The Tamang Heritage Trail Trek is an exceptional journeying of culture with the adulation of stunning mountain views and one of the fast-growing popular trekking packages in Nepal’s Langtang region. Consecrated Tibetan culture infuses at every nook and corner of the ancient villages en route on this top trekking destination of Nepal. Venturing deep into the Tamang hinterland, this short trekking itinerary in Nepal leads through the luxuriant midlands where one can experience cultural interactions as well as savor the perplexing mountain views. Situated close to the Langtang Valley, the Tamang Heritage Trail sees fewer trekkers who visit and explore the untouched splendor and unexploited cultural beauty of the region with off-the-beaten and less trodden paths. Indigenous people of this region have the firmness of keeping their culture and traditions integral and unharmed. Their matchless rituals and religious practices are virtually mirrored in the several monasteries lined up on the trekking trail.
Tamang Heritage Trail Trek is a unique trail in the eco-trekking region of Nepal which has important heritage value as well as lots of options for home-stay trekking in Nepal’s Langtang region. Houses in the trekking region are decorated lavishly with obscure carvings and locals weave baskets and have a wide assortment of handicrafts on display for sale. The Tamang Heritage Trail Trek itinerary has been adeptly crafted as an adventurous trip for nature lovers and trekking fanatics through lush green valleys and stunning jungle trails. The journey begins with a sensational sightseeing exploration to some of the famous cultural and historical landmarks solicited by UNESCO as world heritage sites in Kathmandu. It is an adventurous scenic drive on mountainous roads meandering through the beautiful valleys and meadows along the bank of Trishuli River up to Syabrubesi, the starting point of this trek.
The trek route traverses along the Bhote Koshi and Chilime River Valley through the Tamang settlements such as Gatlang, Goljung, Cherka, Tatopani, Thuman, Brimdang, Nagthali, Briddim, Lingling, Rimche, and Lama Hotel. Leading through alpine terrain, yak pastures, meadows and rhododendron forests, stunning views of Himalayan peaks such as Manaslu, Langtang Lirung, Sanjen, Kerung, Ganesh Himal and others unfurl in their most gracious appearance. The Parbati Kunda (lake) at Gatlang and Dukchu monastery in Briddim village are other highlights of this lesser-visited trekking package in Nepal. It is a moderate trek and anyone with reasonable fitness and the ability to walk for several hours a day can accomplish it with small efforts. Autumn and spring are the best seasons for trekking in Nepal considering the weather and the temperature. Royal Holidays are ever ready to customize trips and eagerly waits for weaving another lifelong memory during your trekking holiday in Nepal.
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View Available DatesDuration: 30 minutes Drive
Altitude: 1340 M
On arrival in Kathmandu and fulfilling immigration formalities, you will be met by one of our representatives near the exit gate of the airport with a placard for precise identification. You will then be transferred to your pre-assigned hotel room where you may stretch your legs and relax to regain your energy due to a possible jet lag. If your arrival time is early, then you may hit the streets of Thamel in the evening and saunter around, buy things that may entice your eyes or simply sit back and relax at some pub or music bar with your favorite beer and soothing melodies. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Duration: 4 - 5 hr
Altitude: 1340 M
After a satisfactory breakfast in your hotel, you will embark for a guided tour to some of the most historical and spiritual attractions of the city that are listed under the UNESCO world heritage sites. A visit to the highly venerated Hindu temple of Pashupatinath, the high-flying monkey temple at Swayambhunath, Bouddhanath – a Buddhist shrine and one of the largest stupas in the world, and the charismatic Basantapur Durbar Square leaves impressive reminiscences at the back of your head for a considerable period of time. Later in the afternoon, you will visit our office where you will meet your trip manager, other trekkers, and crew members. Your trip leader will brief you shortly about your upcoming trip in the Mardi Himal region, check your equipment and interact for any unclear thoughts in your head before you go back to your hotel. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Duration: 7 - 8 hr
Altitude: 1460 M
After an early breakfast in your Kathmandu hotel, you embark on a rather long drive to reach the starting point of your Langtang trekking trip. The road trip to Syabrubesi traverses you through winding roads along the scenic banks of the river Trishuli amidst beautiful valleys, meadows, small streamlets and mountains. The road, in due course of time, gets on an unpaved track making it a rough and adventurous ride on the dazzling route through high valley ridges and stunning panoramic glimpses of the Himalayan giants including the Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal and the peaks of the Langtang range. It may be possible to catch sight of few faunal endangered species of the Himalayan black bears, red pandas, the yellow-throated martens, and oodles of monkeys. The trip culminates at a small village of Syabrubesi in the valley of glaciers, the Langtang Valley. Overnight in Syabrubesi.
