Tsum Valley Trek Itinerary 2027: 16 Days Day by Day, Permits and Cost

Updated 7 November 2026.

Short answer: our Tsum Valley trek is 16 days from Kathmandu back to Kathmandu. You drive to Soti Khola on day 1, follow the Budhi Gandaki river up to Lokpa by day 4, reach Chumling on day 5 and Chhokangparo on day 6, and Nile on day 7. Day 8 takes you to Mu Gompa and the Dhephyudonma Gompa (4,060 m). You then come down the valley, visit Ganesh Himal Base Camp (4,200 m) from Gumba Lungdang on day 11, and drive back from Arughat on day 16. It costs from USD 895 per person for 2 to 4 people on Budget, USD 2,235 on Standard and USD 4,045 on Luxury. A solo traveller pays USD 1,570, 2,520 or 5,090. Your licensed guide and all three permits are included.

You book it as our Tsum Valley trek, 16 days. If you want the Manaslu Circuit as well, see the Tsum Valley and Manaslu Circuit trek, 19 days.

Tsum Valley 16-day itinerary at a glance

Why 16 days

The Tsum Valley is a hidden valley beside the Manaslu route. The trek up the river takes four days before the valley even starts, and I do not like to rush the monasteries at the top. Sixteen days lets you walk in, spend a full day at Mu Gompa and the valley head, and walk out without chasing the clock.

Day by day

Days 1 to 4: the river gorge

Day 1 is a long drive to Soti Khola. Then you walk up the Budhi Gandaki through Machha Khola and Jagat to Lokpa, where the Tsum Valley path leaves the Manaslu route. These are warm, low days with suspension bridges and rice terraces. Budget travels by local vehicle, Standard by shared tourist vehicle and Luxury by private vehicle on the road days.

Day 5 and 6: Chumling and Chhokangparo

You enter the valley at Chumling (2,386 m). Read the Chumling guide. The next day climbs to Chhokangparo (3,010 m); see the Chhokangparo guide.

Day 7: Nile

You walk to Nile (3,361 m) past Milarepa's cave. Read about Milarepa's cave and the Nile guide.

Day 8: Mu Gompa

A short day of 3 to 4 hours to Mu Gompa (3,700 m), with a visit to Dhephyudonma Gompa at 4,060 m, the highest monastery visit, though the Ganesh Himal Base Camp day on day 11 goes higher, to 4,200 m. Read the Mu Gompa guide.

Days 9 and 10: Rachen Gompa and Gumba Lungdang

You come back down the valley to Rachen Gompa (3,240 m), then to Gumba Lungdang (3,200 m). See Rachen Gompa and Gumba Lungdang.

Day 11: Ganesh Himal Base Camp

The hardest day: 7 to 8 hours up to Ganesh Himal Base Camp and back, with about 1,000 m of climbing. Your guide carries a pulse oximeter and we do not go higher if you feel unwell.

Days 12 to 16: the walk out

Lokpa, Jagat, Lapu Bensi and Arughat Bazaar over four days of walking, then the drive to Kathmandu on day 16. Plan for a late arrival in Kathmandu after the 9 to 10 hour drive.

How much does the Tsum Valley trek cost in 2027?

Prices are per person, in US dollars, for 2027, from our package page on 7 November 2026. Every trek is private with your own licensed guide.

What changes between the tiers

A solo trekker on Standard has no porter, because porters are shared between two. Your guide carries up to 10 kg of your bag. On Luxury a solo trekker still has a porter. Budget never has one. You can add a porter on any tier for USD 25 a day plus 13% VAT and the 3.5% bank charge, USD 29.24 a day in all.

What is not in the price

International flights, your Nepal visa (USD 50 for 30 days on arrival), travel insurance bought at home that covers trekking to 4,500 m and helicopter evacuation, your Kathmandu hotel (quoted separately), tips for your team, and on Budget your meals. For the cost breakdown see Tsum Valley trek cost.

Permits

Tsum Valley is a restricted area. You need a licensed guide, and since 22 March 2026 a solo traveller can go (the two-person minimum was dropped). We arrange and include three permits: the Tsum Valley Restricted Area Permit, the Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP, NPR 3,000, SAARC NPR 1,000) and a TIMS card (NPR 2,000, SAARC NPR 1,000). The Tsum permit is USD 40 for the first 7 days from September to November (USD 30 from December to August), then USD 10 a day (USD 7 from December to August). Details in the Tsum Valley permit guide. Permits need at least 48 hours in government working days, so book early.

Best time

Our package page lists February to June and September to December. July and August are monsoon months, so we do not suggest them.

How hard is it?

We rate it moderate. The days are long, 6 to 7 hours on several, and the climbs are steady rather than steep. The valley head is around 4,000 m, so altitude matters. See the complete Tsum Valley guide and Tsum Valley vs Manaslu Circuit.

Questions people ask

How many days is the Tsum Valley trek?

16 days with us, Kathmandu to Kathmandu, with the two long drives at either end.

How much does it cost?

From USD 895 per person on Budget, USD 2,235 on Standard and USD 4,045 on Luxury for 2 to 4 people. Solo is USD 1,570, 2,520 and 5,090.

Can I go solo?

Yes, with a licensed guide. The restricted-area rule changed on 22 March 2026 and we have arranged a solo Tsum Valley permit before.

What is the highest point?

The highest point of the trek is Ganesh Himal Base Camp at 4,200 m on day 11. Dhephyudonma Gompa is at 4,060 m and Mu Gompa, where you sleep, is at 3,700 m. Your insurance should cover helicopter rescue to 4,500 m.

Which permits do I need?

The Tsum Valley Restricted Area Permit, MCAP and a TIMS card. We arrange all three.

Do I need a flight?

No. It is all by road from Kathmandu.

How do I book, and what if my plans change?

A 10% deposit confirms your dates, and we cover the 3.5% card charge on it. You pay the balance in Kathmandu in US dollars or euros, cash or card (card carries 3.5%). The deposit is not refunded if you cancel, but you can move your trip free to any date within a year with 72 hours' notice (7 days for restricted areas). If we cannot run the trip, we refund what you paid less taxes, bank and card charges and money already spent.

Next step

Message me on WhatsApp, +977 9810351300 with your dates and how many of you are going, and I will send you a plan and a price. We are a family company, independent since 2016, with three generations of family guides behind us, and a four-time TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice winner (2019, 2020, 2023, 2024). Every booking helps pay the teacher's salary at our Nagarjun Learning Center. The trek page is here: Tsum Valley trek, 16 days.