The Tsum Valley Trek
The Tsum Valley trek goes to the Tsum valley that lies in the North-East end of Gorkha district. The valley borders Tibet and is surrounded by the Ganesh Himal range. Peaks here include Sringi Himal, Himalchuli and other unnamed peaks – many over 7,000m. The Tsumbas, the inhabitants of this region, are of Tibetan origin. And Buddhism is evident in the numerous mani walls, chortens, monasteries and Kanis (Buddhist gates). The Tsum valley is one of eight Beyuls in the Himalayas.
The Tsum Valley trek starts at Macchi Khola and follows the popular Manaslu Circuit trail until a short distance past Philim. Then head North-East to enter the Tsum Valley. Continue to Mu Gompa, the most important monastery in the region. Return is via an alternative route to the Ganesh Himal Base Camp. Rejoin the Manaslu Circuit trail again near Phillim and return to Soti Khola. A private vehicle will bring you back to Kathmandu. Also, if you wish to do a longer trek, consider adding the Manaslu Circuit Trek to the Tsum Valley Trek.
ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS
The Tsum Valley trek is a hybrid trek where we use both lodges and tents. So it is both a CAMPING trek and a Lodge Trek. This means you will sleep in and eat at local lodges. The quality of the lodges on this trek are quite basic but improving every year. Meals are also quite varied with many options including rice with veggies, noodles, local breads etc. Read our article about food options on lodge treks.
But for the Ganesh Himal Base Camp portion (for 2-3 days), you will sleep in tents and eat basic meals prepared by our kitchen crew. We use Mountain Hardwear (Trango) and North Face (VE 25) 4-season tents which are quite spacious and very effective against the elements. We will also provide sleeping pads. Meals prepared by our trek staff will include locally available vegetables, dal-bhat, noodles, local breads etc.
BEST SEASON
Like most treks in Nepal, the best seasons for trekking to Tsum Valley are Spring (March-May) and Autumn (October-November). Additionally, it is also possible to do this trek in the Winter months of December, January and February. While it will obviously be very cold (upto -20 C/, -4 F), it will be less crowded and there aren’t as many trekkers in the area.
TREK RATING
The Tsum Valley trek is rated “STRENUOUS”. It is rated 4 on a rating scale from 1 (easy) to 5 (challenging). Regardless, it is important to prepare for any trek in Nepal. Read our advice on training for treks.
WHY TREK WITH US?
All our Tsum Valley Treks are private treks for a minimum of two participants. We do NOT nickel-and-dime on services – all inclusions and exclusions are clearly listed in cost details. Some companies will advertise trips for very low prices but they have a lot of exclusions that is usually not clear. With over 30 years of experience, most of our trekkers are either repeat clients or referrals. We employ the most professional and friendly staff.
We are also proud to give back to our community through 3 Summits For Nepal managed by Crystal Mountain Treks staff. Contact us to learn more…