Langtang Valley Trek Altitude - Guide and Safety Tips

At What Altitude Does the Langtang Trek Starts? 

Your drive starts from Kathmandu and ends in small town called Syabrubesi. It is a small town at an altitude of 1460 meters (4790 ft.). The town is the starting gate of Langtang Valley trek. The actual walk begins from there. It has small hotels, places to eat, friendly locals. You will get the first sight of life of the langtang valley in the town.

How High Would You Reach in the Langtang Valley Trek?

Most trekkers highest Altitude reaches in Langtang Valley trek is Kyanjin Ri or Tserko Ri. 
Kyanjin Ri- an altitude of 3870m.
Tserko Ri- an altitude of 5033m. 
Both of these hikes are optional. You can skip these if you don’t want to and wander around. The village offers beautiful views of Langtang Lirung, Yala peak, Ganchenmpo,  You will be staying in lodges or hotels at Kyanjin Gompa at an altitude of 3870m and spending your night there.  

Langtang Valley Trek Altitude

Altitude of places in meters and feet

How Does Langtang Valley Trek Altitude Affect Your Body?

There is less oxygen as you go higher. The air gets thinner making it difficult to breathe. Altitude and the decrease in the oxygen level decreases your body’s efficiency which makes your body work harder than normal.
This can affect your body as well as your experience on the trekking.

Many people suffer from mild symptoms of AMS (ACUTE MOUNTAIN SICKNESS).
You experience different things when suffering from AMS.   

Symptoms:

• A light headache
• Loss of appetite
• Disturbed sleep
• Shortness of breath — even when walking slowly
• Feeling very tired or exhausted
• Feeling dizzy or feeling light-headed
• Nausea

If you start feeling any of these symptom, just stop and don’t climb anymore. You’ll be putting yourself in danger.

Instead, stay where you are or go down to acclimatize. These are early symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). AMS can develop into more serious form like:
HACE – High Altitude Cerebral Edema -It means swelling of the brain.
HAPE – High Altitude Pulmonary Edema – It means fluids in the lungs.
So, you need to be careful.

Common Mistakes to Avoid to not be Affected by Langtang Valley Trek Altitude

1. Going up too quickly. 
2. Not drinking enough water.
3. Don’t ignore if you feel symptoms of altitude sickness (headache, nausea, dizziness).
4. Skipping acclimatization days.
5. Sleeping at high altitude too soon.
6. Trekking long hours without rest.
7. Not carrying essential medicines.

Preventive Measures to Avoid Altitude Sickness? 

• Make sure you drink about 4 to 5 liters of water every day.
• Try not to drink alcohol or caffeine, and avoid smoking.
• Eat well- your body needs more energy at high altitude than usual.
• It would be a good idea to get medical advice and also to take medication for altitude, according to your doctors consultation. 
• Sleep well before the trek.
• You should be familiar to the symptoms of altitude sickness.
• Rest or go down immediately if symptoms appear.
• Plan a slow ascent with rest days.

Is Langtang Trek too High for Beginners?

No, Langtang Trek is not too high for beginners. Langtang is high but it’s still easier than Everest base camp trekking, or Annapurna circuit trek or other high treks in Nepal. Many beginners people complete it without major problems. 

Trekkers will be fine if they take it slow and listen to their bodies. you’ll definitely feel the difference if you’ve never been above 3,000 meters. But that’s the part of the experience and journey. 

Local Altitude Hacks  

You’ll hear a lot about garlic soup and cloves while trekking. Locals and guides use this and also recommends. It’s believed to help with altitude sickness (even though it smells strong).   

They believe that having garlic soup and keeping cloves in your mouth helps a lot to prevent altitude sickness. (Cloves help blood circulation easily) There are also other hacks like drinking warm water, Chewing ginger or ginger tea, and not sleeping right after eating heavy meals. These hacks can really help you in the high altitude.  

Do You Need Travel insurance to Trek in the High Altitude of Langtang Valley?  

Yes, travel insurance is highly recommended for trekking in the high altitude of the Langtang Valley. The trek takes you to the places with altitude above 3000 meters. There are risks of altitude sickness on those places. Also, there are only few medical facilities.

You can have difficulties if injured or if you face any medical problems. So, in case of emergency, evacuation by helicopters may be needed which can cost you very much. So, yes we recommend you to get the travel insurance. 

You should get insurance policy but what should the insurance cover.
A good insurance policy must cover:

• Trekking up to an altitude of 5100 meters.
• Emergency helicopter rescue
• Trip cancellation or delays
• Equipment stolen or lost etc 

Although not mandatory by law, most trekking operators and rescue operators need proof of such insurance. It’s a small price that you have to pay for peace of mind and safety in the mountains.

Yak Chesse Factory in the High Altitude of the Langtang Valley. 

You’ll see yak cheese factory in Kyanjin Gompa at an altitude of 3,860 m. Visiting the Yak cheese factory is one of the unique experience on the Langtang Trek. The factory is one of the oldest and highest altitude cheese factories in Nepal.

The factory produces organic handmade yak cheese. You can see yaks in the Langtang valley. They use fresh milk from local yaks grazing there.

Trekkers can visit the factory and learn about the process of making cheese. They can also buy cheese directly from the main source. You’ll get a unique experience. 

Do People Live in the Langtang High Altitude? 

Yes, people live in the Langtang’s high altitude. Most of the people are from Tamang community. They are very friendly and welcoming in the Langtang Valley. 

The people are mostly dependent on tourism, yak farming, and making cheese. There are few hospitals or schools and also no transportation for vehicles. So, Mules, porters or helicopters have to carry everything.

They’ve made settlement in very high and challenging place which is really inspiring. You’ll enjoy the mountains but also their stories and way of life while trekking in Langtang.

Suspension Bridge in the High Altitude of Langtang Valley Trek. 

Crossing the suspension bridges is one of the coolest parts of trekking in Langtang. They make trekking exciting and adventurous. They connect remote villages. It can also be the only way of crossing in the mountains. Few of them are long and creaky. It is little nervy to cross them at first. Especially if the wind is blowing or yaks come strolling along. But they’re solid and safe.

These bridges offer amazing view of waterfalls, forests. And as you look down, you can see Langtang river flowing below your feet. Many trekkers say the bridges are one of the most memorable part of journey. 

Conclusion 

Langtang Valley trek is a great choice to explore Himalayas. It is a beginner and moderate friendly trek. Langtang trek offers unique experiences and mesmerizing views. Providing you with rich cultural experience, friendly locals, and sweet memories in Nepal, it is one of the ideal choice for the trekkers.

It is a very rewarding trek. The high altitude can cause problems, but if you take good care, the journey will be safe and fun. Lot of first-time trekkers have completed the trek without any problems. So, there is no need to worry. However, keep in mind to acknowledge the symptoms and preventive measures. 

Ready to explore the Langtang valley trek? You can book your trip with local guided trekking operator and also help local community peoples.