Kathmandu – Kyanjin Gompa, Langtang

Langtang Valley Helicopter Tour to Kyanjin Gompa

The high Himalaya closest to Kathmandu: a 40-minute flight north to land beside the monastery at Kyanjin Gompa (3,870 m), beneath the glaciers of Langtang Lirung.

3,870 mlanding, Kyanjin Gompa

Duration: About 3 hours
Departs: Kathmandu, around 6:30
Landing: Kyanjin Gompa, 3,870 m
Time on the ground: 30–45 minutes
Group size: 1 to 5 per helicopter
Best months: October–December and March–May

Langtang is the nearest of the big Himalayan valleys to Kathmandu, so this is the quickest way to get from the city to a glacier. The helicopter flies north over the Shivapuri hills and the Trishuli river, then turns into the Langtang Valley, a deep U-shaped trough with the Tibetan border just beyond its head.

You land at Kyanjin Gompa, a Tamang village of stone lodges and prayer walls gathered around a small monastery and a cheese factory. Langtang Lirung (7,227 m) towers directly above, and the valley carries on east towards Langshisa and the Tibetan border. You'll have about 30 to 45 minutes to walk to the gompa, try some yak cheese and soak up the view.

On the way back, the pilot can swing south past the Gosainkunda lakes if the cloud allows. The valley was badly hit by the 2015 earthquake and has since rebuilt, so the landing fees and anything you buy here help the lodges that rely on visitors.

Highlights

Land at Kyanjin Gompa (3,870 m)
Langtang Lirung's glaciers directly above you
The monastery, mani walls and yak cheese factory
The nearest high mountains to Kathmandu

Price per person by group size

You hire the whole helicopter, and its cost is shared between everyone on board. Travelling solo or as a couple? Ask about a shared seat, which costs the lowest price.

Passengers	Price per person
1 person	US$2,495each
2 people	US$1,247each
3 people	US$831each
4 people	US$623each
5 people	US$499each

Flight plan

1
Kathmandu to Kyanjin and back
- Hotel pickup and check-in at the domestic terminal.
- Fly north over Shivapuri and up the Langtang Khola, about 40 minutes.
- Land at Kyanjin Gompa: walk to the monastery and the viewpoint, tea and breakfast at a lodge.
- Fly back, with a pass over the Gosainkunda lakes when the weather allows.
- Drive back to your hotel, usually before 10:00.

What's included

Hotel pickup and drop-off by private car
Your seat on the helicopter, with all landing and route charges
Airport and government taxes
Passenger insurance held by the helicopter operator
Langtang National Park entry fee

Not included

Travel insurance
Meals unless listed
Tips and personal spending

Good to know

Where we meet you: Your hotel in Kathmandu
Cancellation: If the weather grounds your flight, you can move it to the next clear day or have a full refund. If you cancel more than 10 days before the flight, we refund half of what you've paid; within 10 days, the deposit isn't refundable. Booking terms
Notes: Breakfast at Kyanjin is paid locally, so bring some Nepali rupees.

Questions

Can we stay a night in Kyanjin and fly back the next day?

Yes, you can. The helicopter comes back for you the next morning. Because it flies the route twice, it costs more, so ask us for a quote.

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