Trek Nepal
FREN
The Tsum Valley and its fields

Manaslu

Tsum Valley

A restricted valley north of Manaslu, open to foreigners since 2008: Tibetan villages, Rachen and Mu monasteries, Milarepa's cave.

  • Walking days 9–17 days
  • Highest point 5,106 m
  • Level Challenging
  • Permits 3,000 NPR (≈ €17) + from 30 USD (≈ €27)
  • Start Kathmandu
  • Agency and guide mandatory

At a glance

You follow the Budhi Gandaki up to Lokpa, as on the Manaslu Circuit, then branch off into the Tsum Valley: Chumling, Chhokangparo, Milarepa's cave, Rachen nunnery and Mu Gompa (3,700 m) monastery, right by the Tibetan border.

A valley of Tibetan culture where animals are not killed, with few visitors and no difficult pass. You come back down the same way, or carry on to the Manaslu Circuit.

Highlights

  • Very well-preserved Tibetan villages and monasteries
  • Milarepa's cave and Mu Gompa monastery
  • Few trekkers, no difficult pass
  • Can be combined with the Manaslu Circuit

Drawbacks

  • Special permit and agency mandatory
  • Long bus approach to Machha Khola
  • Simple accommodation, often homestays

In pictures

Stone houses and fields in the Tsum Valley
A high-altitude hut under snow

Route

Out and back from Machha Khola with a day at Mu Gompa, or exit via the Manaslu Circuit (Larkya La).

9 daysof walking
3,700 mhighest point
147 kmD+ 6,830 m D− 6,880 m
PhilimChhokangparoLokpaMachha Khola — 870 mJagat — 1,340 mChumling — 2,390 mNile — 3,360 mMu Gompa — 3,700 mMachha Khola — Start: Machha Khola · Finish: Machha KholaDharapani — Finish: Dharapani (via the Manaslu Circuit)Machha KholaDharapaniMu Gompa 3,700 mJagatChumlingNileGanesh Himal 7,422Himalchuli 7,893PhilimChhokangparoLokpaStart : Machha KholaStartMove to change your finishing pointFinishN
  • Chosen route
  • Other possible trails
  • Possible start or finish

Drag the “Start” and “Finish” labels to another served point, or tap a point. The “+” buttons add a side trip. Zoom with + and − (or Ctrl + scroll wheel), then drag the map to move around.

How do I use it in a hiking app?

The file contains the route you chose on the map (start, finish, side trips), with altitude, and a marker for each night, pass and viewpoint.

  • Organic Maps or Maps.me (free, offline): download the Nepal map before you leave, then open the GPX file from your phone and choose the app.
  • OsmAnd: menu “My places” → “Tracks” → “Import”.
  • Komoot, Gaia GPS, Wikiloc, Garmin: use the app's or website's “Import a GPX file” feature.

With no signal, your phone's GPS still works: you can see your position on the track. The track is indicative: on the ground, waymarks and advice from the lodges come first.

Itinerary
  1. D 0Machha Khola870 m
  2. D 1Jagat1,340 m+470 m22 km1,610 m1,740 m
  3. D 2Lokpa via Philim2,240 m+900 m14 km750 m170 m
  4. D 3Chumling2,390 m+150 m8 km620 m170 m
  5. D 4Chhokangparo3,030 m+640 m11 km880 m170 m
  6. D 5Nile via Piren Phu, Rachen Gompa3,360 m+330 m14 km310 m100 m
  7. D 6Nile via Mu Gompa 3,700 m3,360 m±0 m10 km350 m360 m
  8. D 7Chumling via Rachen Gompa, Piren Phu, Chhokangparo2,390 m−970 m24 km210 m1,170 m
  9. D 8Jagat via Lokpa, Philim1,340 m−1,050 m23 km310 m1,340 m
  10. D 9Machha Khola870 m−470 m22 km1,790 m1,660 m
Distances and elevation gain estimated from OpenStreetMap and a terrain model.
  • Machha Khola — Bus from Gongabu (Kathmandu) via Arughat and Soti Khola, 9 to 10 hrs. The dirt road continues to Philim in places, depending on the season.
  • Machha Khola — Back the same way, then bus to Kathmandu.

Elevation

above 3,000 m: climb slowly01,0002,0003,0004,000D 0 · Machha Khola — 870 mMachha Khola 870 mD 1 · Jagat — 1,340 mD 2 · Lokpa — 2,240 mD 3 · Chumling — 2,390 mD 4 · Chhokangparo — 3,030 mD 5 · Nile — 3,360 mMu Gompa — 3,700 mMu Gompa 3,700 mD 6 · Nile — 3,360 mD 7 · Chumling — 2,390 mD 8 · Jagat — 1,340 mD 9 · Machha Khola — 870 mMachha Khola 870 mD 123456789
Altitude of each night, with the day's passes and viewpoints (red dots). Green dot: rest day.

Permits

The Tsum special permit (restricted area, through an agency) and the MCAP permit for the Manaslu Conservation Area. If you continue on the Manaslu Circuit: also the Manaslu special permit and ACAP.

Restricted area

Tsum special permit

from 30 USD (≈ €27)

Obtained through a licensed agency from the Department of Immigration: 40 USD (≈ €36) per week from September to November, 30 USD (≈ €27) from December to August, then 7 USD (≈ €6) per day. Since 22 March 2026, issued even to a solo trekker (with a guide).

Conservation area

MCAP permit (Manaslu)

3,000 NPR (≈ €17)

Arranged by the agency together with the special permit.

