Driving on a tar road northwest out of Kathmandu, the road heads towards Dunche. As soon as the ride gains elevation at Kakani, it starts to offer the beautiful views of Ganesh Himalaya. The road beyond Trishuli Bazaar gets tougher and the adventurous fun of the Langtang Trek is hereby announced. The closest trekking destination from the Nepalese capital Kathmandu 130km, Langtang is the incomparable blend of natural and cultural treasures. The valley closer to Tibet comprises the first National Park of Nepal, Langtang National Park. The rare valley from where the 360⁰ view of Himalayas can be viewed, Langtang is dominated by Langtang Lirung 7,246m.

Langtang Trek is the third favorable trekking destination in Nepal after Everest Region and Annapurna Region Treks. However, the trek to Langtang not only offers breathtaking sceneries, it also allows an opportunity to witness the lifestyles and culture of Tibetan Tamangs whose craftsmanship, dialects, attires and homes still represent the exceptionality of ancient Tibetans. Home to more than 70 big and small glaciers, Langtang also highlights the high altitude sacred Lakes including Gosainkunda and Dudhkunda. Amazing wildlife including several species of migratory birds and highland mammals, Langtang is an ideal trekking destination to both novice and experienced trekkers.

Here we have a short photo essay on Langtang Trek, have a look. At the end of the photo essay we have a beautiful lines by Ms. Tina Nielsen and Mr. Jens Christian Iversen, who were the members different Danish groups,  trekking to Langtang this spring with us. 10 trekkers in Tina’s group and 15 in Jens group, both team of Danish trekkers  were through our exclusive country partner Kipling Travel.

A typical Tibetan family during Langtang Trek

Handsome lads and beautiful ladies- Langtang

Shamanism- the culture practiced for ages

Langtang Lirung dominates the sky in Langtang valley

Home beside a beach or at the foothills of Himalaya?

Road to Langtang

Blue skies are more beautiful at Langtang

Natural hot water bath tub- isn’t this great?

Far-flung hamlet at the base of Himalaya

Every color of the prayer flags has significant meaning

Beautiful bright view from the shade

Anybody here could spend a whole day in a single chair

Soothing sound of prayer flags fluttering

OMG! Mountains are so big

Between two dark shadows a huge pile of silver sparkles

Walking has never been so wonderful in the past

It is always adventurous to be in the middle of nowhere

We are almost there

Camping right below the mountains of Nepal is a thrilling experience

Highland rides! I wish I had one 

A testimonial by Ms. Tina Nielsen

The unplanned change in our itinerary so we had a lovely walk in the highland forest is worthwhile remembering rest of our lives. The beautiful nature throughout the trek and meeting friendly people in the Himalayas were the great experiences of the Langtang Trek. We had a great holiday and hence rate the service of Explore Himalaya with five stars.

A testimonial by Jens C. Iversen

14 members on the top of Kyanjin Ri is by far the best memory of the entire trek to Langtang. The service of Explore Himalaya was very professional. We rate their service with 5 stars.

Trek to Langtang

Walking miles will still take to the place where you may not find a sign of human

The wild west of Nepal, Dolpo is a challenging destination to trek but it is the most enchanting territory of Nepal. Few trekkers who have trekked along the time forgotten trails of Dolpo have admired this place as the most beautiful corner of the planet Earth. The region beautifully revealed in Eric Valli’s movie Himalaya, the Wild West Dolpo highlights the Crystal Mountain and the 11^th century Monastery Shey Gompa at its base. The alpine freshwater oligotrophic Lake Shey Phukshundo 3612m is also the major reward during the trek. Besides the people living in the far-flung villages of Dolpo are the believers of Bon, Buddhism prior to Buddha. Peter Matthiessen and George Schaller explored the region in 1973, to research on the rare Himalayan blue sheep and the rarer snow leopard. Matthiessen describes this trek a classic of its genre in his book “The Snow Leopard”. The duo also discovered the elusive Snow Leopard are more likely to be seen in the region compared to other highlands of the world. Very rarely trodden Himalayan landscapes with the people practicing the ancient religion makes Dolpo the most fascinating holiday destination to those travelers daring to scale the elevated and wild yet the beautiful nature.

