Tsum Valley Trekking

Why Life Himalaya Trekking for 18 Days Tsum Valley Trekking Adventure?

Life Himalaya Trekking is among the leading and well-established travel companies in Nepal, with expertise developed over many years of personal travel and experience.

We believe that each trip is a unique moment in a person’s life, and that everyone should have the opportunity to experience it.

Thus, we always come up with a low-price policy which allows us to offer you low-cost trips of all kinds, so everyone can take the journey they have imagined.

When you travel with us, you will not only be a customer but a full member who can help plan the trip, share the challenges, and enjoy the process.

For our Tsum Valley trekking, we have embraced the same concept, allowing you the freedom to personalize your own itinerary. For this trek, we will be offering you:

• Private pick up and transfer from the airport to the hotel to the airport.
• Hotel accommodation with breakfast in Kathmandu.
• Local lodges provide accommodation with breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the trek.
• Government-licensed English-speaking guide and experienced porter
• All local transportation by private vehicle as per the itinerary
• All mandatory permits and entry fees, including the Trekking permit to Tsum Valley.
• Medical first-aid kit box.
• Rescue assistance.
• All government taxes.

Why is Tsum Valley still restricted?

Tsum Valley was opened to hiking in 2008, but it is still reached by a limited number of enthusiasts because the area is restricted to date.

A special permit given to only organized group trips through a government-approved travel agency, like Life Himalaya Trekking, is necessary for the Tsum Valley trekking.

This restriction has kept the culture, fragile Himalayan environment, and ecosystem of the region intact. After all, the valley is blessed by Milarepa, and it needs rightful preservation from outside interference.

When walking, you can even spot Himalayan blue sheep, Himalayan deer, snow leopard, and many rarely seen birds. There are now not many places on Earth like Tsum.

Thus, for the protection of this ecosystem, culture, and political interference from Tibet, the Nepalese Government has restricted the Tsum Valley trekking.

Best Time to engage in the Manaslu Tsum Valley Trekking

The high season for Tsum Valley trekking is autumn, between September and November. This season begins after the monsoon with clear and cool weather.

There will be no dust in the air in the Tsum Valley, and mountains will also be clearly visible even from the low altitudes of Soti Khola and Machha Khola.

March, April, and May of spring are another high season for Tsum Valley trekking when it is warm and dry. The terrain of the Tsum Valley will be abundant with rhododendrons that add a splash of vibrant colors to the landscape of Manaslu and Tsum Valley.

There is a monsoon season from June to August, when the rainy season becomes more intense and longer in the Manaslu villages. Tsum Valley will remain dry, however, because it is a rain shadow area.

Winter, from December to February, is cold with deserted snow-covered trails. However, the days will be filled with warm sunlight, making them excellent months for trekking if you are well prepared.

Tsum Valley Trekking Difficulty Level

The 18 days Tsum Valley trekking adventure is a medium hiking journey categorized as class II or B in the alpine grade system. Its maximum elevation doesn’t go higher than 3700 m at Mu Gompa, which makes the trek incredibly accessible to everyone.

However, you will encounter numerous descents and ascents along the trail. You will also have to face the average altitude gain or loss of around 500 to 700 m each day.

Your trekking duration of each day will usually last between 5 and 6 hours, which is somewhat offset by the presence of tea houses en route. The majority of the route of the Tsum Valley trekking follows wide mountain paths that do not need any technical expertise.

However, the main issue on the trek will arise from the extremely dry Himalayan air in the Tsum Valley, which may lead to altitude sickness. Also, the primitive living conditions in Tsum Valley will add another challenge, which adds to the difficulty of the Tsum Valley trekking.

Who can join in our 18 Days Tsum Valley Trekking Adventure?

There is no age limit for joining our Tsum Valley trekking as long as you are physically fit and have a strong will. Past experience in hiking will be helpful, but not entirely needed.

Over the decades, we have successfully guided families with small children and many guests over 60 years to the Tsum Valley. We have also welcomed many first-time trekkers into our groups.

Our professional team will also take excellent care of you throughout the 18 days of our Manaslu Tsum Valley trekking. We also place a strong emphasis on walking slowly to enjoy the natural surroundings, the villages, the routes, and the local people.

Our guide will lead the group and will stay behind with the slowest hikers. However, it is important for you to be prepared for the primitive facilities and limited food options during the trek.

We encourage guests with cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and respiratory issues to get medical advice before joining our Tsum Valley trekking.

Is any special training needed for the Tsum Valley Trekking?

The route of the Tsum Valley trekking is absolutely nontechnical with a medium altitude led by our professional team, so you don’t need any technical training.

However, getting some physical training will be good through hiking or going for long walks at least once a week for 10-12 weeks before your Tsum Valley trekking.

Carry your day bag and aim to trek 5 to 6 hours up and down to get used to the daily hiking routine in Nepal. If you can’t go to the hills or mountains, you can run or do cardio workouts in the gym.

