Overview
Naya Kanga — Ganja La Chuli on the NMA's list — is 5,844 metres on the south wall of the Langtang valley, directly opposite Yala Peak. The two share an approach and nothing else: this one is a genuine ice climb.
The climb
Base camp at 4,300 m and high camp at 5,000 m, below the pass. Summit day crosses a glacier to a sustained ice and snow slope of 40 to 50 degrees, fixed on the steepest section, finishing along a corniced ridge.
Langtang Lirung fills the view north, with Shishapangma beyond it and Dorje Lakpa east.
The Ganja La option
Some parties climb the peak then cross the Ganja La at 5,122 m south into Helambu rather than walking back down the valley. It is a fine line and a logical one, but the pass is exposed, frequently corniced, has no shelter on either side and a poor record in bad weather. Budget three or four extra days and treat it as a second objective, not an add-on.
What it costs
USD 1,800 to 3,200. No flights and a road-accessible trailhead keep it well below the Khumbu peaks; the NMA Group B permit is USD 250 in spring, USD 125 in autumn.
Day by day
The 14 days itinerary
Distances, walking times, altitudes and accommodation for every stage — stored as structured data, not written into the prose.
- Day 1
Kathmandu to Syabrubesi
Kathmandu (1,400 m) → Syabrubesi (1,460 m)
- Walking
- 7 hours by road
- Altitude
- 1,400 m → 1,460 m
- Sleep
- Lodge, Syabrubesi
- Meals
- Dinner
- Day 2
Syabrubesi to Lama Hotel
Syabrubesi (1,460 m) → Lama Hotel (2,470 m)
- Distance
- 11 km
- Walking
- 6 hours
- Altitude
- 1,460 m → 2,470 m
- Elevation
- +1010 m
- Sleep
- Lodge, Lama Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Day 3
Lama Hotel to Langtang village
Lama Hotel (2,470 m) → Langtang village (3,430 m)
- Distance
- 12 km
- Walking
- 6 hours
- Altitude
- 2,470 m → 3,430 m
- Elevation
- +960 m
- Sleep
- Lodge, Langtang village
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Day 4
Langtang village to Kyanjin Gompa
Langtang village (3,430 m) → Kyanjin Gompa (3,870 m)
- Distance
- 7 km
- Walking
- 4 hours
- Altitude
- 3,430 m → 3,870 m
- Elevation
- +440 m
- Sleep
- Lodge, Kyanjin Gompa
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Day 5
Kyanjin Gompa — Kyanjin Ri
Kyanjin Gompa (3,870 m) → Kyanjin Ri (4,770 m) → Kyanjin Gompa
- Distance
- 7 km
- Walking
- 5 hours
- Altitude
- 3,870 m → 3,870 m
- Elevation
- +900 m / −900 m
- Sleep
- Lodge, Kyanjin Gompa
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Day 6
Kyanjin Gompa — Tserko Ri
Kyanjin Gompa (3,870 m) → Tserko Ri (4,984 m) → Kyanjin Gompa
- Distance
- 10 km
- Walking
- 7 hours
- Altitude
- 3,870 m → 3,870 m
- Elevation
- +1114 m / −1114 m
- Sleep
- Lodge, Kyanjin Gompa
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Day 7
Kyanjin Gompa to Naya Kanga base camp
Kyanjin Gompa (3,870 m) → base camp (4,300 m)
- Distance
- 5 km
- Walking
- 4 hours
- Altitude
- 3,870 m → 4,300 m
- Elevation
- +430 m
- Sleep
- Tented camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Rope
- crampon and ice-axe practice
- Day 8
Base camp to high camp
Base camp (4,300 m) → high camp (5,000 m)
- Distance
- 4 km
- Walking
- 5 hours
- Altitude
- 4,300 m → 5,000 m
- Elevation
- +700 m
- Sleep
- Tented high camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Day 9
Summit day, and down to base camp
High camp (5,000 m) → Naya Kanga (5,844 m) → base camp (4,300 m)
- Distance
- 10 km
- Walking
- 10–12 hours
- Altitude
- 5,000 m → 4,300 m
- Elevation
- +844 m / −1544 m
- Sleep
- Tented camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
A glacier approach, then a sustained ice and snow slope of 40 to 50 degrees, fixed on the steepest part, to a corniced summit ridge. Steeper and more serious than anything on Yala.
- The north-east ice slope
- Langtang Lirung
- Shishapangma
- Dorje Lakpa
- Day 10
Contingency day
Reserved at base camp
- Altitude
- 4,300 m → 4,300 m
- Sleep
- Tented camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Day 11
Base camp to Lama Hotel
Base camp (4,300 m) → Kyanjin Gompa → Lama Hotel (2,470 m)
- Distance
- 22 km
- Walking
- 7 hours
- Altitude
- 4,300 m → 2,470 m
- Elevation
- −1830 m
- Sleep
- Lodge, Lama Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Day 12
Lama Hotel to Syabrubesi
Lama Hotel (2,470 m) → Syabrubesi (1,460 m)
- Distance
- 11 km
- Walking
- 5 hours
- Altitude
- 2,470 m → 1,460 m
- Elevation
- −1010 m
- Sleep
- Lodge, Syabrubesi
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Day 13
Syabrubesi to Kathmandu
Syabrubesi (1,460 m) → Kathmandu (1,400 m)
- Walking
- 7 hours by road
- Altitude
- 1,460 m → 1,400 m
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 14
Contingency day
Reserved for weather
- Altitude
- 1,400 m → 1,400 m
- Meals
- Breakfast
Route map
Where the trail goes
Route line, start and end points, and every overnight stop. Locations are shared entities — the same record powers the destination and itinerary pages.
Frequently asked questions
How does it compare with Yala Peak?
Is it the same as Ganja La Chuli?
Can you combine it with the Ganja La?
How busy is it?
When should you go?
About the author
Tom Eriksen
Gear editor & photographer
Tom tests trekking equipment the only way that produces honest answers: by carrying it for weeks at a time above 4,000 metres. He shoots most of the photography on this site and writes the gear reviews, comparison tables and packing lists.
Writes about: Trekking gear · Photography · Packing and weight
