum Valley through Chumling and Lokpa, then on the same scenic route to Maccha-Khola. An interesting overland journey brings you back to Kathmandu after a wonderful experience on Tsum, the Valley of Happiness Trek.
The best times and seasons for this marvelous adventure in Tsum Valley of Happiness are spring and autumn. The spring season lasts from April to May, with most days filled with sunshine. This is the time when wildflowers such as rhododendrons and various other high-altitude species bloom. In the afternoon, it can become overcast with light rain occasionally, and mornings and nights are cold due to the high altitude.
The next appropriate time and season is autumn/fall, starting from September to November. Most days are fine and crystal clear, perfect for views and pleasant walks, though mornings and late afternoons until nighttime can be quite cold. Snowfall above 2,500 m is occasionally expected. However, from early November, most lodges will be closed, and the natives of high Tsum Valley migrate to warmer, lower areas, escaping the cold winter from November to February.
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu 1,320m and transfer to hotel
Day 02: In Kathmandu with optional sightseeing tour and trek preparations – 1,300m
Day 03: Drive to Machha Khola 900 m / 2,952 feet approx – 07 hrs
Day 04: Trek to Jagat 1,400m via Dovan 1,070m – 06 hrs
Day 05: Trek to Lokpa 2,240m via Deng 1,800m – 07 hrs
Day 06: Trek to Chumling 2,386m – 06 hrs
Day 07: Trek to Chokang-Paro 3,010m – 05 hrs
Day 08: Trek to Nile 3,361m visiting Millerepa cave – 06 hrs
Day 09: Trek to Mu Gompa 3,700m – 04 hrs
Day 10: Trek to Rachen Gompa 3, 240m – 04 hrs
Day 11: Trek back to Chumling 2,386m – 05 hrs
Day 12: Trek to Lokpa 2,240m – 06 hrs
Day 13: Trek to Jagat 1,340m – 06 hrs
Day 14: Trek to Machha-Khola 900m – 05 hrs
Day 15: Drive to Kathmandu and transfer to hotel 1,300m – 08 hrs
Day 16: International departure for homeward bound – 1,300m
On arrival at Kathmandu, Nepal International Airport, check the Nepal Standard Time, which is 5 hours and 45 minutes ahead of GMT. Outside the air terminal, our staff from RP Adventures will greet and receive you for a short drive to your hotel. The hotel is located in the hub of Kathmandu; on arrival, check into your lovely rooms. Then meet with other members of the trek for a briefing regarding Tsum Valley Trekking. After collecting all the useful information and trek details, a group welcome dinner in nice authentic Nepali restaurants was an introduction to Nepali foods and cultures.
Enjoy a free day in Kathmandu to prepare for the treks and explore the city's famous landmarks. The Kathmandu Valley and its surrounding cities are rich with historical monuments listed as World Heritage Sites. Take a tour of Old Durbar Square, the ancient palace and royal courtyard, and visit the oldest Buddhist Stupa of Swayambhunath. Also, explore the famous Hindu temple of Pashupatinath and the grand dome stupa of Boudhanath before returning to the hotel. After an exciting day of touring, return to the hotel and spend the rest of the afternoon preparing for the Tsum Valley Trekking adventure.
It was an interesting morning and quite long to cover 160 km (99 miles) of driving distance to reach the start of the Manaslu Circuit Trek. A scenic journey on Nepal’s main highway for a few hours, and then diverts from the main road to Dhading areas. Then reaching the district of Gorkha at Arughat Town on a rough country road, the drive follows the Buddhi-Gandaki River upstream to Maccha-Khola for an overnight halt. Transfer into a simple and nice lodge after an exciting drive of more than 6 hours.
On leaving Jagat, walk through a sub-tropical forest, crossing over a small stream. After a slow uphill climb past farm villages, reaching a rocky ridge at Salleri, then down to Sirdibas, The walk continues to Ghatta Khola stream, crossing a bridge to reach a large Gurung village in Philim. Walk on a fairly level path to Ekle Bhatti to a gorge with a downhill to a grassy slope. After crossing a stream and reaching Deng, the walk follows the Budhi Gandaki River with a climb to Bihi. Adventure continues past Prok small settlement; after Ekle Bhatti, the route diverts east-facing view of the waterfall to enter a forest of pine trees. The trail descends to the small, nice village of Lokpa for an overnight stop. Enjoy the grand, majestic view of the Himal Chuli and Boudha Himal peaks.
After a pleasant stay in Lokpa, the walk starts to enter the rugged new area heading towards the inner Tsum Valley. Morning breaks over Luangwa Khola as we climb through the forest to Gumlung. Upon crossing Siyar Khola, we reach Chumling village for our first overnight stay in the Tsum area. Enjoy stunning views of Sringi Himal and take time to explore the village and the Old Chumling Gompa.
Chokang-Paro is a is a lovely village lined with impressive chortens and Mani walls carved with deities and prayers. It was a better walk today than the previous days, crossing bridges through fields of maize and potatoes. Witness houses of classic Tibetan style with barricades of firewood on the roof.. Cross over a rock and flood cleared the area onto the opposite bank facing views of Ganesh Himal. The walk continues to Rainjham, an isolated small teahouse with an enclosed courtyard. As the climb leads on an exposed track to upper Tsum, it reaches the large village of Chokang-Paro for an overnight halt.
Enjoying a pleasant time in Chokang-Paro, one of the nicest villages of Tsum, the morning walk proceeds eastward. As we walk, we take a side trip to climb to the famous holy cave where Saint Milarepa meditated. Saint Milarepa was an 11th-century saint, poet, singer, and Tantric Guru of Tibet. The cave, called Piren Phu, is of great religious interest. The walk continues, crossing the Shiar Khola and passing through the villages of Phurbe and Pangdun. The route follows upstream to a bridge crossing and a climb to Nile, another lovely place for an overnight stop.
