Located in the central northern part of Nepal, the Lantang valley trek is one of the best trekking destinations of Nepal that allows visitors to enjoy the Himalayan beauty and authentic culture in a limited time. With an easy drive of 6-7 hours from Kathmandu, you will enter the Langtang region, where the captivating sights of the Langtang Lirung, Tibetan ranges, and Ganesh Himal will welcome you for your valuable presence in the area.
Several factors within the region make Langtang valley a must-visit destination in Nepal. From the holy Gosainkunda lake to Kyanjin Gompa, the Buddhist heritage site of the locals. From the Langtang National Park that homes prominent mountains like Langtang Lirung to Gunja La Pass, the toughest pass in the country, Langtang valley offers adventure, thrill, and memories worth saving for a lifetime. Well, the awesomeness of the region does not just end here, we have hundreds of reasons why you should plan your Langtang trek next with us. So read our blog "Everything you need to know about Langtang Valley" to get the full details of the region.
Highlights of Langtang Valley:
✔ The holy Gosainkunda Lake elevates at an altitude of 4380m.Gunja La pass elevating at an altitude of 5160m
✔ Kyanjin Gompa, the traditional Buddhist heritage site of the region.
✔ Local cheese factory of Kyanjin Gompa.
✔Get an insight into Tibetan influenced Buddhist culture and lifestyle
✔ Trek through the rich landscape of Langtang National Park
✔ Spot wildlife like the Himalayan Thar.
✔ Enjoy the spectacular sights of Langtang Ri, Langtang Lirung, Dorje Lakpa, Ganjala, and many more.
✔ Summit Kyanji Ri (4773m), the highest point of the 5 day Langtang valley trek.
Short 5 Days Langtang Trek Itinerary:
Drive from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi and Trek to Rimche:
The first day of the trip begins with a short drive to Kathmandu. The 7 to 8 hours drive from Kathmandu covers a distance of around 122km and offers majestic sights of the hills and river. Elevating at an altitude of 2380 is the Syabrubesi village, the gateway to the Langtang region.
After arriving at Syabrubesi, you will continue your journey towards Rimche, your overnight destination of the day. The Syabrubesi-Rimche trek takes around 4-5 hours and covers a distance of 8.6km. Walking through the forest of bamboo, oak, pine, and small settlements, you will arrive at Rimche.
Day 2 Trek from Rimche to Langtang Village:
The second day of the trek is longer than the first day. Today you will start early and begin your uphill climb to the Lama Hotel. Ahead on the journey from Lama Hotel, you will walk through the lush rhododendron forest. The trail is adorned with blooming flowers that add life to the trekking trails throughout the autumn and spring season.
Together with this, the vistas like Langtang Lirung and Ganesh Himal will play hide and seek all along the journey. With a steep climb out from the forest, you will arrive at Ghoda Tabela. The path ahead from Ghoda Tabela is mixed with downhill and uphill climbs until you see the beautiful Langtang village.
Day 3 Trek from Langtang Village to Kyanjin Gompa:
The Langtang village to Kyanjin Gompa trek is one of the fun-filled trails regarding the fact that you will walk past mani walls, prayer flags, wooden bridges, and colorful rhododendron forest and the village of Mandu before arriving at Kyanjin Gompa.
Elevating at an altitude of 3830m, Kyanjin Gompa is the ancient village of Langtang valley and a perfect place to enjoy the panorama of Langtang II, Langtang Lirung, Dorje Lakpa, Tserko Ri. Another amazing thing about Kyanjin Gompa is the Buddhist monastery and Local cheese factory. Visitors can spend the day exploring the surrounding area.
Day 4 Hike to Kyanjin Ri and trek back to Kyanjin Gompa to Rimche:
The most awaited day of the trip is finally here. Today you will wake up early in the morning and then start your hike to the highest point of the trek, Kyanjin Ri. Located at an altitude of 4773m, this is the famous viewpoint to enjoy the sights of Langtang Lirung and Lirung Tsang Glacier. After spending a brief time in the area, you can head back to Kyanjin Gompa and then to Rimche following the same trail as the previous days.
