Nepál: A Trek Across Langtang Valley
Published: 1.6.2020
Would you like to experience a real Himalayan trek, but would like to avoid the busy trails? Then the alpine trek through the Langtang glacial valley is an ideal solution. The glacial valley lies in the eponymous national park, which was recognized as the first Himalayan national park. If you are lucky, you can see herds of yaks, a red panda or a snow leopard.
This trek will take you to the beautiful Langtang area, which is full of picturesque villages with rich flora. You will gradually walk through a number of vegetation zones, deciduous valleys, rhododendron and oak forests, alpine meadows and pastures until you reach glacial moraines. The whole valley is dominated by the 7,000-meter mountain Langtang Lirung. The hike is best completed in the spring, when nature blooms richly and in various ways. Rhododendron trees begin to bloom and in the higher positions you will find beautifully flowering mountain meadows.
Unique Tibetan Culture
In the past, the area was an important trade route between Tibet and Nepal. Even today, the area is inhabited by villagers of Tibetan origin of the Tamang ethnic group, who still speak the original language, observe centuries-old traditions, customs and style of dressing.
Through Glacier Valley to Kyangjin Gumba Settlement
The trek is very well accessible by bus directly from Kathmandu. The final bus stop and the whole adventure begins in the town of Syabrubesi. After crossing the suspension bridge, the trail begins to rise slightly upstream of the Langtang River to the village of Lama. As soon as you leave the village, the landscape begins to change dramatically into a U-shaped glacial valley, which will take you to the Langtang valley of the same name. In 2015, the area was hit by a strong earthquake, when within a few minutes the entire valley was flooded and erased from the map. Today, the original inhabitants are trying to restore life here. As you leave the valley, the views of the alpine landscape will begin to open up and widen. A slight climb through the picturesque villages and yak pastures will take you to the last village of Kyangjin Gompa, a destination most tourists. In the settlement you can visit a Buddhist monastery, but also taste yak's milk cheese.
Kyanjin Ri Is a Highlight of the Trek
After two to three hours of steep ascents, the Kyanjin Ri peak (4,600 m above sea level) rises above the settlement. The deserved reward for the effort will be your views not only of the entire valley, but also of the 7,000-meter mountain Langtang Lirung, the summit of Yala and Ganchempo. Those who are braver with enough strength can go a little further, to the top of Tserko Ri, which lies almost five thousand meters. The trek can be extended by a visit to the sacred Lake Gosaikunda.
GPS: 28°05'05.3"N 85°24'48.3"E
Text and photos: Andrea Meluzínová
Related Articles
Published: 4.1.2022
In the country of the highest mountains in the world we find dozens of treks and countless shorter routes of varying difficulty. We have already looked at some of them together. Today our trips will lead to Ghorepani Poon Hill. The trek is one of the most popular tourist destinations, mainly due to its short distance and its simplicity.
Published: 8.6.2020
The city of Janakpur is located near the Indian border and is considered the birthplace of the Hindu goddess Sita, also known as Bhudevi. It has become home to more than 70 Hindu temples, the most important of which is Nepal's largest temple, Janaki Mandir.
Published: 23.5.2020
Across the hills, through the rhododendron forest and along the ridge with views of the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas to the Mardi Himal base camp. Do you want to get to know the local beauties of Nepal, but if possible untouched by mass tourism? Are you looking for a short, relatively easy and time-saving trek? If so, then Mardi Himal is the perfect choice for you.
Published: 16.5.2020
A few kilometers from the dusty Kathmandu you will find the second highest point at an altitude of 2175 m, which is a small village Nagarkot located on the very edge of the capital's valley. Nagarkot offers not only panoramic views of the Himalayas, but also plenty of hiking trails that take you to the Tamang village.
Published: 1.2.2020
Would you like to avoid the crowds heading to Everest Base Camp? Looking for less busy trails in the Khumbu area with stunning views of the world's highest mountains? Then the trek to Gokyo is one of the hidden gems of the Himalayas that will not disappoint you.
Published: 28.12.2021
Experience your favorite base camp trek a little differently. Avoid the busy hiking trail to the base camp and head across three five-thousand-meter Renjo La, Cho La and Kongma La saddles. The best place in Khumbu awaits you.
Published: 4.1.2020
In Nepal, we went through many familiar treks together, such as Everest base camp or around Annnapurna. Are you looking for something new now? Don't you want to go to Nepal, because the treks already seem to be too sophisticated? Then sharpen and focus your attention towards the Tibetan plateau, where you will find the forbidden Kingdom of Mustang, known as the “mini Tibet of Nepal”. This Nepalese part offers a breathtaking landscape and it seems almost unbelievable that something like this exists on earth. You could hold out for hours and days.
