The Ganja La Pass, standing at 5,106 meters, is among Nepal’s most challenging mountain passes. Our Langtang trek takes you over this pass, starting from Langtang village at 3,500m and heading south towards Tarke Gyang in Helambu. Crossing from Kyangin Gompa to Tarke Gyang involves navigating the formidable Ganja La, blocked by snow, requiring local inquiries, proper equipment, and mountaineering experience for a safe traverse.
As you descend from the pass, Helambu village welcomes you with a distinct Tibetan ambiance, featuring stone-walled fields and herds of yaks, integral to the local way of life. The journey continues with a descent to Melamchi Khola, a climb to Pati Bhanjyang, and a final trek to Sundarijal. From there, a drive takes you back to Kathmandu, completing a trek marked by challenging terrain and rich cultural experiences in the Langtang region.
Overview
| Duration: | 16 days | Trip Garde: | 4 (Challenging) |
| Country: | Nepal | Activity: | Trekking |
| Arrival on: | Departure From: | ||
| Attractions: |
Short Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu – 1,300m/4,264 ft
Day 02: Kathmandu Sightseeing & Preparation for the Climb
Day 03: Drive to Syabrubesi (1,550m/5,100ft): 145 km/ 7 hrs
Day 04: Trek to Lama Hotel (2,380m/7,830ft): 6 hrs
Day 05: Trek to Langtang village (3,430m/11,253ft): 6/7 hr
Day 06: Trek to Kyanjin Gompa (3,870m/12,697ft): 3-1/2 hr
Day 07: Excursion to Tsergo Ri (5033m/16,508 ft) and back to Kyanjin: 7/ 8 hrs
Day 08: Trek to Ganja La phedi (4300m/14,104 ft): 5-6 hr
Day 09: Cross the Ganja La pass(5122m/16,800 ft) Trek to Keldang (4250m/13,940ft): 6/7 hr
Day 10 : Trek to Yak Kharka (4000m/13,120ft): 5/6 hr
Day 11: Trek to Tarke Gyang(2,590m/8,497ft): 5/6 hrs
Day 12: Trek to Sermathang(2,610m/8,563ft): 3/4 hr
Day 13: Trek to Malemchi Puul Bazaar: 5 hr
Day 14: drive to Kathmandu 4/5 hrs
Day 15: Farewell Friend
Detail Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu – 1,300m/4,264 ft
Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, a representative from Romantic Trek will warmly welcome you and assist in transferring you to your hotel. Later in the evening, BG Travel and Trek will host a welcome dinner featuring delicious authentic Nepalese cuisine. This dinner provides an opportunity to experience and appreciate the local food culture. Rest and spend the night in Kathmandu.
Day 02: Kathmandu Sightseeing & Preparation for the Climb
After breakfast, embark on a guided tour of several historical and spiritual attractions in Kathmandu. The day will also be dedicated to finalizing official procedures and making necessary arrangements for the upcoming trek. You will receive a briefing on the nature of the trek, required equipment, and team composition. Visit World Heritage Sites such as Kathmandu Durbar Square, the sacred Hindu temple of Pashupatinath, the renowned ‘Monkey Temple’ (Swayambhunath), and the Buddhist shrine of Boudhanath. In the afternoon, participate in a pre-trip discussion where you can meet your trek leader and fellow team members. This is also an opportunity for any last-minute purchases of personal items as you will be flying to the Himalayas tomorrow.
Day 03: Drive to Syabrubesi (1,550m/5,100ft): 145 km/ 7 hrs
After breakfast, commence the journey by driving along the north-western hills of Kathmandu. Enjoy views of the Himalayas and experience mountainous lifestyles as you pass through terraced fields and rustic villages. Take a break for lunch at Trishuli Bazaar before continuing towards Dhunche. From Dhunche, descend to Syabrubesi.
Day 04: Trek to Lama Hotel (2,380m/7,830ft): 6 hrs
Today marks the first day of our trek. We will follow the Langtang Khola River, passing through dense forests and crossing several suspension bridges. Along the way, we’ll encounter tea houses, and while the trail may include some ups and downs, it’s not particularly challenging. Enjoy the natural beauty and ease into the trekking experience.
