Jagat to Lokpa: where the Tsum Valley turns off the Manaslu trail
Written by our trekking team
Photo: Remote Nepal Treks.
The short version
Day 4 of the Tsum Valley Trek is the day you leave the Manaslu trail. From Jagat (1,340m), where your permits are logged, you walk past Philim, turn off the main Budhi Gandaki route into the Tsum side valley, and climb through forest to Lokpa at 2,240m. It's a gain of 900m in 6 to 7 hours, the biggest single climb on the trek. The gorge narrows, the waterfalls start, and from Lokpa the next day takes you into Lower Tsum.
The shared start: Days 2 and 3
The Tsum Valley Trek and the Manaslu Circuit begin on the same road and the same trail. Day 2 is the long drive from Kathmandu to Machha Khola (869m), 8 to 9 hours with stops. Day 3 follows the Budhi Gandaki through Khorlabesi and Tatopani, where the hot springs are a welcome stop, and climbs into Jagat at 1,340m.
Jagat is a checkpoint. Officials log your Restricted Area Permit, and the Manaslu Conservation Area Permit is checked here too, because the shared Budhi Gandaki approach is inside the conservation area. Your guide handles it. We've written about these first days, from the Manaslu side, in the Budhi Gandaki gorge.
Day 4: the turn-off
| Day 4 | |
|---|---|
| From | Jagat, 1,340m |
| To | Lokpa, 2,240m |
| Gain | ▲ 900m |
| Time | 6–7 hrs |
| Night | Teahouse |
You leave Jagat on the main trail and walk past Philim. Not far beyond it, the paths split. The Manaslu Circuit carries on north toward Deng and the Nubri valley. You take the other branch, into the Tsum side valley.
It's a quiet moment, and an important one. From here on, you're walking a trail that only Tsum trekkers use, with their own Tsum RAP.
Into the gorge
The valley narrows quickly. The path climbs through forest above the river, and the 900m of gain comes steadily rather than all at once. It's the biggest single climb of the trek, so take it at an easy pace and take breaks.
Our photos from the lower gorge are mostly of water: long falls coming down the cliffs through green forest, a trail running along the foot of one, a stream tumbling over pale boulders and clear green pools below the falls. They aren't tagged with place names, so we can't tell you exactly which one is which. They do show what the lower gorge is like.
Photo: Remote Nepal Treks.
Lokpa: the gateway to Tsum
Lokpa (2,240m) is the gateway village, the first stop in the side valley. It's a teahouse night, like every night on this trek. You sleep here twice, on Day 4 going up and on Day 10 coming back.
Day 5 is a shorter one: 4 to 5 hours and only 146m of gain, crossing suspension bridges and climbing steadily into Lower Tsum and Chumling. Our post on the villages of Tsum continues from there.
Walking Day 4 well
- Leave early from Jagat. It's a 6 to 7 hour day, and an early start keeps the afternoon relaxed.
- Walk slowly on the climb. 900m is a lot for one day, even at this altitude. A slow, steady pace beats a fast start.
- Carry water and snacks. Refill at stops when your guide suggests it, and use purification tablets or a filter.
- Keep your camera handy. The waterfalls start on this stretch.
Coming back the same way
Tsum is an in-and-out trek. On Day 10 you walk back from Chumling to Lokpa, and on Day 11 you drop the 900m to Jagat through the same forest. It's a full day downhill, and trekking poles help. Day 12 retraces the Budhi Gandaki to Machha Khola, and Day 13 is the drive back to Kathmandu.
On our 21-day combined trek, you don't go back to Jagat at all. Day 10 walks from Chumling past Lokpa, rejoins the main trail and turns north onto the Manaslu Circuit to Deng.
For the rest of the route, see the Tsum Valley Trek guide or the Tsum Valley itinerary.
Frequently asked
Where does the Tsum Valley Trek leave the Manaslu Circuit?
Past Philim, on Day 4. The Manaslu Circuit carries on toward Deng, and the Tsum trail turns off into the side valley toward Lokpa.
How hard is the walk from Jagat to Lokpa?
It's the biggest climb on the Tsum trek: 900m of gain, from 1,340m to 2,240m, in 6 to 7 hours through forest.
Where are permits checked on the Tsum Valley Trek?
At Jagat on Day 3. Officials log your Restricted Area Permit, and the Manaslu Conservation Area Permit is checked there too.
Is there a teahouse at Lokpa?
Yes. Lokpa is a teahouse night on Day 4 and again on Day 10.
Are there waterfalls on the Tsum Valley Trek?
Yes. Our photos from the lower gorge show several long waterfalls, boulder streams and clear pools on the forested slopes.