Duration: 4 - 5 hr
Altitude: 2238 M
Today is the first day of your trekking trip. You will start after breakfast in Syabrubesi ascending from the main street in the town following a steep footstep. Observing different traditional villages along the way, you will soon be changing your trail from the dirt track onto stone steps passing through mustard and buckwheat fields until you arrive at Rongga Bhanjyang. From here it is a downhill trod till the village of Goljung where you will stop for lunch. After lunch, you will continue ascending gently enjoying views of the Ganesh Himal, Langtang Lirung, Shishapangma, and other peaks. After almost 3 hours you will reach a small village set high on a hillside among terraced fields that comprises stone houses with wooden shutters and carved colorful Tibetan decorations. This is the Tamang village of Gatlang. You may visit the Tamang monastery and the beautiful Parbati Kunda (lake) in this picturesque village. Overnight in Gatlang.
Duration: 4 - 5 hr
Altitude: 2610
After breakfast today, you will continue hiking following a line of stone chortens and Mani walls with mantras inscribed on them eventually leading you to the Bamdang Khola Valley and then to Chilime village. Far above the clouds, you will catch a sight of the lofty Langtang peak peeking over 7000 meters high. Crossing the Chilime River over a suspension bridge, you make gradual ascent till you arrive at Cherka village and stop there for lunch. After lunch, it is a steep climb up to Gonggang village passing through a traditional rural landscape, strewn with authentic houses and agricultural plots of land. From this village, you will walk along a contour line that goes up constantly till the village of Tatopani, supposedly meant to have a lot of hot springs (as the name Tatopani suggests). But the hot springs are no longer there and only empty pools remain after the destructive 2015 earthquake. Overnight in Tatopani.
Duration: 4 - 5 hr
Altitude: 3165 M
Today, you will walk uphill through an impressive subtropical forest with climbing plants until you reach a small typical Tamang settlement of Brimdang. Savoring the mesmerizing mountain views and the village life, you will have lunch at Brimdang. After lunch, you will continue the gentle climb up to Nagthali Ghyang, a high and open grassland, with amazing views of Langtang Lirung, Sanjen, Kerung, Ganesh Himal and other Himalayan peaks. Nagthali is regarded as a popular meditation center for the local monks. After spending some time at Nagthali hill along with a cup of masala tea prepared by the Gompa’s caretaker, you will continue hiking, this time on a downhill along a paved route with stone steps to Thuman, another Tamang village which is filled with smiling children and traditional houses with decorated wooden balconies. The village is also famous for its Shamanic performances. Locals in this village are very friendly and influenced by Tibetan culture; they love to sing and dance. In the evening, you may be able to watch the Tamang cultural show in one of the lodges where you spend your night. Overnight in Thuman.
Duration: 7 - 8 hr
Altitude: 2230 M
The day’s hike to Briddim begins with a gentle descent to the Bhote Koshi River valley next to a suspension bridge, from where it is a gentle climb up to Lingling village. After lunch at this village, you will climb other stone steps until the end of the village. You will reach a pass surrounded by prayer flags, and then descend steeply into a valley that is abundant with waterfalls. From here, you hike for a short while before you finally arrive at another quaint Tamang hamlet, Briddim. Located ideally on the lap of the Langtang Himal, Briddim is a Tibetan Buddhist village where watermills spin the prayer wheels clockwise and the local women make woolen bags on looms. Most houses here are built by stones and are dwelled in by people of Tibetan origin; the village resembles a typical Tibetan village. You may visit the Dukchu Gompa after a short rest. Overnight in Briddim.
You will depart from Briddim after closely observing the typical Tibetan culture and lifestyle of the village. After breakfast, you will drop down to Ghopche River, which is, in fact, a small stream. Traversing along forests filled with juniper and pine, the trail towards Lama Hotel begins to ascend gradually. You will first arrive at Rimche village from where it is only about half an hour to reach Lama Hotel, which is one of the oldest undisturbed valleys in Nepal. Lama Hotel isn’t really a hotel but the name of a tiny town inside the forests of Langtang Valley with small hotels, lodges and pleasant teahouses. Overnight in Lama Hotel.
