Pokhara & Annapurna, Tsum Valley
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.
The Tsum Valley is a side valley of the Budhi Gandaki in northern Gorkha, close to the Tibetan border, inside the Manaslu Conservation Area. It was opened to trekkers in 2008 and remains a restricted area, so visitors come in small agency groups with licensed guides.
The trek shares its first days with the Manaslu Circuit, up the Budhi Gandaki gorge to Jagat and Philim, then turns east at Lokpa into the forested gorge of the Shiar Khola. Beyond Chumling the valley opens into wide fields around Chhokang Paro, Nile and Chhule, with chortens, mani walls, Milarepa's cave and the monasteries of Rachen Gompa and Mu Gompa.
Tsum is regarded as a beyul, a sacred hidden valley, and the Tsumba people keep close cultural ties with Tibet. The trek goes no higher than about 3,700 m, which makes it gentler on altitude than the Manaslu Circuit, and it is often combined with the circuit for a longer trip.
Why it is rated moderate
Sleeping altitude for each night. The dashed lines at 3,000 m and 4,000 m mark heights where altitude illness becomes more common. General information only, not medical advice.
Hover, tap or use the arrow keys to see each day. Shaded columns are acclimatisation days.
| Day | Overnight | Sleeping altitude | High point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Machha Khola | 900 m | - |
| 2 | Jagat | 1,340 m | - |
| 3 | Lokpa | 2,240 m | - |
| 4 | Chumling | 2,386 m | - |
| 5 | Chhokang Paro | 3,031 m | - |
| 6 | Nile | 3,361 m | - |
| 7 | Nile (rest) | 3,361 m | 3,700 m |
| 8 | Chhokang Paro | 3,031 m | - |
| 9 | Chumling | 2,386 m | - |
| 10 | Philim | 1,570 m | - |
| 11 | Machha Khola | 900 m | - |
| 12 | Kathmandu | 1,400 m | - |
About 8 to 10 hours by jeep via Arughat and Soti Khola; the last section is rough dirt road. Road heads change with ongoing road works.
Teahouse in Machha KholaAbout Machha Khola
Up the Budhi Gandaki gorge via Khorlabesi, Tatopani and Dobhan. Permits are checked at Jagat.
Teahouse in JagatAbout Jagat
Via Salleri, Sirdibas and Philim, then off the Manaslu Circuit at Ekle Bhatti and up to Lokpa, the first village of Tsum, with views back down the Budhi Gandaki.
Teahouse or homestay in LokpaAbout Lokpa
East into the forested gorge of the Shiar Khola, with a steep descent and climb, to Chumling with its old gompa and terraced fields.
Teahouse or homestay in ChumlingAbout Chumling
Across the river and up the valley via Rainjam and Gho into the open upper valley, where Chhokang Paro's villages sit on a wide terrace with views of Ganesh Himal.
Teahouse or homestay in Chhokang ParoAbout Chhokang Paro
Past long mani walls and chortens, Milarepa's cave (Piren Phu) and the village of Chhule to Nile, one of the highest villages in the valley.
Teahouse or homestay in NileAbout Nile
Walk up the valley to Mu Gompa, the large monastery near the head of Tsum at about 3,700 m, then return to Nile. The day also helps acclimatisation.
Teahouse or homestay in NileAbout Nilehigh point Mu Gompa, 3,700 m
Back down the valley, crossing to visit Rachen Gompa, a nunnery on the opposite bank, before returning to Chhokang Paro.
Teahouse or homestay in Chhokang ParoAbout Chhokang Paro
Descend the valley to Chumling. Some itineraries take a higher route via the Gumba Lungdang nunnery, adding 1-2 days.
Teahouse or homestay in ChumlingAbout Chumling
Back through the Shiar Khola gorge to Lokpa and down to the Budhi Gandaki and the Gurung village of Philim.
