John P. Herakovich is one of our clients, we served. We had organized a trek to Langtang region on 04-22 October 2010 for Mr. Herakovich and team. Mr. Herakovich shares his experience through a short travelogue that we have pasted below. Hopefully this will be helpful to everybody willing to experience their holiday in Nepal, along Unique Adventure International.

LANGTANG (NEPAL)

04-22-October 2010

This trip was organized by Unique Adventure International, Pvt.Ltd, whose manager is Mr. Khum Bahadur Subedi. The Guide was Lapka Sherpa: the only Porter was Dawa Sherpa. Both these men were with me in 2009 for the Manaslu trek.

The other client was Jewel McKee from Alexandria, Virginia, whom I have known since 1998, when we made the trek in Bhutan, with Mountain Travel* Sobek.

On 01 October, I flew with United (UA 765) to Los Angeles, in order to join the Thai Airlines flight (TG 795) to Bangkok. After a three hour wait in Bangkok, on Sunday, 03 October, I took the Thai Airways flight to Kathmandu, where I was met by Mr. Khum Subedi, who accompanied me to the Hotel Manang in Thamel.

The plan was drive from Kathamandu to Syabru Besi (140km): trek east, up the Langtang Valley to Kyanjin  Gompa, return down the Langtang Valley, to Thulo Syabru, and then trek southeast to Gosainkund, and on to Sudarijal, which is only 20km away from Kathmandu.

Perhaps because of the proximity of Langtang to Kathmandu, I deceived myself into thinking that this would be an easy trek. It wasn’t, each day presented a new challenge of extreme ascents or descents of 500m or more. In addition, the trails were frequently long approaching 20 km on some days. Many days we trekked above 400m. These conditions were not helped by the weather, which was frequently cloudy, including two days of rain. From 11 October, when we climbed Tserko Ri, I acquired a cold that continued until the end of my first week back in Colorado.

Daily Record:

Day 1 Wednesday, 06 October, Kathmandu 1317m to Syabru Besi 1460m: the program called for us to use the public bus for this 140km journey. The overcrowded bus would have taken 10-12 hours to complete the trip. Instead ,we hired a Toyota Land Cruiser  for $250 ,for a 6-8 hour drive .Soon after leaving Kathmandu we encountered a one –lane unpaved road that took us up ,down, and around for the next eight hours until we arrived at the Buddha Hotel in Syabru Besi at 15.18 h.

Day 2, Thursday, 07 October, Syabru Besi 1460m to Lama Hotel 2410m: this trek took seven for us to gradually climb up 950m.

Day3, Friday, 08 October, Lama Hotel 2410m to Langtang Village 3430m: another day of gradually ascending 1020m during a 15km trek.

Day4, Saturday ,09 October ,Langtang Village 3430m to Kyanjin Gompa (monastery) 3800m; a 370m gain in elevation over 10km. In Kyanjin Gompa we stayed at the Buddha Guesthouse, which is run by a husband, wife, who have a 2 month old baby girl, tsering Sangmo .The Gompa had no monks in residence, but there is a Nyak (Yak) cheese factory that is supported by a Swiss organization.

Day5, Sunday, 10 October, Kyangin Gompa 3800m, day trek to Kyanjin Ri (Peak) 4500m: we departed at ca. 07.30h, and arrived at the summit at 10.30h. We shared our summit moment with a wonderful group of Israelis. At 12.43 were back at the guesthouse.

Day6, Monday 11 October, Kyanjin Gompa 3800m, day trek to Tseko Ri 4900m: we set off at 05:L30 for this challenging trek up 1100m to the peak of Tserko. I only made it to 4700m at a ridge below the peak. Jewel and Lakpa went all the way to the top. Daw and I Headed down by the same route that we ascended: by 14:13h we were at the hotel. Jewel and Lakpa descended by a more circuitous route and only returned at 17:00h.

On the way up to Tserko Ri, we met a cheerful group of Dutch trekkers who took a particular interest in Jewel’s successful attempt to reach the summit of Tseko. That was the opening of a close relationship with the Dutch that endured until the end of the trek at Sundarijal. The Dutch did not attempt to summit Tserko Ri. Perhaps, the day was their “rest day”.

