Whenever international guests travel to Nepal to trek, they are most enamored by the Himalayan vista of Mt. Everest or lured by the accessibility of the Annapurna region. However, this gem of an experience is often overlooked by domestic as well as international travelers alike. Langtang Valley Trek offers you a chance to explore and indulge in the Himalayan culture with considerable ease compared to its more popular counterparts.

Langtang is a narrow valley that lies just south of the Tibetan borders and is fairly close to Kathmandu. The word “Langtang” consists of two words- “Lang” which translates to “yak” in Tibetan and “Tang” (the actual word in Tibetan is “Dhang”) which means “to follow”. According to the legend, a lama following a runway yak discovered the valley hence, the name “Langtang”.

This beginner-friendly yet experience-packed trek is an opportunity to indulge in the beauty of the Langtang Himal range, unique Tibetan culture, the wild yet breathtaking landscapes, rare flora, and fauna. You will be able to feast your eyes upon the dramatic display of red, pink, and white wildflowers during the treks in spring and summer. During autumn, the whole area is painted orange and yellow by the changing colors of the fall leaves of the pine, oak, and alder trees. It is a sight to behold on its own. You may also be able to spot rare wildlife during the trek such as musk deer, snow leopard, Himalayan black bear, etc.

Although this trek is very flexible and can be accommodated as per your preference and time restraint, we, Shalom Trek, have developed a 9-days Langtang valley trek itinerary that includes the best of what this trek has to offer to ensure you take home unforgettable memories.

Overview

Itinerary

Overview

This trek is fairly close to the Kathmandu and is a beginner and family friendly trek. Roads are mainly off road means not paved. Trek trails through beautiful forests to an alpine valley just to the south of the Tibet border. The trek offers most stunning views of the majestic mountains and interesting Tibetan-style villages with local traditional food and hospitality.

Day 1 :

Arrival in Kathmandu

As you fly over Kathmandu, you will be welcomed by the scenic beauty of the capital city and the surrounding hills of the valley. Our representative will greet you at the airport arrival and guide you through the city to escort you to your hotel. Once you are settled in your hotel, you can enjoy the rest of the day at your convenience. You can explore Kathmandu on your own or we will be thrilled to arrange a guided tour of this culturally rich city for you.

The capital is an interesting city, home to many of the UNESCO world heritage sites. You cannot miss out on visiting the many religious temples and monasteries that boast of the country’s architectural proficiency and cultural richness.

In the evening, we will arrange a short meet-up to discuss and prepare for the upcoming trek. After which you can also enjoy the buzzing nightlife of the city at Thamel or Durbarmarg before getting the much-needed rest for the exciting expedition ahead.

Day 2 :

Drive from Kathmandu to Syabru Besi

Day 2 will be an early start for the seven to eight hours drive from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi, the starting point of the trek. Here you have the choices of traveling by bus or hiring a private jeep which can be arranged as per your preference. We will travel, leaving behind the hustle and bustle of the city, enjoying the lovely view of the hills, charming local villages, rivers, and the beautiful landscape. As we progress to Dhunche, traveling the winding mountain roads, we will be able to view the majestic snow peaks of Ganesh Himal.

After we reach Syabrubesi, we will have a small tour of the village after a short rest. Syabrubesi is the gateway to the beautiful Langtang valley trek as well as other treks such as Tamang Heritage and Gosaikunda trek. It is a beautiful village that lies between two hills from where you will get a chance to see many magnificent mountains. We will savor the simple yet delicious local cuisine and you will get to enjoy the hospitality of locals and prepare yourself to get accommodated to the teahouse life on the upcoming trek days.

Day 3 :

Trek from Syabru Besi to Lama Hotel

This is our first day of hiking in the mountains. After breakfast in Syabrubesi, we will trek northward crossing a suspension bridge over the Bhote Koshi River and head uphill to Thulo Syabru through a dense cover of pine and rhododendron enjoying the pleasant sounds of the forest birds before crossing a bridge over the Langtang Khola.

