Ganjala Pass Trekking

Langtang Ganja la pass trekking is popular trekking route in Langtang trekking region. Langtang Ganja la pass trek offers an opportunity to explore Tibetan villages, Tamang Villages, panoramic Himalayan views of the Langtang Lirung, Ganesh Himal, Dorje Lakpa, Yala peak, Naya kangri, Gaurishanker including the Annapurna Himalayan range, to climb small peaks and to visit glaciers at a comfortably low elevation. Langtang Ganja la pass offers an entirely wilderness and adventure experience. If you are trekking during spring the forest on the trail is colorful and blooming full of Rhododendrons. To cross from Langtang into Helambu valley via the Ganja-La pass 5122m which is serious undertaking requiring good equipment and experience from local guides. Crossing the Ganja la pass trekking requires the use of technical climbing equipment and trekkers must be skilled in the use of this and be prepared to assist less well-equipped porter staffs. Ganja La pass makes the trekking to Langtang one of the challenging trek of Nepal with unfavorable weather conditions.

Langtang Ganja la pass and Helambu trekking starts from Sybru Bensi, ends at Melamchi Pul Bazar. From Sybru Bensi, you will follow the Langtang River to the east until you get to Kyanjin Gompa (3,049.). In Kyanjin Gompa there is a small Buddhist monastery and a cheese factory started in 1955 by the Swiss Association for Technical Assistance. When you are crossing the pass there are spectacular views of Langtang Lirung and the Tibetan peaks beyond. Much of this route is spent above 3,000m.The highest point of this trek is Ganja la Pass (5,122m). The descent from the pass is on a steep slope for over 1 km, which requires good care again. But the rest of the trail is easy and comfortable. As there are no lodges and no settlements for three days along the way, only eco friendly camping trekking is possible for Ganja la pass. After passing the Ganja la Pass, the trail takes you to Malemchi gaon and Tarke Ghyang. People here call themselves Sherpas but their relationship with the Sherpa of Solu Khumbu is distant. People are in Langtang Helambu trekking trail follow the Buddhist religion so you will find many old Buddhist monasteries in the villages and trekking trail goes continue descend to Melamchi Pul bazaar to Kathmandu by private transportation.

Day 01 –  Arrival Kathmandu

Today is your arrival. We welcome you upon your arrival at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport. Transfer to Hotel in Kathmandu or your choice of Hotel in Kathmandu Valley (Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur). Arrival city briefing follows after Hotel check in concerning the necessary formalities on your tour and trek program. Depending upon your arrival time you may spend free time visiting nearby historic/countryside areas or resting. In the evening sample a delicious traditional Nepali dinner in an authentic Nepali Restaurant with the cultural dances. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 02 –   Half Day Cultural Tour to Pahupatinath, Boudhanath, ChangunarayanTemple

Half day Cultural sightseeing in World Heritage sites of Kathmandu and Bhaktapur where your guide will accompany you on a tour of UNESCO enlisted Hindu temples and the unique fusion shrines of Newari architectural Hinduism and Buddhism reflecting ancient golden era in local traditions for the glories. There is time to explore the city’s many places of interest with your guide or take a rest while trekking permits are finalized. Overnight Hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 03 –  Drive Kathmandu to Trisuli Bazaar (1950m) 5 hrs / Start Trek to Syabrubeshi(2140m)

Our morning transport from Kathmandu takes us all the way through to Dunche, which lies on the east bank high above the Trishuli River. Beginning the trek from here allows us to cover some of the best trekking country in Nepal, where relatively few foreign trekkers visit. The route to Syabrubeshi follows the road upto a ridge at 1800, then continues for a short distance to Tamang Village of Thulo Bharkhu..About 100 m from the village the road crosses a small stream with some water –driven mills. The hike gets delightful through occasional pine and Rhododendron forests. After a short climb, the trail reaches a ridge crest at 2300, where the trek originally enters the Langtang valley. There are views of snow peaks in Tibet, west to Ganesh Himal and east to Naya Kangri and Ganja la peaks. Short, steep down hills through the Bamboo forests leads to Syabru at 2100m. (3 hrs)

