Tsum Valley Trek

It is a long way through Nepal on roads both tarred and earth-surfaced, but you won’t be disappointed. You will discover the beautiful countryside of Nepal. Lush greeneries, villages, farms, rivers, lifestyle of local people in the streets and the panoramic view on the Himalaya range.

The trail goes through the Sal Forest, leads several suspension bridges and goes near two tropical waterfalls before to reach a hillside rocky path, which goes through few rice terraces. During this day, the wooden landscape will radically change to leave sheer cliffs.

The trail follows the river, with minor ups and downs to Khorlabesi: where coffee, buckwheat and tobacco are grown. The trail is going toward the Langtang and Everest regions.
We will walk through lush narrow gorge that constricts the river’s progress and pass by the triple hot spring spouts in Tatopani and we will have to cross the Budhi Gandaki on a suspension bridge.

After having followed the trail along the riverbank and crossed it, we will have a view on the Shringi Himal (7,187 m) and the first signs of Buddhism culture will appear. Philim is a prosperous village inhabits by Gurung and provides and in the middle of a maize and millet’s grassland there is a Gompa (Buddhism Temple) named Chholing Sandu.

The trail will bring us through lush grasses and scrub up the exquisite narrowing valley to the village of Chisopani and then the millet fields of Ekle Bhatti. The trail then gradually descends, beneath a spectacular waterfall, into the gorge. Afterward the track rises up through blue pines and rhododendrons, to Lokpa and the narrow Lower Tsum Valley.
Descend through forest, crossing streams, before tackling a long and steep climb up the south side of the Siyar Khola gorge that drains the Tsum Valley. The high point is marked by flags and offers a view across the Shringi Himal above colourful grain, potato and bean fields. The houses of the village are built with sloping roofs to cope with the abundant rain and snow.

Today we will walk into new forest growing over a recent landslide and a lush forest, inhabited by white-faced langurs.  We will pass by the Damphe Gompa with hundreds of small ceramic statues of Chenresig (Buddha of Compassion). Afterward you will enjoy the view on the Ganesh Himal and Baudha Peak. We are entering in the Tsum Valley. Once upon arrival at the village, you could enjoy the view of Himalchuli (7,893 m).

Because it is a short trekking day, we will have a time to visit that the trail provides on the way. Firstly we will join a local school (depending of the activity, you could visit it and share a short time with kids). Also, we could visit two chapels and two caves, renowned for an impression of Milarepa’s footprint and a rock in the shape of an elephant. To keep enjoying the Tibetan culture, we will visit the retreat monastery Chi Phu, clings to the slopes higher up the Langju Himal. Further, there is the Rachen Nunnery, established in 1905, is enclosed within spacious walls that form the outer residential cells for the nuns. The original small monastery is decorated with murals depicting the history of Buddhism. Moreover a large and imposing new temple has been built within the grounds: spacious, light and decorated with acrylic paintings and bright hangings. The inner wall houses numerous deities in tall glass fronted cases. After enjoying other stupas on the way, we will reach a 700 year old two storeyed Gonhgye Monastery, with superb views in a background.

We will start the day with a short walk to Mu Gompa, which is 77 years old. A steep climb allows you to reach the 856 year old Dephyu Doma Nunnery (place of the birth of light) which is superbly situated at 4,000 m on a small promontory, which provides a very serene ambiance and boasts beautiful and high himalayas in the surrounding. Mu is the highest permanent settlement in the Tsum Valley.

Depending to our physical condition (sickness altitude or fatigue muscles) and to our wishes, you will have the chose to have a rest in Mu Gompa and explore the surrounding area or to climb with the guide to the border sight between Nepal and Tibet via Nguladhojyang pass with the elevated 5093m. If you visit this top then you will see beautiful landscape of Tibet plateau around Kerung, which is the boarder of Nepal & Tibet

The trail will be easier as it is going down to Rachen Gumba. Established in 1905 AD, the Rachen Gumba is a nunnery in the Shiar Khola Valley.  The nunnery is one of largest in the region and has a splendidly painted interior with Buddhist mural paintings.

From Rachen Gompa we proceed towards Dumje, a small village with about eight houses and adjoining cattle shed.

From Dumje we trek to Philim and cross Ripchet. On the way we pass one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Lower Tsum Valley, Samba Tingding Chhupyang.

From Phillim we trek to Tatopani. There is a hot spring at Tatopani. You can relieve your tired muscles by soaking yourself in the hot spring.

From Tatopani we trek to Soti Khola. We pass through terraced fields and tropical waterfalls and finally set up camp at the village.

From Soti Khola drive  back to Kathmandu. Enjoy the beauty of the countryside, green hills and thundering rivers. The bus will drop you to your hotel and it will be a free time if you want to visit the surrounding area or have a rest.

We will transfer you to the airport and hoping you spent a beautiful time with us.