Langtang Valley trekking holiday
Late availability on these dates: 05 Oct, 12 Oct, 19 Oct, 26 Oct, 02 Nov
Description of Langtang Valley trekking holiday
An ideal holiday for fit and adventurous walkers who also have an interest in experiencing Himalayan culture, trekking in the Langtang Valley is combined with five days on the Tamang Heritage Trail. This route was created by a group of Nepali NGOs to protect and bring awareness to Tamang culture in the villages north of Kathmandu, and is very quiet compared with other more well-known routes, allowing for a more peaceful experience.
You’ll join a group of no more than 12 people, accompanied by an experienced tour leader as you make a two-week round trip from Kathmandu, with road transfers to and from the trailhead. The views of the Manaslu Massif, Ganesh, Langtang and Jugal Himal en route to Trisuli bazaar are an early highlight, and an indication of the scenery in store.
Although not as physically demanding as, say, the walk up to the Everest Base Camp, this trip does require a very good standard of fitness. You will be on the move for up to eight hours each day (though at a relaxed pace, of course) with some steep ascents and descents involved, and altitudes above 4,000m. (Note the route may be adjusted according to the weather).
The exhilarating exercise and the spectacular scenery will be a big draw for many, but the real charm of this trekking tour is the way it brings you into close contact with local people. You’ll pass through remote villages that see few visitors, sleeping and eating in family-owned teahouses, and spreading the financial benefits of tourism in an area where just a small amount of money can go a very long way.
Expect quite basic but comfortable and welcoming accommodation from traditional teahouses. One of particular note is in Briddim, at the end of the Tamang Heritage Trail and before you continue into Langtang National Park. Here you’ll sleep in handsome wooden rooms, and learn about the wildlife of the park, which includes red pandas, black bears, snow leopards and more than 250 species of birds. You’ll also stay at another guesthouse where you can top up your reusable water bottles from a water purifier installed via a project run jointly by your tour operator and the World Wildlife Fund.
As you make your way through the national park you’ll greet Tamang and Sherpa people you pass, perhaps take an (optional) sunrise trek up to Kyanjin Gompa, or a Nepalese cookery class at a farmhouse, and cross a suspension bridge over the Trisuli River.
This is a delightful trekking tour, and one that will definitely appeal to those who enjoy sharing a friendly chat on the trail with their fellow adventurers, or the many local people they meet along the way. And, by trekking the Tamang Heritage Trail, your group also helps the ways of life in these remote reaches of the Himalayas to survive and thrive.
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2 Reviews of Langtang Valley trekking holiday
Reviewed on 20 Nov 2023 by Tim Pilbeam
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
4800m and the tea houses/culture.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Do not underestimate how hard it is physically!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Definitely.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Brilliant.
Reviewed on 21 Oct 2023 by veronica piekosz
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Climbing 3000 steps on the first trek day! Dressing up in local costume in Ghandruk village.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Get as fit as you can before going. Be open minded.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Definitely. We met local women groups and had lots of chats
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent
Responsible Travel
Planet
The Tamang hinterlands are a much less visited part of this iconic mountain rage, while the Annapurnas and Everest Base Camp routes carry a large number of tourists each day. This often results in overcrowded hiking trails, with wildlife and plant life suffering from the crowds and what they leave behind. Opting for a quieter route can help limit the negative impact of increased tourist numbers. On day 8, the group spends the evening at a comfortable, newly built guesthouse. Here the group can refill their water bottles using a newly installed water purifier, installed as part of a joint project funded by us and the World Wildlife Fund. The accommodation we use on day 13 is set on an organic farm and almost all food is harvested locally.People
This trip passes through many small Tamang villages who don’t see large numbers of tourists. We often pass through at mealtimes, so our travellers will eat at small locally owned cafes and restaurants, supporting the economies of these out of the way communities. All the accommodation used is locally owned wherever possible but night 6 is a particular highlight. Our travellers get to experience a teahouse owned by a local family, sleeping overnight in their comfortable wooden rooms. Our travellers develop a richer understanding of the culture here plus the chance to share stories with their host. The accommodation we use on day 13 is set on an organic farm with almost all food harvested locally, and our group get the chance to interact with a local chef and support this low impact business. In line with our child protection policy, we stand against orphanage tourism. We directly support Forget Me Not, an organisation in Nepal that strives to reunite young people with their families while educating travellers about the dangers of orphanage tourism. In addition to this, we work alongside Seven Women, a social enterprise that teaches women how to become independent and self-sufficient in a country where only 47% of women can read and write. Women learn basic reading and writing skills, money management and self-care, as well as how to make goods that can be sold for income such as clothing, felt products, knitting and embroidery.Popular similar holidays
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