When to go
March–May and October–November. Spring brings rhododendron below 3,000 m; autumn gives the clearest glacier views. Winter is cold and some lodges close. Monsoon is wet and leeches are a nuisance in the lower forest.
Langtang National Park · Rasuwa
Langtang Region Travel Guide
The closest big-mountain valley to Kathmandu — seven days, no flights, and a glacier at the end of it.
Best seasonMar–May · Oct–Nov
Max altitude4,980 m Kyanjin Ri
Typical trek7–10 days
Park feeNPR 3,000
GatewaySyabrubesi
Langtang is the trek you can do in a week from Kathmandu without a domestic flight. A six to seven-hour drive to Syabrubesi puts you at the trailhead; seven days later you are standing on Kyanjin Ri at 4,773 m looking at the Langtang Lirung glacier and the wall of peaks along the Tibetan border. The valley was devastated by the 2015 earthquake and the village of Langtang was buried; the trail has been rebuilt, and trekking here directly supports families who stayed and rebuilt.
The route follows the Langtang Khola through bamboo and rhododendron forest, past the Tamang villages of Lama Hotel, Ghodatabela and Langtang village, up to Kyanjin Gompa with its cheese factory and monastery, and on to the glacier viewpoint. It is quieter than Everest or Annapurna, culturally Tamang and Tibetan, and short enough to slot into a two-week Nepal trip that also includes Kathmandu.
Why go
No domestic flights — road access from Kathmandu makes it the most reliable short trek in Nepal.
Glacier at eye level — Langtang Lirung (7,227 m) and the glacier terminus are a two-hour walk from Kyanjin Gompa.
Recovery trekking — your spending goes directly to villages rebuilt after the 2015 earthquake.
Tamang and Tibetan culture — monasteries, yak cheese, and the memorial at the old Langtang village.
Treks & guides in Langtang Region
Langtang Valley Trek 2026: The Closest Himalayan Trek from Kathmandu
Trekking & Expeditions
Langtang Trek: 8-Day First-Timer’s Itinerary (Local & Authentic)
Trekking & Expeditions
Gosaikunda Lake Trek 2026: A Sacred Himalayan Pilgrimage Guide
Travel Guides
Nepal Teahouse Trekking Guide 2026: What to Expect on the Trail
Trekking & Expeditions
Practical planning
Getting there
Drive Kathmandu to Syabrubesi (6–7 hours by jeep or local bus via Trishuli). The road continues to Lama Hotel in dry season, which shortens the walk but misses the best forest section. No flights needed — the main reason this trek is popular for short trips.
Permits
Langtang National Park entry is NPR 3,000, plus TIMS (NPR 2,000 individual, NPR 1,000 through an agency). Both are issued at the Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu. No restricted-area permit is needed for the main valley.
Costs
A 7-day guided teahouse trek costs USD 500–750 per person with guide, porter, permits and food included. Independent trekkers spend USD 25–35 a day on lodges and meals. Jeep transport from Kathmandu is USD 15–20 each way.
Where you sleep
Family teahouses the whole way — simple twin rooms, shared bathrooms, dal bhat and noodles. Kyanjin Gompa has the best lodges and a bakery; Lama Hotel and Ghodatabela are basic but warm.
Latest from Langtang Region
Questions travellers ask
Is the Langtang trek safe after the 2015 earthquake?
Yes. The trail and lodges have been rebuilt and trekking has been running normally for years. The memorial at old Langtang village is worth visiting; the new village is on safer ground.
How many days is the Langtang Valley trek?
Seven days from Syabrubesi to Kyanjin Gompa and back, or eight to nine with the Kyanjin Ri and Langshisha Kharka side trips. Add two days of road travel from Kathmandu.
Can I do Langtang without a guide?
Yes — it is not a restricted area, and TIMS plus park entry is all you need. Many people trek it independently, though a guide helps with lodge bookings in October.
Langtang or Gosainkunda?
Langtang is the valley and glacier trek; Gosainkunda is a high lake pilgrimage at 4,380 m, often combined with Langtang in 10–12 days. Do Langtang if you want the glacier; Gosainkunda for the lakes and festival.
Do I need altitude medication?
No prophylactic drug is required, but Kyanjin Ri at 4,773 m is high enough to cause symptoms. Ascend slowly, sleep low, and carry acetazolamide if your doctor approves it.
Planning Langtang Region?
Start with the permits, pick your season, then choose the trek that fits your days. Our guides are updated for 2026 and written from the trail, not from a brochure.
Other regions
Region guideEverest RegionThe Sherpa highlands: Base Camp, Gokyo Lakes, Kala Patthar and the villages that make the world’s most famous Region guideAnnapurna RegionOne conservation area, four completely different treks — from the 5,416 m Thorong La to a five-day ridge walk Region guideKathmandu ValleySeven UNESCO monument zones in a valley you can cross in an hour — plus the ridge hikes that frame them.