Since 22 March 2026, special permits are issued even to a solo trekker, still with a licensed guide and an approved agency. See Permits.

Guide

Agency and guide mandatory

Restricted area: approved agency and licensed guide mandatory.

The guide also acts as interpreter in a valley where people mostly speak Tsumba. See Guide and porter.

A guide for this trek? The Guides Nepal directory lists guides, porters and agencies who know this trek, with their licence checked, the languages they speak and traveller reviews.

See guides for this trek

Transport

Getting to the start

Kathmandu → Machha Khola

Duration 9 to 10 hrs

Bus from Gongabu via Arughat and Soti Khola; shared jeeps also possible.

Getting back

Machha Khola → Kathmandu

Duration 9 to 10 hrs

Same road as on the way in.

When to go

J: Not advisedF: Not advisedM: PossibleA: IdealM: IdealJ: Not advisedJ: Not advisedA: Not advisedS: PossibleO: IdealN: IdealD: Not advised

IdealPossibleNot advised

March–May and September–November.

Winter: cold and snow around Mu Gompa; monsoon: landslides in the Budhi Gandaki valley.

On the trail

AccommodationSimple lodges and homestays; dormitories at Mu Gompa monastery.
BudgetAbout 30 to 45 USD (≈ €27 to €40) a day, excluding permits, guide and transport.
MoneyNo ATM in the valley, cards not accepted: withdraw cash in Kathmandu.
SignalWeak and patchy in the upper valley.

Good to know before you go

Respect local customs: walk past mani walls on the left side, don't kill animals in the valley and ask before photographing monks and nuns.

What about the visa? A two-week trek plus a few days in Kathmandu and Pokhara quickly adds up to more than 15 days: get the 30-day visa. The calculator on our sister site Visa Nepal shows the cheapest length.

Which visa length?

Comments

A question, recent news from the trail, your own experience? Share it here.

Loading comments…

Other treks

AnnapurnaAnnapurna CircuitThe great classic, over the Thorong La pass9–20 days5,416 m maxDemandingMandatory guide, checks varySee the trekKhumbuEverest Base CampAt the foot of the roof of the world, via Namche and Kala Patthar11 days5,645 m maxDemandingGuide not requiredSee the trekEverest (Khumbu)Gokyo LakesTurquoise lakes and the finest view of Everest10–14 days5,645 m maxDemandingGuide not requiredSee the trekEverest (Khumbu)Three Passes TrekThe grand Khumbu loop over three passes above 5,300 m17 days5,645 m maxVery demandingGuide not requiredSee the trekAnnapurnaAnnapurna Base CampAn amphitheatre of ice at 4,130 m5–11 days4,130 m maxChallengingMandatory guide, checks varySee the trekAnnapurnaPoon HillSunrise over the Annapurnas in three days3–5 days3,210 m maxModerateMandatory guide, checks varySee the trekAnnapurnaKhopra DandaPoon Hill without the crowds, and a ridge facing Dhaulagiri6–7 days4,660 m maxChallengingMandatory guide, checks varySee the trekAnnapurnaMardi HimalA ridge facing Machapuchare, an hour from Pokhara5–6 days4,500 m maxChallengingMandatory guide, checks varySee the trekAnnapurna (Mustang)Upper MustangThe old kingdom of Lo, Tibet on foot, doable even in the monsoon5–13 days4,280 m maxChallengingAgency and guide mandatorySee the trekAnnapurnaNar Phu ValleyTwo timeless villages just off the Annapurna Circuit8–9 days5,320 m maxDemandingAgency and guide mandatorySee the trekLangtangLangtang ValleyGlaciers and Tamang villages, a day from Kathmandu6–10 days4,984 m maxModerateMandatory guide, checkedSee the trekLangtangGosainkunda LakeThe Hindus' sacred lake, four days from Kathmandu4–8 days4,610 m maxChallengingMandatory guide, checkedSee the trekEastern NepalMakalu Base CampAt the foot of the world's 5th-highest mountain, far from the crowds12–16 days4,830 m maxDemandingMandatory guide, checks varySee the trekWestern NepalRara LakeNepal's largest lake, at the far end of the west2–6 days3,680 m maxModerateMandatory guide, checks varySee the trekEastern NepalKanchenjungaAt the foot of the world's 3rd-highest peak, at the country's far eastern edge10–14 days5,140 m maxVery demandingAgency and guide mandatorySee the trekSolukhumbuPikey PeakSunrise over Everest, without a flight to Lukla5 days4,065 m maxModerateGuide not requiredSee the trekJiri (Ramechhap)Numbur Cheese CircuitA wild circuit around Numbur, between high lakes and cheese factories11 days4,880 m maxDemandingMandatory guide, checkedSee the trekWestern Nepal (Dolpo)Phoksundo LakeDolpo's turquoise lake, at the far end of the west7 days3,680 m maxChallengingMandatory guide, checks varySee the trekManasluManaslu CircuitThe wild circuit, over the Larkya La11–13 days5,106 m maxDemandingAgency and guide mandatorySee the trek

Preparing your trek

PermitsPrices, where to buy, documents needed, trek by trek.Guide and porterMandatory or not, region by region, and what it costs.TransportBuses, jeeps and flights to the start of each trek.Altitude and safetyAcclimatisation, altitude sickness, rescue, insurance.BudgetDaily costs, cash to bring, ATMs.FAQThe questions people ask before they go.