Tsum Valleyछोकाङ पारो
Twin farming villages on a broad terrace in the upper Tsum Valley, the base for Rachen Gompa and Milarepa's cave.
This is Chhokang Paro (Chekampar), the twin villages of Chhokang and Paro in the upper Tsum Valley, Gorkha; it is not a place in Mustang or Manang.
Higher seasonal exposure: landslides (Jun-Sep), cold (Dec-Feb).
Chhokang Paro, also written Chekampar, is the pair of villages, Chhokang and Paro, that mark the start of the upper Tsum Valley. After the forest walk from Chumling, the valley opens onto a wide, sunny terrace of barley and buckwheat fields with stone houses, long mani walls and chortens, and clear views of Ganesh Himal and other peaks on fine days. Within the Tsum Valley it is the main overnight stop between Chumling and Nile.
It makes a good base for the valley's religious sites: Rachen Gompa, the nunnery, and Milarepa's cave (Piren Phu) are both within a few hours' walk further up the valley near Lamagaun. Many itineraries stop here on the way up and again on the way down. The villages are also a place to see daily farm life, threshing and yak and mule caravans heading up and down the valley.
The people of Chhokang Paro are Tsumba, of Tibetan language and Buddhist culture, and the village is one of the largest settlements in Tsum. The Department of Immigration lists Chekampar among the places covered by the Tsum Valley restricted area permit. Family life follows the farming year, with festivals such as Lhosar (Tibetan New Year) observed at the local gompas.
Walk to Rachen Gompa and Milarepa's cave
Continue up the valley to the nunnery and the cave near Lamagaun, about 1.5-3 hours from the village.
Explore the villages
Walk between Chhokang and Paro past mani walls and chortens, keeping them on your right.
Forecast for 3,031 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Mar-May, Oct-Nov
Several simple lodges and homestays in the villages.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Walk from Lokpa via Chumling, about 1.5-2 days.
Nearest hub: Lokpa (Tsum Valley turn-off)
Nearest hub: Lokpa. Times are typical ranges, not schedules, and vary with roadworks, weather and the season.
On footfrom Chumlingabout 5-6 h5-6 h from Chumling, roughly 600-700 m of ascent from about 2,390 m, through forest then out onto open fields
On foot only, about 1.5-2 days above Lokpa.
Restricted-area permit
Chhokang Paro (Chekampar) is in the Tsum Valley restricted area: foreigners need the Tsum Valley restricted area permit and the Manaslu Conservation Area permit, arranged through a registered agency.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Department of Immigration: Trekking route and permit fee.
On the Tsum Valley Trek, Manaslu Circuit with Tsum Valley.
What this place is typically exposed to, and when. These are seasonal patterns, not a report on conditions now.
Landslideshigh in a typical yearJun-Sep
The approach up the Budhi Gandaki and the forested lower Tsum trail are landslide-prone in the June to September monsoon; the upper valley is drier but the way in is the problem.
Coldhigh in a typical yearDec-Feb
Nights are hard-frozen in midwinter in the open upper valley.
Altitudemoderate in a typical yearAll year
At roughly 3,031 m (some sources 3,501 m), thin air affects most people. General information, not medical advice: gain height slowly, build in acclimatisation days, learn the symptoms of altitude sickness (headache, nausea, breathlessness, broken sleep) and go down if they get worse. See a doctor before travelling and carry insurance that covers helicopter evacuation.
Snowmoderate in a typical yearDec-Mar
Snow falls in the upper Tsum villages through midwinter and some lodges close for the season.
Check current conditions before you travel
Roads, trails, passes and flights change with the weather and with roadworks, and nothing on this page describes conditions today. Before you set off, check the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology for weather and flood warnings, the Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal for incidents, and the local authority, police or your licensed operator for road, trail and flight status.
A restricted-area trek from the Budhi Gandaki into the Buddhist Tsum Valley in northern Gorkha, through Chumling, Chhokang Paro and Nile to Mu Gompa (about 3,700 m) near the Tibetan border. Often combined with the Manaslu Circuit.
Yes. Chhokang Paro, Chhokangparo and Chekampar are different spellings for the twin villages of Chhokang and Paro in the Tsum Valley.
About 3,000-3,100 m according to trekking sources, though Wikipedia gives a higher figure.
Rachen Gompa nunnery and Milarepa's cave are a short walk up the valley, and Nile and Mu Gompa are further north.
Temple, monastery or heritage site · 3,700 m
The highest monastery of the Tsum Valley, set on a bare ridge near the Tibetan border at the head of the valley.
Temple, monastery or heritage site · 3,240 m
A Buddhist nunnery on a terrace of the upper Tsum Valley, near Milarepa's cave and the villages of Chhokang Paro.
Trek stop · 2,386 m
The first main village of lower Tsum, across the Shiar Khola from the trail from Lokpa.
Trek stop · 2,240 m
A small village above the Budhi Gandaki where the trail turns east into the Tsum Valley.
Trek stop · 3,361 m
The last village of the upper Tsum Valley, a cluster of stone houses facing Chhule, a short climb from Mu Gompa.
Valley or region
A restricted Buddhist side valley of the Manaslu region, with monasteries, Milarepa's cave and villages near the Tibetan border.
