Nepal has numerous natural beauties to offer people worldwide. From lakes and rivers to high mountains and forests, such as the world's highest peak, Mt. Everest (8,848.86 m/29032 ft), the world's highest lake, Tilicho (4,919 m/16,138 ft), etc. In addition, the country is also rich in culture, along with natural beauties that draw the attention of foreigners.
The Langtang Valley is one of the best destinations in the country for a nature hike, offering both natural beauty and local ethnic culture and traditions to visitors. You will explore the Langtang Valley Trekking Difficulty level through this blog today.
Knowing about the level of difficulty of the trail on your bucket list before you go there is the most essential thing to make your journey successful. Going to a high-altitude region like the Langtang by being naive can cost you a lot even your life. Therefore, let's not rush and have patience instead.
Yes, adventure is all about reaching far away from your home, especially to the remote area and taking risks in order to obtain valuable rewards later. However, you surely don't want to take any silly risks on the way to the Langtang Valley for the sake of adventure. As a result, you should be willing to learn about the valley and the entire region first while mapping out for it or even before that.
Langtang Valley Trekking Difficulty Level
Langtang Valley Trekking is among the well-known routes in Nepal and also globally. The trek lies in the central development region of the country close to the capital city, Kathmandu (1,355 m/4,446 ft). It is considered moderate in difficulty.
People of almost every age group, from kids to senior citizens and from beginners to experienced can enjoy this trek easily. The trek is not so challenging and falls under the category of one of the easiest treks in the country. Yet, you need to be fully prepared and careful to avoid obstacles during trekking, such as altitude sicknesses, weather-related issues, and others.
A group of trekkers exploring the Langtang Region
A few factors that estimate the difficulty level of the Langtang Valley Trek. They are as follows.
Total Distance
The total distance of the Langtang Trek is around 77 km (48 mi) long. In spite of the fact that it is an easy trek, such distance is sometimes a big deal, especially for those who are new to the world of trekking, kids, and older people. It is only easy when compared to the other popular treks, such as the Annapurna Circuit Trek, Everest Base Camp Trek, Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek, etc.
Just because the trek is moderately difficult, it does not mean that it is a very easy task and should be taken lightly. You will need to walk the total distance stated earlier, where you will cover approximately 10 km each day with a load of heavy backpacks on your back to finish this trek.
Total Duration
It takes roughly 8 days to complete the trek with a slow pace of walking. However, it is for beginners and they might feel spent walking straight for a week. Meanwhile, experienced hikers can conclude the trek in less than the mentioned duration.
Total Elevation
The total elevation of Langtang Valley Trekking ranges from 1,503 m / 4,655ft to 5,033m/ 16,500 ft, where the lower and starting point is Syabru Besi and the highest point is Tserko Ri.
Landscape
Sure, you cannot expect the landscape of the valley to be the same from start to end nor it is. It is varied, where some parts are straightforward and some are steep and rocky.
Following the Langtang Village (3,430m / 11,255ft), which you reach on the third day of your journey, the route becomes more difficult for inexperienced trekkers. You will find more rocky sections along the trail that need more effort.
Weather
In terms of the weather, it is so unpredictable and can be changed at any time. Nevertheless, the valley has cool weather most of the time, as it is already above 3,000 m.
In winter and monsoon, it is freezing and muddy, respectively. Likewise, in spring and autumn, the weather is clear and stable, allowing you to enjoy the stunning views of the peaks in the Langtang Mountain Range.
Where Is The Langtang Valley Trek Located?
The Langtang Valley Trek lies in the Langtang Region, located exactly in the Rasuwa district of Bagmati province in Nepal. It falls within the boundary of the Langtang National Park.
Actually, the trail, valley, region, and national park are all named after the Langtang Mountain Range. You will get the opportunity to see the majestic views of the peaks, such as Langtang Lirung (the highest peak in the range, 7,234 m/23,734 ft), Langtang Ri (7,205 m/23,638 ft), Dorje Lakpa (6,966 m/22,854 ft), Loenpo Gang (6,979 m/22,897 ft), Changbu (6,781 m/22,247 ft), etc along the route during the trek.
Langtang Trek Daily Hiking Hours
As mentioned earlier, it takes around 8 days to finish the trek, and you will need to walk slowly for 5 to 7 hours daily during the period. But it also depends upon the way you walk. This is just the average hiking hours per day in Langtang Trek.
Nonetheless, experienced ones and the locals of this area can finish the journey by walking a little faster than inexperienced trekkers, taking less than the average hiking duration. But it will be always better for you if you choose to walk at a slow pace, no matter whether you are experienced or a beginner.
Physical Fitness For Langtang Trek
Your physical fitness always matters not only for adventure purposes but for regular life. If you are not healthy or have low immunity power, then you are considered a weak person and can't perform any of the everyday jobs properly. You will not have much stamina, making you get exhausted and lazy quickly.
To trek on high-altitude destinations like the Langtang Region, it is essential to have your body in good shape and condition first. A regular workout person has less chance of having issues with the body during trekking, while a non-workout person has a higher chance.
To stay fit for the Langtang Valley Trek, you need to do some basic exercises daily for an hour at least a couple of weeks before your adventure officially begins. Consequently, here are some of the basic exercises that you can do on a daily basis to prepare yourself for the trek:
Body Stretching
Stretching the body is the first and most important thing to do before you begin any intense workouts. It makes your stiff body muscles flexible, keeping you away from the danger of getting your ankle and knees injured during the trek, which most hikers face in the wild.
Running
Running at a slow pace helps build your stamina so you can walk for a long duration, as you will need to hike for at least 5 to 6 hours to reach another stop each day during the trek. There is no exact time for running. You can practice this exercise as per your need. However, it will be much better if you run at least 20 to 30 minutes daily after stretching.
