Also known as, the valley of glacier masses, Langtang valley is located 51 kilometers north of the Kathmandu valley. Despite the close proximation to the capital city, Langtang Valley is isolated from the crowd and modernization and is one of the popular trekking destinations of Nepal.
Although Langtang valley is one of the popular trekking destinations of Nepal, the trail to the valley is still rugged and less crowded in comparison to the trail of the Everest base camp trek and Annapurna base camp trek. The Langtang National park, ethnic villages of the region, Pasturelands, terraced fields, and the panorama of the Langtang ranges makes the trek to the valley a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the nature lover.
The trekking trail passing through the verdant landscape and the ethnic village settlements of the area allows the visitors to discover the beauty of the region as they rest in the shade during the journey and spend their night in the cozy teahouses. In short, the Langtang valley trek is all about little surprises, incredible scenery, and an opportunity to experience the warm hospitality of the locals.
Below mentioned are the 10 reasons to go for the Langtang Valley trek:
The closest trekking destination from Capital city
Located north to Kathmandu, Langtang valley is just 51 kilometers away from the bustling city. That means, with a few hour drive, you will make it to the valley dominated by the impeccable Langtang Lirung. The drive from the capital city to the valley traverses through the highway shops, settlement area, gushing Trishuli River and allows the visitors to enjoy the views of the surrounding hills as they drive for approximately 7 hours. The close approximation from the city makes Langtang trek comparatively easy than other treks.
The local cheese factory amid the Himalayas
Imagine enjoying the local cheese amid the Himalayas. It does feel right, isn't it? And yes, you will be able to do so during your Langtang valley trekking. The traditional cheese factory in Kyanjin Gompa is one of the major highlights of the Langtang Trek, and visitors can enjoy the fresh cheddar made in the Yak cheese factory.
Less packed and is suitable for all age Group
As mentioned earlier, the trail of Langtang trekking is comparatively less crowded than the treks like EBC and ABC. Hence, the trekkers can enjoy the incredible sights in peace without other trekkers walking all over the trail. In addition to this, since the path is less crowded, there will be no shortage of tea houses, and you can trek the way you want.
Panorama of the Langtang Ranges
Even though the Langtang ranges are not 8000m, the beauty of the Langtang region is undeniable. Dominating the ethnic village settlement of Kyanjin Gompa, the beauty of Langtang Lirung is sufficient to take your breath away. Together with this, as you hike to the vantage point of the region, Kyanjin-Ri, you will be able to enjoy the mesmerizing sights of Gangchhenpo, Dorje Lakpa, and Langshisha.
Affordable: Comparatively cheaper trek
Since the valley is the closest trekking destination, you can easily reach the valley and return with a single bus ride from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi and vice-versa. Together with this, the trek is also comparatively cheaper because it can be completed in much lesser days than the other treks of Nepal.
Langtang National Park
The Langtang National park homes the Langtang ranges including Langtang Lirung, Langtang-Ri, Dorje Lakpa and the holy lake Gosainkunda. The national park also exhibits 14 vegetation types in 18 ecosystem types. That means the park has varieties of floral and faunal species with 46 species of mammals like red pandas, black bears, serows, snow leopards, Tibetan sheep, Himalayan Tahr, cloudy leopards, Himalayan black bear, and many others.
Together with this, one can also spot a wide range of bird species like wood snipe, red-headed vulture, and greater spotted eagle. Another best thing about trekking in the Langtang region is that you can enjoy the views of the park and the Himalayas throughout the journey. One can also trek to Kyanjin-Ri, Tserko-Ri, Helambu, and Gosainkunda through the park.
Multiple add-on-option
Another impressive thing about the Langtang Valley trek is that you have multiple-add-on options. Since the trekking in the Langtang region is the shortest of all and can be completed in a week, you can add other trekking programs to your itinerary likewise. If you are in awe of the Langtang valley, there are plenty of options you can choose to do. From the Gosainkunda lake trek to Helambu cultural trekking, you can add more programs to your list.
In case you don’t want to trek, you can also choose to do Tours around the valley. Tours inside the valley mean you will get an opportunity to visit the UNESCO enlisted sites, join for a cooking class, hike around the hills of the valley, and so on.
Buddhist monasteries
During your trek to the valley, you will come across many Buddhist Landmarks like the Mani walls, prayer flags, chortens, and monasteries. Among all the Buddhist sites available in the area, the Kyanjin Gompa situated at the foothills of Langtang Lirung is believed to be six century old and is one of the attractions of the area. So on your visit, do remember to visit the site and explore the cultural aspect of the region.
