Tamang Heritage & Langtang Valley Trek

• Orientation Meeting: 2pm 
• Accommodation: Hotel 

Say “Namaste” to Nepal as you arrive today in the country’s capital city. Make sure you arrive in time for an orientation meeting with your local leader and fellow travelers at 2 pm today. Afterward, the afternoon and evening are free to spend as you’d like, although our leader will probably organize an optional dinner tonight at one of Kathmandu’s great restaurants so that the group can get to know each other better. If you arrive early and have more time to spend here, check out some of the Urban Adventures in this incredible city. 

Make sure to attend the orientation meeting this afternoon as you will need to provide insurance and emergency contact information at this time. If you are going to be late, please let an Intrepid representative or the hotel know. You can ask the receptionist at the desk of the hotel for information about where the meeting is taking place.

• Travel: ~8 hour drive to Syabrubesi 
• Ending Elevation: 4,790 ft
• Accommodation: Teahouse

Rise and shine early this morning for a travel day through some fantastic scenery. Begin your drive through Balaju and make the steady climb out of Kathamndu Valley before reaching the pass of Kakani. The drive continues up toward the Trisuli bazaar where the group will get views of Manaslu Massif, Ganesh, Langtang and Jugal Himal. Expect some potholes and bumps on the drive after this point as the road condition worsens after Trisuli. In 31 miles you’ll reach Dhunche, and in another nine you’ll come to Syabrubesi, your accommodation for the night.

• Hiking Time: ~6 hours 
• Ending Elevation: 7,742 ft
• Accommodation: Teahouse

Today is your first day of trekking and it is no joke of a start. Begin with a two hour ascent on switchbacks to bring you out of the valley and up to a ridge. The views from the top are simply spectacular with Ganesh Himal, the Gosainkunda range, and Langtang Lirung all visible. Also keep your eye out for Buddhist Chortens and mani walls that dot this landscape, reminding you of the heritage and culture of this region. Once you reach the top, you’ll descend for about 45 min before arriving at Goljung, a little Tamang village, where you’ll stop for lunch before continuing on to Gatlang where the group will stay the night. Besides the rich culture and breathtaking location of this village, Gatlang also offer a Tamang monastery that is 100 years old as well as a secret lake called Parvati Kunda. The local legend goes that this lake was found in ancient times by the King of Gatlang while he was searching for a missing hunting dog. Women of the town now revere the lake for it’s perceived power to increase fertility. These landmarks are about a 45 min walk from the village, but are well worth visiting. 

• Hiking Time: ~6 hours 
• Ending Elevation: 8,553 ft 
• Accommodation: Teahouse

Gear up today for what many guests think is the most difficult trek of the trip. The trail begins with a gradual downhill section along the ridge leading to Bamdang Khola before it turns north and traces Chilime Khola as you come to the small village of Chilime. From here, cross a suspension bridge and begin the strenuous climb up almost 1,500 ft in elevation on your way to Gongang, where you’ll stop for lunch and to rest your legs after the long climb. You’ve gotten through the hardest part but the trail still continues upward on a more gradual ascent to Tatopani.

• Hiking Time: ~7 hours 
• Ending Elevation: 7,670 ft
• Accommodation: Teahouse

The group is in for a special treat today if your traveling in spring as you’ll be hiking through a rhododendron forest perched on the mountain side that blooms in stunning pink and purple during the spring. Even in other seasons, this forest is spectacular. Make sure to keep your eyes up as there may be troop or two of gray langur monkeys in the tree tops. After ambling through Brimgang village, continue up the steep trail where each ridge you reach offers a better view than the last of Ganesh Himal to the west and the Langtang range on the east. You’ll journey off the ridge as it terminates at Nagthali Hill and opens into sprawling grassland. From here, the mountains around you are simply breathtaking with panoramic views of Langtang Lirung, Kerung, Ganesh Himal, and even Shishapangma on the Tibetan side with the Sanjen Ranges before you. Soak up the views before making the sharp descent to Thuman settled in a densely wooded valley facing Shisapangma and Langtang Lirung peaks. You’ll begin to see much Tibetan influence in these villages despite their location in Nepal with their Shamanistic beliefs, classical monasteries, and homes covered in woodcarvings. 

• Ending Elevation: 7,345 ft
• Accommodation: Teahouse

Today is a much shorter hike through more rhododendron woods and open meadows until you come to Briddim, another small Tamang village in the center of Langtang Himal. Briddim is the termination of the Tamang Heritage Trail and is very often a favorite among guests. The teahouse tonight is owned by a local family whom you’ll get to chat with to obtain a better understanding of this people’s way of life. Immerse yourself in the culture tonight and talk to the locals, especially your host family, to gain a richer understanding of this fascinating culture. 

