Trekking in Nepal has been 15 of the most spectacular days of hiking in my life. Incredible mountains, tough climbs, unforgettable sunrises, epic views, and interesting villages lost in time.
I hiked with a small group for 10 days in the Langtang Valley Region, north of Kathmandu. We connected three treks: the Helambu, Gosainkunda, and the Langtang Valley. For the final five days, I trekked the Tamang Heritage Trail by myself.
Trekking in Nepal is undoubtedly popular, but if you choose the right trek, you’ll have a better experience, less crowds, and more stellar views to yourself. This is why I recommend the Langtang Region.
To help answer any questions you might have about trekking in Nepal, I posted: Trekking in Nepal FAQs
The following are some of the highlights of my trek in the Nepalese Himalaya:
Our trekking began in the lower elevations, just north of Kathmandu, on the Helambu Trek. Here’s a typical view.We left in September, after the summer corn harvest.Our first sunrise from the village of Chisapani.Our group hiking along the Helambu Trek.We met these school kids on their morning walk to school.Passing through a village.Resting along the Helambu Trek on day three.Our tea house accomodation in Kutumsang, Nepal.View from tea house room in Kutumsang.Sunrise from Kutumsang village.Stretching our legs before entering Langtang National Park.Stopping at a tea house for lunch.Evening view from our tea house in Mangengoth.Our tea house accommodation in Mangengoth.View from our tea house in Phedi.Climbing our way up to the Laurabina Pass.High altitude lakes of the Gosainkunda.Our group poses at the Laurabina Pass, at 4,610 meters.Me at Laurebina Pass.Hiking down to the scenic Gosainkunda lakes.A high altitude stretch of the trail below Gosainkunda.Wildflowers along the train.View from the Gosainkunda Trek.Sunrise view from Laurebina, the most memorable of the trek.Another view of sunrise from Laurebina.Mother and child we met along the way.Entering the Langtang Valley.The Langang Valley opens up.Entering Langtang National Park (again).The village of Langtang, yet another settlement without roads to the outside world.Going for a day hike above Kyanjin Gumba.The village of Kyanjin Gumba, at the end of the Langtang Valley.Naks grazing above Kyanjin Gumba.View halfway up Tserko Ri.Another view halfway up Tserko Ri.View from the top of Tserko Ri at 4,984 meters, the highest point along our trek.Horses grazing in the higher elevation.View coming down from Tserko Ri.Morning breaks outside Kyanjin Gumba.Towering peaks above Kyanjin Gumba.Apple pie has become a trekking tradition. We ate this homemade pie at a cafe in Kyanjin GumbaWildlife seen along the trail.View of the Langtang Valley.Approaching Briddhim village along the Tamang Heritage Heritage Trek.View from Thuman village.View from my tea house accomodation in Thuman.Boy in Thuman village.Wheat was being harvested and dried when I was trekking.Morning view of the peaks from Nagthali.Prayer flags in the morning light above Nagthali.The trekking staple and Nepalese classic, dal baht. We ate dal baht at least once per day.A basket maker in Tatopani.A woman weaving in Tatopani.A woman and her baby return to Tatopani with sheared woolPortrait of a family from Tatopani.Gatlang village along the Tamang Heritage Trek.Children in Gatlang looking at their digital image on a trekkers camera.Houses in Gatlang.More old connected houses in Gatlang.My view the last morning as I hiked down from Gatlang to catch the bus in Thambuchet.
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Stephen Bugno has been traveling the world and writing about it for the better part of 20 years. His articles and essays have appeared in The San Francisco Chronicle, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Seattle Times, and Transitions Abroad magazine. He blogs at Bohemian Traveler and edits the independent travel magazine GoMadNomad.com. He most recently set up a tour company offering authentic, small group tours at Unquote Travel. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Your photographs on your recent trip to the Lantang National Park are truely awesome and breathtaking. I will be going there in late October and I am glad I made the right choice. I am truely inspired by the fotos. Thank you very much for sharing.
Hi Stephen,
Your photographs on your recent trip to the Lantang National Park are truely awesome and breathtaking. I will be going there in late October and I am glad I made the right choice. I am truely inspired by the fotos. Thank you very much for sharing.
Regards,
Francis
Thanks Francis, You are going to love it. It was an amazing experience. Let me know if you have any questions. But read this first http://gomadnomad.com/2013/10/16/trekking-in-nepal-faqs/ It may help with your planning.
Also If you didn’t see:
http://gomadnomad.com/2014/01/19/nepal-helambu-trek/
http://gomadnomad.com/2014/02/19/nepal-gosainkunda-trek/
http://gomadnomad.com/2014/03/05/nepal-langtang-valley-trek/
http://gomadnomad.com/2014/05/21/trekking-tamang-heritage-trek/