Langtang Valley Trek – 8 Days

The earthquake of 25 April 2015, with a magnitude of 7.3 Richter, caused the loss of more than 8500+ lives in Nepal’s different areas. Among the areas, Langtang Valley is the one that was devastated. On the day of the earthquake, the Langtang locals gathered to celebrate the Ghawa festival. The villagers were enjoying the festival, but suddenly, the earthquake hit.

The earthquake caused significant damage as the glacier above the Langtang valley came down and completely wiped out the whole village. More than 300 people died due to the earthquake, including 180 locals, 55 foreigners, 25 porters and guides, and some army personnel. Everything was destroyed then, from trekking trails to local pathways and houses.

The village is still recovering with the support of national, international, and local organizations. The village’s new settlement is about 500 meters from the original. Rebuilding schools, hospitals, homes, monasteries, and trekking trails is still underway. Now, the trekking trails are safe and open, barren fields have turned into green pastures, and new life has started.

Winter and Summer are off trekking season in Langtang. During the Summer, the Langtang region experiences heavy rainfall that makes it challenging to trek. The route can get muddy, and you’ll likely see leeches, bugs, and other insects. Similarly, heavy rain increases the likelihood of Landslides, making trekking riskier. Similarly, the trails become shrouded in fog, making it challenging to trek. However, the temperature during the season ranges from 10°C to 25°C (50°F to 77°F) during the day and 5°C to 10°C (41°F to 50°F) at night.

Furthermore, the winter months are the coldest time. The temperature drops below zero during winter, and the Langtang region receives significant snowfall. Similarly, the temperature during the season ranges from 5°C to 10°C (41°F to 50°F) during the day and -15°C to -5°C (5°F to 23°F) at night. Due to heavy snowfall, the trekking routes get covered with snow. Even the locals who run the Tea houses and Lodges migrate toward the lower parts during winter. Thus, finding accommodation is also an issue at the time. Moreover, altitude sickness concerns are very high during winter.

Langtang Valley Trek is one of the nearest trekking routes to Kathmandu Valley. Your actual hike begins from Syabru Besi. You need to get a bus or a jeep ride to reach Syabru from Kathmandu, which takes 4-5 hours. Your trip to Syabru is a combination of paved and off-road sections. Upon reaching the syabrubesi, you will start trekking toward the Langtang Valley.

Between the treks, you will be greeted with numerous beautiful views of the Langtang Himalayas’ mountainous peaks. The route features narrow sections that may be challenging in several parts. Besides that, the routes are comfortable enough for everyone despite being steep. The hike to Kyanjin Ri is one of the highlights of the trek. Tserko Ri is another beautiful peak that you can add in your trek with extra day if you want. The feasibility of Kyanjin Ri and Tserko Ri combination should be understood for better experience. It is the highest point on this trek, and it offers panoramic views of the Langtang mountains.

The Langtang Valley offers several alternative trekking routes, each providing a unique experience, taking you through stunning beauty and showing the majesty of nature at every turn. Tamang Heritage Trek, Helambu Trek, and Gosaikunda Trek are popular alternatives around the Langtang Valley, lying within the Rasuwa district.

The Tamang Heritage Trek takes trekkers through traditional Tamang villages and showcases insight into the Tamang culture and lifestyle. Likewise, the Helambu Trek, located south of Langtang, is known for its views of the Langtang range and nature’s beauty. Moreover, the trek to Gosaikunda takes one through the sacred lake of Gosaikunda.

Langtang National Park is the only permit required for trekking in Langtang Valley. The trek takes place within the national park, which requires a permit. The Langtang National Park Permit costs NPR 3,000 per person for foreigners and NPR 1,500 for SAARC nationals.

To obtain the national park permit, travellers require a valid passport and a visa copy, and two passport-sized photos. Moreover, the TIMS (Trekkers’ Information Management System) Card was also necessary for the Langtang Trek, but it is no longer required.

Travel insurance is very important for any trekking over 4,000 m. For the Langtang Trek, you must have your travel insurance with you. So, ensure your travel insurance company covers all your safety measures. Ensure the insurance company provides you with all necessary facilities, as they offer numerous benefits during the trek. Therefore, make sure your travel insurance covers your injury, medical expenses, repatriation expenses, rescue mission, loss of property, etc. Most importantly, make sure your travel insurance does not expire.

