Tsum Valley Trek

• Soups  of different varieties 
• Tibetan bread  (fried bread)
• Nepali bread (dry bread, similar to a chapati) 
• Momos (little packets of vegetables steamed Tibetan style)
• Fried noodles with vegetables
• Fried potatoes in different styles
• Dal Bhat (Nepali curry and rice)
• Fried rice with vegetables
• Rice pudding or some other sweet dessert 
• Porridge 
• Eggs 
• Soft drinks
• Nepali tea
• Tibetan butter tea (when available)
• Coffee (when available)
• Beer 

Tips on Food:

• Tip No. 1 is to avoid eating meat and drinking alcohol. Why? In remote areas, refrigeration is generally unavailable, so eating meat is risky. Stomach problems are not a good idea on a trek, and alcohol is not a good idea either. 
• This is a high-altitude area where it is important to look for signs of altitude sickness. A hangover can mask these. That aside, who wants to feel less than active and alert on this unique trip because of a couple of beer bottles? Oh yes, high altitude makes alcohol kick in faster! 
• That brings us to Tip No. 2: Stay well hydrated. Altitude-related problems are real, and staying hydrated helps enormously. 
• Bringing dried fruit, nuts, chocolate, and power bars as snacks can sometimes be a (mental) lifesaver when you need a pick-me-up. 
• While breakfast and dinner are served at the same teahouse we sleep in, lunch is taken on the trail, where the menu is limited. 
• Three meals daily are included in the trek price, but if you want to order extras or soft drinks, for example, you will pay for these directly. Bring plenty of Nepali rupees as these mountain areas have no money exchange.  
• Vegetarians rejoice! Nepali food is pretty much all vegetarian. There is a good variety of vegetarian food on the menu in the Tsum Valley. Vegans—sorry, no non-dairy alternatives. 

Sources of Water on the Trek 

You should never drink tap water or water from streams in Nepal. Despite streams and rivers looking lovely and clean, you just never know what’s happening upstream! Bringing purifying drops or tablets can solve this problem. You can also bring a type of LifeStraw from home. Purifying drops will be available in Kathmandu, but it’s best to prepare in advance and bring plenty. Expect to drink around 4lt of water a day. 

Tips on Water for Tsum Valley Trek:

• We at Magical Nepal believe in protecting the environment, so we request that you not buy water in plastic bottles. 
• Imagine how difficult it is for locals to transport empty plastic bottles from the valley.  No doubt they do not do this regularly, and the number of bottles adds up.  Bottled water in remote, high areas is also very expensive as goods must be transported by porter or mule/ yak. 
• Bringing a Stainless Steel bottle rather than a plastic bottle will also be beneficial, as there may be times when you wish to buy (hot) boiled water at the teahouse.
• A plastic bottle won’t work in that situation. Natural spring water can be drunk after you purify it with the drops or tablets you bring. Remember to let the water sit for 30 minutes before drinking it.
• We cannot repeat this often enough – stay hydrated!  Try not to run out of water during the day when you may be hours from the next teahouse. 

Accommodation on the Tsum Valley Trek 

This is not a luxury trek.  Do not expect a deluxe lodge.  Teahouses are pretty simple affairs. 

Sleeping rooms – we hesitate to call them bedrooms as that brings to mind a certain standard – normally have two single beds and do not have attached bathrooms. 

Bathrooms are most likely found outside of the teahouse and are Asian squat-type toilets.  There may be electricity, but even if there is, there are no sockets in the sleeping rooms to recharge electronics. 

This is done in the common dining room.  Bring a headtorch and a sleeping bag. 

What are the toilets and showers like? Mostly outside of the main lodge in a separate building. Squat toilets to challenge your knees, as if they need more challenges!  

If hot showers are available you will be charged around USD 2-5 per shower. This is very common on all trekking routes in Nepal. 

Tips on Accommodation

• Although sleeping rooms have no heating, dining rooms do.  
• Charging your equipment will cost you between USD 2-5 per item. 

• Bathrooms are outside of the main teahouse.  
• The dining room is a warm place to socialize. 
• Hot water for a shower is available at an additional cost. 
• You came to experience life in rural Nepal, and you will certainly get it on the Tsum Valley Trek.  

Porters versus No Porter on the Tsum Valley Trek 

Firstly, a porter is not included in the price of the trek. Secondly, a porter can carry up to 20kg, but we would prefer if our porters only carried 15kg—they are human, too. Magical Nepal will provide you with a duffle bag designed for porters.  

