
Best Season: March-April-May and September-October-November
People in Tsum Valley still practice polyandry system and they have their own unique culture, tradition, & dialect. They celebrate the unique festival like Lhosar, Dhacyhang, Saka Dawa, Fanning & others. Many residents of this valley report that they have seen or found the signs of Mehti, commonly referred to as the 'Yeti' or 'Abominable Snowman'.
The trials are strewn with artistic chortens and lined with Mani walls made of thousands of stone slabs carved with drawings of deities and inscribed with prayers. The famous Kyimo Lung, a pilgrimage circuit in the central Trans-Himalaya is a well-known seat of learning and a seat of meditation. The circuit traverses across Tsum Valley, Manaslu area in Nepal and southern parts of Tibet. The Buddhist saint Milarepa is believed to have meditated in the caves of these mountains. Due to its remoteness and inaccessibility, this sacred valley and its people have been bypassed by mainstream development for centuries. As a result, the unique culture of this valley has also remained fairly intact. This trek begins from Arughat in Gorkha district, which is easily accessible from Kathmandu.
Manaslu Region: From September to November per week per person US$ 70 and After 7 days per day per person US$ 10, and From December to August per week per person US$ 50 and After 7 days per day per person US$ 7, Or equivalent convertible foreign currency.
Itinerary
Arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport Kathmandu and you will be transferring you to the hotel. Late-night welcome dinner at Nepali restaurant with Going Nepal member and short briefing about the tomorrow Kathmandu sightseeing. Overnight at the hotel.
Elevation of Kathmandu: 1300m/4264ft
Transportation: Private car
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meal: Welcome dinner
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meal: Breakfast
Transportation: Private car/Tourist bus
Driving distance: 138km/5-6hrs
Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge
Meal: Breakfast and dinner
Trek duration: 6/7hrs
Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge
Meal: Full Meal Board with tea/coffee enroute
Trek duration: 6/7hrs
Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge
Meal: Full Meal Board with tea/coffee enroute
After morning breakfast we will be continuing along the river for about an hour we get to a diverge in the river system. Taking the left-hand trail across the suspension bridge will take you to Larke pass on the Manaslu circuit route. We stay to the right which takes us into lower Tsum Valley and our main destination of this trek. In Philim the landscape was very spread out but now you are trekking through a canyon with some exceptionally tall pine trees and beautiful grasslands hugging the mountainside. Passing through Philim via Lokpa we overhead to Chumling for the overnight stay.
Elevation of Chumling: 2386m/7752ft
Trek duration: 6/7hrs
Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge
Meal: Full Meal Board with tea/coffee enroute
Today firstly our trek lead us to Dumje where we stop for lunch in the afternoon. There is a trail leading us South Easterly that takes you to the Ganesh Himal Base Camp. From here we can see spectacular views of the Baudha and Himalchuli peaks to the south-west. Chhokang Paro which is part of the Upper Tsum valley (part of the Inner Himalaya) is a village situated on flat land and made up of two settlements Chhekam and Paro. Some households in this village sill practice polyandry. Overnight at Lodge/Tea house.
Elevation of Chhokang Paro: 3010m/9875ft
Trek duration: 5/6hrs
Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge
Meal: Full Meal Board with tea/coffee enroute
We continue Northeast from Chhokangparo as we make our way to Nile/ Chulle. Hours into the journey we visit the Milarepa Piren Phu Cave. Piren Phu (pigeon cave) is one of the most sacred caves in the Tsum valley. The great Buddhist Yogi Chyuchin Milarepa, the famous Tibetan saint, was believed to have meditated here. There are two separate Gumbas attached to the rocky cave which houses the life-size statues of Avalokiteshvara, Buddha, Tara, and Milarepa. Richly painted Buddhist murals, excellent artistic scripts carved on stones, long prayer flags and significant Buddhists paper scripts make this cave one of the most important cultural assets in the valley. Beautiful views can be had of the Shiar Khola, Rachen Gumba, the mountains and settlements amidst vast agricultural land. Trekking further up the valley will bring you to Nile/Chhule. Chhule is on the Eastern side of the Shiar Khola while 20 minutes further upstream is the Nile. These are the last villages heading north in the upper Tsum Valley. Overnight at Lodge/Tea house.