Additionally, while purchasing travel insurance, look for reputable international companies. Also, check the altitude limit of up to 4,000 m, as the Langtang Valley Trek takes you up to this elevation. Likewise, we recommend that you purchase the insurance from your home country.

Moreover, the cost of travel insurance depends on trip duration, coverage level, age, and nationality. On average, travel insurance with basic coverage for a trip, such as the Langtang Valley, costs between USD 70 and USD 100. A comprehensive coverage, including cancellations, delays, baggage, and medical facilities costs, is available for around USD 120-180.

The Langtang Valley trek is a journey through the scenic landscape of Nepal, known for its stunning beauty and unique culture. Each step of the trek amazes trekkers with its exceptional majesty. Some of the key things one can experience during their expedition to Langtang are:

Tamang Heritage

Tamang are the residents of the Langtang Valley who came from Tibetan families. The community follows Tibetan Buddhism and has its own unique culture and heritage. Similarly, the region showcases its unique heritage influenced by the Tibetan and Nepalese cultures. Thus, you can experience their local culturethroughout the journey to Langtang. The monasteries in the village, prayer wheels, and Mani walls show the village’s cultural beauty.

Kyanjin Gompa

Kyanjin Gompa is one of the prominent landmarks of the Langtang Valley. Located at 3,870 m above sea level, it is a beautiful village with mesmerizing mountain views. You can experience the majestic beauty from the Kyanjin Gompa’s viewpoint, as it has Mt. Langtang Lirung on its backdrop, which offers a surreal experience.

Along with Mount Langtang Lirung, you can expect to witness Yala Peak, Naya Khang, Ganesh Himal, and Dorje Lakpa. To get an even more spectacular view, you can ascend Kyanjin Ri (around 4,600 m).

Tserko Ri

The stunning panorama of Tserko Ri is one of the highlights of the trek to Langtang Valley. Located at 5,033 m (16,512 ft), the peak adds to the region’s beauty and lies near Kyanjin Gompa. It takes 6–7 hours to ascend to Tserko Ri from Kyanjin Gompa and 3-4 hours to descend. The top of the Tserko Ri offers mesmerizing views of the Langtang mountain range and Shishapangma mountain.

Panoramic View of Mountains & Surrounding

The panorama of mountains is indeed the prominent feature of the Langtang Valley that attracts thousands of visitors early. Thus, trekkers can experience the crispness of the mountainous surroundings during their journey to Langtang Valley. Eye-catching panorama of Langtang Lirung (7,246 m), Ganesh Himal (7,422 m), Dorje Lakpa (6,966 m), Gangchenpo (6,378 m ), Langtang Ri (7,205 m), Porong Ri (7,292 m), and Yala Peak (5,520 m) are spectacular on your 8-day Langtang Valley trek.

First Himalayan National Park

On your hike to Langtang Valley, you will experience the freshness of the first Himalayan National Park, Langtang National Park. Established in 1976, the National Park is the fourth protected area of Nepal. With a variety of flora and fauna, it is spread over 1,710 square kilometers.

Beautiful Glaciers

As the Langtang itself is known as the valley of the glacier, trekkers can absolutely witness the stunning glacier during their trek. Glaciers, including Yala, Lirung, Khimsung, and Langtang, are impressive scenes during the trek to Langtang Valley.

Trekkers get food and meals at the tea house during the Langtang Valley trek. At the lower elevation, trekkers find a vast range of options for food; however, at the higher elevation, food options are minimal and almost the same at every tea house. The tea houses have communal indoor heating in a central dining room. Nepal Alternative Trek provides you with a service of three meals a day: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The options for breakfast include muesli, eggs, porridge, salad, potatoes, Tibetan chapati, bread, pancakes, and soup. Likewise, for lunch and dinner, you have options among:

• Nepali Food: Dal Bhat (with plain steamed white rice, lentil soup with local spices, mixed fried vegetable curry with spices, pickle, and meat items if you prefer), Chowmin, Momo
• International Food: Spaghetti, pasta, fried rice.
• Local recommended: Potato roll soup, Tngmo momo with curry

Additionally, keeping your body hydrated is a crucial aspect of trekking. Thus, drinking 4 to 5 L of water daily is highly recommended. However, buying 4-5 Liters of water daily is expensive; thus, consider carrying a refillable water bottle and water purification tablets.

