After Dashain and Tihar festival, I and my friends were planning to go somewhere near Kathmandu valley or a short trek of 2-4 days. Then, one of my cousin's brothers suggested to us about Ama Yangri peak. After knowing about it, we were really interested as Ama Yangri is only about 75 km northeast away from Kathmandu valley which lies at the altitude of 3771m. It is considered to be the highest peak around Kathmandu valley. It offers majestic Himalayan view; Langtang range, Gaurishankar, Dorje Lhakpa, The Annapurna, Manaslu, Everest on a clear day with the enchanting beauty of flora and fauna.
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It is one of the shortest and easiest treks of 2night 3days, trekkers can enjoy the 360 degrees of Himalayan view. So, we decided to go there (around November month) and our journey begins:
Day 1: Drive to Tarkeghyang
We gathered at 6:30 am in Jagati, Bhaktapur waiting for the local bus. The bus arrived at 7:30 am and set off to Timbu. During the ride, we saw beautiful mountains, rivers, hills through the window. The weather was really good and mountains could be clearly seen. So, we were really excited to reach our destination.
Around 12 pm, we had our meal and continued our journey to Timbu. We finally reached Timbu at 1 pm. We roamed Timbu for a while waiting for a bus to Tarkeghyang. But unfortunately, we missed our last bus. So, we asked the local people for help and one local was willing to help us since the route he was going was on the way to Tarkeghyang. Then, we got off the bus and started about 2 hours of hike. We stayed at Hotel Yangri Peak (Tarkeghyang) and had our light meal. We discussed the next day's schedule, had our dinner and rested for the night. We were hoping that the next day's weather would be clear.
Day 2: Hike to Ama Yangri Peak
We woke up early in the morning to see the magnificent sunrise. We packed the necessary foods for the way. The weather was a bit cold in the morning so we wore warm clothes. We started hiking at 6 am slowly uphill. After hiking for half an hour, we saw a beautiful sunrise. We marched forward as our journey was surrounded by flora and fauna, green landscape, and capturing pictures on our way.
After 3 hours of hike, we took a break for snacks. The weather was getting warm as we were ascending uphill. Although we were tired and exhausted because of a tough hike it was worth paying off with a breathtaking view of pine and oak forests.
After hiking for about 5 hours from Tarkeghyang, we reached the top of the hill. The picturesque view seen from the peak was far better than what we had seen on the internet. We were enjoying and capturing every moment as much as we can at the peak.
Then, we rested for a while before returning back to the hotel. We were able to see the amazing view of Mt. Everest, Langtang Range, Gaurishankar, Dorje Lakpa, Annapurna Ranges, and Manaslu. We saw a construction was being held of Ama Yang- Ri (believed to be deity protector of Helambu region). We also hung a Tibetan Buddhist prayer flag at the peak and we took a group photo as a memory.
Finally, we reached our hotel after walking 3-4 hours of hike and had our dinner. Later, we enjoyed dancing, singing, and playing cards with friends which made our night.
Day 3: Back to Kathmandu
We woke up early in the morning, had our breakfast, and got ready to return. The owner of the hotel guided us to the shortcut road to catch up with the local bus returning back to Kathmandu. Then we hike for about an hour and waited for the bus to arrive. The journey was a bit adventurous due to the narrow road.
After about 3 hours of ride, we reached Melamchi Bus Park where we had our lunch and took a break near the river. Finally, we returned back to Kathmandu in the evening.
Altogether, it is a soft adventurous trek slowly being explored by an increasing number of domestic travelers where mostly Sherpa, Tamang, and Chhetries reside. It is an ideal budget trek that offers a pleasing glimpse of monasteries, waterfalls, peaceful and undisturbed flora, and fauna with diverse vegetation under Langtang National Park.
We went from Bhaktapur, but one can go from Sankhu too, following the same schedule as we did. After visiting Ama Yangri peak, I realized that it is one of the most underrated hiking trails in Nepal although being so close to Kathmandu. This trek made us realized that you should wear comfortable shoes or trekking shoes due to the steep and slippery trail. Also, you should focus on hydrating more often and having energizing foods and chocolates. Knowing the detailed information of the bus route can help to manage the time properly. You can also camp at the peak of Ama Yangri. For anyone who wants to have a break from the hustling and bustling of urban life, Ama Yangri is a good option.
Day 1: Chabahil- Melamchi- Timbu- Tarkeghyang
Note: There is only one bus per day that goes up to Tarkeghyang, meanwhile in the rainy season the bus goes up to the Timbu only. There are quite a few numbers of buses that go to the Timber every day.
Day 2: Tarkeghyang- Ama Yangri Peak, Ama Yangri Peak- Tarkeghyang
Day 3: Back to Kathmandu