Trek Guide
Trek Nepal's sacred hidden Tsum Valley off the Manaslu route: living Tibetan Buddhist culture, the 2026 restricted-area permits, best time and route.
By Travel Himalaya Nepal · Jun 5, 2026
Tucked into a side valley off the main Manaslu Circuit, Tsum Valley is one of the last places in Nepal where a living Tibetan Buddhist culture has carried on almost untouched for a thousand years. We have been guiding clients into this sacred " hidden valley…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Most trekkers who reach the Manaslu region head straight up the circuit towards the Larkya La pass. Tsum Valley branches north-east at Lokpa, and that single turning makes all the difference. While the main circuit has grown busier each season, Tsum sees a…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
The trek shares its lower approach with the Manaslu Circuit: a road-head start near Soti Khola or Machha Khola, then a steady climb through the Budhi Gandaki gorge to Jagat, where your restricted-area permits are first checked. At Lokpa (about 2,040 m) the…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Tsum is a restricted area , which means you cannot trek it alone or arrange permits yourself. You need a licensed trekking agency, a government-licensed guide, and a minimum of two trekkers on the permit. Three separate permits apply: No TIMS card is required…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Two windows stand out. Autumn (late September to November) brings the most stable skies and the sharpest views of Ganesh Himal and Baudha Himal — our pick for first-timers. Spring (March to May) is warmer, with rhododendron forests in bloom on the lower…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Tsum is graded moderate . The top of the valley sits around 3,700 m — high, but well below the circuit's 5,106 m Larkya La — so altitude is less of a hurdle if you trek Tsum on its own. What it demands is endurance: long days through the steep Budhi Gandaki…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Here is our honest recommendation: if you have the time, do not trek Tsum in isolation. Because the approach is shared, adding the full Manaslu Circuit over the Larkya La only costs you a handful of extra days but roughly doubles the trek — and gives you both…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
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