The Hiking World

Helambu

OSM hiking route Helambu, Nepal (43.41 km line). Permits are the headline (official NTB/NTNC 2026-09-21). Vertical figures from the Wave N GLO-30 resample.

Byline

  • The Hiking World editorial · author

    Desk byline for seed records. Named surveying editors replace this once a trail is verified.

Helambu ridge country south of Langtang, Nepal

Figures marked provisional are seed data and still need verification. Source and last-checked date sit under each cited value.

Altitude weather delta

High 3,681 m minus low 1,742 m is 1,939 m of relief on this record. A standard tropospheric lapse of 6.5 °C per 1,000 m implies about 12.6 °C cooler at the high point than the valley, all else equal.

That is a model (International Standard Atmosphere environmental lapse), not a forecast and not a trail-closure. Wind, snow, and storms stay in Hazards.

derived:lapse-rate · 2026-09-10 · provisional

ISA 6.5 °C / 1,000 m · wikipedia.org · 2026-09-10

loading map...
Facts28.013, 85.492
Distance43.41 km*
OSM line (ODbL, rel 4867728) · 2026-09-21 · osm · provisional
Ascent+4,108 m*
Copernicus GLO-30 (30 m resample) · 2026-09-21 · dem · provisional
Descent5,672 m*
Copernicus GLO-30 (30 m resample) · 2026-09-21 · dem · provisional
High point3,681 m
Copernicus GLO-30 · 2026-09-21 · dem
Low point1,742 m
Copernicus GLO-30 · 2026-09-21 · dem
Routepoint-to-point
Days6
SeasonSep–May (NTB / NTNC; all-year accessible lower valleys, checked 2026-09-21)
GradeOSM sac_scale: hiking · SAC T2 · YDS 1

Editorial v1 · Provisional catalog

DifficultyOSM sac_scale: hiking

Moderate (OSM hiking)

SAC T2
Mountain hiking. Continuous trail, some steep ground, sure-footedness helpful.
YDS Class 1
Class 1. Walking on an established path; low fall risk.
openstreetmap.org · 2026-09-21

Log in to view the elevation profile

Ingested from OpenStreetMap relation 4867728 (ODbL). The mapped line is that geometry. Distance, ascent, descent, and high/low points are the Wave N evidence-sheet figures (adjudicated 2026-09-21). Permits are official-sourced; geometry stays OSM-provisional. Water was not mapped to named WaterSource points.

OSM 2D length is 43.41 km (OSM line, ODbL, relation 4867728, lastVerified 2026-09-21). Provisional — OSM line, no official kilometre. ⚠ Incomplete geometry: 3 components with a 195 m gap. Distance stays provisional. ⚠ secondary: operator itineraries cite about 60 km. Cited km is not this DataPoint. disjoint:3 gap 195 m. Often combined with gosaikunda (relation 4867746) — relate-not-merge.

typicalDays 6 is the published typical window (operator, secondary), not a DataPoint and not implied by the OSM kilometre.

High 3,681 m is Copernicus GLO-30 (lastVerified 2026-09-21), verified on the walked OSM line. Low 1,742 m is the same DEM resample, verified. Ascent 4,108 m / descent 5,672 m remain provisional DEM. Landmark Tharepati Pass 3,650 m (Wikipedia; DEM high 3,681 m is the walked line).

Langtang National Park entry is required (https://ntb.gov.np/en/plan-your-trip/before-you-come/park-entry-fees, checked 2026-09-21); the park-table amount was not copied onto this sheet this pass — confirm live. TIMS NPR 2,000 foreign / NPR 1,000 SAARC (https://ntb.gov.np/en/plan-your-trip/before-you-come/tims-card, checked 2026-09-21). Part of the itinerary sits in Langtang NP.

Water

No water sources recorded.

Permits & fees

Permit
Langtang NP entry + TIMS card

Log in to view cost, booking, and issuer

Getting there

Sourced legs to the Sundarijal / Melamchi approaches base start station — where this trail record begins. This is not a route planner: durations are approximate and marked provisional until an official transport page confirms them.

  1. Road · Kathmandu (KTM) → Sundarijal / Melamchi road heads

    Road or local bus from Kathmandu to the published Helambu road-heads (Sundarijal, Melamchi). Langtang NP entry (part) + TIMS (https://ntb.gov.np/en/plan-your-trip/before-you-come/tims-card, checked 2026-09-21).

    ntb.gov.np · 2026-09-21 · official · provisional

Relate gosaikunda, do not merge. OSM line start is the stored vertex.

Plan from your location

Type a city, then pick a match. These links open external search tools — they do not fetch fares or timetables.

Trailheads

  • OSM line start car-free: unknown
  • OSM line end car-free: unknown

Log in to view trailhead transit detail

Hazards

  • Altitude / AMS: GLO-30 high 3,681 m on this line (Tharepati Pass 3,650 m (Wikipedia; DEM high 3,681 m is the walked line)). This is a high-altitude trek, not a casual hike.
  • Related records gosaikunda, langtang-valley share geography — relate-not-merge.

Questions

Do I need a permit for Helambu?

A permit is required for Helambu: Langtang NP entry + TIMS card. Cost, booking, and issuer stay behind the login gate on this page.

When is the best time to hike Helambu?

On this record the best season is: Sep–May (NTB / NTNC; all-year accessible lower valleys, checked 2026-09-21).

How difficult is Helambu?

Helambu is graded OSM sac_scale: hiking · SAC T2 · YDS 1. A sourced hazard on this record: Altitude / AMS: GLO-30 high 3,681 m on this line (Tharepati Pass 3,650 m (Wikipedia; DEM high 3,681 m is the walked line)). This is a high-altitude trek, not a casual hike.

How long is Helambu?

The length on this record is 43.41 km (provisional). Published figures may differ. See /guides/how-long-is-the-trail

How do I get to Helambu?

The record’s base start is Sundarijal / Melamchi approaches. A primary gateway on the record is Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). Trailhead transit notes are not included in this public FAQ.

Related trails

Featured in

Related links