Langtang

Langtang Valley

A glacial valley north of Kathmandu, from the Langtang Khola forests to the high pastures of Kyanjin Gompa, with no flight and no pass.

Walking days 6–10 days
Highest point 4,984 m
Level Moderate
Permits 5,000 NPR (≈ €29)
Start Syabrubesi
Mandatory guide, checked

Access disrupted since the flood of 26 August 2026. The road to Syabrubesi is cut for months and, in early September, the valley was isolated (Kathmandu Post, 2 September 2026). As of 10 October 2026, a temporary track has reopened as far as Betrawati (buses and jeeps running again since early October) and the Bailey bridge at Betrawati is being finished, with opening targeted before 12 October (Ratopati, 9 October 2026). Beyond it, agencies say Dhunche should be reachable again around mid-October, without official confirmation; the approach via Dhunche and Thulo Syabru is the only one in prospect. Check access and permit issuing just before you go.

At a glance

You follow the Langtang Khola valley upstream, first through forest to Lama Hotel, then through high pastures to Langtang village and Kyanjin Gompa (3,870 m), at the foot of the glaciers. From there, you climb Kyanjin Ri or Tserko Ri for the view of Langtang Lirung.

It's the closest major trek to Kathmandu: no flight, a week is enough, and Tamang culture is very present. Langtang village was rebuilt after the avalanche triggered by the 2015 earthquake.

Highlights

Kyanjin Gompa, its glaciers and its yak cheese factory
The panorama from Kyanjin Ri (4,773 m) or Tserko Ri (4,984 m)
Reachable by road, no flight, in a week
Fewer people than Everest or the Annapurnas

Drawbacks

The access road, long and prone to landslides (cut since August 2026)
Guide mandatory and checked
Out and back on the same trail (except the Gosainkunda variant)

In pictures

Route

Out and back to Kyanjin Gompa, with a day to climb Kyanjin Ri; return variant via the Gosainkunda lakes.

6 daysof walking

4,773 mhighest point

60 kmD+ 4,070 m D− 4,100 m

Track (jeep)
Chosen route
Other possible trails
Optional side trip
Possible start or finish

Drag the “Start” and “Finish” labels to another served point, or tap a point. The “+” buttons add a side trip. Zoom with + and − (or Ctrl + scroll wheel), then drag the map to move around.

How do I use it in a hiking app?

The file contains the route you chose on the map (start, finish, side trips), with altitude, and a marker for each night, pass and viewpoint.

Organic Maps or Maps.me (free, offline): download the Nepal map before you leave, then open the GPX file from your phone and choose the app.
OsmAnd: menu “My places” → “Tracks” → “Import”.
Komoot, Gaia GPS, Wikiloc, Garmin: use the app's or website's “Import a GPX file” feature.

With no signal, your phone's GPS still works: you can see your position on the track. The track is indicative: on the ground, waymarks and advice from the lodges come first.

Itinerary

DayNight atAltitudeVs prev.DistanceAscentDescent
D 0Syabrubesi1,460 m
D 1Lama Hotel2,470 m+1,010 m11 km1,520 m510 m
D 2Langtang3,430 m+960 m11 km970 m30 m
D 3Kyanjin Gompa3,870 m+440 m6 km390 m0 m
D 4Kyanjin Gompa via Kyanjin Ri 4,773 m rest and acclimatisation3,870 m±0 m4 km680 m680 m
D 5Lama Hotel2,470 m−1,400 m17 km20 m1,370 m
D 6Syabrubesi1,460 m−1,010 m11 km490 m1,510 m

Distances and elevation gain estimated from OpenStreetMap and a terrain model.

Syabrubesi — Normally: bus from Machhapokhari (Kathmandu), 7 to 10 hrs, 700 to 1,200 NPR (≈ €4 to €7); shared jeep 6 to 7 hrs. ⚠ Road to Syabrubesi cut since the flood of 26 August 2026.
Syabrubesi — Back the same way (same road situation as on the way in).

Elevation

Altitude of each night, with the day's passes and viewpoints (red dots). Green dot: rest day.

Permits

The Langtang National Park entry fee, and the TIMS card issued by the agency that provides the guide.

National park

Langtang National Park

3,000 NPR (≈ €17)

At the Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu or at the Dhunche checkpoint, on the road.

Trekker card

TIMS card

2,000 NPR (≈ €12)

Issued only by a licensed agency since April 2023: it goes hand in hand with hiring a guide. See the Guide and porter page.

The park permit can be bought in Kathmandu or at the Dhunche checkpoint, on the road.

Guide

Mandatory guide, checked

A guide is mandatory and actually checked: Langtang National Park has required one since 15 February 2025. In March 2025, a solo trekker was stopped at the Dhunche checkpoint and told to hire a guide in Syabrubesi.

So arrange a licensed guide from Kathmandu. Rates and tips on the Guide and porter page.

A guide for this trek? The Guides Nepal directory lists guides, porters and agencies who know this trek, with their licence checked, the languages they speak and traveller reviews.

See guides for this trek

Transport

Getting to the start

Kathmandu → Syabrubesi

Duration 7 to 10 hrsPrice 700 to 1,200 NPR (≈ €4 to €7)

Bus from Machhapokhari, departures between 6 am and 8:30 am; stop at Dhunche for the permit check. ⚠ Cut since the August 2026 flood.

Kathmandu → Thulo Syabru

Duration ~7 to 8 hrs

Private jeep via Trishuli, Betrawati and Dhunche: the approach used since the flood.

Getting back

Syabrubesi or Dhunche → Kathmandu

Duration 7 to 10 hrs

Early morning departures. Same road situation as on the way in.

When to go

JFMAMJJASOND

IdealPossibleNot advised

March–May and October–November: the best periods. December is still doable, with a little snow around Kyanjin.

Monsoon (June–September): road prone to landslides, leeches, clouds. From mid-January: deep snow towards Tserko Ri, fewer lodges open.

On the trail

Accommodation	Lodges all along the valley, rooms 5 to 15 USD (≈ €4 to €13) depending on altitude.
Meals	Dal bhat around 500 to 600 NPR (≈ €2.9 to €3.5) lower down, 700 to 900 NPR (≈ €4 to €5) at Langtang and Kyanjin. Yak cheese and pastries at Kyanjin.
Budget	About 30 to 45 USD (≈ €27 to €40) a day, excluding guide and transport.
Money	No reliable ATM after Kathmandu: bring all the rupees you need.
Signal	Nepal Telecom and Ncell generally work up to Kyanjin Gompa; paid wifi in lodges.

Good to know before you go

2026 situation: road to Syabrubesi cut by the flood of 26 August. Check access and permit issuing just before you go.

On 25 April 2015, the earthquake triggered an avalanche that buried Langtang village (around 300 to 350 dead and missing). The village was rebuilt slightly higher up; don't linger below steep slopes in bad weather.

Altitude: you sleep at 3,870 m at Kyanjin and climb above 4,700 m on day hikes. See Altitude and safety.

What about the visa? A two-week trek plus a few days in Kathmandu and Pokhara quickly adds up to more than 15 days: get the 30-day visa. The calculator on our sister site Visa Nepal shows the cheapest length.

Which visa length?

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Preparing your trek

PermitsPrices, where to buy, documents needed, trek by trek.Guide and porterMandatory or not, region by region, and what it costs.TransportBuses, jeeps and flights to the start of each trek.Altitude and safetyAcclimatisation, altitude sickness, rescue, insurance.BudgetDaily costs, cash to bring, ATMs.FAQThe questions people ask before they go.