LANGTANG AND LAUREBINA LA - themountaincompany.co.uk · at Gumnchok then after several hours you...

Telephone: 0207 0187031 / International callers: +44 207 0187031

Skype ID: Rolandh1 / Email: [email protected] / www.themountaincompany.co.uk

Postal address: 108 Crowborough Road, Tooting, London SW17 9QG, United Kingdom

LANGTANG ANDLAUREBINA LA

Sherpani lady in the Langtang valley


Skype ID: Rolandh1 / Email: [email protected]/ www.themountaincompany.co.uk


HIGHLIGHTS This is a beautiful trek exploring the less visited Langtang and Helambu area of

Nepal. You walk up the Langtang valley to Kyangjin Gompa, then to Gosainkundlake and over the Laurebina La to Helambu.

There are superb views of the Langtang Lirung and Ganesh Himal and from theLaurebina La one can see over to Manaslu and even the Annapurnas includingMachhapuchre.

Roland, owner and founder of The Mountain Company, led this trip in 2006 andmodified the itinerary based on this experience. He will be able to answer anyquestions you might have.




LANGTANG AND LAUREBINA LATotal number of days 17 days

Grade & days trekking Demanding, 13 trekking days

Accommodation 3 nights hotel, 13 nights teahouse lodge

2019 price ex Kathmandu £1,495 (US$1,950 or €1,695)

2020 price ex Kathmandu £1,495 (US$1,950 or €1,695)

Minimum group size 2

Dates April 5th to 21st 2019 (Easter: April 21st)

October 4th to October 20th 2019

November 1st to 17th 2019

April 3rd to 19th 2020 (Easter: April 12th)

October 2nd to October 18th 2020

October 30th to November 15th 2020

THE FOLLOWING IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE TRIP All internal transport & transfers including airport collections.

One day sightseeing in Kathmandu with Nepalese cultural guide and privatevehicle.

Twin share room at Hotel Tibet or Hotel Ambassador in Kathmandu.




Breakfast only in Kathmandu, all meals included while on trek. Trek mealsinclude breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and biscuits plus two course dinner (soupand main meal) plus up to two cups of hot drinks per meal.

All trekking arrangements including permits and fees, trekking guide(s) andporter(s). We provide one trekking guide for group size of two people andtwo guides for a group size of three people and three guides for group sizeof six people plus.

Bespoke weather forecasts for Langtang region from EverestWeather.comthroughout the duration of this trek.

Thuraya satellite phone to ensure our guides have reliable communications withus for logistics, planning and group safety.

Langtang trekking map given to you on arrival to Kathmandu.

Rubberised luggage tags posted to you before departure.

Full financial protection for all monies paid to us through our membership ofAssociation of Bonded Travel Operators Trust (our ABTOT membership numberis 5365) and having an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (our ATOL number is10921).

Pre departure support and advice from The Mountain Company by email, phoneor face to face meetings in London. After booking with us we will send ourcomprehensive “Nepal Pre Trip Information” notes.

THE FOLLOWING SINGLE SUPPLEMENT IS AVAILABLE:Single room supplement in Kathmandu £185 (US$230 or €215)

Please note that if you are a single person booking on one of our trips you do nothave to pay the single room supplement, this is only payable if you specificallyrequest to have a room or tent to yourself. You will not have to pay this for thisoption if you happen to end up with a single room or tent due to odd numbers onthe trip.




THE FOLLOWING IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE TRIP International flight to/from Kathmandu.

Travel & trekking insurance.

Nepal visa for 30 days.

Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu.

Personal clothing & equipment, please see the Appendix for suggested kit list.

Tips (guidance on amounts included in our “Nepal Pre Trip Information” notes).

Other items not listed in “What is included”.

PARTICIPANT SELECTIONThe Mountain Company carefully selects and screens potential participantsapplying to join our groups to ensure the trip is an appropriate objective for you. Wehave a number of pre-trip questions asking information about your outdoorexperience, training, experience, medical conditions and fitness. To access the pre-trip questions please send in your application by clicking on the “Apply now”button on the trek webpage. After review of your replies we might contact you bytelephone or email for further information to aid our selection process.

