Day 9 Syabru to Remche

Syabru Remche Latitude 28°08.50'N 28°09.55'N Longitude 85°21.39'E 85°25.44'E Altitude 2,350 metres 2,557 metres Ascent 877 metres Descent 650 metres Time (excluding rests) 4 hours 20 minutes Distance 9 kilometres

Today’s path leaves the mountains and enters the depths of the lower Langtang valley.        Begin by walking down through the village of Syabru. A path leads right across a stream and south east across the fields of Syabru. Pass the Sherpa Hotel (25 minutes) in the midst of the fields. View of Syabru from the Sherpa Hotel        The path turns south and then upstream along the bank of the Ghopche Khola to reach the galvanised steel bridge (40 minutes). For the technically minded it’s an ‘N-truss’ bridge, an expensive design, but there is no room here to anchor cables for a less expensive suspension bridge. Below the bridge is a barley mill. The bridge across the Ghopche Khola

YetiZone Guidebooks   YetiZone Langtang and Helambu Guidebook     Helambu - Langtang map from Nelles Verlag

The alternative path to Bamboo...

The path turns north and downstream. A little further along there are great views of Syabru with the Ganesh Himal range behind. Further still is the Hotel ABC - just a tea shop, not a lodge (55 minutes). [28°08.60’N 85°22.36’E 1,981 metres]. Near here is a path branching right which is possibly a quicker route to Bamboo than the one described here. Syabru stretches out along the crest of the left hand ridge, with the Ganesh Himal range behind

 

Al fresco dining at the Landslip Lodge with the Langtang Khola below...   The Langtang Khola rushes past below. Its milky colour indicates that its source is a glacier... The path through the Langtang valley...

Follow the path downhill. It passes under a boulder before heading back uphill through bamboo groves to a tea shop with dramatic views of the Langtang Khola below (1 hour 5 minutes).        Continue steeply down, the path levels out briefly (1 hour 25 minutes) to cross a landslip area and then steeply down to very near the torrent. You can see some buildings ahead. A little further along, above the river at 1,700 metres, you will find the Hotel Namaste and Landslide Lodge. There’s a great view below of the Langtang Khola.        The Langtang valley was, according to Harka Guring, discovered only a few generations ago. It is a sanctuary valley in which it is not permitted to slaughter animals. This rule is now enforced by the Langtang National Park. As a result the animals here are remarkably tame. Acording to Ram Kumar Panday’s book ‘Geography of Nepal’ the following animals may be found in the park: Musk deer Barking deer (dog-like deer) Jharal - (sheep-like goat) Wild sheep - (goat-like sheep) (don’t provoke them) Serow - (goat-like antelope) Goral - (antelope-like goat) Red Panda Snow Leopard Black bear        In addition, I have seen at least two species of monkeys in the valley. Don’t worry, it’s quite safe despite the presence of all these dangerous sounding beasties! As you walk up the valley look carefully into the forest around you.

This is not a yeti! but an attractive waitress working in the dark at Bamboo...   Cross the mighty Langtang Khola... Hotel Sunshine evening lodge at Remche, just after sunset... The traditional hearth in the Hotel Sunshine Evening Lodge warms the trekkers... The traditional fridge cools the beer... The mountain herb at Remche relaxes the dudes...

Begin the long gentle climb up the Langtang valley. It’s an easy walk through the forest on the right bank of the Langtang Khola with the opaque blue green river roaring by 200 metres below. Pass a junction where the direct path from the Hotel ABC is sign posted ‘Tholu Syabru’ (2 hours 20 minutes). Continue along the path to arrive at Bamboo (2 hours 45 minutes) where you will find 3 lodges. [28°09.29’N 85°23.97’E 1,908 metres].        Cross another ‘N-truss’ bridge over a tributary of the Langtang Khola ( 2 hours 40 minutes). Cross the Langtang Khola by a suspension bridge to the left bank (3 hours 15 minutes) [28°09.30’N 85°24.63’E 2,140 metres]. Pass the Namaste Tibetan tea house close to the bank of the Langtang Khola (3 hours 20 minutes). Cross a landslide area (3 hours 45 minutes).        Arrive at the Hotel Langtang View (4 hours 5 minutes) at lower Remche [28°09.46’N 85°25.13’E 2,392 metres]. It’s a nice well kept lodge, and even has a chimney, a remarkable innovation in these parts. It’s run by a persuasive and smartly turned out Tibetan lady whose excellent English led her to admit that this was not the ‘real’ Remche. Whilst here, I enquired about the intriguing brass belt she was wearing - I was assured that all Tibetan ladies wear these.        Remche lies higher up the side of the valley away from the river. It’s a steep 15 minute climb to reach the real Remche (4 hours 20 minutes) [28°09.55’N 85°25.44’E 2,577metres] where there are two lodges in the sunshine (if you’re lucky to get good weather): Hotel Ganesh View Hotel Sunshine Evening Lodge        Remche gets the evening sun, unlike dark dank Lama Hotel a little further ahead. For this reason Remche is favoured by both trekkers and the local monkeys. The monkeys can usually be seen showing off in the distant trees around the lodges.        Remche is only a small place and has few rooms, so don’t be surprised if you do have to continue to Lama Hotel. The owners like trekkers to share rooms. Last updated May 2000 - copyright Ian Johnson