LANGTANG TREK - is it THAT Difficult?

Langtang Valley, situated 61.8 km north the Capital City of the Nepalese Capital, Kathmandu is a trekkers paradise, though that is also an understatement, one may reckon!

The fascinating landscape, in the lap of the mighty Himalayas, with all its serenity, the pristine glacial lakes, crystal clear sky overhead, the undulations of the meadows and plains, the seemingly endless collection of flora and fauna is really a place in this planet that gives all the peace and tranquility that people search for all around the globe!

And why forget the century-old cultures and rituals that are very much Tibetan in terms of origin? So taking everything into account, Langtang Valley is and always has been a heavenly abode for the explorers from around the globe!

But delving into the beauty of Mother Nature and actually relishing the experience first hand are two different ball games altogether! One MUST take into account the hardship of scaling high altitudes before setting off! One must NOT mess with these mountainous treks, and the valley lies at an altitude of a whopping 5,000 meters (16,347 feet)!

So things are not easy when it comes to trekking to Langtang Valley. Well, no one should consider this as a deterrent! It's only all about being mindful of the facts and figures before starting the trek.

The Backdrop

In April 2015, the devastating tremors in Nepal had left a lasting impact on this entire region - not only taking lives and destroying properties but also ravaging certain parts of the trekking trail. Though the trial has been restored and is again considered safe, the very nature of the trail has changed forever.

Nevertheless, the trail has become safer, after the trail has been relaid,as the trekker huts and other facilities have been built with the latest technology.

TheDifficulty Level

As per the experts, Langtang Trek has a moderate level of difficulty. The trek starts from Syabrubesi at the height of 1550 m, and the trekkers need to walk for 7 to 8 hours to reach Hotel Lama at 1560 m.

From here on, the route is mainly uphill, and the subsequent destinations include Langtang village at 3430m, and Kang Jin Gompa at 3900m - the highest point of the trek.

One must drink water aplenty and take owns pace of walking, taking occasional halts to get acclimatised with the changing altitude. At portions, the trek might be on the harder side, butnevertheless, it is easy to moderate most of the times.

Difficulty level changes with seasons

Things change with the time of the year with the change of weather conditions. During the autumns and springs,the temperature remains moderate. So this is the best season for Langtang Trekis spring and autumn. But then, finding accommodation becomes difficult as a lot of trekkers from around the world eye for these two seasons.

While during the winters and monsoons trekking becomes difficult due to adverse weather conditions, finding accommodation becomes easier. Now it's for the trekkers to decide what they should opt for - easier trek and spending nights in trekkers tents due to lack of accommodation, or more difficult treks during monsoon and winters. Again, the question of physical ability comes into play here!

Nevertheless, one needs to be at the peak of physical fitness and take precautionary measures against altitude sickness.

Once adequate measures are taken, Langtang Trek is the lifetime experience someone can enjoy! Its memories are to stay forever!