Langtang Valley

Langtang · Kyanjin Gompa 3,870 m · Closest Himalayan valley to Kathmandu

Prayer flags over a frozen lake beneath snow-capped ranges
Langtang Playbook

Langtang Valley Trek Playbook

The closest Himalayan valley trek to Kathmandu — routes to Kyanjin Gompa (3,870 m) and the Tserko Ri viewpoint (4,984 m) with permits and tips.

Photo by Sergey Pesterev / Unsplash
Beginner
Langtang Valley Round Trip
Syabrubesi → Kyanjin Gompa 3,870 m round trip · ~24 km · 6–7 days
Round trip ~24 km
Duration 6–7 days
Kyanjin Gompa 3,870 m
Difficulty
Lodging Teahouses
Permit Langtang NP

Course Flow

Syabrubesi→Lama Hotel 2,350 m→Langtang village 3,430 m→Kyanjin Gompa 3,870 m

Elevation Profile

Kyanjin Gompa 3,870 m

The closest Himalayan valley trek to Kathmandu — one day's drive, then follow the Langtang river through national park forest to Kyanjin Gompa (3,870 m) and back.

Route by Section

Start
Kathmandu → Syabrubesi
~122 km 6–8 h drive
⌄

Transfer on mountain roads and start trekking.

Road conditions worsen in the monsoon — morning departures are recommended.
1
Syabrubesi → Lama Hotel
~11 km 5–6 h
⌄

Climb forest stairs along the Langtang river; overnight at Lama Hotel.

Hear the recovery stories of villages rebuilt after the 2015 earthquake.
2
Lama Hotel → Langtang village → Kyanjin Gompa
~13 km 6–7 h
⌄

Pass Langtang village (3,430 m) to Kyanjin Gompa (3,870 m) — famous for its cheese factory.

Try the yak cheese at Kyanjin Gompa.
Return
Descent
~24 km 2 days
⌄

Descend the same way to Syabrubesi.

It can be done in one long day, but two is safer.

Gear

  • Sleeping bag
  • Insulated layer
  • Headlamp
  • Purification tablets

Permits & costs

  • Langtang NP entry ~NPR 3,000
  • Guide mandatory
  • Budget $400–950

Cautions

  • Pre-dawn cold
  • Safety in earthquake-rebuilt areas
  • Monsoon landslides

Concept Map

SyabrubesiKyanjin Gompa 3,870 mLangtang Valley round trip

Checkpoints

1
Syabrubesi Starting Point
~1,460 m 0 km
Amenities: Bus terminal
2
Lama Hotel Village
2,350 m Day 1 · ~11 km
Amenities: Teahouses
3
Langtang village Village
3,430 m Day 2
Amenities: Teahouses
4
Kyanjin Gompa Destination
3,870 m Days 2–3
Amenities: Cheese factory · teahouses
5
Back at Syabrubesi End
~1,460 m ~24 km round trip
Amenities: Bus
Intermediate
Kyanjin Ri Sunrise Course
Kyanjin Gompa + Kyanjin Ri 4,350 m sunrise hike · ~28 km · 7–8 days
Distance ~28 km
Duration 7–8 days
Kyanjin Ri 4,350 m
Difficulty
Sunrise Langtang Lirung & Annapurna
Permit Langtang NP

Course Flow

Syabrubesi→Kyanjin Gompa 3,870 m→Kyanjin Ri 4,350 m→Descend

Elevation Profile

Kyanjin Ri 4,350 m

The valley round trip plus a sunrise hike up Kyanjin Ri (4,350 m) — a 360-degree panorama over Langtang Lirung (7,234 m) and the Annapurna–Ganesh ranges.

Route by Section

Days 1–3
Syabrubesi → Kyanjin Gompa
~24 km 3 days
⌄

Complete the outbound section and settle at Kyanjin Gompa.

