Langtang Village Trekking

Langtang is a narrow valley situated 175 km north of Kathmandu, located close to the Tibetan border. It takes about a six to seven-hour bus ride via the Pashang Lambhu Highway from Kathmandu to Trisuli - Dhunche - Shyabru Besi. From Shyabru Besi, a trekking path following the Langtang gorge finally reaches Kyanjin Gompa at 3900 m.

Kyanjin Gompa is the last place in the valley where you will find lodging. There are many options to explore one or more days around Kyanjin Gomba valley. The cheese factory near the Gomba was started as a Swiss project in 1955 with rounds of cheese carried to Kathmandu. You can usually buy delicious cheese there by the hundred grams.

If you want to climb up to the trough on the west side of the glacier, you will often come to a frozen lake. Head east from Kyangjin Gomba on a day hike to reach Tsergo Ri an excellent viewpoint (many people do this to see the many pray flags there and the outstanding mountain views), head west from Yala Kharka or continue circling the hill, reaching the prayer flag-festooned summit, Tsergo Ri, (4784 meters) in 2 hours. From the top to the south you can see Ganjala pass leading into Helambu and Nayakanga, the trekking peak summit, to its west. The surrounding peaks are quite spectacular.

From Kyanjin Gomba, you can also head up the valley to Langsisa Kharka, “the last summer pasturing settlement”. Ahead lies the main Langtang Glacier and the Tibetan border, a hard day’s climb away. To the south lie beautiful Buddha peak and the terminus of the East Langtang glacier. There is a big reddish rock at Langsisa that according to legend is that color because a holy man living outside the valley lost his Yak and tracked it to this place. The Yak died here. Langsisa means the place where the Yak (Lang) died (sisa)}. A few miles up to the valley to the southeast, two big rock gendarmes stand a hundred feet above the glacier. They are said to represent two Buddhist saints, Shaky Muni and Guru Rimpoche.

Asian Hiking Team recommended short itinerary: reach the Kyanjin Gomba within 3 days, explore one full day hike around Kyanjin Gomba then descend to Syabru Besi and take a bus/ jeep to Kathmandu. However, adding a day or two for more leisurely travel and more exploring at the upper end of the valley is highly recommended.

A powerful earthquake of 7.8 magnitude shook Nepal on the 25th of April 2015 causing many human casualties and destroying Langtang village and Kyanjin Gomba. However, Langtand village was rebuilt in a nearby and safer location and is open for the tea house/guest house trekking. As is Kyanjin Gomba. It should be noted that it is also helpful to the local people to visit this lovely area so that the local people can benefit, as many lost everything in the earthquake. So we heartily recommend visiting the Langtang valley.