Langtang Trek

You will meet your Bucket List Leaders at the airport and fly out as a group for Bucket Lister + Trips. If you have booked a Bucket Lister Trip we will see you in Nepal soon!

If you have transfers with us we will take you to the hotel. For those making their own way, we will see you in Kathmandu.

Special Information: Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm today.

Free day to relax and explore Kathmandu.

About 30 minutes out of Kathmandu, you pass through the town of Kakani from where there are excellent views of the Ganesh Himal. Further along, we’ll stop at Trisuli Bazar, before continuing the drive to Dhunche (1970m). At this point, you’ll get excellent views of Gheng (6581m) and Langtang Lirung (7246m) to the north and Ganesh (7460m) to the west. The drive descends towards the Trisuli River and to Thulo Bharkhu, then climbs steeply through pine woods. From here you have fine views up the valley towards the Tibetan border, about 20km away. The trail out of Bharkhu climbs a steep slope to the top of a ridge (2300m) which is a good place to take a break; it’s a great bird-watching site. At this point, you have entered the Langtang Valley with views of Ganesh Himal to the west, Tibet to the north, and Langtang Lirung to the east. You can also see, on a ridge top below you, the lovely village of Syabru (Thulo). The trail contours around the ridge before descending a short steep slope into Syabru (2134m).

Start to walk through the cool forests of oak and maple that cover the lower sections of the valley, then climb through massive stands of spruce, fir, and blue pine. Towering walls close in and your paths will skirt precipitous drops, which fall into a silt-laden river below. It is a classic transition from temperate lowland forest to high-altitude Himalayan valley. Descend through the village of Syabru and continue down the ridge until you come to a trail to the east that drops sharply off the ridge and through a dense forest. Cross a bridge (1960m) over a tributary of the Langtang Khola and then climb for a short distance. The trail continues level for a way before descending, still in the forest, to the Langtang Khola. The trail follows the south bank of the river through a deep gorge with no views of the mountains, crossing another tributary in about an hour. In another hour from this tributary, cross yet another bridge (2050m) to the north bank of the Langtang Khola. The trail begins climbing up from the river at this point and in an hour, shortly after the trail levels off, you’ll join the old Langtang trail (2380m) from Sherpagaon and Syabrubensi. Another hour from this trail junction brings you to the Lama Hotel in the tiny village of Chongong (2400m). From the Lama Hotel the trail climbs steadily to Ghora Tabela (3048m) with glimpses of Langtang Lirung (7246m) through the trees. At times the trail becomes very steep but only for short distances. Gradually the air becomes thinner and the climate colder. At Ghoretabela the trail leaves the forest and a spectacular view of Langtang Lirung appears. Ghoretabela was once a Tibetan resettlement camp but is now an army post.

Continuing up the valley, leaving the forests behind, the trail ascends steadily, passing below a monastery before entering Langtang village. Langtang is an interesting Tibetan-style village, with stone walls enclosing houses and fields where you might see your first yaks! The Langtang National Park headquarters is located here. After Langtang, you will see a community of typical flat-roofed Tibetan houses; here the valley flattens and broadens into open pasture. This is perfect for raising yaks, and you will see these imposing beasts everywhere.

Approximately 6-hour walk

The valley is U-shaped as it was carved by a glacier. Below Langtang, the valley has the characteristic V-shape of a river-carved valley. Leaving Langtang, you 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 valley widens. You cross several streams and a moraine before arriving at Kyanjin Gompa (3800m). Between Langtang and Kyanjin Gompa, the views just get better and better; you will see Yansa Tsenji (6580m) and Kimshun (6750m) to the north and the Langtang Himal to the northwest. Take a good rest at Kyanjin Gompa and allow your body to acclimatise to the high altitude as much as possible in preparation for further ascent tomorrow. 4-hour walk

Trekking further up the valley provides more spectacular views of Langtang Lirung (7246m), Ganchenpo (6400m), Langshisa Ri (6320m), Dorje Lakpa (6700m), Lenpo Gang (7100m), and Urkinmang (6170m). About a 4-hour walk to the east of Kyanjin Gompa from the village is the  5000m Tsergo Ri. If you are well acclimatised, physically fit, and start early in the morning you should be able to climb this peak and return to Kyanjin Gompa on the same day. The reward for climbing to the summit is a magnificent view of the 7246m Langtang Lirung, the mountain that dominates the valley.