Elevation of Chhule: 3347m/10980ft
Trek duration: 5/6hrs
Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge
Meal: Full Meal Board with tea/coffee enroute
Walking hours further along the old Nepal-Tibet caravan path leads you to Mu Gompa. Close by is the oldest monastery in the valley-Dephyudonma Gumba at 4060m height, founded about 700 years ago. The history of this monastery is directly associated with the dawn of Buddhism in the valley. The monastery houses religious books, including Kangyur, a life-sized statue of Avalokiteshwara, and images of Guru Padmasambhava and Tara. The landscape is dotted with mani walls, chortens, and katanas (gateway chortens). Chortens are Buddhist religious monuments, also known as stupas, which are distinct features in Tsum Valley. They are erected to ward off evil spirits from places that are identified as thresholds such as confluences and bridges or to commemorate the visit or death of historic figures, lamas or even relatives. Kaanis are also called gateway chortens placed before the entry of any village which travelers are supposed to walk through. Mani walls are long walls made of mani stones i.e. stones with carved mantras. The main purpose of these mani walls is to ask the help of the gods for the wellbeing of travelers. Overnight at Lodge/Tea house.
Elevation of Mu Gompa: 3600m/11811ft
Trek duration: 3/4hrs
Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge
Meal: Full Meal Board with tea/coffee enroute
You will see a trail that leads North from our camp. This trail is used by many local people as they take caravans of yaks every two months to get the necessary food supplies for the monks at the monastery. The journey takes 6-7 days and crosses the high pass Ngula Dhojhyag (5093m). We don't walk further North but instead hike to the base of Pika Himal (4865m) where views of glaciers, Tibetan peaks, the Ganesh Himal and other surrounding mountains can be seen. The area is home to fauna such as Blue sheep, Yaks, Naks, Chauris and the rare sighting of Pika. After the day's excursion, we return to our lodge.
Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge
Meal: Full Meal Board with tea/coffee
After morning breakfast, we continue to our trek to Dupchet which takes about hours to hike up to the Dupchet and we need to climb 480m up. From here we can see the panoramic view of the snow-capped mountain and we stay here for overnight at a lodge.
Elevation of Dupchet: 4180m/13710ft
Trek duration: 4/5hrs
Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge
Meal: Full Meal Board with tea/coffee enroute
After breakfast, we start out trek and today our trekking trail is easy with a smooth walk to take more rest and walk slowly. Walking a bit up and down in small hills with a flat way and after a few hours, we will reach today's destination at Chhemdo. Overnight at lodge.
Elevation of Chhemdo: 4110m/13480ft
Trek duration: 3/4hrs
Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge
Meal: Full Meal Board with tea/coffee enroute
This day we are very close to the border of the Tibet. From here it takes only a few hours to get Tibet & this is very popular border is called Thapa Bhanjang pass to go Tibet and doing the local business between Tibetan & Nepali locals people. From here we can see some Tibetan mountain & it is the last village.
Elevation of Chhekya: 4240m/13907ft
Trek duration: 4hrs
Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge
Meal: Full Meal Board with tea/coffee enroute
From today we leave the local villages. From here we can’t see any houses of the local people only we can see some yak farmhouse around this place. Of course, we can see a good view of the Himalaya and border mountain. This is the highest point on this our trek.
Elevation of Sangti: 5066m/16621ft
Trek duration: 5/6hrs
Accommodation: Tent
Meal: Full Meal Board with tea/coffee
Today is another long day more up & downhill. So, after breakfast we will continue our walk during the walk we get chance to see another border but the tuff and extreme one from where the local people get in out for different trade and commercial purpose. Then the trail is mostly downhill and flat but still, it is a very long way down to the Bhajyo which is takes same time as yesterday. Crossing the way you will be able to see the beautiful creature of nature on the way and donot forget to notice and capture nature. Overnight at a tent.
Elevation of Bhajyo: 4030m/13218ft
Trek duration: 6/7hrs
Accommodation: Tent
Meal: Full Meal Board with tea/coffee
After breakfast, we will head towards Lungdang which is a very small place. And today is the longest day for walking in our trekking period. This place is the last camp before getting the village. From tomorrow we will back to the local village is called Rachen Gompa.
