Leave Kathmandu early for the drive north to Syabrubesi, at about 1,500 m, on the Trisuli road past Trisuli Bazaar and the approach to Langtang. Operators give 6 to 9 hours depending on the vehicle and the state of the road; the bus is slower and cheaper than a jeep. The road is narrow and winding, with some landslide sections. Syabrubesi is the busy start of the Langtang and Tamang Heritage routes, so you will see other trekkers. Check in to a lodge, confirm your permit paperwork with the guide, pack a daypack and have an early night before the first walking day.
Ruby Valley and Ganesh Himal Trek
A 7-day village trek from Syabrubesi over Pangsang Pass to Tipling and Chalish, with a rest day around Chalish and a drive back through Dhading Besi.
- Days7
- Max altitude3,850 m
- Distance43.7 km
- Ascent3,638 m
- DifficultyModerate
- Best monthsMar–May, Oct–Nov
- Permits2
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Photo: Rajivkilanashrestha · CC BY-SA 4.0
WarningRuby Valley: the Syabrubesi start is not currently reliable
This route drives to Syabrubesi on day 1 and finishes at Chalish with a drive back through Dhading Besi. On 26 August 2026 a large rock-and-ice collapse from the north face of Langtang Lirung sent a debris flow down the Lhende Khola into the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers, hitting Rasuwagadhi, Timure, Syabrubesi and Betrawati (ICIMOD). Many bridges and long stretches of the Pasang Lhamu Highway were damaged, and a large number of people died or are missing; reported figures differ by source.
Syabrubesi, the usual Langtang road-head, is reported destroyed or closed as a trekking gateway, with the bridge to it swept away; restoration depends on the Betrawati highway reopening. The Trishuli Bazaar-Betrawati-Dhunche road was reported still closed for repair as of 21 September. A light-vehicle track has reopened, and agencies projected the remaining gaps passable no earlier than mid-October; that is a projection, not an official date.
We found no source on the condition of the Ruby Valley trail itself or a reopening date. We found no official reopening notice. Check current road and trail conditions with Langtang National Park and your trekking agency before booking, and do not rely on this summary alone.
Status checked 2026-10-19.
Sources: ICIMOD: Kyirong-Rasuwa flood, 26 August 2026 · Nepal Pyramids: Langtang Valley trek update after the 2026 flooding · Republica: locals reopen flood-damaged Langtang trekking route (16 Oct)
This itinerary is a draft and hasn't been verified yet. Always confirm stages with your guide.
Written by FindTrekkingPartner teamReviewed by FindTrekkingPartner teamHow we reviewFindTrekkingPartner
Ruby Valley and Ganesh Himal Trek is a 7-day trek in the Ganesh Himal region of Nepal that climbs to 3,850 m. Foreign trekkers can find a partner for it on FindTrekkingPartner by posting a trip with their dates, budget and pace. Matches stay private until both trekkers agree, and the service is free. At mid-range rates a licensed guide costs about USD 65 per person over 7 days when four trekkers share, against USD 261 for one trekker alone. The best seasons are Mar–May, Oct–Nov. A licensed guide is required in practice here: the Nepal Tourism Board April 2023 rule is reported by 2026 operators to be enforced at checkpoints in national parks and conservation areas, with Langtang the strictest and Annapurna checking too (checked 19 October 2026). Hire a guide through a registered agency and confirm with them. Last verified: October 19, 2026. Sources: Nepal Tourism Board, DNPWC, Department of Immigration.
