Trekking Langtang Valley: A Journey of Friendship, Adventure, and Resilience

Trekking Langtang Valley: A Journey of Friendship, Adventure, and Resilience 

The annual Trekkiyers expedition had grown into a cherished tradition - a highlight that each regular member eagerly anticipated as the year rolled by. 

Formed in 2018 by Vaidhyanathan (known variously as Vaidy or Malli, my brother), Ramesh (our brother-in-law), Sridhar (Vaidy's school friend), and Dr. Narayanaswamy (Swamy), the group steadily expanded its circle. Over successive treks, newcomers were warmly welcomed: myself (Srinivasan), Sumathi (Swamy’s wife), and my cousin Vishagan eventually joined the ranks, each becoming an integral part of our mountain family.

It became almost a ritual for a fresh face to join our adventures every year, with Vishagan being the latest addition in 2024. Yet, as this year's journey to Langtang Valley approached, a few regulars were unable to participate - reminding us how unpredictable life, and travel, can be. Despite these changes and some early obstacles, the heart and spirit of the Trekkiyers carried the adventure forward undeterred.

For those who’ve followed my travel stories over the years, this post breaks a bit from tradition. As a new experiment, I've tried capturing this journey in a shorter, more condensed format, like an abridged travelogue. If time permits, an unabridged and more detailed version may follow soon - after all, the Langtang Valley deserves every word and memory.

Saturday, 4 October 2025 - Mumbai to Kathmandu: The First-Time Fiasco 

Our adventure began under unexpected circumstances. Along with my brother Vaidy, brother-in-law Ramesh, school friend Sridhar, and the ever-supportive Dr. Narayanaswamy and his wife Sumathi, we planned a memorable trek to Langtang Valley, Nepal. Unfortunately, due to a family medical emergency, Sridhar could not join.

 

The journey itself threw its first surprise - a flight from Mumbai to Kathmandu was canceled midair due to bad weather in Kathmandu. After a refuel stop in Lucknow, we were forced to return to Mumbai. The mood was a mix of frustration and determination. Flights were quickly rescheduled, ready for round two. 

 

Monday, 6 October 2025 - Arrival and Settling In Kathmandu 

With persistence, we left Mumbai early morning with a break at Delhi and finally landed in Kathmandu later that day. At the airport, we met up with Ramesh who got a direct flight to Katmandu and Sameer Tawde a neighbour and enjoyed coffee at the airport before heading to Backpackers Lodge - a cozy base for our Kathmandu stay. 

 

We had a late lunch and caught up with Swami and Sumathi, who had arrived in Kathmandu with their family a week earlier. Our immersion into local life began with purchasing SIM cards from two different telecom providers to ensure reliable connectivity. With Ramesh activating his India SIM for international use, we felt comfortably equipped to stay in touch throughout our trek. Later, we visited the Pashupatinath temple for darshan taking time out for Rudram chanting - a profoundly spiritual experience. 

 

As evening fell, we met Rajan Simkhada whose trek company we chose to do the trek through for our trek briefing and bought essentials like bread, yogurt, and jam for breakfast. We reorganized our bags with Rajan’s help.

 

 Tuesday, 7 October 2025 - Trekking Begins: Scenic Rides and First Steps

An early morning tea and hearty breakfast set the tone. Wearing our "Trekkiyers" T-shirts, we took photos to mark the start of the adventure. Swami captured video clips on his handycam, while we chanted "Ganpati Bappa Morya" and boarded Scorpio jeeps for the rugged 7-hour drive to our first trek entry point. 

 

We stopped for refreshing nimbu pani at a village and were joined by our guide Ram. Lunch was simple yet satisfying - varathuperi (banana wafers), dahi, and vegetable biryani. 

 

The journey resumed through winding roads until a landslide forced mini-buses to stop; some trekkers continued on foot along a precarious path high above deep valleys. Arriving at Country Villa Hotel by 3 PM, we enjoyed tea and a brief sunset walk. 

 

After dinner featuring dal rice, spring rolls, and lemon rice mix brought by Sumathi, we enjoyed a leisurely night walk beneath a radiant full moon. Despite being a supposed travel day, my watch showed nearly 10 kilometers of walking! 

 

Wednesday, 8 October 2025 - Into the Mountains: Waterfalls, Bridges, and Challenges 

After morning tea and a hot bath, we had tomato soup and bread for breakfast, followed by video calls home to share updates. 

