Red Panda Photography Trek in Langtang

• Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu

  Kathmandu (1,350m/4,429ft)

• Day 2: Drive from Kathmandu to Maghu Village (80 km/4-5 hour drive)

  Kathmandu (1,350m/4,429ft) Maghu Village (2500m/8,202ft)

• Day 3: Trek from Maghu Village to Lapchi ((7Km) (3-4 hrs)

  Maghu Village (2500m/8,202ft) Lapchi (3,330m/10,925ft)

• Day 4: Hike to View Point for the panoramic sunrise view and whole day red panda tracking

  Lapchi (3,330m/10,925ft) View Point (3500m/11,483ft)

• Day 5 and 6: Full day Red panda tracking in the main territories

  Lapchi (3,330m/10,925ft)

• Day 7: Trek from Lapchi to Ering (5km) (3 hrs)

  Lapchi (3,330m/10,925ft) Ering (3650m/11,975ft)

• Day 8: Trek from Ering to Kulu Village (5km) (3 hrs)

  Ering (3650m/11,975ft) Kulu Village (2500m/8,202ft)

• Day 9: Trek from Kulu Village to Phedi (1,600m/5,249ft) (7km)

  Kulu Village (2500m/8,202ft) Phedi (1,600m/5,249ft)

• Day 10: Drive from Phedi and drive back to Kathmandu.

  Phedi (1,600m/5,249ft) Kathmandu (1,350m/4,429ft)

• Will someone come after my arrival to pick me up at the airport?

  Yes, a Trekkers Paradise representative will be there to greet you outside of Terminal Hall. He will be displaying a Trekkers Paradise name card with your name on it. You will be moved to the pre-selected Hotel after that.

• Do I need a visa to travel to Nepal?

  All foreign nationals, except Indian Citizens, need visas to enter Nepal.

• What is the cost of the visa application process and Visa? Should we apply for a visa from our home country or will we get it at Nepalese Airport? Which documents are important that I should bring with me?

  After landing, you can obtain a visa at Tribhuwan International Airport, furthermore, it will be easier if you fill out the visa form online (http://online.nepalimmigration.gov.np/tourist-visa) before taking the flight to Nepal. Entry Visa fees- at present are $ 30 for 15 days, $ 50 for 30 days, and $ 125 for a three-month visa on entry to Nepal.

  You should bring the following essential documents on the trip:

  • Valid Passport: must be valid for up to 6 months.
  • Travel insurance: you need to provide a copy of the insurance paper to Trekkers Paradise before you start the trek.
  • Flight Tickets.
  • Emergency contact numbers for T/C’s bank, insurance, and family contacts.

• Do I need permits?

  Yes, all foreign citizens require the Langtang Trekking Permit.

• Is Langtang safe to trek?

  The only potential hazard during the trek is the possibility of altitude sickness.  We will be on the tree lines during the trek so there are no more chances of altitude sickness. However, to reduce the chances of it, we suggest gaining altitude slowly for acclimatization. You will also be guided by an experienced trekking guide and assisted by local porters, who are there to take care of you during your trek.

• Are there porters or yaks carrying the luggage or are we supposed to be carrying it alone?

  Our porters, who are honest and experienced, will look after your luggage while on the trek. All you need to carry is your small day bag for your personal belongings like a camera, water bottle, sun cream, money, etc. Normally, we assign one porter to carry the luggage of two trekkers.

• What are the facilities available in case of emergencies during the trek?

  In case you suffer from altitude sickness or any other problems, we will offer you the doctor’s prescribed medicines according to the type of problem facing you. We will descend you and in case of extreme cases, you will get rescued by the helicopter.

• Can I add extra days to my Trekking Trip?

  Yes, it is possible to add some more days to the trip. Along your trek, we can add days at your request with additional costs to cover guides, porters, accommodation, and food.

• What are some basic Nepali customs that I should know about?

