Tsum Valley Trekking

<p>When you arrive in Kathmandu airport, our agency representative will be waiting for you in the airport holding our company and your name play card. From airport our agency representative will escort you to the hotel which takes 20 min of driving. After you check in to the hotel, you will rest and fed your flight sickness till next day. At hotel we will brief you about your schedule and plan of your trip.</p>

<p>After having the night stay at the hotel in Kathmandu we heat the road with Early morning drive through Prithivi High to MalekhuPul and turn right hand side to DhadingBesi (district headquarter of Dhading); continues drive off road to Salentar and Aarughat Bazar. With the 5-6 hours drives we will have lunch and rest Aarughat. Aarughat is one of the famous shopping junctions for ManasluGorkha and Dhading’s remote villagers continue drive to Aarkhet Bazaar half an hours, if you are doing trekking in autumn or spring season there is possible direct bus to Aarkhet Bazar. After Aarkhet Bazar we need to change the local Jeep or bus for Sotikhola. It takes another 40 minutes or you can start trekking one hour to Sotikhola on same days, here we going to have the overnight stay.</p>

<p>After breakfast at Sotikhola we will hike through plane area, following the Budi Gandaki river, small villages, the broad valley narrows and at times the trail is cut into the steep valley side, which is densely forested.. The terraced farmland here belongs to the village of LapuBesi. Treks descend once again to the wide, sandy riverbed and follow a path, which runs below the steep, craggy valley side. At length, we have to climb up once again on a trail to Machhekhaola 870m, Machhekhola means "Fish stream", here we going to have the overnight stay at the tea house.</p>

<p>The trail follows the river, with minor ups and downs, often dropping to the gravel bar before crossing the ThadoKhola and on up to Khorlabesi: where coffee, buckwheat and tobacco are grown. The GHT trail through Gorkha (and Barpak, epicentre of the first quake on 25/04/15) crosses our trail, heading east from Manaslu to the Langtang then Everest regions.</p><p>Enter a lush narrow gorge constricting the river’s progress. Cross a landslide with a dicey path, before the three hot spring spouts in Tatopani (930m). Climb a ridge then cross the BudhiGandaki (to avoid a cliff face and waterfalls). A good staircase, leads to a landslide before a final ridge climb to Dobhan.This we going to have the night stay.</p>

<p>Exit over the DobhanKhola, then follow the east bank to the hamlet of ThuloDhunga (1 840m); above cataracts. Later the gradient lessens, the valley opens and the water is placid at Yaruphant (1 170m). Cross the YaruKhola (from Ganesh II and VI) on an old suspension bridge then climb to the teahouses at ThadoBharyang. Cross back to the west bank and ascend gently to the old paved village of Jagat (1 410m): entrance and checkpoint to the Manaslu Conservation Area.</p><p>Cross a tributary before a cliff-side trail to Salleri: with views of ShringiHimal (7 187m) to the north. Descend to Sirdibas; and the first symbols of Buddhist culture. A final bridge beyond GhattaKhola (1 480m, water mills) to the east bank, leads to a steep climb up to Philim: a prosperous Gurung village set amongst millet and maize fields; see the ChholingSanduGompa. Overnight in Philim. </p>

<p>Traverse north of Philim, obvious track signposted to the Larkya La, through some pretty forest with views up the narrowing valley. After 1hr climbing enter the increasingly misnamed EkleBhatti (1600m; ‘lone teashop’) with at least six bhatti, then traverse high above a spectacular gorge, entering a largely uninhabited area of pine trees.To the right (east) a well-graded, exposed, zigzag track rises up through blue pines and rhododendrons, to Lokpa and the narrow Lower Tsum Valley. The Tsum region is home to ~4 000 people in 18 villages.</p><p>Descend through beautiful forest, crossing two new bridges, circle under a huge bluff on the river then climb steeply on deteriorating exposed stairs. After about 30mins start to traverse north through pines and rhododendrons, still climbing and with very steep slopes. The hidden valley of Tsum stretches enticingly ahead. Eventually descend to a deserted bhattiGhumlong (2130m) on the river. The path straight ahead climbs steeply to Ripchet (2470m; Ripche) in about 1hr; the path to Chumling (2360m) crosses the SiyarKhola on a wooden bridge and up. Cross the suspension bridge and finally ascend the gentler narrow trail to Chumling. The houses are classic Tibetan but built with sloping roofs to cope with the abundant rain and snow. Overnight at lodge in chumling</p>

<p>Cross the suspension bridge into new forest growing over a recent landslide. Pass a small water driven prayer wheel on a ‘Nepali flat’ path through lush forest, inhabited by white-faced langurs. Continue to Tanju and the small DampheGompa [with hundreds of small ceramic statues of Chenresig (Buddha of Compassion): a common feature in the valley]. Beyond Dumje are glimpses of the Ganesh Himal and Baudha Peak. Cross the SerpuKhola and climb for over 2hrs on well-graded but exposed track to upper Tsum and the joined villages of Chhokang-Paro (3010m), stone houses with a few iron roofs nestled under cliffs Magnificent slate chortens, facing Ganesh Himal, herald the linked villages of Chhokang and Paro; collectively known as Chhekampar (place of wisdom). Here the valley broadens but the stone houses nestle under cliffs to make full use of the spacious fields for barley, maize, buckwheat and potatoes. Herds of tahr frequently graze the wild cliffs to the north: and if not monitored can cause havoc in the fields.Overnight at lodge in Chhekampar</p>