Please ensure you have done your own research about Langtang and Laurebina Latrek by reading our pre trip documents (Trip Dossier, Trip Grading and Trip Reportspublished on TMC blog) to ensure you have a realistic idea of what to expect. Everytrip organised by The Mountain Company has been graded based on four factors:daily walking times, altitude, terrain and remoteness.




INTRODUCTIONThis is a classic trek to Langtang valley then to the beautiful Gosainkund lakesfollowed by crossing Laurebina La pass.

Langtang extends north of Kathmandu to the Tibetan border and attracts far fewertrekkers than Nepal’s other main trekking areas of Everest and Annapurna.Langtang was first explored by Bill Tilman, the well known Himalayan explorer andmountaineer, who described it as “one of the world's most beautiful valleys”. Thetrek passes through magnificent forests home to the endangered red panda,himalayan black bear and musk deer.

The Langtang valley then opens out to an alpine plateau with fine views ofLangtang and Ganesh Himal. From lodges at Kyangin Gompa you can explore theimpressive glaciated upper valley surrounded by high Himalayan peaks. The trekup to Gosainkund takes you through the high alpine zone and then we cross theLaurebina La pass adorned with Buddhist prayer flags. From here we descend intothe Helambu valley with superb views north to the Himalayas and south to forestedhills and the city of Kathmandu.

DETAILED ITINERARYIt is our intention to keep to the day by day itinerary detailed below, although theremight be some flexibility due to local conditions or other factors beyond our control.If this is the case the trek leader will do everything possible to work out the changesto the itinerary in order to minimise your inconvenience.

Day 1. Arrive Kathmandu and join the tour at the hotel.A driver will be sent to collect you on arrival at Kathmandu airport and to bring youback to the hotel. Please provide travel plans on booking and we will arrange thepick up and transfer. Overnight at Hotel Tibet or Hotel Ambassador (Meals:None).

Day 2. Sightseeing in Kathmandu.This is a day to explore Kathmandu where we organise guided sightseeing to theBuddhist and Hindu sights in Kathmandu, to Kathmandu’s Durbar Square,




Swayambunath - the Buddhist monkey temple and Pashupatinath – a sacred Hindutemple complex on the banks of the Bagmati River.

Three major towns are located in the valley, Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur,each having a great artistic and architectural tradition. Kathmandu is the capital andthe largest city in the country. Patan, the second largest is separated fromKathmandu by a river. Bhaktapur, the third largest, is towards the eastern end ofthe valley and its relative isolation is reflected in its slower pace and more distinctlymediaeval atmosphere.

In the Kathmandu Valley the landscape is dramatically sculpted by the contours ofthe paddy fields. The towns and villages are alive with the colours of farm produce,ranging from pyramids of golden grain to the vivid reds of chilli peppers laid out onmats to dry in the sun. In the streets and towns there is a constant bustle of activity,especially in the bazaars and markets where the farmers sell their vegetables andfruit. You should get back to the hotel after your sightseeing tour around mid-afternoon and the rest of the day is free for you to explore the city further and packbags ready for the start of the trek the following morning. You can leave a bag atthe hotel with items you will not need on the trek. Overnight at Hotel Tibet orHotel Ambassador (Meals: B).

Day 3. Drive to Syabru Besi (1,420m)- 7 hours driving.You will travel by private vehicle to the road head at Syabru Besi. The drive isbeautiful as you pass through many villages and see locals at work in the fields.Overnight at teahouse lodge (Meals: B,L,D).

Day 4. Trek to Lama Hotel (2,450m)- 5 hours walking.From Syabru Besi you start the trek by crossing a suspension bridge over theBhote Khola. Soon after you cross another suspension bridge over the LangtangKhola. The trail follows this river all the way to Kyanjin Gompa.

There is dense bamboo forest and you will probably see troupes of Langurmonkeys. The red panda also lives here although they are shy and rarely seen.You will stop for the night at one of the lodges at Lama Hotel. Overnight atteahouse lodge (Meals: B,L,D).




Day 5. Trek to Thyangsyap (3,100m)- 5 hours walking.After breakfast you will continue on up the Langtang valley through forest followingthe Bhote Khola river. You will get the first views of the snowy Himalayan peaks asyou see Lantang Lirung to the north. After several hours you arrive at a few housesat Gumnchok then after several hours you arrive in Ghora Tabela. After a shortascent you reach Thyangsyap where you stay in a lodge for the night. After afurther short ascent you reach Thyangsyap where you stay in a lodge for the night.Overnight at teahouse lodge (Meals: B,L,D).

