How difficult is Ganja-la pass?

his trek is among the hardest pass trek in Nepal which ranked 5 out of 5.

Do we need to be fit to do Ganja-la pass trek?

On this trek especially after Tianjin, which involves steep climbs to the pass and long ups and downs until you reach Tarke Gyang which is physically demanding. so, to do this requires some fitness

How is the accommodation in Ganja-la pass trek?

Regarding the accommodation in this trek until Tianjin Gompa, you can stay in teahouse accommodation. Then for 3 days until you reach Tarke Gyang you have to pitch tents for shelter. However, recently a local community is trying to build some teahouse accommodation before the pass which is not confirmed yet.

Langtang Valley Ganja La Pass Trekking Itinerary, permits, highlights

Ganja La Pass is one of the most challenging trekking in Nepal which is in the Langtang region. The trek goes over 5130M and it is one of the most difficult treks in Nepal.

The treks to Langtang Ganja La pass takes you through the Langtang valley which is a beautiful valley full of mountains. You also can enjoy walking through beautiful forests of rhododendron, Himalayan oaks, maple, and pine trees along the way.

After Langtang, the trek goes over the Ganja La at 5130M, and from the top, you can view beautiful mountains views such as Langtang Lirung, and Langshisha Ri as well as the view of Mount Shisapangma (8013M) in Tibet.

Getting to the trailhead

Driving by road is the only way to get to the trailhead of the Ganja-la pass trek which starts from Kathmandu taking a bus or private vehicle to Shabru Beshi via Pasang Lhamu Highway. This course takes about 8 hours to reach Syabru Beshi (1500M).

or if you want to start from Melamchi bazaar which is the other way round but this route gets to higher altitudes quicker so, provides less time to acclimatize before heading over the pass. as well as it involves steep climbs to get to Panch Pokhari first.

Langtang Valley Ganja La pass Trek Route

The trek starts from Syabru Besi which takes you through the forest along Langtang Khola to Lama Hotel (2470M) via Rimche for the first night of the trek. Then the trek continues onwards to the oldest village of Langtang (3430M) via Ghoda Tabela (3000M) for the second night.

The next day the trail treads upon an alpine meadow to Kyanjin Gompa (3865M), the last settlement of the Langtang valley with a beautiful ancient monastery and old cheese factory. Here, we have extra days to settle our bodies for high altitude in which we climb to viewpoints like Kyanjin Ri (4773M) or Tserko Ri (4948M).

After acclimatization, the day trek heads towards Ganja-la where we camp at Ngegang (4000M) before, and in following day trekking takes you over the Ganja-La pass (5160M) and descend for the night camp at Kledang (4270M).

the trek continues in the wild and remote region of Helambu where we spend one more night at Dukpu (4040M) before reaching Tarke Gyang (2740M) for the next day's trek. Leaving Tarke Gyang our last two nights descend gradually to Sermanthang (2590M) and Melamchi Bazaar (830M) from where we drive back to Kathmandu to finish our trek.

Required permits and fees

you need two kinds of permits to do the Ganja-la trek. First, you need a "TIMS card"(trekking information management system) which costs USD 20 for individual trekkers per head and USD 10 for organized trekkers per head. Another permit you need is the "Langtang National Park entrance fee" which costs 3000 Nepalese rupees per head.

Safety measures

This region falls in the mountain region where you cannot find shelter and food for a few days at least, so be sufficient with all the supplies and tents.
Be sufficient with all the warm trekking gear and especially with micro-spikes for boots as in some parts you walk on glaciers and ice.
Walk with someone who knows the path as there are high chances of getting lost in this wild region. especially it becomes more impossible if the trail is snowbound.
Watch out for landslide areas and scree slopes while crossing.
Bring communication facilities as you might need to call for an emergency. Higher regions

Trip Reviews

Write a Review

5based on 54 reviews

6 day trek in Langtang National park

I had a really great time with Amar! We went to the Langtang trek for 6 days. I was alone but Amar did everything to make this trip unforgettable for me. The nature was amazing along the whole way and at the and I saw many beautiful snowy mountains with a breathtaking view. I would defenetly do this trek again with him. And I will come back in the future for a different trip for sure.

If you want to experience true, kind Nepali hospitality and a great trek, don’t look for another agency.

