Langtang Valley Trek- 8 Days Complete Itinerary

Trek Route: Syabrubesi → Khanjim → Sherpagaon
Beginning Point: Syabrubesi (1,503 m / 4,931 ft.)
Ending Point / Overnight: Sherpagaon (2,563 m / 8,409 ft.)
Syabrubesi to Sherpagaon Distance: About 11 km (7 miles)
Lunch: Khanjim
Total Ascent: 1,060 m/3,478 ft

Today, it’s going to be a long walking day (about 7 hours), covering around 11 km (7 miles). So, we’ll have to start early. After breakfast in Syabrubesi at around 7 am, we start our trek around 7:30-8 am.

Trek from Syabrubesi to Khanjim – 3 hours

Just after 5-minute walk, we cross a suspension bridge, crossing the Bhote Koshi Nadi flowing from Tibet. After crossing the bridge, the route takes on a steep uphill route. In some sections, you might encounter motor roads and stone-paved steps on the way to Sherpagaon.

However, we will try our best to avoid these roads and trek through an authentic trekking trail. The route is decorated with vibrant Laligurans forest (rhododendron forest), salla, and other local wild flower plants. You might be able to spot some wildlife in Langtang Valley, such as mountain goats, Himalayan tahr, blue sheep, and monkeys.

After walking for about 2-3 hours, through a forested uphill route, we will reach Khanjim. About 30 minutes before reaching Khanjim, there are 2 small teahouses. We can stop here for a cup of tea or coffee while enjoying the river and jungle view. Other than this, there is no teahouse in between.

Typically, we stop directly at Khanjim for our lunch. You can rest here for some time while your lunch is getting ready.

Trek from Khanjim ok Sherpagaon – 4 hours

After having lunch, we will continue our trek to Sherpagaon along the views of the mountain and the stunning Langtang Valley below. It takes about 4 hours to reach Sherpagaon from Khanjim village, covering around 7-8 km.

After just 15 to 20 minutes’ walk, we will arrive at Surka village. It is a beautiful viewpoint with 3-4 teahouses. If not Khanjim, we can have our lunch at Surka, too. From this viewpoint, you can enjoy an excellent view of the Ganesh Himal range.

Thereafter, we have to walk on the motor route for about an hour, up to Nesa Danda. Trekkers can directly drive to Nesa Danda if they want to reduce the trek day. From there, Sherpagaon is just about a 45-minute walk.

It’s quite an alluring route, ups and downs, navigating through stone steps and forest routes, all along with the Surya Peak view. Just before reaching Sherpagaon, there is a small seasonal waterfall on the nearby hillside, and the stream flowing from it is crossed via a truss bridge.

This route is a deviation from the traditional route that goes through the crowded trail to the Lama Hotel. You get to taste fresh, local delicacies and experience centuries-old traditions while on this route.

We will probably reach Sherpagaon by 3-4 pm, so we still have some time to explore the village. Make sure you order your dinner so you get it hot and on time.

After dinner, at around 7 pm, you’ll be briefed about the next day’s route and your day’s experience. And finally, go to sleep by 10 pm.

About Khanjim Village

Khanjim (2,235 m/7,332 ft) is a small, beautiful village on the way to our trip. It has around 4-5 teahouses that provide basic food and accommodation facilities. You can also see the other 50-60 local houses, including a primary school and local gompas.

The majority of the people in this area are engaged in agricultural occupations. Therefore, you can expect to have fresh and healthy locally-grown food here.

About Sherpagaon

Situated at 2,563 meters (8,409 ft), Sherpagaon is a local Tamang village where you will stay overnight.

There are about 5 basic but neat and clean teahouses here. They provide local food and basic bedding. Apart from these, there are around 10-15 local houses whose residents are engaged in agriculture. They also sell their agricultural products to the Langtang Village.

