PACKAGE DETAIL
langtang valley & Yela Peak Trekking
Duration: 22 days | Grade:
Leaving the hotel at around 0730 we board the bus which will take us up and out of the Kathmandu valley and over to Dhunche, a journey of 8 to 9 hrs but depending on the road conditions. We drive on a paved highway that twists and climbs over ridges to the Trisuli valley. After Trisuli we drive to Dhunche road, a Nepal Army road project. The Dhunche road is unpaved and continues to the foot of Ganesh Himal. Your permits will be checked at the army check post in Ramche, which is the entrance to the Langtang NP.
Arriving in Dhunche by late afternoon, the sirdar will begin to collect his porters and distribute the loads. This may take a little while but gives you the opportunity of walking around and taking photographs. Don't go too far afield though, else the sirdar may not know where you are when the time comes to leave. If you contemplate taking a long walk please ensure your group leader or sirdar knows where you are going.
For the first couple of days you will be walking along the Trisuli River , whose headwaters begin high in Tibet . The scenery will be predominantly scattered villages and cropped fields. The trail follows the side of a ridge and turns east at the Langtang Khola (River) which is named after the 7246m Langtang Peak . Here we are at an altitude of approximately 2000m and at the head of the valley you will be able to see various peaks, all of which are between 7000 and 6000m.
Heading now along the Langtang Khola, the scenery becomes more precipitous and the trail meanders between steep gorges and high wooded slopes. The people here are believed to be descendants of Tibetans who intermingled with Tamangs from Helambu and their religion is Buddhism. Note also their distinctively different dwellings which are made of stone as opposed to the lower altitude mud dwellings. Here you will also see prayer flags flying from stone cairns and village houses which are covered in the sacred Buddhist chant of 'Om Mani Padme Om' written in Tibetan script.
As the wind passes the prayers are taken to heaven and the owner gains religious merit. On about Day 6 we reach the village of Langtang that is at an altitude of 3500m. Here you can climb the rocky trails above camp to get better views. Leaving Langtang we continue on to Kyanjin Gompa (3800m) for a rest day. Kyanjin valley is wide and there is little vegetation. On the rest day you will have ample opportunity to ascend the Kyanjin ri for better views towards Yala Peak . From Kyanjin, we begin our expedition to the Yala Peak (5500m) and establish our high camp on a saddle above the trail. Early next morning, we fix our crampon in our boots and start climb gradually from the Glacier. After scaling the peak, we spend one more day explore Langsias Kharka.
From Langsias we head back to Kayanjin and onto Chongong (2380m). The following day we trek to Syabru (2130m). From here the ascent begins to the Gosain Kund Pass and lakes. These lakes lie between 4100 and 4400m and are the destination of hundreds of Hindu pilgrims each year. Legend tells that God Shiva created this lake by piercing the Glacier with his trident when he was very thirsty after consuming poison that came out of a serpent during a great tug of war between the demons and gods for holy water 'Amrit'.
While climbing up be sure to keep a slow and steady pace to avoid altitude sickness. The view from the top of the ridge is one of the best in Nepal but remember that inclement weather may sometimes spoil it. So always be up early to make the best of the day and get the first sun, as often the clouds come in only around ten or so. From the ridge it is generally downhill all the way to Kathmandu . Though, of course, there will always be those irritating little valleys that sap your energy and start everyone cursing. The trail down is very steep and you will get a lot of pressure on the knees, so go slowly and take frequent rests. Going down can actually be lots harder than going up. From Tharepati the surrounding country becomes quite forested and in the spring you will see many Rhododendron flowers in bloom.
The people of this long, undulating ridge are all Tamangs, an ethnic group with their own distinct customs and language. The Tamangs are a Mongoloid face who probably migrated across from Tibet and China thousands of years ago (in Tibetan, Tamang means 'horse trader'). They are Buddhist by religion and you will see white prayer flags flying from most villages. By mid morning on Day 21 you will be back at the hotel for a hot shower.
Itinerary - Outline
Day 1 Arrive to Kathmandu and transfer to hotel Arrive in Kathmandu 1330m
Day 2 At leisure in Kathmandu
Day 3 To Dhunche by bus 1950m
Day 4 Syabru 2130m
Day 5 Chongong (Lama Hotel) 2380m
Day 6 Langtang 3500m
Day 7 Kanjin Gompa 3800m
Day 8 Rest / Excursion day
Day 9 Yak Kharka 4160m
Day 10 Summit of Yala Peak 5500m and back to Yak Kharka
Day 11 Lanshisha 4084m
Day 12 Kyanging 3800m
Day 13 Chongong (Lama Hotel) 2380m
Day 14 Syabru 2130m
Day 15 Sin Gompa 3350m
Day 16 Gossainkund 4380m
Day 17 Gopte 3260m
Day 18 Tharepati 3490m
Day 19 Gul Bhanjyang 2800m
Day 20 Chisopani 2300m
Day 21 Kathmandu
Day 22 Depart Kathmandu
Itinerary Rating: Langtang is a beautiful valley and this trek can be varied in length and challange to match your taste, Yala Peak being the difficult option at over 18000 feet.
