Langtang is often called the valley of glaciers, and it is one of the most rewarding short treks you can take from Kathmandu. A day’s drive takes you to the trailhead, and from there the path climbs gradually through oak and rhododendron forest, past Tamang villages with stone houses and prayer walls, into a wide alpine valley beneath Langtang Lirung.
The route ends at Kyanjin Gompa, a small monastery settlement surrounded by snow peaks, where you can visit the local cheese house and climb Kyanjin Ri for sunrise. Because the altitude rises steadily, the trek suits first-time Himalayan trekkers who are reasonably fit and enjoy walking for five to six hours a day.
The region was badly affected by the 2015 earthquake and has since been rebuilt, so staying in its teahouses and buying local products directly supports the community.
Highlights
- Walk through Langtang National Park, home to red pandas, langurs and rhododendron forest
- Stay in welcoming Tamang villages and learn about their Tibetan-influenced culture
- Visit Kyanjin Gompa and the local yak cheese house
- Climb Kyanjin Ri for a sunrise panorama of Langtang Lirung and its neighbours
- Short drive from Kathmandu, so no flights are needed