Day 05: Trek to Langtang village (3,430m/11,253ft): 6/7 hr
Having had our morning tea, we begin the second day of our journey. The trail continues through dense forests, and after a steady climb up the valley, we leave the tree line behind. Marvel at the views of Langtang Lirung and pass by water mills, prayer wheels, chortens, and sacred mounds of rocks with inscriptions carved on them. The trail is adorned with cultural and natural wonders as we proceed on our trek.
Day 06: Trek to Kyanjin Gompa (3,870m/12,697ft): 3-1/2 hr
After enjoying morning tea and breakfast, we leave the village behind and traverse through yak pastures. Along the way, we pass the largest mani wall in Nepal, made from stone with prayers inscribed on them. The prayers on the mani wall are believed to be carried away by the wind. We continue crossing several wooden bridges as we gain altitude, and you may start to feel the effects of the thin air as we delve into higher elevations.
Day 07: Excursion to Tsergo Ri (5033m/16,508 ft) and back to Kyanjin: 7/ 8 hrs
Today’s trek includes an excursion to Tsergo Ri, providing an opportunity for acclimatization. The climb to Tsergo Ri, standing above 5,000 meters, offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Himalayas. The ascent to Tsergo Ri is challenging, and the duration of the climb depends on your physical fitness and previous trekking experience. By evening, we descend and return to Kyanjing Gompa.
Day 08: Trek to Ganja La phedi (4300m/14,104 ft): 5-6 hr
After breakfast, we set out on today’s journey towards Ganja La Phedi. We cross the Langtang River and ascend through rhododendron forests. As we are already in high altitude, the time to reach our destination depends on the season of the trek. During winter, when there is snow, it might take a longer time to traverse the snow-covered path. The trek will be adjusted accordingly to the prevailing conditions.
Day 09: Cross the Ganja La pass(5122m/16,800 ft) Trek to Keldang (4250m/13,940ft): 6/7 hr
Today is a challenging day as we cross the Ganja La pass. This pass is known for its difficulty, and it is often covered with snow throughout the year. The ascent involves navigating through boulders, passing small lakes, and reaching the rocky moraine where Ganja La is situated. Despite the difficulty, the spectacular views from the pass make the effort worthwhile. Be cautious as climbing up and down the pass can be tricky due to snowfall and ice. After reaching the pass, we descend to Keldang.
Day 10 : Trek to Yak Kharka (4000m/13,120ft): 5/6 hr
Trek from Keldang to Yak Kharka involves descending further down, following a prominent ridge line. During our 5-6 hours trek today, we continue losing altitude, passing through forests, ridges, and grasslands. The trail offers a variety of landscapes as we make our way towards Yak Kharka.
Day 11: Trek to Tarke Gyang(2,590m/8,497ft): 5/6 hrs
Today’s trek involves a considerable descent, around 1500 meters. The trail remains similar, but as we descend to lower altitudes, you will observe an increase in vegetation along the way. The changing landscape adds to the variety of experiences during the trek.
Day 12: Trek to Sermathang(2,610m/8,563ft): 3/4 hr
We traverse a small forest with views of the beautiful villages in the Helambu region. The trail makes a sweep around the wide valley end between Parachin and the charming Sherpa village of Gangyul. The residents of Gangyul practice Drukpa Kagyu Buddhism, which is also the national religion of Bhutan.
Day 13: Trek to Malemchi Puul Bazaar: 5 hr
Descending further, we walk down to Malemchi Pul Bazaar, passing through many Sherpa villages along the way. We will spend the night at Melamchi Pul Bazaar, concluding our trek in this vibrant area.
Day 14: drive to Kathmandu 4/5 hrs
From Melamchi Pul Bazaar, we will catch a bus to Kathmandu. To celebrate the successful completion of our journey, a farewell dinner will be arranged in the evening. Spend the night in Kathmandu, reminiscing about the experiences and achievements of the trek.
Day 15: Farewell Friend
Today marks the end of our journey. Take this time to exchange emails with your new friends, organize your photos, and bid farewell to Nepal. If you are departing, you will be transferred to the International Airport for your flight to your onward destination. Alternatively, get ready for your next adventure. Safe travels!
included/excluded
included
- inlcuded
excluded
- not included