It is really up to you.  If you are experienced in trekking with your own pack over rough – up and down – terrain they you can make a decision with confidence.  If you are less used to carrying your own pack or have never done that before, we suggest it is better to be comfortable and hire a porter.  You will not be able to find one once we leave Kathmandu.  Aside from your own comfort and enjoyment, hiring a porter helps sustain his family and community.  Remember, you will carry your own 3 or 4-kg daypack with the essentials required during the day on the trail. 

Tips on Hiring a Porter

• Share a porter with another trekker. This will be half the money you have to spend. 
• Do not overload your porter! Keep your pack (or the sum of two trekkers’ packs) under 20kg, and under 15kg is better. 
• Let us know if you require a porter well before the trek so we can organize that.  Usually, the porters are from the area we are trekking through, so they are not simply sitting in our Kathmandu office waiting for work! 

Typical Day on the Tsum Valley Trek

Regardless of where you trek in Nepal, there is a certain routine. Expect ascents followed by descents, followed by ascents… But seriously, life on the Tsum Valley Trek will quickly get you into a natural rhythm where superb mountain views, fascinating people, and stunning countryside become the norm. 

Days are similar and yet different.  The scenery will change from forests to bare rock, from river gorges to yak pastures.  The altitude is above 3,000m / 9,842.5 ft, and in terms of hours, the days are around 6 walking hours long.  Go slow and steady.    There are many villages to pass, most being very Tibetan in appearance.  In fact, Tibetan Buddhist artifacts are everywhere: Buddhist shrines, known as chortens, are found all along the trek, as are Buddhist monasteries.  The landscape varies from forests to the Budhi Gandaki River with deep gorges. Underfoot, the trail may be rocky and challenging. 

Tipping the Guide and Porter

It is normal to tip the guide and porters to show your appreciation. 

How much should the tip be for the porter and guide? It is normal to tip the guide 10% of your total trip cost (excluding payments you made yourself for, e.g., soft drinks). The porter should be tipped 10% of the amount you paid to hire him for the duration of the trek. Be aware that the porter will not return to Kathmandu with you, so please ask the guide when it would be appropriate to tip him. 

Communication on the Trek 

The least frustrating thing would be to tell friends and family you will be out of touch for 10 days!  It can be a welcome break from social media and home pressures!  You can recharge your phone (and other items) at teahouses, at a cost, and there is mobile network coverage in some villages, however. In case you don’t want to be ‘cut off’. A few teahouses may have an internet connection and your mobile data package may work in some locations.  Nothing is guaranteed, tho. 

Tips for Communication 

• On arrival in Nepal, buy a SIM card (NTC works best in the Manaslu Region) at the airport. This will allow you to connect to a local data internet package. It is more likely to work in the mountains than your own roaming package from home.  

Trip Extensions 

The Tsum Valley Trek is an 11-day trek.  Some people may want to extend that and explore the Manaslu area more.  The Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley Trek takes 20 days and goes all the way to the Manaslu Base Camp and over a high pass at 5,160m / 16,929 ft. From the top of the Larky Pass, we can see the icefalls of Pongkar Lake and the Salpu Danda Glaciers.  

This longer trek is challenging as it takes us higher into the mountains, but it is very rewarding. 

Trek Difficulty

The Tsum Valley is a challenging and strenuous trek requiring a good general fitness level. If you have some trekking experience, you will find the trek less exhausting as you will be prepared physically and mentally for its challenges. The trails are uneven and sometimes tricky to negotiate. On average, walking time per day is around 6 hours.  

Starting at a low altitude, there is plenty of time to acclimatize before reaching the over 3,000m / 9,842.5 ft heights. This helps to reduce the chances of altitude problems. 

We recommend increasing your physical activity for a few weeks before coming to Nepal. Seriously, hiking in your local hills with a backpack equivalent to your day pack on the trek is the best way to test and increase your ability. Weights and cardio at your local gym are also recommended.  

Best Seasons to Trek in the  Tsum Valley

In brief, the best seasons to trek in the Tsum Valley are spring (March to the end of April) and autumn (September to the end of November.

Spring: Blue skies and reliable weather.  At the beginning of March, it will still be chilly, with remnants of snow that add to the excitement. Rhododendrons are in bloom, bringing color to the forests. 

Autumn: The weather is similar to spring. It can be warm at lower altitudes and not too cold higher up.  After the monsoon, the landscape takes on a clean look.  

Some might find the monsoon or winter to their taste.  But we would only recommend these times to seasoned trekkers.

Monsoon: We do not run this trek during the monsoon as possible landslides make it too dangerous.  If this is the only time you have, please ask us about other treks in monsoon rain shadow areas. 

Winter: We do not recommend winter trekking as the trails may change or be indistinguishable. When there is snowfall, it will be cold and wet, with slippery trails. Some of the higher altitude teahouses close for the winter.  

