A Lantang Ri Trekking & Expedition representative will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. When you are ready you will be collected from your hotel lobby and driven to our Thamel office where you will be formally introduced to your trekking guide. We will go through all your trek itinerary and arrangements with you to ensure every detail is in place. We will also ask for your passport, extra passport photographs, travel insurance and any other details so that we can organize any permits required for your trek in the Langtang National Park.

After breakfast, we start an interesting tour around Kathmandu. Escorting by an English speaking guide (we can be provide any language speaking guide on request) the tour will give you a taste of our vivid Nepali culture and history. In our sightseeing tour we will visit the Monkey Temple Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, Bouddhanath and Kathmandu Durbar Square.

Bouddhanath: Bouddhanath is a Buddhist religious complex with a history dating back over 500 years. Located on the eastern edge of Kathmandu it is now a site of great pilgrimage for Buddhist followers who circle its massive stupa, spin its many prayer wheels and visit its beautiful monastery. The main feature of Boudhanath is its huge hemispherical white stupa with central golden tower and the all-seeing eyes of the Buddha. Visitors should circle the stupa in a clockwise direction and spin prayer wheels for good fortune and a good life. Visitors may also enjoy visiting the thangka painting school within the complex to see highly skilled artists at work on religious mandala paintings.

Pashupatinath: This Hindu Temple is a very large complex and focal point for the Hindu religion in Nepal. This old and very revered complex of buildings and shrines is dedicated to the Lord Shiva, one of the main deities of Hinduism. While Lord Shiva has multiple forms he is often seen as the destroyer. This has great significance for the Pashupatinath temple as it is the site of many Hindu ritual cremations each day. Pashupatinath is considered by Hindus to be an auspicious site for passing from one stage of life to the next through the purifying and destroying flames of cremation. However, on a happier note, visitors may also get to see the temple in a buoyant festival mode with one of the many Hindu festivals celebrated here through the year.

Swayambhunath: You will visit the Swayambhunath temple complex that sits atop a high hill overlooking Kathmandu and the entire Kathmandu Valley. Swayambhunath is perhaps the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage site in Nepal. It consists of a very large white stupa with the all-seeing-eye of Lord Buddha plus many small stupa and beautifully carved stone shrines. This is a wonderful place to catch your breath and start to understand and appreciate the deep importance of Buddhist beliefs to the people of Nepal and the Himalaya region. Make sure you ring the many bells to awaken the gods and let them know you are in Nepal. Take the time to enjoy the view over Kathmandu and have your guide point the many other highlights of the city. In the far distance to the east you may also be able to see the hills of Nagarkot. If you feel energetic you might also like to try some or all of the 350 steps that lead all the way from Kathmandu city up to your Swayambhunath temple vantage point.

Kathmandu Durbar Square: The next stop today is the beautiful Kathmandu Durbar Square, or the royal palace square of the ancient Malla kings of the Kathmandu Valley. This square and all its architectural treasures are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While some damage to buildings occurred in the 2015 earthquake the site still contains many stunning architectural gems. The original royal palace courtyards are open to visitors and you will marvel at the intricate timber carving and beautifully crafted brickwork of the palace. The open square outside the palace has many beautiful multi-storey pagodas and temples with ornate carving and carpentry artwork that tells some of the story of the ancient kings and their mystical time and beliefs. The square also contains many important Hindu temples and statues such as to Vishnu and Lord Shiva. Durbar Square also contains the unique and intriguing Kumari Chok. This is an ancient and ornate house where resides the Raj Kumari – the Living Goddess. She is a young girl chosen through an ancient and mystical selection process to become the human incarnation of the Hindu mother goddess, Durga. If you are in the courtyard of her home at the right time in the afternoon you may see a brief glimpse of the goddess at her window.