Published: 18.1.2022
Do you want to relax from the bustle of the capital Kathmandu? Explore local culture and explore the lives of local people? Then the mountain village of Daman in Nepal should definitely not be on your list. Just three hours drive from the capital, southwest of Kathmandu, you will encounter a small picturesque village located in the central part of Nepal in the Mahabharat mountain region at an altitude of 2 322 m.
Published: 5.1.2019
South Nepal has never reached such attendance and interest as its mountain areas. Today, let's enchant the atmosphere of one of the most important sacred places in the world. At the foot of the Himalayas in southern Nepal, near the Indian border, lies the sacred city of Lumbini, where the Buddha was allegedly born in 563 BC. It is probably the world's most important historical center, so Lumbini was listed in UNESCO in 1997.
Published: 11.1.2022
Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world. However, it attracts a constant flow of tourists. Are you one of them? If so, your first stop will most likely be Kathmandu, the main and also the largest city of the Nepalese Democratic Republic. Immediately after leaving the airport hall, prepare for a large number of people in a small space, raiding cars, street full of taxi drivers, street vendors, and smog.
Published: 24.11.2018
Do you wish to see the base camp at Mount Everest? Or to see for yourself wild tigers? Do you wish to visit a sacred place where the Buddha was allegedly born in 563 BC? Thanks to its rich and varied culture, natural wealth and dozens of trekking routes in the mountains, every traveler will find joy in traveling across Nepal.
Published: 15.12.2018
Divine mountain vistas, villages made of houses of stone as in the Middle Ages, the legendary tour around Annapuren, which annually attracts more than fifty thousand visitors and more and more of them try it every year.
Published: 8.12.2018
When someone says Chitwan to be in Nepal, most people have rhinoceroses, tigers, elephants, jungles, and a favorite destination for safari riding, but besides its well-known jungle, the National Park has many other activities.
Published: 21.12.2021
Most travelers come to Nepal to experience the Himalayas. Some will spend a few days in Kathmandu, others will join a mountain tour with a trip to the Lake City of Pokhara, nature lovers heading for Chitwan National Park. But wait! What other cities and places to visit? There is so much to do in Nepal. Today we will talk about Bandipura, one of the beautifully preserved settlements of Newara culture.
Published: 8.2.2020
If you have time in Kathmandu a few days before your trip to the mountains, you will probably wonder how to spend it. Head to the neglected royal city of Bhaktapur, twenty kilometers east of Kathmandu. Compared to other royal cities, it is an oasis of peace.
Published: 29.9.2018
Who would not want to see the world's highest mountain the faous Mount Everest? The Nepalese call it "Sagarmatha" (The Face of Heaven). The trek to the base camp, from where climbing trips take place on Everest, it is one of the most popular hikes in the Himalayas, even for ordinary tourists.
Published: 2.5.2020
At the foot of the Thorong La mountain pass in the Mustang district, on the famous route around Annapurna, lies the famous pilgrimage site of Muktinath. Why famous? Muktinath is one of the oldest inhabited areas in the Himalayas, worshiped by both Hindus and Buddhists. Every year, a large number of pilgrims from all over Nepal, India and the rest of the world come here to wash in the sacred baths. Buddhists believe that in Muktinath, the Indian mudr Padmasambhava, better known in the Himalayan regions as Guru Rinpoche, who brought Buddhism to Tibet in the year 747.
Published: 11.1.2020
"When we meet the tiger, form a group and don't move, if we meet rhinos, throw away backpacks and run, bear ... well, that's a bummer, we're probably unlucky." hitchhiking and wading through the creepers to meet these animals.
Published: 17.11.2018
The beautiful mountain landscape with the highest mountain in the world, yet also a country that offers visitors the opportunity to approach the wild life. We talk about the Chitwan National Park in Nepal founded in 1973, thus being one of the oldest protected areas in Nepal. Eleven years since its foundation, in 1984, Chitwan was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It covers an area of 932 square kilometers and was the first national park in the country. It offers a variety of flora and fauna. You will find subtropical lowlands, but also a deep jungle.
Published: 29.12.2018
A picturesque valley town surrounded by Himalayan greats, a famous adventure and adrenaline center - welcome to Pokhara. The panoramic views of the Himalayan peaks, the Annapurna Mountains and the Machhapuchhre make the area a remarkable place of natural beauty.
Published: 9.5.2020
In Nepal, I have already visited various regions, completed countless treks and thought that I had already seen most of what this country of the highest mountains has to offer. However, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I was wrong and there is still something new to discover. My next destination was the western corner of Nepal. This time my paths led to one of Nepal's largest lakes, Lake Rara.
Related Photogallery
What do you think about Nepal? Will you also spring up to the mind of the Himalayas and Mount Eve...
Information and warnings on travelling abroad is to be found HERE.