Finally, the day has come to reach our main highlight of the journey: Mu Gompa. The highest spot of the adventure, the morning walk, follows with a climb up to Mu Gompa. Located on a dry, windswept-like Tibetan terrain, it is adorned with a series of chortens and widening mountain vistas. Mu Gompa is the largest monastery; it houses more than 100 monks and an old gompa. This region was explored by David Snellgrove (Himalayan Pilgrimage) in 1956, the first westerner to visit. At Mu Gompa, after checking into a simple, nice accommodation in a guest house, Take a short hike to Dhephyudoma Gompa, 4,000 m high, a place for Buddhist nuns. An interesting nunnery and enjoy a tour as well as interact with the cheerful nuns who will give more information about the monastery.
After an enjoyable and exciting journey around the high valley of Tsum, the return journey leads on the same route back to Chumling via Chokang-Paro. Enjoy the last overnight within Tsum Valley.
From Chumling bidding farewell to Tsum, the valley of happiness, our route retraces the trail to Lokpa. Enjoy an overnight stay on the high hills of Gorkha before heading towards the low, warm farm villages.
The walk follows the same exciting route to Jagat, past Namrung, Deng, and Philim villages. On leaving the stronghold of Buddhism country, the walk leads down and shorts up to Jagat village for an overnight stop.
Enjoy the change of landscapes, as well as the temperatures, from cooler zones reaching low warm areas. The walk follows the Buddhi-Gandaki downstream until Machha-Khola for the final overnight stop around Nepal's Mid-West.
Start the morning early to reach Kathmandu on time by late afternoon, an exciting overland journey. Heading up and downhill through many farm villages and towns to join the main highway near Malekhu town. After an hour of driving, leave the Trisuli River and head uphill on a winding road to reach the valley rim. Then the drive leads downhill to enter the bustling city of Kathmandu and back to your hotels.
On your last day in Kathmandu and Nepal, it's time for your international flight. Our RP Adventures guides and staff will transfer you to the airport, where you'll bid farewell to them. Then, you'll enter the airport terminal for your homeward-bound flight, after a memorable adventure trekking around Tsum Valley, the Valley of Happiness.
The Tsum Valley Trek offers an extraordinary journey through Nepal's remote and culturally rich regions. The Tsum Valley, a hidden gem, is known for its unique Tibetan Buddhist culture, ancient monasteries, and picturesque villages. Trekkers are greeted with the warmth of traditional hospitality and stunning views of the Ganesh Himal. The Manaslu Circuit, encircling the majestic Mount Manaslu, the world's eighth highest peak, provides a more challenging route with diverse landscapes, from lush subtropical forests to arid high-altitude terrain. Together, these treks offer an unparalleled blend of natural beauty, cultural immersion, and adventure.
To ensure a safe and comfortable trek in the Himalayan region, it is highly recommended to bring the appropriate equipment and gear to cope with the cold temperatures. The following is a list of essential equipment and gear for Tsum Valley Trek, which can be purchased either in the Thamel market or brought from your home country.
The following basic checklist for trekking and hiking equipment should assist you in packing for our trips. Keep in mind the importance of minimizing the weight of your clothing and gear. Your packed trek bag should weigh less than 15 kilograms. Remember, this is merely a guideline and not everything listed is essential to bring.
Additional Equipment Checklist
Wir waren von Mitte März bis Anfang April in Nepal. Mein 1. Trekking überhaupt, gleich in Nepal! Das Tsum Valley und der Manaslu Circuit mit Passüberquerung (5106 m!) war unser Ziel und dank unseres einmaligen Guides Rajan Neupane mit seiner langjährigen Erfahrung (kennt alle Unterkünfte und hat ein super Netzwerk) hat alles sehr gut geklappt. Perfekte
Organisation: ab Ankunft in Kathmandu mussten wir uns um nichts mehr kümmern:
Sightseeingtour, Unterkünfte, Jeep-/ Busfahrten (ein Erlebnis), Verpflegung , Tagestouren mit Anpassung an die Höhe (perfekt), medizinische Versorgung (alles dabei, super Fachwissen, sogar bei meinem Knieproblem nach den Bergabpassagen, hat Rajan mir sehr einfühlsam und hervorragend geholfen).
Die ganze Zeit habe ich mich sehr wohl und sehr gut betreut gefühlt. Bei schwierigen Passagen für mich (am Anfang Hängebrücken, jetzt kein Problem mehr, Geröllabschnitte, Schneefelder
(Passüberquerung) hat Rajan mich fest an der Hand und mit seiner positiven Energie hindurchbegleitet. Vielen Dank nochmal.
Mein eindrücklichster Moment war im
Tsum Valley in der Nähe von Nyle: abends bei Nieselregen angekommen (völlig
vergessen, das wir so nah an den hohen Bergen waren) und um 5 Uhr, bam! mein Blick auf meine 1. 5000er schneebedeckt im Sonnenaufgang. Magisch! Ich selbst auf 3.500 m, wird dann völlig normal. Wir kommen wieder! Mein nächstes Ziel ist das EBC, Everst aus der Nähe. Herbst nächsten Jahres wäre super.
Trekking in Nepal mit Rajan ist absolut empfehlenswert!!!
Born in a small village of Nuwakot, began his career in the tourism industry as a porter which helped him to become a professional experienced guide and now operating RP Treks sincerely.