Day 6. Trek to Mundu (3,450m)- 3 hours walking.Today is a shorter day and this is required for gradual acclimatization to the highaltitude before ascending to Kyanjin Gompa tomorrow. After Thyangsyap youascend above the tree line and the valley widens as you arrive to where the villageof Langtang used to be located. In April 2015 a huge landslide was triggered by amagnitude 7.8 earthquake and this debris buried Langtang village. The current trailclimbs over the landslide and there is a memorial to pay ones respects to thepeople that died. Overnight at teahouse lodge (Meals: B,L,D).

Day 7. Trek to Kyangjin Gompa (3,870m)- 4 to 5 hours walking.After Mundu you will pass through a series of long mani walls and there are superbmountain views of Naya Kanga, Dorji Lakpa and Urkinmang. Kyangjin Gompa is abeautiful place surrounded by high Himalayan peaks in all directions. After lunch atone of the lodges in Kyangjin Gompa, in afternoon you can walk with the guide to aviewpoint overlooking the valley with a panoramic view. Overnight at teahouselodge (Meals: B,L,D).

Day 8. Day walk to Chergo Ri (4,984m)- 6 to 7 hours walking.There are a number of options for day walks from Kyangjin Gompa and if you arefeeling strong then it is well worth the visit to walk up Chergo Ri for the bestmountain views. You could also walk up the valley towards the glacier or just spendthe day relaxing at Kyangjin Gompa. Overnight at teahouse lodge (Meals:B,L,D).

Day 9. Trek to Lama Hotel (2,400m)- 6 to 7 hours walking.Today we head back down the Langtang valley and back to Lama Hotel. Overnightat teahouse lodge (Meals: B,L,D).




Day 10. Trek to Thula Syabru (2,100m)- 5 to 6 hours walking.We continue down the Langtang valley until we get to Bamboo where contourround the valley to the pretty Tamang village of Thula Syabru. Overnight atteahouse lodge (Meals: B,L,D).

Day 11. Trek to Sing Gompa (3,250m)- 5 hours walking.From Thula Syabru the trail is mainly uphill with views of Ganesh Himal and arange of peaks located in Tibet to the north. Sing Gompa is a small village with afew lodges, a gompa and a cheese factory. There are many rhododendrons nearbyand it is colourful during the flowering season in Spring. Overnight at teahouselodge (Meals: B,L,D).

Day 12. Trek to Gosainkund Lake (4,400m)- 7 hours walking.From Sing Gompa there is a few short climbs before passing through Chalang Pati.From here the trail continues climbing and as you pass the through the tree lineGanesh Himal and Langtang can be seen. On a clear day it is also possible to seeManaslu, the Annapurnas and Machhapuchre.

You reach a stupa shortly after passing through the Laurebina Yak. From here theterrain becomes more alpine and you will soon pass a lake on your right calledSaraswate Kund. After a short climb you will see the sacred lake of Gosainkundbefore you. Overnight at teahouse lodge (Meals: B,L,D).

Day 13. Cross Laurebina La (4,700m) and trek to Ghopte Cave (3,440m)- 6 to 7hours walking.The trail passes around the edge of Gosainkund and further on there severalsmaller lakes. The Laurebina La is at 4,610m and decorated with many prayerflags. From the pass there is a long descent to Phedi then a traverse to GhopteCave where you stay the night. Overnight at teahouse lodge (Meals: B,L,D).

Day 14. Trek to Kutumsang (2,450m)- 7 hours walking.From Ghopte Cave the trail contours around to the plateau with a cluster of lodgesat Thadepati then descends to Kutumsang. Overnight at teahouse lodge (Meals:B,L,D).




Day 15. Trek to Chisapani (2,300m)- 5 hours walking.From Kumtamsang the trail continues to Gul Bhanjyang (2,140m). Overnight atteahouse lodge (Meals: B,L,D).

Day 16. Trek to Sundarijal, drive to Kathmandu.There is a short climb over the valley rim and then a descent down a trail leading toKathmandu. You will be met by the driver at Sundarijal for the drive back toKathmandu. Overnight at Hotel Tibet or Hotel Ambassador (Meals: B).

