Tsum Valley Trek - 14 Days

To prepare for a trek to the Tsum Valley, it’d be much better if you’re physically and mentally fit. Even without being fit for both things, you can still somehow manage to conclude this journey under the guidance of a trekking guide you hire.

Nevertheless, being physically and mentally fit for not only this but for any adventure is a best practice for a better outcome and to enjoy your trip to the fullest. Hence, some of the best workouts you can do for yourself as preparation for this trek, at least for an hour every day, a month before the date of your journey, are as follows:

Flexibility

Every exercise, either intense or light, should always start and end with stretching. Do it for at least five minutes both before and after the workout.

Doing it before a workout helps stretch your stiff muscles and reduce the risk of injury during exercise. And doing it also after you’re done with your workout for the day helps cool down your body.

It results in enhancing your body's flexibility and muscle recovery. Moreover, it improves blood flow to the muscle, among other benefits.

Cardiovascular Training

To build your stamina, endurance is the key. Workouts such as running, skipping, cycling, and swimming are the best. You can do either of these exercises for half an hour daily.

Strength Training

Upper-body exercise, such as pull-ups, push-ups, and planks, helps strengthen your shoulders and back. You can easily walk for hours in high-altitude locations like the Manaslu Region with a heavy backpack on your shoulders.

Another strength training is lower-body exercise, such as squats, lunges, and step-ups. These workouts help make your thighs and knees strong. When hiking with a heavy backpack on your shoulders often puts pressure on the part of your legs gradually, and the exercises mentioned here help prevent potential leg issues.

Hiking-Specific Conditioning

Besides these workouts mentioned above, also consider including hiking at least once a week during your day off. Hike to the hillside near your hometown by carrying a loaded backpack of at least 5 kg. Doing so will help you build foot and joint endurance.

Mental Preparation

Along with all these physical exercises, also add meditation for about 10-15 minutes daily in your free time. When doing it, keep your mind empty and imagine yourself hiking on the trail of the Tsum Valley, and overcoming every potential challenge. Just think about the beautiful landscapes of the villages in the valley and the visible mountains.

You should be cautious about the altitude that you will gain in the coming days during this trek. However, stay positive all the time and don’t overthink about difficulty of this trip. A positive mindset plays an important role in succeeding on the journey.

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the best seasons to trek to the Tsum Valley. Several aspects make these seasons ideal for visiting this place, which is rich in both nature and culture.

Below is the breakdown of the factors by season:

Spring

• Mild temperatures in the day and cold at night, but not frigid.
• Often, the skies are clear, especially in the morning, offering spectacular mountain views.
• Colourful trail due to blooming wildflowers everywhere.
• Active wildlife, a high chance of witnessing species, such as the Himalayan Tahr, blue sheep, snow leopard, marmot, etc., during trekking.
• Dry and safe routes, creating easy conditions for hiking.
• Hotel businesses are open to provide services along the trail.
• Festivals such as Holi (a festival of colours), Nepali New Year, and Buddha Purnima (birthday of Lord Buddha) fall during this season, offering a culturally rich experience.

Autumn

• Stable weather with reduced risk of natural calamities, such as landslides and floods.
• No dust and haze as it’s post-monsoon, making the visibility of the mountains and other landscapes clear.
• Temperatures in the day and at night are the same as in spring.
• Dry, dust-free routes and greenery surround the area.
• Nepal’s biggest festivals, Dashain and Tihar, take place during this season, offering trekkers a distinct opportunity to experience the celebrations with locals along the trail.

Also check: Best Time for Manaslu Trek

To reach the starting point of the Tsum Valley Trekking (Soti Khola or Machha Khola), there’s only one option available, and that’s by vehicle.

A public bus to Soti Khola can be taken from New Bus Park in Gongabu, Kathmandu. It takes approximately 7-8 hours to reach, varying depending on traffic on the highway.

You also have the option to opt for a private jeep directly from your hotel to Machha Khola. Private jeep tends to provide a much better experience compared to the local bus, and you can stop wherever you want on the way to see the views or waterfalls that lies on the way.

There are two types of permits required to trek to the Tsum Valley. They are: the Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP) and Restricted Area Permit (RAP). Refer to the table below to learn about why these permits are needed for this amazing journey.

MCAP (Manaslu Conservation Area Permit)

• To protect the delicate ecosystem of the area.
• To raise funds for the maintenance of the route.
• To contribute to the work of wildlife management.
• To support the local community.
• To track the visitors and aid the rescue operations in an emergency.

Tsum Valley Restricted Area Permit

• To preserve the local culture of the area.
• To manage the security of the border, as the valley touches to China border.
• To monitor the entry of visitors in the area.
• To confirm the safety of the group of tourists.

The difficulty of the Tsum Valley Trekking is moderate to challenging, meaning it’s easy in some ways but hard in others. It is easy, as the trail isn’t that technically demanding. Yet, you’ll need to walk for more than a week, and that might make you feel tough if you’re a first-timer.

As a result, if you already have experience in trekking, it’d be best. However, even if you don’t have any experience yet, you can still enjoy this adventure at a Tibetan Buddhist-influenced site. All you need to do is give a little focus to the altitude you’ll gain during this trip, and to prevent possible difficulties, do some workouts at home to prepare.

Our package for the Tsum Valley Trekking is 14 days in total. In fact, the trek typically lasts 10 days, varying depending on your pace, where you’ll need to walk 6-7 hours a day on average. The remaining four days are for your arrival, departure, and the trip to the starting point from Kathmandu and back.

Speaking of the elevation you will gain during trekking to the Tsum Valley, it differs according to the places you hike through. The stunning valley is divided into two sections: Lower Tsum and Upper Tsum. Both sections consist of two villages that you’ll make it up to.

Lower Tsum includes Lokpa (1,980 m/6,496 ft) and Chumling (2,386 m/7,828 ft), whereas Upper Tsum includes Chhekampar (3,010 m/9,876 ft) and Nile (3,360 m/11,021 ft). Before entering the valley, you’ll pass through some other villages along the way. They are Soti Khola (700 m/2,296 ft), Machha Khola (870 m/2,854 ft), and Jagat (2,340 m/7,677 ft).

Regarding accommodation during the Tsum Valley Trek, there are enough hotels available to provide you with hygienic food and clean lodging services along the route. You can find the facilities, such as electricity, a hot shower, and internet, in every hotel. However, there’s an additional charge for using a hot shower and internet, which is around USD 3.

For food, all these hotels have a variety of options on the menu. You can order local cuisine, such as dal bhat, momo, thukpa, and chowmein, or Western cuisine like pasta, pizza, and burgers. However, while you’re in Nepal, try local food.