Langtang Trek

Our trail initially crosses the Bhote Koshi, flowing down from Tibet, which is literally only a few kilometers away. We then gradually climb up through the sub-tropical forests, teeming with bird-life, to join the trail from Syabru. We follow the river, climbing through uninhabited forest of oak and rhododendron and maybe catching a glimpse of languor monkeys roaming through the trees. We continue climbing along a steep trail to our tea house in the forest.

As we continue climbing today there are occasional glimpses of Langtang Lirung between the trees. At Ghora Tabela [3000m], the trail emerges from the forest. 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 Mundu ; the village of Langtang, the headquarters of the Langtang National Park. The houses of Langtang and its neighboring villages are of the flat-roofed Tibetan style, surrounded by stonewalls enclosing fields of buckwheat, potatoes, wheat, turnips and barley.

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 lunchtime allowing time to acclimatize and explore the area. It is a dramatic setting, with snow-covered peaks surrounding us in all directions

Today we rest and explore the area. We 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 [or ‘peak’ – 4.350 m] and Tserko Ri [5.000m] ]directly behind the village, for a breath-taking panorama of the Langtang peaks.

From Kyangjin we retrace our route, following the Langtang Khola to Langtang village and on to Ghora Tabela. After lunch we continue the steep descent to Lama Hotel.

Today is an easy Four-hour walk back down to Syabrubesi. Have early lunch there, and then we drive back to Kathmandu while enjoying the
mountain scenery en route.