Tilman Pass Trek - 21 Days

Once you land at the Tribhuvan International Airport and make your way out from the arrival terminal, you will see a representative from the Himalayan Trekkers holding your nameplate and waiting for you. Once you are greeted, you will be transported to the respective hotel in the heart of the city. If your arrival is early, you may opt. for the sightseeing to the two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Boudhanath Stupa and Pashupatinath Temple after a short briefing about the journey plan. 
Boudhanath Stupa is the biggest stupa in Nepal housing the remains and relics of the Lord Buddha. It is one of the important sites for Tibetan Buddhism and the whole area gives you a feeling of peacefulness.
Pashupatinath is one of the four important Hindu sites in the world dedicated to Lord Shiva. Every evening, there is an Aarati ceremony at the banks of the holy Bagmati River and a cremation ceremony on the other side of the river.
Later in the evening, you can stroll around the streets of the Thamel area and get a peek into the lifestyle of Kathmanduties. O/N at a Hotel in Kathmandu.

After a delightful breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up for the full day of guided sightseeing of the remaining UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu. We drive to Patan Durbar Square located in the Lalitpur district. Patan Museum, Krishna Temple, Bhimsen Temple, Vishwanath Temple, TalejuBhawani Temple, and Big Bell are some of the major attractions in Patan Durbar Square. Patan is also famous for the stone masterpiece architecture, traditional Newari artworks, and red brick tiles. 
Then we drive to Bhaktapur Durbar Square where we will witness 55 window palace, Nyatapola Temple, Bhairava Nath Temple,  Golden Gate, the statue of King Bhupatindra Malla, Peacock Window, etc. The famous Juju Dhau which means the King of yogurt is the must-try thing once in Bhaktapur. 
We then return to Kathmandu & visit Kathmandu Durbar Square where we explore Shiva-Parvati Temple, Big Bell, Kumari Ghar, Kumari Temple, Ashok Binakyak Temple, and many other monuments. 
If time permits, we will also visit the famous Swayambhunath Temple also known as the “Monkey Temple”. It is one of the oldest stupas in Kathmandu located at the hilltop overlooking the Kathmandu Valley surrounded by lush green hills. It is a must-visit place in Nepal that provides you with religious harmony as it is the place where Buddhism and Hinduism sit and blend. O/N at a Hotel in Kathmandu.

We start the Tilman Pass Trek journey with a drive from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi in the Rasuwa district. We pass through Kakani which offers wonderful Himalayan views, reach Trishuli Bazar, and have our lunch. We move further ahead from Trishuli and drive onwards to the Dhunche checkpoint where your Langtang National Park entry permit is checked. From Dhunche, we can see Gheng (6581m) and Langtang Lirung (7234m) to the north, as well as Ganesh (7460m) to the west. After crossing a suspension bridge over the Langtang River and traversing up and down, we arrive at Syabru Besi.O/N at the Tea house in Syabrubesi.

We begin our first trekking day along the trail through the Bhote Koshi and then continue along Langtang Khola. The trail ascends steadily to Bamboo (1960m), passing through bamboo and rhododendron forests. While wandering around Langtang National Park, you may observe wild boars, langur monkeys, and red pandas (if we got lucky. The ascent to Rimche (2400m), the following stage of the hike, will be a little tougher. After Rimche, the trail takes around 30 minutes to reach Lama Hotel, our today’s destination.
O/N at Tea house in Lama Hotel.

After breakfast, we start our today’s trekking by making a gradual ascent through a steep forest slope. Our pleasant walk follows the trail through the pine and rhododendron forests and reaches a village called Ghodatabela where we stop for lunch. The surrounding of Ghodatabela is rich in small babblers and different herbal plants. From there, we continue through a scenic trail leading us to the settlements of the Tamang people named Langtang Village (which was fully destroyed by the massive 2015 earthquake and rebuilt again).  O/N at Tea House in Langtang.

Continuing up the valley, the trail ascends steadily to Sindum, then to Yamphu (3640m). The valley slowly opens up further as we pass through little settlements and yak pastures, and the vistas improve between Langtang and Kyanjin Gompa, with mount Dhagpahe/Yansa Tsenji (6580m) to the north and the Langtang Himal to the northwest. By midday, we will arrive in Kyanjin Gompa, Langtang's oldest and most sacred monastery that is encircled on all sides by snowcapped peaks. You can explore the surrounding areas as there are many interesting things such as Yak Cheese Factory and traditional houses. O/N at Tea House in Kyanjin Gompa. 

Acclimatization is very essential during the high-altitude journey. So, we will rest today in order to acclimate to the higher altitude and thin air and make a short acclimatization hike to Tserko Ri at 4980 meters. 
We start climbing Tserko Ri after breakfast, and the trail farther up the valley past the airstrip will bring additional fantastic views of Langtang Lirung (7234m), Yala Peak (5500m), Ganchenpo (6400m), Langshisha Ri (6427m), Dorje Lakpa (6700m), Lenpo Gang (7100m), and Urkinmang (6170m). After spending a good time at the Tserko Ri summit filled with colorful prayer flags, we descend back to Kyanjin Gompa for the night.O/N  in Kyanjin Gompa. 

Early in the morning, we leave Kyanjin Gompa and trek towards Langshisa Kharka, today’s destination. Moving quickly is the biggest tip for today’s walk. Because the chances of rock falling will be low and the ground will be frozen if we start the trek early. After two hours of continuous trekking, we reach the first vestiges of vegetation: prickly thorn bushes and pussy willows. From here, we basically just follow the track made by the yaks. Today’s walk is challenging but the views of Langshisa Ri (7427m) and Dorje Lakpa(6966m) along the way keep us going. Our continuous walk takes us to a river which we will cross over and reach the Langshisa Kharka marked with the prayer stoned and stone constructions. 
O/N at tented camp in Langshisa Kharka. 