<p>A shorter and easier route today: with much to explore on the wide flat valley floor on either side of the river. Visiting the sights can be divided over two days.From Chhekampar, we will walk past a local school at Kaye before reaching the clustered twin villages of Ngakyu and Leru. The Rachen Nunnery stands across the river. The trail then rises to a low ridge with chortens before Lama Gaon.</p><p>Next we will trek to the village of Burji and nearby is Milarepa’sCave on the slopes of LangjuHimal. There are two chapels and two caves. Features include an impression of Milarepa’s footprint and a rock in the shape of an elephant. His meditation place has been made into a gompa devoted to him; the other is devoted to the Nyingma-pa deities of the region.</p><p>The trail then ascends towards crosses to the southeast bank of the SiyarKhola and joins the trail from RachenGompa to Nile shortly before Phurbe.The Rachen Nunnery, established in 1905, is enclosed within spacious walls that form the outer residential cells for the nuns. The original small monastery (and a large prayer wheel) is in the southwest of the complex and is decorated with murals depicting the history of Buddhism. There are separate retreat buildings. It belongs to the small Ngak-pa sect – which forbids animal slaughter. A large and imposing new temple has been built within the grounds: spacious, light and decorated with acrylic paintings and bright hangings. The inner wall houses numerous deities in tall glass fronted cases.</p><p>Next we will head towardPhurbe and further up the trail, Pangdun: its gompa has a large prayer wheel. Beyond Pangdun, the valley gently curves towards the north. Next is an unusual round stupa before the impressive entrance gate to the large village of Chhule. Thirty minutes above this village, to the south, is the 700 year old two storeyedGonhgye Monastery; with superb views.</p><p>From the village the trail head through bridges tributary and then the SiyarKhola back to the west bank – and a final short rise up to Nile. Today we will have overnight at lodge in Nile</p>

<p>From the early in the morning we start our trekking with the 2hr walk up to the 77 year old Mu Gompa with another ¾ hr stiff hike up to the small 856 year old DephyuDoma Nunnery (place of the birth of light) which is superbly situated at 4,000m/13,100ft on a small promontory; with the gorgeous view of Ganesh II. Views of the western Ganesh Himal are visible to the left of dominant peak. Mu only has the latter view (including Ganesh I) and a view back down the valley. Mu is the highest permanent settlement in the Tsum Valley. To the north are seasonal kharkas and passes to Tibet. Return to Nile for lunch, then trek back to Chhekampar. Today have overnight at lodge in Chhekampar.</p>

<p>Again the trail will head towards the small gompa at Gho, then descend south through a wooden bridge over the river and continue to Dumje. The trail then leads up steeply (~3½hr), through magnificent pine, oak and rhododendron forest to a mani wall after which it traverses along an exposed route, before zigzagging up through huge silver pines to the gompa perched on a ridge. The mountain views in all directions are fantastic: this is likely to be a highlight of the trek.</p><p>This 110 year old gompa with ~20 nuns (who each reside in a small cell), has an intense and captivating puja late each afternoon. Visitors are invited to attend and permission may be obtained to sleep on the gompa terrace and use their kitchen and ablution facilities. Today we goig to have the overnight at gompa in GumbaLungdang</p>

<p>Circle from the gompa past the nuns’ housing, and zigzag down to a lower indistinct track: follow it through the forest and cross the wooden LungdangKholabridge. Climb steeply through pines and rhododendrons and across a kharka up to a ridge. Continue up a birch-lined creek-bed and emerge onto grassy flats east of the Torogumba Glacier’s lateral moraine. Continue past yak huts to a track up the moraine wall that gives superb views of the cirque of mountains. The Ganesh Himal Base Camp (4,200m/13,780ft) is about here (~4hrs). Return to GumbaLungdang in time for the evening puja.Today we will have overnight in GumbaLungdang at Lodge</p>

<p>After the night stay we will descend back to Dumje, and turn left to cross the LangdangKhola and take the south bank trail down the SiyarKhola and shortly the lower of two trails that crosses deep, impressive gorges on new bridges to the climb to the high fertile land and ribbon village of Ripchet. Several chortens adorn barley and buckwheat fields that have been cut from surrounding pine forest. Beyond the village, steep stairs lead down to Gumlung on the river before the trail climbs back through the forest to Lokpa. Today we going have the overnight at lodge in Lokpa</p>

<p>After breakfast, we trek back to Philim for lunch. The trail Continue to descend through suspension bridge and river bank trail to Sirdibas, here we can enjoy the converseviews.Here we are going to have the overnight at Lodge</p>

<p>Early in the morning our trail now descends from the alpine Buddhist region back to the greener subtropical biome via Jagat, Yaruphant, Dobhan, Tatopani and then undulates to Khorlabesi – with time to linger along the way.Today we going to have the overnight in Khorlabesi at lodge</p>

<p>Today the trail crosses the TharoKhola flowing in its rocky ravine. Drop down to the river and traverse to the village of MachhaKhola. Walk along the BudhiGandakiNadi to reach the Gurung village of Labubesi. Pass the two waterfalls on the steep cliffside trail to Khursane. Then follow the ridge above the BudhiGandaki, through Sal forests to the bridge before SotiKhola. Today we will have overnight in SotiKhola at Lodge</p>

<p>From SotiKhola we will drive, down the BudhiGandaki Valley to Arughat and on to Kathmandu; with lunch on the way. Transfer to your Hotel, and a free afternoon.</p>

<p>After breakfast, transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your onward flight to your next destination.</p>