Langtang Valley Trek – 11 Days

Langtang Valley Trek – 11 Days Overview

One of the most famous trekking paths in Nepal is the Langtang Valley Trek. The Trail is closer to the Tibetan border around 100 km north of Kathmandu city. Trekking in the valley goes to a beautiful valley bounded to the north by the main Himalayan range.

It also goes to the south by a lesser range of snow-capped peaks than around the border of Tibet. The Langtang Valley Trek is one of the most welcoming, peaceful, and heavenly beautiful trips you can have when you travel to Nepal for a perfect adventure.

The Langtang Valley Trekking Circuit goes through a tree-covered forest with pine trees, juniper, rhododendrons, and other shade-loving species. Alpine meadows also exist that provide pleasant walks. The first Himalayan National Park, located in the Langtang area of Nepal, is home to rare species including snow leopards and red pandas.

Langtang Valley Trek is famous for providing a beautiful trek away from the hustling capital, Kathmandu. A thrilling hike to great heights of Himalayan peaks in Langtang Valley is a lifetime experience for any trekker.

Beautiful charming villages with Tamang villagers can be found in Langtang Valley. The rich cultural legacy and traditional way of life of the Tamang and Sherpas is one of the most important charms of the Langtang Valley Trek.

Travelers who want to see the rural ethnic lifestyle will be very fond of the Tamang Heritage Trail that lies within the Valley. The entire trail is embellished with colorful prayer flags, stupas, gompas, Mani walls, Chhortens, and other Buddhist cultural artifacts.

Trekkers and adventurers hoping to catch a glimpse of the captivating fusion of Tibetan customs and the stunning natural surroundings will find paradise in this unspoiled valley in Nepal. Small restaurants in the valley provide a variety of authentic cuisine that satisfies the taste and uplifts the spirit.

The delicious cuisine goes from delicate momos to substantial soups made with yak, which shows the trekker’s ancient and delicious way of eating the Tibetan in the region.

Langtang Valley Trek – 11 Days Gallery/Video

Best Time

A flock of foreign and domestic travelers during the time of February and November arrive in Nepal to have some kind of adventurous journey to the highest mountains, lakes, hills or glaciers. Spring and Autumn season is easily the best seasons to do trekking in Nepal, similar goes with the Langtang Valley trek.

If you want your trek to be very pleasant with plenty of opportunities to capture photos of beautiful villages, lush forests, towering mountains, and blooming flowers, spring might be the best season for you.

But if you are kind of adventurous with heavy winds blowing through wet terraced fields and trees, the Autumn season is for you to be on this Great Langtang Valley Trek. The Langtang Valley Trail always provides you with some unique exciting activities whether it be wet muddy road, a pleasant time of blooming flowers, spotting red pandas, langur monkeys or snow leopards, yak gazing grasslands or snowy peaks in all seasons.

Trek Difficulty

Trek is not very difficult in the Langtang region. It usually depends on the weather and the season you are traveling. The driving routes are completely safe and rarely any landslides occur in the region.

You might find some muddy roads during the rainy season. But almost the whole trekking trail is well paved and well marked as it is one of the most common trekking destinations in Nepal. Most of the trekkers find it very pleasant, and easy with a bit of challenge during the last bits but perfect for beginners.

From children and teenagers to middle-aged and old people love to be on this trail. It is one the most beautiful and perfect treks for every age to experience Lush Greenlands and fields to Snow covered mountains and big roaring hills of Langtang region. A normally healthy trekker can easily be on this trek and have an experience unlike others.

Langtang Valley Trek Permits

Two different kinds of permits are required for everyone who wants to trek in the Langtang Valley or the Langtang area. These are the TIMS card and the permit to enter the Langtang National Park.

Should you choose to extend the duration of your trek and incorporate it with another trekking area, you may also require several permits.

Langtang National Park Entry Permit

Only with the Langtang National Park entry permit, you can enter the Langtang region. Established in 1976, Langtang National Park spans an area of 1710 meters. Wildlife such as musk deer, red pandas, snow leopards, sea lions, Himalayan tahr (black bears), and more than 250 bird species have been preserved by the team.

This trekking permit is available in Kathmandu via the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) or at the park gate. You can also get permits from Dhunche or Syabrubesi, which are frequent starting points for treks into the Langtang Valley.