The best times to trek the Tsum Valley are spring and autumn. Yes, the weather is perfect, and the conditions are more comfortable.  

Other Expenses for Tsum Valley

When calculating the cost of the trek to this remote area, you should also remember to calculate the ‘other expenses’ such as:

• There is a charge for going by private jeep transport from Kathmandu to the start of the trek and returning rather than by local bus.  
• Snacks and any additional food and drink on the trek.  
• A small donation should be made to monasteries – as per local custom- to show respect. 
• Tips for the guide and porter as explained earlier. 
• There are not many items for sale in this remote area, but there are some handicrafts that you may wish to purchase. 
• Hot showers and charging your devices at the teahouse, all of which cost you extra. 

Please bring around USD 15-USD 20 per day, in local currency, to cover things you may wish to buy and for extras at the teahouse. You should buy snacks in Kathmandu as there is nothing on the trial.

There will be expenses to increase your fitness level in your home country—fitness classes, gym membership, etc. Plus, if you do not already have trekking gear, such as boots, clothes, sleeping bags, etc., you will need to purchase them. These are more ‘other expenses’!

Visa for Nepal

Citizens of most countries can obtain a visa on arrival for Nepal, which is valid for 15 days, 30 days, or 3 months. The easiest way is to fill in the form online at the Nepal immigration site, print it out, and bring it with you. You make payment in USD (and bring the right amount, as no change is given) at the airport in Kathmandu.   

Do not rely on filling in the form once you have arrived or taking money from the airport ATM to pay for the visa. Often, these machines do not work. Do it all before you come. 

In the spring/summer of  2024, the cost of a visa on arrival is: 

• 15 Days – 30 USD
• 30 Days – 50 USD
• 90 Days – 125 USD

Please note your visa does not cover trekking.  Separate permits are required for all the different trekking areas.  

Travel Insurance for Tsum Valley

It is important to have travel insurance when coming to Nepal.  

Magical Nepal provides coverage for our guides, porters, and other staff but we do not insure our clients as this is impossible in Nepal. Foreigners have to buy insurance in their own country before coming. 

When purchasing insurance please ensure it covers trekking up to 5,000m  /  16,404 ft and helicopter evacuation.

Group vs Private Trip for Tsum Valley Trek

Some people love to trek alone with their guide while others prefer to be in a group for company, good conversation, and mental security.   So, what kind of person are you?

We have to say that the Tsum Valley Trek takes place in a remote area, which means foreign trekkers need to have a permit to enter there.  The Restricted Area Permit is not provided to single trekkers – there must be two in your group, plus the guide.  The permit is only obtainable through a registered trekking company.  Going completely solo with your guide is not an option.  You can go with your friends of course or you can join a group.  That means joining a group of people who are also going into the Tsum Valley, but who you do not know in advance.  

What is a group trek?

A group of trekkers going to the same area with the same guide will travel together and spend time together. There may be two people in your ‘group’ or there may be 10. On the plus side, private transport is slightly cheaper. On the downside, you may be trekking with people of different abilities and ages—from those who are much more experienced than you to novice trekkers. 

Does it cost more for a private trip to Tsum Valley? 

No. The guide, accommodation, and food cost the same regardless of the number of people on your trip. Please remember that there must be two trekkers in a group to get the necessary permits to trek in this remote area. However, if you select to travel to the start point by private jeep, you will pay more as there are fewer people to divide the cost of the transport. The alternative is a local bus, which is included in the overall trek price. 

Is it better for me to do a private Tsum Valley trek?

If you have one or two friends, there is an advantage to a private trek, as you can trek at your own speed.  You only have to interact with each other (of course you are free to talk with other trekkers on the trail and in the teahouse!) and are more flexible to change route (when and if possible).  It is also easier to talk with locals when there are only two or three of you… no one wants to be faced by a large group of strangers when they are working or praying! 

Why Book Tsum Valley Trek with Magical Nepal 

In 2015, we established Magical Nepal, filling a much-needed niche—and we are still doing this! At that time, we felt it was hard even for us young Nepali guys to get good information on treks, particularly those in more remote areas, so we decided to enter the trekking business ourselves to correct this. 

Our aim is to provide good information and personal contact and to place clients with the right guide for their needs.  Our guides for this trek are native to the area, so we are familiar with the Manaslu Region and the Tsum Valley.  One of the benefits of this is that our 24/7 local support is excellent and available for you throughout your trek.  

We offer the best value for your money.  We will guarantee to match any price if you find the same trek elsewhere at a lower price.  

We research our treks thoroughly and are also exploring new ones for the future, so keep in touch for more adventures into little-known areas!

Finally, the reviews from our customers speak for themselves so check them out!