: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

: Tea House

: 7 to 8 Hours (Walking)

Trek Route: Sherpagaon → Riverside Lodge → Ghodatabela → Langtang Village
Beginning Point: Sherpagaon (2,563 m /8,409 ft.)
Ending Point/ Overnight: Langtang Village (3,430 m / 11,253 ft.)
Sherpagaon to Langtang Village Distance: About 15 km (9 miles)
Lunch: Riverside Lodge
Total Ascent: 867 m/2,845 ft

The third day is another long walk day. Today, you need to cover approximately 15 km (9 miles), which takes around 7-8 hours. The trail passes through pine and rhododendron forests and finally enters the broad valley of Langtang.

Today, you will witness a few beautiful views of the Langtang Himal range, including Langtang Lirung (one of the highest peaks in the Langtang region).

Trek from Sherpagaon to Riverside Lodge – 3.5 hours

We will begin our trek at around 8 am, after having a hearty breakfast. After walking along side trails, uphill and some downhill slopes, and sometimes a stone path, for about 1 to 1.5 hours, we will reach Rimche.

From there, you can get an open view of the surrounding mountains towards Gosaikunda. There are a few small streams en route; you might want to open your shoes. There are some beautiful waterfalls on the opposite hillside, though. Trekkers can see some snow-covered peaks during their trek, further enhancing the trekking experience.

After walking for an additional 30 minutes and covering about 1 km, you will reach Lama Hotel. It’s a mix of slight downhill, uphill, and ridge routes.

Some trekkers prefer to have lunch at the Lama Hotel. However, the Lama Hotel might be crowded with trekkers going to or returning from the Langtang trek, so the food and other facilities might not be up to the mark.

So, our standard itinerary includes our 3rd day’s lunch at Riverside Lodge, which is only an hour (about 2 km) walk from Lama Hotel.

It’s quite an amusing trail dotted with pine trees, rhododendron forest route, and a view of Langtang Lirung, along with Langtang Khola.

There are 2 small teahouses in between, within the forest. If you can walk faster are aren’t so hungry, you can trek further to Chhunama or Ghodatabela for lunch too. Ghodatabela is about a 1.5-hour walk.

Trek from Riverside Lodge to Langtang Village – 4 hours

Ok, now that we have rested and have had our lunch at Riverside Lodge, the trail now takes on a little uphill route towards Langtang Village.

The trail then moves across alpine meadows, where you will see yak caravans and livestock grazing, via Ghodatabela and Thyangsyapu. After about four hours’ walk, we can reach Langtang Village, where you will stay overnight.

Your permits will be checked at Ghodatabela. You can also issue a new permit here. As you trek higher from Ghodatabela, towards Thyangsyapu, the landscape changes to open vast pastures. Here, you might be able to spot wildlife such as red panda, mountain goat, snow leopard, black bear, mountain monkey, etc.

After about an hour’s walk from Thyangsyapu, following a slightly uphill route and crossing wooden bridges, you reach Gompa Danda. From Gompa Danda, you can see a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains and valley downhill.

From there, with just about a 30-minute to 1-hour trek along the glacier, crossing the previous settlement of Langtang Village before the earthquake of 2015, you can reach the final destination of the Langtang Valley Trek itinerary, Langtang Village.

You’ll probably reach Langtang Village at around 4 pm. So, you still have a couple of hours to explore the village. Or, you can choose to rest at your teahouse while enjoying a cup of yak milk, Tibetan tea.

Then, as usual, you’ll have your dinner at around 7 pm, have some briefings, share your trekking experience until now, and go to sleep by 10 pm.

About Riverside Lodge

Riverside Lodge is a popular stop point for trekkers on the way from Sherpagaon to Langtang Village. Situated at an altitude of around 2,700 meters, only 2 basic teahouses provide local but good food.

About Ghodatabela Village

There are only 2 teahouses at Ghodatabela. From its elevation of 2,972 meters (9,750 ft), you can see an excellent view of Langtang Lirung, the other Langtang Himal range, the Langtang River, and the jungle. It is also the checkpoint to the Langtang National Park.