Regarding the Langtang Gosaikunda Trek, the permit is the same.

Cost of the Permit

Note: Permits are not needed for children under the age of ten.

Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) card

Trekking permits require the Trekkers’ Information Systems (TIMS) Card.It helps the appropriate authorities keep an eye on travelers to ensure their safety and provide crucial support in case of an emergency.

The Nepal Tourism Board and the secretariats of the Trekkers’ Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) in Pokhara and Kathmandu are the places where you can get the TIMS card.

Cost of Card
Three colors are available for TIMS cards: pink, blue, and green.

Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park Entry Permit

Starting 122 kilometers from Kathmandu at Syabrubesi, the classic Langtang Valley trek begins. Some trekkers choose this different route that goes via the Gosaikunda-Helambu route. Like the Langtang National Park permit, you can get this one from the Kathmandu Tourism Board or at the Shivapuri access point.

Children below the age of 10 do not require a permit.
Cost of Permit

Food During Langtang Valley Trek

One of the main sources of revenue for the people living in Langtang has been tea houses. They provide a variety of meal alternatives for the trekkers which make their journey more comfortable.

The Langtang Valley Trek offers an ideal chance to enjoy Nepalese cuisine prepared with unique flavors. The variety of foods that you can eat throughout the day is summarized below:

Breakfast:

Breakfast is served at the tea houses between 7 and 10 AM so that you can start your trekking trip early. You can order items like

• bread
• chapati
• jam or honey
• Tibetan bread

There’s also an extensive selection of

• hot soup
• pancakes
• porridge
• muesli, and
• Omelets

Lunch/ Dinner

During midday, there are options to refuel at lodges along the route. For maximum vitality, try the traditional Nepalese daal bhat, which consists of rice, pickles, curried veggies, and lentil soup.

The people of Nepal eat the exact same combination of foods twice a day and never grow tired of them. There’s even a saying that goes “Dal Bhat Power, 24 hours”. Your other options include:

• fried rice
• pasta
• pizza
• Spaghetti
• Momo
• Noodles
• Thukpa
• Sandwich

Keep some space for delicious desserts such as apple pie, puddings, or apple fritters.

Accommodation During the Langtang Valley Trek

There are teahouses, guest homes, and simple lodging options along the trekking pathways in the Langtang Valley, all run by people using their resources. Previously, Langtang Valley tea houses were small, wooden homes with a chamber divided by wooden blocks.

But nowadays, several quite good tea rooms are built with contemporary machinery. The devastating 2015 earthquake prompted the construction of numerous guesthouses in the Langtang Valley.

They offer a proper dinner, a place to sleep, and occasionally other conveniences like internet access, hot showers, and electrical outlets for charging gadgets.

There are tea houses with flush toilets in the Western manner in the lower regions. Moreover, at higher elevations, they are unavailable. The price range for lodging is Rs. 500–1000 ($5–$10). The cost can increase if you do not eat at the same tea places. Remember that a hot shower will undoubtedly set you back a few bucks as well.

Accommodation in Kathmandu

Kathmandu is your first destination on your trek to Langtang Valley. Kathmandu offers all types of accommodations for you. You do not need to compromise at all. Your respective company representative will receive you from the airport and drop you off at your designated hotel.

You can reserve your hotel accommodation in advance of your arrival at the Kathmandu airport, based on your comfort level and availability. You may find various kinds of lodging, from 3-star hotels to 5-star hotels.

Wifi Access on Langtang Valley Trek

Wi-Fi is accessible in many of the tea houses along the trail. To utilize it, though, you will need to spend a set amount. You must spend roughly USD 2 or USD 3 to utilize the Wi-Fi. However, the speed of wifi depends upon the altitude and location you are at.

There are often hotels and tea rooms with a sign board that says “Free Wifi”. In that case, you can use it free of cost. Over-connection can potentially cause a slow Wi-Fi connection. Nevertheless, Wi-Fi is available for about 90% of the trek.

Communication

Having effective communication is crucial to ensuring a comfortable and safe trek. Langtang Valley Trek offers network connectivity up to Kyanjin Gompa. There will be a network connecting the various stops even though services might not be provided all the way.

Nepal Telecom (NTC) and Ncell are the leading mobile network operators in Nepal. Both companies provide coverage in the vicinity of Langtang. You should have comparatively better mobile network coverage in the trek’s lower regions, such as Syabrubesi and the Lama Hotel.