Sources:Department of Immigration, NepalNepal Tourism BoardDepartment of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation
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Overview
Starts from KathmanduPasses: Pangsang Pass7 days · max 3,850 m
Best seasons: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · Permits: Langtang National Park entry permit, TIMS card where required
The Ruby Valley trek is a seven-day walk through the villages and forests on the south-west side of Ganesh Himal. It drives from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi, the Langtang trailhead, walks over Bahun Danda to the Tamang village of Gatlang, climbs to the forest camp at Somdang (about 3,270 m), crosses Pangsang Pass at about 3,850 m and descends to Tipling, then walks through the Tamang village of Sertung to Chalish, with a rest day around Chalish for Sertung and the Tatopani hot spring before a drive back to Kathmandu via Dhading Besi. The walking adds up to about 44 km on our mapped route with roughly 3,600 m of climbing, following the stages of the Nepal Alternative Treks, Himalaya Trip and Peregrine itineraries in the sources. It is a moderate trek, needs the Langtang National Park permit and no restricted-area permit, and runs best from late September to early December and in spring.
What the trek is like
The first day on foot climbs from the Bhote Koshi valley through forest to Bahun Danda and on to Gatlang, a village of dark stone houses at about 2,300 m. The next two days go up into pine and rhododendron forest to Somdang and over Pangsang Pass, where on clear days Ganesh Himal fills the northern horizon. The final descent leads through millet and maize terraces to Tipling and Chalish, villages where local families run homestays.
Permits and rules
The Langtang National Park entry permit is NPR 3,000 for foreigners (Nepal Tourism Board). A TIMS card is listed by some operators. The trek is not in a restricted area, so there is no minimum group size, but trails above Somdang are quiet, so most people go with a guide.
Best season
Mid-September to mid-December and March to May. Monsoon trails are slippery and leech-prone.
Altitude
The highest overnight is Somdang at about 3,270 m and the pass is about 3,850 m, so most people feel the height only as a little breathlessness. Walk slowly and drink well.
Getting there and away
Kathmandu to Syabrubesi is 6 to 9 hours by road, and Chalish to Kathmandu about 8 hours via Dhading Besi. Plan one spare day if road works or landslides are reported.
Lodges, food and costs
Homestays and simple guesthouses serve dal bhat. See the permit fees and sample costs in the costs section.
Extensions
Operators extend the trek with an acclimatisation day at Somdang, a walk on to Jharlang and Darkha, or a longer circuit through Hindung to Ganesh Himal Base Camp, which has no lodges.
Highlights
- Gatlang, a Tamang village of stone houses and pilgrim lake
- Somdang, a forest camp at about 3,270 m below Ganesh Himal
- Pangsang Pass at about 3,850 m, with views of the Ganesh Himal range
- Tipling and Chalish, farming villages with homestays and the Tatopani hot spring nearby
- A moderate trek with no restricted-area permit
Route map
Route data from OpenStreetMap, not yet checked by our team. Use it for planning, not navigation.
Day by day
You sleep 834 m higher than the night before, above the usual 500 m guideline. Take it slowly, drink plenty and watch for headache or nausea.
Cross to the west bank of the Bhote Koshi and climb through forest and farmland over Bahun Danda to Gatlang, at about 2,300 m. Operators allow 4 to 6 hours for the 11 km, and the gain is about 1,060 m. Gatlang is a Tamang village of stone houses, wooden balconies and prayer flags, with a pilgrim lake nearby. Walk through the lanes in the afternoon, and be respectful when entering temples or taking photos of people. Homestay families cook dal bhat and local food. The altitude is modest, but drink a lot and climb slowly.
You sleep 934 m higher than the night before, above the usual 500 m guideline. Take it slowly, drink plenty and watch for headache or nausea.
A long day of 6 to 7 hours takes you from Gatlang to Somdang, at about 3,270 m, climbing about 1,500 m over 12.6 km. The trail goes through dense pine and rhododendron forest, passing Khurpu Bhanjyang, a saddle of about 3,700 m on the map, before the final stretch to Somdang. The hamlet has a few guesthouses on a clearing with views down the valley. It is the highest night of the trek, so go slowly, eat well and wrap up in the evening, when the air turns cold quickly.
The hardest day: leave early and climb above the tree line to Pangsang Pass, at about 3,850 m, where the views take in the Ganesh Himal range on a clear morning. Then descend steeply through forest to Tipling, at about 2,000 m, a drop of about 1,800 m from the pass over 15 km on our mapped route. Operators allow 7 to 8 hours in total, and some call it 8 to 10, so start at first light and carry lunch. Poles are a great help on the knee-jarring descent. Tipling's homestays give a welcome rest at the end.
