Tsum Valley Trekking Itinerary

Tsum Valley adventure begins with an interesting and exciting long overland drive on Nepal’s busy highway to reach at Dhading Bhesi a large town headquarters of Dhading district, after Dhading heading to Arughat town by the River Burigandaki.

Arughat, main village of Gorkha district with many shops and stores, where villagers of surrounding Gorkha and Dhading areas visit for shopping local commodities.

From Arughat our drive continues on rough dirt jeep tracks following the raging Burigandaki River upstream to reach our first overnight stop at Soti-Khola, a small farm village slowly developing into town due access of motorable road.

From this village, starting our walk following Buri Gandaki River upstream through many farm villages, crossing over Nuali khola with views of waterfalls and then cross a stream to Machha Khola for overnight stop which means “Fish stream”.

After pleasant overnight at Macha-Khola, morning walk follows Buri-Gandaki River upstream, to reach Khorla Beshi a small farm village from here on winding path to reach at Tatopani village with “Hot Spring,” an opportunity for hot bathe as time allows. After a nice rest walk carries on passing Dovan and Yaruphant villages to reach at Jagat for overnight stops, Jagat a moderate size farm villages with shops and stores.

From Jagat, morning walk leads to higher areas passing scattered farm villages with short climb and downhill to cross over a bridge to reach at Nagjet and Philim, a large village with spread-out farm houses. After Philim walk through farm terraces of golden fields of wheat’s and barley, then a climb on rocky ridge top into bamboo forest area to our overnight stop at Lakuwa on leaving the main trail of Manaslu trekking route.

After Lakuwa village and leaving the Burigandkai River for a week, our walk heads towards Tsum valley into the valley of happiness, as our route enters narrow gorge then with short descend and uphill climb into rhododendron and pine tree forest walking past small farm villages then climbing above Lungwa Khola to reach at Chumling village for first overnight in Tsum Valley.

From here altitude slowly gains with the mountain views of Ganesh Himal peaks, as the villages and landscapes looks similar to Tibetan windswept plateau. Morning walks with downhill to cross a bridge over Smatiking Khola, with views of Ganesh Himal also known as Yangra at 7,422 m high, walk slowly leads at Chokhan-paro village for overnight stop. 

After Chokan-paro heading closer at upper Tsum area to Nele (Ne-lay) starting with a climb onto open valley and windswept country with few small trees that survives around this arid terrain.

Walk continues uphill with views of Ganesh and Manaslu Himal, after a pleasant walk reach at Nele on the way with visit to an old cave of 11th Centaury Saint Milarepa famous and popular among Buddhist as poet, singer, tantric guru his folk-tales and songs are still remembered by Tibetans and Buddhist alike. 

Morning walk starts on reaching the highest point at Mu Gompa and main destination of this adventure, as the walk continues to climb on high arid terrain offering views of high peaks on the way to Mu Gompa for overnight stop.

At Mu Gompa free day to explore the unexplored areas around high valley of Tsum visit its traditional villages and interesting old Mu Gompa with ancient antique scrolls, statue and relics this is one of the most important monastery of Tsum and Manaslu area.

The village of upper Tsum located on route Tibet border, which is least frequented by other trekkers and adventurer, here enjoy the scenery and culture in complete of natural surrounding within total bliss.

After an interesting and marvelous time at Mu Gompa, our return journey leads to another impressive monastery at Rachen Gompa, walking on nice trails with some short climbs and downs passing few small scattered farm villages of cattle herders to reach at Rachen Gompa for overnight stop, afternoon visit Rachen monastery which treasures historical and religious artifacts and important statues of famous Gurus with idol of Sakaymuni Buddha.

Today our last day around Tsum valley, as the morning walk leads to a long descend to Chumling village passing farm areas and then back into tree lines, after a long downhill walk of 6 hours reaching at Chumling village for last overnight stop around Tsum.

From Chumling village, morning walk downhill following river downstream with views of waterfalls then reaching villages of Samba, Tingding Chhupyang till our walk ends at Philim village for overnight stop.

This is a nice farm village with school supported by Japanese (as Mt. Manaslu was first climbed by Japanese so this area is a favorite among Japanese).

From here onwards on warmer area with paddy fields, after a breakfast walk leads to Tatopani following Buri Gandaki River through several small villages of Nagjet, Sidibas Bazaar and Jagat. Walk further descends at Yaruphant, then to lower area with dramatic change in vegetation, finally ending six hours walk to our overnight stop at Tatopani a small farm village with hot spring as Tatopani in Nepali means 'hot water', afternoon enjoy the hot springs and relax. The local believes that the spring water have a natural power to cure various disease and wounds.

After a nice time at Tatopani and hot spring, morning walk leads to Soti Khola walking along the Budhi Gandaki River downstream, after hours of good walk reaching at Gurung village of Labubesi, from here walk further through terraced fields and waterfalls to reach our last overnight stop at Soti-khola. 

With enjoyable overnight at Soti-Khola village, our last day on the mid hills of Mid West Himalaya morning taking vehicle for long interesting overland ride to Kathmandu following Burigandaki River downstream heading towards Arughat which is the last village of Gorkha area. From drive continues to Kathmandu passing through Dhading then on the good road most of the way to reach at Kathmandu, after a fascinating trip Tsum -The Valley of Happiness trekking.