Ganja La Pass Trekking

You start the day with a delicious breakfast served at your hotel. 

After breakfast, you embark on the tour of two religious and cultural sites Pashupatinath Temple and Boudhanath Stupa. 

Pashupatinath Temple: It is one of the most celebrated Hindu temples in South Asia. The temple is devoted to Lord Shiva and UNESCO world cultural heritage site. The river flowing beside the temple – the Bagmati River – is religiously and spiritually noteworthy for Hindus. This is a famous place for the cremation of dead bodies as well as some celebrations such as Shivaratri – Shiva’s birthday, and others. 

Boudhanath Stupa: It is one of the biggest Stupas in terms of size and height in Nepal and is located in the east of Kathmandu on the ancient trade route between India-Nepal and Tibet. The site is peaceful and culturally filled with the intermixed influence of Tibetan and Sherpa roots. Stupa built on the trading route between Kathmandu and Tibet has four pairs of eyes directed toward all four directions. It is believed to be influenced by Mahayana Buddhist philosophy. After a short tour of the city, we return to the hotel and prepare for the trek. Overnight will be spent at the hotel. 

Early morning you start a long drive through the mountainous landscape – but not that boring – of Nepal. You can enjoy the magnificent view of some Himalayan peaks and drive through the beautiful river valley, terraced farming fields, and pass small, dotted settlements and villages.  

To reach Syabrubensi you pass through a historic place like Betrawati – where Nepal and Tibet under Qing Dynasty signed a treaty in 1792 to settle the war. The road to the Tibetan town Kyrong/Gyrong and the Nepal-China border passes through this small town. Once you reach Syabrubesi, you can explore the town, it provides an interesting fusion of modernity and village life. You spend the night at a local lodge.

After breakfast at the lodge, you start your day by crossing the Bhote Koshi River and crossing the Langtang Khola that flows down from Langtang Valley. The trail ascends all the time along the Langtang Khola Gorge until Kyanjin Gumba. 

You enjoy your lunch in a small place called Bamboo and start to walk a steep uphill for about two hours to reach Lama Hotel – your night stop. Today will be your long day but still enjoyable in the forest section with the music of nature. The altitude is manageable and attainable on this day. Overnight at local lodge. 

You enjoy your breakfast at your small lodge, and then start walking westward toward the Langtang Valley. The trail is in the jungle and provides amazing walking experiences. 

Elevation will increase which might make the day harder than earlier day. The later part of the trek might be tough depending on your physical ability. 

You eat your delicious lunch in a small place namely Ghora Tabela from where the valley opens up and widens.  

You reach Langtang village today which was the most severely hit and destroyed village by Gorkha Earthquake in April 2015. The Earthquake in this village claimed more than 300 lives including dozens of foreigners and their crew members. After the earthquake, life here begins with hope and aspiration, and new lodges are built now for your accommodation. Various Geological surveys were carried out before the village was reestablished again. You will enjoy the fresh air and spend the night at the local lodge here.

You start the day with a mouthwatering breakfast served at your lodge. And then head to the wider and open Langtang Valley. As you start from Langtang village and climb a small hillock, you walk past one of the longest Mani walls in the world. The trail is equipped with beautiful mountain surroundings and cultural and spiritual richness. The trail that winds up and up in the barren landscape tests your endurance. You walk today in barren alpine land. 

You reach Kyanjin Gompa – a huge pastureland where a Buddhist monastery is located and now developed with tourist facilities – by lunch. Enjoy the lunch and you have a half-day to explore around or relax. Overnight local lodge.

You climb up to Tserko Ri which is about five-six hours trip. This trip serves as acclimatization as well as preparation for the Ganja La Pass. 

You start early in the morning to catch a breathtaking panorama of the Langtang Lirung, Peaks from the Langtang range, Ganja La Peak, Yala Peak, Kinshung, Yansatsenji, and others.  

Overnight in the Lodge in Kyanjin Gompa.

Today you climb from Kyanjing towards Ganja-la peak. The vegetation is alpine and barren and walks in the moraines. You enter now into an uninhabited area. Since the lodge is unavailable, you need to camp. Overnight in the Camping.

This is the hardest day of the entire trek. Today your walking trail is full of rock boulders, moraines, and some icy/slippery paths. The view from the top of  Ganja La is rewarding. 

Mostly the Ganja La top is covered in snow and ice. 

After the ascent to the top of the pass located in the rocky moraine, you walk down to the place Keldang. Walking down to the Keldang can be tricky due to loose rocks, snowfall, and a slippery path. Arrive in Keldang and enjoy a good rest in the Camp. Overnight in the Camp.

You descend a long distance today from the Keldang. Yet the walk is beautiful and enjoyable on the ridge with a magnificent view, and now in the forest as well. We pitch a tented camp for your overnight stay in the forest area, which is lonely, calm, and amazing to experience the Himalayan grandeur. Overnight in the tented camp. 

You descend further to Tarkeghyang (2740 m.) today. But, after short downhill at the beginning, you need to climb a steep climb to reach Yangri Peak. You can view the Himalayan section of the Annapurna region in the west to the Everest region in the east from this pass.

From the pass, the trail descends through pine forest, rhododendron forest past tiny herder's settlement to Tarkeghyang. You can visit one of the oldest Buddhist monasteries here in Tarke Ghyang and enjoy the Sherpa village. Overnight local lodge.

You start your day with breakfast at the lodge. After you walk a small forest section enjoying numerous villages of the Helambu region, you past some villages to reach Sermanthang. It is another village rich in Sherpa culture and practices Buddhism.  

Overnight local lodge.

This is the final day of your trip, and you will start your drive towards Kathmandu passing through Melamchi Pul Bazar. You drive with a splendid view of the Himalayan peaks, and wide Indrawati and Melamchi riverbed and walk past numerous villages with rural life. 

Once you reach MelamchiPul Bazar, we stop for the lunch before setting off our drive back to Kathmandu.

Overnight in hotel.

After breakfast at your hotel, we take you on the mysterious Kathmandu city tour. This historical, cultural, and spiritual city unveils social and historical mysteries to visitors. You will walk through the narrow lanes of ancient Kathmandu – the center of power – that includes markets of Ason, the Glass beads market at Indrachowk, the oldest supermarket at New Road, Kilagal, and Hidden Stupas inside the family courtyard. 

Visit Kathmandu Durbar Square – the administrative quarter of Malla Kings (fourteenth to the eighteenth century), and Shah Kings who ruled Nepal from 1768 until 2008. The most unique experience in the square is the visit to the temple of the living goddess “Kumari”. 

After the tour, return back to your Hotel. If you are staying in Thamel, you can hang around this bustling tourist market and enjoy shopping. Overnight in Hotel.

As per your flight schedule, you will be transferred to the international airport of Kathmandu three hours prior to the flight time and your tour ends here.