Be sure to look out for langur monkeys, red panda, and other fascinating wildlife during the trek. The forest also houses beautiful waterfalls and hot springs.

The trail then stretches through a small community interestingly named Bamboo where we will take a break and refuel our bodies. This will provide us energy to tackle the final ascent to Lama Hotel, a charming small village, and our stop for the night.

Day 4 :

Trek from Lama Hotel to Langtang Valley

After having breakfast at the hotel, we trek through the beautiful hemlock, oak, pine, and rhododendron forest, high above the Langtang Khola. Tantalizing glimpses of Langtang Lirung (the highest peak of Langtang Himal range) appear through the trees all along the way. The trail mounts gradually, as it opens up to the splendid view of the Langtang Himal range.

We will then follow the trail past picturesque yak pastures and scattered Tibetan villages to our final stop for the day, Langtang Village. This part of the trek is reminiscent of the 2015 earthquake as you will find abandonment where lodges and settlements used to be. Please keep in mind your journey is supporting the locals and contributing towards the reconstruction of the settlement.

Day 5 :

Trek from langtang to Kyanjin Gompa – Climb up to kyanji Ri and back to kyanjing Gompa

Today we reach the final destination of our trek. After breakfast, we will follow the winding trail through the villages, ascend along steep paths crossing several small streams. We pass through Mundu and Sindum villages which will bring us to the tiny settlement of yak herders.

The trail rises continuously through yak meadows as the valley further unfolds and views become more magnificent. As we approach the Kyanjin Gompa, we will be greeted by beautiful Chortens (Buddhist shrines) and long rows of mani walls, each engraved with significant sacred mantras and prayers.

Once we reach Kyanjin Gompa, we will take a short break then ready ourselves to climb to Kyanjin Ri. We will leave our belongings at our hotel and start our trek. Kyanjin Ri sits at approximately 4,600 meters and it is a considerably easy climb from Kyanjin Gompa. It is a beautiful place offering a spectacular view of the many snowy wonders such as Langtang Lirung (7245m), Yala Peak (5500m), Kinshung Himal (6781m), etc. If the weather permits, we will also be able to view few glimpses of Tibet.

After taking in the mesmerizing landscape, we will trek back to Kyanjin Gompa for our overnight stay.

Day 6 :

Trek from Kyanjin Gompa to Lama Hotel

After breakfast, we bid farewell to Kyanjin Gompa and retrace our steps to Lama Hotel. This is the longest day of walking downwards. En route, we will be greeted by familiar yak pastures, majestic waterfalls, and get a chance to spot rare wildlife once again. The trek will be fairly easier this time around as we will be descending through the mountains. After lunch, we will continue our descent to Lama Hotel where we will rest for the night.

Day 7 :

Trek from Lama Hotel to Syabru Besi

We continue our hike back to Syabrubesi after breakfast. Today we have two options for our trek; we can either retrace our steps back to Syabrubesi or if the weather and your stamina permits, we can take a longer yet spectacular detour from Rimche via Sherpa Gaon to Syabrubesi. This allows you to view more hidden treasures the valley has to offer.

After we check into one of the tea houses in Syabrubesi for the night, we will rejoice in our achievements throughout the trek over dinner.

Day 8 :

Drive from Syabru Besi to Kathmandu

Today we will enjoy our breakfast at our leisure and pack up our belongings to head back to the city. We will enjoy the long scenic route taking in the charm of the local villages, retracing the curves of the river running along the road. Memories of the week spent in the mountains will fill you up with happiness and contentment.

After we reach Kathmandu, we will drop you at your hotel for your long deserved rest. You can relax and enjoy the amenities offered by your hotel.

Day 9 :

Departure

On the day of your departure, our representative will pick you up from your hotel and escort you to the airport to bid you farewell until next time. You will be taking back unforgettable memories and friendships from Nepal on your trip back home.