Langtang Cultural Trek - 14 days

About 45 minutes out of Kathmandu, you pass through the town of Kakani where there are great views of the Himalayas. For part of the way the road clings to the edge of a steep mountain. Dhunche is an attractive village with large stone houses. Here, there is a police check post where you must show your entry permit for the Langtang National Park, which you’ll be trekking through. There are excellent views of Gheng (6581m) and Langtang Lirung (7246m) to the north and Ganesh (7460m) to the west during the drive. From Dhunche there is a descent to the Trishuli River which is reached within half an hour. Right from here a track to Gosainkunda leaves the main trail to Rasuwa Ghari and the Langtang Valley. Traversing up and down after crossing a suspension bridge over the Langtang River, the village of Syabrubesi is reached.

Descending through the village of Syabrubesi and continuing down the ridge until we come to the east that drops sharply off the ridge and through a dense forest. Trail starts meandering through the cool deciduous forests of oak and maple that cover the lower sections of the valley and climbs through massive stands of spruce, fir and blue pine. Towering walls close in and our paths will skirt precipitous drops, which fall into a silt-laden river below. Crossing a bridge (1960m) over a tributary of the Langtang Khola and then climb up from the river and in an hour, shortly after the trail levels off, we join the old Langtang trail from Sherpa Gaon and Syabrubesi. Another hour from this trail junction brings you to the Lama Hotel in the tiny village of Chon gong.

A day further on the forest peters out and we start getting the first tantalizing glimpses of snow-capped peaks. From the Lama Hotel the trail climbs steadily to Ghora Tabela with glimpses of Langtang Lirung (7246m) through the trees. At Ghora Tabela the trail leaves the forest and a spectacular view of Langtang Lirung appears. Continue up the valley, leaving the forests behind, the trail ascends steadily up to Langtang village, passing below a monastery about 30min beforehand. Langtang is an interesting Tibetan-style village with stone- walls enclosing houses and fields where we might just see first yaks.

Leaving Langtang, we ascend gradually to a chorten (a small Tibetan Buddhist stupa) behind which is a very long Mani wall. The trail passes two small villages and the village widens. We cross some streams and a moraine before arriving at Kyanjin Gompa. Between Langtang and Kyanjin Gompa, the views just get better and better where we will see Yansa Tsenji (6580m) and Kim shun (6750m) to the north and the Langtang Himal to the northwest. Alternatively, take a good rest and allow our body to acclimatize with the high altitude as much as possible to be fully prepared for more ascending during the next day.

A day hike further up the valley past the airstrip will provide more spectacular views that include Langtang Lirung (7246m), Ganchenpo (6400m), Langshisa Ri (6320m), Dorje Lakpa (6700m), Lenpo Gang (7100m), and Urkinmang (6170m). A four hours walk to the east of Kyanjin Gompa from the village is 5000m Tserko Ri. If we start early in the morning and are well-acclimatized, we should be able to climb this peak and return to Kyanjin Gompa in 1 long day. The reward for climbing to the prayer flags on its summit is a magnificent view of the 7246m Langtang Lirung, the mountain that dominates the valley. Several of the more moderate local peaks are quite climbable and provide breathtaking panoramic views of mountains in Tibet, including the 8027m Chisa Pangma.

Since we’ll be acclimatized and will be descending, we trek down all the way to Ghora Tabela through the same trail in a day’s walk from Kyanjin Gompa.

We have to trek descending all the way passing various oaks forest and follows the rivers with suspense bridges to reach the Bamboo. Overnight at lodge.

From Bamboo the trail is little bit descending up to the Pahiro and then we have to climb up to reach to Thulo Syabru. On the way we will see various animals like monkey, bear, and various species of birds. This place is the settlement of Tamang and also famous as Tamang village. We will see the culture of Tamang along with various monasteries and stupas.

Leaving behind the pleasant village of Syabru , climb past the Gompa, school and army post, and switchback up the steep hill above the village. There are a few houses and potato fields’ steep trail and pleasant teashops in the settlement of Dursagang. The trail continues less steeply, now mostly in forests, past an old chorten to the top of the ridge and two shoddy teashops. Coming out of the forest, the trail climbs a bit more before reaching the top of the ridge. The trail continues across the head of a second valley, and then reaches a final ridge. The small Buddhist monastery of Sing Gompa is about 100m along the trail to the left.

From Sing Gompa the trail continues climbing steadily through rhododendron forest with the Trishuli Khola far below. The trail crosses over to the Langtang side of the ridge you are climbing and stays in deep forest for a while, then emerges onto a saddle at Cho Lang Pati then entering the Gosainkunda protected area where the killing of animals, lighting of wood fires, and grazing of goats is prohibited. There are good views of Langtang Lirung from the north side of the ridge, and looking west, we can see the Mustang, Himalchuli, and Manaslu. We cross high altitude summer pastures for sheep and goats before going back to the south side of the ridge overlooking the Trishuli Khola. When we cross to the south side of the ridge the trail becomes much narrower than it has been up to now, and finally be able to see the first of the largest lake, the holy Gosainkunda, which is evident from the large stone Shiva lingam and the guesthouses around its shores, Saraswati Kunda from here.

Leaving Gosainkunda, the trail skirts the shore of the lake before ascending towards the Laurebina Pass 4610m. The trail now descends, steeply at first but becoming more gradual, to the southeast on a rocky path. In about an hour we’ll come to some roofless stone herders’ huts, and from here the trail descends another ridge, crossing several streams and passing two waterfalls. After passing another stone hut, we climb to another ridge and Ghopte, where overhanging rocks form a cave that is used as a campsite by trekkers can see the lights of herders. From Ghopte, the trail descends to more caves and enters a thick forest of Pine and rhododendrons. After crossing a stream, which is dry for part of the year, the trail will make a final ascent to Tharepati (3490m), a grouping of small stone huts used in the summer months by herders.

We have to trek descending all the way and can have panoramic view of Mountains including Annapurna, Manaslu. If we are trekking in spring season, we will see the forest covered with Rhododendron. Overnight at lodge.

From Kutumsang, in early morning we can see the sunrise over the snowcapped mountains. We would have breakfast served around. After breakfast, we start our trek to Chisopani (2194m). It takes about six hours to reach. Chisapani is another view point of sunrise and sunset. Besides, we would explore tribal culture and mountain lifestyle. Overnight at Chisopani.

Chisopani is one of the best places from where one can enjoy the super views of Himalayas, wonderful, Hills & sunrise/sunset views can be seen. We will see the Tamang Habitants and will follow the trail across the Mulkharka and Shivapuri National Park. Then drive Sundarijal to Kathmandu which takes approximately an hour to reach Kathmandu.