In order to avoid the lengthy dirt road loops, the trail leaves Dhunche and heads east down the hamlet’s main street. It then crosses the Trishuli Khola and follows the road’s contours to the village of Bharkhu. From Bharkhu, the trail ascends sharply until it reaches a hill, where we descend into the Langtang valley. From here, one can see the snow-capped Tibetan mountains to the north and the summit of Langtang Lirung to the east. As we descend, we reach the village of Syabru, which is spread out along a ridge.

The trail leaves Dhunche heading east down the main street of the community, taking one or two shortcuts to skip the lengthier dirt road loops, crossing the Trishuli Khola, and then continuing along the road’s contours to the village of Bharkhu. The trail from Bharkhu reaches a ridge where we enter the Langtang valley after a tough ascent. Views of Tibet’s snow-capped peaks may be viewed to the north and east from here, and Langtang Lirung’s summit can be seen. As we descend, we reach Syabru, a settlement spread out along a ridge.

The primary route to Langtang descends along the ridge, passes through the community, and then keeps going downhill till it reaches the Langtang Khola. Following the river, we ascend through a pristine oak and rhododendron forest that is alive with birdlife. We ascend a difficult trail past Chongong’s lone residence before setting up tent in the wilderness.

As we continued climbing, we occasionally saw Langtang Lirung among the trees. At Ghora Tabela [3000m], the road opens into open ground. There was once a resettlement project for Tibetans here, but it is now a Nepalese military post although it has no permanent residents. The trail continues to gently climb and the valley widens, passing several temporary settlements used by ranchers to graze cattle on high pastures during the summer months. There is a monastery that we can visit just before reaching Langtang village, the headquarters of Langtang National Park. The houses in Langtang and neighboring villages are Tibetan-style, surrounded by stone walls surrounding fields of buckwheat, potatoes, wheat, radishes and barley.

As the valley widens and the views expand, the trail gradually climbs via small settlements and yak pastures. The trail arrives at the Kyangjin settlement after fording a number of minor streams and moraines. A tiny monastery and a cheese factory run by the government can be found nearby. before arriving at Kyangjin before lunchtime, we’ll have time to acclimate and explore the surroundings.

a day of relaxation, adaptation, and exploration. Visits to the cheese plant and monastery are close to the village. To get a fantastic perspective of Langtang Lirung and its hanging glaciers, we can hike up the moraine to the north. Alternatively, we can climb Kyangjin Ri, which is located immediately behind the hamlet, for an incredible all-around view.

In order to reach the yersa at Yala, we travel farther up the valley from Kyangjin, ascending above the Langtang Khola and curving around the slope. The peaks of Dorje Lakpa (7000m), Kangchenpo (6400m), and Lonpo Gang (7100m) can all be seen clearly from our camp.

It is a short distance to the peak of Tsergo Ri [5066m] from our tent in Yala. The prayer flags and mani stones that mark the top, the highest point on a wide flat plateau, are at the end of this ‘simple’ walk. 360-degree views of snow-capped mountains, including Langtang Lirung, Kimshun, Yanza Tsenji, Langtang Ri, Pemthang Ri, Langshisha Ri, Dorje Lakpa, Kangchenpo, and Naya Kanga, are breathtaking.

We have the chance to climb Yala summit, a glaciated summit to Yala’s northeast, from our base at Yala. The climb is not challenging and offers good preparation and acclimatization for our ascent of Naya Kanga. Being little more than a hike up steep snow slopes of about 30 degrees, the climb is simple. The majority of the climb will include walking roped together up the glacier and will require the use of an ice axe and crampons. With stunning mountain scenery all around and views of the adjacent Tibetan mountains, including Shishapangma, this climb is a fantastic start to mountaineering in the Himalaya.

Retracing our steps, we head back down the valley to Kyangjin, cross the Langtang Khola, and then take a track that ascends to the Kangja La. A camp on moraines beneath the Kangja La is eventually reached after some difficult scrambling through boulder fields. The campground has excellent views of Shishapangma as well as our ascent path up Naya Kanga.

Two days are allowed for ascent. One day can be used as a rest day before climbing Naya Kanga. An early start will take us to Kangja La before taking a flight of steps to cross the glacier and reach the base of the north-east ridge. This mountain range has long, steep snow climbs with beautiful views on both sides. The last strip of snow is quite narrow and will be great fun for those afraid of heights. The view from the summit is amazing and many famous mountains of Nepal can be identified. The long and steep ascent back to camp would leave us tired but very satisfied with our effort. For those who don’t want to climb Yala Peak and/or Naya Kanga, our base at the head of the Langtang Valley has amazing views, as breathtaking as anywhere in the Himalayas and we have all the time to Explore the upper Langtang valley with many good things. Day hike options from our base camps. .

Retracing our steps from Kyangjin, we travel the Langtang Khola to Langtang hamlet and then to Ghora Tabela. We continue the inclining slope to the Lama Hotel after lunch.

We keep going back the way we came to Syabru.

To reach a ridge, one must make a difficult ascent from Syabru through oak, fir, and rhododendron forests. Only a small fall separates this location from Sing Gompa. A modest cheese business and a Buddhist monastery are also nearby.

We ascend a ridge from Sing Gompa to reach the main Gosainkund route. There are excellent views of Langtang Lirung across the Langtang valley. Dramatic vistas of Himalchuli, Ganesh Himal, and Manaslu may be seen to the west. The first of three lakes, Saraswati Kund, is reached once the trail eventually leaves the hill and descends. Bhairab Kund, the second lake in the chain, and Gosainkund, the third. This lake is especially revered and a destination for pilgrims in the summer. Shiva is said to have created this lake by using his trident to puncture a glacier in order to get water to satiate his thirst after ingesting poison.

The trail ascends through rocky terrain after leaving Gosainkund and passes four more tiny lakes before arriving at Laurebina La at 4610m. Then, we do a difficult descent to camp close to Gopte.

We continue to descend the hill, passing herders’ huts, juniper and rhododendron trees, and arriving at a creek before climbing to Tharepati, a cluster of herders’ huts at 3490m. In the direction of Jugal Himal and Numbur in the Solu Khumbu, as well as down into the Helambu valley, the trail gradually descends through a forest of pine and rhododendron from Tharepati.

After a brief ascent to cross a ridge, the trail leads through a forest with wonderful views of Numbur, Jugal Himal, and numerous other snow-capped summits. The Tamang village of Gulphu Bhanjyang is reached by descending from Kutumsang after ascending to a pass at 2620 meters. On a ridge with breathtaking vistas that stretches from the Annapurnas and Manaslu in the west to Numbur in the east, we set up camp outside of Gulphu Bhanjyang.

Following a short ascent from our tent, it is a short descent to Pati Bhanjyang, a sizable Tamang hamlet with a few stores and a police checkpoint. From here, the ascent to Chisopani and our camp takes two hours.