I had the incredible opportunity to complete 4 different treks with Discover Altitude: Three Passes, ABC, Annapurna Circuit and Langtang. Each time, the experience exceeded my expectations! The owners, Kumar and Santosh, along with their guides are exceptionally professional, knowledgeable and attentive to every detail. Everything was very well planned for all treks, and I felt safe even at the highest altitudes, thanks to their friendly and supportive guides.

There are many agencies to choose from, and I visited many, but when I met Kumar and Santosh the quality of their personalities quickly became evident. They treated me as a friend they genuinely wanted to support, not just a client, caring only about the money. Even if I hadn’t signed up, they would have treated me the same, not as potential or lost business. This authenticity is why I chose them! This was the only agency where I had that gut feeling, which turned out to be correct. They always went the extra mile. Before each trek, they spent a lot of time going through all the details with me to ensure I had everything I needed and was ready to go. They also checked up on me along the way. During all these times, they truly became my friends!

If you want to experience true, kind Nepali hospitality and a great trek, don’t look for another agency. They are also very competitively priced for both solo and group trips! I cannot recommend them highly enough!

Mustang - Kagbeni, Muktinath 6-day tour

We chose a 6-day course that tours Kagbeni and Muktinath, the gateway to Mustang from Kathmandu. It takes 3 days to actually walk, so it's a safe course even for beginners.

Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Fly from Pokhara to Jomsom (30-minute flight), then hike 3 hours to Kagbeni. Hike 5-6 hours to Muktinath. Return to Jomsom via a different route. Take a lunch break at Rupna on the way. Fly to Pokhara. Fly back to Kathmandu.

It was late May before the rainy season, but we were blessed with clear skies and were able to see the beautiful mountain ranges of Nilgiri and Annapurna. The desolate landscape of Mustang was very beautiful, and it was a very interesting experience to get a glimpse of the life of the villagers in Kagbeni.

It was quite hot during the daytime walks in late May. Short sleeves are fine. If you don't want to get sunburned, wear thin long sleeves. Since it gets cold in the mornings and evenings in Muktinath, I wore a light down jacket, but if you layer up a warm long sleeve jacket, you can wear a hiking jacket instead of a down jacket.

Our trekking guide, Amar, was very kind and not only guided us on hiking but also carefully explained the history and people's lives. (In English) He always took care to make the trek comfortable, and the walking pace was adjusted to suit our physical strength, so we were able to enjoy it without any strain.

Kumar handled advance reservations and questions, and he responded to emails very quickly. After arriving in Kathmandu, I visited the office and Kumar gave me a brief explanation of the schedule. In Kathmandu, Santosh handled my communications and accompanied me to the transfer between the hotel and the airport. Both of them were cheerful and kind.
During the tour, I asked to change my plan to stay in Pokhara for two nights after the trek (of course, the additional hotel fee was at my own expense), and I am grateful that he quickly and readily responded to my request, such as changing my flight on the return trip.

A Once-in-a-lifetime EBC Trekking Trip

What a once-in-a-lifetime trek to EBC! Waking up at midnight to dogs barking or in the morning to birds chirping and singing and the sound of rushing river, looking out the window and seeing the mountain so close as if within reach, roaming around Namche Bazaar and checking out the local markets, setting off in the sound of school children's morning drill, crossing rivers and valleys over the suspension bridges, passing the mani stones in the villages and the stupas on the trail, watching porters with oversized load strapped on their heads stepping to the lively beat of loud Nepali songs, navigating rocks uphill inside the dark clouds and white-out snow, trekking on the winding trail through dusty forests, misty mountain passes, wide open scrub land, and rugged and rocky barren land, with the famous and mysterious mountain peaks seemingly around every corner or suddenly elusive behind the wandering clouds, and flying down in helicopter provided every moment to admire the mountainous landscape and appreciate local life in this harsh environment. It’s been almost two weeks since I came back yet the sceneries and sounds on the trail still linger.

The EBC trek was also grueling - the long distance, the high elevation, the thin air at times mixed with dust or animal smell, the coldness at night, the completely unpredictable weather that could change by the minute – and every little inconvenience could pile on the exhaustion from a long day of trekking, but the thoughtful services by my guide Krishna made all these bearable. Every day after arriving at the tea house he made sure food was ordered and I had a spot to sit next to the stove to warm up. Every morning before we leave the tea house, he made sure bill was paid and everything was packed and ready. On the trail he was patient, watchful, and protective when the yaks and horses approaching. My tour company Discover Altitude was very flexible and allowed me to change my trekking schedule on the fly, including booking tea houses during peak season and securing single room occupancy. In fact, the three unplanned tea houses in Jorsalle, Phungi Thenga, and Dughla, allowed me to enjoy the real serenity near nature and away from crowds. The company also booked a helicopter, outside of my original plan, to fly me out back in Kathmandu in time. Their flexibility was crucial for me to have a successful and enjoyable EBC trekking trip.