A light afternoon walk helps acclimatization on arrival.
Day 4
Kyanjin Ri 4,350 m sunrise
~5 km RT 4–5 h
⌄

Headlamp up to the Kyanjin Ri platform for the 360-degree Himalayan panorama.

Extremely windy — wear a windproof hat and gloves.
Days 5–7
Descent
~24 km 2–3 days
⌄

Return to Syabrubesi and onward to Kathmandu.

Enjoy yak pastures and forest on the way down.

Gear

  • Headlamp
  • Windproof hat & gloves
  • Sleeping bag
  • Snacks

Permits & costs

  • Langtang NP entry ~NPR 3,000
  • Guide mandatory
  • Budget $400–700

Cautions

  • Kyanjin Ri winds
  • Acclimatization above 4,000 m
  • Monsoon road delays

Concept Map

SyabrubesiKyanjin Ri 4,350 mKyanjin Ri sunrise course

Checkpoints

1
Syabrubesi Starting Point
~1,460 m 0 km
Amenities: Bus terminal
2
Kyanjin Gompa Base
3,870 m Days 2–3
Amenities: Cheese factory
3
Kyanjin Ri 4,350 m Summit
4,350 m Day 4 dawn
Amenities: 360° deck
4
Back at Syabrubesi End
~1,460 m Round trip
Amenities: Bus
Advanced
Tserko Ri Challenge (4,984 m)
Kyanjin Gompa → Tserko Ri 4,984 m · ~34 km · 9–10 days
Distance ~34 km
Duration 9–10 days
Tserko Ri 4,984 m
Difficulty
Feature ~5,000 m viewpoint
Permit Langtang NP

Course Flow

Syabrubesi→Kyanjin Gompa 3,870 m→Tserko Ri 4,984 m→Descend

Elevation Profile

Tserko Ri 4,984 m

The final gate of Langtang trekking — Tserko Ri (4,984 m) approached without supplemental oxygen. At least two nights at Kyanjin Gompa for acclimatization is the safe standard.

Route by Section

Days 1–3
Syabrubesi → Kyanjin Gompa
~24 km 3 days
⌄

Complete the outbound section and settle at Kyanjin Gompa.

A light afternoon walk on the back ridge aids acclimatization.
Day 4
Kyanjin Ri 4,350 m acclimatization
~5 km RT 4–5 h
⌄

Use Kyanjin Ri as an acclimatization climb before Tserko Ri — double adaptation raises success.

If symptoms worsen on Kyanjin Ri, giving up Tserko Ri is the safe choice.
Day 5
Tserko Ri 4,984 m
~8 km RT 7–9 h
⌄

A non-technical climb up moraine slopes to the summit and its near-5,000 m panorama.

Approaching 5,000 m — set a turnaround time and keep it.
Days 6–9
Descent
~24 km 2–3 days
⌄

Return the same way to Syabrubesi and onward to Kathmandu; a Pokhara link is also possible.

Pokhara connection after the descent is a popular option.

Gear

  • Pulse oximeter
  • Turnaround alarm
  • Full expedition set
  • Emergency food

Permits & costs

  • Langtang NP entry ~NPR 3,000
  • Guide mandatory
  • Budget $650–950

Cautions

  • Non-oxic ~5,000 m climb
  • Sudden weather changes
  • Descend immediately when exhausted

Concept Map

SyabrubesiTserko Ri 4,984 mLangtang final-gate climb

Checkpoints

1
Syabrubesi Starting Point
~1,460 m 0 km
Amenities: Bus terminal
2
Kyanjin Gompa Acclimatization base
3,870 m Days 2–3
Amenities: Cheese factory
3
Kyanjin Ri Acclimatization
4,350 m Day 4
Amenities: 360° deck
4
Tserko Ri 4,984 m Summit
4,984 m Day 5
Amenities: ~5,000 m panorama
5
Back at Syabrubesi End
~1,460 m ~34 km round trip
Amenities: Bus

Langtang Four Seasons & Attractions