About Thyangsyapu Village

Thyangsyapu is situated at an elevation of 3,140 meters (10,302 ft). There are about 4 teashops here. From here, you can enjoy the view of Langtang Khola. You might even see Himalayan Thar and different species of birds.

About Langtang Village

Langtang Village is a small and beautiful village at 3,430 meters (11,253 ft). Along the way, you can see the Mani stone wall, which showcases the literature of the Tibetan people.

The native Tibetan people of the village welcome you with warm hospitality and their Tibetan cuisine. Additionally, you can visit local gompas and an army camp nearby. You can visit nearby monasteries, or even go rope climbing nearby.

Additionally, there are about 20-25 good-quality teahouses here, providing comfortable and cosy accommodation, and nourishing food to eat. The dining hall is normally heated with a central heating system, where you can enjoy a warm dinner.

: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

: Tea House

: 7 to 8 Hours (Walking)

Trek Route: Langtang Village → Kyanjin Gompa → Kyanjin Ri → back to Kyanjin Gompa
Beginning Point: Langtang Village (3,430 m / 11,253 ft.)
Ending Point/ Overnight: Kyanjin Gompa (3,870 m / 12,697 ft.)
Langtang Village to Kyanjin Gompa Distance: About 5 km
Kyanjin Gompa to Kyanjin Ri Distance: Around 5 km / 3 miles (Round)
Lunch: Kyanjin Gompa
Total Ascent: 440 m/1,444 ft

Today, we reach the final destination of our trek, Kyanjin Gompa. It’s a short trekking day, as you need to cover only 5 km (3 miles). Although reaching Kyanjin Gompa only takes about 2.5 hours, there is an additional hike to Kyanjin Ri.

As we have had a long walking day previously, we are going to have our breakfast at around 8 am, and start trekking at around 9 am, so that we have enough rest.

Trek from Langtang Village to Kyanjin Gompa – 2.5 hours

You start ascending a steep trail, crossing some settlements managed and used by the shepherds. In between, you can see great views of peaks such as Gangchenpo, Ganja La, Naya Kanga, Scout Peak, Tserko Ri, Langtang Ri, Kyanjin Ri, and Langtang Yubra.

The route from Langtang Village to Kyanjin Gompa is short but challenging, taking about 2-2.5 hours. It is a 5 km long trek.

In between, after about 20 to 30 minutes walk, following pasture land, we arrive at Mundu. There are about 7-8 basic teahouses there, where you can have tea and coffee. It is also a popular viewpoint for some of the best views of the Langtang mountain range and the surrounding valley.

Then, we continue trekking to Kyanjin Gompa. Short after a 30-40 minute walk, we’ll reach Sindum, which is popular for a cafe, Hardrock Cafe. It is the only teahouse around here, attached to a huge boulder.

From here onwards, the terrain is somewhat wide and flat or slightly uphill. Be careful in some sections, as there might be rockfall. After walking for about 45 minutes, there is a newly built monastery that you can visit.

Furthermore, you can also visit the Langtang Kyanjin hydro power house. After all that, we will arrive at Kyanjin Gompa at around 11 to 11:30 am, where we will have our lunch and stay overnight. We plan to have our lunch around 12 to 1 pm.

Kyanjin Gompa to Kyanjin Ri Hike

After having our lunch, now you have two options: either explore Kyanjin Gompa village or go for an acclimatization hike to Kyanjin Ri (4,773 m/15,659 ft).

If you choose to hike, we will start hiking around 1 to 1:30 pm. Hiking to the Kyanjin Ri viewpoint is a short, demanding, yet exciting trek within the Langtang region.

There are some narrow sections, where you might lose footing, so be careful. Also, make way for chauri (yak), so that you don’t collide or meet an accident with them. Additionally, there are strong winds during the afternoon, so the wind feels colder and the air thinner. Have a steady pace, ascend gradually.

