Langtang Valley trek — the complete route guide
Seven to ten days from Syabrubesi, the closest big Himalayan trek to Kathmandu — no flight, fewer trekkers, and glacial views from Kyanjin Gompa and Tserko Ri (4,773 m). It is also a walk through the site of the 2015 earthquake's worst single loss of life, and going there is a direct way to support the valley's recovery.
Langtang is the trek people choose when they want real Himalayan scenery without a domestic flight, a fortnight of holiday, or the crowds of the Annapurna and Everest corridors. The trailhead is a long day's drive from Kathmandu and the valley climbs steadily to a glacial basin ringed by 6,000 and 7,000 m peaks.
It carries a weight the other routes do not. On 25 April 2015 an earthquake-triggered avalanche and landslide destroyed Langtang village almost completely, killing hundreds — villagers, trekkers and guides. The village standing there today was rebuilt by survivors, and the trek's tourism is a substantial part of how the valley lives now.
Walk it with that in mind. It does not make the trek sombre — it makes it meaningful.
The route at a glance
About 68 km out and back from Syabrubesi (1,550 m), climbing the Langtang Khola to Kyanjin Gompa (3,870 m), with an optional and highly worthwhile day-hike to Tserko Ri (4,773 m).
- Distance — about 68 km round trip.
- Duration — 7–10 days including travel from Kathmandu.
- Start and finish — Syabrubesi, roughly 7–9 hours by bus or jeep from Kathmandu.
- Highest sleep — Kyanjin Gompa, 3,870 m. Highest point — Tserko Ri, 4,773 m.
- Difficulty — moderate; the gentlest of Nepal's classic valley treks.
- Best seasons — March to May and October to December.
A typical itinerary
Straightforward, with the only real decision being how many nights you spend at Kyanjin — and the answer is at least two.
- Day 1 — Kathmandu to Syabrubesi (1,550 m) by bus or jeep. A long, winding, spectacular road day.
- Day 2 — Syabrubesi to Lama Hotel (2,480 m), climbing through subtropical forest along the river. Langur monkeys are common.
- Day 3 — Lama Hotel to Langtang village (3,400 m). The valley opens; you pass the landslide scar and the memorial.
- Day 4 — Langtang to Kyanjin Gompa (3,870 m). A short day by design, for acclimatisation. Visit the monastery and the cheese factory.
- Day 5 — Acclimatisation and exploration: Tserko Ri (4,773 m) for the big panorama, or Kyanjin Ri for a shorter version.
- Days 6–7 — Descend the valley to Lama Hotel and Syabrubesi.
- Day 8 — Drive back to Kathmandu.
Langtang village and the 2015 earthquake
The Gorkha earthquake of 25 April 2015 triggered an enormous avalanche and landslide that buried Langtang village. It was the single deadliest location in the earthquake, and the dead included villagers, foreign trekkers and Nepali guides and porters.
The village was rebuilt on a different site by survivors, and there is a memorial with the names of the dead. Most lodges you stay in are new because the old ones do not exist.
Two things visitors should know. First, this is living memory for the people serving your dinner — ask about it if it comes up naturally, but do not treat the site as a spectacle or photograph the memorial thoughtlessly. Second, the valley's economy depends heavily on trekkers returning, so choosing Langtang is a materially useful decision, not just a sentimental one.
Permits
Two, both bought in Kathmandu before you leave.
- Langtang National Park entry permit — Rs 3,000 for foreign nationals plus 13% VAT, with a reduced SAARC rate.
- TIMS card — around Rs 2,000.
- A licensed guide for foreign trekkers.
- There is a checkpost at Dhunche on the way in; have permits accessible in your daypack, not the duffel.
Where to stay
Teahouses run the length of the valley, most of them rebuilt since 2015 and therefore newer and often better-built than lodges on older routes.
- Syabrubesi (1,550 m) — a small trailhead town with plenty of lodges. Arrive the night before to start walking early.
- Lama Hotel (2,480 m) — a cluster of lodges in the forest, not a village. Damp and atmospheric.
- Langtang village (3,400 m) — rebuilt, welcoming, and the emotional centre of the walk.