This is your final trekking day where you will retrace your steps back after breakfast towards Syabrubesi on a reasonably gentler descent. Enjoying the serene forested hills, you will hike downhill on the same path that you traversed during your ascent. If you are self-assured enough about your energy level, you could possibly opt for a more demanding route from Rimche via Sherpa Gaon that will take a much longer time to arrive at your overnight destination. Overnight in Syabrubesi.
You will get onboard on your private vehicle after breakfast and head towards Kathmandu today. In a similar prototype that you arrived at Syabrubesi from Kathmandu, you will undoubtedly experience magnificent views of terraced hillsides, rustic villages and impressive mountainous terrains till the moment you arrive at the capital city. On arrival at Kathmandu, you will be transferred to your hotel room. In the evening, you are free to catch up on some last minute shopping or simply stroll around the bustling streets of Thamel or sit down in an upbeat pub enjoying every sip of your favorite Nepali beer and live musical bands performing your favorite songs. Overnight in Kathmandu.
You will be dropped off at the airport well ahead of your scheduled flight time by one of our representatives. If you have an evening flight, you may wish to visit certain heritage sites of Kathmandu on your own. However, if you wish to extend your holidays in Nepal, then Royal Holidays are ever ready to create another wonderful trip in the Himalayas.
This is a standard itinerary designed with a view to allow sufficient acclimatization period for trekkers. However, if you are not satisfied with this itinerary or wish to modify it according to your needs, we will happily do it for you. You are free to choose your own hotels, guides or porters if you wish to. We are always there to customize or tailor-make your trips as per your plans and convenience.
Yes, of course trekking in any region of Nepal requires you to purchase a permit unless you are a bonafide citizen of Nepal. However, Langtang area does not require any special permit like Nar Phu Valley Trek or Tsum Valley Trek etc. as Langtang is not a restricted area. The permit cost for Langtang trek is as follows:
TIMS Card: It is compulsory for everyone and it costs US$ 20 per person.
Langtang National Park entry permit fee (foreigners): US$ 30 per person
Langtang National Park entry permit fee (SAARC nationals): NPR. 200
Locals need not pay the National Park entry permit fee. Both these permits can be easily purchased from Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu.
Trekking in the Langtang region is considered to be moderate in terms of difficulty level. Hence, a good level of fitness is required to accomplish trekking in this region. Trekking involves a daily walk of almost 5 – 6 hours. The trekking route comprises of steep ascents and descents amid varied terrains. As long as you are physically fit and possess sound health, trekking in Langtang region can be completed even by first-time trekkers. Reaching the highest point in Langtang region, that is Kyanjin Gompa (4500m) could be a little challenging due to its elevation. All our Langtang trekking itineraries have been designed carefully allowing proper and sufficient acclimatization rest days for trekkers. During the trek, our guide will suggest you to take various levels of walking pace and he will help you to make your hiking trip more fun and physical-friendly.
The most favorable time to trek in the Langtang region is during the autumn and spring seasons. Autumn falls during the months between September and November During this season trekkers can experience the beautiful mountains and green hills. The weather is clear with mild to warm days and cold nights. Spring falls during the months between March and May. During this season, flowers bloom and there is lush greenery everywhere with excellent backgrounds of the sparkling mountain peaks. Langtang region trekking can also be done during the winter months (December to February). During these months, the Himalayan region freezes and there is plenty of snowfall. Trekking could be challenging due to the excess cold. Summer season is also the monsoon season in Nepal and it falls during the months between June to August. But trekking during these months is not advisable as it is very uncomfortable to walk due to the muddy and slippery trails.
First and foremost, Langtang region is the nearest trekking destination from the capital city. The trekking trails in the Langtang region are comparatively quieter and peaceful and usually not crowded like other popular trails in the country such as the Everest or Annapurna trekking trails. The Langtang Valley is famous for the ethnic Tamang community and the very popular Tamang Heritage Trail Trek lies in this region. While trekking in the Langtang region, trekkers will be blessed with spectacular views of the Himalayan peaks such as Ganesh Himal, Langtang Lirung, Dorje Lakpa to name a few. In this region, one can explore the enchanting streams, waterfalls and beautiful rhododendron forests. It is in this region, one of the holiest Hindu lakes, Gosaikunda stands at a quite high elevation. The monastery of Kyanjin Gompa and climbing the Kyanjin Ri and Tsergo Ri are some major highlights while trekking in the Langtang region. Besides, one may visit the popular cheese factory to witness the processing of cheese in this region. If luck favors, visitors will be able to witness wildlife such as the black bear, Himalayan Tahr, Ghoral, monkeys and different species of birds.
