Trekking In Nepal

Langtang-Gosaikunda trek (12 days)

Langtang Gosaikunda combines the remote and spectacular valley of Langtang, with the high mountain lakes at Gosaikund. You can visit the beautiful Langtang National park and then trek to the end of the valley to view the wonderful mountains views. Following the Trishuli River north out of Kathmandu, you travel through Trishuli Bazaar and Dhunche to Syabrubensi, a Sherpa village located at the very edge of the Langtang National Park. You then swing east into the Langtang valley, crossing the river several times as you travel up along a gorge-like, lower section of the valley. You pass through oak and rhododendron forests and even cross glacial moraine on your way to the Tamang village of Langtang.

A little further up the valley is Kyangin Gompa, where you stop overnight and sample the local yak cheese. You pass through Nubamatang, nestled in a hidden valley, on your way up to view the glaciers, which mark the gateway into Tibet. Back trekking you travel through Syabru and Sing Gompa to a high plateau, where the sacred lake Gosinkund is located. Crossing the Lauribinayak Pass (4610m.), you continue south, leaving the Langtang region behind you as you travel through the Helambu valley to Gul Bhanjyang.

Outline 01Itinerary

Day 1
Drive from Kathmandu to Syabru Besi which takes about nine hours. You head north out of Kathmandu driving through scenic foothills and ridgeline vistas to Syabru Besi passing through Dhunche. While passing along the road at the bank of Trishuli river you catch a glimpse of Ganesh Himal, terraces and green hills. As you pass through Dhunche you feel as if you are heading towards deep land. At the same time, you notice that the road is still under construction.

Day 2
Trek from Syabru Besi (1600m.) to Lama Hotel (2470m.) which takes about five and half hours. The first part of the trail crosses through Bhote Koshi and follows the Langtang Khola. This trail is gradually ascent up to Bamboo passing through Landslide. Afterwards, you trek ascends gently to Rimche (2400m.) through Bamboo (1960m.) which lies at the bank of Langtang Khola. You can have lunch at this place if you like. And at the end your trail is level to the Lama Hotel. En route you could see red pandas, monkey and bear if you are lucky.

Day 3
Trek from Lama Hotel to Langtang village (3430m.) via Ghore Tabela which takes about six hours. As you continue climbing there are occasional glimpses of Langtang Lirung between the trees. At Ghora Tabela [3000m], the trail emerges from the forest. Once there was a Tibetan resettlement project here, but now it is a Nepalese army post though it has no permanent inhabitants. The trail continues to climb gently and the valley widens, passing a few temporary settlements used by herders who bring their livestock to graze in the high pastures during the summer months. There is a monastery, which you can visit shortly before arriving at the village of Langtang, the headquarters of the Langtang National Park. The houses of Langtang and its neighboring villages are of the flat-roofed Tibetan style, surrounded by stone walls enclosing fields of buckwheat, potatoes, wheat, turnips and barley.

Day 4
Trek from Langtang Village to Kyangjin (3870m.) which takes about three hours. The trail climbs gradually through small villages and yak pastures as the valley opens out further and the views become more extensive. After crossing several small streams and moraines, the trail reaches the settlement at Kyangjin. Here there is a small monastery and a government-operated cheese factory. You should arrive at Kyangjin by lunch time allowing time to acclimatize and explore the area. It is a dramatic setting, with snow-covered peaks surrounding you in all directions such as Langtang Lirung, Ganjala peak, Tserko ri, Langsisa ri and many others.

Day 5
Rest day at Kyangjin Gompa and excursion in and around. This is a day to rest and explore the area. You can visit the monastery and the cheese factory, walk up the moraine to see the spectacular ice faces and tumbling glaciers of Langtang Lirung or ascend Kyangjin Ri (4350m.), directly behind the village, for a breath-taking panorama of the Langtang peaks.

Day 6
Trek from Kyangjin Gompa to Lama Hotel (2470m.) and it takes about six hours. From Kyangjin you retrace your route, following the Langtang Khola to Langtang village and on to Ghora Tabela. After lunch, you continue the steep descent to Lama Hotel.

Day 7
Trek from Lama Hotel (2470m.) to Thulo Syabru (2260m.) which takes about five hours. The beginning of the trails is gently descent up to Landslide and then goes steeply up to Thulo Syabru. En route you could see red pandas, monkey and various species of birds. Thulo Syabru is one of the wonderful villages. From where you can enjoy the amazing land feature and the magnificent nature with splendid views of Ganesh Himal (7110m.), Langtang Himal and its ranges.

Day 8
Trek from Thulo Syabru to Sing Gompa or Chandan Bari (3250m.) and it takes about four and half hours. The trails from Thulo Syabru to Foprang Danda (3200m.) follows steeply ascent path passing through Dursagang (2660m.) along with the view of Langtang Himal, Ganesh Himal, Tibetan Mountain and oak, Hemlock, firs forests. Now the path gently ascends for some distance and then follows flat level to Sing Gompa. There is a well-managed local cheese factory and a Buddhist Monastery. If time permits, you can relax at place which is recommended for having excursion in and around Sing Gompa. It provides panoramic views, exhilarating nature and a walk in and around Yak Cheese factory. The cheese manufactured here is considered the best in Nepal.

Day 9
Trek from Sing Gompa to Gosaikunda (4361m.) via Lauribinayak La (3920m.) which takes about five and half hours. The first part of the trails emerges gently ascent up to Lauribinayak and the top of Lauribinayak gives you an exotic feeling. Then the trails steeply ascend all the way to Gosaikunda.You follow a rugged trail with dramatic views; to the west Himal chuli(7893m) Manaslu range (8156mm), Ganesh Himal range(7406m), Tibetan peaks and Langtang Lirung. On a clear day, even the Annapurna range can be seen rising up behind and to the north across the valley is Langtang Lirung. You pass a few huts in the high pasture of Laurebinayak, cross a small ridge and have your first views of the holy lakes. There are about a dozen lakes in the Gosainkunda Basin, the main three being Saraswatikunda, Bhairabkunda, and Gosainkunda. According to legend, Gosainkunda was created by Shiva when he pierced a glacier with his trident to obtain water to quench his thirst after having swallowed a poison that threatened to destroy the world.

Day 10
Trek from Gosaikunda to Sing Gompa (3250m.) or Chandan Bari (3250m.) and it takes about four and half hours. The trails descend all the way to Sing Gompa passing Lauribanayak with magnificent mountain views and forests.

Day 11
Trek from Sing Gompa to Dhunche which takes about six hours. The first part of the trails descend through pine, silver oak and rhododendrons forests with marijuana plants up to you cross suspension bridge over the Sing Gompa Stream. Now the path stretches at flat level through some human settlements and mineral water factories up to Dhunche. It is a small town and headquarters of Rasuwa district.

Day 12
Drive from Dhunche to Kathmandu by bus and it takes about seven hours. It is a pleasant drive back to Kathmandu.