Travel Guides

A Complete Guidebook for Langtang Valley Trek

Langtang Valley Trek is the closest trekking trail from Kathmandu and here is a complete guidebook for Langtang Valley Trek. Langtang Trek will take you to the beautiful Langtang Region abundant in diverse vegetation, picturesque villages, and gorgeous scenery. The region is also extremely rich in cultural heritage. The Langtang Valley Trek delivers various faces of rocketing peaks, breathtaking vistas, countrified mountain villages, and evasive forests. Best of all, the Langtang Valley lies just a few kilometres north of Kathmandu. This makes it one of the ideal selections for visitors who want to partake in an authentic Himalayan trek in a reasonable amount of time. During your trek, the friendly local folks will proudly orient you to their culture, which is profoundly charmed by the Tibetan Buddhism that blossoms in the Himalayas.

Highlights of Langtang Valley Trek:

  • A scenic jeep/bus ride from Kathmandu to Rasuwa, Syabrubesi
  • The trailhead can be reached by jeep so there is no need to pay for expensive domestic flights
  • Teahouses in each village along the way so each night you get a great sleep in a bed with warm blankets, eat organic meals in a restaurant, have access to showers, and can charge your electronic gadgets
  • Explore the Tibetan-influenced culture and lifestyles of the local community
  • An astonishing walk through the bank of Langtang River, crossing different villages sparking their own beauty and importance
  • Explore the wide range of flora and fauna
  • Trek inside the Langtang National Park, which is a privilege to encounter the diversity of nature and local lifestyles
  • Encounter breath-taking views of mountain peaks such as Dorje Lakpa, Yala Peak, Langtang Lirung, Langtang Ri, and many more
  • You can witness the area which was badly hit by the massive earthquake in 2015 but you’ll get good facilities now in the reestablished hotels, lodges and tea houses
  • Explore the oldest Buddhist monastery in Kyanjin Gompa and visit the famous cheese factory over there
  • Amazing panoramic view from the highest elevation of the trek (Kyanjin Ri)
  • Home to endangered species such as Red Pandas and Snow Leopards
  • Diverse 18 different ecosystems of Langtang National Park
  • Langtang National Park is home to 46 species of mammals, 30 species of fish, 70 species of butterflies, and 34 species of birds

Is Langtang Valley Trek difficult?

This pristine trek is also often considered the acclimatization trek before you head to big treks such as the Manaslu Circuit Trek and Everest Region trek. The trek is quite demanding due to elevation gain, in the first two days you reach over 2,000m up, and there are many abrupt and long ascents on the route. Till day 3 the trail goes through lush forests with an adequate amount of climbing routine. From day 4, you will be at the height of 3,870 m which can be challenging for newbies. If you have prepared well and you are physically fit, you can push for the morning hike to Kyanjin Ri on day 5. Only on day 4, the trek will be for 3 hours. Other than that trekkers must be able to walk around 6-7 hours every day with their light backpacks. The Langtang Valley Trek is much quicker than Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Circuit although relatively similar. You will reach an altitude of 5,000m, which will challenge many. Altitude maladies can be common. The route ascends quite quickly with several days having more than 1000m of altitude gain. These days of ascent are tiring and require the body to adapt quickly. It is a good novice trek in Nepal but not one to be endured lightly. Overall, the hardship level of this trek is considered moderate. Stay hydrated and eat enough warm meals to dodge the prompt weariness in the mountains.

How much does it cost to go to the Langtang Valley Trek?

There are bunches of elements behind the cost of the trek. The normal estimated cost for the Langtang Valley Trek is between 750-1000 euro, which includes vehicles, trekking permits, a full board meal (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), a proficient guide, porters, accommodations, and a certificate of completion of the journey. Huge discounts are made if you travel in groups and our fixed departures.

Langtang Valley trek costs highly if you’re travelling privately or in a group. Travelling in a group can be more reasonable as you will share trek leaders and porters, whereas private treks are tailored as per essentials. In general, the Langtang trek is one of the most cost-friendly but worth investing in trekking routes in Nepal.

Is the trek to Langtang Valley dangerous?