Squatting
For walking a long distance, your thigh should be strong, especially while ascending. All your body pressures go down to your thighs and make you feel tired quickly.
To fight the pressures, squatting is one of the ideal workouts. It strengthens your thigh muscles, helping you to ascend with less chance of getting pain in your thigh.
Is the Langtang Trek Beginner-Friendly?
Yes, the Langtang Trek is beginner-friendly, as its difficulty level is moderate. It means you don't require any climbing skills or any kind of advanced training. There are no such technical parts along the route that lead to the valley and also easy to follow.
It is one of the best trekking trails situated in the northcentral of Nepal and suits everyone who is thoroughly into adventure. You can easily complete the trek in around 8 days by walking slowly for 6 to 7 hours a day.
Trekkers posing before the Lantang Mountain Range
As for accommodation, there are plenty of hotels and teahouses along the trail. Even though they are not as highly advanced hotels as we have in city areas, all of them are equipped with some of the modern and common amenities, such as intercontinental cuisines on the menu, Wi-Fi, electricity, and hot showers.
Along the trail, you will pass through various villages inhabited by ethnic groups of Tamang and can learn about their Buddhist culture and traditions. Most importantly you will have the opportunity to enjoy the heavenly views of the peaks in the Langtang Mountain Range from a close distance, making you feel like you are resting on its lap.
Altitude Sickness On Langtang Valley Trekking: What You Need To Know
Altitude sickness on Langtang Valley Trekking is one of the major concerns. It is critical to know about, for inexperienced hikers before heading out to this exceptional destination. This is because trekking in the Lantang Region is not technically that hard but you will ascend above 5,000 m from the sea level, which might be a problem for you if you are going to such elevation for the first time.
You will gain height gradually and the more you ascend the more air becomes thin, which makes you feel hard to breathe due to low oxygen level. If you carelessly ascend fast or hike at a fast pace, it causes you to develop altitude sicknesses in your body, such as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), and High-Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE).
Among these, AMS is the common one and the first stage of the other two, meaning if you don't take it seriously, then it gets even worse and turns to HAPE and HACE. It generally happens once you reach above 1,800 m.
HAPE is severe and life-threatening. Fluid gets stored in your lungs, where you feel hard to breathe and get tired even when you are resting. Similarly, HACE is also life-threatening. Here fluid gets stored in your brain and you feel your head heavy and cannot concentrate on anything properly.
Learn about the symptoms of these altitude sicknesses below:
AMS
Headache (The most common one)
Nausea or vomiting
Insomnia or trouble sleeping
Loss of appetite
Shortness of breath
Weakness
HAPE
Severe shortness of breath
Persistent Cough
Chest tightness
Rapid heartbeat
Extreme weakness
Blue and grey discolouration of the skin, lips, and nails
Crackling sound in the chest and back while breathing
Confusion (in advanced phase)
HACE
Severe Headache
Loss of coordination
Confusion
Changes in behaviour or hallucinations
Nausea or vomiting
Seizures
Difficulty staying awake
Coma (in advanced phase)
How to prevent altitude sickness?
To prevent altitude sicknesses, such as AMS, HAPE, and HACE follow the steps below:
Walk slowly (only 300-500 m per day once you reach above 3,000 m).
Take frequent breaks of at least 7 to 8 minutes while hiking.
Keep your body hydrated by drinking 2 to 3 litres of water a day.
Eat food that contains high levels of carbohydrates, such as pasta, rice, and potatoes, as it digest slowly and keeps providing you with energy while hiking.
Eat foods with high amounts of water, such as apples and cucumbers.
Don't fall asleep directly upon reaching the hotel for an overnight stay.
Sleep in time to get enough rest after dinner.
What Is The Best Time to Trek Langtang?
Speaking of the best time to trek Langtang, there are two favourable seasons: spring and autumn. March to May fall in spring and September to November in autumn. Comparing between two, autumn is considered a peak season.
A group of trekkers enjoying the Langtang Valley Trek and posing in Mundu (3,430m) along the trail .
During these seasons, the weather is often in favour, allowing you to capture the moment with peaks in the Langtang Mountain Range, immerse yourself deeply into the wild, and learn the Buddhist culture of the ethnic groups: Tamang and Tibetan, along the way. Because there is no fear of heavy rain and snowfall and the sky is usually clear most of the time.
But as we all know the weather can take a turn against us at any time. It is considered to be unpredictable. Thus, even during the trekking season, we should keep checking the weather forecast before and during the trek till the end of the journey.
Is Langtang Valley Trekking Possible During The Off-Season?
Yes, trekking the Langtang Valley is possible even during the off-season, winter (December to February) and monsoon (June to August). You will find the route with fewer crowds and get the chance to explore the valley peacefully on your way.
Not all hotels and teahouses along the route will open to provide service, but only few will stay available for you. Hence, you don't need to worry about accommodation as well. However, the climate will be freezing and heavy snowfall and rain can show up at any time, which might bring you trouble, such as muddy and slippery trails, freezing temperature in the early morning and at night, and landslides due to heavy rain while you are busy making memories in nature.
If you are an extreme adventure seeker and experienced one, you already have a green light to make it to the stunning Langtang Valley during the off-season. For a beginner or inexperienced individual, it might be way more than challenging during such a harsh time.
Nevertheless, if you are already aware of climate and everything and fully prepared for adventure, it is also possible for first-timers. But we don't suggest trekking during this time to anyone, especially during rainy season.
Additionally, you should always check the weather forecast to stay on the right side of heaven. This is because even during peak season, the weather can act weird. Therefore, during the off-season, we can't expect it to be on our side.
