Ruby Valley Trek 2027: The Complete Guide to the 9-Day Route from Syabrubesi to Dhading Besi

Updated 23 October 2026.

Short answer: The Ruby Valley trek is a 9-day, moderate trek in Dhading and Rasuwa districts. Ours runs from Syabrubesi over the Pangsang La (about 3,842 m, the highest point) to Tipling, Borang and Kintang Fedi, then a jeep to Dhading Besi. You walk 5 to 7 hours a day and sleep in village homestays and basic lodges. For 2027 the price is USD 560 Budget, USD 1,205 Standard and USD 2,000 Luxury per person for two to four people. Langtang National Park permit (NPR 3,000) and TIMS card (NPR 2,000) are included.

I am Shreejan. Ruby Valley is the trek I suggest when a guest says they want somewhere quiet that is still close to Kathmandu. Below is the full route, the real costs, the months that work, and a few places where the published numbers disagree with each other.

Ruby Valley trek facts at a glance

What is the Ruby Valley trek and why is it called that?

The valley sits east of the Ganesh Himal, mostly in Dhading district. The villages are Tamang and Gurung, and the trail links to the Langtang side at Gatlang.

The name comes from old mining. Our package page says rubies and garnets were mined in the hills, and that the mines are largely finished now. Other operators describe the same area as once producing zinc, copper and rubies, so I would not tell you exactly what came out of the ground. The name is what stayed.

I have no published count of how many trekkers walk it each year, so I will not give you one. Other operators call it lesser-trodden, and that matches what I tell guests: expect small villages and few other foreigners.

Which way does the route go, and what does each day look like?

Some descriptions online run the trek from Dhading Besi towards Syabrubesi. Ours goes the other way, as in the table. You gain height in the first four days and then spend the second half coming down through the villages.

The hard day is day 4. You climb about 570 m from Somdang to the pass and then drop roughly 1,760 m to Tipling. It is a long day for the knees. The rest day at Tipling is there for a reason, and I would not skip it.

For the villages themselves, I have written separate pages: Tipling, Borang, Kintang Fedi, Gatlang and the end of the road at Dhading Besi.

How high is the Pangsang La?

Depends who you ask. Our itinerary gives 3,842 m, and one other operator page gives the same. The Great Himalaya Trail site says 3,830 m and another operator says 3,800 m. One section of our own package page also says "around 3,200 m", which does not match our itinerary. I use 3,842 m.

The same Great Himalaya Trail page warns that snow can block the pass at any time of year and that it can be icy. I take that seriously, and I would rather you hear it from me before you book.

For insurance, your policy should cover trekking to at least 4,000 m. That is the pass height rounded up to the next 500 m.

What does the Ruby Valley trek cost in 2027?

These are the prices on our Ruby Valley trek page today, per person.

Bigger groups pay less per person, and the page shows the bands up to 20. The price is the same whether the group is private or a fixed departure.

What changes between the tiers:

• Budget: guide, permits and transport, shared rooms, no meals and no porter. You carry your own bag.
• Standard: three meals a day with tea and fruit, a private room where possible, and one porter for every two trekkers (10 kg each). A solo trekker has no porter, and the guide carries up to 10 kg of the bag.
• Luxury: all meals plus fruit, nuts and drinks except alcohol, one porter per trekker (bag up to 20 kg), and private transport.

Not included in any tier: international flights, your visa (USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days, USD 125 for 90 days on arrival, paid in US dollars), Kathmandu hotels, tips and travel insurance. An extra Kathmandu night is USD 45 per person on Budget and USD 60 on Standard. Our page suggests about USD 20 a day for personal expenses, which matters most on Budget because meals are yours to pay.

You pay a 10% deposit to hold your dates and the balance in Kathmandu. Foreign guests pay in USD or EUR, never rupees. The balance by card carries a 3.5% charge, and cash in Kathmandu carries none.

Which permits do I need?

The Ruby Valley is not a national park or a restricted area. But our route enters Langtang National Park at Gatlang and Somdang, so you need the park permit and a TIMS card. The figures below are from the Nepal Tourism Board pages for park entry fees and the TIMS card.

We buy both and they are in the price. The NTB list of routes that need a licensed guide and an agency TIMS card names Ruby Valley, so you cannot walk it on your own. More on that in our TIMS card guide and the Nepal trekking permits guide.

When is the best time to trek the Ruby Valley?

Our package page rates the seasons like this, and the Great Himalaya Trail gives a similar window: early October to mid-February, closing for a short winter break and reopening from mid-March until the monsoon in June. I do not have month-by-month trail reports for this route, so I will not invent temperatures.

• December to February: cold and often clear, quiet villages, snow on the passes.
• March, April and May: warmer, with rhododendron in flower on the ridges. A good second season.
• June to mid-September: rain, cloud and leeches on the approach. I would avoid it.
• October and November: the clearest and most reliable weather. The main season.

If you are choosing between months, see our October 2027 and March 2027 guides.

Getting there and the current road situation

Day 1 is a drive from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi. The Bhote Koshi flood of 26 August 2026 damaged the road and the settlement there. As of 15 October 2026 the road to Dhunche and Syabrubesi is open again, but no hotels are running in Syabrubesi right now. On day 1 we walk on from the road head to the first open lodge on the trail. We check road and trail conditions 48 hours before every departure. I explained the geography in the Rasuwa flood note.

I would rather tell you the road is open and the lodges are few than promise everything is back to normal.

What are the homestays like?

Basic. Our package page says accommodation is in local homestays and community lodges, not standard teahouses, and that you eat what the family eats: dal bhat, seasonal vegetables, dhindo and sweet milk tea. On Budget the rooms are shared. On Standard you get a private room, with an attached bathroom if possible. Come with an open mind, and bring your own sleeping bag or borrow ours.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Ruby Valley trek hard?

I rate it moderate. The days are 5 to 7 hours, there are steep climbs and long descents, and the trail can be muddy after rain. The Great Himalaya Trail rates it as energetic. You do not need altitude experience, but we suggest 3 to 4 weeks of regular hill walking beforehand.

How many days does the Ruby Valley trek take?

Our trek is 9 days from Kathmandu back to Kathmandu, with five walking days, a rest day at Tipling and three days that are mostly driving. Other operators run it in 7 to 12 days, depending on the route.

How much does the Ruby Valley trek cost?

From USD 560 per person for two to four people on Budget, USD 1,205 on Standard and USD 2,000 on Luxury. One person pays USD 1,015, USD 1,540 or USD 3,150. Permits are included, Kathmandu hotels are not.

Do I need a permit for the Ruby Valley?

Yes. You need the Langtang National Park permit (NPR 3,000) and a TIMS card (NPR 2,000). We arrange both.

Can I trek the Ruby Valley alone?

Not without a guide. A licensed guide is required on this route. You can book as a solo traveller with us, and you will have your own guide.

What is the highest point on the Ruby Valley trek?

The Pangsang La at about 3,842 m. Published figures run from 3,800 to 3,850 m. Your highest sleeping point is Somdang at 3,271 m.

Is the Ruby Valley trek open in 2027?

Our page lists the trek for 2027. The road to Syabrubesi was reported open on 15 October 2026, and I will confirm conditions 48 hours before your start.

Related reading: our guide to quiet treks in Nepal and, for the height question, altitude sickness prevention.

If you have dates in mind, message me on WhatsApp at +977 9810351300 and I will tell you what I know for that week.