  • • Follow and respect the local culture wherever you trek in Nepal.
    • Take off your shoes before entering a temple or one’s home
    • Ask for permission before entering a Hindu temple
    • Taking photographs inside most temples is considered illegal
    • Ask for permission before taking photographs of objects and including Nepali people.
    • Nepali people are friendly by nature. Have a genuine interest in them. Talk to them. Be friendly as you travel.

• What is a red panda?

  A small mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and SouthWest China, Red pandas are an ancient species from the order Carnivora (superfamily Musteloidea), and they are most likely related to skunks, raccoons, and weasels.

• How big is red panda?

  Red pandas are nearly the same size as a large domestic cat.

• Why are red pandas endangered?

  Although legally protected in China, India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar, red pandas are an endangered species. Loss and degradation of their habitat, human interference, and poaching are their main threats.

• What are red panda predators?

  The red panda’s principal predator is assumed to be the snow leopard, with occasional martens. Birds of prey and other small creatures may hunt cubs.

• Where do red pandas live?

  Red pandas inhabit temperate forests at high altitudes with bamboo understoreys found in the Himalayas and other high mountains.

• What do red pandas eat?

  Red pandas’ main diet is 98% bamboo and occasionally eat fruits, insects,  small animals, eggs, and flowers.

• What's the lifespan of red panda?

  Red Pandas have an average lifespan of eight to twelve years, however, some have lived to be 23 years old.

• What is the population of red panda in the world?

  There are estimated to be roughly 2500 to 10,000 red pandas left in the wild, globally.

• How many red pandas are there in Nepal?

  Nepal’s 36 unique mountain districts are home to approximately 1000 red pandas, making this fascinating species one of the most endangered not only in the country but globally.

• What is a red panda called in Nepali?

  Red Panda is known as “Habre” in Nepali and has different names given by different ethnic groups of Nepal. It is called “Hop Rakpa” by the Hyolmo people in the Langtang region, for example.

• What are the interesting facts about red pandas?

  • Red Pandas are the first pandas, not related to giant pandas.
  • Red Pandas have many names; firefox, red bear-cat,  red cat-bear, and the lesser panda.
  • Red Pandas are shy and solitary except when breeding.
  • A Red Panda’s Diet is 98% Bamboo.
  • Red Pandas are kinda like cats and bears.
  • They are a carnivore.
  • Red Pandas have six digits on their front paws.
  • Red Pandas stand on their hind legs to appear larger in case of threat.
  • They have fluffy white ears, tails, and paws. Humans have given them a lot of attention because of their adorable appearance.
  • They spend two-thirds of the day sleeping and they sleep on their tail.
  • They quack like ducks and glow in the dark.
  • They hibernate.
  • Red pandas can descend the trees vertically with their heads first.

• Where is the nearest place from Kathmandu to spot red panda?

  Langtang National Park is the closest spot from Kathmandu to see a rare Red Panda. A rare and endangered Red Panda has recently been sighted in Langtang National Park’s Pangbu Danda and Mangingoth regions. The park is the nearest national park to Kathmandu. The park is accessible in just one day.

• What camera gear is required for taking pictures during the tour? Can we pay porters to help us carry the equipment?

  Our main photography targets on this trek will be Red Panda and bird photography. Telephoto lenses are advised for this purpose to take faraway photos of wildlife. When the opportunity arises, we’ll also be taking pictures of the landscapes with mountains and forests. To determine what photography gear you should bring for the tour, please speak with us.

  Due to the remote nature of this area, porters are only accessible upon request. Please talk to your photographer mentor about how to best prepare your gear for the tour.

All foreigners except Indian nationals must have a valid visa to enter Nepal. Visa is available on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport upon entry in Kathmandu, Nepal, and at Nepal borders of India and Tibet. Visa can be easily extended to the central immigration office. www.immigration.gov.np Visa application requires a passport with at least 6 months until expiration and one passport-size photo.

