Tsum Valley is the secret Tibetan Buddhist land lying at the edge of one of the most secluded Himalayan valleys. One of the world's remotest Himalayan Valleys which was also a restricted region until recently. The trek to Tsum Valley takes you into the majestic surroundings of the Ganesh Himal, Shringi Himal, and Boudha Himal ranges. The region once part of Tibet looks completely different from what you will find elsewhere. The people of Tsum Valley or the Tsumbas belong to Tibetan origin with their ancient form of dialect, art, culture, and religion. Very few adventure travelers have made it to this high and mysterious valley, which used to be an important trade link with Tibet. In the initial days, we trek the route of Around Manaslu Trek or the Manaslu Circuit Trek. The Tsum Valley lies in the northern part of Manaslu and used to be a restricted area until 2008. The region is still less exposed in comparison to other touristy areas, with relatively virgin and less beaten paths in comparison to the more popular regions. The Tsum people have their own way of marital life, which may be quite surprising for many outsiders. All the brothers in the family are married to a single girl, what you may call a practice of polyandry.

The starting and ending point of the Trek is Arughat, a seven-hour drive from Kathmandu. The first half of the trek ascends the Budhi Gandaki Valley on good paths through a mix of dense forest, terraced fields, and hill villages. As we leave the main Manaslu Trail for the Tsum Valley, suddenly we get a feeling of truly entering the hidden valley. While on the trek, we also pass through the alpine forests, and glacial rivers, and enjoy the warm hospitality of ethnic people. Pass the lower Buri Gandaki regions of Liding, Machha Khola, Jagat, and Philim. We also visited the ancient Gombas of the region such as Rachen Gompa, Mu Gompa, and Dephyudonma Gompa.