Tsum valley Trekking was only opened to trekking in 2007. Tsum valley trek starts at Sotikhola on the same route as the Manaslu Circuit trek, following the Buri Gandaki river valley past small villages comprising mainly of ethnic Gurung inhabitants. You enter the Tsum Valley on the fourth day and it soon opens up to reveal distinctly Tibetan-style villages with chortens and mani walls. People here have their own distinct dialect and unique culture and traditions unchanged for centuries. Some still practice polyandry system of marriage where a woman takes two or more brothers as husbands at the same time. Having explored the old villages of Chhokang Paro and Chhule, you will arrive at Mu Gompa for a spiritually uplifting experience.
The name Tsum comes from the Tibetan word 'Tsombo', which means vivid and this remote hidden valley is truly stunning. The Tsum valley has a long history of Buddhism going back eighth century when Guru Rimpoche (Padmasambhava) described it as 'the holy hidden valley of happiness'. It is also believed that the Buddhist saint Milarepa meditated in the caves amongst the mountains here. Shielded from the rest of the country, the valley holds extremely well preserved religious and archaeological relics and contains many monasteries, stupas, chortens and Mani (Prayer) walls including, centuries old nunneries.
Don't forget to ask the locals about their encounters with the 'Yeti' before heading back to Kathmandu.