Planning On Going to a Lang tang Trekking Trip? Know Better Before You Do

Lang tang trekking region is the closest trekking route from Kathmandu, lying on its North. It is an interesting, close to nature trekking route of the area. Not only is the region rich in culture but dripping with natural beauty as well. Being close to the Tibet, China border, lang tang is about 130 km north to Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu.

The Lang tang valley is the first national park of the country, besides lying between the Himalayas and boasting some high and slightly lower peaks such as the Lang tang Lirung which is about 7,245 m high and some small peaks such Chimes Danda ridge ganja La Pass reaching a height of 5,122 m.

Though today trekking Lang tang has become rather popular and many people have started visiting it, this was not the case a few years back. Owing to lesser traffic the area has seen compared to other more popular trekking regions, Lang tang offers itself as a very adventurous trekking route.

The area is home to the Tamangs who are craftsmen by profession and are considered to be unique in every aspect including their houses, dresses and even their language. Besides its rich culture, Lang tang region trekking is also very popular owing to its glaciers. There are about 70 glaciers, each of a varying size.  

Another attraction of the Lang tang valley trekking is its lakes including Gosainkunda, Bhairavkunda, Parvatikunda and Dudhkunda. The region also is home to some rare animal species that reside in the temperate forests of the area.  

The Lang tang trekking route is well suited for individuals who are interested in a week or two’s trekking trip. As discussed before, even though it is a mesmerizing route, Lang tang trek route is highly underrated and so not many people visit it, which allows it to be the perfect place for new explorers. Many people are of the view that after Annapurna sanctuary, the Lang tang trekking route is the both beautiful one among all Nepal’s trekking routes. Not only is the experience relatively new, but being close to the capital and having not many superlatives, the trekking route is ideal for first timers.

The Lang tang trekking area offers three basic trek routes, that stand individually, though can be mixed in your trekking route plan depending on the weather and time you have. The valley is divided into two distinct basins and an intervening ridge. The rugged north and south valleys and ridge closest to Kathmandu belongs to Helambu trek route.

The nest trek route of the region is the Lang tang valley which lies close to the Tibet border, with its high alpine valleys lying between the Jugal Himals and Lang tang, north of Helambu. The third trek route of the area is the lang tang gosainkunda trekking route which consists of a chain of lakes that are considered sacred and are snuggled between the intermediate, rugged range lying northwest to Helambu.

There are many different routes that offer trekking opportunities to visitors connecting different parts of the Lang tang together depending on the time and route of the trek. The lodging and food facilities are not very luxurious, especially compared to the more popular regions of Everest and Annapurna, however ample enough to offer comfort and warmth to the visitor.

The Helambu or Gosainkund trek can be done individually as well taking about 4 days each, however since an altitude of 4610 m is reached, the trek often includes either Helambu or Lang tang as a part. It takes about 16 days or more to trek all the three areas.

Nepal trekking Lang tang route is an exceptional experience in terms of natural beauty richness, less exploration in the area to date, the unique Tamang heritage, the sacred lakes, and what not. Those who wish to experience all these aforementioned qualities, try out the beautiful trekking routes of Langtang. 

The Marvelous Annapurna Trekking Region

 

The Annapurna region is very popular in terms of scenic beauty, simple logistics and a rich hill culture, and is a highly trodden path. All the Annapurna trekking routes start and end at or very near to Pokhara, which is the second largest city in Nepal. Pokhara is a very comfortable place to start or end a trek as the city is loaded with all kinds of accommodation, equipment rentals, gear shops and all other things that are required for a pleasant trekking experience. Pokhara also has a lot of tourist 

guide companies that offer varying services on the different trek routes.

The region’s natural beauty richness can be viewed only two days up on the trail. Annapurna region offers several short and long trek routes that can be chosen based on the difficulty level and the days required completing the trek. The region owing to much commercialization is a beaten track and those who are trekking for the first time can find everything they need on the short trek routes including beer ordered from a laminated menu card, which the region has a lot to offer them as well.

Highlights of the Region’s Various Trek Routes

Some of the highlights of the Annapurna trekking Annapurna include the Annapurna Himal, which faces directly towards Pokhara and is like a crenellated wall of ice, spread over 40 km across it nine peaks. The region contains soaked bamboo forests on the southern side of Pokhara, to windswept deserts in the Northern part of the region.

Short trip trekkers can opt for the Annapurna sanctuary which is an intensely scenic loaded trek spanning from 8 to 12 days. Being a popular trek route, it is equipped with all kinds of lodges and tea shops which can be seen at a distance of an hour or even less until you reach the highest sections of the route. The trail ascends through the Gurung village between the high hills towards the steep and short Modi Khola, before entering the glorious mountain cirque known as the sanctuary.

Added Festivities

For those who prefer to peek into the raw culture of the area, one place to visit in the Oct-Nov season is the Khumbu region, which is popular as Mount Everest’s gateway, however another attraction is the Manirimdu Everest annapurna trekking route.

The Mani Rimdu festival is celebrated in the 9^th month of the Tibetan lunar calendar, falling at the very end of October according to English calendar. The festival is celebrated for ten days filled with blessings from the high lama of the Tengboche monastery. The monks perform special masked dances known as “Cham”. There are sixteen different dances performed, each conveying the teachings of Buddha including both the simplest truths and the most profound realizations.  

Besides these mesmerizing sites in the region, another trek route that is much visited and cherished in the Poon hill, which is a Himalayan view point of the place. It is a steep and lush hill countryside that lies between Kali Gandaki and Pokhara. The trails of this trek are highly maintained though they tend to get steep at some places. The above mentioned treks are the well maintained trek routes of the Annapurna trekking region, however there are other trek routes as well, which are not as developed 

however offer the perfect natural environment to enjoy.

The Adventurous, Less Visited Trek Routes

Going this way round Annapurna trekking routes, some of the worth visiting routes include the Macchapuchhare trek, the Mardi Himal trek, the royal trek, the Manaslu Circuit trek and the Siklis trek. These Annapurna trekking routes may offer only Nepalese food on the route and simple lodging however, the natural scenic beauty they offer is incomparable.