Here we have a photo gallery of Upper Doplo and Shey Phuksundo Trek. Have a look.

Crossing a raging river over a narrow bridge-Adventurous

Camps that would be lifelong memories

Far-flung hamlets, untouched by modernity

Heaven isn’t elsewhere, its at Shey Phuksondo

Shadows of even giant white Himalayas are black

Culture is everywhere

Freezing cold outside, camps are warm enough

The trail that pursues spirituality

Trek that defines real adventure

Open fields are good camping sites

The journey at times could be exhausting

Following the snowy trail

A glimpse of inside Shey Gompa

The sun is bright, let us rest for a while

Where will the trail lead us to?

Camps all set, let us walk uphill and see whats there?

The barren landscapes- a glimpse

The most beautiful thing in the world- Raw Nature

Cameras capture amazing tranquil landscapes

What a beautiful combination of colors!

Trek to Upper Dolpo

Ted Atkins demonstrates Top Out Oxygen while from right to left-  Mr. Dawa Chiri Sherpa summiter of eight 8000ers and four time Everest summiter, American climber Michael Roy Chambers from Flying Kites, supposed to be Kenyan first Everest climber Tobby Obbayi and British Climber Toby Mark Tyrell observe it.

Explore Himalaya is organizing a private Kenyan Expedition to Everest. The Expedition powered by the Chase Bank Kenya and Kenyan and International Companies includes Steve Obbayi, a Kenyan climber aged 39. Obbayi if conquers Everest would be the first Kenyan to do it. Michael Roy Chambers from Flying Kites accepts challenges of any kind to support the abandoned children of Africa. A member of this expedition Chambers, loves to raise US $ 100,000 for his children in Africa after overcoming the battle with Everest this autumn. Obbayi and Chambers will be accompanied by Toby Mark Tyrell, a British climber during the Everest Expedition 2014. Through this adventurous endeavor Steve and Tobby want to raise the funds for proper sanitation projects in Africa.

On 27 March, the day before their flight to Lukla, a starting point of this challenging mission the Everest Expedition Team was here with us at Explore Himalaya Office. The team had a short workshop with Ted Atkins, Oxygen Engineer from Top Out Oxygen. The workshop had sessions on using Top Out Oxygen and mask in risk free manner and more efficiently.

The team visits the house of famous Mountain journalist Ms. Elizabeth Hawley

The same day the team also visited the famous mountain journalist Ms. Elizabeth Hawley in Kathmandu. During the conversation with Ms. Hawley Everest Expedition Team grabbed a basic Rule of Priority in the mountains. Good health, Enjoy and Summit- afterall the mountains aren’t going anywhere. After the visit to Ms. Hawley the team went to Tourism Board to fulfill the mandatory procedures before the expedition.

Everything set- the team at the office of Tourism Board in Kathmandu

Four time Everest summiter Dawa Chiri Sherpa, five timer Karma Gyalzen Sherpa and the six time Everest conqueror Mr. Temba Sherpa are accompanying the Everest Expedition Team 2014. Three American citizens Mr. Bryan Dalessandro, Ms. Navah Rebecca Dalessandro and Ms. Eliazer Mercedes are trekking with the Expedition Team till the Everest Base Camp. The Everest Expedition Team 2014 will also climb Lobuche Peak for the acclimatization purpose. Michael Chambers also has plans to summit another 8000er, Lhotse during the expedition.

Ms. Eliazer Mercedes from Toilet Hackers– she joined the team little later but she is very much excited about the Everest Base Camp Trek and the Everest Expedition.

Coming to Nepal for Ms. Norell Lee, aged 67 was just one of her customary holidays till she flew to Everest region. After she witnessed the immensity of the Himalayan Kingdom and the divine Everest itself, the visit became, exceptionally, the best part of her life.

