Trekking the Langtang Valley Nepal — Part 4: Tamang Heritage Trek

This is part 4 of a 4-part series about Trekking in Nepal. Go here for Part 1: Helambu Trek, to Part 2: Gosainkunda Trek, to Part 3: Langtang Valley Trek, or read Trekking in Nepal FAQs.

Trekking the Langtang Valley Nepal — Part 4: Tamang Heritage Trek

The Tamang Heritage Trek is one of the newest treks in Nepal. It is billed as a cultural route. Situated nearby the Langtang Valley, it’s intended as an addition to the splendid Langtang Valley Trek, or as a less-crowded alternative. Although the highest mountain peaks are not as close, the views are still outstanding much of the way. But the Tamang Heritage route is most importantly a cultural one.

The novelty of the Tamang Heritage Trek is that you will actually be hiking through real villages. This is not always the case for trekking in Nepal. Many trekking routes are composed of various pit-stop settlements of hiker-only guesthouses, or “tea houses” as they’re called. Some of these routes are supported by villages that have been completely transformed by the trekking industry and no longer feel like genuine Nepalese villages.

The Tamang Heritage is still the real deal. You’ll pass villagers carrying loads on their back in between villages on trails because roads don’t exist here. You’ll see corn and wheat drying to be stored for the winter, kids playing in the dirt, men weaving baskets, women weaving cloth, and groups shearing goats together. The trail is not as well marked here, so you’ll need to ask locals which direction is the way you want to go. But people are friendly.

I had some concerns about hiking the Langtang Valley Trek alone, so I joined a group. After my group went back to Kathmandu, I hiked the Tamang Heritage route myself and at no time felt unsafe. As a general rule, it’s better to hike with a partner. But the solitude has its rewards as well.

Days on the Tamang Heritage Trek

I connected the Tamang Heritage Trek from the Langtang Valley Trek. Even though the Tamang Heritage only climbs to a high point of 2,607 m (8,553 ft.), don’t take the trek lightly. There is still a lot of climbing! Lots of steep ups and downs.

Day 11:  Rimche to Briddhim

Mostly a level hike, ending in the nice village of Briddhim, with good views.

Day 12:  Briddhim to Thuman

Steep down, and steep up to the authentic (and dirty) village of Thuman. There’re only two tea houses to sleep in at Thuman because it’s a true mountain village.

Day 13:  Thuman to Nagthali View

From Thuman it’s an additional steep climb up to the high point at Nagthali view. As the name suggests, the views from here are outstanding.

Day 14:  Nagthali View to Tatopani

It’s a short hike to Tatopani, a village which name means “hot water”. Here you can bathe in natural hot springs.

Day 15: Tatopani to Gatlang

Descend steeply again and gradually up to one of the most interesting villages in the region. Gatlang is a village composed entirely of connected stone houses with slate roofs. The treks end  a couple hours downhill from Gatang where you take the bus back to Kathmandu

Photos from the Tamang  Heritage Trek