• Hiking Time: ~7 hours 
• Ending Elevation: 7,939 ft
• Accommodation: Teahouse

Get ready for another day of trekking through this majestic wilderness in the hilly area of Khangjim and Sherpagoan where you’ll get to learn more not only about the Tamang culture, but the Sherpa culture as well. Tonight’s accommodation is at Lama Hotel, which is the name of a collection of lodges at the mouth of the Langtang Valley. The standard of accommodation here is slightly below other accommodations on this tour but is still comfortable. 

• Hiking Time: ~5-7 hours 
• Ending Elevation: 11,482 ft
• Accommodation: Teahouse

The group will traverse Langtang National Park today through the villages of Gumnachowk and Ghotatabela before coming to Langtang Village. This national park was established in 1979 to protect the endemic and unique flora and fauna of this area. Rhododendrons, Nepalese alders, and oaks all grow here at the grace of the temperate climate. The park also plays host to red pandas, snow leopards, Himalaya black bears, and over 250 different kinds of birds, so keep your eye out for wildlife today. Your accommodation tonight is a newly built teahouse with a newly installed water purified which was put in by a joint project run by World Wildlife Fund and Intrepid. 

• Hiking Time: ~4-5 hours
• Ending Elevation: 12,560 ft
• Accommodation: Teahouse 

This morning, continue hiking along a ridge toward the rebuilt village of Kyanjin with spectacular views of snow covered mountains on either side of you. You’ll encounter both Tamang and Sherpa locals today going about their daily lives and activities. Get acclimated to the altitude this evening with a short climb to an overlook above the villages for views of the valley before descending back down to sleep. 

• Hiking Time: ~4 hours
• Ending Elevation: 12,560 ft
• Accommodation: Teahouse

You have a couple different options for how you spend today. If your a morning person or couldn’t sleep because of the altitude and are awake anyway, take a trek to Kyanjin Gompa this morning for sunrise. It’s a grueling hike in the dark on a switchback trail gaining about 3200 ft of elevation along the way, but the light of sunrise spilling over the Himalayas will be well worth it. If you’d rather sleep in, have a relaxing breakfast at the teahouse and then head out to explore the village and discover both the Tamang and Sherpa communities here. There’s even a German Bakery in this town where you can stop and buy bread if you’d like. There is also a short hike to a glacier in addition to any number of walks in the village. Get a good night’s rest tonight because tomorrow is a long down hill hike back to Lama Hotel.

• Hiking Time: ~7-8 hours 
• Ending Elevation: 7,939 ft
• Accommodation: Teahouse

Today brings a long day of trekking, but it’s mostly downhill. Trek back through the Langtang Valley and Ghoretabela to Lama Hotel, descending over 5200 ft along the way. At the end of the day, gather up the group to enjoy some ‘mountain cold’ Sherpa beer if it’s available in the town. 

• Hiking Time: ~5-6 hours
• Ending Elevation: 6,988 ft
• Accommodation: Teahouse

Continue your hike down in elevation with another early start after breakfast at the teahouse. Descend on a moderate trail through corn fields and cross the Trisuli River by a suspension bridge. The trail then follows the river until you reach your teahouse accommodation at Thulo Syabru. 

• Travel: 4 hour Drive to Nuwakot 
• Hiking Time: ~3 hours
• Accommodation: Farmhouse

You’ve made it to your last day of trekking. After breakfast, take a relatively short walk to Thulo Bharku (Dhunche) and then load up in a private vehicle for the drive to Nuwakot. The group’s quaint accommodation tonight is nestled in an organic farm where you can, if you’d like, take part in picking some vegetables and learning about how Nepalese cuisine is prepared with the cook. In the evening, take a walk with your leader to the Nuwakot Durbar (Palace). 

• Travel: 4 hour Drive to Kathmandu
• Meals Included: Breakfast
• Accommodation: Hotel 

Get up early this morning for an included breakfast before heading out for the drive back to Kathmandu in a private vehicle. You’ll have free time this afternoon to explore this exciting city before an optional group dinner for your last night together. 

• Meals Included: Breakfast

Your trip comes to an end after breakfast this morning and you are free to leave any time you’d like. If you want to spend more time in Kathmandu, Intrepid will be glad to arrange additional accommodation for you if availability allows.