Elevation of Lungdang: 4240m/13907ft
Trek duration: 6/7hrs
Accommodation: Tent
Meal: Full Meal Board with tea/coffee
From Lungdang we take the trail to Rachen Gumba, a nunnery. The nunnery is situated in the Shiar Khola Valley in the foothills of the mountains bordering Nepal and Tibet. Rachen Gumba was established in 1905 AD and is one of the largest nunneries in the Tsum valley. It houses nuns belonging to the Ngak-pa sect, which does not allow animal slaughter. The nunnery houses one thousand clay, molded statues of Avalokiteshwara, a brightly colored, carved throne and pillar, and a large prayer wheel. The interior is richly painted with murals about Buddhism and its history.
Elevation of Rachen Gompa: 3240m/10629ft
Trek duration: 6/7hrs
Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge
Meal: Full Meal Board with tea/coffee enroute
After morning breakfast now we will proceed towards Dumje, a small village with about eight houses and adjoining cattle shed. Overnight will be in the small settlement of the village.
Elevation of Dumje: 2460m/8071ft
Trek duration: 6/7hrs
Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge
Meal: Full Meal Board with tea/coffee enroute
After morning breakfast our trek will lead us towards Philim and cross Ripchet. After crossing we will walk somehow ups and downs in the hill and move towards to our today's journey. On the way, we pass one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Lower Tsum Valley, Samba Tingding Chhupyang.
Elevation of Philim: 1570m/5149ft
Trek duration: 6/7hrs
Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge
Meal: Full Meal Board with tea/coffee enroute
From Philim we trek to Tatopani. There is a hot spring at Tatopani. You can relieve your tired muscles by soaking yourself in the hot spring.
Elevation of Tatopani: 990m/3240ft
Trek duration: 6/7hrs
Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge
Meal: Full Meal Board with tea/coffee enroute
From Tatopani, we trek to Soti Khola. We pass through terraced fields and tropical waterfalls and overnight at the village.
Elevation of Soti Khola: 700m/2297ft
Trek duration: 4/5hrs
Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge
Meal: Full Meal Board with tea/coffee enroute
As we make our way from Soti Khola to Arughat Bazar, as today is the last day of our trek so hopefully you had a great time over the past days with your guide and mate. Overnight at Arughta lodge.
Elevation of Arughat Bazaar: 608m/1995ft
Trek duration: 4/5hrs
Accommodation: Tea house/Lodge
Meal: Full Meal Board with tea/coffee enroute
The morning we will drive to the same way to Kathmandu by regular bus (Depend on group size if a group is big we will provide private bus) through the scenic countryside and en route will stop for lunch on the way. It takes 9 hours back to Kathmandu. On arrival at Kathmandu, the guide will transfer to the hotel and rest of the day relax or explore the surrounding areas and overnight at hotel.
Elevation of Kathmandu: 1300m/4264ft
Transportation: Private car/Tourist bus
Driving distance: 177km/8hrs
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meal: Breakfast
This pleasant day you may have a full day at leisure on your own and evening company will meet you for the farewell dinner and overnight at hotel.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meal: Breakfast and farewell dinner
Today is your last day at Kathmandu. It is your free morning so you can have some shopping or explore any activities that you have missed. You have your breakfast in the hotel and in your time transfer to the airport and our trips end up here. Have a wonderful memory of this trip with us and plan ahead to your onward destination.
Transportation: Private car
Driving duration: 30min
Meal: Breakfast
Additional Activity
Meals
Full Meal Board during a trek
Accommodation
Lodge/Tea house during a trek
Service Included
- Arrival and departure transfer
- Complimentary welcome and farewell dinner
- 4-night’s twin sharing accommodation hotel in Kathmandu with BB plan
- A day Kathmandu sightseeing with reliable vehicle a per group size
- Kathmandu-Soti Khola and Arughat-Kathmandu both way by private/local bus as per group size
- Meal on full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea & coffee) basis during a trek
- Twin sharing accommodation on tented camp during a trek
- Trek leader (English speaking, First Aid, and eco trained), Sherpa, camping cook, Sherpa porters
- Manaslu Conservation Entry Fee and TIMS Permit
- Special Tsum Valley permit (Restricted zone requires special permit)
- All government and local taxes
Service Excluded
- Visa fees, Intl. airfare
- Lunch and dinner in the city
- Heritage sites entry fees
- Travel and rescue insurance
- Personal expenses e.g. phone calls, laundry, bar bills & extra porters
- Tips for driver, guides, and porters
- Any extending trips
- Services don't include in service inclusive column
Important Notes
Accommodation in Kathmandu on BB plan and during the trekking provide all meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and tea/coffee) plan. This trek is more designed on the lodge/teahouse. The meals comprised of American, Nepali & Chinese cuisines. The meals served on breakfast during welcome and farewell dinner is included within the price. Snacks, mineral water is included but alcoholic beverages are not included within the price. During the stay in Kathmandu, we provide 4 nights’ double sharing accommodation within 3-star hotels and 20 night’s double sharing accommodation within available teahouse/Lodge and tent. Note: Single occupancy also available as per request with single supplement charge.
