Trek to Langtang valley support to local economy

Trek to Langtang valley supports to local economy. Langtang Valley Panorama trek with Himalayan Smile is a fabulous journey in and around the central Himalaya with awesome views of high snow-capped mountains. The harmony of Tamang villages with their old traditions and colorful culture makes this trek to Langtang Valley a memorable and enjoyable holiday destination.

Langtang is within Langtang National Park of Rasuwa district, the nearest park to Kathmandu valley towards the north.

Himalayan Smile welcomes all interested travelers to take part in this remarkable scenic adventure, which you can help and support to rebuild the houses and lodges back to their normal form.

The avalanche due to the earthquake of 25^th April and 12^th May 2015 destroyed much of the villages with lodges on the route to Langtang valley; however, much support has been contributed by donor agencies and the private sector.

The Langtang Valley is more than just an adventure up one of the world's great mountain ranges; it is an opportunity to take part in ethical, responsible travel and support local businesses in Nepal. The 2015 earthquake devastated the Langtang region and resulted in destruction and loss of life. Trekking to Langtang is an economically important effort to help reconstruct and empower local communities. Trekkers benefit the local population by staying in locally owned tea houses, paying for local guides and porters, and buying goods and supplies from village shops. The economic dominance provided allows them to slowly build better education, health services, and basic infrastructure. The trek along the route is to gaze at the incredible peaks and glaciers around Langtang, while hiking the valleys of the picturesque Tamang villages, where trekkers receive the true definition of hospitality while witnessing vibrant culture. Trekking to Langtang represents responsible and sustainable tourism, where your adventure not only filled your dreams but also contributed to and restored hope and livelihood in the Himalayas. Every trekker who walks this route becomes part of the Langtang recovery story.

But it is not enough to bring back the normal life of the villagers, at least trekking with us (Himalayan Smiles) will help to bring back the smile of the people of the Langtang region.

The scenario of the villages has been dramatically changed since the earthquake; this is where you can help trek to Langtang with overnight stops, in simple and basic lodges. Offer volunteer support in the badly affected area, by building houses, walking trails, schools, and monasteries, or with financial aid to the neediest villagers.

This trek to Langtang starts with an interesting scenic drive to Syabrubesi village, which lies on various routes: Ganesh Himal, Langtang valley, Tamang Heritage Trail, and to Kyarong frontier of Nepal / Tibet, China. As well as the newly built hydro dam of Chilime.

This volunteer trek leads to a cooler region to enter the wide and beautiful Langtang valley after walking and volunteering for days in villages on route, as the walk leads into the beautiful alpine forest of pines and rhododendron trees with rare wildlife including Red Panda and various species of bird life.

Reaching Kyanjin in the midst of Langtang valley, after a few overnights in Lama Hotel and Langtang villages, Kyanjin is located within the awesome, picturesque Langtang valley, surrounded by the high peaks of the Langtang mountain range.

After a wonderful time with a rest day at Kyanjin, enjoying views with volunteer service, the return journey leads to Dhunche town, taking the higher route. Walking down and up after Lama Hotel and Thulo (Upper) Syabrubesi and Singh Gompa heading lower area with a long descent to Dhunche through a cool, dense forested area.

This wonderful trek to Langtang Valley Panorama trek completes at Dhunche town, after a memorable and splendid volunteering trekking for a cause in the high hills of the central Himalaya range within Tamang villages and rich old Buddhist culture.

From Dhunche, a scenic with interesting overland drive leads back to hustle-bustle the city life of Kathmandu.

Langtang Valley Panorama
“Trekking with a difference, volunteer service around the central Himalaya”

Highlights:
Langtang Valley Panorama offers super views of massif Ganesh Himal or Yangra (7,422 m / 24,350 ft), the 08th highest Mt. Manaslu (8,163 m), Langtang Lirung (7,234 m), Ghengu Liru or Langtang II (6,571m / 21,560ft), Kimshun (6,745m), Shalbachum (6,918 m) to the south, including Naya-Kanga (5,846m), Gangchempo, Tilman’s beautiful Fluted Peak. Beyond it extends towards Jugal Himal, terminating in Dorje Lakpa (6,980m), and to the east upper meadows of Langtang end in a massive mountain wall, forming frontier with Tibet, walking into enchanting rhododendron, pines, oaks forest in the land of Red Panda with warm hospitality of Tamang ethnic tribe and its fascinating culture.
 

