Langtang Valley Trek is a trekking area around the central Himalayas of Langtang region which is one of the most popular trekking destinations apart from Annapurna region and Everest region. Langtang Valley falls in the second largest and the first national park in Nepal, Langtang National Park. Langtang Valley Trek introduces tourists to the Tamang and Bhotia traditional villages. Langtang Valley trek allows you to see the vista views of Annapurna South, Ghengu Liru, Langtang Lirung, Shalbachum, Ganesh Himal, and Mt. Manaslu. As if the tantalizing views aren’t enough, the Langtang Valley trek takes you through green pastures, and dense forests with various flora and fauna along the way. In a favorable condition, one might even spot rare animals like Red Panda, Starting from Syabrubesi, the trek leads to the highest elevation of above 5000 m at Tserko Ri. The cheese factories in Sing Gompa and Kyangjin are worth a visit. The mountains surrounding the Langtang Valley make the region all the more special.
Table of Contents
Langtang Valley Trek Highlight
- Tour Duration: 11 days
- Tour Region: Langtang Region
- Destination: Langtang Village, Kyagjin Ri, Tserko Ri
- Beginning Altitude: Syabrubesi at 1460 m
- Highest Elevation: Tserko Ri at 5033 m
- Scenic Views of Langtang Lirung, Gang Chhenpo, Naya Kanga, Sisa Pangma, Dorje Lakpa, Surya Peak and Yala Peak
- Witness diverse wildlife like Snow Leopard, Black Beer, Musk Deer, Wild Boar, and Red Panda
- Visit Kyangjin Gompa, Local Yak cheese factory located in Kyangjin and Sing Gompa
- Experience the culture of the Tamang community
Langtang Valley Trek Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu (1350 m)
You will be received from the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu by Nepal Adventure Team staff who will transfer you to your respective hotels. After refreshment, our guide will brief you regarding the Langtang Valley trek itinerary.
Day 2: Preparation and sightseeing in Kathmandu
The guides will do the briefing of the trek and you will prepare your equipment and clothing for the trek. In the afternoon you can go sightseeing around the UNESCO World Heritage sites like Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath, and Swayambhunath. If time permits you can visit the main ancient courtyards, Bhaktapur, Kathmandu, and Patan Durbar Square.
Day 3: Drive to Syabrubesi (1460 m) 6 hours
The lovely drive towards Syabrubesi passes through the farm villages of Kakani, Trishuli, and Ramche.
Day 4: Trek to Lama Hotel (2430 m) 5 hours
After walking through terraced farms and villages you will reach the Lama Hotel.
Day 5: Trek to Langtang Village (3430 m) 4 hours
You will enter the beautiful Langtang village through Ghoretabla. The village is inhabited by the Tamang and Bhotia tribe people.
Day 6: Trek to Kyangjin Ri/ Tserko Ri (4000m/5033m) 4-5 hours
You will pass short bushes and enter the glacial valley with views of Dorji Lakpa, Langtang Lirung, Tsego Ri, Naya Kanga, and Langshisha. You can also directly hike to Tserko Ri if time and your physical health permits.
Day 7: Rest at Kyangjin and hike
This day is needed for acclimatizing. You have the option of hiking atop the Tsergo Ri at 5033m.
Day 8: Trek to Lama Hotel- 6 hours
You will head back to the Lama Hotel after enjoying the lovely Langtang Valley.
Day 9: Trek to Syabrubes i-5 hours
You will trek back to Syabrubesi from the Lama Hotel through the same route.
Day 10: Drive to Kathmandu- 6 hours
You will drive back to Kathmandu city which will take around 6 hours. If time permits you can do some souvenir shopping and enjoy dinner with Nepali friends.
Day 11: Departure
You will be departing from Nepal from Tribhuvan International Airport. Our NAT staff will transfer you to the airport for your flight back home or to the next port of call, after a remarkable adventure in the Mardi Himal Trek with the grand and excellent service of the Nepal Adventure Team.
