From Kathmandu (1355 m) there are 3 possibilities to go or go out from Lamtang valley.
- Directly follow the Lamtang valley from Dunche or Syabrubesy village (by local bus from Kathmandu) and come back by the same way (easy trek) ( max altitude Kyanjin Gumba 3830m) .
- From Kathmandu or Kyanjin Gumba via the Gosaikunda Pass (max altitute 4610 m) (middle trek).
- From Kathmandu or Kyanjin Gumba via the Ganja La pass (max altitute 5130 m) (engaged trek).
You need to have 1 trekking permit and 1 TIMS card for your Langtang treks.
If you start from the Syabrubesy village (1420 m) :
Before your entry in the Lamtang park, on the road (checkpost police of Dunche) or in Kahtmandu, it’s possible to buy your individual trekking permit and TIMS card (take 4 passport size photographs are required to obtain TIMS and trekking permit, TIMS NRs. 2,000 or 20 $ and trekking permit NPR 3,390 or 30 $ ). Entry into the park without those documents is illegal. No guide or porter are mandatory for the trek in the valley and the Gosaikunda Pass. If you want to support guides and porters, you are welcome. In the valley , you need just to folow the only one way. But for the Ganja La pass it’s very advising to have a guide and maybe porter(s). You will need tent and food for the Ganja La pass.
The timing : It depend of your physical condition and the time you want to stay.
For the valley, some trekkers or nepali run and in 2 days they made completely the way the valley…. For others, they take their time, take pitures, take it easy and take 5 or 6 days to arrive in Kyangjin Gumba (3830m). To come back Syabrubesy village it’s more easy … it’s gently descending (2 or 3 days). It’s also possible to take a helicopter to Kyangjin Gumba from Syabrubesy. It’s also possible to continue your trek and return to Kathmandu from Kyanjin Gumba (3830m) by the Gosaikunda Pass (max altitute 4610 m) (middle trek) or near directly by the Ganja La pass (max altitute 5130 m) (engaged trek). For this last trek, you will cross glacers and you will walk into the snow. At this altitude, there is no lodge, no restaurant … you need to have your tent and your food. Also a good weather window.. for some days…. There is no easy rescue.
All along the way you will find very nice little hotels and restaurants. You can take breaks and continue calm down at your ease. With luck you will see small wild animals in typical mountain vegetation.
It is really one of the most beautiful Nepalese treks.
Both for the landscapes but also for the meetings with the warm inhabitants of this valley. When you leave this place, you will never forget it. It seems that a Japanese in love with this valley has been coming back for more than 25 years every year, maybe you will have the chance to meet him.
A little advice, when you get off the Kathmandu bus, walk 30 minutes, to the right, cross the bridge over the river, go to the real old village of Syabrubesy more authentic and where the prices are much more interesting than near the bus.
If you start from Kathmandu :