Tsum Valley Trek

Required Permits For Tsum Valley Trek

Along with your Nepal visa, you need three other permits for this trek. Tourist Visa to Nepal is available upon arrival at the airport and costs $50 for 30 days. Indian Manaslu trekkers do not need a visa, and a visa is free for a citizen of SAARC country.

Tsum Restricted Permit

Tsum valley lies within the restricted region of Nepal, so you will need a restricted area permit. This permit is necessary to cross Jagat (there’s a check-post). This restricted area permit is only issued to group trekkers (more than two) accompanied by a licensed trek guide. The trekkers need to get this permit from the Department of Immigration, Kathmandu, and require a long list of documents. Your travel agency (Himalayan masters) will assist you in getting the restricted area permit. The cost is:

September – November: USD 40 per person/week, and USD 7 per person/day (beyond one week)

December – August: USD 30 per person/week, and USD 7 per person/day (beyond one week)

Manaslu Conservation area permit

The Manaslu conservation area starts at Philim. You can get this permit from Kathmandu or even at the entry point. Only your passport size photo and passport are needed to issue the permit and cost about USD 30 (Rs 600 for people of SAARC country).

Annapurna Conservation area permit

This permit is only needed if you take route three mentioned above. This permit is not needed for our Itinerary. The cost and rules are similar to those for the Manaslu Conservation area.

Tsum Trek Difficulty And Fitness

The fact that Tsum valley was closed for many years and lies within a restricted region make it sound scary. However, the fact is, it’s among the most leisurely trek in the Manaslu region. Firstly, the trek’s highest point is 3,700 meters, which is very low compared to other big tours of Nepal.

If you drink enough water and give yourself enough rest, the chances of altitude sickness in Tsum are almost till. You will be walking for ten days, 15 to 20kms each day in the trek. The overall Tsum valley hike is about 150kms. Trekking such distance is not a big deal. However, walking in the rough mountain terrain demands fit physical fitness.

So, if you are not a professional climber, you need to train your body with a few cardio exercises before then trek. Running, Jogging, Swimming, and cycling two months before the hike can be helpful. You will not need trekking gear and climbing skills for this trek.

Note: Travel Insurance covering high altitude trek rescue/ evacuation and Medical treatment is compulsory for this trek. 

Tsum Valley Accommodation

For a long time, this region of Manaslu was a popular camping trek destination. The Tsum valley Nepal trek has recently been upgraded as a tea house trek destination. There are only a handful of tea houses, and you need to book them in advance—the cost of a room in tea houses is minimum, i.e. $5 to $6.

Tea houses are small hotels owned by the locals with centrally heated restaurants. The room has 2 to 3 single beds, a mattress, a pillow, and a small blanket. It’s not very luxurious, but comfortable enough. The bathrooms are usually Indian style and available on sharing basis. The hot shower is available for an extra cost ($2- $3).

Internet/ Wi-Fi in TSUM trek: Most tea houses now have a wireless network connection, but the speed is prolonged. It cost an additional $2.

Electricity in TSUM trek route: The electronic devices can be charged in reception, which will also cost a few extra dollars. Having an extra battery, power banks, and solar-powered charger is handy. We don’t suggest you carry a laptop.

Food Available At Tsum valley Trek

The tea house also provides you with a warm breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The choice in menu is quite versatile, and the cost is $5 to $7 per meal.  For breakfast, Tibetan Breads, dry bread with Cheese, Oatmeal, and toast with jam/ honey/ peanut butter are common. Hashed brown potato, boiled eggs, pancakes, porridge/ muesli with milk is available. Coffee/ tea and lemon drink are also included. Thukpa (noodle soup), (dumplings), bread, fry rice, and soup are famous in Nepal.

There’s also international cuisine like Macroni, Spaghetti, steaks, Sandwiches, Pizza, and spring rolls. Some desserts are also available- Rice Pudding, Apple pie, and fruits snicker. Dal/Bhat set is the most popular option for the food. You can try some yak steak and cheese. Local food like Dhindo, Butter tea, Sel roti is also a must-have. Water bottles cost 1-3 USD per litter. To save money, you can carry your water bottle and fill it in natural taps. However, it would help if you carried purification tablets.

Climate And Weather Of Tsum Valley

Four major seasons are observed in the Tsum valley. Each season has its perks and drawback. Learning about the weather of Manaslu right before the trek is very useful.

Tsum in summer (June, July, and August): Summer has the hottest day, i.e. 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. The nighttime temperature is about 5 degrees. Frequent rain (about 500mm/ month) might block your view and make the path slippery. So make sure you have prepared your Itinerary to skip the heavy rain.

Winter in Tsum valley (December, January, and February): December in Tsum is still warm and fun. Although the temperature starts to drop, the sun heats the valley well. January and early February might experience some snowfall above 3000 meters. If you like snow, the trek in winter is even more thrilling. Otherwise, you can trek in late February. The temperature in winter is -3 to -8 degrees Celsius at night and about 2 degrees Celsius in the daytime.

Autumn in Tsum valley (September, October, and November): Autumn is a great time to be in the proximity of mountains. The sky is clear, the mountains are shining, and the temperature rises. The temperature of TSUM valley is about 12 degrees Celsius during the day and 3 degrees Celsius at night. Also, you will not be distracted by the snowfall and rainfall.

Spring in Tsum valley (March, April, and May): Spring is the time for new blooms and colors. The temperature of Tsum in spring is 15 degrees Celsius in the daytime and about 3 degrees Celsius at night. Early March is an excellent time for a trek when the snow in the mountain is still shining. The sky is clear in the morning and cloudy in the evening.

Best Season For Tsum Valley Nepal Trek

You might have already guessed this from the description above. Travel experts in Nepal claim that autumn is the best season for the trek. The sky is often clear, opening up the best view of the mountain. Spring is the other best season. The sky might not be evident in the evening, but the colorful blooms of Rhododendron make it a lovely time to trek.

However, if you seek to witness the mountains at their best, aim for the winter trek. There might be some snow around Mu Gomba, and it’s a cold month. However, the mountains blanket in thick snow layers is just mesmerizing. The summer trek can be a bit challenging, but it is absolutely possible with proper preparation. In short, being a low altitude trek, this TSUM valley trek is possible throughout the year.

Tsum Valley Trek Map

Route 1: Our Itinerary here is only 12-days long. This is a rather short route and goes via the places mentioned here in the Itinerary section.

Route 2: If you have a few more days in your holiday, you can take another route from Chekampar (Day 09 in Itinerary) and then walk to Gumba Lundang and visit Ganesh Himal Base Camp. This gives you the true experience of the base camp trek. From Gumba Lundang, you walk to Lokpa and Jagat, joining the same route.

Route 3: You can also join the Annapurna Circuit Route from the Domje village (above Chumling). For this, you first walk to Bihi, Namrung, and then to Sama Gaon. Joining Samdo and Larkya Phedi, you walk to Dharmsala, Bhimthang, and Dharapani. From Dharapani, you can drive to Besisahar and then to Kathmandu. This makes your Tsum valley trek about 20 days.

Related Content:- Manaslu circuit trek