The current cost of a visa for 15 Days – 30 USD, 30 Days – 50 USD, and 90 Days – 125 (to be paid in cash) Other currencies are also accepted although rates may differ. Other nationalities should check entry requirements. Visitors are requested to specify return flight tickets, the time intended to stay in Nepal.

Visa Extension Fee: Tourist visa extension is done for a minimum of 15 days with USD 45 and USD 3 per day for additional days. In the case of a delay of less than 150 days additional USD 5 per day as of late fine.

Trekkers Paradise is a government-authorized, registered, licensed, and bonded trekking and touring operator in Nepal. The company registered number is 221608/076/0677. We are members of the Trekking Agency Association of Nepal (TAAN), and the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA). Therefore, book the Trekkers Paradise trip with confidence as we are reliable.10 percent of payment in advance and other necessary documentation like passport copy, passport size photos, travel insurance policy, and arrival, and departure flight details can be made later but must not exceed within two weeks’ period from the booking date. Payment is to be made by bank transfer, Western Union. The remaining trip cost can be paid whether in cash or by bank transfer when you arrive in Nepal. Furthermore, we put forward the necessary modes of payment details at your convenience by mail.

Tipping is not included in the salaries of your guides, porters, or crew, but it is greatly appreciated. In Nepalese culture, tips are accepted and a lovely way of saying thank you (“Dhanyabada”) for good service. Normally the tips are offered at the end of the trek and this is best done as a group. Most groups will give the trips on the last day of the trek.

During the Red Panda Tracking trek, you will be accompanied by our local best-trained and well-experienced guides/red panda trackers to make your journey more comfortable and memorable. All guides are well-trained and licensed with prior experience they have spent years trekking/climbing peaks worldwide. Porters will also be assigned to carry your luggage. Two members will be assigned one porter, combined luggage should not exceed more than 20 kg. We provide basic accommodation for our guides and porters or tents with sleeping gear and we also provide them food and warm drinks.

• Intensive Wilderness First Aid
• Authorized certificate of Trekking Guide Training
• Fluency in speaking English and other major Languages
• Rock climbing
• Conservation and biodiversity

Aside from geographical protection, Trekkers Paradise has taken safety in following things to make travel as safe as possible making the most out of it without any worry!

• Our guides have received extensive wilderness first-aid training.
• Trek leaders and guides have years of trekking experience and can help you if there is any kind of uneasiness and ensure happiness & satisfaction are guaranteed.
• We’ll have High-quality masks & Gloves with sanitizers for everyday use throughout the journey for the Trekkers Paradise team assisting you.
• Encouragement and inspiration can be a regular occurrence.
• Food and accommodation in the mountains would be rechecked for additional hygiene.

10 days of Red Panda Photography Trek includes six nights’ lodges and homestays at a mountain,  and two nights at a hotel in Kathmandu, where we provide the best available lodges and select the best accommodation in the Langtang region.

You can find some teahouses and lodges with good services on the trekking routes during your trekking days. But as you ascend higher they become more basic. Rooms are basic, almost every room consisting twin-bedded with two beds with a mattress, a pillow, and blankets. You can share a room with a fellow trekker with whom you feel at ease.

Although, each lodge has its own set of standards, please do not anticipate luxurious accommodations, particularly in the mountains. Most teahouses offer hot showers, boiled drinking water, extra blankets, charging stations, and WIFI for an additional fee. The price of teahouses is determined by the location and the facilities/services they offer.

Our trek takes us to high altitudes, which means your body will need enough starch, protein, and nutrition, as food is the body’s fuel for hiking on such massive Himalayan trails.

All the meals including breakfasts, lunch, and dinner are served during your stay in Kathmandu and the trekking journey. Usually, breakfast and dinner are served at the same hotel where we stay overnight and lunch is served en route to our destination during the trek.