Teahouse in PhilimAbout Philim
A long day down the gorge via Jagat, Dobhan and Tatopani; many groups split it with a night at Jagat, or meet a jeep where the track has reached.
Teahouse in Machha KholaAbout Machha Khola
About 8 to 10 hours by jeep back to Kathmandu.
Hotel in KathmanduAbout Kathmandu
Stages, times and altitudes vary by operator, weather and pace. Partner agencies confirm the exact plan.
Trail geometry from OpenStreetMap.
Tsum Valley restricted area permitRestricted area
Issued by the Department of Immigration through a registered agency; covers Chumnubri Rural Municipality wards 3, 6 and 7 (Sirdibas, Lokpa, Chumling, Chhekampar, Nile and Chhule). Its fee table lists USD 40 per week (September to November) or USD 30 per week (December to August), plus USD 7 per extra day.
Manaslu restricted area permitRestricted area
Agencies usually also issue this for the approach through the Manaslu restricted area around Jagat and Philim, and it is required if you combine Tsum with the circuit; confirm what your route needs.
Manaslu Conservation Area entry permit (MCAP)Conservation area
Tsum is inside the Manaslu Conservation Area. The Nepal Tourism Board's fee table lists NRs 3,000 per entry for foreign visitors.
TIMS cardTrekker card
Check whether a TIMS card is currently required in addition to the restricted area permits.
Restricted area
Restricted-area permits are issued by the Department of Immigration only through a government-registered trekking agency, for trekkers accompanied by a licensed guide; the rules have long required a minimum group of two trekkers, and changes have been reported, so confirm the current rule with the Department of Immigration or a licensed agency.Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Department of Immigration: Trekking route and permit fee. Guide rule: Nepal Tourism Board: TIMS card and trekking guide rule.
Nepal trekking permits explainedBest months: Mar-May, Oct-Nov
Nearest hub: Kathmandu. Times are typical ranges, not schedules, and vary with roadworks, weather and the season.
By busfrom KathmanduLocal buses
Public buses run from Kathmandu as far as Arughat or Soti Khola; the last rough stretch up the valley is normally a shared jeep, so a through bus band would be misleading.
When to set off: morning departures from Kathmandu, by about 07:00
By car or jeepfrom Kathmanduabout 8-10 h
A hired jeep is the usual way in: sealed road as far as Dhading Besi or Gorkha, then an unpaved hill road through Arughat to Soti Khola, and on up the valley to Machha Khola when the track allows.
Road: Sealed to Dhading Besi or Gorkha, then a largely unpaved hill road through Arughat; a jeep or 4WD is normally needed and the upper sections are monsoon-affected.
When to set off: leave Kathmandu by about 06:00 to reach the roadhead in daylight
By motorbikefrom Kathmanduabout 9-12 hExperienced riders only
Riders do reach the Manaslu roadhead, but the stretch beyond Arughat is rough, dusty and exposed, with river crossings and loose surfaces, so it suits experienced off-road riders only.
Road: Highway to Dhading Besi, then an unpaved hill road with loose gravel, steep pitches and stream crossings beyond Arughat.
When to set off: start early; the unpaved section beyond Arughat is slow going
On footfrom Soti Kholaabout 6-7 h6-7 h from Soti Khola, up and down beside the river with a net gain of only about 150-200 m
Most trekkers who drive straight to Machha Khola skip this stage; walked, it is a gentle but long first day.
Typical seasonal exposure along the route, merged from the stops that have a place page. Seasonal patterns only, never conditions today.
Altitudehigh in a typical yearAll year
At roughly 3,361 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.
Recorded for Tsum Valley, Chhokang Paro, Nile. Tsum Valley, Wikipedia
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.
Recorded for Tsum Valley, Machha Khola, Jagat (Gorkha), Lokpa and 5 more. Manaslu Trek, Wikivoyage
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.
