The Langtang Valley Trek follows one river valley north from Syabrubesi (1,460m) to Kyanjin Gompa (3,870m) and returns by the same trail. There are no junctions and no route choices above Syabrubesi, so the map is simple. This guide lists the villages and stops in order, with the checkpoints and the side routes.
What’s Inside This Guide
- The Route in Order
- Route Overview
- Starting Point: Syabrubesi
- Lower Trail: Syabrubesi to Lama Hotel
- Mid Trail: Lama Hotel to Kyanjin Gompa
- Kyanjin Ri and Tserko Ri
- Permit Checkpoints
- Gosaikunda Route
- New Route After the August 2026 Flood
- Navigation and Offline Maps
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related Planning Guides
The Langtang Valley Trek Route in Order
Kathmandu → Trishuli Bazaar → Betrawati → Dhunche → Syabrubesi → Pairo → Bamboo → Rimche → Lama Hotel → Ghoda Tabela → Thangshyap → Langtang Village → Mundu → Kyanjin Gompa
The first four places are on the drive, which takes 7 to 8 hours. The walk starts at Syabrubesi. You return along the same trail, then drive back to Kathmandu.
Route Overview
| Section | From | To | Altitude Range | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower gorge | Syabrubesi (1,460m) | Lama Hotel (2,470m) | 1,460m to 2,470m | Forest, steep climb |
| Mid valley | Lama Hotel (2,470m) | Langtang Village (3,430m) | 2,470m to 3,430m | Forest opening to open valley |
| Upper valley | Langtang Village (3,430m) | Kyanjin Gompa (3,870m) | 3,430m to 3,870m | Yak pasture, glacier views |
| Optional climb | Kyanjin Gompa (3,870m) | Kyanjin Ri (4,773m) | 3,870m to 4,773m | Steep path above the village |
| Optional climb | Kyanjin Gompa (3,870m) | Tserko Ri (4,984m) | 3,870m to 4,984m | Steep, unmaintained, rocky |
Distances: Kathmandu to Syabrubesi is about 120km by road. Syabrubesi to Kyanjin Gompa is roughly 30 km one way, and sources differ on the exact figure. See the distance and elevation guide for the daily numbers.
Starting Point: Syabrubesi (1,460m)
Syabrubesi is the usual trailhead for the Langtang Valley. It sits where the Langtang Khola meets the Bhote Koshi, and it is where the road from Kathmandu ends and the walking starts. It is also a starting point for other routes, including the Gosaikunda route via Thulo Syabru.
Getting to Syabrubesi
The road leaves Kathmandu and heads north through Trishuli Bazaar and Betrawati, following the Trishuli River into Rasuwa district. At Dhunche your guide shows the permits at the park checkpoint. After Dhunche the road drops to Syabrubesi.
Lower Trail: Syabrubesi to Lama Hotel
This is the steepest section. From Syabrubesi the trail crosses the Langtang Khola and follows the river upstream through forest. It gains 1,010m in 6 to 7 hours.
- Pairo: a stop with a few teahouses. A short side walk across the river leads to a natural hot spring.
- Bamboo: a teahouse stop where the climb steepens.
- Rimche: a stop in the oak and rhododendron forest, a short walk below Lama Hotel.
- Lama Hotel (2,470m): the Day 2 overnight, a small group of teahouses in the forest beside the river.
Mid Trail: Lama Hotel to Kyanjin Gompa
Above Lama Hotel the forest thins and the valley opens. This section runs through Langtang Village, which was rebuilt after the 2015 earthquake, and ends at Kyanjin Gompa.
- Ghoda Tabela (about 3,000m): a rest stop where the forest thins. It is a permit checkpoint.
- Thangshyap: a stop on the way to Langtang Village.
- Langtang Village (3,430m): the Day 3 overnight. On 25 April 2015, the earthquake set off an avalanche that buried the old village. The village has been rebuilt, and a memorial marks those who died.
- Mundu: a hamlet on the valley floor between Langtang Village and Kyanjin Gompa.