- Kyanjin Gompa (3,870 m) — the largest settlement up-valley, with a monastery, a yak-cheese factory and a bakery. Stay two nights.
- Prices are noticeably lower than the Everest region because everything comes in by a shorter carry.
Tserko Ri, and the extensions worth adding
Tserko Ri (4,773 m) is a steep pre-dawn day-hike from Kyanjin that delivers a full panorama of Langtang Lirung, Langshisa Ri and the Tibetan border ranges. Start early — cloud builds by mid-morning. Kyanjin Ri is the shorter, easier alternative with a good deal of the same view.
For a longer trip, the Gosaikunda extension crosses to the sacred alpine lakes at around 4,380 m — a major Hindu pilgrimage site, especially at Janai Purnima — and can continue over the Laurebina La to Helambu. This turns a one-week trek into a two-week one and is one of the better combinations in Nepal.
The Tamang Heritage Trail, from Syabrubesi through Tamang villages towards the Tibetan border, is a lower-altitude cultural add-on of three to four days, and a good option if altitude is a concern.
Key takeaways
- ✓7–10 days, 68 km, no domestic flight, and far fewer trekkers than Annapurna or Everest.
- ✓Kyanjin Gompa (3,870 m) with a day-hike to Tserko Ri (4,773 m) is the heart of it — spend two nights.
- ✓Langtang village was destroyed in the 2015 earthquake with major loss of life; the rebuilt village depends on returning trekkers.
- ✓Permits are Langtang National Park plus TIMS, bought in Kathmandu, with a checkpost at Dhunche.
- ✓Gosaikunda and the Tamang Heritage Trail are the two extensions worth planning for.
Langtang Valley Trek — FAQ
How long is the Langtang Valley trek?+
About 68 km round trip from Syabrubesi, taking seven to ten days including the road journey from Kathmandu. The walking itself is roughly five days up and down, plus at least one acclimatisation and exploration day at Kyanjin Gompa.
Is the Langtang trek safe after the 2015 earthquake?+
Yes. The trail and the teahouse network have been rebuilt and the route has been walked normally for years. Langtang village itself was relocated to a safer site. Standard Nepali trekking precautions — a licensed guide, sensible ascent, good insurance — apply as everywhere.
How do you get to the Langtang trek from Kathmandu?+
By road to Syabrubesi, roughly seven to nine hours by public bus or a somewhat faster private jeep. There is no flight, which is one of the trek's advantages: no Lukla-style cancellations to plan around.
What permits do I need for Langtang?+
The Langtang National Park entry permit, around Rs 3,000 for foreign nationals plus 13% VAT, and a TIMS card at around Rs 2,000. Both are issued in Kathmandu. Foreign trekkers also need a licensed guide, and permits are checked at Dhunche.
Is Langtang easier than Annapurna Base Camp?+
Comparable, and arguably gentler. Langtang's maximum sleeping altitude of 3,870 m is lower than ABC's 4,130 m, the daily distances are shorter, and there is no avalanche corridor. The optional Tserko Ri hike at 4,773 m is the one strenuous day.
Related guides
Sources & data note
Day-by-day structure, walking times, teahouse cost ranges and difficulty judgements are our own synthesis of the route dataset behind this site, park and tourism-board information and consistent trekker reporting. They are planning estimates for a reasonably fit walker in a normal season, not published figures, and your itinerary should be built with a licensed guide who knows current trail and lodge conditions. Permit fees are quoted as base fees before 13% VAT; confirm at the issuing counter. Guides are written from primary sources — Nepali government departments, operators, park authorities and standards bodies — and each guide lists the sources used for its own facts. Rules, fees and prices in Nepal change; treat figures as current at the review date shown on each guide and verify anything money- or visa-critical with the issuing authority before you rely on it.
- Nepal Tourism Board — official site (trekking and trekker information)Nepal Tourism Board ↗
- Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation — parks and entry feesDNPWC, Government of Nepal ↗
- Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN)TAAN ↗
- High-Altitude Travel and Altitude Illness — CDC Yellow BookUS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ↗
- Himalayan Rescue Association Nepal — altitude aid posts and adviceHimalayan Rescue Association ↗
- Nepal trekking permits and fees (2026)Follow Alice ↗