Langtang Valley is an established lodge trek of 7 to 8 days to Kyanjin Gompa at 3,870 m. Ruby Valley is a little-known homestay trek of 7 to 10 days across the southern side of Ganesh Himal, with a high point of about 3,850 m at the Pangsang Pass. Choose Langtang for close mountain scenery and comfort; choose Ruby Valley for village life and empty trails.
Ruby Valley and Langtang at a glance
- Days. Ruby Valley: 7 to 10. Langtang: 7 to 8.
- Highest point. Ruby Valley: Pangsang Pass, about 3,850 m. Langtang: Kyanjin Gompa 3,870 m; viewpoints to about 4,980 m.
- Lodging. Ruby Valley: homestays, a few simple lodges. Langtang: lodges throughout.
- Mountains. Ruby Valley: a panorama of Ganesh Himal from the pass. Langtang: Langtang Lirung and glaciers at close range.
- Other trekkers. Ruby Valley: very few. Langtang: moderate numbers.
- Shape. Ruby Valley: a traverse, Syabrubesi to Dhading or reverse. Langtang: out and back.
Neighbours with different histories
The two areas are side by side, separated by the Trishuli river. Langtang became a national park in the 1970s and has had trekking lodges for decades. Ruby Valley was promoted only recently, by local communities, and still feels like walking through ordinary rural Nepal with mountains above.
What you see
Langtang delivers the classic alpine picture: a U-shaped valley, yaks, moraines and a wall of ice. Ruby Valley's views come in two or three big moments, above all at the Pangsang Pass, with terraced hillsides, forests and waterfalls in between.
Comfort
In Langtang you can expect a private room, a menu and often a hot shower. In Ruby Valley you sleep in a family house, eat what the family eats and wash at the village tap. For some this is the highlight; for others it is too basic for a week.
Effort and altitude
Both stay under 4,000 m unless you climb Langtang's viewpoints. Ruby Valley has more steep ups and downs between villages and longer stages, on rougher paths.
Access
Both start a day's drive from Kathmandu. A Ruby Valley trek usually begins at Syabrubesi and ends at Dhading Besi, or the reverse, so no backtracking is needed.
Season
October to November and March to May. Ruby Valley's lower sections are warm and can be walked in winter; the pass may have snow.
Permits and guide
Langtang needs the national park permit and TIMS card. Ruby Valley needs local paperwork only and no restricted permit. A licensed guide is needed on both, and is especially useful in Ruby Valley for arranging homestays.
Cost
Ruby Valley is one of the cheaper treks in Nepal, with modest homestay charges and no national park fee on most of the route. Langtang costs a little more for lodges and permits.
Who it suits
Langtang is the right first trek for most people. Ruby Valley rewards those who have trekked before, are curious about rural life and do not need a famous name at the end of the trail.
Food
In Ruby Valley expect dal bhat, home-grown vegetables, millet or maize dishes and local tea. Langtang's lodges serve the usual wide menu, with yak cheese a speciality.
Choose Ruby Valley if
- You have trekked the popular routes already.
- You enjoy homestays and local food.
- You want quiet trails.
- You like a traverse that ends somewhere new.
Choose Langtang if
- You want high-mountain scenery up close.
- You prefer lodges.
- It is your first trek.
- You want optional climbs to nearly 5,000 m.
Can you do both?
Yes. Start in Langtang, return to Syabrubesi and continue west through Gatlang and over the Pangsang Pass into Ruby Valley. Allow about two weeks.
Plan it
See the Langtang guides, or ask us about the Ruby Valley traverse.
Common questions
Is Ruby Valley harder than Langtang?
A little, because of rough trails and basic lodging, though it is no higher.
Can you see Ganesh Himal from Langtang?
Briefly, from the road and the lower trail. The best views are from the Ruby Valley side.
Which is cheaper?
Ruby Valley, usually.
Which is better in winter?
Ruby Valley's lower villages are milder; Langtang is colder but open.
Heights, days, fees and rules are approximate and can change, so confirm the current details with us before you book.