Day 17. Transfer to the airport for your flight back home.

YOUR COMPLETE FINANCIAL PROTECTIONThe Mountain Trekking Company Ltd (trading as The Mountain Company) is a fullylicensed and bonded tour operator. For flight inclusive packages sold to UKresidents these will be covered by our Air Travel Organisers Licence (our ATOLnumber is 10921). For packages that do not include flights and for packages sold tocustomers outside of the UK your financial protection is covered by ourmembership of Association of Bonded Travel Organisers’ Trust ("ABTOT"). OurABTOT membership number is 5365.

Our membership of these organisations means that you can book with us incomplete confidence that all monies paid to us for trips are protected.




THREAT AND RISK ASSESSMENTParticipants should be aware trekking, mountaineering and travelling in adeveloping country are activities that involve a risk of personal injury or death. As acondition of booking you must accept these risks and be responsible for your ownactions and involvement.

Adventure travel requires an open and flexible attitude. You may experienceextreme conditions, unpredictable weather and last minute changes to the itinerarybeyond our control. The ability to work in team is an important aspect of all of ourtrips.

As a part of our planning process we have performed a detailed threat and riskassessment for our Langtang and Laurebina La trek. It is worth pointing out all ofour trips have a certain degree of risk, this is of course part of the attraction ofadventure travel and why so many people choose to join this type of holiday.However by identifying the potential hazards on Langtang and Laurebina La we canassess the level of risk and implement control measures to reduce this happening.

Our full threat and risk assessment for Langtang and Laurebina La is available onrequest. For your information we have listed below a summary of the significantrisks and hazards identified by us:

Falls and trips resulting in physical injury eg. slipping on ice or falling off the path.

Altitude illness including but not limited to AMS, HACE and HAPE.

Climatic injuries (dehydration, sun burn, heat exhaustion, hypothermia or heatstroke).

Lightning strike.

Wildlife, pack animals (eg. donkeys or horses) or stray dogs. Pack animals havebeen known to knock people off the path. Dogs can attack and bite, we adviseyou discuss rabies vaccination with your doctor.

Earthquake.

Risk of fire in the hotel or lodge.




Endemic local diseases. We advise you discuss vaccinations with your doctorbefore departure.

Physiological injury such as heart attack, appendicitis, hernia, toothache etc. in aremote area.

Road traffic accident.

Contaminated food and/ or water.

This trip visits a remote area where you are away from normal emergency servicesand medical facilities. In case of a serious injury requiring hospitalisation evacuationcould take up to several days and may impede your ensuing recovery. Helicoptersare the most usual means of evacuation, however they are not always available orthey may be hindered by poor weather and flying conditions.

THE ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT TOUROPERATORS (“AITO”)The Mountain Company is a member of the Association of Independent TourOperators (AITO) and we have agreed to abide by the terms of the AITO QualityCharter.

AITO is the Association for independent and specialist holiday companies. Ourmember companies, usually owner-managed, strive to create overseas holidayswith high levels of professionalism and a shared concern for quality and personalservice. The Association encourages the highest standards in all aspects of touroperating. For more information please take a look at http://www.aito.com/




ETHICAL AND ENVIRONMENTALCONSIDERATIONSThe Mountain Company is committed to adopting a responsible attitude to theareas we visit. We are guests of the communities visited and with some thoughtand care we can ensure that everyone benefits from the experience. We havedeveloped a Responsible Tourism policy which aims to ensure that The MountainCompany and its clients act in a way that is socially, environmentally and culturallysound.

In 2017 the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) launched ProjectPROTECT in recognition of the important role that destinations play in the future ofthe travel industry. The aim of this project is to encourage sustainable tourism andto nurture the destinations for tomorrow's travellers. The PROTECT acronymstands for People / Resources / Outreach / Tourism / Environment / Conservation /Tomorrow.

This project is led by Professor Xavier Font of the University of Surrey and eachAITO member has to publish an annual pledge and report back at the end of theyear on how they got along. To see The Mountain Company’s Project PROTECTpledges for 2018 and 2017, please take a look at our Sustainable Tourism page onAITO website.

