Both treks take about a week. Langtang is reached by road from Kathmandu, climbs a single valley to Kyanjin Gompa at about 3,870 m and offers optional viewpoints close to 5,000 m. The Everest View trek flies to Lukla and walks to Namche and Tengboche. Choose Langtang to avoid flights and crowds; choose Everest View to see Everest and the Sherpa heartland.
Langtang and Everest View at a glance
- Days from Kathmandu. Langtang: 7 to 9. Everest View: 6 to 8.
- Access. Langtang: 7 to 8 hour drive to Syabrubesi. Everest View: flight to Lukla.
- Highest sleeping point. Langtang: Kyanjin Gompa, about 3,870 m. Everest View: Namche, 3,440 m, or Tengboche, about 3,860 m.
- Optional high point. Langtang: Kyanjin Ri, about 4,770 m, or Tserko Ri, about 4,980 m. Everest View: Everest View Hotel, about 3,880 m.
- Crowds. Langtang: moderate. Everest View: busy.
- Cost. Langtang: lower. Everest View: higher.
Scenery and character
Langtang is a narrow glacial valley that opens into wide yak pasture ringed by peaks, with Langtang Lirung, 7,227 m, directly overhead. The people are Tamang and of Tibetan origin, and the valley is known for its cheese factory, monasteries and the memorial to the village destroyed in the 2015 earthquake. The Everest View trek has bigger names: Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam and Thamserku, seen from the Sherpa capital of Namche and the monastery at Tengboche.
How high you go
The sleeping heights are similar. The difference is what you can add. From Kyanjin Gompa, a rest day lets strong walkers climb Kyanjin Ri or Tserko Ri for a full circle of mountains at nearly 5,000 m, which is as high as many base camp treks. The Everest View trek stays below 4,000 m throughout. See Kyanjin Ri and Tserko Ri.
Access and reliability
Langtang needs no flight, so it cannot be delayed by cloud at an airstrip, and it costs less. The drive is long and the last part is rough. The Everest View trek is quicker to start when the flight goes and frustrating when it does not. In the monsoon the Langtang road can be affected by landslides.
Best season
Both are best in October, November, March and April. Langtang is especially good in spring, when the forest of the lower valley is in flower, and it remains open through winter with cold nights at Kyanjin. The Everest View trek is reliable in the clear days of early winter. In the monsoon both are wet lower down.
Lodges and comfort
Lodges on both routes are good by Nepali standards. The Everest trail is a step ahead, with more choice, better heating and hot showers almost everywhere. Langtang's lodges are family-run and simpler, with excellent local yak cheese and fresh bread at Kyanjin Gompa.
Extending each trek
Langtang extends naturally to the holy lakes of Gosaikunda and out through Helambu, making ten to twelve days. The Everest View trek extends to Everest Base Camp if you have another week. Either way the short version is a good trial for the longer one.
Permits and guide
Langtang needs the Langtang National Park entry permit and a TIMS card. The Everest View trek needs the Sagarmatha National Park permit and the local Khumbu municipality permit. In both regions foreign trekkers are expected to walk with a licensed guide arranged through a registered agency, and the agency normally obtains the permits for you. Indian and other SAARC nationals pay lower park fees. Fees are revised from time to time, so check the current figures when you book.
After the 2015 earthquake
Langtang was the valley worst hit by the earthquake of April 2015, when an avalanche buried Langtang village. The community has rebuilt, new lodges stand a little way from the old site, and the trail is fully open. Trekking here puts money directly into that recovery, and many visitors find the memorial wall one of the most moving places on any trek in Nepal.
Choose Langtang if
- You want to avoid mountain flights.
- You want a quieter trail.
- You would like the chance to climb to nearly 5,000 m.
- You are watching the budget.
Choose Everest View if
- You want to see Everest with your own eyes.
- You want comfortable lodges and the buzz of Namche.
- You prefer to stay under 4,000 m.
- You can keep a spare day for the flight.
Plan it
See the Langtang guides and the Everest View trek guides, or ask us to compare prices for your dates.
Common questions
Can you see Everest from Langtang?
No. Langtang's views are of Langtang Lirung, Dorje Lakpa, Yala Peak and peaks on the Tibet border.
Which trek is easier?
They are similar. Everest View is slightly easier if you skip the high viewpoints in Langtang.
Which is closer to Kathmandu?
Langtang. It is the nearest high-mountain trek to the city by road.
Which is better for a first trek?
Either. Langtang if you want quiet and no flights; Everest View if seeing Everest matters most.
Heights, days, fees and rules are approximate and can change, so confirm the current details with us before you book.