If you are busy with training, then you can also play sports you enjoy whenever you have the chance or on weekends. Additionally, you can also train by climbing the stairs in your office building instead of taking the elevator.

Try to take deep breaths while walking to the office, as this will improve your lung capacity, which is essential for trekking in the High Himalayas.

Altitude Sickness/AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) and Acclimatization

We have designed the travel program of our Tsum Valley trekking, keeping your safety in mind, thus minimizing the risk of AMS. In the initial days, we will not ascend more than 500 m each day, and once we reach over 3500 m, we will place an acclimatization rest day at Mu Gompa.

Our guide will also be careful and monitor your health regularly. He is well-trained and capable of identifying any signs of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).

You should also not rush, but maintain a slow and steady pace on the trek. You should also be kind enough to follow the instructions of our guide.

However, even with all these precautions, it is common that you may experience mild symptoms of AMS once you are over 2500 m. These signs can be headache, nausea, and vomiting, but you can continue your trek.

If your symptoms become severe with shortness of breath and disorientation, then we will stop your trek immediately. Our guide may assist you in your descent, give you Diamox (anti-altitude medicine), and allow you to rest and drink plenty of fluid.

In a group trip, our assistant guide will stay with you, and in a private trip, our main guide will be with you at all times.

Another route and possible expansion of the Tsum Valley Trekking

There is another possible route to the Tsum Valley trekking, which is through Barpak in the Gorkha District. The town was the epicenter of the catastrophic 2015 earthquake, but it has been fully restored and is now safe for travelers.

A 7-hour drive from Kathmandu will lead you to Barpak, from where you will begin your hike through Laprak to Philim. On your return journey, you can follow a path through Soti Khola.

If you like to expand the experience of your Tsum Valley trekking, you can merge it with the Manaslu Circuit trek, which involves Larkya La Pass crossing at 5106 m altitude.

You may also take a side trip to the Ganesh Himal Base Camp from Chhokang Paro or visit more remote monasteries like Gumba Lungdang. You can also combine the Nar Phu trek with the Manaslu Tsum Valley trek and connect to the Annapurna trail.

Or, for a more expansive and challenging journey, you can also consider crossing the Kang La Pass (5322 m) along with the Larkya La Pass.

Accommodation, Meals, and Transportation

You will be staying at a standard three-star hotel in Kathmandu with bed and breakfast in double rooms that will come with an in-room bath with shower, WiFi, and charging outlets.

During the Manaslu Tsum Valley trekking, you will stay in a local teahouse run by the local community. In a group travel, you will have to share a twin room, while in private travel, a single room will be arranged.

However, please understand that in Tsum Valley, there are a limited number of teahouses, so you may need to share a room even in private travel. You will also have to share toilets and bathroom facilities.

Regarding meals, we offer you breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the trek, and the menu will be typical Nepali and Tibetan dishes. Vegetarian and vegan dishes will be readily available as well.

As for transportation, a private vehicle will be at your service for all overland transfers, including airport-hotel-airport transfers and the Kathmandu-Soti Khola-Kathmandu journey.

Permits essential for Tsum Valley Trekking

The following permits are essential for the Manaslu Tsum Valley trekking:

• Restricted Area Permit: This permit is issued by the Immigration Department of Nepal and is provided only to organized group treks (with a minimum of two members and a local certified guide) arranged by registered trekking and travel agencies in Nepal. Its cost is US$40 per hiker per week during autumn (with an additional daily fee of US$7 per hiker after the first week) and US$30 per hiker per week during spring, summer, and winter (with a daily additional charge of US$5 per hiker after a week). For SAARC nationals, the fee is US$35 per hiker, while Nepali citizens pay NPR 100.
• Manaslu Conservation Area Permit: This permit is provided by the Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu, and costs NPR 3000 per hiker for foreigners, NPR 1000 for SAARC nationals, and NPR 100 for Nepali citizens.
• Tsum Nubri Rural Municipality Entry Permit: This new permit was introduced in September 2024 and must be obtained through local tour operators like us in Kathmandu or at Jagat. The fee is NPR 1000 per hiker for all trekkers, and you will need to provide your passport, visa, photos, and insurance details.

We will process these permits for you and also pay the related fees.

Travel Insurance

You already know that travel insurance is essential for our 18 days Tsum Valley trekking. Without proper insurance, permits like the RAP and Tsum Nubri Rural Municipality Entry Permit will not be issued to you.

Therefore, for our Tsum Valley trekking, please obtain the international recovery and helicopter rescue insurance for altitudes up to 3700 m. We also recommend that you get the personal, accident, trip cancellation, and lost baggage insurance.

Please keep in mind that obtaining personal insurance for the Tsum Valley trekking will be your responsibility. We will only be providing insurance for our staff. You will need to send us a digital copy of your insurance papers along with your documents after you book the trip.