We work closely with the International Porter Protection Group and abide by theirfive guidelines for porter protection, their website is at www.ippg.net. We also havepartnered with Kathmandu Environmental Education Project in Nepal, their websiteis at www.keepnepal.org




PRACTICAL INFORMATION

ALTITUDE AND ACCLIMATISATIONOur Langtang and Laurebina La itinerary has been designed for gradualacclimatisation to take place, take a look at the altitude profile for the itinerarybelow:

There are ways of helping the acclimatisation process, as described below:

Walk slowly: there is plenty of time included in the itinerary so there is no need torush, go at your own pace and enjoy the incredible views!

Drinks lots of water: it is easier for your body to acclimatise when hydrated sodrink water and avoid coffee, tea and alcohol.

Consider taking diamox (acetazolamide): before using this drug we recommendconsulting a doctor and thoroughly researching the pros and cons.

Please remember even the fittest and healthiest person can develop one of thealtitude illnesses: AMS (acute mountain sickness), HACE (high altitude cerebraledema) and/ or HAPE (high altitude pulmonary edema). The symptoms of these

Langtang & Laurabina La altitude profile (metres)

010

0020

0030

0040

0050

0060

00

Kathman

du

Syabru

Besi

Rimch

e

Lang

tang

Kyang

jin G

ompa

Kyang

jin G

ompa

Lama H

otel

Thula

Syabru

Sing G

ompa

Gosain

kund

Lake

Ghopte

Cav

e

Melamch

i Gao

n

Tarke G

yang

Sermath

ang

Taramara

ng

Chisop

ani

Kathman

du




illnesses are listed below, if any of these occur when you are on trek pleaseimmediately tell your guide.

Symptoms of AMS:

Tiredness

Dizziness

Nausea or if severe, vomiting

Poor sleep

Symptoms of HACE:

Usually preceded by AMS

Like “Severe AMS” also with severe headache unresponsive to painkillers;confusion and physical clumsiness (ataxia).

Symptoms of HAPE:

Fluid in the lungs: cough, tiredness, breathlessness out of proportion to exerciseespecially at rest and worse when lying flat.

Often symptoms start later (at night or after 24 to 48 hours at new altitude).

Often occurs without AMS (often no headache)

But you can have AMS and HACE too.

If you have symptoms of altitude illness (AMS, HACE or HAPE) you must notascend in altitude. If you have HACE or HAPE you must descend to nearest healthpost (if available) or seek medical help.

If you have only mild symptoms of AMS you should rest, drink fluids, try to eat,keep warm. If symptoms go away then you can go up. If symptoms get worse youhave to descend in altitude escorted by one of our guides (someone with altitudeillness must never descend alone).

For further information we suggest you take a look at the following websites:




High Altitude medicine website:http://www.high-altitude-medicine.com

Medex Travel at High Altitude:http://www.medex.org.uk/v26%20booklet.pdf

BMC website:http://www.thebmc.co.uk/Feature.aspx?id=1746

ACCOMMODATION IN KATHMANDUFor our Langtang treks we use several hotels in Kathmandu depending onavailability. They are as follows:

For our Annapurna treks we use several hotels in Kathmandu depending onavailability. They are as follows:

Hotel Tibet is located in Lazimpat next to the Radisson. Hotel Tibet is our usualhotel for our standard trips in Nepal as our clients enjoy staying at this property dueto its good location, comfortable rooms and high level of service. There is a gardenterrace next to the restaurant on the ground floor and the roof terrace with the YetiBar overlooking the city. For more information on Hotel Tibet please take a look attheir website http://www.hotel-tibet.com.np/

Hotel Ambassador is located in Lazimpat not far from Hotel Tibet and Manaslu.This hotel was rebuilt and opened in Spring 2017 with well-appointed roomsincluding both King size and twin beds, complimentary wifi, tea & coffee, iron &board, combined bath & shower. The rooms are a good size at 30m2 and are welldecorated with original art. The rooms have air conditioning and are sound proofedfor quiet nights rest. For more information on Hotel Ambassador please take a lookat their website: http://www.ambassadornepal.com/

There are store rooms at all of these hotels where you can leave luggage notrequired while on trek. There is also a security safe at these hotels for storage ofvaluables.




FOODIn Kathmandu and Pokhara there is a wide range of excellent restaurants, pleaseread our Nepal Pre Trip information document for our recommendations. Breakfastis provided each morning by the hotel.