Norell Lee came to Nepal on 04 March 2014 for her 9 days heli based holiday. During these days, she explored the best of Nepal, Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan. After the medieval insights at the heritage squares of Kathmandu Valley, she flew to Pokhara for her heli tour to Annapurna Base Camp.

Flying above the Annapurna trail, the enchanting Gurkha settlements, the alpine hills and the panoramic ranges, she got to observe the highlights of one of the most sought after trekking destinations. When she flew to the lowlands of Chitwan, she was just spellbound see the dramatically contrast elevation of the country. And the wildlife tours added extra excitement to her stay. On 19 March, she returned Nepal again for her most anticipated heli tour to Everest, which turned out to be an epic experience!

Nothing in Nepal has singular manifestation. However, within the span of few days, Ms. Norell got the opportunity to experience the multiplicity of Nepal. And effortlessly too!

Nature is even more beautiful when its original color is “Black N White”

Here we have a short testimonial by Ms. Norell during the conversation we had at the end of the trip. After the testimonial have a look at Photo Gallery of Ms. Norell’s Helicopter Tour to Everest.

Best memory of the trip was helicopter ride to Everest. I would recommend fellow travelers to include the helicopter ride to Mt. Everest during their trip to Nepal.

Service of Explore Himalaya was excellent and faultless which I would rate with 5 stars. Kritee, my Tour Officer has been marvelous. She has made my tour seamless and taken responsibility for all arrangements.

One of the most thrilling airports of the world- Lukla 2840m

Frozen glacial lakes of Gokyo

Snow covered highland habitat

One more glimpse of Himalayan village covered by snow

One more black and white beauty in nature

Ms. Norell witnesses Mt. Everest so closely

Explore Himalayans experiencing boundless joys

Walk over the fresh snow- Probably the softest walk

Comfortable ride to the most beautiful corner of the world

Kongde Resort 4250m where even the snowfall can be heard

Amazing blend of soft white snow and black hard rocks

A continuous series of Himalayan doors open during the ride

Isolated treasures of Himalayas that trekkers even miss

Closer to Kathmandu the landscape below now turns into green

What a beauty! Landscape possible to capture only during Helicopter Tour

Ms. Norell and Ms. Menuka post tour conversation

Explore Helicopter Tours in Nepal

The Everest Base Camp trek is a Himalayan trek of lifetime with fascinating views and big rewards. The trek in the Khumbu region where Mount Everest  8,848m the world’s highest mountain and other Himalayan giants soar up to the sky, offers the incredible vistas of these peaks as the trek goes closer to the Everest Base Camp 5357m and Kala Pattar 5545m. The shortest way to get to the Everest Base Camp is to fly to Lukla from Kathmandu and begin the trekking adventure. From Lukla the trekking trial to Everest Base Camp cross passes beautiful valleys, dense forest, glacial rivers and mountainous Sherpa hamlets. Besides Nepal’s fascinating culture and pleasant people trekkers meet whilst trekking to Everest Base Camp is one of the prime highlights of the trek. In brief, Everest being one of the world’s most remarkable sights the Trek to Everest Base Camp is perfectly a moderate trekking adventure.

A photo gallery highlighting the Everest Base Camp Trek, defines very well why in the bucketlist of trekkers across the globe, Everest Base Camp Trek tops the list.

First bridge to EBC- 45 mins walk from Lukla

Mani walls at Ghat- 2 hours walk from Lukla

A musk deer seen on the trial between Namche and Tengboche

Periche- Tobuche, Chola Che and Lobuche Peaks in the view

Dughla Pass 4800m- Way to Lobuche

Ascending up towards Lobuche, Dingboche seen down

Nagashang Ri Hiking

Italian pyramid just above Lobuche

Walking above Gorakshep towards Kalapattar- Mt. Pumori on the view

Closer to Kalapattar

The Khumbu Glacier

Highland settlement- Gorakshep

The new Everest Base Camp

The old Everest Base Camp

Few final steps to Kalapattar

Everest peak between Mt. Nuptse and Mt. Chyangje

Trek to Everest Base Camp