Know that there are two viewpoints on Kyanjin Ri: Lower Kyanjin Ri and Upper Kyanjin Ri. You can leave your luggage in your teahouse and carry just a daypack and go hiking.

Reaching lower Kyanjin Ri takes around 1.5 hours, situated at 4,400 meters (14,436 ft). If you find hiking further above difficult, you can end your hike and return from here. Or, hike further to the Kyanjin Ri summit. It’s an additional 1.5-hour hike.

From lower Kyanjin Ri, you can see a panoramic view of the Langtang Himal range, Langtang Valley, Chhonak Lake, lush forest, and so on.

If you choose to hike up to the Kyanjin Ri summit, it’s an additional 1 to 1.5-hour hike. It’s a steep, scree uphill route that really tests your physical fitness. On the way up, you can see yaks/chauri grazing on the cliffs. As you approach the summit, the view begins to further open.

From the summit, you feel like the mountain is right in front of you, like you can touch it. The sunset view is just amazing; the sky is painted in orange. It is one of the best times for photography. Trekkers can also see the Yubra Himal Glacier.

The trek covers a total distance of about 5 km, round trip, and takes about 3 hours to climb uphill and 2 hours to descend downhill. If you don’t want to descend the same route, there is another route too. It’s a little longer, with less wind and chances of small rockfall, but equally beautiful.

Your guide will decide how long you can spend on the summit depending on the time and weather. If the weather seems to go bad, the summit time can be limited to 15 to 20 minutes.

It is recommended that you take packed food on the way, as there are no teahouses in between.

About Kyanjin Gompa

After reaching Kyanjin Gompa, you will see the beautiful wall of stones carved with religious scriptures called the Mani stone wall. Thereafter, it is best to spend a few more hours exploring the surrounding areas and acclimatize to the increasing altitude.

There are a couple of good teahouses on the way, including about 20-25 teahouses in Kyanjin Gompa, where you can unload your luggage, rest, and hike to Kyanjin Ri.

Kyanjin Gompa is named after an ancient Buddhist monastery, believed to be more than 500 years old. It is also famous for its cheese factory and views of the rivers, mountain ranges, and glaciers.

: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

: Tea House

: 3 to 4 Hours (Walking)

Trek Route: Kyanjin Gompa → Tserko Ri → Kyanjin Gompa
Kyanjin Gompa to Tserko Ri Distance: 10 km / 6 miles (Round)
Lunch: Packed lunch or Kyanjin Gompa
Maximum Elevation: 4,983 m / 16,348 ft. (Tserko Ri)
Total Ascent: 1,113 m/3,652 ft

Day 5 of the Langtang trek itinerary is an active rest day.

Meaning, you will be engaged in another stunning hike today. Or, you can also stay at your teahouse or explore Kyanjin Gompa, visit Kyanjin Cheese Factory, visit nearby monasteries, go souvenir shopping, and interact with locals.

We usually have our breakfast before 6 to 6:30 am for the early morning, as the fifth day of our standard Langtang Valley Trek itinerary includes the Tserko Ri Hike. If you don’t feel like it, you can skip this too, but we strongly suggest you choose this hike for one of the best 360° panoramic views.

Situated at an elevation of 4,983 meters (16,348 ft), Tserko Ri, or Cherko Ri, is one of the most famous peaks in the Langtang region. The Tserko Ri Hike covers around 10 km (6 miles), round trip. It takes about 6 hours to climb the peak and 3 hours to descend.

It is a short yet challenging climb. For better views and to avoid afternoon high winds, we have to start hiking as early as possible. There is no teahouse in between, so you need to carry a packed lunch, or have it once we return.

We usually start our hike around 6:30 am. The route to the Tserko Ri summit first starts with somewhat flat terrain for the first 30 minutes. Then, after crossing a small stream, the route takes on a totally uphill, steep trail.

