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Langtang Ganja La trek - 13 days
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The Langtang Himal is a region north part of Kathmandu
vally and it lies just south of Tibetan border. The
langtang valley is surrounded by high peaks of great
appeal. It has become famous ever since the British
mountaineer Bill Tilman described it as the most
beautiful valley in the world. The highest peak in this
area is Shisapangma or Gosaithan 8027m in Tibet. The
course from the Langtang valley to Gosaikund is full of
diversity and it is attracting many tourists. The
langtang valley is also known as the treasure house of
Alpine plants. The whole valley is cover with flowers
during the summer.
This high and isolated region is inhabited by Tamangs
whose religious practices, language and dress are much
more similar to Tibetan.
Gosaikunda is one of the hindu holy place and is
considerd to be made by Lord Shiva. The Buddhist Tamang
that live nearby also revere it as their holy place.
Every August on full moon night, lake is thronged with
pilgrims for a big festival. On other days the lake sits
in a tranquil atmosphere.
Helambhu is the most easily accessible of all areas from
Kathmandu. It lies about 70k.m north of Kathmandu
valley, is an area inhabited by sherpas. The language,
culture and dress of the Helambu sherpas are very
different from those of Solu khumbu sherpas.
The forests of Helambhu region and Langtang area are
prime example of temperate and sub alpine vegetation.
The dense oak and pine forests on the trail look
fascinating. As usual, the rhododendrons form a
spectacular display during the spring.
The people here are of Tibetan origin and call
themselves Sherpa although they are quite distinct from
the sherpas of Everest region both in language and
customs. Also found in large numbers here are the Tamang
people who also originated in Tibet but settled in Nepal
considerably earlier than Sherpas. |
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Facts of the Trek
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Duration: 14 Days
Trek type: Tea house
Max Altitude: 5100 m.
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Minimum Pax: 1 +
Mode of travel: Land
Grade: Strenuous
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Itinerary in Detail
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Day 01 : |
Drive from Kathmandu to Saybru Besi (1460m.)
which takes about nine hours. You have to depart
early for the nine hours drive to your starting
point at the foot of the Langtang Valley. The
road takes a spectacular route, climbing high
over the ridges to escape the Kathmandu Valley
and providing you with a superb panorama of the
Himalaya, including the Annapurnas, Manaslu,
Ganesh Himal and the peaks of the Langtang
region that you will soon become better
acquainted with.
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Day 02 : |
Trek from Syabru Besi to Lama Hotel (2410m.) and
it takes about six hours. The trail initially
crosses the Bhote Kosi, flowing down from Tibet,
literally a few kilometers away, and then
gradually climbs up through the sub-tropical
forests, teeming with bird-life, to join the
trail from Syabru. You then follow the river,
climbing though uninhabited forest of oak and
rhododendron and maybe catching a glimpse of
langur monkeys roaming through the trees. You
climb along a steep trail to your camp in the
forest. There are few lodges, shops and pub
around this place. |
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Day 03 : |
Trek from Lama Hotel to Langtang village
(3330m.) which takes about five 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. 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 you can visit shortly
before arriving at 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 stone walls enclosing fields of buckwheat,
potatoes, wheat, turnips and barley. |
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Day 04 : |
Trek from Langtang village to Kyangjin (3730m.)
and it takes about four and half 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. You should
arrive at Kyangjin by lunch time allowing time
to acclimatize and explore the area. It is a
dramatic setting with snowy peaks surrounding
you in all directions. You can enjoy panoramic
views of Kyangjin Ri (4750m.), Tsergo Ri
(5000m.), Ganja la (5160m.), Langshi sa- ri
(6427m.), Dorji Lhakpa (6430m.), Naya Kang
(5844m.), Yala peak (5500m.) and so on. |
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Day 05 : |
Rest day in Kyangjin. It is a 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.
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Day 06 : |
Trek from Kyangjin to Lama Hotel (2410m.) which
takes about five hours. From Kyangjin you
retrace your route, following the Langtang Khola
to Langtang village and on to Ghora Tabela.