Langtang Valley is a less frequented trekking destination in Nepal. However, in the recent past, the flow of trekkers has been rapidly increasing in this route. Previously, there were not so many teahouses or lodges in the Langtang region and frequent trekkers would spend their nights at home-stays that were known by the local guides. Now, as trekkers are increasing in numbers which has brought vast improvement in lodging facilities in the region. There are many decent guesthouses with cozy and well-furnished rooms available at most of the villages where trekkers stop for the night. Over and above, it is the great hospitality of the people of this area that has won many a heart of the trekkers.
Except at some places in the trekking trails, there is not much option about your food menu. At most of the places you will be eating the typical Nepali dish of Dal Bhaat Tarkari that is lentil soup, steamed rice and seasonal vegetable complemented with salad and chutney. Drinking water like other popular trekking destinations is not safe to drink from the taps or the clear streams. We recommend trekkers to carry water purification tablets or other purifying agents including Steripen UV or iodine etc, from Kathmandu. Bottled mineral water is available at the teahouses but for environmental reasons, we do not encourage our customers to buy bottled water while trekking.
In fact, there are chances of getting the altitude sickness as you will be walking past 3000 meter elevation while trekking in the Langtang region. Getting sick depends on what levels of altitude you will be trekking. It also depends on how a person’s body reacts to changes in altitude regardless of their fitness and experience. Walking at faster pace, no frequent rest, not drinking sufficient water or gaining altitude of more than 500 meters per day could possibly increase chances of being hit by altitude sickness. It is always recommended that a trekker acquire information about altitude sickness and the symptoms and remedies before beginning to trek.
Trekking in the Langtang Valley is regarded as a moderate trek. It is suitable for all level of walkers. It is not a problem for those people who can walk 5 to 7 hours in day. People with moderate fitness can easily accomplish trekking in Langtang. As such, no prior experience of hiking is required to embark on this trekking trip. However, regular running, walking or swimming are fitness activities we would recommend our guests to indulge at least a month before trekking. Walking in higher elevations is physically difficult so exercising regularly before the actual trek will help build up stamina. Any one suffering from any disease or health issues must consult with their physician before taking up a trek in high altitudes. Any person with excellent health conditions and a fit body can attempt the Langtang region trekking. Bearing positive attitude and a strong determination is key to a successful trip in the Himalayas.
Trekking in Langtang region comprises mostly mountainous terrains, so Wi-Fi or mobile phone network may not always be reliable at all places on the trail. Guesthouses at most places do offer Wi-Fi service for an extra charge. We recommend you to buy a local SIM card and use data packs for internet service on the trails where Wi-Fi facilities are not available.
Yes, it is possible to trek in the Langtang region without a porter or a guide. But, it is always advisable to take a guide even if you are traveling solo in this area. Not hiring a guide may save a few hundred dollars, but there are lots of disadvantages going without a guide. Firstly, the routes are quite confusing as there are different routes amidst dense forests. You could get lost somewhere on the trail. There are limited teahouses on the Langtang trail so it is hard to get a room during peak seasons. If your guide is going with you, he will help to book a room prior to your arrival. Your guide will take care that you are not prone to falling into freezing rivers or breaking your ankle against some solid rocks. Communication becomes much easier when you are with your guide as village people hardly understand the English language. To navigate through the mountains, your guide makes it easier. In cases of emergency or sickness, he is always present for your well-being. Another advantage of having a guide is that he will know the best places to eat and stop for the night.
There are hundreds of ATMs in Kathmandu at different places. You can also use your credit card to purchase or make bill payments at most shopping areas, hotels, and restaurants. But when you begin trekking in the Langtang region, there are no ATMs available. You will not be able to use your debit or credit cards for any purposes while on the trails. So, it is better to withdraw sufficient money in Kathmandu for you to pay for your personal expenses on the trekking trail.
There are many different routes in the Langtang region to trek. Out of the different trekking routes, Royal Holidays has the following three routes to offer to our adventurous guests at present:
