Langtang Valley Trek

After breakfast, start walking from Syabrubesi and follow the Langtang Khola river into the forests of Langtang National Park, set up in 1976 as Nepal's first Himalayan national park. The trail passes small settlements and quiet riverside stretches, crossing suspension bridges high over the rushing water below.

The path climbs steadily through oak, rhododendron and bamboo forest, and you gain more than 800 metres over the day, so keep a slow, even pace. Reach Lama Hotel, at 2,380 metres, a small cluster of lodges in the forest rather than a single hotel, surrounded by trees and mountain slopes, for dinner and the night.

Summary: Walk 5 to 6 hours (11 km) up the Langtang Khola through oak, rhododendron and bamboo forest to Lama Hotel (2,380 m). Overnight in a lodge.

After breakfast, climb on through the forest as the valley slowly opens out. This is a long day of 6 to 7 hours with a big gain in height, and the views grow with every hour. Pass Ghodatabela and other small settlements, with ever wider views of Langtang Lirung, at over 7,200 metres the highest peak of the Langtang range.

The trail comes out into a wide Himalayan valley, where traditional stone houses and prayer flags mark the way into Langtang Village, at 3,430 metres. The village was rebuilt after the 2015 earthquake, and its lodges and small tea shops line the trail. Settle in for the evening and a warm dinner in this historic mountain community.

Summary: Walk 6 to 7 hours (14 km) past Ghodatabela, with growing views of Langtang Lirung, to Langtang Village (3,430 m). Overnight in a lodge.

After breakfast, set off on a shorter day deeper into the upper Langtang Valley. Walk through the small settlements of Mundu and Sindum, past long mani walls of carved prayer stones, as the peaks around you grow closer and larger. The gradient is gentle, which suits the thinner air at this height.

The trail climbs gradually to Kyanjin Gompa, at 3,870 metres, a settlement of lodges around its small Buddhist monastery, ringed by some of the valley's highest peaks. Arrive with time to visit the gompa and walk around the village, then settle into your lodge for the evening as the light fades on the snow above.

Summary: A shorter walk of 3 to 4 hours (7 km) via Mundu and Sindum to Kyanjin Gompa (3,870 m), with time to visit the monastery. Overnight in a lodge.

After an early breakfast, begin the climb towards Kyanjin Ri, at 4,773 metres, the highest point of the trek. It is a steep, slow climb in thin air, and how high you go depends on the weather, trail conditions and your group. Near the top, the view opens across Langtang Lirung, Dorje Lakpa and the range around them.

Walk back down to Kyanjin Gompa for a relaxed afternoon. The rest helps your body adjust to the altitude after the climb. Sit in the sun outside the lodge, take a slow wander around the settlement, and drink plenty of water. Dinner and the night are in your lodge at Kyanjin Gompa, at 3,870 metres.

Summary: A 4 to 5 hour (7 km) return hike from Kyanjin Gompa towards Kyanjin Ri (4,773 m) for views of Langtang Lirung, then rest. Overnight at Kyanjin (3,870 m).

After breakfast, begin the walk back from Kyanjin Gompa, following the same trail down the upper Langtang Valley. It is a long day of 6 to 7 hours, but it is mostly downhill, and the air grows thicker and easier to breathe with every hour you walk.

Pass back through open alpine ground and the stone houses of Langtang Village, then drop into dense forest again. The mountains you walked towards now sit behind you, so turn around often for a different view of them. Take the descent at your own pace and continue down to Lama Hotel, at 2,380 metres, for a comfortable evening in the forested valley.

Summary: Walk 6 to 7 hours (14 km), mostly downhill, from Kyanjin Gompa via Langtang Village and the forest to Lama Hotel (2,380 m). Overnight in a lodge.

After breakfast, set off on the last day on the Langtang trail, walking down through the forest towards Syabrubesi. Follow the Langtang Khola again and cross the same suspension bridges you crossed on the way up, through the villages and landscapes where the trek began.

Arrive in Syabrubesi, at 1,550 metres, in the afternoon and settle into your lodge for a relaxed final evening in the mountains. There is time to rest your legs, repack your bag and look back on the journey with your trekking team over dinner, before the drive to Kathmandu tomorrow.

Summary: Walk 5 to 6 hours (11 km) downhill through the forest from Lama Hotel to Syabrubesi (1,550 m). Final night in the mountains, in a lodge.

After breakfast, leave Syabrubesi for the 7 to 8 hour, 120 km drive back to Kathmandu. The road winds through rural villages, terraced hillsides and the changing country of central Nepal, dropping steadily from the mountains towards the valley.

Return to your luxury 5-star hotel in Kathmandu for a well-earned afternoon at leisure. Relax at the hotel, book a spa treatment or simply rest your legs after the trek, then enjoy an evening of fine dining and a proper night's sleep in a comfortable bed.

Summary: A 7 to 8 hour, 120 km drive from Syabrubesi back to your 5-star hotel in Kathmandu (1,400 m). A free afternoon, an optional spa and dinner.

After breakfast, enjoy a slower final full day in Kathmandu with the trek behind you. Choose a private cultural tour of the city's UNESCO-listed heritage sites, with about 1 to 2 hours of driving between them, or simply take the day at your own pace.

Walk around the great white dome of Boudhanath, see the riverside temples of Pashupatinath, sacred to Hindus, or explore the old royal palace courtyards of Kathmandu Durbar Square. Browse local boutiques and handicraft shops, then return to your hotel in the afternoon before a special farewell dinner.

Summary: A free day in Kathmandu, with the option of a private tour of Boudhanath, Pashupatinath and Kathmandu Durbar Square. Farewell dinner in the evening.

Enjoy a relaxed final morning at your luxury hotel. Take your time over breakfast and, depending on your flight time, fit in a last spa treatment, a leisurely lunch or some shopping for Nepali handicrafts and souvenirs.

Your private vehicle then takes you 20 to 30 minutes, about 6 to 7 km, to Tribhuvan International Airport, with plenty of time for check-in. As the plane climbs out of Kathmandu for Singapore, the trip comes full circle, from the busy valley through forest, villages and high Himalayan country and home again.

Summary: A relaxed morning with breakfast and lunch at your hotel, then a 20 to 30 minute private transfer to the airport for your flight to Changi Airport.