You are acclimatised already so descending will not be a problem. You should be able to reach the Lama Hotel in about a 6-hour walk from Kyanjin Gompa.

We will be continuing to Syabru today, walking for about 6 hours. 

Leaving Syabru, climb past the gompa, school, and army post, and follow the switchback up the steep hill above the village. There are a few houses and pleasant teashops in the settlement of Dursagang at 2550m. The trail continues less steeply, now mostly in forests, past an old chorten to the top of the ridge and tea shops at 3000m. After the forest, the trail climbs further before reaching the top of the ridge. There is a view of Dhunche far below in the valley. The trail continues across the head of a second valley and then reaches a final ridge at 3260m. The small Buddhist monastery of Sing Gompa is about 100m along the trail to the left. This is the main attraction in the village of Chandanbari (3250m). We stay here overnight before crossing a 4610m pass tomorrow.

From Sing Gompa, the trail continues, climbing steadily through rhododendron forest. The trail crosses over to the Langtang side of the ridge and stays in deep forest for a time before emerging onto a saddle at Cholang Pati (3380m). From the north side of the ridge there are good views of Langtang Lirung, and, looking west, you can see the Ganesh Himal, Himalchuli, and Manaslu. From here it is also possible to see Tibet. Continuing the trek, you cross high-altitude summer pastures for sheep and goats. The trail becomes narrower on the south side of the ridge; the first glimpse of Gosainkund lakes may be seen from here. After crossing a spur, the second lake in the chain, Bhairav Kund, comes into view. The trail climbs gently but continuously to a ridge then descends about 20 metres to the third and largest lake, the holy Gosainkund, at an elevation of 4380m. Hundreds of people come here to worship and bathe in this lake during the full moon festival each year in August. At Gosainkund killing of animals, lighting of wood fires, and grazing of goats is prohibited.

The trail climbs to the shore of the lake before ascending towards the Laurebina Pass (4610m). As you continue trekking you will see four other smaller lakes. After the pass at 4610 metres the trail descends, steeply at first and then more gradually to the southeast on a rocky path. In about an hour, you will see roofless stone herders’ huts, before the trail descends to another ridge, crosses several streams, and passes two waterfalls. After passing another stone hut the trail climbs to another ridge to reach Ghopte (3430m).

The trail from Ghopte climbs through rhododendron forests to the ridge at Tharepati (3600m); this takes around 2 hours. You may see wildlife including pheasant in this area. After lunch, you will make a steep scrambling descent to the village of Melamchi Gaon, situated at the top of the Melamchi valley. This is a Sherpa village, though the culture is distinct from that of the Khumbu (Everest) region.

Descend about 700 metres to the valley before scrambling up to Tarkeghyang. The other sister village is Shermathang. These two are attractive villages with beautiful monasteries. This is a short trekking day; after lunch, there will be time to visit the monasteries.

The ridge walk to Shermathang offers views in all directions down to the Melamchi valley. Continue to walk the hillside, and see the southern foothills of Nepal fading towards the plains of India. This is another short trekking day, allowing you to take a break.

The trail descends to the Melamchi River and Tarangmarang, a busy trading village with good swimming available for cooling down after a long day of trekking. From here the trail descends easy and smooth to Melamchi Bazar.

We take a very short drive from Talamarang to Melamchi Bazar, along the Melamchi River. You may stop to see the devastating effects of flooding in this sprawling town

The drive continues along the river to Bahunepati and then gradually climbs to a large village at Nanggle Bhari before heading further up to the ridge at Jarsing Pauwa (21km/1-hr drive). After lunch at Jarsing Pauwa (1861m) we descend to Sankhu (1328m) – around a 60km/3-hr drive. We may stop at Sankhu for a short walk to see the medieval town; the famous temple of Bajrayoginiis is worth a visit. Drive to Kathmandu.

Full-day sightseeing tour of Swambhunath, Patan, Pashupatinath, and Baudhanath.

We have a free day to further explore Kathmandu, before heading home tomorrow.

This marks the end of our Nepali adventure...alternatively, you could continue your adventure with a 3-day add-on to Chitwan National Park!