Tsum Valleyलोक्पा
A small village above the Budhi Gandaki where the trail turns east into the Tsum Valley.
This is Lokpa (Lokpha), the small village in Chumnubri, Gorkha, where the trail to the Tsum Valley leaves the Manaslu Circuit; not the Lokpa language of West Africa or any other place of that name.
Higher seasonal exposure: landslides (Jun-Sep), river crossings (Jun-Sep).
Lokpa is the first village of the Tsum Valley and the place where trekkers leave the main Manaslu Circuit. The trail branches off the Budhi Gandaki route north of Philim and Ekle Bhatti, climbs to a set of terraced fields and a few houses at about 2,240 m, and from here heads east into the forested gorge of the Shiar Khola, the river of Tsum.
As a stop it is small and simple, with a few lodges and homestays, but it marks a clear change: the Tsum restricted area begins around here, the number of trekkers drops, and the next days lead to Chumling and the Buddhist villages of the upper valley. Within the Tsum Valley page it is the gateway village; the main sights lie further up.
Views from Lokpa look back down the Budhi Gandaki and up to the forested ridges that separate it from the main Manaslu valley.
Lokpa sits in Chumnubri Rural Municipality, the local government covering Tsum and Nubri. People here are of Tibetan-Buddhist culture, with chortens and prayer flags at the edge of the village. The Department of Immigration lists Lokpa among the settlements covered by the Tsum Valley restricted area permit.
Head into Tsum
Continue east through forest and across the Shiar Khola to Chumling, about 4-6 hours.
Rejoin the circuit
On the way out of Tsum, return via Lokpa to the Budhi Gandaki and continue north towards Deng and Namrung.
Forecast for 2,240 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
A few simple lodges and homestays; book through your agency in peak season.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Walk up the Budhi Gandaki from Machha Khola via Jagat and Philim, about 2 days.
Nearest hub: Machha Khola (Manaslu Circuit)
Nearest hub: Machha Khola. Times are typical ranges, not schedules, and vary with roadworks, weather and the season.
On footfrom Philimabout 4-5 h4-5 h from Philim, climbing from roughly 1,570 m to 2,240 m through forest and across the Budhi Gandaki
On foot only. Lokpa is the junction where the Tsum Valley trail leaves the Manaslu Circuit.
Restricted-area permit
Lokpa is covered by the Tsum Valley restricted area permit. Foreigners also need the Manaslu Conservation Area permit and, to reach it on the circuit, the Manaslu restricted area permit; all 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.
River crossingshigh in a typical yearJun-Sep
The route crosses the Budhi Gandaki repeatedly on suspension bridges, and near Yaru a cantilever walkway carries the trail along the gorge wall. These are the most exposed sections when the river runs high in the monsoon.
Othermoderate in a typical yearJun-Aug
Leeches are common on the forested lower trail through the monsoon, which is one reason most trekkers avoid these months.
Coldmoderate in a typical yearDec-Feb
Cold but usually passable at about 2,240 m, with occasional snow in midwinter.
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.
At Lokpa, a small village above the Budhi Gandaki north of Philim, where the trail turns east into Tsum.
Yes. Lokpa and the rest of Tsum are covered by the Tsum Valley restricted area permit, separate from the Manaslu permit.
Roughly 4-6 hours on foot through forest along the Shiar Khola.
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 · 3,031 m
Twin farming villages on a broad terrace in the upper Tsum Valley, the base for Rachen Gompa and Milarepa's cave.
Trek stop · 2,386 m
The first main village of lower Tsum, across the Shiar Khola from the trail from Lokpa.
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.
Trek stop · 900 m
A riverside village of lodges at the mouth of a side stream, the first night's stop for most Manaslu Circuit trekkers.
Valley or region
A restricted trekking region around the world's eighth-highest mountain, from the Budhi Gandaki gorge to Tibetan-Buddhist villages and the Larkya La.