It is a high-altitude hike, so there is a high chance of getting altitude sickness. So, we suggest you walk slowly but steadily. After 4,500 meters, the winds get stronger and cooler. So, we suggest you wear warm clothes and pack crampons and trekking poles for the icy trail.

Nonetheless, as you trek higher, the landscape starts to unveil itself with stunning mountain views. In between, there are small yak shades (kharka), and one can spot yaks and mountain goats grazing.

From the Tserko Ri summit, you can enjoy breathtaking views of more than 20 peaks, including Langtang Lirung, the Tibet Himalayan range, Langtang Himal, Langshisa Ri, and Mount Gangchenpo. Additionally, you can see small hamlets in the Langtang valley downward.

We will be spending 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the weather and your wishes. Take time to immerse yourself in the beauty of Langtang, take photographs and video, and have some snacks.

By 2-3 pm, you can return back to Kyanjin Gompa. Then, you can rest for a while, freshen up, and have lunch.

After lunch, you now have two options for returning. You can return through the same route that we took before, or choose another route which takes an extra 1 hour, but is comparatively easier.

After returning to Kyanjin Gompa, you can spend the remainder of the day resting or further exploring the village.

You can visit a nearby cafe, surf the internet, and upload a few posts while enjoying a cup of coffee. Trekkers can also visit the helipad ground or Langtang Lirung Lake. Or, just strolling around the village is also an excellent choice.

Finally, you can have your dinner at your usual time, at around 7 pm. Likewise, you’ll be given a short briefing about the next day’s trek route. Share your trekking experience with each other, and give time to have successfully reached the final destination of the trek, and now it’s time to return.

: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

: Tea House

: 7 to 8 Hours (Walking)

Trek Route: Kyanjin Gompa → Langtang Village → Thyangsyapu → Ghodatabela → Lama Hotel
Beginning Point: Kyanjin Gompa (3,870 m / 12,697 ft.)
Ending Point/ Overnight: Lama Hotel (2,470 m/ 8,104 ft)
Kyanjin Gompa to Lama Hotel Distance: About 18 km (11 miles)
Lunch: Ghodatabela or Riverside Lodge
Total Descent: 1,400 m/ 4,593 ft

Now, it’s time to return. After enjoying the last breakfast at Kyanjin Gompa, you will trace back the same route to Lama Hotel at around 7:30 to 8 am.

It is a long walking day, but a comfortable descent compared to a steep descent. To be precise, it’s the longest walking day in our Langtang Trek Itinerary, approximately 18 km (11 miles), about 7.5 to 8 hours walk.

Trek from Kyanjin Gompa to Ghodatabela – 4 hours

The route navigates via Langtang Village, Thyangsyapu, and Ghodatabela. You can further explore villages en route, visit monasteries, and experience the rich Tamang culture. Interestingly, some of the most breathtaking scenery appears during the return journey, as views that were once behind you slowly unfold and feel entirely new.

Today, we’ll be having our lunch at Ghodatabela. Reaching Ghodatabela takes about 3.5 to 4 hours. There are only 2 teahouses in Ghodatabela.

Trek from Ghodatabela to Lama Hotel – 2.5 hours

After having rested and a delicious Dal Bhat lunch, we continue trekking to Lama Hotel. Lama Hotel is also called Changtang village.

We’ll most probably reach Lama Hotel by 3-4 pm. There are about 5-6 teahouses in Lama Hotel. Upon arriving in the village, you will be checked in at one of the teahouses for an overnight stay with a fantastic dinner. However, do not expect any exotic teahouse. Teahouses here are basic yet warming.

Along the route, you can enjoy alluring mountain views, lush rhododendron forests, and several picturesque villages. You begin to remember all the tough ascents you did over the past few days, while cherishing the memorable moments from the trek.