While the tea houses are the common accommodation during the trek to Langtang Valley, trekkers have options in the lower region. You can find different options, including a Hotel and lodge in the Syabrubesi. However, tea houses are the only option as you trek high. Correspondingly, the higher you go, the fewer facilities are available due to remoteness.

You will find standard hotels with standard rooms at your starting point of the trek to Syabrubesi. There, you’ll get a single room with an attached bathroom. However, the cost is higher in the hotels than in basic ones. On the other hand, as you ascend, the accommodation option becomes basic. The tea houses offer basic rooms on a twin-sharing basis with facilities like foam mattresses, blankets, and pillows in a bed.

Likewise, toilets in the trekking trail are squat and may be outside in a separate hut, and are also shared. You can get a hot shower to bathe in, but it costs an extra USD 2-3. The Langtang Valley lacks an electricity facility, so the locals use solar power. Thus, if you want to charge your electronics, it costs USD 2-3 per hour. Moreover, some tea houses offer Wi-Fi facilities for an extra USD 2-3, but the connection can be very slow.

To begin the journey to Langtang Valley trek, you must get to Syabrubesi, which is possible only through ground transportation. Bus and Jeep are the two most common transportation options to get to the trek’s starting point.

The bus is a budget-friendly option, especially for the public. It costs around USD 5-8 per person on a bus. It is the cheapest way to reach Syabrubesi. With this option, you can travel with locals and have an excellent experience. However, the bus drive takes more extended hours than Jeep, and the bus stops frequently. Public buses are quite crowded, and seats can be uncomfortable. Likewise, the rough and winding road makes you exhausted on the bus.

For Jeep, you can take either shared or private Jeep. But, shared jeeps are commonly found in the Buspark of Kathmandu. The shared Jeep costs around USD 10-15 per pax. Jeeps are faster than buses, taking 5-6 hours to get to Syabrubesi. The option is more comfortable, and the ride is smoother. Yet, the option is quite expensive and less comfortable than a private vehicle.

Your day will begin with breakfast at your accommodation point. After breakfast, our guide will brief you about our hike for the day. You will start your hike after the morning meal. In general, your daily hike will be around 6-8 hours. Your lunch will be in a tea house in between your hike. There will be a resting period after your lunch, depending on the distance to be covered. You will be stopping at several scenic spots along the way.

Most of your days in the Langtang Valley Trek end by 3:00–4:00 PM. You’ll check into your accommodation point after reaching to day’s destination, freshen up, and rest. You’ll get your dinner around 6:30–7:30 PM at your communal dining area. Moreover, you’ll head to bed by 9:00 PM to rest for the next day.

Langtang Valley Trek is a moderate-level trek, but it can be difficult for new trekkers. So, the safety and security of the trekkers are essential factors for our company. Thus, we take complete care of our client and their property. Similarly, our trip constantly operates, monitoring every area of our travel. So, you should not worry about your belongings while traveling with us. Likewise, our accommodation facility is very safe, so you can enjoy yourself fully.

Furthermore, for your on-trek safety, we provide government-certified guides who are trained in navigation, first aid, and altitude sickness management. Also, our itineraries are designed with proper pacing and rest days to minimize the altitude-related risk and maximize safety.

Langtang Valley Trek is an 8-day-long trek. So, you need to be both physically and mentally fit. In addition, it would be great if you had previous hiking or trekking experience. We recommend taking a few short hikes or treks before going on this trek. Moreover, if you decide to do this trek despite your lack of experience, we highly recommend hiring an experienced guide. Furthermore, you should not have any heart and blood-related diseases. Moreover, consult your doctor before leaving for the trek if you’ve any health issues. And most importantly, you should be very passionate about the trek. If you want to solo trek you can also check out Langtang Valley Solo Trekking Blog to clear any doubts.