Arrive Kathmandu. Flying into Kathmandu along the northern border of Nepal on a clear day is in itself an unforgettable experience, with the entire Nepalese Himalaya sprawling out below you. After customs, you will pass out of the restricted area and into the passenger pick-up area outside the building. You will see a Responsible Adventures and your trek leader will be waiting to welcome you to Nepal. After transferring to your Hotel, you will be given a chance to catch your breath and then be given a briefing. Your air ticket will be collected to reconfirm your onward travel. Overnight hotel.
A day in Kathmandu. Morning guided sightseeing to the Buddhist and Hindu sights in Kathmandu, probably to Kathmandus Durbar Square, Swayambunath - the Buddhist monkey temple and Pashupatinath a sacred Hindu temple complex on the banks of the Bagmati River. Three major towns are located in the valley, Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, each having a great artistic and architectural tradition. Kathmandu is the capital and the largest city in the country. Patan, the second largest is separated from Kathmandu by a river. Bhaktapur, the third largest, is towards the eastern end of the valley and its relative isolation is reflected in its slower pace and more distinctly mediaeval atmosphere. In the Valley the landscape is dramatically sculpted by the contours of the paddy fields. The towns and villages are alive with the colours of farm produce, ranging from pyramids of golden grain to the vivid reds of chilli peppers laid out on mats to dry in the sun. In the streets and towns there is a constant bustle of activity, especially in the bazaars and markets where the farmers sell their vegetables and fruit. The afternoon is free for you to explore the city further and pack bags ready for the start of the trek the following morning. You can leave a bag at the hotel with items you will not need on the trek. Overnight hotel.
You will depart early for the nine/ten hours drive to your starting point at the foot of the Langtang Valley. The drive is spectacular, climbing high over the ridges to get out of the Kathmandu Valley amidst superb panoramic views of the Himalaya, including the Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal and the peaks of the Langtang region that you are soon to become acquainted with.
The trail initially crosses the Bhote Koshi River, flowing down from Tibet, only a few kilometers away, and then gradually climbs up through the sub-tropical forests, teeming with bird-life, to join the trail from Thulo Syabru. You then follow the river by passing Bamboo & climbing though uninhabited forest of oak and rhododendron and perhaps catching a glimpse or two of the langur monkeys up in the trees. You might see the Red Panda & Himalayan Black Bears, if you are lucky enough. You climb along a steep trail to your lodge in the forest. There are few lodges and teashops around this place.
As you continue climbing you get occasional glimpses of Langtang Lirung (7245m.) between the trees. At Ghore Tabela (3000m) the trail emerges from the forest. Once there was a Tibetan resettlement project here, but now there is a Nepalese army post though it has no permanent inhabited. 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 where buckwheat, potatoes, wheat, turnips and barley are planted.
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. There is a small monastery and a government-operated cheese factory here. 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.), Langshisa- Ri (6427m.), Dorje Lhakpa (6430m.), Naya Kang (5844m.), Yala peak (5500m.) and so on.
It is a day to 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. Note: There is an alternative option to do a side trip to Langshisa Kharka (4,130m.) from Kyangjin Gompa which takes about 7-8 Hours & it covers about 24 Kilometers in Distance.
From Kyangjin you retrace your steps, following the Langtang Khola to Langtang village and on to Ghore Tabela. After lunch you continue the steep Descend to Lama Hotel.
You continue retracing your steps part of the way to Thulo Syabru, but it branches off to the left up a steep path through forest to when suddenly a view of Syabru and its extensive area of terraced fields become visible. An undulating path brings you to this fascinating village where each house is set above its neighbor, in a long line up to the very crest of the ridge. It's a great place to wander about, observing the Tamang way of life, admiring the beautifully carved wooden windows or simply relaxing in the sun.
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 Descend to Sing Gompa. There is a Buddhist monastery and a small cheese factory here.
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 spectacular 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.
The trail gently ascends for a short through different chortens and small Shiva temples. The trail then descends to Laure Binayak to Sing Gompa. The Gompa, which houses a statue of the Green Tara, is one of the famous destinations for the trekkers. You can witness small cheese factories and several lodges here. The trail now will go through the forest and reach Chandanbari.
The first part of the trails descend through pine, silver oak and rhododendrons forests with marijuana plants up to you cross suspension bridge over the Sing Gompa Stream. Now the path stretches at flat level through some human settlements and mineral water factories up to Dhunche. It is a small town and headquarters of Rasuwa district.
It is a pleasant drive back to Kathmandu.
International Departure.