- Kyanjin Gompa (3,870m): the end of the route. It has a monastery, a yak-cheese factory and a cluster of teahouses, with Langtang Lirung (7,234m) above.
Because of the 2015 avalanche, older guidebook maps may not match the village layout today.
Kyanjin Ri and Tserko Ri
From Kyanjin Gompa two optional climbs start on the same day. You choose one, or rest. They are separate climbs, and both return to Kyanjin Gompa for the night.
Kyanjin Ri (4,773m) is a steep climb straight above the village with views of Langtang Lirung and the glacier. Tserko Ri (4,984m) is longer and harder, on an unmaintained rocky trail, and starts before dawn. Neither needs ropes or climbing skills.
Permit Checkpoints on the Route
The Langtang route has three permit checkpoints. Your guide shows the permits at each one. There is no check at Kyanjin Gompa.
| Checkpoint | Where | When |
|---|---|---|
| Dhunche | On the road before Syabrubesi | Day 1, on the drive |
| Syabrubesi (1,460m) | At the trailhead | Day 1, at the end of the drive |
| Ghoda Tabela | On the climb above Lama Hotel | Day 3 |
More on what is checked and who arranges it is in the Langtang Valley Trek permits guide.
Gosaikunda Route
Our 12-day Langtang Gosaikunda Trek walks back down the valley from Kyanjin Gompa, then climbs via Thulo Syabru and Shin Gompa (3,330m) to Gosaikunda Lake (4,380m). It ends at Dhunche, so it is a one-way route through the region, not a return on the same trail. The same Langtang National Park permit covers it.
The lake itself, and the other ways to reach it, are in the Gosaikunda Lake Trek guide.
New Route After the August 2026 Flood (Updated 7 November 2026)
Kathmandu → Dhunche → Thulo Syabru → Bamboo → Lama Hotel → Langtang Village → Kyanjin Gompa → Lama Hotel → Bamboo → Thulo Syabru → Dhunche → Kathmandu
This route is temporary, for as long as the Syabrubesi bridge is being rebuilt. We go through the full plan with you and the guide in Kathmandu before the trek starts. For the latest, see our Nepal floods travel update.
Navigation and Offline Maps
The trail is easy to follow because it runs along one valley, and your licensed guide is with you throughout. Guides have been compulsory in Langtang National Park since 17 February 2025.
Download an offline map of the route before you leave Kathmandu, because mobile signal can be patchy in the valley. It helps you follow the route even though your guide handles the navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The route follows one valley with no junctions above Syabrubesi, and a licensed guide is with you throughout. Guides have been compulsory in Langtang National Park since 17 February 2025.
In order: Syabrubesi, Pairo, Bamboo, Rimche, Lama Hotel, Ghoda Tabela, Thangshyap, Langtang Village, Mundu and Kyanjin Gompa. The drive from Kathmandu passes Trishuli Bazaar, Betrawati and Dhunche first.
The standard 8-day trek goes up the valley and back down the same trail. The 12-day Langtang Gosaikunda Trek leaves the valley via Thulo Syabru and Shin Gompa and ends at Dhunche, so it does not return on the same path.
Tserko Ri at 4,984m, an optional climb on Day 5. Kyanjin Ri is 4,773m. The highest overnight is Kyanjin Gompa at 3,870m.
Yes. Download one before you leave Kathmandu, because mobile signal can be patchy in the valley. You do not need it to find the way, but it helps you follow your progress.
Related Planning Guides
- Day-by-day itinerary for the Langtang Valley Trek
- Langtang Valley Trek distance and elevation
- Langtang Valley Trek permits
- How hard is the Langtang Valley Trek?
- Teahouse accommodation on the Langtang Valley Trek
- Gosaikunda Lake Trek guide
- Langtang Valley Trek cost
Walk the Route With a Local Guide
The 8-day route above costs $598 to $799 per person, with the guide, permits, meals, teahouses and transport both ways included. See the Langtang Valley Trek page, or message us on WhatsApp with your dates.