Trekking In Nepal

Langtang Valley trek (09 days)

The Langtang Himal is a region north part of Kathmandu valley and it lies just south of Tibetan border. The Langtang valley is surrounded by high peaks of great appeal. It has become famous ever since the British mountaineer Bill Tilman described it as the most beautiful valley in the world. The highest peak in this area is Shisapangma or Gosaithan 8027m in Tibet. The course from the Langtang valley to Gosaikund is full of diversity and it is attracting many tourists. The Langtang valley is also known as the treasure house of Alpine plants. The whole valley is covered with flowers during the summer. This high and isolated region is inhabited by Tamangs whose religious practices, language and dress are much more similar to Tibetan.

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Drive from Kathmandu to Dhunche (1966m.) which takes about eight hours. You head north out of Kathmandu driving through scenic foothills and ridgeline vistas to Dhunche. The first part of your drive upto Trishuli Bazaar is quite smooth. The path now moves along the gravel road. During the rainy season, the way is sometime blocked due to landslides. Your drive from Kathamandu to the destination is to be made by either local bus or land cruiser.

Day 2
Trek from Dhunche to Syabru Gaon (2581m.) which takes about five and half hours. Trek to Syabru Gaon (6950ft, 2120m). The trek today is very leisurely through forests and terraced hill slopes. As you enter Syabru, you descend to the ridgeline that separates the Langtang Khola from the Trisuli River. Syabru is a beautiful village stretched out along the ridgeline. You will continue through the village to your campsite about fifteen minutes beyond on the slopes below the village. The sunset is spectacular; brilliantly backlighting the houses perched on the ridgeline above. From here you can enjoy spectacular view of Lantang Lirung (7245m.), Tibetan Himal ranges and so on.

Day 3
Trek from Syabru Gaon to Lama Hotel (2470m.) and it takes about five hours. The trail descends along the ridge on Syabru's main street and then drop to the Ghopche Khola (2050 m.) and again descends to the Landslide (1810m.). Afterwards, you trek ascends gently to Rimche (2400m.) through Bamboo (1960m.) and at the end your trail is level to the Lama Hotel. En route you could see red pandas, monkey and bear if you are lucky. There are few lodges and shops which provides the trekker supplies.

Day 4
Trek from Lama Hotel to Langtang village (3430m.) via Ghore Tabela which takes about six hours. As you continue climbing there are occasional glimpses of Langtang Lirung between the trees. At Ghora Tabela [3000m], the trail emerges from the forest. While walking here, you can catch a glimpse of white monkeys and local birds. Once there was a Tibetan resettlement project here, but now it is a Nepalese army post though it has no permanent inhabitants. The trail continues to climb gently and the valley widens, passing a few temporary settlements used by herders who bring their livestock to graze in the high pastures during the summer months. There is a monastery which we can visit shortly before arriving at the village of Langtang, the headquarters of the Langtang National Park. The houses of Langtang and its neighbouring villages are of the flat-roofed Tibetan style, surrounded by stone walls enclosing fields of buckwheat, potatoes, wheat, turnips and barley.

Day 5
Trek from Langtang Village to Kyangjin (3870m.) which takes about three hours. The trail climbs gradually through small villages and yak pastures as the valley opens out further and the views become more extensive. After crossing several small streams and moraines, the trail reaches the settlement at Kyangjin. Here there is a small monastery and a government-operated cheese factory. We should arrive at Kyangjin by lunch time allowing time to acclimatise and explore the area. It is a dramatic setting, with snow covered peaks surrounding us in all directions. At this point, you can enjoy the panoramic view of Dorje Larpa (6990m.), Langtang Ri (6370m.), Langtang Lirung (7245m.) and so on.

Day 6
Rest day at Kyangjin Gompa and excursion in and around. This is day to rest and explore the area. You can visit the monastery and the cheese factory, walk up the moraine to see the spectacular ice faces and tumbling glaciers of Langtang Lirung or ascend Kyangjin Ri [4350m], directly behind the village, for a breath-taking panorama of the Langtang peaks.

Day 7
Trek from Kyangjin Gompa to Lama Hotel and it takes about six hours. From Kyangjin you retrace your route, following the Langtang Khola to Langtang village and on to Ghora Tabela. After lunch you continue the steep descent to Lama Hotel.

Day 8
Trek from Lama Hotel to Syabru Besi via Sherpa Gaon which takes about five hours. The upper part of the trail is more beautiful for the panoramic view of mountains and green hill views. This path is broader and remains sunny through the different Shepra and Tamang villages. The first half part of the trail is gradually down and then the trail does steeply descent to the Syabru Besi (1600m.). There was run a project called Chilime Power Plant. The main inhabitants belong to Tamang community and they have adopted Tibetan lifestyle.

Day 9
Drive from Syabru Besi to Kathmandu by bus, which takes about nine hours. You drive through scenic foothills and ridgeline vistas to Kathmandu. The first part of your drive up to Trishuli Bazaar is through gravel and bumpy road and then well paved road up to Kathmandu.