UNESCO Bhaktapur and Kathmandu sightseeing trip, includes Buddhist and Hindu temples and shrines representing historic local customs. There will be time to explore the city’s many points of interest on your own or to rest while trekking permits are being completed. In the evening, indulge in a delectable traditional Nepali supper. Spend the night in Kathmandu.

Drive to Dhunche and then to Syabrubesi through Trishuli Bazaar, either by own vehicle or by local tourist coach (the standard option). Overnight at Syabrubesi (4WD required due to the rugged, unpaved road).

We check out of our hotel and cross the Bhote Koshi River on a suspension bridge to “old” Syabrubesi, a cluster of dwellings and a school on the opposite side of the river. Another suspension bridge takes us across the Langtang Khola, which we will be following upwards for the next few days. We gradually ascend to Doman (1,680 m) and then continue over a rocky ridge to Landslide Lodge and Hot Spring restaurant, which is called after a small hot spring on the opposite river bank at 1,810 m. The trail now slowly ascends to Bamboo Lodge, where we will have lunch. We will witness almost vertical cliffs covered in cacti opposite the river. We cross the Langtang Khola on a new suspension bridge to the north bank after Bamboo. The forest on this side of the river is sparser and dryer since it contains primarily scrub oaks and nettles. On an excellent track, we climb steeply to Rimche (2,510 m). We have completed the majority of today’s climbs and are gently descending to our chosen teahouse, where we will spend the night (6 hours).

The day begins with a mild ascent, but it quickly grows steeper as it passes through a forest of hemlocks, oaks, maples, and rhododendrons. The trail offers stunning views of Langtang Lirung (7,246 m). We pass two forest lodges at Gumanchok (2,800 m) after a little more than an hour, from which we climb to a Nepal army station and a national park checkpoint at Ghora Tabela (2,970 m). As the valley widens, the trail gradually ascends. We’ll pass a few teashops on our way to Thangshyap (3,140 meters), where we’ll have lunch. Before reaching Langtang, the road enters open country and passes many Mani stones, water-driven prayer wheels, and a few scattered Tamang settlements. This is a little community with yak farms and guesthouses. The neighboring fields, which grow buckwheat, potatoes, wheat, turnips, and barley, are surrounded by traditional stone fence (5 hours).

Walking through the village of Langtang, we will pass many stone Mani walls covered with Tibetan inscriptions to please the gods. It then climbs gradually past the small villages of Mumdu and Sindum. The trail continues through yak pastures. After crossing the Langtang Khola to its south bank, we climb up through a landscape scattered with large boulders to a moraine where we will have the first views of Kyanjin Gompa ahead of us and the dramatic icefall flowing from Langtang Lirung and Langtang Kinshung (6,781 m) north of us. Our route weaves through the large boulders to a gompa and from here it’s a short descent to Kyanjin Gompa.It is simple to arrive at our destination before lunch, giving us time to acclimate and enjoy the surroundings. Hiking to one of the good vistas is one alternative. The Kyanjin Ri (4,773 m) is a two-hour ascent to the north of Kyanjin Gompa. We have a beautiful view of the western mountain range, including Langshisha Ri (6,370 m), Gang Chhenpo (6,388 m), and Dorje Lakpa (6,966 m). It takes roughly 3 hours to get to the viewpoint and another 3 hours to get back.

We stayed in Kyanjin Gompa today to explore more of the Langtang valley. Our path falls briefly to an old abandoned VTOL runway before ascending the river to some herders’ homes at Jatang (3,840 m). We will gradually ascend the valley until we are surrounded by the mountain amphitheater, with Langshisha Ri, Langshisha Kharka, and Dorje Lakpa towering above us. After lunch, we’ll make our way to Kyanjin Gompa.

Today we return to Lama Hotel; with a few minor exceptions, the track descends the majority of the way, descending roughly 1400 meters (5 hours).

We’ll take the “high” path back to Syabrubesi for a change of pace. This pathway diverges from the path we went uphill immediately after leaving the Lama Hotel. The path leads to the little settlement of Syarpagaon, then to Bhanjyanggaon and Khangjung before returning to Syabrubesi. This was the primary route to Langtang prior to the construction of the new trail (which we used on our trip up) (6 hours).

Return to Kathmandu by private 4WD or (as an option, a local tourist coach). Staying in a hotel for the night