Walk down from Tipling through millet and maize terraces to Sertung, a Tamang village, and on to Chalish Gaon at about 1,675 m. Operators give 3 to 5 hours for the day, depending on how long you spend among the Sertung houses. Our map follows the footpath through Sertung: 4.7 km with about 360 m of climbing and 690 m of descent, so the day is short on distance but has a lot of up and down. One operator counts 12 km for the same day because it also visits upper villages that OpenStreetMap does not map. Stop in Sertung for tea, then continue to Chalish, home to Gurung, Ghale and Kami families, where the lower altitude and warmer evenings make a pleasant place to rest.
A rest day around Chalish with an optional walk of about 4 to 5 hours: operators suggest a round trip to Sertung, a viewpoint, and the Tatopani hot spring, where you can soak tired legs. The route is gentle and mostly on village paths, and you can shorten it or skip it. Ask your host about a cultural evening if you want music and dance, usually arranged on request. This is also the sensible day to wash clothes, back up photos and repack for the road, because the last day is a long drive.
Drive from Chalish via Dhading Besi to Kathmandu, a journey of about 8 hours on the Dhading and Prithvi roads. Operators quote between 7 and 9 hours with a mix of private jeep and bus; the stretch to Dhading Besi is rough and slow, and the rest is on tarmac. Leave early, take snacks and water, and keep a spare day in your plans if the monsoon or road works are reported. Back in Kathmandu, hand back any rented gear and settle up with the guide and drivers.
Acclimatisation
Sleeping altitude night by night. Bars in red climb more than 500 m from the night before; rest days are marked.
- Sleeping altitude
- Gain over 500 m
- Rest day
What it costs
Estimated all-in cost per person: lodge and food by altitude, transport, permits, and the guide and porters. The more trekkers share a guide and porters, the less each person pays. As of October 2026.
| Style | 1 trekker | 2 trekkers sharing | 4 trekkers sharing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $340–$430 | $240–$330 | $190–$280 |
| Mid-range | $770–$1,150 | $470–$700 | $340–$510 |
| Comfort | $820–$1,200 | $560–$830 | $430–$650 |
Share a guide, save money
At mid-range, a solo trekker pays about $770–$1,150; four trekkers sharing one guide and two porters pay about $340–$510 each (55% less at the top of the range).
Breakdown for 2 trekkers sharing
| Item | Budget | Mid-range | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lodge and food | $100–$170 | $130–$230 | $190–$300 |
| Transport | $100–$130 | $150–$220 | $150–$220 |
| Permits | $30–$40 | $30–$40 | $30–$40 |
| Guide | — | $100–$160 | $100–$160 |
| Porters | — | $30–$70 | $70–$130 |
Budget uses public transport and no porter; mid-range shares one porter between two trekkers and a private vehicle; comfort gives each trekker a porter. A guide is included where one is required or the style is mid-range or comfort.
Nightly lodge and food (room and a dal bhat meal)
5 nights Below 2,500 m: room $2–$9, dal bhat $4–$7 · 1 night 2,500 to 3,800 m: room $4–$11, dal bhat $5–$11
Permit fees (official sources)
Cost sources
- PriceNepal: Nepal Travel Cost Guide 2026 (2026-05-14)
- Third Rock Adventures: Nepal trek budget planner (2026-05-09)
- Himalayan Partner: Guide and porter price in Nepal 2026 (2026-02-10)
- Shikhar Adventure: Annapurna Circuit trek cost (2026-02-03)
- Nepal Tourism Board: Trekking Permit (2026-10-18)
- Mount Mania: Ruby Valley trek (2026-10-18)
Estimates from operator guides, not quotes. Tips, insurance, gear and Kathmandu hotels are not included; USD at the platform exchange rate.