While on the trek, the lodges provide good quality food in sufficient quantities. Trekmeals include breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and biscuits plus two course dinner(soup and main meal) plus up to two cups of hot drinks per meal.

CLIMATEThe traditional trekking season in Nepal is late September to May, with October andNovember generally recognised as having the best weather. Spring is also apopular time of year with warmer weather and the advantage of seeing springflowers and rhododendrons in bloom.

This trek will have a wide range of temperatures depending on the altitude and thetime of day. In the mountains between 1,000m and 3,500m the nights will be cool,normally around 5˚C, and during the day temperatures sometimes rise to 25˚C. Athigher altitudes temperatures range from about 15˚C to -20˚C.

CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENTA list of clothing and equipment for Langtang & Laurebina La trek has beenincluded in Appendix below. It is worth pointing out that you will need a sleepingbag for this trip although you can arrange to rent one in Kathmandu.

If you do not have the clothing and equipment contained in this list then a goodoption might be to rent from the UK. Trek Hire and Expedition Kit Hire rent out highquality items at competitive prices which would save you the expense of buying.The links to their websites are at http://www.trekhireuk.com/ andhttp://www.expeditionkithire.co.uk




Alternatively if you are going to buy then please contact the office for the CotswoldOutdoor promo code that entitles you, as a client of The Mountain Company, to a15% discount in their stores and online.

Each trekker should bring one backpack for items required during the day. Your daybackpack will contain items such as warm clothes, jacket, camera, water bottles,personal first aid kit and snacks. Typically the backpack would be 30 to 40 litres insize.

The rest of your personal equipment packed in a duffel bag or backpack will becarried by a porter. The maximum weight allowance is 15kgs. Please ensure thatyour bag is marked clearly on the outside for easy identification.

VISA REQUIREMENTSAll foreigners require a visa for entry into Nepal. It is your responsibility to obtainthe entry visa. You can get from a Nepalese embassy overseas or on arrival inNepal. Most people will obtain their visa on arrival to Kathmandu airport. Pleaseread our Nepal Pre Trip information document for more details about getting yourNepal visa.

VACCINATIONS AND MEDICALYou should obtain professional advice from a travel clinic or your local GP aboutwhich vaccinations to have before you arrive in Nepal. A dental check-up is a goodidea as there will be no dental facilities while on the trek.

We bring a comprehensive first aid kit from UK (Life Systems Mountain Leader)plus high altitude medicine, antibiotics and other medicines.

FLIGHTSThe Mountain Company does not book international flights for our holidays. Insteadall package prices are Land Only with services starting from arrival to thedestination country.




If you would like help arranging flights then we suggest you contact our partnertravel agent, StudentUniverse (ATOL registered) a specialist division of the FlightCentre Travel Group ---> Get an online quote

INSURANCETravel insurance for any Mountain Company itinerary is a condition of booking aholiday. At the very least you should have emergency medical and repatriationinsurance which must include the cost of mountain rescue. Cancellation insuranceis strongly recommended as all deposits paid to The Mountain Company are non-refundable.

Please carefully check your insurers’ Terms and Conditions in particular you shouldmake sure the following is covered: 1) Activity (i.e touring, trekking ormountaineering) 2) Maximum altitude reached on trek 3) Helicopter evacuation inan emergency.

It is important for you to understand that ultimately the burden of any expenseincurred in evacuation and repatriation procedures will be borne by you and that itis your responsibility to pay any costs incurred in respect of any evacuation or formedical treatment. You should be fully aware of the implications involved inarranging your own travel insurance and understand the limitations and exclusionsof your policy.

You should be aware that under certain circumstances, The Mountain Companyleader (or our local agent, if no western leader) might instigate rescue proceedingsvia helicopter (or any other means necessary) in situations of medical emergencywithout first contacting your insurance company for their approval.

The Mountain Company has arranged travel and trekking insurance for EuropeanUnion residents with the specialist insurance broker Campbell Irvine. Theirinsurance policy will cover you for most of the trips in our portfolio. However if yourtrek is classified or graded by The Mountain Company as “Strenuous” or“Challenging” then you must make sure you select this option when obtaining anonline quote for your insurance. Campbell Irvine will not provide insurance cover forany trips classified as “Mountaineering”.




