Langtang and Tamang Heritage trek

After being greeted at the airport you will be transferred to your hotel in the centre of Kathmandu. Our Encounters Travel rep will not only welcome you but help you settle in and explain the agenda for the rest of your tour.

The day starts with a pre-trek briefing and introduction to your trekking guide. Next, you'll take a walking tour through the main tourist district of Thamel, tiny markets, local temples, and on to the Durbar Square - a beautiful mix of Hindu temples, stupas and palaces. The remainder of the day is yours free to explore and make any purchases before we begin the trek.

This morning we travel for Kathmandu valley by private car/minivan - roughly 7 hours - with your trekking guide and porter(s). The journey will take us north through agricultural land and hills to the town of Syabrubesi - this is where your trek will begin. The town of Syabrubesi is located at the junction of the Trisuli Khola and Bhote Khosi, both known for white-water rafting.

The day starts with a hike to a viewpoint from which you’ll be able to see beautiful views of the Gosainkund Range, Goljang Valley and also Ganesh Himal. We continue down into the Goljang Valley for approximately an hour before taking a break for lunch. Later the afternoon, you'll trek for a further three hours before reaching the traditional Tamang village of Gatlang. The first half of this trek will be on paths used by the local villagers and away from the main Langtang trekking route - the scenery is lush and green with lots of terraced farmland, tiny homesteads, and small villages. Over the next few days, you'll gain a great view and insight into rural Nepalese life in the hills, and your guide will talk to you about how the farming seasons and lifestyle change through the year.

Today begins with a descent to Thangbuchet. After breaking for lunch in Thangbuchet, you continue through the valley, crossing a hanging bridge before making the ascent to Tatopani - you’ll be spending the night here, we recommend taking a dip and experiencing the healing qualities of the town's hot springs.

The trail today ascends to Nagthali Hill - here you witness incredible views of the surrounding mountains. Later, the day's trekking ends with a descent into Thuman village - a Tibetan influenced Tamang settlement.

You start today's hike by walking along a flatter section of the trail which descends into Timure. After taking a break for lunch, the day ends in Briddim, which is another traditional Tamang village. Your accommodation in the village will be at one of a few homestays, where you'll experience real Tamang hospitality. The afternoon is yours to explore the village.

The first part of your trek starts with the Tamang hills and valleys. Later you'll enter the region of Khangjim and Sherpagoan - learning about the rich culture of the Tamang and Sherpa communities along the way.

Today, we'll continue to pass through the Langtang National Park as you climb through lush forested areas to Ghora Tabela (3,005m), and get glimpses of Langtang Lirung. The Langtang National Park was founded in 1976 to help to preserve the unique flora and fauna of the area. Himalayan Black Bear, Red Panda, and Snow Leopards - they can all be found within the national park while chattering monkeys can be spotted in the tree while on the trek.

You continue to ascend the valley today and will start to feel more of the effects of the altitude. On the way, you'll pass a mani wall - dry stone walls inlaid with Buddhist prayer slate - this is reputedly one of the longest in Nepal and you should follow Buddhist custom and walk to the left of the wall. During the day you'll trek pass the ruins of Langtang village which was very badly affected in the 2015 earthquake leaving buildings destroyed. As you continue to climb, you are rewarded with good views of the Langtang Lirung Glacier flow to your left and the ice fluted Gyangchempo ahead and to your right. The valley begins to widen as you cross-glacial moraine and finish in Kyangin Gompa (3,849m).

Two days of rest can be expected f in Kyangin Gompa starting from today. You may choose to rest today, explore Kyangin, or perhaps an optional hike to the top of Tsergo Ri (4984m) - known for having the best viewpoints in the region. From the summit of Tsergo Ri its often possible to see Shishapangma, Gangchenpo and Langtang Lirung. Langtang (7227m) to the west, Yala peak (5500m) to the north and Dorje Lakpa (6966m) and Shisha Pangma (8027m) to the east. The hike up to the top isn't too difficult, though there are some boulders to cross and any snow and icy parts should be taken with care. There are easier things to do as well, including shorter hikes to the base of the Lirung Glacier, visits to the Gompa and cheese factory, and sampling the delights from the tasty German bakery.

You have the full day free to enjoy more optional treks or to just relax and enjoy the stunning mountain scenery. One of the many options is a level walk further up the valley to the hidden valley of Nubamatang (3,940m) and Langshisha Kharka (4,285m) where the Salbachum, Lanshisha, and Langtang glacial moraines all converge. Langshisa Ri lies just ahead of you, but at 6,427m, she's not the highest peak in sight as numerous other snow-capped peaks can be seen all around, including Shisha Pangma, the only 8,000-meter peak in Tibet.

Today will be a relatively easy trek with the journey mostly a steady downhill as you start retracing your steps, following the Langtang Khola to Lama Hotel. Along the way, you can enjoy the mountain views from a different aspect to your walk up the valley. Our route out of Kyangin Gompa takes us through the small village of Mundu which will give you some idea of how most houses in this region once looked.

Today we continue along the Langtang valley, covering new ground after passing the junction with the trail we descended on from Sherpagaon. Here we'll continue to follow the Langtang Khola along the base of the valley, passing by cornfields, before heading south and climbing up the side of the valley to the village of Thulo Syabru. If you wish, you could finish the trek today by continuing to Syabrubesi to spend the night there, before driving back to Kathmandu tomorrow. However, if you'd like to add more days, we suggest heading towards the start of the trek up to the Gosainkund lakes and enjoying more great views before finishing.

There's a good amount of climbing today as you walk south from Thulu Syabru, up the hill to Sing Gompa - there are great views of the valley below, Ganesh Himal up to the west and Tibetan peaks to the north. Today we trek to Phoprang Hill and walk through some forested areas before arriving at the small settlement and gompa of Sing Gompa. The ridge path up to the icy Gosainkund lakes and the Laurebina Pass continues uphill from here. The walk then follows the ridge, with spectacular panoramic views of Himalchuli, Manaslu and Ganesh to the west, and the high Tibetan plateau to the north before you reach Gosainkund - this is one of several sacred lakes that serve as major pilgrimage sites to Hindus from all over southern Asia.

The trek ends today with a steep descent from Sing Gompa through Dimsa to Deurali and then on to Dhunche where we meet our vehicle and drive back to Kathmandu.

You'll have some free time in Kathmandu today until being transferred to the airport for departure. Extensions are available if you'd like to do more trekking, try white water rafting, or add a visit to one of Nepal's national parks.