The Langtang valley is aptly called ‘the
valley of glaciers’. Here, mountain
rise, soaring towards the sky. The valley
offers pine forest, swift mountain streams,
rugged rock and snowcapped peaks, grassy
downs and meadows strewn with daisies and
wild primal. A variety of sights including
Buddhist monasteries, a cheese factory,
yaks, glaciers and mountain lakes make this
trek an exciting one. This trek offers the
experience of being in a typical Sherpa
village and many ancient monasteries. It
is a golden chance to learn about life in
our villages.
You follow a rugged trail with dramatic
views; to the west Himal chuli (7893m) Manaslu
(8156mm) and Ganesh Himal (7406m). On a
clear day, even the Annapurna range can
be seen rising up behind and to the north
across the valley is Langtang Lirung. You
pass a few huts in the high picture of Laurebina,
cross a small ridge and have our first views
of the holy lakes. There are about a dozen
lakes in the Gosainkunda Basin, the main
three being Saraswatikunda, Bhairabkunda,
and Gosainkunda. According to legend, Shiva
created Gosainkunda when he pierced a glacier
with his trident to obtain water to quench
his thirst after having swallowed a poison
that threatened to destroy the world.
This trek brings you to the Langtang Valley
surrounded by Himalayan Peaks. Langtang
Lirung-7240m and Ganesh Himal are the highest
in the region. Trek up to Kyanjingompa and
excursion to Tshergo Ri would acclimatize
you well for further trek to Ganja La pass.
The trek then turns straight south into
the valley of Helambu via the Ganja La pass
which is more exciting and challenging as
well.
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
and climb up to Tserko Ri (5033m.)
and trek back to Kyangjin Gompa
which takes about seven hours.
This you trek through steeply
ascent path all the way to the
top. The path you follow is
rocky and you pass through small
bushes along side. You can see
Himalayan peasants, Himalayan
deer and outstanding views of
surrounding peaks and mountains.
From Tserko Ri, you are quite
captivated by the panoramic
views of Sisapangma, Langshisa
Ri, NayaKang, Yala peak, Langtang
Lirung and many others.
Day
8
Trek
from Kyanjing Gompa to Ngegang
(4000m.) which takes about five
hours. There you can not see
any villages. The trail goes
on ascending and area is covered
with little natural vegetation.
Since there are not available
any lodge, you need to camp.
Day
9
Trek
from Ngegang to Keldang (5106m.)
via Ganja La (5100m.) which
takes about five and half hours.
This day is comparatively strenuous
as you need to cross the Ganja
la pass. On the Ganja la pass,
you can find it covered with
snowy ice most of the times
through out the year. You need
to camp.
Day
10
Trek
from Keldang to Dukpu (4080m.)
which takes about five and half
hours. Your camping site will
be inside the forest. This day
will be long day walking along
ridge, grassland with amazing
views of Mountains.
Day
11
Trek
from Dukpu to Tarkeghyang (2740m.)
that takes approximately five
hours. The trail descends about
200mtrs, climb the 4100m pass.
Views from Pass are spectacular
to the Annapurna Region and
Mt. Everest region too. From
pass trail descends through
pine forest, rhododendron forest
past tiny herder’s settlement
to Tarkeghyang. You can visit
one of the oldest Buddhist monastery
and Sherpa villages. These villages
are well settled where friendly
and cheerful natured people
inhabit.
Day
12
Trek
from Tarkeghyang to Shermathang
(2621m.) which takes about four
hours. This day the trail is
quite easier through flat land
with beautiful forests on the
way. You trek on crossing some
small streams on the way. There
is situated a beautiful village
on the half way to Shermathang.
To add your joy, Shermathang
is another pretty Sherpa village
where you can visit many ancient
monasteries. There you can see
Jugal Himal range at the north
face of Shermathang village.
Day
13
Trek
from Shermathang to Melamchi
Pul Bazaar (846m.) and it takes
approximately five hours. The
trail gradually descends all
the way to Melamchi Pul Bazaar
through meadows ad cultivated
fields. On the way, you come
across several old villages
with their own particular tradition.
Walking this day is quite pleasant
with mountain views and interaction
with local and friendly people.
Day
14
Drive
from Melamchi Pul Bazaar to
Kathmandu which takes about
six hours.
You travel through gravel and
bumpy path up to Lamidanda and
then you follow the pitched
road up to Kathmandu.
