Ruby Valley Two Passes Trek

We welcome you at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer you through the busy streets of Kathmandu to your hotel in Thamel or another tourist area. The first day is mainly for rest after your flight, getting used to the weather, and having your first experience of Nepali food, culture, and city life.

In the evening, we will meet for a short trip briefing where your trek guide explains the Ruby Valley Two Passes Trek in simple words, checks your trekking gear, and answers any last-minute questions you may have. If you have free time, you can walk around Thamel, buy or rent any missing trekking gear, or visit a nearby temple or stupa if you arrive early in the day.

On Day 2, you leave Kathmandu and start the journey toward the trekking area. After an early breakfast, we will pick you up from your hotel and drive to the bus or jeep station, then begin the long scenic drive from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi. You will drive out of the Kathmandu Valley through the Thankot or Tokha Trishuli road, then follow the Trishuli River toward Betrawati and the Dhunche Syabrubesi road.

The first part of the road is paved, but the second half can be rough and dusty, especially after rain or during road construction. While in the vehicle, you can enjoy scenery from city buildings to green hills, terraced farms, and small roadside villages, where you can see daily local life, tea shops, and markets. You will pass police checkpoints before reaching Syabrubesi, the main starting point for the Langtang and Tamang Heritage trekking routes.

In recent seasons, permit checks are sometimes done near Dhunche or Syabrubesi, so we keep your documents ready, and our guide will handle the formalities. Syabrubesi is a small mountain town with basic lodges, shops, and a mobile network, so it is a good place to organize your bags and buy any last snacks or supplies. You will arrive in Syabrubesi in the afternoon or early evening.

Your Ruby Valley Two Passes Trek officially starts today. As you start walking, you will leave the main Langtang trail behind and follow a quieter local path. Soon after leaving Syabrubesi, the trail climbs gradually toward Ronga Bhanjyang (2,237 M), a ridge that gives your first nice views back down the valley. The climb is steady but not too steep, and you walk on small village trails surrounded by green hills and forest.

After a few hours of walking, you will reach Chawatar, a small Tamang settlement on the hillside. The trail to Chawatar is a mix of stone steps, village paths, and sometimes a rough jeep track, with good views back toward Syabrubesi. You will stop for a simple local lunch at Chawatar, then continue walking through terraced fields and pine forest on the way to Gatlang.

As you get closer to Gatlang, the view opens up, and you can see rows of traditional stone houses with slate roofs and wooden windows. Gatlang is a beautiful Tamang village known for its strong culture and peaceful setting above the valley. In the afternoon, you have time to walk around the narrow village paths, visit the local monastery, or relax at the homestay while watching the sunset over the hills.

Today’s trek takes you from Gatlang to Somdang. You begin the walk with a gentle climb up a stone staircase to Parvati Kund, a small sacred lake important to both Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims. It’s a great spot to rest, take photos, and appreciate that these trails are still living pilgrimage routes. From Parvati Kund, the Ruby Valley Two Passes Trek path then continues through pine and rhododendron forests, which bloom beautifully in spring.

The path opens onto quieter, more remote terrain, offering wide views of Ganesh Himal and the valleys below. Along the way, you will pass small clearings like Gothen and a Yaru Army Camp, then climb toward Yurikharka and Khurpudanda Pass (3,710 M), the day’s high point.

From the pass, the trail descends to Somdang, your overnight stop. Somdang is an old mining settlement with a river running through the valley and historic mining remnants on the slopes. There are basic lodges or homestays here, so facilities are simpler than in Gatlang. This stop also helps your body acclimatize before Pangsang Pass, and the night sky here is usually spectacular for stargazing.

Day 5 of the Ruby Valley Two Passes Trek is a big day. Today you climb steadily from Somdang to Pangsang La, the first high pass and the trek’s highest point. The trail moves through forests and open pastures (kharka) with some switchbacks and steeper sections. In early spring, you may cross short snow patches near the top. As you gain height, trees thin out, the air feels cooler, and the landscape becomes more alpine. This is one of the more physically demanding uphill days.

Reaching Pangsang Pass is very rewarding. At Pangsang La, the view suddenly becomes panoramic. On a clear day, you can count Ganesh II, III, and IV right in front of you, the Manaslu massif further west, Langtang Lirung and the Tibetan border peaks to the east, and even Annapurna peaks on the far horizon. There are usually prayer flags and small cairns built by herders and trekkers. This pass is often called one of Nepal’s best “hidden” viewpoints.

In the afternoon, you can explore, rest, and watch the sun set over the peaks. Nights are cooler, but the starry sky and mountain silence are something you will enjoy. Accommodation depends on seasonal availability: either a basic shelter or a camp near the pass. If conditions are windy or cloudy, we adjust the crossing to stay safe and reach shelter early.

From Pangsang Pass, the trail descends along a beautiful ridge. You first cross open pastures dotted with dwarf rhododendron and juniper, then enter thick fir and oak forest. During the monsoon and post‑monsoon months, the forest is full of wild mushrooms, ferns, and sometimes you may hear monkeys or see signs of musk deer.

The Two Passes Ruby Valley Trek path then traverses towards Laptung, a small settlement with fields and scattered houses, before continuing down to Tipling, one of the largest villages in the Ruby Valley area. Tipling is unique. You will see both Buddhist monasteries and churches, reflecting the mix of Tamang and Christian communities here. You can explore Tipling VDC and Gomba Tole before a short rest or lunch.