 

The trek started with a challenging 7-hour walk over varied terrain. We crossed multiple waterfalls and suspension bridges, sometimes soaking our shoes and socks as we navigated tricky wet rocks. The path featured two difficult landslide-affected spots quickly improvised by porters with stone steps - a true testament to their craftsmanship. 

 

Sea buckthorn juice, a cherished specialty found all along the mountain trails, became a refreshing staple for us throughout the trek, and we enjoyed it at every opportunity.

 

Despite the challenges, the camaraderie and natural beauty made it worthwhile. We reached a teahouse by 5:15 PM, freshened up, and enjoyed dinner - tomato soup and traditional dal baat with South Indian spicy condiments - a perfect fusion to end the day. 

 

Thursday, 9 October 2025 - Advancing to Langtang: Welcomed by Yaks and Friendly Faces 

Coffee and a thick maida roti powered us through the morning trek, which promised the same distance but smoother trails. 

 

By noon, we reached a scenic lunch spot where I took a break squatting on the ground, allowing my damp socks and shoes to dry. 

After a frugal meal of dal, rice, and pickles, we resumed trekking, greeting the "Welcome to Langtang" board by 4:55 PM. 

 

The hike was tough but rewarding for our group of city-bred fifty-somethings. Tea at a roadside joint turned lively when a yak charged a trekker! We met a Nepalese guide who spoke some Tamil and Malayalam, having worked in Qatar with South Indian friends. 

 

Dinner featured plain rice with puliyodarai mix and local delicacies, accompanied by fresh fruits - a restful evening within the comforts of our homestay. 

 

Friday, 10 October 2025 - A Difficult Day: High Altitude Challenges 

Ramesh faced a sudden health scare with high fever and low oxygen saturation overnight. After medical attention and medicines prescribed by Swamy (Dr. Narayanaswamy), his readings improved, though he chose to rest. 

 

The rest of us continued toward Kyanjin Gumba, enjoying a 3-hour trek followed by arrival at comfortable lodgings with electric blankets and warm sunshine on the terrace. 

 

Lunch was simple dal rice with khakra choora, and news came that the planned climb to Kyanjin Ri was postponed due to clouds. Swami and Ram attempted the climb but returned early. 

 

Thermal wear made its first appearance here as temperatures dropped overnight. Dinner included French fries, veg momos with a unique pulikachal dip, and sandwiches with well-arranged ingredients - comfort food at altitude. 

 

Saturday, 11 October 2025 - Reunion with Ramesh and Descent Begins 

After early coffee and breakfast, we trekked back to meet a recuperated Ramesh. Another group photo with the Indian tricolor marked a special moment before our descent began. 

 

The return journey was quicker - what took two days up was covered in one down. Lunch was puliyodarai with local flavors, followed by a much-needed milk coffee break at Hotel Woodland. 

 

Darkness fell early, and as we neared the hotel, porters met us with torches - our guiding lights to the final stretch. We arrived safely, refreshed, and enjoyed warm milk coffee upon arrival. 

 

Sunday, 12 October 2025 - The Last Trek: Challenging Terrain and Gratitude 

Our final day’s trek started early, with a tough stretch through a repaired landslide zone supported by rescue crews and helpful porters. 

 

Despite waiting over an hour for lunch at a restaurant, the walk back to the road was successful, and the slippery log crossing anticipated earlier was thankfully avoided. 

 

Returning to the hotel, we took hot baths, visited the local market for supplies, and expressed gratitude to our porters and guide Ramsharan for their invaluable support throughout the journey. 

 

Monday, 13 October 2025 - Farewell to Syabru Besi and Return to Kathmandu 

We reluctantly left Syabru Besi, embarking on a jeep ride back to Kathmandu with routine border checks and roadside fruit breaks including a stop at Ram’s ancestral village. 

 

Lunch and shopping in Kathmandu’s bustling Thamel area brought us back to city life. Visits to Kalbhairav Temple during Ashtami infused spiritual energy before a leisurely dinner and ice cream treat capped the day. 

 

Packing was completed with plans to visit Pashupati Nath Temple the following morning. 

 

Tuesday, 14 October 2025 - Final Day: Pashupati Nath Temple and Departure 

An early coffee and bath prefaced a breakfast of aloo paratha. Our farewell pilgrimage to Pashupati Nath Temple included Rudram chanting and a meaningful darshan, sealing our spiritual connection to Nepal. 

 

With some last-minute shopping and a tea catch-up with Rajan Simkhada, we headed to the airport, hearts full and memories etched deeply - the Langtang trek was an unforgettable chapter of friendship, nature, and resilience.

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