Thank you Krishna for your kind-hearted service.

And thank you Santosh for showing me the street food, the hidden temples, and the vibrant life around the old town of Kathmadu.

EBC with Amar, the best guide!!

I did the Everest Base Camp trek (8 days to reach EBC, Day 9 was to Kala Patthar). Started at the end of April and finished in May. We had great weather that time of year. The early days in the trek were warm enough for leggings and a lightweight shirt. A few people were in shorts. Day 7 was the first day I needed to wear down clothing items, gloves or a warm hat. Other days could be done with a baseball cap and a few layers - started the day with a windwall jacket and would switch to a vest or just my long sleeve dry fit top while trekking. The cardio keeps you pretty warm. Taking altitude sickness medication is key. Start taking it a day before you leave. We had no issue with altitude sickness but several people at the tea houses were not as lucky.

Kumar, the owner of Discover Altitude, organized everything for us and it was planned perfectly. He booked the best tea houses for us and everything was so well-organized that all we had to think about was making it to the top. Amar was our AMAZING guide. His brother Shukla was the porter. They were the nicest, most professional duo. Amar took very good care of us and it was obvious that he was one of the most well-respected guides on the trail. He knew everyone and was so experienced that we had a lot of tips and guidance that I don’t feel everyone else had on the mountain. Definitely request amar as your guide. We quickly realized how important the planning is and who your guide is for success on this trek.

Great experience and recommend doing Kala Patthar early the next morning for sunrise views of Everest!

Discover Altitude is the best!

Discover Altitude is the best trekking guide / tour operator in Nepal. Two days ago my friend and I reached Everest Base Camp on May 4th (trekking day 8).

On day 9, helicopter picked us up at Gorakshep - last tea house before EBC. Helicopter transported us back to Kathmandu via Lukla — 2.5 hour stop for refueling and other logistics. Hiking back down 3 extra days is not for everyone.

Reaching EBC was a small miracle for me. I was the biggest person (XXL) trekking. I trained for over a year… lost significant amount of weight to even attempt EBC. Everything had to go perfectly and it did. Planning was key. Some days were incredibly challenging and required very-very slow / steady pace.

At every step my guide was right there to support as needed. On some hills my guide was 12 inches behind me in case I lost balance from exhaustion.

We were blessed to have Amar as our guide and his younger brother, Shukla, as porter. They did everything for us … from finding bathrooms, ordering meals, dealing with hotels, first aid, and fun to talk with too. Multiple times during the trek other guides whispered to us that Amar is one of the best guides in the region.

We opted for the luxury tour with nicer hotels + helicopter ride to Lukla to start + helicopter return from the top. Paying extra for luxury tour is worth every penny. We met some hikers not having a good experience. Painfully obvious they chose the wrong guide / tour operator.

If you are in perfect shape and you’ve trekked Nepal many times before- maybe having the best guide isn’t as critical. But for us we relied on our guides for every decision … even down to what to eat and drink at different altitudes.

TIPS:

1- take diamox right from the start (1 day before starting the trek)

2- take helicopter to/from Lukla. If you don’t take helicopter, be prepared to sit around for days waiting on weather to clear for airplane flight. People stuck at the airport waiting multiple days to get out aren’t having a good time.

3- go vegetarian. You’ll love ra-ra noodle vegetable soup

4- bring tons of electrolyte packets and drink 5 liters/day

5- pack for very cold days at the end (EBC). Both outer-wear gear and warm jackets for nights at the hotel. Be prepared for extremely dry air at night. Bring nasal spray to help breath through your nose.

6- get plenty NPR cash in Lukla or Kathmandu. In a pinch, tea house hotels can run your CC to give you NPR cash… will cost 10% extra charge.

7- tip your guides as generously as you can

8- don’t bring huge camera unless you are ok lugging the extra weight. Newer iPhone or Android do fantastic job.

9- go slow. Don’t skip rest (acclimatizing) days.