Trip Fact:

Trip Mode:                           Hotels & Lodges
Trek grade:                          Moderate with High Altitude walk.
Trek/volunteer duration: 09 nights & 10 days.
Highest elevation gain:     3,749 m in Kyanjin Gompa (Langtang valley)
Total Trip:                             11 nights & 12 days Kathmandu-Kathmandu.
Seasons:                                All seasons except mid-June to August.
Activities:                              Trekking & volunteer service with various means of
support.

Introduction:

Outline Itinerary:

Day 01:         Arrival at Kathmandu and transfer to the hotel.
Day 02:         Drive to Syabrubesi 1,460 m – 07 hrs journey.
Day 03:         Trek to Lama Hotel 2, 350 m – 06 hours.
Day 04:         Trek to Langtang village 3, 307m via Ghoretabela  – 06 hrs.
Day 05 -06:  Volunteer service in Langtang village.
Day 07:         Trek to Kyanjin Gompa 3,749 m – 04 hrs.
Day 08:         Rest day at Kyanjin for acclimatization and hikes.
Day 09:         Trek to Ghode Tabela 3,020 m – 06 hrs.
Day 10:         Trek back to Syabrubesi – 06 hrs.
Day 11:         Drive back to Kathmandu – 06 hrs.
Day 12:         International departure for home ward bound.

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 01:  Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to the hotel.
On reaching Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport, HS staff will welcome you with a warm welcome and transfer you to your respective hotels. After refresh, join the other group members for trip orientation, briefing by our expert guide/leader regarding trek, volunteer service, hotels, do's and don’ts, along with evening group dinner.

Day 02: Drive to Syabrubesi 1,460 m – 07 hrs journey.
Starting with an overland drive towards interesting villages and towns and fabulous scenery of hills, farm terraces, and snow-capped peaks, after a warm sub-tropical area, reaching a thin air region at Langtang National Park in Dhunche, 1,950 meters, a major town of Rasuwa district and Langtang area, inhabited by Tamang people.

From here, downhill for the next 2 hours to our overnight stop at Syabrubesi, the gateway to Langtang, Ganesh, and into the Tamang Heritage Trail and to the Tibet border at Kyarong.

Day 03: Trek to Lama Hotel 2, 350 m – 06 hrs.
The first day walk of this adventure leads to a bridge over Langtang Khola (river) later joins the Trisuli River downstream. From here with climb through scattered farm villages and terraces, into a cool forest area to Riverside a small settlement with few simple lodges, where the path from Upper or Thulo Syabru meets, after a rest or lunch break trek continues with a climb through beautiful forests of rhododendron, pines, bamboo tree lines, Langtang area is famous for rare and elusive Red Panda and other wildlife’s, after a good day’s walk reaching at Lama Hotel located in between forest surrounding and by the Langtang Khola with 5-6 simple lodges.

Day 04:  Trek to Langtang village 3, 307m via Ghoretabela – 06 hrs.
Morning walk heads higher up through the river gorge in the middle of enchanting woodlands of tall trees of pines, rhododendron, and following the river upstream passing a few houses and cattle herders' shelters, and then to more cooler place at Ghoretabela for lunch break in a beautiful forest surrounded by a few lodges around. From here, another 2-3 hours of a good walk and leaving the tree lines behind, reaching Langtang village for an overnight stop, the last village before Kyanjin. Here, explore this interesting village of Tamang and Bhotia people of Tibetan origin with a similar lifestyle of Tibet religion and culture.

Day 05-06:   At Langtang village with volunteer work.
These two days will be busy, engrossed in work rebuilding the villages. First morning, scout the remains of the villages. The locals might be engaged in building their houses and makeshift shelters. this is where you can lend help and support, offer them ideas and plans for rebuilding the houses, schools, and damaged trails.

Including subjects in hygiene, ecosystem, to protect the villages in eco eco-friendly way.