Day 5 Trek back to Syabrubesi-Drive to Kathmandu:
From Rimche, you will follow the same path back to Syabrubesi, enjoying the sights of the hills and Himalayas. From Syabrubesi, you will take a local bus to Kathmandu.
Related trip:
✔ 9 Days Lantgang Valley Trek
✔ 10 Days Helambhu Trekking
✔ 17 Days Langtang Gosaikund Trek
✔ 9 Days Gosaikunda Lake Trek
Langtang Valley Trek Permit Cost:
For any trekking in the Langtang Region, the visitors must have certain permits to enter the area. Whether you are planning for the Helambu-Langtang trek, Langtang valley trek, or the Gosainkunda trek, you must have the below-mentioned permits to trek in the region.
TIMS Card
Trekker's Information Management System (TIMS) card is the database consisting of the overall information about trekkers maintained by the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) and Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).
✔ Cost of TIMS Card
The TIMS card is categorized into three types in Nepal: Pink, Blue, and Green. Below-mentioned is the cost details:
▪ Green TIMS Card: This card is for Individual trekkers that cost approximately $20
▪ Blue TIMS Card: This card is for group trekkers that cost approximately $10
▪ Pink TIMS Card: This card is for SAARC country citizens. The cost of this card is $6 for individual trekkers and $3 for group trekkers.
✔ Tips for TIMS card
▪ To get a TIMS card, the visitors must submit their Passport (photocopy) and Two passport size photos in the Nepal Tourism Board Offices located in Kathmandu and Pokhara, TAAN Secretariat located in Maligoan, and TAAN Secretariat in Pokhara.
If you are trekking in Nepal through trekking agencies, they will manage everything for you and arrange your trekking permits without any hassle.
Langtang National Park Entry Permit
Since the trekking trail is through the Langtang National park, trekkers must have an entry permit to enter the premises.
▪ For SAARC Countries: $17
▪ For other Countries: $34
You can get these permits from Nepal Tourism Board, Kathmandu, or at the entry point in Dhunche by yourself.
Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park Permit
If you are trekking via the alternative route to the Langtang region by the Gosaikunda-Helambu route, you will require the Shivapuri National Park Permit. But, if you are trekking via the Syabrubesi route, this permit is not required.
✔ Cost of the Permit
▪ SAARC Countries: $6
▪ Other Countries: $10
Trekkers can get the permit from the entry point of the National Park.
Accommodation on Langtang Valley trek:
During your Langtang valley trek, you will be staying on warm and cozy teahouses. The teahouses in the Langtang region offer simple accommodation with twin bed-sharing. You can find a decent room with clean bedsheets and a toilet. However, in the peak season, we usually recommend our trekkers bring their sleeping bags, this will allow them to manage on their own if the tea houses cannot offer extra blankets to you during the stay. The room in the region will cost you around $2-$8 depending upon the room you choose from twin bed, single, or attached bath one.
Food available on Langtang Valley Trek:
Since the Langtang valley borders Tibet, the food and culture of the region are highly influenced by Tibet. Hence, during your Langtang trip, the number of varieties you will be offered on your plate will stun you. The teahouses of the Langtang region offer three meals a day including Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. For breakfast, you can enjoy tea/juice, toast, pancake, egg, tarkari, and others that will cost you $2-$5 depending on the elevation you are staying. For lunch and dinner, you can enjoy Dal Bhat, Spaghetti, Pasta, Momo, and other related National and International Cuisines.
Among all these dishes, the famous dish of the region is MOMO, which you cannot miss out on during the trip. Also known as dumplings, the Momo of the region is rich in lip-smackingly delicious flavors. The shape of the Momo is larger and flavorsome than the one available in the capital city. The lunch and dinner will also cost you around $4-$6.