As you climb further into the Langtang Valley, particularly past Langtang Village and in the direction of Kyanjin Gompa, you can experience dwindling or nonexistent mobile network coverage.

Buying data packs from Nepal Telecom costs less than $2 and Ncell, less than $1 which is enough for a day. Likewise, the network connection depends upon the weather conditions. The network gets worse if the weather gets severe.

Travel Insurance

Because of the high altitude, trekking in Nepal can be dangerous because it can cause a variety of illnesses, weaken trekkers, and impair their judgment. The Langtang Trek is a high-altitude journey through remote and challenging regions of Nepal. Travel insurance is therefore essential.

Two providers of travel insurance policies that will cover you for trekking in Nepal are

• World Nomads (available to citizens of more than 140 countries) and
• True Traveller (available to residents of the UK and EEA only)

Before signing up for any insurance plan, you should make sure to carefully review and research each policy. Some insurance may not contain medical evacuation in them. You should verify that search and rescue as well as medical evacuation are covered under your travel insurance policy.

Guide and Porter for Langtang Valley Trek

During your trip, it can be very helpful to have a porter and a guide. A porter is a person who will help you to carry your bags and luggage. Throughout your journey, a guide will help you with all of the accommodations and directions.

Hiring a guide for the Langtang Trek typically costs between $30 and $40 per person per day. Similarly, hiring a porter often runs between $20 and $30 per person per day. The porter and guides are strong and knowledgeable about the geography, history, customs, flora, and biodiversity of the area, among other things.

They can guide you through the area and help you comprehend local culture. It’s not just that, trekking alone is forbidden in Nepal which makes hiring a guide necessary. The cost of hiring a guide and porter also depends upon their language proficiency. Many travelers prefer to hire someone who can speak English fluently or any other language of their requirement.

Thus, your guide will aid you in selecting the top lodges and tea houses, help you adjust to the altitude, and manage any emergencies. Porters can ensure that your bags and valuables are protected and well-cared for while you go to the Langtang region.

Almost all inquiries regarding the Langtang trekking area are likely to be answered by a professional guide without assistance. They can act as a translator as you converse with the locals to help you understand more about the place.

Tipping

It’s customary to tip people, and it’s crucial to express your gratitude for their efforts and support. It is suggested that you tip lead guides $20 per day on average, assistant guides $15 per day, and porters $10 per day.

Since Nepal is a cash economy, it makes sense to provide your tips in cash. Western culture introduced tipping to Nepal, but the people there have absorbed it into their cultural customs, where it is highly esteemed to take tips modestly.

Tipping is customary but not necessarily required when dining at restaurants or lodging in Nepal. Tipping between 5 and 10 percent is a polite way to express your gratitude for excellent service.

As a gesture of respect, give a tip with your right hand or both hands. A simple grin and a few words of thanks in Nepali, such as “Dhanyabad,” might convey your appreciation.

Currency Exchange

Using local cash is preferable when trekking in Nepal. And major towns like Kathmandu and Pokhara have plenty of banks and money exchange locations where you may get it. The smallest unit of money in Nepal is the paisa, and the currency is known as the rupee.

A rupee and a hundred paisa are equivalent, much as a dollar and ten cents. There are 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 rupee paper notes available. You can exchange money once you land in Kathmandu.

Banks such as Standard Chartered, Nabil Bank, and Himalayan Bank offer competitive rates for currency exchange services. They are reliable and secure.

Banks are open from Sunday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Friday from 1:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturdays and national holidays are closed. In Thamel, Kathmandu, a few banks remain open late.

Altitude Sickness

Altitude sickness is also known as Acute Mountain Sickness. You should always be careful of altitude sickness when you are traveling at high altitude. It can range from mild symptoms to more serious, life-threatening conditions like high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) and high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE).

Some of the common symptoms of altitude sickness are:

• Appetite loss
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Vomiting.
• Headache
• Lethargy
• A drop in performance
• Lack of coordination
• Insomnia

Ways to prevent altitude sickness:

• Increase altitude slowly, with rest days for acclimatization.
• Drink plenty of water; avoid alcohol and caffeine.
• Focus on carbs for energy and easier digestion.
• Medication that aids acclimatization.
• Take breaks, especially after rapid altitude gains.