Tsum Valley Trek Cost: What You Actually Pay
MountainKick’s 15-day Tsum Valley Monastery Trek costs $680 to $1,450 per person, depending on group size. It’s $680 for groups of 10 to 14, $755 for 4 to 9, $1,080 for 2 to 3 and $1,450 for a solo trekker. The package covers permits, a licensed guide, a porter, accommodation including two nights at Mu Gompa, and the private jeep to and from the trailhead.
With food, personal spending, visa, tips and optional gear rental, a realistic budget is around $1,250 to $2,550 before international flights and insurance.
- Duration: 15 days, Kathmandu to Kathmandu
- Max altitude: 3,700m at Mu Gompa (optional day hike to Nagdalo viewpoint at 4,110m)
- Package: $680 to $1,450 per person depending on group size
- Typical total: about $1,250 to $2,550 before flights and insurance
- Food: $25 to $40 per day
- Permits: Tsum Valley Restricted Area Permit and MCAP, included in the package
- Guide: A licensed guide is required
- Best seasons: March to May and September to December
Last updated: October 2026
Tsum Valley is a restricted area, so the cost works differently from a standard teahouse trek. You need a special permit, a licensed guide and a registered agency. Here’s what it actually costs by group size, and what sits outside the package price.
Tsum Valley Trek Cost Breakdown
| Expense | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| MountainKick 15-day package | $680 to $1,450 |
| Food on the trail ($25 to $40 a day, about 12 days) | $300 to $480 |
| Personal spending (showers, charging, Wi-Fi, monastery donations) | $80 to $150 |
| Nepal visa (30 days) | $50 |
| Tips for guide and porter | $150 to $300 |
| Gear rental | $0 to $100 |
| Travel insurance | Depends on your policy |
| Typical total before international flights and insurance | about $1,250 to $2,550 |
For a 2 to 3 person group on the $1,080 package, most trekkers land around $1,650 to $2,150.
Package Price by Group Size
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 10 to 14 trekkers | $680 |
| 4 to 9 trekkers | $755 |
| 2 to 3 trekkers | $1,080 |
| Solo | $1,450 |
Solo trekkers pay more because there’s no one to share the guide, porter and jeep costs with. If you’re travelling alone, MountainKick can sometimes match you with other trekkers on the same dates. Contact us to check.
What’s Included and What’s Not
Included: airport and hotel transfers, 2 nights in a 3-star Kathmandu hotel with breakfast, 11 nights of teahouse and monastery accommodation on the trek, a licensed guide for the full 15 days, a porter (one per two trekkers, 20kg limit), the private jeep to and from Machha Khola, all required permits, a farewell dinner, a duffel bag, and an oximeter and first aid kit carried by your guide.
Not included: international flights, Nepal visa, travel insurance, meals on the trek, personal gear (you can rent it in Kathmandu), tips and personal expenses.
Tsum Valley Permit Costs
Both permits are included in the MountainKick package.
- Tsum Valley Restricted Area Permit: $40 for the first 7 days from September to November, $30 in other months, then $7 per extra day
- Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP): NPR 3,000
Based on MountainKick’s current permit processing, a separate TIMS card is not being issued for the Tsum Valley trek. The Tsum Valley Restricted Area Permit and MCAP are arranged by MountainKick and included in the package. Requirements can change, so we confirm the current documentation before departure. For general permit rules, see our Nepal trekking permits guide.
If you combine Tsum Valley with the Manaslu Circuit, you’ll also need the Manaslu restricted area permit and ACAP. See our Manaslu Circuit trek cost guide.
Food and Personal Spending
Meals on the trail aren’t included, so you only pay for what you eat. Budget around $25 to $40 a day. Prices are lower in the valley below Chumling and go up the further in you go. Road access ends below the upper valley, so supplies have to be carried into the higher villages.
On top of food, allow about $80 to $150 over the trek for hot showers, charging, Wi-Fi where it’s available, and small donations at monasteries.
Tips for Your Guide and Porter
Tips aren’t included and are up to you. For the 15-day trek, many trekkers budget around $150 to $300 for the guide and porter combined, depending on group size and service. See our guide to tipping guides and porters in Nepal.
How Much Cash to Bring
There are no ATMs in Tsum Valley, so withdraw what you need in Kathmandu before you start. For food and normal personal expenses, around $400 to $600 in cash is a reasonable starting budget, plus whatever you plan to give as tips. Carry small notes, because change is hard to find in remote villages. For ATM limits and fees, see our guide to money in Nepal for trekkers.
Travel Insurance
MountainKick requires travel insurance that covers high altitude trekking and helicopter evacuation to at least 6,000m. Tsum Valley is remote, so evacuation cover matters even though the altitude is modest. See our travel insurance guide.
Life on the Trail
Part of what you’re paying for is access to a place that’s still lived in, not built around tourism. You spend two nights inside Mu Gompa itself, a working monastery, not a nearby teahouse. The route passes through Tsumba villages, monasteries and nunneries that have been part of daily life here for centuries. That’s a different kind of value than a hot shower or fast Wi-Fi.
How Tsum Valley Compares to the Manaslu Circuit
Tsum Valley is shorter in distance and lower in altitude than the Manaslu Circuit. It’s built around monastery stays and village life rather than a high pass crossing. The two share the approach up the Budhi Gandaki gorge before splitting at Lokpa, which is why they’re often combined into one longer trip. See our Manaslu Circuit trek cost guide for that route’s numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Tsum Valley Trek cost?
MountainKick’s 15-day trek costs $680 per person for groups of 10 to 14, $755 for 4 to 9, $1,080 for 2 to 3 and $1,450 solo. With food, personal spending, visa, tips and optional gear rental, a realistic budget is about $1,250 to $2,550 before international flights and insurance.
Can I trek Tsum Valley solo?
Yes, with a guide. Since March 2026, individual foreign trekkers can get a restricted area permit without first finding a second trekker. A licensed guide and a registered trekking agency are still required, and the solo rate of $1,450 applies.
What permits do I need for Tsum Valley?
You need the Tsum Valley Restricted Area Permit and the Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP). Based on MountainKick’s current 2026 permit processing, a separate TIMS card is not being issued for the Tsum-only trek. MountainKick arranges the required permits before departure.
Is the Tsum Valley Trek difficult?
It’s rated challenging. The altitude is modest by Nepal standards, but most days are 6 to 8 hours on rough trail, so the challenge is distance rather than technical difficulty.
When is the best time to go?
March to May and September to December. Spring and autumn usually bring the most settled weather and clearest views.
Planning a Tsum Valley trek?
Tell us your dates, your group size and any questions about permits or gear. We’ll reply within a few hours with honest advice and a realistic quote. WhatsApp: +977 985 118 2718.
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