Langtang Trek Difficulty And Tips To Overcome Them

Enjoying the beauty of the Himalayas is probably the most magical experience of your life. The stunning Langtang range of Nepal is hidden behind infinite hills and high peaks. Conquering each of these hills is a new challenge you haven’t experienced. However, in the end, it’s the accomplishment you remember. People often change their plans without knowing “how difficult the Langtang Valley trek” is. Unlike many traditional beliefs, the Langtang Valley Trek in Nepal is one of the easiest treks in the high mountains of Nepal.

Professionally, it has been graded as “moderate” and can be accomplished by any newbie hiker. This rough terrain trek will bring unbelievable challenges before you. But this is nothing you cannot solve on your way up. This article first tells you about the Langtang trek difficulty and suggests how this difficulty can be solved. So, if you ever plan on exploring the beauty of Langtang peaks, you must read this Langtang Valley Trek Nepal difficulty article to the end.

Langtang Valley Trek Nepal Route/Langtang Map

Although the Langtang treks sound similar, many routes take you to the Langtang Valley. Experts in the Himalayan master have designed the classic short Langtang trek package from Syabrubensi to Kyanjin Gompa. This 9-day Langtang trek route has stone stairs (in most parts) and well-built infrastructure, making it relatively easy.  However, you can take many other routes in the Langtang region.

Langtang Valley Trek Map Design by Himalayan Masters

So, we suggest beginners pick a relatively short and easy Langtang hike option. From Syabrubensi to Kyanjin Gompa and back, we will walk about 65 km (40 miles). This Langtang trek distance is conquered in 4 to 5 days. Thus, you will walk 15-20 km daily- about 6 to 7 hours of daily hiking. Climbing the rough terrain is not as easy as strolling in the park.

By now, you might already know how long Langtang Valley Trek is.

So, this is something you should be physically and mentally prepared for.  Here is the distance you will be covering each day

Thankfully, our Langtang trek route does not involve any tricky climbs requiring mountaineering skills. Trekking in winter might be difficult due to the thick layer of snow; however, you will not need any crampons, axes, or ropes. As long as you are physically fit, the trek is achievable.

Read about Langtang Trek Permit Cost.

Langtang Elevation And Altitude Sickness

The Langtang Valley Trek is a high-altitude trek; being 5000 meters above sea level brings some unbelievable changes in your body. Here is the elevation of different stops during the Langtang Valley trek:

• Syabrubesi (1467 meters, 4813 feet)
• Lama Hotel (2470 m/8104 feet)
• Langtang village (3430 meters or 11253 feet)
• Kyanjin Gompa (3870 meters/12697 feet)
• Tsergo Ri (5033 meters/ 16,404 feet)

As you can see, we will be climbing 500 to 1000 meters of height each day. When you reach 5000 meters above sea level, the chances of altitude sickness dramatically increase; the oxygen level drops to half, and it’s hard to breathe. In such cases, you might develop symptoms like headache, Nausea, vomiting, Shortness of breath, and Dizziness. There might also be heart rate increments and difficulty sleeping. It would help if you immediately walked to the lower altitude. We have listed ways to treat altitude sickness in the lower section of this article. So keep reading…

Langtang Trek Difficulty In Different Seasons

Information about the weather is crucial to determining your Langtang trek difficulty. Trekking in the right season brings excellent comfort, while stepping during unstable weather brings new challenges. So, while booking your Langtang trek package, you must book it for a suitable month. Be informed about the weather and climate of Langtang to prepare yourself accordingly.

The weather in Langtang in Autumn: Autumn (September, October, and November) is known to have the most stable weather. The days are short, calm, and sunny, with a temperature of about ten °C–20°C throughout the route. The night temperature remains above five °C, and the chances of rainfall or snowfall are close to zero. So, it’s a good time for the visit. The sky is clear, opening up the best views of the mountains.

The weather of Langtang in winter: Trekking up to Langtang village in winter is not a big deal. However, Kyanjin Gompa and Tsrong Ri are all covered in snow, making it very hard to trek. The daytime temperature of Langtang ranges from 3°C to 6°C, and the nighttime temperatures can fall below -3°C in January. However, the views in winter are just mesmerizing. So, if you aim for a winter trek, ensure you have experts from Himalayan masters to guide you.

Weather of Langtang in Summer: The Langtang weather in summer is relatively unstable; the frequent rainfall might make it hard to trek. However, it’s the warmest month, with a Langtang temperature of 12.1°C. June and July get about 1500mm of rainfall. Leeches, mosquitoes, and slippery trails are significant challenges of the summer trek. However, most precipitation occurs in the evening and at night, making it possible to trek in the daytime.