Recorded for Tsum Valley, Machha Khola, Jagat (Gorkha), Lokpa and 2 more. Manaslu Trek, Wikivoyage
Road blockageshigh in a typical yearJun-Sep
The largely unpaved road beyond Arughat is prone to landslide blockages and washouts during the June to September monsoon, when most of Nepal's annual rain falls.
Recorded for Tsum Valley, Machha Khola, Jagat (Gorkha), Kathmandu. Climate of Nepal, Wikipedia
Snowhigh in a typical yearNov-Mar
Snow is common in the upper Tsum valley from late autumn to spring; many lodges close and some residents move down the valley.
Recorded for Tsum Valley, Chhokang Paro, Nile. Manaslu Trek, Wikivoyage
Coldhigh in a typical yearNov-Feb
Midwinter is very cold in the upper valley above about 3,000 m.
Recorded for Tsum Valley, Lokpa, Chumling, Chhokang Paro and 2 more. Manaslu Trek, Wikivoyage
Othermoderate in a typical yearJun-Aug, Dec-Apr
Leeches are common on the forested lower trail through the monsoon, which is one reason most trekkers avoid these months.
Recorded for Tsum Valley, Machha Khola, Jagat (Gorkha), Lokpa and 3 more. Manaslu Trek, Wikivoyage
Floodingmoderate in a typical yearJun-Sep
Riverside settlements and trail sections beside the Budhi Gandaki sit close to the water, and monsoon rain raises the river and its side streams quickly.
Recorded for Machha Khola, Jagat (Gorkha), Philim, Kathmandu. Climate of Nepal, Wikipedia
Heatmoderate in a typical yearApr-May
At about 900 m the gorge is hot and close in April and May, before the monsoon breaks.
Recorded for Machha Khola. Climate of Nepal, Wikipedia
Check current conditions before you travel
Nothing here describes the Tsum Valley Trek today. Trail, road, pass and flight conditions change with the weather and with roadworks. Check the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal and the local authority or your licensed operator before and during the trek.
Forecasts for start (Machha Khola, 900 m), highest overnight (Nile, 3,361 m), end (Kathmandu, 1,400 m). Mountain weather changes fast; check again on the day.
Forecast for 900 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Forecast for 3,361 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Forecast for 1,400 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Rejoin the Budhi Gandaki at Lokpa or Philim and continue north via Deng and Namrung to Samagaun and the Larkya La.
The monastery near the head of the valley, at about 3,700 m.
A nunnery across the river from Chhokang Paro.
Gumba Lungdang
A nunnery on a high shoulder above the lower valley, reached on a longer exit route; some groups continue to a viewpoint below Ganesh Himal.
About 11 to 15 days from Kathmandu. Combined with the Manaslu Circuit it takes about 18 to 22 days.
Yes. Tsum is a restricted area: the Department of Immigration issues the Tsum Valley permit only through a registered agency, for trekkers with a licensed guide. You also need the MCAP entry permit, and usually the Manaslu restricted permit for the approach.
The highest point is Mu Gompa, at about 3,700 m. The highest night on this itinerary is Nile, at about 3,360 m.
Yes. Most combined itineraries visit Tsum first, return to the Budhi Gandaki at Lokpa or Philim and then continue north to Samagaun and the Larkya La.
October and November, then March to May. The monsoon brings rain and landslides in the gorges.
A restricted-area teahouse trek around Manaslu (8,163 m), up the Budhi Gandaki gorge through Gurung and Nubri villages, over the Larkya La (about 5,106 m) and down to Dharapani on the Annapurna Circuit.
A restricted-area trek from Koto on the Annapurna Circuit into the high Tibetan Buddhist villages of Phu and Nar, crossing the Kang La (about 5,320 m) to Ngawal and Manang.
A restricted-area trek north from Kagbeni through the eroded canyons of the former Kingdom of Lo to the walled town of Lo Manthang, returning via Lo Gekar and Dhakmar.
Tsum Valley · 12 days