The drive from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi which takes about eight hours. You head out of Kathmandu on the highway to Pokhara however you will soon exit the highway and head north along a main valley road. The road then heads up into the Himalaya foothills and winds its way through many valleys to reach the busy little town of Dhunche. Here your guide will meet the National Park entrance checkpoint and have your permits checked and stamped to proceed further north into the Langtang National Park. As you head further north some of the high ridges you cross will provided your first glimpses of snow-clad Himalayan peaks. After another descent down the valley side you will arrive at Syabrubesi a busy trading and trekking town. There are many trekking lodges here serving trekkers heading to many parts of the Langtang region. There are also a range of small shops where you may purchase some last-minute items for your trek. But make sure you get to bed early and get plenty of restful sleep – tomorrow will be a big day.

The first part of today’s rather long walk is the hardest – so take your time on the ascent and the day will get easier. You start by crossing the small bridge just north of Shabrubeshi and the trail immediately starts ascending. While there is a 4WD road up to Khangjim your guide will probably take you up the traditional walking trail. The trail is much steeper than the road but this is the traditional trekking route used by local people and traders for centuries. It will probably take about two or three hours to reach Khangjim and then it is time for a short break and perhaps a cup of local tea. You are now high above the river valley and you have your first views to snow-capped peaks. The trail then winds high along the valley wall as you head east into the Langtang Valley and head for Sherapagaon. The walking is much easier now as the ascent grade is much more gentle. After some late lunch in Sherapagaon you continue your gentle ascent to Rimche. As you proceed you will find you are no longer high on the valley side but now down in the valley floor. By the time you reach Rimche late in the afternoon you will have gained about 1,100m in altitude. Time for a rest!

From Rimche you will follow the original valley-floor trekking trail up the Langtang Valley. Damage to bridges and the trekking trail have all been pretty much repaired and so the walking on this and subsequent days will be much easier than yesterday. The trail takes you through rhododendron and pine forest for around three hours to reach Ghoda Tabela where you will stop for lunch. The trail then continues on and reaches the site of Langtang Village, however this may be a very sombre and perhaps distressing sight as the village was entirely destroyed by a massive landslide caused by the 2015 earthquake. Your guide will say a prayer for all those that perished and you may also wish to add your prayers and thoughts. The trek will then continue on the short distance to the little village of Mundu. You are now in the middle of the glorious Langtang Valley and likely feel humbled by the size and power of the mountains towering above you on both sides of the valley. This is a spectacular location.

Today is easy walking again as you head towards the top of the valley. There is plenty of time to take it easy and a slow pace will also help you acclimatise and reduce the risk of altitude sickness symptoms. Take some time to enjoy views of Mount Ganchempo and Mount Langtang Lirung high above you. You may also like to pay a visit to the Yak Cheese Factory and learn that the milk for the cheese comes from the Nak and not the Yak – your guide will have fun explaining to you. By early afternoon you will reach the extensive complex of the Kyanjin Gompa Monastery. Find a place to sit outside in the sun and just soak up the stunning scenery.

Today you may rest or explore the valley and riverbeds around Kyanjin Gompa. If you feel strong and have no symptoms of altitude sickness you might like to take a trek to climb to the top of Tsergo Ri at 5,150m or 19,600 feet altitude. You should take this ascent very slowly as the air is thin and the gradient gets steep. The more gentle you are on your legs, lungs and heart the better. You will return back to Kyanjin Gompa with some of the most stunning Himalaya Mountain photos. The view from Tsergo Ri will just capture you and you will not want to leave. Such is the captivating power of the Himalaya Mountains all along the Langtang Valley.

Today requires another long walk as we head all the way back to Rimche in just one day – but be assured it is all downhill so you will be fine. You may find yourself getting faster as you go due to the extra oxygen in each lower-altitude breath.

Today you retrace the path along the high valley wall trail to Khangjim and then rapidly down to Shabrubeshi. Time to kick the trekking boots off and relax after a good shower.

After breakfast we drive back to Kathmandu.

The afternoon is free time for you to explore Thamel and do some shopping for yourself and friends back home. In the evening we will have a farewell dinner with your group and guides.

We will collect you from your hotel lobby in plenty of time to take you to the airport to check-in for your flight. We wish you well for your journey home and hope you will return to Nepal soon to explore another region of our amazing little country.