The weather in Langtang in Spring: Spring has warm and stable weather with long sunny days. Also, it’s time for beautiful wildflower blooms. Thus, spring is the best time for the Langtang trek if you seek an easy hike. However, getting good tea houses is difficult during spring and autumn; thus, you must make the bookings in advance.

Availability Of Infrastructure / Food

We should also analyze the Langtang trek difficulty due to the availability of infrastructure. Firstly, let’s talk about food and Accommodation in Langtang. There are plenty of tea houses in the popular stopping point mentioned above. Most of these tea houses have been newly built and have good services. The bed is comfortable and clean. However, the tea houses in Langtang village are overcrowded in peak season, and you must ensure you book your hotel in advance.

The tea houses also have a centrally heated restaurant with a versatile menu. You are served with various warm and healthy food, so that’s nothing you need to worry about. The other problem is the Shared bathroom. It’s unlikely that you find a private bathroom in tea houses. Using a shared bathroom with a style seat is challenging for many trekkers. Also, not having a hot water shower is a big deal.

Next, the Langtang region has Wi-Fi, but it’s unreliable. You cannot connect with your friends/ family for a few days, and you must be prepared. Now, you might be pretty confused with all the difficulties we have listed. However, these are only minor difficulties that can be overcome with some preparation and guidance. Let us help you with that also.

Tips To Overcome Langtang Trek Difficulty

Preparation For Langtang Trek

Some warm-up before the hike helps you overcome the Langtang trek difficulty. A few months before the trek (2 to 3 months), you can start trekking some places around your home. You might practice regular jogging, running, cycling, and swimming. Joining the gym before the trek and engaging in cardio exercises has proven to be helpful. If you are prepared with such dedication, the Langtang Valley trek is just a piece of cake.

Requirements of Physical Fitness

People of sound physical and mental health achieve the Langtang trek. You don’t need to be an experienced trekker; good health is necessary. If you have heart and lung problems, we don’t suggest you aim for this trek. Anyone under medication should not attempt the Langtang Valley trek without the physician’s permission. Even if you don’t have any such health issues, you must prepare your body with the exercise mentioned below.

Take a Langtang trek packaged

When you pick a well-managed Langtang trek package from a trusted company like the Himalayan Masters, everything about the trek will be neatly arranged. Having an experienced guide on the hike saves you from many unseen difficulties. Also, a porter will carry your bags, and you can walk freely. Permits, accommodations, first-aid, and every other detail will be handled.

Pack wise

There are two things you should consider. Firstly, you must pack light and yet have every essential you need. The remote villages of Langtang don’t have shops for your essentials. Next, you should be prepared for all kinds of weather at a higher altitude. Other than being comfortable, your clothes should be waterproof/ windproof. It should be warm and dressed in layers. Good boots and trekking poles also make your Langtang Hike easier. And, also some food for Langtang Valley Trek. You can read our other article to get the full packing list.

Limit yourself to Trekking Trail

Trekking to the higher mountains of Nepal is itself an adventure. Walking through the thick forest and very sparse villages, you will often experience the risk of wild animals. That’s why you should limit yourself to the pre-built trekking trail. Wandering around the forest and looking for shortcuts is not appreciated.

Travelling in the right weather

Just before you book your trek, make sure that you watch the weather map of Langtang and then pick the dates accordingly. Although many travel agencies claim that you can trek throughout the year, travelling in the right weather brings a lot of comfort and excellent views.

Prevention from Altitude sickness

We have already discussed how deadly altitude sickness can be. However, it’s easily manageable with some basic tricks. First, you should not be walking more than 1000 meters in height each day. So, whenever you pick a Langtang trek Itinerary, choose the one that involves a short hike each day. Walking slowly and letting your body acclimatize is the key.

Next, you must remain hydrated throughout the trek. Drinking sufficient Lukewarm water is the key. We highly recommend that you avoid drinking at a higher altitude. Even then, if you observe any of the symptoms listed above, you can adopt these precautions:

• Immediately inform your guide about your condition
• Take medication for the pain in the body and head
• Avoid climbing any further
• After some rest, slowly walk down to the lower altitude
• In the worst case, ask for a helicopter rescue

Note: Even after all this preparation, there might be chances that things don’t go as expected. That is why you should get travel insurance covering high-altitude treks. This will be useful for helicopter rescue and help in medical emergencies and theft.

Final words, 

In short, the Langtang Valley trek is not a problematic trekking trail. Anyone with sound health and zero experience of high altitude trek can easily make it to Kyanjin Gompa and back. However, you will need proper guidance and help from the expert to overcome the Langtang trek difficulty.

What else do you wanna know? Our expert team at Himalayan Masters will gladly assist you with the Langtang trek preparation. You can either send us an email or leave a comment below.