Day 07:Trek to Kyanjin Gompa 3,749 m – 04 hrs.
After a wonderful stop with volunter work in this last permenant village, further up are only temporary settlement of yak herders with lodge to serve trekkers, moving on the winding up trail and then the gorge opens to a wide beautiful valley with awesome views of snow capped peaks that lines this Langtang valley, walking on encountering few prayer or mani walls and then reaching our first destination of this trip at Kyanjin Gomba for two nights in this lovely valley surrounded by many peaks around with Langtang Lirung glacier just close by from the lodges and a cheese processing factory established some 35 years ago with help of Swiss assistance.

Day 08: Rest day at Kyanjin for acclimatization and hikes.
A perfect spot for a rest day to acclimatize at this high altitude with many places for short hikes and climbs like the hill top of Tsego and Kyanjin ri at over 4,000 meters top for a better panorama of the surrounding mountains.

From Tsego Ri views of Langtang Himal, Ghengu Liru (Langtang II 6571m / 21,560ft),  Langtang Lirung  (7,425m / 23,765ft), Kimshun (6,745m / 22,137ft) and Shalbachum (6,918m / 22,699ft), Naya-Kanga 5,846m, and Gangchempo, Tilman’s beautiful Fluted Peak, continue to Jugal Himal, ending with Dorje Lakpa (6,980m / 22,929ft).

Day 09:  Trek to Ghode Tabela 3,020 m – 06 hrs.
Morning catching the last view of this wonderful surrounding and high snow-capped mountains in amazing Langtang valley, heading downhill for another adventure on route to Kathmandu, the walk leads on the same route to Ghode Tabela after a long descent with a few short ups in between the walks.
Ghode meaning Horse Stable Ghode ‘horse’ and Tabela a ‘stable’.
In the early days, natives of Langtang and Rasuwa had a link and strong trade with Tibet, bringing in horses of the Tibetan breed, which are known as Tibetan ponies, and rested here as a breeding and grazing field, so the name Ghode Tabela. This isolated place with a Nepal Army barracks serving as the Park warden and a few lodges.

Day 10: Trek back to Syabrubesi – 06 hrs.
From Ghode Tabela with last day walk to Sybrubesi, morning with short downhill to Riverside and Bamboo area with small lodge, teahouses in the middles of rhododendron, oaks and bamboo forests, after short rest here walk continues leading downhill in the warmer area at Syabrubesi village for last overnight stop in the mid hills of Langtang Himal.

Day 11:  Drive back to Kathmandu – 06 hrs.
Catching morning views of snow-clad peaks, the overland drive leads to a long winding downhill through interesting towns and villages, heading to a warmer area and back into rural farm country and villages.

Finally drive ends on reaching Kathmandu, transfer to your respective hotels, with the rest of the day free for individual activities.

Day 12:  International departure for home ward bound.
Today, the last day in Nepal, with great memories and an amazing experience trekking Langtang Valley Panorama with good volunteer service, our staff transfers you to Kathmandu international airport for your final departure homeward bound or to your next port of call.

LANGTANG NATIONAL PARK:

AREA (1,710 SQ.KMS.)

LOCATION:  Situated in the Central Himalaya, Langtang is the nearest park to Kathmandu. The area extends from 32 km north of Kathmandu to the Nepal–China (Tibet) border.

FEATURES:  Langtang National Park encloses the catchments of two major river systems: one draining west into the Trisuli River and the other east to the Sun Kosi River.

The best examples of graded climate conditions in the Central Himalaya are found here. The complex topography and geography, together with the varied climatic patterns, have enabled a wide spectrum of vegetation types to be established. These include small areas of subtropical forest (below 1000 m), temperate oak and pine forests at mid-elevation, with alpine scrub and grasses giving way to bare rocks and snow.

Oaks, chir pine, maple, fir, blue pine, hemlock, spruce, and various species of rhododendron make up the main forest species. Along with the existing forest cover, approximately. 25 % of the total area provides habitat for a wide range of animals, including wild dog, red panda, pika, muntjac, musk deer, Himalayan black bear, Himalayan Thar, goral, serow, rhesus monkey, and common langur. The Trisuli-Bhote Koshi forms an important route for birds on spring and autumn migration between India and Tibet.

About 45 villages ( 846 households = ca. 4500 people) are situated within the park boundaries, but they are not under park jurisdiction. In total, about 3000 households (ca. 16,200 people) depend on the park resources for wood and firewood.

Culturally, the area is mixed, the home of several ethnic groups which have influenced the natural environment over the centuries.