Day 04 –   Syabrubeshi to Lama Hotel (2470m)

After leaving our hotel we cross the Bhote Kosi River by a suspension bridge towards ‘old’ Syabrubesi, a cluster of houses and a school opposite the river. Another suspension bridge carries us over the south side of the Langtang Khola, this river we will be following upwards for the next couple of days. We climb slowly to Doman (1680m) and continue over a rocky ridge to Landslide Lodge and Hot Spring restaurant; named after a small hot spring on the opposite river bank at 1810 meter. The trail now climbs gently up to Bamboo Lodge where we will enjoy our lunch. Opposite the river we will see near vertical cliffs covered with cactuses. After Bamboo we cross the Langtang Khola on a new suspension bridge to the north bank. The forest becomes sparser and drier on this side of the river, consisting mainly of scrub oaks and nettles. We climb steeply on a good trail to Rimche (2510m). We have now finished most of today’s climbing and descend slowly to our selected teahouse where we will spend the night (6 hrs).

Day 05 –   Lama Hotel to Langtang(3430m)

The day starts with a gentle climb, but it soon becomes steeper, climbing through a forest of hemlocks, oaks, maples and rhododendron. Beautiful views of Langtang Lirung (7246m) can be seen from the trail. After little more than an hour, we pass two lodges in the forest at Gumanchok (2800m), from where we climb to a Nepal army post and a national park checkpoint at Ghora Tabela (2970m). The trail asvends gradually, as the valley becomes wider. We will pass a few teashops at Thangshyap at 3140 meter, where we will have our lunch. The route is now in open country, and passes many mani stones, water-driven prayer wheels and a few scattered Tamang villages before arriving in Langtang. This is a small village consisting of guesthouses and yak farms. The surrounding fields containing buckwheat, potatoes, wheat, turnips and barley have typical stone fencing walls (5 hrs).

Day 06 –  Langtang to Kyanjin Gompa (3870m)

Walking through the village of Langtang we will pass many stone mani walls, covered with Tibetan inscriptions to please the gods. It then climbs up gradually past the small villages of Mumdu and Sindum. The trail continues through yak pastures. After crossing the Langtang Khola to its south bank we climb up through a landscape scattered with large boulders to a moraine where we will have the first views of Kyanjin Gompa ahead of us, and the dramatic icefall flowing from Langtang Lirung and Langtang Kinshung (6781m) north of us. Our route weaves through the large boulders to a gompa and from here it’s a short descent to Kyanjin Gompa. It is easy to reach our destination before lunch, allowing time to acclimatize and explore the surroundings. One of the options is a hike to one of the good viewpoints. To the north of Kyanjin Gompa is the Kyanjin Ri (4773m), which is a two-hour climb. From here we have a great view over the mountain range in the west, including Langshisha Ri (6370m), Gang Chhenpo (6388m) and Dorje Lakpa (6966m) (3 hrs, to the viewpoint and back is about another 3 hrs).

Day 07 – Acclimatizing Excursion Day around Kyangjin Gompa

Today is an exploration day in this area. We can visit the monastery and cheese factory; walk up the moraine to see the spectacular glaciers to ice falls of Langtang Lirung. Ascend Kyangjin Ri (4350 meters)   for a breath-taking panorama of the Langtang peaks. (6 hrs)

Day 08 – Kyanjin Gompa to Ngegang( Ganja la base)(4300m)

This is a short day from Kyanjin Gomp to Ngegang.It is the place we could find before we head up to the pass. The trail begins crossing the Langtang khola below the Kyanjin Gompa, we ascend steep up along the ridge on the south side of the valley through a forest or Rhododendron and Juniper. The trail becomes gentle before we reach to the Yak Pature of Ngegang at the height of 4000 m. There are some huts without the roofs. Here the local herders carry bamboo mats to roof and stay throughout the summer in these high meadows with their yaks, sheep and goats. (3:30 hrs)

Day 09  – Ngegang to Keldang via Ganja La pass (5122 m)

