Langtang appealed to me as a trekking destination in Nepal this year having hiked in the Annapurna region already three times. I had heard it was far less busy than both Annapurna and Everest and its location near Tibet was attractive, along with the promise of interacting with people groups in homestays and villages. I was not disappointed. There were far fewer people on the trail and a lot of local culture and life going on to enjoy, largely thanks to it being losar or Tibetan New Year.
The Langtang track follows a river for three days up to the highest village of Khanjim Gompa at 3810m so it doesn’t get that high in altitude. The days were long but there wasn’t the up and down of the Annapurna terrain, just a gradual climb up past high alpine meadows with plenty of grazing yak, Tibetan villages and life, mani walls to admire and follow, plus plenty of snow and high mountains to ponder. I spent several days in Khanjim Gompa as there were day walks further into the valley, up high peaks surrounding us and towards glaciers that plummeted down the slopes around us. The images really tell their own story and all are available in the database.
Revealed in the early morning light – a gompa half way up the mountain behind the hotel in Khanjim Gompa. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
Being in Khanjim Gompa is akin to being in a bowl surrounded by mountains. It looks like a scene from Switzerland. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
A friendly Tibetan woman who gave me some nak curd one day. She also showed me the yak baby out the back of her house. It was very sweet. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
These adorable kids thought for some reason I was their long lost friend and climbed all over me whenever I sat down in the kitchen. I spent three days with them and their snotty noses and hands on my face were a worry and indeed I picked up some awful Langtang-esque cold bug from them. Still they were too cute for me to feel upset with them. There is no education for children in this valley and their mother told me of her concern for them as they grew up. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
I headed to Langshisha Kharka one day up at Khanjim Gompa. It was an exhausting eight hour return walk and I’m not sure I actually found it, but the walk was impressive following an icy stream for miles as it wound higher and higher into the mountains, each step nearing Tibet. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
I happened on a couple of Losar celebrations. This was my favourite as I was invited to share in the tea, chang, tsampa and food that included yak meat. Here they had just installed new prayer flags for the year and were performing the ceremony of prayers, dancing and blessing around it. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
Mani walls with the words “om mani padme hum” or “hail the jewel in the lotus” lined a lot of the route, particularly the last stretch above Langtang. You should pass these on the left in the same way the world/universe rotates.
Into the wild literally. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
Frozen offerings. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
Prayer flags in the Tamang homestay I stayed in Briddim. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
A good place for prayer flags and a gompa by dangerous, rushing waters to ward off evil and harm. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
More losar celebrations with tsampa handed out to participants. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
I walked with these porters for the last few hours to Khanjim Gompa. The company was welcome in cold and hard uphill conditions. They sang and cried out when we at last sighted our destination. It was a joyous moment. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
These wonderful beasts were welcome company on some lonely stretches of this trek. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
Enjoying nak curd along the track. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
We passed cattle from time to time on the trail as well. I met some of the herders who were nomadic and grazed their animals up and down the track depending on the season. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
Snow views from Khanjim Gompa. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
A local craft alive and well. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
Snowy blossoms. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
Indiana Jones style bridges to cross bring a heightened sense of adventure to the trail. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
I can never say no to a bit of nak cheese. These blocks are from last season and line the shelves in the cheese factory at Khanjim Gompa. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
The crossing. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
The fireplace is on the only place to be when you’re not walking. Brrr at 3800m. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
Khanjim Gompa through prayer flags. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
Tracks in the snow. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
One of the most dangerous parts of the journey was getting there on the buses. They did cram you in but the worst part were traipsing over the landslides and hair pin corners at break neck speed. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
I extended my Langtang hike with one night on the Tamang Heritage trail and stayed at this homestay where the Tamang woman had a baby. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
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All images are purchasable through the Visited Planet database. Feel free to email Jo at [email protected] with your comments/thoughts/photo aspirations. See and learn more at www.visitedplanet.com
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