10- Book your trip with Discover Altitude. Kumar will email you immediately with details to help you customize your trip. He will work through every question / idea with patience. We had at least a dozen unusual requests including special activities in Kathmandu after the trek. Kumar and our guides made them all happen. Remember to request booking at nicer hotels.

11- go with friend or family you really enjoy being with for two weeks. Having someone to motivate you and just hang out together makes the trip so much better.

12- day 2 to Namche might be your hardest day, particularly after Hillary Bridge… 1-2 hours straight uphill at the end. Don’t give up. Go slow and ask for help (horse available if can’t make it up that hill).

Awesome 10 day EBC trekking experience

I’m towards the tail end of my 10 day EBC trek arranged by Discover Altitude. Overall, I’ve been very happy with the trip so far. Santosh did his best to make sure my trip went according to plan. He was also extremely accommodating to my request for alterations to itinerary during the trip. Always ready to help, no questions asked.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to thank my guide, Sandip Lama. He is an energetic and hardworking young man that went above and beyond to make me trip as comfortable as possible. He’s also flexible in accommodating my last minute change request. For example, when I saw Ama Dablam for the first time, I was blown by its beauty and came up with the idea of doing a side trip to its base camp. It’s require at least half a days time. Sandip agreed without any hesitation and helped with the trip planning. In the end, the side trip didn’t happen simply because I ran out of steam. As a guide, Sandip’s main responsibility is leading me with the trip. But he also offered to carry my bag when I got very tired. This is what I call above and beyond. Again, thank you Sandip and I hope we’ll embark on my adventures in the future!

Great Service from begining to end!

We reached out to a number of treking companies, quite last minute when the opportunity came up to go to Nepal. We got a lot of responses but in the end, Discover Altitude had exactly what we were looking for and very helpful along the way. When we arrived in Kathmandu we met at their office and they went into detail about what we could expect and answered all our weird questions!!(first timers!)
We were picked up by an excellent driver, met our guide ahead of time( that was the only confusion was if we were getting a guide/ a guide/porter or a guide and porter, it all worked out very well despite zero training on our part. On the last day we hiked up out of Namche,to the helicopter that took us over base camp with a short landing on Kala Patthar before returning back to Lukla and then Kathmandu where Discover Altitude picked us up and generally looked after us from start to finish including a couple of day tours around Kathmandu. It was spectacular , Santosh and Kumar were very caring and you could tell how proud they were of their company and employees.

No. of Person	Price Per Person
1 person	US$3300
2 - 6 people	US$3000
7 - 12 people	US$2700
13 - 18 people	US$2500

Langtang Valley Ganja La Pass Trekking

Getting to the trailhead

Langtang Valley Ganja La pass Trek Route

Required permits and fees

Safety measures

Highlights

Gallery

Itinerary

Day 1:Arrival in Kathmandu

Day 2:Sightseeing in Kathmandu.

Day 3:Drive to syabru Besi

Day 4:Trek to Lama hotel

Day 5:Trek to Langtang village

Day 6:Trek to Kyanjin Gompa

Day 7:Acclimatization day

Day 8:Trek to Ngegang

Day 9:Ganja-la pass and trek down to Keldang

Day 10:Trek to Dukpu

Day 11:Trek down to Tarke Gyang

Day 12:Trek down to Sermanthang

Day 13:Descend to Melamchi bazar

Day 14:Drive back to Kathmandu

Day 15:Final departure.

Not happy with this regular itinerary?

Cost Details

Included

Excluded

Useful Info

Required Equipment for Ganja-la Pass Trek

Recommended Accessories

Things that you might consider bringing

Trip Reviews

6 day trek in Langtang National park

Marcell L, Hungary

If you want to experience true, kind Nepali hospitality and a great trek, don’t look for another agency.

Eva B, Hungary

Mustang - Kagbeni, Muktinath 6-day tour

Hito, Japan

A Once-in-a-lifetime EBC Trekking Trip

Jackie Z, United States

EBC with Amar, the best guide!!

Stephanie S, United States

Discover Altitude is the best!

James T, United States

Awesome 10 day EBC trekking experience

Hongtao Chen, United States

Great Service from begining to end!

dallasbc, Canada

FAQs

Q1. How difficult is Ganja-la pass?

Q2. Do we need to be fit to do Ganja-la pass trek?

Q3. How is the accommodation in Ganja-la pass trek?

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