Tamang Heritage Trail & Langtang Valley 12 Days

This part of Nepal, which is located next to the Langtang valley, is far less visited by tourists. The Tamang Heritage Trail is a gem trek for those trekkers who would like to experience some of the local cultures of Nepal. This gives you a chance to experience authentic encounters with the warm and old traditional Tibetan Buddhist culture of the Tamang. This trail passes through Tamang villages with regular views of the Langtang and Ganesh mountain ranges. After a few days of encountering the Tamang culture, you are going to explore the beautiful Langtang Valley.

The journey starts with a day drive by private car to Syabrubesi. This village has become a commercial area and it is the starting point for a trek into the Langtang Valley and Gosainkunda Lakes. After the earthquake of April 2015, the route to Syabrubesi has become the main route to the Tibetan border for travel and trading with Tibet. On the first trekking day, you will climb for 2 hours to Gholjong. After the climb, you will be rewarded with great views of the Ganesh mountain range. From Gholjong it is an easy hike to Gatlang. The next day you will descend to the Trisuli river passing by mani walls and chortens. In Tatopani (“hot water” in Nepali) you can take a bath in one of the natural hot springs in the middle of the village. After Tatopani, it is uphill trekking to the highest point of the Tamang trail. You will hike through the forest to Nagthali Gyan at an altitude of 3165 meters. After enjoying the mountain views you will hike to the traditional Tamang village of Thuman. Thuman is a large village in the Langtang region where locals live according to their old Buddhist traditional lifestyle. Thuman has ancient monasteries and traditional wood-carved houses. After Thuman, you will hike through the rhododendron forest and open meadows to another traditional Tamang village of Briddim. From Briddim you will explore the Langtang Valley. On the first days into the valley, you will follow the roaring Langtang Khola river that cuts through a gorge. After a few days, the valley opens up to meadows and small farming settlements. You will be treated with a view of stunning views far into the valley. Here you will pass many long Buddhist mani walls. In the valley, you will pass the former village of Langtang. This local village is no longer there for it was buried under millions of tons of rock and ice during the devastating earthquake in the spring of 2015. The only building still standing is the Gompa. Ten additional buildings on the edge of the landslide were totally destroyed by the air pressure wave. In the centre of the debris are five white flags, in memory of the deceased.
You continue on to Mundu near the former village of Langtang. In the village of Kyangjin Gompa, you have a resting day. An optional day hike is possible to one of the surrounding peaks, the Kyangjin Ri (4600 meters) or the Tsergo Ri (5200 meters). From these peaks, you will have a panoramic view of the entire Langtang mountain range including the Langtang Lirung and Shishapangma. From Kyangjin Gompa you follow back your footsteps out of the valley the same way you came.