After breakfast, we begin our ascent to Moraine Camp. We ascend the Langshisa Glacier's stony moraine through high alpine vegetation to the Moraine Camp, which is located at 4580 meters. The vista is breathtaking as we will be surrounded by beautiful snowcapped mountains. O/N at tented camp in Moraine Camp. 

We leave Moraine Camp and head steeply up towards Yak Kharka also known as Tilman Base Camp via one of the scenic passes of Nepal named Tilman Pass at 5320 meters above sea level. The rocky and uneven moraines make the walk physically and mentally demanding and it is preferable to begin early because the boulder field becomes more unstable as the sun rises. Due to the high altitude, breathing may become difficult as you near the summit of Tilman Pass. But the views of the neighboring snowcapped mountains are stunning from the top. Then we descend from the opposite side, traversing through loose rocks to reach Yak Kharka. O/N at tented camp at Yak Kharka. 

Today’s journey is set to Tin Pokhari (Three Lakes). After breakfast at Yak Kharka, we make our way down the icy slopes and loose pebbles and reach Tin Pokhari. These lakes are entirely frozen throughout the winter. It's a fantastic camping spot since you can enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the lakes as well as views of the Himalayan Mountain that dominates the area. O/N at tented camp at Tin Pokhari. 

After breakfast, we will begin our journey to the serene Panch Pokhari meaning five lakes, which are located at an elevation of 4100 meters. We will pass through alpine vegetation, Rocky Mountains, wildlife, and other sights along the way. 
Panch Pokhari gives spectacular views of the Jugal Himal Range, Rolwaling Range, Gosainkunda, and other Himalayan peaks. Apart from the lakes, this location is also known for two pilgrim houses and a Lord Shiva temple, which can be visited while staying at Camp. O/N at tented camp at Panch Pokhari. 

This day is set aside for acclimatization and rest. We make use of the opportunity to explore Panch Pokhari's environs. If interested, you can get early in the morning, walk uphill and view the lovely sight of sunrise behind the Himalayas. The view of Dorje Lakpa and the Jugal Himal range is spectacular from here. The neighboring hills are home to a variety of bird species as well as fragrant flowers. 
In August, the Janai Purnima celebration is held at Panchpokhari and a large number of Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims visit this location. Pilgrims often pay a visit to Lord Shiva's shrine, which is located near the lake. O/N at tented camp at Panch Pokhari. 

The trail today requires a moderate hike that leads to Nasimpati via a steady rocky hills descent. The first two hours of the path are spent on a well-defined trail, followed by three hours of moderate ascent through rocky terrain. We will pass through alpine vegetation, Rocky Mountains, wildlife, and other sights along the way and reach our campsite in Nasimpati. O/N at tented camp in Nasimpati.

You set off from Nasimpati on a journey across rocky slopes and rhododendron groves. The hike is relatively simple with a mainly downhill walk. When we get to Bhanjyang, you can take a look at and learn about the village's culture and daily life as well as the picturesque terrain, which is intriguing. O/N at tented camp in Hile Bhanjyang.

After an early breakfast at our camp in Hile Bhanjyang, we make our way through the dense jungle of rhododendrons. On a clear day, the views of the Jugal Himal Range, and Gaurishankar Himal are spectacular from the route. If we get lucky, we may encounter mountain deer and Danfe (Lhophophorus/Monal) on our way to Pauwabas. Continuing on our journey, we descend a steep terrain before arriving in Pauwabas, where we will spend the night. O/N at a tented camp in Pauwabas.

Today, the trail winds gently through rhododendron, oak, juniper, and pine forests on a flat track. We might see wild wildlife like mountain deer, langur monkeys, or the national bird "Danfe", once again if we are lucky. We can see several nomad huts along the way. On the way to Kami Kharka, you can see Langtang Lirung (7227m), Dorje Lakpa (6966m), Jugal Himal ad a few smaller peaks. We pass a set of waterfalls before reaching today’s destination, Kami Kharka. O/N at tented camp in Kami Kharka.

The trail we take from Kami Kharka descends into a beautiful, deep Rhododendron and pine forest. A leisurely downhill takes us to Sano Okhareni. Today is also a great opportunity to see the animals such as mountain deer and langur monkeys. You arrive in Sano Okhareni after crossing several tiny streams and nomadic communities. We set up a tent near a pine grove with spectacular views of the mountains allowing us to relax and enjoy the peace. O/N at tented camp in Sano Okhareni.

Today is our last day of trekking through a magnificent landscape with diverse vegetation. After around 4-5 hours of downhill walking, we will arrive in Chautara passing through a number of little settlements, each with its own ethnic community. 
After visiting the colorful town of Chautara and taking in the scenery, we will return to Kathmandu through the route, which will take us past terraces, streams, rivers, local towns, high hills, and along the riverbank. When we arrive in Kathmandu, you will be taken to your hotel.  O/N at hotel in Kathmandu. 

The day is set aside for rest. However, the day can be skipped and proceed for your departure. You can also opt. for a guided exploration of Kathmandu valley or explore it on your own. You can stroll the traditional market areas of Kathmandu such as Ason, Newroad, Basantapur, Thahity, and Thamel and buy some souvenirs for your friends and family.
O/N at hotel/resort in Kathmandu. 
 

With the end of the exciting and thrilling adventure in the Langtang region, the day of departure has come. After breakfast and 3 hours before your scheduled flight back to your home country or onward destination, you will be transferred to the airport and bid farewell.