The highest altitude of the trek is almost 5,000m and some people might get altitude sickness there. Other than that, if you are with a guide there is no need to worry about anything related to altitude sickness. You just need to be a responsible trekker and enjoy your trek. Besides that, bad weather during the monsoon can really make this trek perilous. Try to cross the forest areas before sunset to avoid wild snags. There are no serious reports of people missing on this trek as the trail is well-marked and safe to walk. The dangerous side of this trek can be a natural disaster such as landslides, stones falling on some parts, attacks from wild animals and you may get lost in the forest. But, when you are with a trekking crew, they know such places, and they will remind you to be more careful in such an area. After the brutal earthquake in 2015, the route was closed by the Nepal Government, but now the route has been completely changed and re-opened for trekking and is much safer trekking. The only danger to you will be if you don’t listen to the advice of your guide or wander off alone.

What is the best season for Langtang Valley Trek?

During the winter from December to February, this region gets very cold and there will be snow cover in the higher elevation of the Langtang region. Many of the lodges actually close up for the winter and re-open in late February to March. The prime season for the Langtang Valley Trek is March to May and October to December. In these seasons the atmosphere will be much clearer offering the glorious views of nature and the mountain peaks. The time to sidestep this trek is during the rainy season from June to August. But, towards the end of the monsoon, the greenery flourishes. Nature becomes more active and wild animals will start to appear near the villages, trekking trails, and open spaces. So, if you are a photographer or a botanist, you will enjoy your summer trek in the Langtang Valley.

How cold is the Langtang Valley Trek?

The weather on this trek varies according to the seasons you are choosing for this trip. During spring, days are long and warm. The daytime temperature ranges between 10°C to 20°C during spring. Nights are a bit cold during this season.

Autumn is the most perfect season for trekking in Nepal. The weather is amazing during the autumn season. The days are nice and sunny but it gets cold around 5°C at night time.

The weather from December to February is cold and is considered the winter season. During the daytime, the temperature ranges between 6°C to 9°C and drops below 0°C at night. The lowest temperature is -5°C in January.

During summer, the weather will be hot with a temperature higher than 30°C. In July, the average temperature is 12°C. Monsoon also enters Nepal in this season. It is hot but when it rains the temperature drops down and makes the trail slippery.

What is the accommodation facility in Langtang Valley Trek?

Guest Houses, also known as tea houses, are available along the way where you will sleep in a comfortable bed and have access to showers (which take an extra charge) and restaurant facilities. Normally, in Syabrubesi you can find some luxury hotels and guest houses. Afterwards, the living places will be on a normal sharing basis, but every teahouse offers the best services per altitude and remoteness. You can get beautiful accommodation from the Lama Hotel to Kyanjin Gompa. The rooms are designed with two single beds and small tables inside with an amazing mountain view from the window. The lodges will provide you with good bed sheets, mattresses, blankets, and a pillow for your comfort. Here, some lodges have rooms with an attached toilet, some have shared facilities, it might be a Western sit-down toilet or an Asian hole toilet. In the case of a hot shower, it’s a solar shower if it’s cloudy it doesn’t get hot. Sometimes it’s a bucket shower, you buy a big bucket of hot water, NPR 200 (one bucket is enough for two people).

What are the food and water facilities in Langtang Valley Trek?

From traditional Nepalese food and Tibetan dishes to a few international dishes, you can easily find them on the menu. Food is one of the major expenses on the trek. The higher you go the more expensive it gets as there is no road, everything is carried up by porters, donkeys, or helicopters. The average price for a meal is about NPR 500-700. It might be Soup, momos, porridge, Dal Bhat, etc. Prices vary depending on what you order. Tea and coffee are between NPR 100-200 and normal snacks such as cold drinks, chocolate, and chips, cost NPR 250. On this trek, you can get fresh bakeries, organic cheese, fresh cakes, and tasty muffins. They serve vegan meals, and gluten-free meals as well if you are required to. For these things, you should pre-inform your trek guide, so that they will ask the lodges to do so.

Certifications and Affiliations

npl

Registered with: Company Registration Office, Government of Nepal

ntb

Licensed by: Department of Tourism and Nepal Tourism Board

taan

Proud Member of Trekking Agency's Association of Nepal

nma

General Member of Nepal Mountaineering Association