Langtang Valley Trek
Maximum Altitude : 3900 meters.
Duration of Trek : 09 days mountain lodge.
Langtang Valley is ideal for trekkers for a combination of reasons, including its natural beauty, its easy accessibility from Kathmandu (without the need to take a flight) and its comparatively slightly lower altitude, which makes it particularly good for people who do not want their trek to be extremely physically daunting.
Langtang is situated south of the Tibetan border and is wedged between the main Himalaya range to the north and a lower range of snowy peaks to the south. The area was the first in Nepal to be designated as a National Park (1971). Its name derives from a legend that the valley was first discovered by a lama chasing a runaway yak, hence lang (yak), dhang (to follow).
The itinerary which follows is for the basic Langtang trek, but it is possible to vary/extend this route. One option is to return to Kathmandu via the holy lake Gosainkunda, said to have been created by Shiva when he jabbed his trisul or trident into the ground to create the headwaters of the river Trisuli. Another possibility is to go through the Laurebina pass beyond Gosainkunda and into the neighbouring Helambu region.
The people in the Langtang Valley are from the large and very diverse Tamang clan, whose religion, language and dress is much more Tibetan than Nepali. The Tamangs are Buddhists who often use the surname Lama.
Day to day Itinerary
DAY 01 : On you arrival in Kathmandu we meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.
DAY 02 : Kathmandu sightseeing
DAY 03 : Drive KATHMANDU – SYABRUBESI (8 hours)
DAY 04 : SYABRUBESI – LAMA HOTEL (2480m)
Our starting-point, Syabrubesi, is a north-slope village of homes which have been built, centipede-like, in a single line. Many of the houses are decorated with wooden filigree work. The trail goes down along a ridge , in Syabrubesi’s main street, before descending to the Ghopcha Khola, first through terraced fields and then through forests of oak, maple, alder and bamboo. The trail crosses the stream via a stone and cement bridge before climbing a ridge where a few ‘bhattis’ are scattered. There is a steep and quite slippery path down and a junction in the trail is marked by signs painted on a rock directing you either to Langtang or back to the road at Syabubresi. As we climb back along the southern banks of the Langtang Khola the trail gains elevation very quickly. In this area there is not much habitation and the forest abounds with bird life. The varied wildlife here includes the yellow-throated martin, the wild boar, the langur, the red panda and the Himalayan black bear. The trail continues to climb and at 2000m we reach a steel suspension bridge, with a small bhatti on the shady south side.
Next the route crosses to the north bank of the Langtang Khola before climbing alongside a sequence of waterfalls. On this side of the river the forest is more dry and sparse, comprising chiefly scrub oak, as distinct from the damp forest of large pines on the more shady southern bank opposite. There is a steep climb up to another trail junction, connecting with a higher route back to Syarpagaon and Syabrubesi, which was the former trailway to Langtang before the construction of the bridge over the Khola. There is a gentle descent to Changtang, which is more popularly known as Lama Hotel (2380m), where there is a cluster of hotels, including the Lama Hotel itself.
DAY 05 : LAMA HOTEL – LANGTANG VILLAGE (3541m)
Today begins with a fairly gentle ascent but we are soon climbing more steeply as we hike high above the Langtang Khola; in some sections the route ascends so sharply that the trail is across logs which have been anchored to the valley wall. Here we start to see glimpses of Langtang Lirung (7246m) through the trees. We go through Gumnachok and then the trail crosses a stream on a log bridge, before climbing through meadows to Ghora Tabela (‘ horse stable’ ) (3000m). This was once a Tibetan resettlement project, but has since been used as a Nepalese Army and national park post. After this point the trail ascends gradually and the valley becomes wider. We pass yak pastures, some mani stones and scattered Tamang villages. The trail then descends into a valley to cross a stream and climbs past several water-driven mills and prayer wheels to the large village of Langtang (3500m), which is the HQ of the Langtang National Park. The houses here have Tibetan-style flat roofs and are surrounded by stone walls enclosing fields of buckwheat, potatoes, turnips and barley. The villagers keep herds of yaks and cattle here and in pastures above their settlement. Langtang is the last village in this area to be inhabited all year round and its Tibetan speaking people come from families who have lived in this valley for more than three centuries. Their ancestors originally settled here from Kyirong in northern Tibet and before they arrived, Langtang Valley was considered a ‘beyul’ or hidden valley – a refuge which would only be retreated to by followers of Buddhism, when the dark age of the Kali Yuga began.
DAY 06 : LANGTANG VILLAGE – KYANGJIN GOMPA (3900m)
Our trail winds through the village and ascends to a ridge dominated by a large square chorten and a long row of mani walls. It then climbs gradually past the small villages of Muna and Singdum. Continuing through yak pastures as the valley broadens out, the path crosses a wooden cantilever bridge, then finally climbs a moraine where you can finally see Kyanjin gompa. It is a short descent to a huddle of trekking lodges, a gompa and a cheese factory.
DAY 07 : DAY FOR REST OR EXPLORATION
We spend the day here and you may wish either to relax and restore your energy – or to do some more exploration of the area. One option is to hike up the moraine, north of Kyangjin gompa, to a height of 4300m or more. From the moraine there is a spectacular view of Langtang Lirung and the foot of one of its major glaciers. There are two other particularly good viewpoints in the area, both of which it is practicable to reach in one day, and both peaks are also visible from Kyangjion Gompa. To the north is Kyangjin Ri (4773m), which is a climb of around two hours. Do not head directly up the ridge behind the gompa – it is better to take a trail which begins on the opposite side of the stream, beyond the national park lodge. A longer excursion is to Tserko Ri (4984m), which is a longer climb (approximately 4 hours) from Kyangjin gompa.
Yet another option is to continue walking further up the Langtang Valley itself , to Langshisha Kharka, for views of Langshisha Ri (6130m), Gang Chhenpo (6387m), Urkeinmang (6151m) and Penthang Karpo Ri (6830m).
DAY 08 : KYANGJIN GOMPA – GHORA TABELA (2950m)
Today we start to head back down and the route is the reverse of Day 06 and most of Day 05, culminating at Ghora Tabela, which was once a Tibetan re-settlement project, and now a Nepal army and national park post with no permanent inhabitants apart from the lodge operators.
DAY 09 : GHORA TABELA – BAMBOO LODGE (2100m)
Today’s route is the reverse of the beginning part of Day 05’s trek and the latter part of Day O4. We stop for the night at Bamboo Lodge, a cluster of three hotels, none of which is actually made of bamboo ! This region specializes in the sale of colourful woolen socks and belts.
DAY 10 : BAMBOO LODGE – SYABRUBESI
This takes us back to the trek’s end and beginning point, Syabrubesi, and retraces our steps from Day 04.
DAY 11 : Travel back by road to Kathmandu.
DAY 12 : At leisure in Kathmandu
DAY 13 : Transfer to the airport for flight to your onward destination.
For further information regarding this tour please contact us.
Vast reams of material have been written on Nepal over the years, in particular over the past fifty years with the successful summit of Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. The past twenty has slowly seen Nepal become a well recognised holiday destination. 