The services are basic, with some of the popular Western, Asian, or Nepalese menus being the most popular and consumed. The most popular and common menu items include the Dal-Bhat set, which consists of rice, lentils, and vegetables, as well as meat, rice, and noodle items, spaghetti, pasta, momo(dumplings), Tibetan bread, chapatti, local tsampa porridge,  potatoes, sandwiches, macaroni dishes, pizza, Sherpa stew, steaks, vegetable curry and so forth.  The Dessert Items  (Rice Pudding, Apple pie), Hard Drinks Steaks, etc.) are available on the menu as well during the trek.

However, you cannot compare them with the choices available in large cities. Usually, local agricultural products are used to prepare meals. Other ingredients are purchased from the market if they cannot grow at a particular elevation.

Breakfast and dinner orders are taken in advance to save time; breakfast orders are taken the night before and dinner orders are taken as soon as you arrive at the teahouse. Depending on your schedule for the day, your typical day will begin. Breakfast is served in your lodge each morning, after which you leave for the next stop. A guide will notify the next tea house or lodge of your arrival each day. Around noon, you’ll stop for lunch at any nearby lodge on the way. You will arrive at your destination shortly after lunch. You can unwind or explore the nearby attractions when you arrive. You will dine around 7 to 8 pm.

At high altitudes, we strongly advise drinking hot liquid drinks in addition to fresh vegetable foods and fruit drinks. Drink plenty of water, not all a once but regularly on a time intervals.

It is best to avoid smoking cigarettes, consuming alcohol, non-vegetarian foods like meat, caffeine-containing foods, hot chocolate, and dairy and cheese products on high-altitude treks. These things increase the chances of getting altitude sickness and diarrhea.

Leave No Traces, Only the Footprints! Pack out your own waste. We practice responsible eco-tourism and organize eco-friendly trips to support sustainable tourism.

The trekking trail in Nepal has suffered significant damage as a result of not having a strong policy on waste management. Act and travel responsibly. We prefer that all of our clients bring their trash keep them in a container or bag, and dispose of it properly at a specific spot or dustbin.

Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is the most deadly risk of trekking. Anyone can get a victim of this sickness when their body is exposed to a higher elevation in a short period of time and the body is unable to adapt to the changing atmospheric pressures. As you ascend higher, the oxygen and air pressure decrease. Our bodies are capable of handling the change, but they require time to gradually adapt. If it is not treated in time, it can be severe and result in death. You can take a few preventative measures to avoid it.

• Not to climb too high too fast.
• Climb slowly and attain the height gradually.
• Take it easy and climb at your own comfortable pace.
• Reduce your walking hours as you reach 2000 meters and walk slowly.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Get plenty of rest. If you feel like your body needs more rest, get it.
• Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking.
• Meditation and warm-up exercise each day before starting the trek.
• Allow an acclimatization day for every 1000m of elevation gain.

There are two more serious but less common severe forms of altitude sickness. Both have the potential to be fatal. You must descend immediately to receive medical care.

High-altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) causes the lungs to swell with excess fluid, which makes breathing difficult even when at rest. You experience extreme exhaustion, weakness, and perhaps a sense of suffocation. A dry cough, nose breathing, shortness of breath, fever, chest tightness, rapid heart rates, congestion, swelling, and fainting are the symptoms of HAPE.  If HAPE is not promptly treated by lowering the altitude or using oxygen, it can be fatal.

High-altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) is characterized by an accumulation of fluid on the brain that results in swelling. Confusion, poor coordination, and possibly violent behavior could occur. Hallucinations, loss of consciousness, fever and fatigue, photophobia, hypertension, coma, shortness of breath, and inability to walk are some more symptoms of HACE. HACE can result in death if it is not treated immediately.

The early signs of altitude sickness can be relieved by immediately descending. However, if you are experiencing severe acute mountain sickness symptoms, you should see a doctor.

The drug acetazolamide can ease heavy breathing and lessen the effects of altitude sickness. You may also be given the steroid Dexamethasone. But you are never recommended to take such drugs as far as possible until the situation is harsh.