Trekking in Nepal >> Langtang Region Trekking

Nepal is a small & beautiful landlocked (by India & China) country. Nepal is one of the popular destinations in the world. Among them Langtang is a popular destination for trekking. Langtang is a region in Nepal to the north of Kathmandu and bordering Tibet. It is protected as Langtang National Park and has a number of high peaks including Langtang Lirung (7246m). About 4,500 people reside inside the park, and many more depend on it for timber and firewood. The majority of the residents are Tamang.
The park contains a wide variety of climatic zones, from subtropical to alpine. Approximately 25% of the park is forested. Trees include the deciduous Oak and Maple, and evergreens like Pine, and various types of Rhododendron. Animal life includes Himalayan black bear, the goat-like Himalayan tahr, Rhesus monkeys and Red Pandas.

Langtang is the closest trekking region to Kathmandu, indeed the Langtang trek can be started in Kathmandu itself. The Langtang region trekking to north of Kathmandu recommend a crowd of trekking destinations, all available without flights. From Sundarijal, just outside Kathmandu the fourteen day trek follows the Shiva pilgrim trail for 150 kilometers, over the Shiva Puri Ridge, over the Gosainkunda Lekh via the Laurebina Pass at 4,700 metres.
Straight north from Kathmandu is the Langtang- Helambhu region which enjoys snow-covered peaks, a mild climate, and friendly hospitable inhabitants which makes it the ideal trek destination that go years round . The major areas in this region are Langtang, Gosainkunda, Helambhu, Panch Pokhari and Tamang heritage trail which can be combined in many different ways to make trekking. It offer splendid varieties of natural and cultural diversity with spectacular Himalayan views. The region is popular for its bio diversity. Trekking in this region offers pine forest, swift mountain streams, rugged rock and snow-caped peaks, grassy down and meadows strewn with daises and wild animals. In the upper part of the Langtang region are snow ridges and high passes enveloped in mist tiny lakes of crystalline brightness and glaciated mountain giants. This Trek provides an opportunity to see the nearly whole Nepalese Himalayan mountain range from Annapurna in the west, to Makalu in the east. On the morning of the second day, this amazing view can be seen for the first time from the top of the Shiva Puri Ridge.

The trek continues along a high ridge for 6 days until it crosses the Laurebina Pass. Just below the pass lies the Gosainkunda Lakes at 4,300 metres. The Gosainkunda lakes are the object of the Shiva pilgrim trail for they were once visited by Shiva himself. From here, the path descends to Syabru, an interesting village on the crest of a ridge. The trek now enters the Langtang valley. The Langtang valley is sacred and no animals may be killed here. It is also a national park. The forest is full of wildlife. Higher up, past the tree line, lies Kanjin Gompa, an architectural master piece. Its sloping walls complement the slopes of the mountain behind, Langtang Lirung.

The Langtang valley continues west and then north for another 50 kilometers beyond Kanjin Gompa. This is beyond the range of tea house trekking, for there are no lodges. Today, the upper Langtang region is visited mainly by expeditions to Dorje Lakpa and Shisha Pangma.

Finally the trek returns down the valley to Syabru Bensi from where the bus can be caught to Kathmandu.