The trail continues south, following streams and moraines and climbing steeply towards the pass. As the trail climbs higher, comes under the shadow of the 5800 m peaks to the south. We start walking through more and more snow. Heading south west, the trail gets the final steep ascent to the pass at 5122 m Ganja La. The last 200 m of the climb is tricky balancing act on a snow slope so we fix the rope depending on its difficulties after our Sherpas inspects above steep rocks. Ganja La itself is flanked by pinnacles and is topped by the peace blowing Prayer flags. The views to the north from the pass, of Langtang Lirung and the snow peaks in Tibet, including Shisa Pangma(8013 m) are outstanding. On the further south, we can also see the views of Mountain ranges. West of the pass is 5846 m Naya Kangri. The descent from the pass is steep and needs careful stepping as it follows a loose screen slope for about 300 m before emerging onto a snow slope. Post Ganja La pass is notoriously steeper and more difficult unlike major passes of Nepal. After the steep descending, the trail gradually head down in a huge basin surrounded by glaciated peaks. The trail then enters the step Yangri Khola valley and drops quickly down a rough scree alope to the Stream. We follow the stream few hundred meters more through the grassy meadow to Keldang. (8 hrs)

Day 10 –  Keldang to Dukpu(4080 m)

This is a long day as the trail descends along ridge, making few ascending and descending. The route heads down the valley above the river, finally meeting the ridge that takes us to a small summer settlement of Dukpu. (7 hrs)

Day 11 –  Dukpu to Tarke Ghyang (2560 m)

From Dukpu, the trail descends further along the ridge, and then makes uphills to a pass at 4020 m. The pass offers a commanding view of the Himalaya from Dorje Lhakpa to Everest Area’s Gaurishaker Himal to Numbur of Khumbu region.. From the pass the trails descends through pine and rhododendron forests past small herder’s settlements to ridge high above Tarke Ghyang. We descend down to Gekye Gompa(3020 m) that takes us downhills to the Sherpa Village Tarke Ghyang.(6 hrs)

Day 12 –  Tarke Ghyang to Sermathang (2610 m)

The trail leaves the village and makes a sweep around the wide valley to the pretty Sherpa village of Ganyul at 2520 meter. The people in this village practice Drukpa Kagyu Buddhism, the same as the national religion of Buthan. From here the trail drops over a ridge but soon starts climbing up again through deep forests, crossing a number of streams to a crest at 2620 meter. We continue our way passing the large gompa at Chumnik, before another gentle climb leads as to the village of Sermathang. In the afternoon, we can visit the gompa here (4 hrs).

Day 13 –  Shermathang to Melamchi Bazar (830m)

From Sermathang the trail follows the ridge all the way down to Malemchi Pul Bazaar, making a drop of 1730 meter. The trail passes chorten after chorten in the settlements of Nigale, Gyalsha and Raithani Gyang. From here we descent through chir pine forest to yet another chorten at Kakani, which is the last Sherpa village on the trek, and we now enter the lowlands inhabited by Brahmans and Chhetris. From Kakani the trail drops steeply to the attractive village of Dubhachaur in a saddle at 1610 meter. Continuing firther down the ridge our trail will eventually bring us to a large suspension bridge which crosses the Indrawati River and brings us into Malemchi Pul Bazaar.

Day14 –  Drive to Kathmandu

We drive to Kathmandu after final breakfast in the open air in Melamchi Bazar.

Day 15 – Everest Flight /Leisure in Kathmandu

We pick you up early in the morning to transfer to Domestic airport for one of the “world’s must do” Everest Mountain flight for an hour in 5 nautical miles from the awe inspiring Mountains. You will be par excited after the Mountain flights. We pick you up after the Everest flight and transfer to Hotel.
After the breakfast, Leisure time in Kathmandu. It’s indeed time for the souvenir hunting around Kathmandu’s noted places having optional trip to tranquil historic Heritages in your own or with us or  with our versatile guide. We provide extra drive and drop services anywhere.

Day 16 – Departure Kathmandu

Our Tour officer meets you in Hotel for the Departure Transfer to Kathmandu’s International Airport. We will be always welcoming you back to Nepal for various other stunning Trekking or looking forward to serving you in our other country travel arrangements.