Trekking in Langtang

Hi,

My boyfriend and I plan to do and 8 day Langtang trek up to Kyanjin Gompa, then back and up to Gosaikund lakes, and back to Dunche (excuse my spelling!)

We are starting on 24th Feb and are a bit concerned how cold it might get at night in the lodges. We are not planning to take a guide or porter so want to travel as light as possible, we have 2-3 season sleeping bags, but are not sure if they%26#39;ll be warm enough.

We haven%26#39;t done this sort of teahouse trek before, are the lodges generally reasonably comfortable? My boyfriend is prone to a bad back so am a little worried!

Any information would be really welcome, thanks

H

Trekking in Langtang

The answer is COLD ! There%26#39;s also a fair chance of snow lying on the Laurebina.

Kyanjin is at just short of 4000 metres, Gosainkund at 4400. Whilst the lodges have heating in the dining rooms they don%26#39;t in bedrooms ! I suspect that with lightweight bags at night you%26#39;ll be wearing every bit of clothing you have.

An 8 day schedule seems very tight: over 2000 metres of ascent from Syabrubenshi to Kyanjin (and presumably 3 days), then back to below Bamboo Lodge at 1700 metres (1 day), then up to Thulo Syabru, Sing Gompa, Laurebinayak, and Gosainkunda (3 days), and another 2500 metres of ascent. then down to Dunche ?

It sounds like a recipe for all sorts of potential problems with altitude - too far, too high, too fast. Even the timings above are slightly tongue in cheek. I assume that you are fitter than I was when I did this route on 2007, but we took a total of 14 days to reach Gosainkunda: admittedly that included 2 nights at Langtang village, and 3 nights at Kyanjin - it%26#39;s called acclimatisation (and time to enjoy being there !)

Throw the bad back, and the idea of back-packing, (why not a poerter ?) into the mix, and I suggest that this is a very ambitious itinerary . . . . .

Trekking in Langtang

Thanks so much for your reply. I was thinking we were trying to do too much! We only have 8 days, (and we want to enjoy it!) so do you think we%26#39;d be better off just taking our time to go to kyanjin and back, with rest days etc.

We are pretty fit, we do a lot of walking and running at weekends, but I wouldn%26#39;t say we are super fit (and who knows at altitude!) I%26#39;m thinking we might be better just doing either the Kyanjin section, or the Gosainkunda. Which would you say was the more unmissable of the two. Or if you have any other suggestions of treks in this area that would be great! I did hear that you could return from Kyanjin on a slightly different route (on the other side of the valley I think)

Thanks again

H

I do think you%26#39;ll enjoy the experience far more if you opt for one or the other, rather than both !

As to which one, you%26#39;ll have to make up your own minds . . . both have their particular attractions and disavantages

KYANJIN: we went from Syabrubensi to Bamboo Lodge, then to just beyond the Lama Hotel (we were camping), then to Langtang village, then a half-day to Kyanjin. Faster trekkers could manage that in three days rather than 3 1/2). There are lodges at all 4 locations (and a choice of lodges at Langtang and Kyanjin).

The first couple of days, as far as Ghora Tabela, we found to be a stiff climb, and the views were quite restricted as you%26#39;re in the deep gorge, with dense forest. Once above Ghora Tabela you are onto the flat (well, flattish !) floor of the glacial valley, and above the tree-line: the walking obviously gets easier, and the views are superb. By the time you reach Kyanjin you are really amongst the mountains.

We spent several days at Kyanjin, including an ascent of the local small (walk-up) peak, which gave incredible views into the amphitheatre below Langtang Lirung. It was good to have the time to enjoy the area and the village.

Allow 2 days back down to Syabrubenshi.

I have read of the route along the north side of the valley (I think it branches off below Ghora Tabela, but we didn%26#39;t use it as we were heading off to Gosainkund)

GOSAINKUNDA

It would be a feasible, but long day from Syabrubenshi to Thulo Syabru, and 800 metres ascent. You would get out of the forested gorge fairly quickly, and into pleasant terraced farmland below Thulo Syabru. Thulo Syabru iteself is a pleasant village, with good facilities including several lodges ( and Nima%26#39;s Cyber Cafe ';For all you web suffering needs'; as his poster says - either Nima%26#39;s english is less than perfect, or he%26#39;s very honest !!)

From Thulo Syabru to Sing Gompa we found to be a fairly painful ascent (even though by then we were slightly fitter and better acclimatised form time spent in Kyanjin). Similarly from Sing Gompa up as far as Laurebinayak is a stiff ascent, and after that a more gentle climb through wild bleak mountain landscapes to the lakes of Gosainkund. The views back across the Langtang and over to the Ganesh Himal are spectacular. Gosainkund itself has 3 or 4 lodges, the scenery is austere and impressive, and the sunset was superb.

Thinking about it from your point of view:

Kyanjin is 500 metres lower than Gosainkund (and consequently probably 5 degrees centigrade warmer, and with slightly less risk of altitude problems).

There%26#39;s probably more potential for enjoyable day walks from Kyanjin.

You can go from Dhunche rather than from Syabrubenshi, which would give an itinerary as follows:

Drive to Dunche (will take most of a day by bus, as the latter stages are unsurfaced)

1. Dhunche - Thulo Syabru

2. Thulo Syabru - Lama Hotel

3. Lama Hotel - Lantang Village

4. Possibly acclimatisation day at Langtang

5. Langtang - Kynajin

6. Kyanjin - ascent of Kyanjin Ri

7. Back down to Lama Hotel or Bamboo Lodge

8. To Syabrubenshi

Bus back to Kathmandu (nb they leave very early in the morning!)

Final thought: Why no porter ? Saves the boyfriend%26#39;s back, makes for more comfortable trekking, and probably he%26#39;ll be able to add to your experience by knowing a bit about the culture and the area. Admittedly it costs, wages and accommodation, but I%26#39;ve found that the gain in terms of insight into the country, and the company of warm friendly people, makes it well worth-while.

Any further infromation, please don%26#39;t hesitate to ask via the forum or a Personal Message

Alan

Hello HhhhhHHH,

How are you doing?

Its so nice to hear from you about trekking in Langtang and Gsainkunda. Its really nice to inform you some words that I know.

Recently, I did Annapurna Circuit trekking and in coming September we (I am my Wife) are planning to go to Langtang and Gosainkunda lake trekking for about 17 days. While we did Annapurna Circuit trekking we had a guide named Upendra and for Langtang trekking also we are confirmed to trek with him because of his natural behavior towards us. If you want to know any information then he can provide you. You can contact him directly to his email to know more: theupendra@gmail.com so I am sure that he will provide you the accurate information.

Best of luck for your trekking.

Regards,

Jone

Hi,

How was the trek???

I%26#39;ve done just a really fast one.

Syabrubensi to Kyanjin Gompa and back!

3 days 2 nights:-)))

It was nice ,but hard!!! but I enjoyed it.

have a nice day!

bagmati