Day 7, Tuesday, 12 October:  Kyanjin Gompa 3800m to Lama Hotel 2410m, a 1390m drop in ca. 20km.

Day 8, Wednesday, 13 October, Lama Hotel to Thulo Syabru 2250: from Lama Hotel we descended to ca. 1680m then climbed up 530m to Thulo Syabru. On the way up, we stopped on the banjyahng (pass) for lunch. Arrival at Thulo Syabru at 14.3h, we stayed at the Lama Hotel, where I took advantages of the free, hot shower.

Day 9, Thursday, 14 October, Thulo Syabru 2250m to Cholongpati 3654m another 1400m gains in elevation. By 15.00h we were in the guesthouse.

Day10, Friday, 15October, Cholongpati 3654m to Gosainkund 4380m,a 725m gain in elevation. Gosainkund takes its name from the lake (kund) at the site. However, the views were clouded over so we could not appreciate the beauty of the place. We arrived at 12.30h to a rather dismal guesthouse and surrounding.

Day11, Saturday, 15 October, Gosainkun 4380m to phedi 3780m. Phedi means “foot “as it is situated over and below the Lauribina-La (pass) 4610m. This day began and ended in the rain. At 12.00h we arrived at the guesthouse .In view of the heavy rain that continued during lunch, Lakpa decided that we would stay the night here. In contrast, after their lunch, our Dutch friends had to go on to Gopte because their porters had already set off for the next village, that goal of the day’s trek. I spite of the stove nothing dried during the night!

Day 12, Sunday, 17 October, Phedi, and 3780m to Tharepati 3690m: this day it also rained from 10.00h until we reached Tharepati at 15:00h.

Day 13, Monday, 18 October, Tharepati 3690m to Kutumsang 2470m, a 2200m descent in ca. 16km .At 10.15 h we stopped at Magengoth 3420m for lunch in  a new , well – built teahouse. By 15.00h we were at our destination, Kutumsang.

Day14, Tuesday, 19 October, Kutumsang 2470m to Chisapani 2165m. For me, the 20 km trek did not end until 17.15h. Here we met the Dutch again, who were staying at the same guesthouse. That evening Jewel bought apple pie for everyone to celebrate the forthcoming conclusion of our trek.

Day 15, Wednesday, 20 October, Chisopani 2165m to Sundarijal 1460m , a 755m Descent in ca.14 km. If we would have followed the road to Sundarijal we would have crossed the Borlang Bhanjyang 2451m: however Lakpa stayed off the road mainly trekking through the woods, where there was more water and much slippery clay. In this way, he avoided the pass, a 286m ascent. Before I realized what was happening, I was looking down into the Kathamndu Valley, a pleasant surprise .During the day, jewel stayed with the Dutch as she had by now become their favorite trekkers. After lunch at Mulkharka, we all descended the last 3 km in Sundarijal, where our driver was waiting to talk us back to our hotel in Kathmandu Thus at 14.00h the Langtang trek was complete .At 15.00h .We were free to take a shower in our hotel Manang in Thamel.

On Thursday ,21 October we had a free day in Kathamandu .That evening Jewel invited me to “Dwarika” a Restaurent located in a hotel that has been constructed using traditional Newari bricks,Doors,and window Frames .The Newars were the original inhabitation of the Kathamandu Valley: they have a rich culture heritage and are skilled artisans .A lot of the traditional art of Nepal and Tibet is Newar crafted .The Newars have made a deep imprint on the architecture, art, food, and music of the Valley.

Friday, 22 October, my last day in Nepal, I flew from Kathmandu to Bangkok, and then from Bangkok to Los Angeles, arriving at 22.00h Friday night. In order to beak the flight and to arrive in Denver a civilized hour I spend the night at the crown plaza hotel, LAX On Saturday, 23 October, I flew with united to Denver, arriving at 10.35h thus completing my tenth visit to Nepal.

John P. Herakovich

31 October 2010

Unique Adventure will be present in the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, 8-11 of November, we will be sharing the Stand AS590 with the officials from Nepal Tourism Board and other Nepal region based commpanies.

Unique Adventure  is introducing its Adventure trips in the Hiamalayas. Feel free to contact us for a meeting in our stand or propose a time and date for us to visit yours, we will gladly discuss the possibilities of cooperation.