Tsum Valley Trekking

Your flight will land at Tribhuwan International Airport. After immigration and baggage handling, you will proceed to gate 1. The staff of Boundless Adventures will be at the arrival gate with your nameplate. You will be driven through the narrow roads of Kathmandu to reach Thamel. In Thamel, you will check into your Hotel. The rest of the day is leisure; you may wander around in Thamel or rest in your Hotel night stopover at Thamel.

The first day of your trip begins with a sumptuous breakfast at your Hotel in Kathmandu. Up next, you will be driven to the starting point of your Trek, Maccha Khola. We exit the valley of Kathmandu from Naag Dhunga and take the Prithvi Highway. The journey along the Prithvi Highway continues for 57 kilometers before diverging at Dhading Besi. The drive is scenic, with excellent views of the Ganesh and Gorkha mountain ranges. From Dhading Besi, we head north, taking a narrow road towards Arughat in Gorkha district. We follow through the dense settlements of Arughat and along the Budhi Gandaki river basin. The road after Arughat needs to be paved; it is currently uneven. It is filled with rock boulders and muddy trails. After an hour-long drive from Arughat, you reach Maccha Khola. We settle down at the teahouse in Maccha Khola for the night.

The stretch from Macchakhola to Jagat begins with a walk along the banks of the Budhi Gandaki River. The trail steadily follows the riverbed, which is filled with sand and rocky boulders. This section of the river is narrowed down by huge hills on both sides. After an hour of walking, you will reach KhorlaBesi, a crossroad with a western trail leading toward Barpark in Gorkha. We continue following the river right after Khorlbesi, a natural hot Spring, and the place is then named Tatopani. Heading further from Tatopani, we pass through Dobhan, the site of the two most significant landslides in the area. It is the confluence of the Budhi Gandaki and Dobhan Rivers. From Dobhan, steady walkers take 2 hours to reach Jagat. The trail ascends and descends several times during the stretch. Jagat is a small village with an MCAP office at its center. The authorities will ask for your MCAP permit herein. Also, the restricted area of Manaslu Tsum Valley begins from Jagat. You will need to show your RAP here. Overnight at Jagat

From Jagat, the trail descends steeply to reach Bhatu Khola. You will have to cross a suspension bridge over the river. The next stop after Jagat is Salleri, which offers a surreal view of Mt. Shringi (7155m). Salleri will be your first encounter with the Himalayan Mountains on this trail. You will traverse via Buddhist mani walls, monuments, and shortcuts before reaching Nagjet. The route from Nagjet passes through the other side of the river. It takes 6-7 hours to trek from Jagat to Lokpa, including a short break and lunch stop. Lokpa is situated at the confluence of the Syar and Budhi Gandaki Rivers. Your trek from here on follows the Syar River. We stay at Lokpa for the night.

The stretch from Lokpa to Chumling is easy, with occasional climbs over muddy hills and rocky sections of the riverbank. We cross the Sarli Khola suspension bridge and traverse via small regional hamlets. The Manaslu Mountains will keep you recharged along the way. This traverse to Chumling is short, with 4-5 hours of trekking. Chumling resembles a classic Nepalese village, with stone-built structures and tin-roofed houses overlooking paddy fields. We stay for the night there.

There is a native monastery in Chumling, a revered site for locals. We make our way through this classic architectural monastery and descend towards Yarju. From Yarju, your trail makes a short ascent and heads straight to a crossroads at Tumje/Dumje. Dumje is a crossroads point for the Tsum Valley and Ganesh Himal Base Camp trek. It lies at the confluence of the Syar, Sarpu, and Langdang Rivers. Dumje is at an elevation of 2440 meters above sea level. From here on, we take on the river banks of the Syar River to reach Chokkang Paro. The trail advances steeply through a narrow river gorge. Upon reaching Chhokangparo, a flat valley appears before you. The route is easygoing on a flat surface. A two-hour Trek from Chhokang Paro takes you to Rachen Gompa. The monastery at Rachen Gompa exemplifies Tibetan and Tsumba-style architecture. It is a revered site for the Tsumba peoples of Tsum Valley. We stay for the night at a teahouse in Rachen Gompa.

The flatlands of Tsum Valley begin from Rachen Gompa. You will traverse the greenery of the hills on both sides of the Syar River. This stretch is widely regarded as the most scenic traverse of the Tsum Valley trek. Most of the riverbank is used for agriculture, while small Tsumba settlements are scattered throughout the valley. We pass through the villages of Phurbe, Chhule, Nile, Rolmi, and Chho Syong before finally reaching Mu Gompa. This stretch of the Trek features several monuments, including Milarepa Gompa, Milarepa Piren Phu Cave, and Chi Phu Gompa. Numerous Mani walls are also dotted along the trail. These villages are filled with a sacred Buddhist aura and provide a religious vibe. After reaching Chho Syong, the path diverges westward and passes via Dhephyudoma Nunnery Gompa. It then ascends to reach Mu Gompa. We stay at a teahouse in Mu Gompa.

Mu Gompa is an enigmatic destination with incredible views of the landscape. The look around the Gompa is surreal, with a Himalayan vista on all sides. You will take a rest day here to explore the surrounding areas. The region is filled with greenery and picturesque mountain vistas. Hike to a nearby hill or take a good break, staying cozy in your teahouse for the day.

Today, we begin our return journey from Mu Gompa. The first stretch takes us to Sengum village, and then we reach Chhule for lunch. Then we get to the famous Milarepa Cave, Piren Phu, before going to Rachen Gompa. You will stay at the teahouse in Rachen Gompa for the night.

After a sumptuous meal at your Hotel, we begin the day's trek. Today, your Trek will descend along the Syar River, traversing Chokkang Paro before reaching Dumje. Dumje is the crossroads point for Ganesh Himal Base Camp and the confluence of the Syar, Sarpu, and Langdang Rivers. The Syar River originates from Tsum Valley. In between lies Gumba Longdang, which will be our night stopover. Gumba Longdang is a monastery situated amid numerous mountains in the Ganesh Range. Ganesh I (7422m), Ganesh II (6908m), Voke Peak (4617m), and Ganesh IV (6908m). Gumba Lungdang offers one of the best unseen views of Ganesh Himal.

Unlike your ascent, we retrace our route to Dumje. We don't cross the Syar River for this traverse. We stay on the left side of the Syar River and continue our journey. We reach Ripchet, a small town of Gurung and Thakali, in the evening. Ripchet is across Chumling village, separated by the Syar River In Between.

The descent journey is easy to travel. Now, the flatlands disappear, and you reach the narrow corridor cut out by the Syar River. At Lokpa, the Syar River converges with the Budhi Gandaki River. We then follow along the Budhi Gandaki River and descend via Ekle Bhatti and other small hamlets. You will reach Philim in the evening for your night stopover.

After a hearty breakfast at Philim, we descend alongside the Budhi Gandaki River corridor. To reach Khorlabesi in the evening, you will traverse numerous old monasteries and Buddhist villages, including Salleri, Yaruphant, Lhakpa, Dobhan, and Tatopani. You must check out from a restricted area at Jagat before exiting the MCAP office.

The stretch from Khoralesi to Soti Khola is easy. It passes through small hamlets alongside the Budhi Gandaki River. We arrive at Soti Khola in the evening, marking the end of your Trek.

When you depart from Soti Khola, your vehicle will be waiting for you a day earlier. The road first goes off-road until Arughat, then continues on a paved road to Dhading Besi. You head east from Dhading Besi, taking Prithivi Highway to reach Kathmandu. Overnight at the Hotel in Kathmandu. Note: Your trek will be over.