Langtang Valley Trek Permit
Since Langtang Valley falls in the Langtang National Park Conservation area there are certain permits needed for the tourists. For the Langtang Valley trek, you need the following permits:
- Langtang National Park – USD 40 per person
- TIMS Card: USD 20 per person (For Free Individual Trekkers’)
- TIMS Card: USD 10 per person (For Authorized Trekking Agency)
Langtang Valley Trek Cost
There are a lot of factors that might affect your Langtang Valley trek cost including the duration, route, and season that you plan to trek. Since the trek can last anywhere between 6 to 11 days it is one of the most affordable treks that you can go on. If you choose to hike to Tserko Ri and take an additional day for acclimatizing then you may have to pay a little more for the additional days spent in the area. If you can adequately manage your budget during the trek then it will end up being very affordable. All in all, the total estimate of the Langtang Valley trek cost lands somewhere around $585 to $700. The cost includes everything you need during the trek like your permit, meals, and accommodation. With a little coordination with our agency, you might also lower the cost.
Duration
The Langtang Valley Trek duration can be anywhere from 6 days to 11 days. It is one of the shortest treks in the Langtang Region. The duration of the trek can depend on your walking pace, the valleys, villages, and places you want to explore, and your starting point of the trek. So you can decide between choosing the particular number of days for the trip from six to eleven days. The range also includes a day or two kept aside for any inconvenience that might occur may it be political or natural. Since the trek falls in the Langtang region many trekking enthusiasts might want to extend the trek to other areas like Helambu, Ganja-la Pass, Langtang Circuit, and more. You can contact the agency regarding your requirements and the places you would like to continue the trek. Our agency will draft the best Langtang Valley trek itinerary suited for you.
Transportation
The Langtang Valley trek transportation includes modes like flight, jeep, or local bus as per your requirement. Foreigners will also have to estimate the travel cost for the flight involved in entering Nepal and departing from Nepal.
Apart from that, you will have to drive from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi and back. For this, you can either take the local bus or the tourist bus or can even take a private vehicle. If you are planning to go lavishly then you might want to hire a jeep which costs around US$ 120 while hiring a private van costs US$220. If you take a local bus, it will cost you anywhere from US$6 to US$ 8. The local bus departs early in the morning from 7 to 9 am from Macchapokhari, New Buspark. The scenic drive will take anywhere from 6 to 8 hours. However, going on a local bus can be a hassle if you do not have a habit of traveling by bus.
Accommodation
The Langtang Valley Trek accommodation generally takes to a tea house or lodges in the Langtang Region. The teahouses are very traditional and beautiful and reflect the authentic Nepali vibe. The teahouses provide you with decent food and drinks. It will cost you $2 to $6 to stay at a teahouse. The teahouses and lodges in the peak season are fully packed so it is best that you take a guide or porter along with you for some negotiation. You might not find all the luxury in these mountain lodges. They only provide necessities like food drinks and beds and a blanket. You might also get a hot shower in some lodges. In Kathmandu, however, you will get to stay at a 3-star hotel with all the facilities you require.
Food
It is essential to understand that as the altitude increases, the prices of the meals also increase and the availability of delicacies decreases. In Kathmandu, you will receive all the cuisines and drinks that you desire. Meat is only available in Syabrubesi as the trek starts. After that, you will be facilitated with eggs, basic Dal, Bhat, Tarkari, and fresh yak cheese. If you are a foodie then you might as well enter the Yak Cheese Factory in Kyangjin and Sing Gompa and buy some to nibble on the way.
For breakfast, you will be facilitated with Tibetian Bread or Toast, Hash brown potato, and eggs. During Lunch and Dinner, you can choose to eat Nepali staple meals (Dal Bhat and Tarkari), Chowmein, Mo: Mo (Dumpling), Thukpa, Fried potato, and more. The staple meal will cost anywhere from US$2 to US$ 6.
