Langtang
is the closest trekking region to Kathmandu, indeed the
Langtang trek can be started in Kathmandu itself.
From Sundarajil, just outside
Kathmandu the fourteen day trek follows the Shiva pilgrim
trail for 150 kilometers, over the Shiva Puri Ridge, over
the Gosainkund Lekh via the Laurebina Pass at 4,700 metres.
The Langtang Trek provides an opportunity to see
the nearly whole Nepalese Himalayan mountain range from
Annapurna in the west, to Makalu in the east. On the morning
of the second day, this amazing view can be seen for the
first time from the top of the Shiva Puri Ridge.
The trek continues along a high ridge for 6 days until
it crosses the Laurebina Pass. Just below the pass lies
the Gosainkund Lakes at 4,300 metres. The Gosainkund lakes
are the object of the Shiva pilgrim trail for they were
once visited by Shiva himself. From here, the path descends
to Syabru, an interesting village on the crest of a ridge.
The trek now enters the Langtang valley.
The Langtang valley is sacred and no animals may be killed
here. It is also a national park. The forest is full of
wildlife.
Higher up, past the tree line, lies
Kanjin Gompa, an architectural master piece. Its sloping
walls complement the slopes of the mountain behind, Langtang
Lirung.
The Langtang valley continues west and then north for
another 50 kilometers beyond Kanjin Gompa. This is beyond
the range of tea house trekking, for there are no lodges.
Today, the upper Langtang region is visited mainly by
expeditions to Dorje Lakpa and Shisha Pangma.
Finally the trek returns down
the valley to Syabru Bensi from where the bus can be caught
to Kathmandu.