Afterwards, the trail passes the nearby Kami Gaoun and Sakpar Danda. From Sakpar, you will continue towards Chalish. This part of the trek is especially scenic in the afternoon light, with terraced barley and millet fields, villagers threshing grain, and wide views down to the Ankhu Khola. Chalish Village sits on a gentle shoulder above the river, with traditional Gurung and Dalit houses and a warm, relaxed vibe. Many trekkers call this village the heart of the Ruby Valley homestay trek, especially when joining the local cultural program in the evening.

Today is your first acclimatization on the Ruby Valley Trek at Chalish. This day in Chalish is meant to be relaxed and flexible, letting you really enjoy the village and the nearby Ruby Valley areas. You can visit the village school, watch how millet raksi is distilled in copper pots, or simply sit in the courtyard with your homestay family, observing daily life. You can also do a short side trip to an old monastery, which gives insight into local religion and architecture.

For those who want more walking, you can hike to small viewpoints above Chalish for panoramic views of the Ankhu Khola valley and scattered hillside hamlets. During peak seasons, the community may also host a cultural program featuring traditional dance and music. This is exactly the kind of authentic village experience that makes the Ganesh Himal Ruby Valley trek feel different from standard teahouse routes.

Following 12 days Ruby Valley Two Passes Trek itinerary, on day 8, you will leave Chalish village. You will follow a gentle trail that climbs a little to Tikkas Danda, a viewpoint where you can look back over the valley you’ve explored. The walk is moderate and passes through fields and patches of forest. Then, you will descend along a small path through terraced fields to the river, hearing the water before you see it.

After crossing a simple suspension bridge, the trail follows the river upstream to the natural hot spring (Tatopani), nestled below the cliffs. The hot spring is warm and wide, with stone pools where locals come to bathe and relax. Local people believe the mineral water is good for joints and skin. You can soak, enjoy the view, and chat with villagers.

After spending a couple of hours at the hot spring, you will climb back up to the main trail and continue through small settlements and cardamom fields toward Tir Gaon. Along the way, you pass village temples, water channels, and tiny shops that serve as local gathering spots. Tir Gaon is quiet and peaceful.

Today you will walk through small, quiet villages that most Ruby Valley trekkers never visit. From Tir Gaon, the trail goes above the river and slowly climbs to the Rachyat/Kapur area, where houses are far apart, and families keep buffalo and goats. Next, you will continue to Lapa Goan. Lapa is a bigger hill village that serves as a local center for nearby smaller villages. Here, you may see a health post, a small market, and sometimes a mini hydroelectric plant.

You will stop for lunch in Lapa, situated at 1,850 M. After lunch, you will climb again, crossing a stream like Lapa Khola and walking through forest and terraced fields to reach Khading Gaon. Khading is one of the highest villages in this part of Ganesh Himal. It offers amazing views of both the Ankhu Khola and Lapa valleys. Few tourists come here, so the village feels very traditional, with stone courtyards, old chortens, and simple hillside monasteries.

After breakfast, you will leave Khading and begin walking on a trail that first goes slightly downhill to cross a small stream like Chote Khola, then begins a long, steady climb toward Magne Goath. The path goes through dense forest, where you might hear birds, monkeys, or see animal tracks. As you climb higher, the trees thin out, and open pastures appear, with herder shelters and stone fences.

The higher you go, the wider the views get. Khading and the lower villages look smaller below. Magne Goath itself is a simple cluster of sheds and stone huts used by yak and sheep herders in summer. From here, you can see Ganesh Himal to the north and rolling hills to the south. It feels wild and untouched, very different from Pangsang La. This is the second pass of the Ruby Valley Two Passes Trek. Depending on the season, you will stay in a basic herder’s hut, a tent, or a shelter.

Today is the exit day when you leave the high mountains and return to the middle hills. From Magne Goath, the trail goes downhill along a long ridge. In some places, you can still look back toward Ganesh Himal, and in front, you can see the lower villages and river valleys where you are going. The path first goes through high pasture, then enters forest with moss, trees, and small streams.

Along the way, you cross small passes and grazing areas such as Myangal Bhanjyang (2,975 M) and Naubarn Kharka (2,750 M). The trail moves through a mix of forest, open land, and viewpoints like Tinsure, where you can take one last wide view of the mountains you have been walking near for many days.

Later, you pass the Ganga Jamuna area, which local people know as a holy place with small waterfalls and natural springs. From here, the trail goes down into farming villages and terraced fields, and the weather starts to feel warmer again. By afternoon, you reach Baseri Danda Gaon, where the houses are more spread out, and the climate feels more subtropical. This is your last night in the hills, and a good time to think about the whole journey, from the Langtang side to Dhading, after crossing both Pangsang Pass and Magne Pass.

On the last day, you will follow local tracks and village roads through places like Budathum, Sukaura Bensi, and Siureni, slowly reconnecting with the main road network. Depending on the road condition, part of the way may be walked and part done by a local jeep or vehicle.

From the roadhead, usually near Dhading Besi, you will start the drive back toward Kathmandu. The road first follows rivers, farms, and green hills, then joins the Prithvi Highway. As you get closer to Kathmandu, the traffic becomes busy again, and you can feel the change from quiet mountains to city life.

After reaching Kathmandu, we will transfer you to your hotel. You can enjoy a hot shower, good food, coffee, or even a cold beer after the trek. Many trekkers like to stay one extra night in Kathmandu for souvenir shopping, rest, or a short city tour after finishing the Ganesh Himal Ruby Valley Two Passes Trek.