: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

: Tea House

: 5 to 6 Hours (Walking)

Trek Route: Lama Hotel → Bamboo → Syabrubesi
Beginning Point: Lama Hotel (2,470 m / 8,104 ft)
Ending Point/ Overnight: Syabrubesi (1,503 m / 4,931 ft.)
Lama Hotel to Syabrubesi Distance: About 10 km (6 miles)
Total Descent: 1,010 m/3,314 ft
Lunch: Bamboo Lodge (1,970 m) or Pahare Hotel

It is the last trekking day, as the last (8th day) of the trek includes a drive to Kathmandu. Today, you will have to cover about 10 km (6 miles), about a 4.5-hour walk.

Trek from Lama Hotel to Bamboo – 3 hours

After breakfast at the Lama Hotel, around 7 to 7:30 am, you will begin the trek to Syabrubesi at our usual time (around 8 am). After walking for 20-30 minutes, we will reach Rimche, from where we will take a different route from the one we took before. Or, your guide decides which route to take depending on your stamina and weather.

Instead of trekking towards Sherpagaon, we trek towards Bamboo and Domen, finally connecting to Syabrubesi.

After about a 45-minute trek, there is a short section where there is a risk of a landslide and a small rock-falling zone. There might be a chance that we might need to return and trek via Sherpagaon. This will be decided by your trekking guide. Therefore, always listen to your guide’s instructions.

Then, with another 45-minute walk, we will stop at Bamboo for a cup of tea or coffee, with the sound of roaring Langtang Khola. If you’re lucky enough, you may spot a red panda hidden inside a nigalo (a type of Himalayan bamboo) forest. Sometimes, you might also see deer, monkey, wild pheasant, and fowl.

After a warm drink, we continue our trek towards Pahiro, which is going to be our lunch place for day 7. It’s an easy, slightly downhill route, about 1 1-hour walk. Trek through lush nigalo and rhododendron forest is quite entertaining.

Trek from Pahiro to Syabrubesi – 1.5 hours

As per our plan, we can reach Pahiro by 11:30 am. After our last lunch in the mountains, we continue our final section of trekking journey towards Syabrubesi via Domen. It’s a total of 1.5 hours walk from Pahiro.

After a 20-30 minute walk, the route after Domen meets motor road and continues up to Syabrubesi. We can reach Syabrubesi by 2-3 pm.

After reaching Syabrubesi, take some time to rest and rejuvenate. We can also go swimming in Langtang Khola or take a dip in a hot spring nearby, Syabrubesi.

In the evening, we can toast/celebrate successfully completing the trek. After a week’s basic accommodation and challenging days, you deserve a celebratory drink and a comfortable and cosy night’s stay in one of the best lodges in Syabrubesi.

Note: If you are short on time or want to reduce the overall trek itinerary, you can drive to Kathmandu on the same day.

: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

: Tea House

: 5 to 6 Hours (Walking)

Trek Route: Syabrubesi → Dhunche → Trishuli → Kathmandu
Beginning Point: Syabrubesi (1,503 m / 4,931 ft.)
Ending Point/ Overnight: Kathmandu (1,400 m / 4,593 ft.)
Distance from Syabrubesi to Kathmandu: 122 km/75.8 miles
Lunch: Trishuli

After having breakfast at Syabrubesi, you will head to the capital city, Kathmandu, at around 8-9 am. A private jeep will pick you up from the teahouse and take you back to Kathmandu.

You will be back through the same route, enjoying the beautiful scenery from the window. After 5 to 6 hours of travel, you will arrive in the city, check in at the hotel, and rest.

If time allows, you can explore Kathmandu Valley. Or, you can go for a relaxing spa or massage. Additionally, you can go for a walk around Kathmandu Durbar Square or Thamel. It has a pleasant environment in the evening.

Note: If you are travelling on a local bus/vehicle, it takes about 7 hours.

: Breakfast and Lunch

: 3-Star Hotel

: 6 to 7 Hours (Driving)