Photos
Frequently asked questions
It is a moderate trek of 7 days with one hard day, Somdang to Tipling, of 7 to 8 hours over Pangsang Pass. The highest night is about 3,270 m.
Operators list the Langtang National Park entry permit, which the Nepal Tourism Board puts at NPR 3,000 for foreigners. It is not a restricted area.
It suits fit first-timers who are used to 5 to 8 hour days. The altitude is modest, but lodging is basic homestays and the trails are quieter than the main circuits.
By road: operators allow about 8 hours from Chalish via Dhading Besi to Kathmandu, by private jeep or a mix of jeep and bus.
Operators offer an 11 to 12 day circuit that adds Hindung and the base camp, but there are no hotels at the base camp, so it needs camping support.
Sources
- Ruby Valley Trek 7 days (Nepal Alternative Treks)
- Ruby Valley Trek (Himalaya Trip)
- Ruby Valley Trek (Peregrine Treks)
- Ruby Valley Trek 10 days (Mount Mania)
- Ganesh Himal (Wikipedia)
- Nepal Tourism Board: Park Entry Fees
- Ruby Valley Home Stay Trek (Himalayan Local Guide)
- Sirtung (Sertung), Dhading (Wikipedia)
Along the trail
Stays, medical help, water and sights on each day of the route.
1. Kathmandu → Syabrubesi
- Tribhuvan International Airport · Airports & transport · 1,340 m
2. Syabrubesi → Gatlang
- Temple · Viewpoints · 2,323 m
- Ronga Bhaniyan · Nature · 2,240 m
- Tamang Home · Stays · 2,358 m
- Pador Peak Guest House · Stays · 2,343 m
- Stone Woodland Guest House · Stays · 2,302 m
- Langtang View Guest House · Stays · 2,268 m
Show all 10 places
- Temple · Viewpoints · 2,323 m
- Bagung view point Hotel & Lodge · Stays · 2,243 m
- Goljung Danda Chhamgang Hotel & Lodge · Stays · 2,243 m
- Ronga Bhaniyan · Nature · 2,240 m
- Unique Lunch Place with Home Stay · Stays · 2,293 m
- Gyalbo Guest House · Stays · 2,314 m
- Tamang Home · Stays · 2,358 m
- Pador Peak Guest House · Stays · 2,343 m
- Stone Woodland Guest House · Stays · 2,302 m
- Langtang View Guest House · Stays · 2,268 m
3. Gatlang → Somdang
- Langatang View Guest House · Stays · 2,267 m
- Gatlang guest house · Stays · 2,323 m
- Royal Gatlang Guest House · Stays · 2,334 m
- Parvati Kund · Nature · 2,600 m
- Somdang Valley Lodge · Stays · 3,276 m
Show all 8 places
- Langatang View Guest House · Stays · 2,267 m
- Gatlang guest house · Stays · 2,323 m
- Royal Gatlang Guest House · Stays · 2,334 m
- Hotel Zeppa · Stays · 2,336 m
- Parvati Kund · Nature · 2,600 m
- Parbati Kunda Guest House · Stays · 2,655 m
- Ruby Valley Guest House & Homestay · Stays · 2,673 m
- Somdang Valley Lodge · Stays · 3,276 m
4. Somdang → Tipling
- Trail to Guesthouses · Viewpoints · 2,244 m
- Ashok Ruby Valley Homestay · Stays · 2,224 m
- Tipling Homestay · Stays · 2,216 m
- Ruby Valley Tipling Hotel · Stays · 2,238 m
- Edwin Tamang Homestay · Stays · 2,050 m
5. Tipling → Chalish
- Ganesh Himal Hotel · Stays · 1,936 m
- Healthpost · Medical · 1,990 m
6. Chalish
Nothing mapped for this day yet.Nothing mapped for this day yet.7. Chalish → Kathmandu
Nothing mapped for this day yet.Nothing mapped for this day yet.
Last verified on Oct 19, 2026Report outdated info