51 LGH-Treks
Trekking in the Langtang-Gosainkund-Helambu (LGH) regions of Nepal Himalaya
A wonderful trail through thick forest .... strewn with rhododendrons flowers and shrouded in cloudy mists
from Tharepati to Magengoth, in the Helambu region
How the LGH Trek got started:
I have been planning to do the Langtang-Gosainkund-Helambu (LGH) trek for last 3 years but every time some hurdle cropped up. In May-2013, everything lined up so well that I just booked my flight tickets and went without much preparation or fuss. A friend said he would come for part of this trek but dropped out when a new project (in his job), suddenly cropped up.
These Tea-house style treks in Nepal are totally different kind of experience, than any trek in India. I had tasted this in Everest Base camp and Annapurna Circuit treks earlier; and this LHG trek too, proved to be true to that style.
We got decent rooms for stay in Lodges/GHs everywhere; with cozy comforters and nice hot-cooked food as per Order. The typical but simple steaming hot Nepali Dal-Bhat, that I ate most of the time, tasted yummy after walking for 5-6 hours each day!
The day-wise itinerary is given in the footnote below. And I have already added detailed notes and comments with each picture I uploaded on Flickr.
So not much of Narratives in the blog on this trek. If you see the pictures in time-sequence (as they have been put in each Set) you would be able to read an absorbing trek story.
When I came back and started uploading my pictures to Flickr I was pleasantly surprised that Flickr has upgraded itself and now the pics shown are in vibrant colors and format. This must have resulted from the competition from Facebook and Google+ etc. Anyway now when you click the links below you will see the difference in presentation yourself.
Trek Story in detail as a Photo-Journal:
0. LGH Treks in Nepal - Highlights (40 Pics)
Select pics (click on Image to enlarge):
The last village of Kyanjin-Gompa in Langtang Valley - an awesome and rugged place. It snowed the night we were there.
Nice trail lined by flowering Rhododendrons from Chalangpati to Laurebina-yak
A rocky moraine terrain with many gushing streams as we approach Kyanjin-Gompa
Select pics from trek (click on Image to enlarge)
My first view of Langtang Lirung snow peaks from the trail, just after Lama Hotel Village
Snow peak seen to west from Thulo-Syabru ...
is it the Ganesh Himal ?
The Bhairab Lake ... at altitude of 4460M
The Gosainkund Lake at altitude of 4460M
Three youngsters who run the Tharepati GH where I stayed one night
Trek path with place marks (Google Image)
From the Files Page of this blog you can download a KMZ file to see the Trek Trails on Google Earth.
The Day-wise Itinerary of the tour:
Day-1 07-May-2103 Mumbai - Delhi - Kathmandu (flight)
Day-2 08-May-2013 At Kathmandu arranging Guide & TIMS Permit etc
Day-3 09-May-2013 Bus KTM to Sybrubesi [1503M] Bus Dep: 7:00AM Arr: 3:00PM Ride: 6.5hrs
Day-4 10-May-2013 TrekDay-1 Sybrubesi [1500M] to Lama Hotel [2455M] (via: Bamboo, Rimche, Riverside)
Per LP Guide: 6-7Hrs Ascent: 1070M
My Time: Dep: 6:30AM Arr: 2:00PM Total: 7.5Hrs Walk: 6.0Hrs
Day-5 11-May-2013 TrekDay-2 Lama Hotel to Langtang Village [3430M] (via: GhodaTabela, Thangsyap, Chamki)
Per LP Guide: 4.5 to 5.5Hrs Ascent: 980M
My Time: Dep: 7:15AM Arr: 3:15PM Total: 8.0Hrs Walk: 6.0Hrs
Day-6 12-May-2013 TrekDay-3 Langtang Village to Kyanjin Gompa [3830M] (via: Sindum)
Per LP Guide: 3 to 4Hrs Ascent: 460M
My Time: Dep: 7:30 AM Arr: 10:45AM Total: 3.25Hrs Walk: 3.0Hrs
Day-7 13-May-2013 TrekDay-4 Kyanjin Gompa to Lama Hotel [2455M](via: Lantang, GhodaTabela)
Per LP Guide: Not Given Descent: 1375M
My Time: Dep: 8:30 AM Arr: 4:00PM Total: 7.5 Hrs Walk: 6.0Hrs
Day-8 14-May-2013 TrekDay-5 Lama Hotel to Thulo Syabru [2250M] (via: Riveside, Bamboo, Landslide)
Per LP Guide: Not Given Ascent:480M Descent: 720M
My Time: Dep: 7:30 AM Arr: 3:30PM Total: 8.0 Hrs Walk: 6.5Hrs
Day-9 15-May-2013 Rest Day at Thulo Syabru [2250M] Nice place on top of a Ridge with great Views.