Trip gears suggestion:
Before starting the trip with us you need to be complete within yourself especially with the kit vital for trekking. The list is given below separating as per your body parts.For head:
Sunblock hat
Fleece/Woolen hat (perfect to cover ears)
Sunglasses as well as reading glasses
Scarf to cover face (protect from dust and wind)
For lower body:
Underwears
Shorts needed for hiking
Lightweight walking pants
Lightweight thermal leggings
Fleece or tracksuit pants
Waterproof shell pants
For Feet:
Min 3x thin full cotton inner socks
Hiking boots (along with spare laces)
Sandals
Walking poles/stick
For upper body:
Min 3x T-shirts
Min 2x lightweight thermal tops
Waterproof shell jacket(bomber)
Down tee shirt/jacket
Poncho rain cover
For hands:
Light fleece gloves
Waterproof/wind fleece gloves
For night use:
Sleeping bag
Pillow slip/case
Essential Medical Kit:
For this, you need to consult with your doctor for a complete medical kit.
Accessories needed for trekking:
Watch compromising of light & alarm
Bag Pack no heavier than 15kg
Daypack 33ltr with waist strap
Toiletries & Personal Hygiene:
Daily using accessories: Dry towel, Shampoo, Toothbrush & paste, Wipes of multipurpose (face & body), Deodorant
Face & Body Moisturizer, Nail clippers/file, Small comb/brush, Clothes washing soap(decomposable), Toilet paper, Anti-Bacterial wipes (4x packs), Hand sanitizer (small bottle), Sunblock face/body high UV protection, Lip block with UV protection, Feminine hygiene products
Other additional Stuff:
Camera & extra batteries
Reading books
Map: Trail map & guidebook
Diary, Journal & Pen
Trekking Criterion:
Mostly we do arrange a trip with single supplement (except for some region most of the regions needs min. 2 persons). Before booking the trekking or initiating the trip you make sure that you do have a group and then only we will arrange the trip on a huge scale as per your request.
Physical Necessities:
Tsum Valley Explore Trek seems very vigorous but does not necessitate to have any previous trekking or mountaineering experience. It does require any specified technical knowledge as well as an experience rather you only need to be in good physical & mentally condition and be proficient to hike for 4-6 hours over hilly terrain with a light daypack. Before booking the trip you better consult with your Medical Doctor once and as per your Doctor references initiate your trip booking process with us.
Trekking Head and Employees:
With an experience of a decade in the adventurous tourism, we do have our unbelievable teams of conductors and employees who are the backbone of this company inculcated with experiences and are highly professional with their technical expertise, proven safety measures records, solicitous judgment, and as well as support training styles and abundant personalities. Mostly we do have our field staff from the local area that covers from eastern to western Himalayan ranges, which backs the local people directly. As being local they have good knowledge of that respective region and they have good health fitness, can cope with the worst case scenario, as well experienced with a good team leading capabilities in the Himalayan region.
Familiarization:
The itinerary of Tsum Valley Explore Trek is particularly designed in view of a high degree of depreciating AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness). Normally, elevation sickness starts from 3600m/11808ft and this doesn’t create any problem below this standard. So, throughout your trip, the best solution is to go slowly with body adaptation. As we know, the more we elevate, the less oxygen we get in the air. For example, crossing high altitudes more than 5000m/16400ft, 50% oxygen is deducted than at sea level. Your body needs several days to acclimatize during the travel in high Himalaya.
Emergency Evacuation Rescue Service (EERS) and Travel Insurance:
As we know that the trip can be canceled, or in those worst case scenario we need to be aware, so we highly recommend to purchase trip cancellation and travel insurance. This broad travel insurance offers you huge benefits including the coverage of trip cancellation and interruption, travel delays, loss of baggage and travel documents, baggage delay, medical expenses, and emergency assistance.
