The Langtang Valley was decaled a national park in 1976 and remains the second largest in Nepal covering approx. 1,710 sq. km. Stretching up to the Tibetan border, it has a high level of biodiversity including 15 forest types, 3,000 species of flowering plants like oaks, fir, blue pine, spruce and more that 10 species of rhododendron. The Park is also a rich area for medicinal plants. Extensive forests and varied vegetation types provide a habitat for approx.46 species of mammals and 283 Spices pf birds, including musk deer, snow leopards, red panda, wild dog, Himalayan black bear and the clouded leopard.

Tourist Services:

A community lodge offers accommodation at gatlang. Packaged facilities of home stay offer accommodation at Briddim. Normal hotel, lodge and indiviual home stay are available in the remaining villages where meals are also offered with accommodation. Cooked with special attention on food safety, the simple yet nutritious meals are an adventure for the palate. Trained guides and porters are also availble in the villages

Getting There:

Lantang region predominatly lies in Rasuwa district of Bagmati Zone. A 7 to 8 hour drive from Kathmandu to Dhuche in Rasuwa district is the most convenient approach to Langtan. The Langtang National Park is also accessible from Sundarijal toward the east of Kathmandu and Melamchi Pul )Bridge) about 3 hours derive from Kathmandu

Source: Nepal Tourism Board

Briddim (2,229m) is a small and beautiful Tamang village. It offers Himalayan cultural experience in the form of accommodation. Here visitors are accommodated as house guests and are able to have first hand experience of the age old culture and hospitality of the Tamang community. The accommodation and tourism package is managed by home stay Tourism Management Committee in the village. Briddim home stay was awarded 2nd Mountain Development Prize at the International Mountain Day programmed held in Kathmandu December 2005.

PEOPLE & CULTURE

The inhabitants of the Lantang Valley are thought to be descendants of Tibetan from Kerung who intermingled with Tamangs from the Helambu area. The inhabitants of Briddim, Thuman, Timure and Langtang are of the Tamang ethnic group but a marked influence of Tibetan culture and tradition is noticed in their lifestyle closely resembling that of most Tibetan villages. They are mainly sheep and yak herders, but grow some hardy grains and vegetables. The daily life of the villagers includes raising livestock, agriculture and trade with Kerung in Tibet. Wheat, maize, potato, soybean and millet are their staple food.
In addition, visitor can also observe Syabru dance, Khampa dance, Shaman performance and other colorful performances during major festivals like Lhosa (Feb) Chhiju (Dec) Baisakh Purnima (Apr-May) and as per visitor's request.

HOT SPRINGS

At Totopani which literally means "HOT WATER" you can cleanse yourself spiritually in natural hot springs with bathing areas in the lap of the mountains. Locals believe that the waters have a healing quality that ease away your aches and pains.

NATURAL EXPERIENCE

The trail is equally a pleasure for natural experiences. The unique landscape around Goljung Bhanjyang, Thuman and Briddim, pristine forest between Tatopani and Nagthali, Thuman and Kaleidoscopic view of the Langtang mountains. Sanjen range, Ganesh Himal, Kerung and Gosaikunda range along the way give a wholesome experience of Himalayan landscape and vegetation.

GOSAIKUNDA TREK (FROZEN LAKE)

An additional 4-5 days trek to Holy Gosaikunda Lake (4,300 m) can be either from Rimiche, Syabrubesi or Dhunche. The trek offers perfect combination of natural and cultural Buddhists. About 25 to 30 thousand pilgrims visit this area during Janai Purninma festival which falls during the full moon time of August.

FURTHER AFIELD

Visitors can extend their stay in Langtang to trek to Kyangjin and explore the upper valley to Langshisa and beyond. Tilman's Col, a difficult crossing named after H>W Tilman the first Westerner to visit Langtang in 1949, leads east toward Panch Pokhari, Ganja La Pass (5,120 m) often covered by snow and clouds, leads south to Heleambu and the Kathmandu Valley.