Ganja La Pass Trek

Duration

(14 Nights | 15 Days)

Group Size

Max Altitude

Difficulty

Best Season

Start/End Point

Ganja La passes trek in the Langtang region, northwest of Kathmandu, is a demanding and exciting trek that offers a diverse experience of altitude, geography, wildlife, culture, tradition, and lifestyle. This trek takes you from the lower Himalayan foothills to active glaciers in the high Himalayas in just a few days, offering multiple opportunities for side treks, circuit treks, high mountain pass traverses, and peak climbing.
The trek passes through Rhododendron and Bamboo forests, waterfalls, snow-capped Himalayas, and holy lakes, allowing you to witness wildlife like bears, leopards, red pandas, and musk deer. Additionally, the Sherpa and Tamang inhabited Langtang region exhibits the Tibetan Buddhist culture with the ancient monastery of Kyanjin Gompa, impressive wood-carved houses, and colourful outfits. Ganja La Pass begins from Kyanjin Gompa in Langtang and continues south, following streams and moraines and climbing steeply towards the pass, giving views of many ranges on clear days. The views from north of the pass are the snow peaks in Tibet, including Shisha Pangma at 8013m. West of the pass is 5846m Naya Kangri named Ganja La Chuli, which is one of the trekking peaks that can be climbed with a permit from the Nepal Mountaineering Association.
However, the trekking region was severely damaged during the April 2015 earthquake and required reconstruction. Today, it has been reconstructed and reopened, offering a spectacular view of Dorje Lakpa (6,990m / 22,933 ft), Langtang Ri (6,370m / 20,898 ft), and Langtang Lirung (7,245m / 23,769 ft).

Highlights

Scenic Road Drive: The trek starts with a scenic road drive from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi, the starting point of the trek.
Langtang Village and Kyangjin Monastery: Along the trek, you'll have the opportunity to visit the culturally rich Langtang village and the ancient Kyangjin Monastery, which holds significant religious and cultural importance.
Panoramic View from Kyangjin Ri: The trek offers a stunning panoramic view of the mountains from Kyangjin Ri (4708m), providing a breathtaking sight of the Langtang Lirung, Ganesh Himal, Dorje Lakpa, Yala Peak, Naya Kang, Gaurishanker, and even the Annapurna Himalayan range in the distance.
Ganja La Pass: The highlight of the trek is crossing the Ganja La Pass itself, located at an altitude of 5122m. The pass offers spectacular views of Langtang Lirung and the snow peaks in Tibet, including Shisha Pangma (8013m).
Cultural Exploration: The trek provides an opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich Sherpa and Tamang cultures. You'll encounter old Buddhist monasteries, stupas, and monuments, witnessing the unique traditions, lifestyle, and architecture of the local communities.
Diverse Flora and Fauna: The trek takes you through diverse landscapes, including rhododendron and bamboo forests, where you can witness a variety of flora and fauna. Wildlife such as red pandas, snow leopards, musk deer, bears, and langurs can be spotted along the trail.

Day 01: Arrival at Kathmandu.

You will be welcomed by our staff standing with your name card at the airport arrival terminal and transferred to your hotel by a private vehicle. Your hotel is in the middle of the city. You will have nothing planned for the day, so take a rest and gather the energy to walk on the trails. Else, if you have some personal gears to buy, you can go shopping in the Market in the evening. There will be a small meeting about the trek in the evening. You will spend a night in a hotel.

Accomodation : Hotel (BB Plan)

Day 02: Kathmandu Valley sightseeing and trek preparation, Permits Procedure

After enjoying breakfast, you have the option to spend your day exploring the many famous sights around Kathmandu. The city has a unique charm in the early morning as it slowly comes to life, but still remains relatively peaceful. You can choose to have a free day or take advantage of our offer to provide a knowledgeable, English-speaking guide who can lead you to some of the most significant sites and explain their history.

Optional day tours:

We offer a variety of optional day tours to choose from, including the Sacred Sites of the Valley, a full-day excursion to visit Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath and Patan Durbar Square. You can also visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Boudhanath, and see the world's largest spherical stupa, or explore the largest and most sacred Hindu temple in Nepal. For those who want to venture outside of the city, a 30-minute drive will take you to the ancient city of Bhaktapur, known for its medieval art and wood carving. You can also take a one-hour mountain flight to see Mount Everest or go hiking or mountain biking in the scenic Shivapuri National Park, located on the northern edge of the Kathmandu Valley. After your day's adventure, you'll return to your hotel in the early evening where you'll meet with our specialist or one of their staff members who will provide you with a detailed briefing of your upcoming trip, including what to expect and transportation logistics.

Accomodation : Hotel (BB Plan)

Day 03: Kathmandu to Syabrubesi

After breakfast at the hotel. Our scenic drive will commence north of Kathmandu on a narrow, winding mountain road. As we navigate around the mountainside, we'll catch a glimpse of Ganesh Himal looming in the distance. After driving for about 50 km or 31 miles, we'll reach Dhunche, the gateway to Langtang National Park. From Dhunche, the road descends and becomes bumpy, so we should be prepared for a rough ride. Another 15 km or 9 miles later, we'll arrive at Syabrubesi, where we'll spend the night before embarking on our trek the next day. You can choose to board a comfortable bus, which we provide for this route, or have your private vehicle arranged to pick you up from your hotel. Depending on your preference and requirements. Please remember to inform us of your choice while booking your trip.

Accomodation : Tea House/Lodge (L, D)

Transportation : Local Vehicle (Opt. private vehicle)

Day 04: Syabrubesi to Lama Hotel

After breakfast, we will begin our trek by crossing a suspension bridge and passing through a village. Then, we will ascend upstream of Langtang Khola and hike through forests for approximately 3 hours until we reach Pairo. We will take a lunch break here before continuing our trek through deep forests to reach Bamboo, which should take around 1.5 hours. Afterwards, we will ascend through more forests and cross another suspension bridge before arriving at Lama Hotel, a journey that should take roughly 2 hours. We will spend the night in a lodge.