You will get to taste the local delicacy made from local produce. The food is very basic in the higher altitudes. Drinks that you get in the higher altitudes are mostly hot drinks like tea and coffee. Your drink options are limited to those areas. You can bring your refillable bottles along with you since a one-liter bottle of mineral water costs $1 to $5. You can also carry your small water-purifying equipment to avoid the risk of contamination
Equipment
An important thing to note is that you should not bring any unnecessary equipment with you while you travel to Nepal. The necessary equipment can be hired here in Kathmandu. The following equipment and clothing are necessary for your trek. All of these can be purchased or hired from Kathmandu. You will need the following equipment and clothing for the trek:
- Travel documents and passport-size photos
- Boots and or trekking shoes
- Woolen/cotton socks (6-8 pairs)
- Gloves ( 2 pairs)
- T-shirts/ shirts (4-6 pcs)
- Trousers (2-3 sets)
- Shorts/tracksuit
- Fleece jacket and Down jacket
- Cap (for the day), Woolen hat (for evenings and mornings)
- Small and large towels
- Water bottle
- Sun/snow glasses
- Raincoat
- Walking poles
- First Aid kit
- Torch/flashlights
- Penknife/ Swiss Army knife
- Scarf/mask
- Duffle bags (carried by porters or animals)
- Rucksack/ backpack
- Personal hygiene products and toiletries ( female hygiene products are not found easily on the trails
- Wide-brimmed hat (great for protecting your head, and face from the sun)
Guide and Porter
It proves to be very beneficial to have porters and guides along with you if you are a foreigner who is not proficient in Nepali culture, tradition, history, and language. The guides can be very helpful in showing the easier path and negotiating with the locals. The porters can easily carry your bags if you are not in the condition to do so. Our porters are similarly well-known about the trek and are at all times fully equipped with gear. The porters are well looked after, and as per the company policy, a single porter will carry a maximum weight of 25 kg. A professional guide usually costs around $25 per day which includes their fee, accommodation, food, and insurance.
Season
The best Langtang Valley Trek season is known to be from spring to autumn. In this season the weather is generally clear with the best views. During this season there won’t be chances of heavy snow or heavy rainfall so it is known to be the best season. In the spring and autumn season, you can witness the national flower of Nepal, the Rhododendron, and can walk past the green forests, with the best views of the snowcapped mountains. During the winter season, the trail might be full of heavy snow at a higher altitude. This might cause a problem since the trail might be lost and slippery. Also, you will have to pack a lot of warm clothes which will add to your bag pack. During the summer season, there might be chances of heavy rainfall which might make the trail muddy and slippery. You will also have to mind the leeches. Also in case of a hot day, it will be difficult to walk.
Best Time to Trek in Langtang Valley
The best time to trek the Langtang Valley is considered to be March, April, May, September, October, and November. March to May and September to November marks spring and autumn which is ideal for any kind of trek. December, January, and February are the winter seasons which are marked by heavy snowfall in the higher altitudes causing a problem to walk and climb. June, July, and August, on the other hand, is the time when there is heavy rainfall causing the trail to be muddy and slippery which ruins the trek. However, if you are an adventure seeker then you might as well trek the Langtang Valley in other months and seasons. If you are seeking less difficult and visible scenery then Spring and Autumn are the best seasons.
Langtang Valley Trek difficulty
The Langtang Valley trek difficulty is moderate. No prior experience of the long trek is necessary for the Langtang Valley trek itinerary. However, it is necessary to consider that physical fitness is required. Before the trek, it is essential to indulge in physical activities like swimming, hiking, running, and walking as far as possible. If you have pre-existing medical conditions then you must provide your medical reports and share about the condition to our team. Commonly, you will experience altitude sickness as you go above 3000m. You will have to walk 5 to 6 hours per day and will have to walk uphill and downhill. If you want to hike up to Tserko Ri then you will have to walk 7 to 8 hours and the difficulty will increase slightly. Thus it is necessary to acclimatize during the trek. Our Langtang Valley trek itinerary is properly drafted considering the Langtang Valley Trek difficulty.
Conclusion
Langtang Valley Trekking is one of the most popular treks in Nepal and is adventurous yet doable by all trekking enthusiasts. From the soaring Langtang Lirung to the tradition and culture of the Tamang community and the unique flora and fauna found along the way, you can have it all on this trek. Langtang Valley Trek is a moderate-level trek with stunning views and excellent experiences. Come and join our Nepal Adventure Team Pvt. Ltd. for Langtang Valley Trekking which will take you to the beautiful Langtang region and leave you stunned by the elegance and grandeur of Nepal. We provide safe and fully guided services so that your trek will be one of a kind with all the fun and adventure that you expect. Langtang Valley trek is still and will always be one of the best trekking destinations. The Langtang Valley trekking region welcomes all travel enthusiasts.
