LANGTANG TREK

Average number of days: 9; Highest point: 5,122m


North of the Kathmandu valley lie the valleys of Helambu and Langtang. The region is a great place to explore glaciers, lakes, alpine pastures and temperate forests along with experiencing Tarnang and Sherpa life. You can stay in highland monastery villages or trek through pristine forests to the village of Choda Tabela where the valley opens out into a high, Himalayan river plain dotted with stunning camping sites. The secluded valley also cradles the Langtang National Park which is home to the rare red panda that lives in the lichen-draped rhododendron thickets here. You can visit the Cosaikunda Lake that doubles as a pilgrimage for the staunch followers of Shiva, or any of the other lakes here such as the Nagkunda, Bhairavkunda, Saraswatikunda and Suryakunda. While you can choose to climb a ridge on Yala Peak from Kyanjin Compa, you definitely shouldn't drop the hike to the foot of the Langshisa glacier for an incredible view of glaciers, ice falls and snowfields surrounded on all sides by high mountains. Though this gorgeous trek is so close to Kathmandu, it is not as populated by trekkers as much as the Everest Base Camp trail or the ABC circuit, and that pretty much works for it.


The least-known ancient kingdoms of Nepal and is the legendary El Dorado of trekkers. Fascinating and alluring, the mystique of Mustang is glamorous more due to its history and culture than because of its landscape. Despite politically being a part of Nepal, Mustang is known as 'The Tibet outside Tibet', for it survived the Chinese invasion in 1951 and fosters original Tibetan culture till date. Because of its strategic location that makes it the easiest corridor between the Tibetan plateau and Central Asia, it braved several wars and yet emerged a survivor. Though not very strenuous, trekking in Mustang requires special permits and a daily fine for any days that you exceed in the 'hidden kingdom'. Mustang's barren moonscape of eroded sandstone pillars and discontinuous moraine terraces together present a colourful mosaic and the region also provides spectacular views of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. The trek starts from Jomsom to where you can either fly or trek from Pokhara, though it's advisable to fly and save your energy for the subsequent Mustang trek.