Langtang & Helambu: The Helambu and Langtang trekking areas are a hop and a skip away from Nepal’s capital city. You can literally walk out of the Kathmandu Valley to get there. Yet you can still experience the intact, unique cultures of Tamangs, Newars and Sherpas, living in some of the most beautiful scenery in Nepal. An ideal destination if you are short on time or simply want to cut out the uncertainties of air travel, Langtang and Helambu offer landscapes and cultural experiences every bit as spectacular as anywhere else in Nepal.
The snowy south face of Langtang Lirung (7227 meters) peers right over the looming green mass of Shivapuri, and presides over the closest trekking area to the Kathmandu Valley. Here you may join Hindu and Buddhist devotees on a full moon pilgrimage to the high-altitude lakes around Gosainkund, explore the unfrequented passes overlooking Tibet up from the flower-scatteredalpine meadows of the Langtang Valley, and enjoy the heartfelt hospitality of Sherpa and Tamang households. Rhododendrons blend into moss-hung pine giants, yaks trundle down pastures on their way home, and in the monsoon, the blanket of clouds filling the lower valleys transports you a world away from the hustle and bustle of the capital city, Kathmandu.
The welcoming Sherpas who live here call themselves Hyalmo after the name of their sacred valley, Helambu. Here is a green and pleasant land of quiet villages, terraced slopes and pine forests leading up to Langtang National Park – perfect for relaxed, culturally oriented trekking. A little more adventurous is the popular route to the alpine lakes of Gosainkunda, holy to Hindus, Buddhists and Tamang shamans alike. Time your visit with the August full moon, when thousands of pilgrims trek up to bathe in the frigid waters at 4000m, and you’re in for an intense experience.
The Great Himalaya Trail passes over into Langtang via the 5308m Tilman pass from where you can see right into Tibet. The descent delivers you into another, very different hidden valley, of glaciers, alpine meadows and cheese factories. After sampling the delicious yak cheese and curd, you can head homeward via the verdant gorge of the Langtang Khola, keeping an eye out for families of playful grey langur monkeys and the iridescent Impeyan Pheasant, the national bird of Nepal. Langtang seems too good to be true, but it’s as good as anywhere else!
Langtang Traverse Via Tilman Pass: It’s possible to continue on your trek from the Everest region into Langtang & Helambu via Panch Pokhari and the glaciated 5308 m Tilman pass. The crossing of the pass is quite technical and involves the need of mountain equipment like ropes and crampons. Your efforts will be rewarded: the views from the pass are spectacular and you can see straight into Tibet. The descent from the pass takes you from gigantic glaciers to a very different world of alpine meadows and cheese factories.
The trail continues through the Langtang Valley and the verdant gorge of the Langtang Khola. Rhododendrons blend into moss-hung pine trees and you’ll encounter occasional yaks trundling down pastures on their way home. Keep an eye out for Blue Poppy flowers, families of playful langur monkeys and the iridescent Impeyan pheasant, the national bird of Nepal.
The areas in and around Langtang Valley and Kyanjin Gompa were severely damaged by the earthquakes in 2015. Today trails and tourism facilities are under construction and trekkers have started to revisit this area. Please contact your local tour operator for further updates on exploring this region of the Great Himalayan Trail.
Trek Facts
Name: Himalayan Trek
Duration: 19 Days
Altitude: 5308
Seasons: March, April, May, September, October, November
Accommodation: Camping, Teahouse/Lodge, Homestay
Starting Points: The Last Resort / Borderlands
Ending Points: Syabru Besi
Level Of Difficulty: Hard
Permit Needed: TIMS and Langtang National Park Entrance
Itinerary
Day – 01 – Drive Kathmandu – Borderlands or The Last Resort (1170 meters) 04 hours
Day – 02 – The Last Resort/Borderlands (1170 meters) – Listi (2260 m) 05 hours
Day – 03 – Listi (2260 meters) – Shotang Kharka (3379 meters) 07 hours
Day – 04 – Shotang Kharka (3379 meters) – Chogomogor Kharka (3925 meters) 05-06 hours
Day – 05 – Chogomogor Kharka (3925 meters) – Kyansin (2520 meters) 05 hours
Day – 06 – Kyansin (2520 meters) – Tembathang (2160 meters) 05 hours
Day – 07 – Tembathang (2160 meters) – Chedupa Kharka (2513 meters) 07 hours
Day – 08 – Chedupa Kharka (2513 meters) – Nemagchukpa kharka (3578 meters) 05 hours
Day – 09 – Nemagchukpa kharka (3578 meters) – Panch Pokhari (4074 meters) 05 hours
Day – 10 – Panch Pokhari (4074 meters) – Rest day
Day – 11 – Panch Pokhari (4074 meters) – Intermediary Camp (4273 meters) 04 hours
Day – 12 – Intermediary Camp (4273 meters) – Tin Pokhari (4255 meters) 04 hours
Day – 13 – Tin Pokhari (4255 meters) – High South Camp (4867 meters) 05 hours
Day – 14 – High South Camp (4867 meters) – High North Camp (4720 meters) via Tilman pass (5308 meters) 08 hours
Day – 15 – High North Camp (4720 meters) – Kyanjin Gomba (3830 meters) 07 hours
Day – 16 – Kyangjin Gompa (3830 meters) 07 hours – Rest day
Day – 17 – Kyangjin Gompa (3830 meters) – Ghora Tabela (3030 meters) 06 hours
Day – 18 – Ghora Tabela (3030 meters) – Syabru Besi (1503 meters) 06 hours
Day – 19 – Syabru Besi (1503 meters) – Kathmandu by bus (08 hours)