Climate and Weather:
A country with a diversified culture does have a diversified topography as well beginning from 60 meters to top of the planet 8,848 meters i.e. the top of Mt. Everest. We have arid season start from October until May and the rainy season (monsoon) from June to September. The month of autumn (October-November) and spring (end of February-April) for Tsum Valley Explore Trek, and usually this time, the weather is very good.
Passport and Visa Necessities:
The foremost thing to confirm before traveling to this trek is to check your passport and its valid date. Passports must have at least 6 months’ validity just after ending date of your trip. We must need your copy of passport and its full details sent either by fax or scan. While staying in Nepal you will need a visa which can be gotten in advance from the Nepalese Embassy in your country or you can even get on arrival at the airport in Kathmandu (Conditions: Within a peak season you need to wait long in the airport to get your visa). The general list of Nepalese visa fee is mentioned below and you can even surf thoroughly this web link as (www.nepalimmigration.gov.np )
Fees charged while delivering a tourist visa by the Mission or entry point:
US Dollars 40 or another convertible foreign currency equivalent for 30days multiple entry visas.
US Dollars 100 or another convertible foreign currency equivalent for 90days multiple entry visas.
Notwithstanding anything written in clause (a) and (b), no visa fee shall be applicable to the passport holder of member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) for 30 days.
US Dollars 25 or another convertible foreign currency equivalent thereto for 15days multiple entry visas.
Permits and Required Fees:
We need to have permission in many places in Nepal for trekking. For this region, we must require permits from Manaslu Conservation Area entry permits along with TIMS permit and as well as world heritages site entry permits. All these relevant permits and entry fees are included in the given cost except the personal donations & contribution. Just in case of any such unassured conditions we will inform you if any additional permit fees are required or not before you make a booking with us.
Information on Health and Medical Evidence/Assistance:
We need to know about our health and the medical information during our Tsum Valley Explore Trek. As mentioned earlier our squads are well-experienced travelers and are achieving the traveler’s ambition since long. We are expert in the adventurous tour and the best thing is we all are from the Himalayan region with plenty of local knowledge as we have been guiding for a decade, which stands as a key factor to enunciate the standard service that we have been delivering to our clients. The utmost thing we believe is the client’s safety and satisfaction. We deliver the extraordinary series of quality services and we even take care personally of our clients during the pour trip. Each of our guides carries medical kit bag for any kind of worst-case scenario during our trip and all of them are trained medical assistance especially the “First Aid”.
Environmental Anxieties:
Our motto is sustainable development thus we are extremely sensitive to protect our nature i.e. environment and contributing to many environmental cleanup and nature saving campaigns. We do believe in “Tourism within Nature,” thus our responsible tourism conveys a good message to the locals and we vow and train them to do’s and don’ts, how to keep environment in perfect shape, how to eliminate environmental degradation etc. and how to conveys message to save environment and leads towards environment friendly society or country. The tourism industry has an obligation to protect and preserve the natural environment for future generations as well. These days many NGOs are collaborating with many tourism agencies and are much keen to save environment form doom. For example, Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP) (http://www.keepnepal.org ) is helping to co-work with many trekking companies and this organization is also providing much useful training to our staffs and awareness program in the mountain.
Our Experience and Familiarity:
Going Nepal Pvt. Ltd. is a Govt. registered company based in Nepal and we have been working in adventurous travel in the Himalayas of Nepal. The operator of this company has more than a decade of experience in the relevant field of adventure tourism working, in fact initiating as a guide, adventure travel consultant and thus stabilizing own company. We are more dedicated to fulfilling our clients’ requirement and always sincere with client’s gratification and the utmost thing we always carry within us is the client’s satisfaction. We are also pleased to convey that many of our past clients who institute their trip in the Himalaya they wouldn’t hesitate to apprise you about our organization and about our professional organizing skills.
How to Book a trip?
If you have chosen your trip with our company, contact our head office either by email or phone to check the available dates (you may visit the updated departure date page of our sites as well, groups or any queries you have. We feel very pleased to help and reply promptly and responsively. Before your final decision, we will hold your booking.
Both advance payment and full payment are possible through the bank transfer or as per your comfort we do have a procedure pay through your Credit Card (VISA/MASTER CARD) along with the details within the booking form. After you choose the process of advance payment in an appropriate way still we want a signed and completed booking form for the confirmation. Once we received a completed and signed booking form with the mentioned amount of payment, bookings will only be confirmed and we start looking forward towards our trip together.