My GH: Snowfall with attached bath, Western WC & 24Hr Hot-shower
Day-10 16-May-2013 TrekDay-6 Thulo Syabru [2250M] to Chalangpati [3650M] (via Mukharkha)
Per LP Guide: Not Given Ascent: 1400M
My Time: Dep: 7:15 AM Arr: 1:45PM Total: 6.5 Hrs Walk: 5.5Hrs
Day-11 17-May-2013 TrekDay-7 Chalangpati [3650M] to Gosainkund Lake [4460M] (via Laurebina, Mukharkha)
Per LP Guide*: 3 to 4 Hrs Ascent: 810M
My Time: Dep: 7:45 AM Arr: 11:45PM Total: 4.0 Hrs Walk: 3.5Hrs
Day-12 18-May-2013 TrekDay-8 Gosainkund [4460M] to Phedi [3740M) (via Laurebina-La [4610M])
Per LP Guide*: 4 to 6 Hrs Ascent: 150M Descent: 870M
My Time: Dep: 7:45 AM Arr: 12:45PM Total: 5.0 Hrs Walk: 4.5 Hrs
Day-13 19-May-2013 TrekDay-9 Phedi [3740M] to Tharepatti [3690M] (via DhupiChaur, Ghopte)
Per LP Guide*: 4 to 6 Hrs Ascent: 350M Descent: 500M
My Time: Dep: 6:30 AM Arr: 2:00PM Total: 7.5 Hrs Walk: 5.5 Hrs
Day-14 20-May-2013 TrekDay-10 Tharepatti [3690M] to Kutumsang [2450M] (via Mangengoth)
Per LP Guide*: 6 to 7 Hrs Ascent: 210M Descent: 1450M
My Time: Dep: 7:15 AM Arr: 3:45PM Total: 8.5 Hrs Walk: 6.0 Hrs
Day-15 21-May-2013 TrekDay-11 Kutumsang [2450] to Chisapani [2165M] (via Golphu, Chipling, Pati Bhanjyang)
Per LP Guide*: 5 to 6 Hrs Ascent: 700M Descent: 985M
My Time: Dep: 7:15 AM Arr: 3:45PM Total: 8.5 Hrs Walk: 6.0 Hrs
Day-16 22-May-2013 TrekDay-12 Chisapani [2165M] to Sundarijal [1460M] (via Borlang, Mulkharaka) & Bus to KTM
Per LP Guide: 5 to 6 Hrs Ascent: 150M Descent: 1150M
My Time: Dep: 7:15 AM Arr: 11:45PM Total: 4.0 Hrs Walk: 3.0 Hrs Busto-KTM: 1Hr
Day-17 23-May-2013 Rest Day at Kathmandu - settling accounts etc.
Day-18 24-May-2013 Kathmandu - Delhi - Mumbai (flight)
Note: * some LP Guide times have been "adjusted" by me; to match my start/end points (where different from LP)
For hiring a Porter-Guide with Insurance and getting my TIMS Permit, I took the help of Mr. Puru Timalsena, Above the Himalaya Trekking (P) Ltd., Shukra Bhawan, Thamel, Kathmandu. Ph: +977-1-4426818 Cell: +977 98510-95800