Dhukpa: Langtang Ganja La Village Guide (2027)

Updated 18 October 2026.

Short answer: Dhukpa (4,040 m) is the last camp on our 12-day Langtang Ganja La Pass trek. It is not a lodge village. It is a summer settlement of the Helambu people, and you sleep there in a tent that our crew carries, in forest, after a long descent from Keldang (4,270 m) on day 8. On day 9 you drop 1,440 m to Tarkeghyang (2,600 m), where lodges and hot food come back. For one to four people the trek is USD 725 Budget, USD 999 Standard and USD 1,999 Luxury per person.

I am Shreejan. I want to cover the camp after the pass, because day 8 is the day people forget to plan for: you have crossed 5,130 m, your legs are tired, and you still have two more nights before the first lodge. Here is what our itinerary says about Dhukpa, what I cannot tell you for certain, and how to prepare.

Dhukpa at a glance

What is Dhukpa, and is it a village?

Our day-8 text describes it as a summer town for the Helambu people. I would not expect a lived-in village with shops when you arrive. Our itinerary spells it "Dhukpa" in the heading and "Dukpu" in the text, and you will see other spellings on other sites. It is the same stop.

The same text says you set up your tent camp in a peaceful, secluded forest surrounded by mountains. After Kyanjin Gompa there are no teahouses or shops for three days, so the three camp nights are Nyengang Kharka (4,430 m), Keldang (4,270 m) and Dhukpa (4,040 m). Do not plan on buying a drink or charging a phone there.

What is the walk from Keldang to Dhukpa on day 8?

You leave Keldang (4,270 m) the morning after the pass. Our text says you descend a long stretch, but the ridge walk stays beautiful and gives wide views. You move through forest, mountains and grassland, and the altitude gradually drops. Reaching Dhukpa involves one more ridge descent through forest and meadow.

The height difference is only 230 m between the two camps, which is small. Our itinerary gives no distance or walking time for this day, so I will not invent one. Ask me for the current plan for your dates and I will tell you what the guide expects.

What is the walk from Dhukpa to Tarkeghyang on day 9?

This is the big drop: Dhukpa (4,040 m) to Tarkeghyang (2,600 m), 1,440 m lower. Our text says you pass Melamchi Khola and a traditional Sherpa village, with open views of the Himalayan peaks, and that on a clear day you might see the Annapurna and Everest ranges in the distance. You descend through pine and rhododendron forest to the small herder community of Tarkeghyang, which has one of the oldest Buddhist temples in the area. We have a full guide to Tarkeghyang, the Hyolmo village of Helambu.

After Tarkeghyang the trek goes to Sermathang on day 10 (2,590 m) and Melamchi Pul Bazar on day 11 (870 m), then a drive of about five hours to Kathmandu on day 12. The end of the route is covered in our Melamchi Pul Bazar guide.

How do the heights compare along the Ganja La route?

My own sum: from the pass at 5,130 m to Tarkeghyang at 2,600 m you lose 2,530 m of height over days 7 to 9. Dhukpa is nearly 400 m lower than Nyengang Kharka, which should help, but that is a general rule about altitude and not a promise about you. If you feel unwell at any camp, tell your guide straight away. Going down is the first answer, and on this route down is where the trail already leads.

What do you need to know about camping at Dhukpa?

Our crew carries the tents and sets them up. Our standard package notes say you bring proper gear because the Ganja La section needs camping equipment. We can lend sleeping bags, down jackets and duffle bags if you tell us at your briefing. Temperatures drop below freezing at night at this height in winter, and our package page gives December to February nights as about -10 to -2 degrees Celsius. The same page gives night temperatures of 0 to 5 degrees Celsius in spring and -3 to 5 in autumn.

I could not confirm toilet arrangements, water points or phone signal at Dhukpa itself. Plan for none: carry water treatment tablets, a spare power bank and a warm layer you keep dry for the evening. Our package notes say mobile coverage is limited above Kyanjin Ri and on the Ganja La section.

Which permits do I need?