To apply for an online quote through Campbell Irvine’s Direct Travel Insurancewebsite. Should you have any questions regarding the terms and conditions ofcover please contact Campbell Irvine on 0207 938 1734 oremail [email protected]

We have listed on TMC website a comprehensive list of specialist adventure travelinsurers that our trekkers from UK, EU and Internationally based have used in thepast. Please carefully check their Terms & Conditions prior to purchase. Thesecompanies are not necessarily recommended by us so it is your responsibility toensure you have appropriate coverage.

CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONSFor those of you who are visiting Nepal for the first time we have provided somecultural information to help you fit in and feel at ease:

The dress code is important for both men and women. Men and women shouldwear trousers rather than shorts while trekking.

There are many hot springs, rivers and lakes where it is pleasant to take a dip, itis fine for men to go bare-chested while bathing but they should not go nude.Women should try and be as modest as possible in these situations.

Hindus are concerned about the ritual pollution of food when it is touched bysomeone outside their caste or religion. Therefore, do not touch any cookedfoods on display and when drinking from a container used by others avoidtouching your lips to it. Do not eat food with your left hand and make sure youonly give or receive food with your right hand.

Shoes are considered degrading so keep them on the ground and remove thembefore putting your feet on anything. If you enter a Nepali house follow the




example of your host in deciding whether to remove your shoes but on entering atemple or monastery you should definitely remove them.

You will pass Buddhist mani walls, chortens, and stupas along the trek and tofollow local traditions you should pass them on your right.

When visiting a monastery or gompa it is customary to give a donation for itsupkeep.

MAPS Helambu & Langtang, Map No. 08 Schneider Nepal Maps Scale 1:50 000




APPENDIX

CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT LIST FOR LANGTANGFor the safety of everyone in the group and to help ensure a successful trek, youare required to have the following items in our clothing and equipment list tailoredfor Langtang & Laurebina La trek.

As a reminder, the weather on this trek will vary season to season and day to dayas you ascend to higher elevations. During the first couple of days on Langtang trektrek you are likely to experience hot conditions with temperatures around 25˚C. Youwill experience the coldest temperatures at Gosainkund Lae at an altitude of4,200m where overnight lows will be down to around -10˚C

Footwear: Walking boots. A pair of water repellent boots with ankle support.

Wool and liner socks.

Trainers/sneakers or sandals. Can be used in lodge in the afternoons/ evenings.

Clothing: Waterproof jacket and trousers (goretex or similar).

Trekking trousers.

Long sleeve shirts (not cotton).

Micro fleece.

Mid to heavyweight fleece.

Sleeveless or body warmer type fleece.

Thermals or baselayer for top & bottom (merino wool or synthetic).

Fleece pants.




Medium weight down jacket (eg Nuptse jacket by The North Face).

Handwear: Fleece gloves.

Warms mittens and/or gloves.

Headwear: Wool or fleece hat.

Sun hat.

Bandana or scarf.

Headtorch. Bring extra batteries.

Sunglasses.

Personal Equipment: Sleeping bag.

Backpack large enough to carry water bottles, camera, lunch and extra clothing.

Stuff sacks for keeping your gear dry and organised.

Two water bottles (Nalgene wide mouth bottles are the best).

Sunscreen and lipsalve with a high SPF.

Insect repellent.

Water purification tablets (Pristine, Biox Acqua or Acqa Mira).

Favourite snack food.

Books, ipod and cards etc.

Trekking poles (Black Diamond with “Flick Lock” are best).

Camera with spare batteries and memory cards.

Insurance certificate.

Earplugs (optional).




Baby wipes (optional).

Hand sanitizer (optional).

Travelling: Duffle bag or large backpack for your personal gear on the trek (carried by a

porter). Bring a small combination padlock to secure the bag.

Travel clothes. You will need casual clothing for air travel days and time spent inKathmandu.

Toiletry bag include toilet paper, soap, towel, toothbrush, etc.

Personal first aid kit:Note: we provide a comprehensive group first aid kit but please bring personalmedications and other items you might use regularly such as:

Any personal medications.

Malaria prophylactic tablets.

Blister treatment (Compeed patches are the best).

Rehydration powder eg Dioralyte.

Analgesics (paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin).

Plasters and zinc oxide tape.

Throat lozenges.

Diamox (helps with acclimatisation).

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