However, if you love snacking and munching, we recommend packing light snacks like protein bars, nuts, and instant noodles. This will also help you save you plenty of extra money.
Transportation:
Trekkers planning for the Langtang trek can take a local bus via Bus Station at Macchapokhari, Balaju. The bus ride is comparatively cheaper and will cost you between $7-$9. However, the bus takes a lot of time. If you don’t want to travel in the local bus, another convenient way is to hire a 4WD private vehicle which will cost you around $200-$250 for a round trip.
Things to Pack for your Langtang Trek:
✔ Clothing
▪ Insulating down jackets
▪ Trekking boots
▪ Trekking pants and jackets
▪ Thermals underwear
▪ Trekking shirts (Short-sleeved/ Long-sleeved)
▪ Trekking Gloves
▪ Woolen cap
▪ Raincoats
✔ First Aid
▪ Band-aids
▪ Oral rehydration salts
▪ Anti-nausea Medicines
▪ Diamox tablets
▪ Mosquito repellents
✔ Toiletries
▪ Toilet Paper
▪ Shampoo
▪ Moisturizer
▪ Sunscreen
▪ Disposable wipes
▪ Soap
▪ Hand sanitizer
✔ Accessories
▪ Sleeping bag
▪ Solar Chargers
▪ Cameras
▪ Sunglasses
▪ Water Bottle
▪ Hot water Thermos
✔ Important Documents
▪ Passport
▪ Travel Permits
▪ ID
✔ Snacks to Pack
▪ Protein bars, Granola bars
▪ Instant noodles/Foods
▪ Nuts, Butter packs
▪ Any favorite snacks
The extra cost of the trip:
Since the Langtang valley, 5 days trek is one of the shortest treks, trekkers can cut their expenses and make this trip budget-friendly. As we have already discussed the most important costs of the trek that is food, accommodation, permits, and transportation other extra cost of the trip will depend upon whether you are going on the trip with a guide, or porter, or with a Guide and Porter.
If you hire a porter for the trip, you will have to pay $20 per day and for a guide, it's $40 per day. However, if you want a guide and not a porter, you can tip guide extra and ask him to help you with your luggage.
Other than this, make sure that you have enough snacks and water purification tablets on your backpack so that you don’t have to spend extra money other than when it is required. Check our above-mentioned checklist while packing your bags and avoid the hassle and extra expenses.
Conclusion:
Despite the close proximity to Kathmandu city, the Langtang region is still isolated from the chaos of the city and offers the best experience to the trekkers. From the Tibetan-influenced culture to the warm hospitality of the locals, you will love every bit of Langtang during your trip. So, book your trip with us now to make memories in the lap of Langtang Himal.
Langtang Trek FAQs:
When is the best season to do the trekking in Lantgang?
▪ Two seasons, Spring (Mar-May) and Autumn (September to November) are considered to be the best season for the Langtang Trek as the sky and weather are clear, the temperature is warm, the trail is filled with blooming rhododendron. However, if you don’t mind trekking in cold, the winter season (January to February) is also favorable for the trip.
How long is Langtang Trek?
▪ The most feasible trek is the 7 days Langtang trekking, but you can customize the trip according to your availability and time in Nepal. You can either make it a 5-day trip or extend it to 20-22 days.
Can you trek without a guide?
▪ Yes, you can trek without a guide. But if this is your first trip to Nepal, we recommend you hire a local guide so that you won't have any problems during the trip.
How safe is Langtang Trekking?
▪ The Government closed the Langtang route for a certain time after the devastating earthquake of 2015. However, now the area is rebuilt to its previous form and is even in a better state. So, yes Langtang is much safer for trekking.
How much does the Langtang valley trek cost?
▪ The cost depends upon the trekking package you choose and the personal expenses you make during the trip. But the estimated cost is around $600-$900.
How difficult is the Langtang trek?
▪ Langtang trek is a moderately difficult trek in comparison to ABC and EBC trek. People with average physical fitness can complete the trek.