Our package includes Langtang National Park entry (NPR 3,000 for foreigners, NPR 1,500 for SAARC citizens) and the TIMS card (NPR 2,000 for foreigners, NPR 1,000 for SAARC citizens). Those figures are from the Nepal Tourism Board. I have not confirmed whether Dhukpa itself lies inside the park boundary, so I will not say so. Permits need at least 48 hours in government working days, so we ask for your passport details early. A licensed guide is included on all our treks.

Buy your insurance at home, not in Nepal. Your policy must cover emergency helicopter rescue to 5,500 m, which sits above the Ganja La pass at 5,130 m. Read our altitude sickness guide before you fly. The road to Syabrubesi was damaged by a flood on 26 August 2026, so read our flood status post and message me before you pay, so I can tell you the current state of the road.

When is the best time to camp at Dhukpa?

Our package page says the trek can be done in all seasons, with spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) giving the most settled weather and clear views. Winter brings snow near Ganja La, and the monsoon (June to August) brings rain and cloud. The package page calls autumn the most popular season. For 2027 we can arrange dates to suit you, because every trek we run is private.

What does the Ganja La trek cost?

For 2027 the 12-day trek is USD 725 Budget, USD 999 Standard and USD 1,999 Luxury per person for one to four travellers. Groups of five to eight pay USD 675, 949 or 1,949; nine to twelve pay USD 625, 899 or 1,899; thirteen to twenty pay USD 575, 849 or 1,849. Kathmandu hotels are not included in any trek tier.

Budget has no porter and shared rooms where there are lodges. Standard has all meals, private rooms where lodges exist and one porter for every two trekkers, which means a solo traveller has the guide carry up to 10 kg instead. Luxury has all meals with extras and a dedicated porter each. An extra porter is USD 25 a day plus 13 per cent VAT and the 3.5 per cent bank charge.

Questions people ask

How high is Dhukpa on the Ganja La trek? Our itinerary gives 4,040 m (13,255 ft). It is lower than Keldang (4,270 m) and Nyengang Kharka (4,430 m).

Is there a lodge or teahouse at Dhukpa? No. Our itinerary has a tented camp there, and the package notes say there are no teahouses or shops for three days after Kyanjin Gompa. Lodges return at Tarkeghyang on day 9.

How long is the walk from Keldang to Dhukpa? Our itinerary does not give a walking time or distance for day 8. It describes a long descent along a ridge through forest and grassland, with only a 230 m drop in height.

How far is Dhukpa from Tarkeghyang? The drop is 1,440 m, from 4,040 m to 2,600 m, on day 9. We give no distance or hours in the itinerary, so ask us for the current estimate for your dates.

Do I sleep better at Dhukpa than at the pass camps? Dhukpa is nearly 400 m lower than Nyengang Kharka, so it should feel easier on the body. That is a general rule, not a promise, and you should tell your guide if you feel unwell.

Can I do the Ganja La trek alone? Yes. Group size is 1 to 20. On Standard a solo traveller has no porter, and the guide carries up to 10 kg of your bag. On Luxury you get your own porter.

Is the Langtang Ganja La trek hard? We grade it Very Strenuous. It has three camp nights, a pass above 5,100 m and limited communication, so be honest about your fitness before you book.

What are the booking terms?

The deposit is 10 per cent. It is non-refundable, and there is no refund if you cancel, but you can move your trip free of charge to any date within one year with at least 72 hours notice. If we cannot run the trip ourselves, we refund what you paid, less taxes, bank or card charges and any money already spent, such as permits and flights. The balance is paid in Kathmandu in US dollars or euros, cash or card. Card carries a 3.5 per cent bank charge and cash carries none. We do not take Nepali rupees from foreign guests.

How do you plan the trek with us?

Message me on WhatsApp on +977 9810351300 with your dates and how many of you there are. I will check the road and the weather for your dates and send you a quote.

Written by Shreejan Simkhada, CEO of The Everest Holiday, from a family of three generations of family guides. TAAN Member #1586. WhatsApp +977 9810351300.