How to Reach Langtang from Kathmandu

The Langtang region lies north of the Kathmandu Valley and offers breathtaking views of high mountain ranges and hilly landscapes, as well as a unique opportunity to explore the culture and traditions of the locals.

Langtang Valley trek is ideal for those who want to avoid crowds and immerse themselves in the beauty of nature. You will traverse beautiful landscapes, witness the breathtaking Himalayas, and explore the Tibetan-influenced culture of the people in Langtang.

The Langtang region is fairly close to Kathmandu, with Tibet lying beyond the Himalayas and bordering Langtang from the north. Gosainkunda and several mountain lakes are further south and high up in the mountains.

To begin the Langtang trek, you will travel by bus or jeep to Syabrubesi – the trailhead of the Langtang Valley trek. From there, your trek will begin, as you ascend and descend hills, cross bridges, and smile at the locals you meet along the way.

Discover the Best Ways to Reach Langtang from Kathmandu:

Transportation to Syabrubesi:

You can reach to Syabrubesi in about 7-8 hours if you do not encounter slowdown or jam. There are local buses, express buses and public jeeps available in Kathmandu. Buses carry passengers and loads more than their capacity. So tourists usually find the bus drive quite overwhelming. This long and uncomfortable bus ride combines with views of the magnificent Himalayas.

Route from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi

Balaju – Nagarjun – Okharpauwa – Kakani – Ranipauwa – Belkot – Pipaltar – Bidur – Trishuli Bajar – Bhainse – Betrawati – Kalikasthan – Ramche (You enter Langtang National Park here) – Thade – Dhunche – Thulo Barkhu – Syabrubesi

Traveling by local bus

Buses to Dhunche and Syabrubesi start from Machhapokhari in Kathmandu. Packed in like sardines, passengers fill the bus completely. You may also see people sitting on top of the bus. The remaining spaces are filled with loads of materials that people step onto and sit over.

Moreover, buses stop at every small town they pass by to pick up and drop off goods and passengers. The travel time can extend to 9-10 hours or more.

Sometimes, if you happen to travel on top of a bus, there may be goats and chickens to accompany you. Despite all these discomforts, you will be graced with breathtaking views of the landscapes and Himalayas.

Traveling by Express Bus

You can reach Syabrubesi more quickly on an express bus. Express buses do not stop at every village they pass by, so they take 1 or 2 hours less than standard local buses. Goods destined for Dhunche and Syabrubesi fill up their roof racks and aisles.

Traveling by Jeep

Besides buses, you can also travel to Syabrubesi by jeep, called a Tata Sumo – a compact 4×4 SUV. Although jeeps can be slightly faster than buses, traffic and the status of the road hugely affects the overall travel time. So, you will not have a huge time gap between bus and jeep travel time spans.

Jeeps leave from Machhapokhari around 7:30 a.m. every day with 8-10 passengers.

Traveling privately

Hiring a private jeep or car can be expensive. You may have to pay about $150 for one-way travel. So, if you decide to hire a private jeep, you can search for travelers to share the ride.

Expect several stopping

Roads to Langtang have a lot of stops. Besides bathroom breaks and lunch breaks, you may encounter a minimum of three checkpoints. You should carry a couple of photocopies of your passport for a comfortable process. Nepali police, Nepal Army, and Armed Police Force check your paperwork at their respective checkpoints. Also, Langtang National Park staff checks your TIMS card and Langtang National Park entering permit at the entrance.

Rainy Season- A Season to Avoid

It rains a lot in June and July in Nepal. During the rainy season, travelers suffer a lot on unpaved and muddy roads. Landslides occur in multiple places, which can result in traffic jams. The route can be blocked for hours and sometimes days due to landslides.

The roads have deep mud and become very slippery. Drivers have to drive slowly, and this can lead to traffic jams. If a vehicle gets stuck in the mud, this can affect the traffic for a long time.

So, avoid traveling on this road during the rainy season. Even if you have to travel, make sure the road is not blocked. If landslides or other disturbances block the road, follow an alternative route to Syabrubesi.

Alternative routes:

Kathmandu- Tokha- Bidur- Betrawati- Dhunche – Syabrubesi

Kathmandu – Galchhi – Betrawati –   Dhunche – Syabrubesi

Syabrubesi to Langtang

After a long and enduring bus journey brings you to Syabrubesi, you will stay overnight there. The trek in the Langtang region starts the next morning.

Syabrubesi to Lama Hotel

The first day of your trek begins after your morning breakfast. You cross the Bhote Koshi River and follow the Langtang River for hours. You pass through Pahare, Hot Spring, Bamboo, and Rimche to finally reach Lama Hotel. The trail to Lama Hotel is 7 miles long and takes about 6 hours to complete.

Lama Hotel to Langtang Village

After your morning breakfast, you will trek for one and a half hours through forests to reach Gumnachok. Two more hours of walking from there takes you to Ghoda Tabela. You can see beautiful views of Langtang Lirung from Ghoda Tabela. You can rest there and have lunch.

After lunch, you continue your trek through pastures and forests to Thangshyap. Then you ascend for about one and a half hours to reach Chyamki. One more hour trek from Chyamki takes you to Langtang Village.

Langtang Village to Kyanjin Gompa

The trek distance from Langtang Village to Kyanjin Gompa is short. You walk on the trail passing through yak pastures and forests to reach Kyanjin Gompa. A slow walk takes you about three hours to get there.

Returning Back

Trekkers usually rest or climb to Tsergo-Ri in the next day in Kyanjin Gompa. The following morning, you start retracing your journey to Lama Hotel. After staying the night there, you return to Syabrubesi by passing through captivating forests along the Langtang river. The overnight stay in Syabrubesi brings the day you have to travel by a long and enduring bus drive back to Kathmandu.

Langtang has always been among the top trekking destinations in Nepal. Traveling to Syabrubesi and then trekking in the Langtang region will be a memorable experience. The scary road to Langtang, well-trodden trails leading across forests, yak pastures, streams, and villages all combine to make the trek unforgettable.

Are you interested in visiting this ‘Valley of Glaciers’? Or do you wish to explore the diverse culture of Langtang Valley?

If yes, allow us to plan the best itinerary for you. You can contact us. We are just an email away from you.