The popularity of the Langtang Valley trek seems to be rising at a tremendous rate. It would not be an exaggeration to say that these days tourists prefer Langtang Valley trek as much as other more popular treks in the country. It has everything that a good trek should have – natural spectacles, cultural attractions, historical and religious attributes, and so on. It’s hard to believe that there was once a time when the Langtang Valley trek was considered as an off-the-beat trekking destination. Without a doubt, Langtang Valley trek is one of the best trekking in Nepal options.
Langtang Valley Trek
Langtang Valley trek is also known as Langtang Valley trekking or simply Langtang trek. Without a doubt, it is one of the prominent treks in Nepal. Langtang valley trekking takes you through Langtang Valley, which is a scenic place to be at. One of the major attractions of the trek is Langtang National Park, which engulfs the Langtang Valley all together. The park is one of the richest and oldest national parks in Nepal. The numerous rare species of birds, animals, vegetations and other creatures that you’ve come across during the trek will surely keep you entertained and occupied. As a matter of fact, many tourists go for this trek to explore the park.
Langtang Valley Trek is a medium level journey when it comes to the difficulty and the length of the trek. The trip lasts for a period of 11 days, out of which the core trekking days are only 6. The rest of the time is spent either acclimatizing on the route, resting in Kathmandu, or traveling from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi and back. The major places that the tourists cover during the trek are Lama Hotel, Langtang Village, Mundru, and so on. During the trekking journey, you will get to experience the perfect amalgamation of religious, cultural, and natural elements here.
One of the crucial features of the Langtang Valley trek is the mountain view. You will get to spot so many mountains in the region, especially the ones belonging to Langtang ranges like Langtang Himal. The range happens to include some of the prominent set mountains in the country. Some of the major mountains that are a part of Langtang Himal are Gangchenpo, Ganesh, Dorje Lakpa, Langtang Ri, and the tallest of them all, Langtang Lirung. It has a staggering height of 7234 m. One can view Langtang Lirung from every corner of the region. The mountain views and the Langtang range add a special meaning to the Langtang Valley trek overall.
Langtang Trekking Permit
Depending on what part of Nepal you’re trekking in, you need to get your hands on two to three different kinds of passes or permits. The first one is called TIMS, which is the general trekking permit. It stands for Trekkers’ Information Management System. You need to get your hands on these no matter what part of Nepal you’re trekking in. The second one is called the national park entry permit. This one depends on what national park you’d be entering during a certain trek. And finally, the third one is called restricted area entry fees. You need to get these passes if you want to access an area that is marked restricted for the tourists by the Government of Nepal.
In the case of Langtang Valley trek, you need to get TIMS and Langtang National Park entry permit. You could get the first one either in the Nepal Tourism Board office or in the TAAN office. TAAN stands for Trekking Agencies’ Association Nepal. In the same way, you can get the second one either in the Nepal Tourism Board office or at the national park entry gate. If you’re going for the trek through a travel agency, you wouldn’t have to worry about all this, as the company will take care of all the arrangements.
Langtang Valley Altitude
Langtang Valley trek covers some of the highest altitude places in the country. The highest point on the trek is the top of Tserko Ri. From Kyanjin Gompa, the trekkers have the option to either return to Syabrubesi or Dhunche, or they have the choice to hike to the top of Tserko Ri. It is a mini-mountain with a height of 5000 m. The trekkers tend to go for an early morning hike to reach its top. They say that it offers outstanding views of the mountains in the region. Yet another mini-mountain that you could attempt to hike on is Kyanjin Ri. Located in close proximity to Kyanjin Gompa, it is also known for the views. The height of this peak is 4800 m
The lowest point of the trek is 1550 m, which happens to be the altitude of Syabrubesi, which is the village from where the trekking journey begins. You will be spending almost 5 days at an altitude above 3000 m, which makes you more susceptible to altitude sickness. Langtang weather is normally cold, which is evident by the numerous glaciers that you’ll get to spot on the trek. One of them happens to be Langtang glacier. The high altitude does make this trek a bit challenging, but it is the same feature that makes this journey quite adventurous as well.
Langtang Earthquake
The 7.8 Richter Scale earthquake that occurred in the year 2015 caused a lot of damage to the Langtang region. Most villages were either leveled to the ground or destroyed by the landslides. Even the routes that were used for trekking disappeared, and trekking related activities stopped for a duration of a few months. This was especially troubling for the locals as the major source of income for people living in these villages is tourism. An alternative route was established for trekking, but still, the activity could not be carried out in a full-fledged manner.
To reconstruct what had been lost, it took two complete years for the locals and the government. They received a lot of help from the donor agencies abroad, and around the country. One of the biggest losses that the region had to face was that of the people. Hundreds of people lost their lives and got injured. Among these people were also the tourists who were visiting the region for their holidays. Currently, the region has recovered completely from the Langtang earthquake, with better infrastructure, and its popularity has increased by leaps and bounds. It is completely safe to go on Langtang Trek or other journeys and have a good time in the region.
Kyanjin Gompa
Kyanjin Gompa is one of the most significant pilgrimage sites for the followers of Buddhism in the Langtang Valley. Kyanjin Gompa happens to be the main attraction of Langtang Valley trek. It is the last destination on the journey, and after spending one night here, you tend to make your way back to either Syabrubesi or Dhunche. Kyanjin Gompa is both a monastery and a settlement area. On the top of a hillock, the gompa is situated, and the hillock is surrounded by numerous houses. Because of the popularity of the gompa, the entire village shares its name.
Generally, tourists prefer to stay in the gompa itself. Though the services offered there are quite limited, the kind of peace and tranquility that you get to experience here is unmatched. You could also learn quite a few things about Buddhism in general from the monks living here. You’d love to communicate with them, and are sure to be fascinated by their way of life. Kyanjin Gompa is also the center for all the religious ceremonies that occur in the region as most people living here follow Buddhism. Normally, the tourists spend only one night in this place but provided that you’d like to explore the area a bit more, you could definitely extend your stay.
There was once a time when people would go for Langtang Valley trek only when they’re done trekking in the Everest and Annapurna region. Langtang Valley trek used to be a trip that was offered as a substitution to these other treks. But things have changed now, and these days, Langtang Valley trek has emerged to be an alternative to Everest Base Camp trek and Annapurna Circuit trek. During Langtang Valley trek, you’re sure to be mesmerized by all the attractions that you come across. If you’re someone who loves trekking and exploring new places, this can prove to be the ideal holiday option for you. You will absolutely love the trip.
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