After lunch you continue the steep descent to
Lama Hotel.
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Day 07 : |
Trek from Lama Hotel to Thulo Syabru (2130m.)
and it takes about six and half hours. You
continue retracing your steps some of the way to
Thulo Syabru, but then branch left up a steep
path through forest to suddenly emerge with a
view of Syabru and its extensive area of millet
terraces. An undulating path brings you to this
fascinating village where each house is set
above its neighbor, in a long line up the very
crest of the ridge. It's a great place to wander
about, catching glimpses of Tamang life,
admiring the beautifully carved wooden windows
or simply relaxing in the sun.
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Day 08 : |
Trek from Thulo Syabru to Sing Gompa (3330m)
which takes about five hours. From Thulo Syabru
it is a steep climb through forests of oak, fir
and rhododendron to the top of a ridge. From
here it is only a short descent to Sing Gompa.
There is a Buddhist monastery and a small cheese
factory here. |
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Day 09 : |
Trek from Sing Gompa to Gosaikund (4380m.) and
it takes about five hours. From Sing Gompa you
climb a ridge to the main Gosainkund trail.
There are good views across Langtang valley to
Langtang Lirung. To the west there are dramatic
views of the Ganesh Himal and Manaslu.
Eventually, the trail descends from the ridge to
the first of three lakes, Saraswati Kund. The
second lake in the chain is named Bhairab Kund,
and the third, Gosainkund. This lake is
particularly sacred and a place of pilgrimage in
the summer. According to legend, this lake was
created by Shiva when he pierced a glacier with
his trident to obtain water, quenching his
thirst after taking some poison.
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Day 10 : |
Trek from Gosaikund to Ghopte (3430m.) which
takes about seven hours. The trails leaves
Gosainkund and climbs through rugged country,
past four more small lakes to the Laurebina La
[4610m], the highest point of this trek. Keep
looking back for spectacular views of Manaslu
and the mountains of the Ganesh Himal, as well
as the now familiar Langtang Lirung. You then
descend steeply to camp near Gopte. It is known
for natural vegetation.
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Day 11 : |
Trek from Ghopte to Kutumsang (2446m.) and it
takes about five hours. Till Tharepati , the
trail moves ascending through forest of
rhododendron, oak and bamboo with other natural
vegetation. From Tharepati the trail gradually
descends through pine and rhododendron forest
with good views down into the Helambu valley and
across to Jugal Himal and Numbur in the Solu
Khumbu. |
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Day 12 : |
Trek from Kutumsang to Chisopani which takes
about six hours. From Kutumsang, you climb to a
pass at 2620m, before descending to the Tamang
village of Gul Bhanjyang. Beyond Gul Bhanjyang,
you trek ascend to a ridge with splendid views,
stretching from the Annapurnas and Manaslu in
the west to Numbur in the east. Now you descend
to Pati Bhanjyang, a large Tamang village with a
few shops and a police check post. From here it
is almost two hours climb to Chisopani and your
camp.
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Day 13 : |
Conclude trek at Sundarijal and drive to
Kathmandu (1350m.) which takes about seven
hours. Leaving Chisopani, the trail passes
through meadows and cultivated fields and then
climbs through oak and rhododendron forest to
Burlang Bhanjyang. From here there are
magnificent views, from Annapurna in the west to
Ganesh Himal and Numbur in the east. This ridge
marks the northern rim of the Kathmandu valley.
You now begin descending steeply through dense
forest of oak, pine and rhododendron to cross a
dam and then follow a large water pipe which
supplies much of the water for Kathmandu. Soon
you are down into Sundarijal where you pick up
transport back to Kathmandu. |
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Services
Included
National Park entry permit, Trekking permit,
Land transportation to and fro, Accommodation in
lodges during the trek, Food: three meals a day,
A guide & required number of porter(s),
Essential equipment.
Services
Excluded
Personal expenses, Insurance, Tips, Emergency
evacuation by Helicopter, Alternative
transportation in case of heavy rain, landslide,
strike, road blockade etc.
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