Lungden (also called Lungdhen or Lung Tang) is a remote and harsh high-altitude village that most trekkers don't visit, but it's very important for explorers on the Three Passes Trek and anyone who wants to take a different route. It is not a settlement in the classic meaning of the word, but rather a seasonal herders' outpost and an important logistical stop in the upper Gokyo Valley. It is located at around 4,600 meters (15,090 ft).
History and Importance: A Place Where People Live
Lungden's history is tied to transhumance, the seasonal migration of animals. For many years, during the brief summer months, Sherpas from lower villages like Thame and Khumjung would transport their yaks and dzopkyos to the high meadows of Lungden. There were a few stone "yertsas" (herders' cottages) erected, which became the center of what is today the village. It was also near historic, informal commercial routes, although they were not as important as the Nangpa La route near Thame.
Trekking discovery shaped Lungden's current personality. As the Three Passes Trek route got more popular, it became clear that there needed to be a halt between Thame (or the Nangpa La base) and the Renjo La Pass (5,360m). Lungden was the only possible choice because it already had buildings and level land. So, like Lobuche, it changed from a seasonal pastoral site into a simple hiking station, and now it stays open thanks to the tough trekkers that pass through.
The Trekking Experience
Being Alone and Getting Used to It Lungden is one of the most distant and unspoiled places to hike on Nepal's main trekking routes.
Feeling
The atmosphere is one of deep loneliness. The wind has worn down the rocks, ice, and wide valleys, leaving the scenery bare. The wind and the bells of a passing yak train are the only sounds in the thin air.
Role: It has two main jobs
Getting used to it, stop at Renjo La
This is the last location to sleep before the hard climb to the Renjo La Pass, which has one of the best views of Everest, Lhotse, and the whole Gokyo valley system in the Himalayas.
The path to the Upper Gokyo Valley
It's a crossroads for paths going to the Nangpa La base, the faraway settlement of Marulung, or down into the main Gokyo Valley.
Facility
In Nepal, you may expect the most basic things. Lodges are basic stone buildings with dormitory-style rooms. There is no heat in the bedrooms, and everyone spends time around the bukhari (wood stove) in the dining room. Solar panels provide electricity, which is sufficient for a few hours of illumination and charging devices, though there is a fee for this service. The menu is rather restricted; it just has instant noodles, dal bhat, and garlic soup to help you get used to the new place.
Cultural and Spiritual Touchstone
Lungden is a simple place, yet it boasts a little Buddhist monastery (a gompa), which shows how the Sherpas make even the roughest living areas holy. This gompa is a strong sign of strength and faith. It is a location for herders and trekkers to go to get blessings before they journey over the high pass. It shows that spiritual life may still exist in a seemingly empty place.
Lodging in Lungden
There are only a handful of lodges, all family-run and extremely basic. Naming can be informal, but you might find:
- Lungden Lodge or Lungden Guest House
- Highland Inn
- Renjo La View Lodge
- Yak Lodge
- A simple Homestay in a herder's hut, which may not have a formal name.