Shortest trek
The close approximation from the city makes the Langtang trek the shortest trek of all. As the trek does not require acclimatization like other treks, the trekking in Langtang becomes relatively shorter. One of the benefits of this is that you will cut off extra expenses.
Rich and Unspoiled Tamang Heritage/culture
The majority of the inhabitants of the region is Tamang and is the Tibetan-descendants. Hence, the cultural practices of the Langtang region are unique from those seen around the different parts of Nepal.
The cultural richness of the community can also be seen in their lifestyle, art, traditions, and cuisines. Even though it is the closest trekking destination to the city, the cultural practices remain uninfluenced and well preserved by the Local Tamang communities.
Highlights of Langtang Valley Trek:
- Experience the Tibetan-influenced culture
- Enjoy the awe-inspiring views of Langtang Lirung (7,200m), Langtang II (7227m), Dorje Lakpa (6990m), Tserko-Ri (5033m), Laure Binayak pass (4609m).
- Visit the oldest monasteries of the region, Kyanjin Gompa.
- Behold the panoramic sights of the Himalayas from, Kyanjin-Ri (4773m).
- Enjoy the walk into the wilderness of the Langtang region traversing through the lush forests, waterfalls and rich landscape.
- Spend your night in the comfortable teahouse and experience the warm hospitality of locals
- Visit the traditional cheese factory amid soaring Himalayas in Kyanjin Gompa.
Langtang Trek Itinerary:
Day 1: Kathmandu to Syabrubesi
Day 2: Trek to Lama Hotel
Day 3: Lama Hotel – Langtang Village
Day 4: Langtang Village – Kyanjin Gompa
Day 5: Kyanjin – Lama Hotel
Day 6: Lama Hotel – Syabrubesi
Day 7: Syabrubesi – Kathmandu
Customised Itinerary:
✔ Langtang Valley Trek
Permits required for Langtang Valley Trek:
The Langtang Region trekking requires two permits. One is the Langtang National Park permit, and the other is Trekking Information Management System (TIMS).
These Permits can be acquired from Nepal Tourism Board or Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) after your arrival in Kathmandu. However, the Langtang National Park entry permit can also be obtained from the entry gate at Dunche.
| Require permits for Langtang | For SAARC countries | For other countries |
| TIMS card | 2 USD per individual | 18 USD per individual |
| Langtang National Park entry permit | 14 USD per individual | 27 USD per individual |
NOTE: To get the trekking permits, you will need your passport, four passport size photos, insurance details and contact details.
Langtang Valley Trek Cost:
The langtang valley trek cost depends entirely upon the itinerary and plan you choose for the trek. The average cost for 7-8 Days Langtang trek is 500-700 USD. However, if you trek for more than the allocated time and choose to spend money on extra expenses, the budget may exceed than this. The overall cost of the Langtang valley trek is mentioned-below.
| Services | Cost |
| TIMS | 18 USD per individual |
| Langtang National Park Entry Permit | 27 USD per individual |
| Teahouse | 5-10 USD per day |
| Meals | 4-6 USD per meal |
| Local bus | 6-8 USD per individual |
| Local Jeep | 8-10 USD per individual |
| Porter-Guide | 15-20 USD per day |
What should I pack for my Langtang Trek?
Out of other hundreds of things you pack for your trek, don’t miss out on any of the below-mentioned items for your trek to Langtang region.
Bags
- Duffle bags
- Trekking bags
Clothing
- Trekking shirts and trousers
- Base layer
- Insulation layer
- Outer layer
- Waterproof and windproof jacket
- Raincoat
- Breathable underwear
Foot wears and Hand wears
- Waterproof hiking boots
- Hiking and Thermal socks
- Outer and inner gloves
Head wears
- Cap/ Hats
- Scarfs
- Beanie
Other important accessories
- Map and compass
- Passport
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen with UV protection
- Sleeping bag
- First aid kit
- Water bottle
- Water purification tablet
- Hand sanitizer
- Toiletries
- Portable charger
- Protein bars/ Granolas
- Tea bags/ Coffee
Conclusion:
There are other plenty of reasons to sign up for the Langtang trek. But, we believe that the points mentioned above are just enough for you to pack your bags and head on for the journey to the incredible Langtang Valley. Trekking Guide Team Adventure is ready to serve you with the best tours and trekking packages around Nepal.
