Langtang Gosaikunda Trek

This morning, we have an exciting drive towards Rasuwa district and the Langtang region. The ride leads towards high hills with views of Himalayan peaks and rolling green hills, passing through many farm villages and towns to reach a friendly Tamang village at Syabrubesi after passing through Dhunche town, where our trek begins.

Syabrubesi sits in the shadow of the massive Central Himalayas of the Ganesh and Langtang mountain ranges. It is a doorway to many Langtang treks like Langtang Valley Trek, Tamang Heritage Trail Trek, Gosainkunda Trek, etc., and a route to the Tibet border. It is the gateway to trekking in the Langtang region.

We will start our trek by crossing a bridge over Langtang Khola (river). We will follow the Langtang River, which later joins the Trisuli River downstream. From here, we will climb uphill through scattered farm villages and terraces into a cool shade of forest. We will take a lunch break after reaching Riverside, a small settlement with a few simple lodges. The path from Upper or Thulo Syabru meets here.

After a rest or lunch break, the trekking route continues with a climb through beautiful forests of rhododendrons, pines, and bamboo tree lines. Langtang area is famous for the rare and elusive Red Panda and other wildlife. After a good day’s walk, we will reach the Lama Hotel, located between the surrounding forest and the Langtang Khola

On this day, we will trek from Lama Hotel to Langtang Village. We will take a morning walk that leads higher into a river gorge within lovely woodlands of tall trees of pines and rhododendrons. Then, we will follow the river upstream past a few houses and cattle herders’ shelters to reach more excellent areas at Ghoretabela for a lunch break, a lovely spot with beautiful forest surrounding. From here, we continue our trek, which takes another three hours of good walking into the forested area before leaving the tree lines behind at Langtang village for an overnight stop.

The Langtang Village is the last permanent village before Kyanjin Gompa around Langtang Valley, with time to explore this interesting Tamang and Bhotias people village of Tibetan origin with a similar lifestyle interwoven into Buddhist religion and culture.

After a beautiful stop in Langtang village, we will begin our trek early to our highlight and leading destination at Kyanjin. We will be heading on a winding uphill trail, where the deep gorge opens into a vast, beautiful valley with amazing views of snow-capped mountains surrounding Langtang Valley.

The path encounters several prayer or mani walls and then reaches Kyanjin Gomba for a two-night stop. We will explore this lovely valley shadowed by various peaks with Langtang Lirung glaciers. Near the lodges is a cheese processing factory established some 35 years ago with the help and support of Swiss assistance.

Kyanjin is a perfect spot for a rest day and acclimatization at this high altitude. There are many places for short hikes and climbs, like the hilltops of Tsego and Kyanjin ri at over 4,000 meters for a better panorama of the surrounding mountains.

You can overlook Langtang Himal from a viewpoint hill, beyond which lies Tibet. The major peaks include Ghengu Liru (Langtang II 6571m / 21,560ft),  Langtang Lirung  (7,425m / 23,765ft) Kimshun (6,745m / 22,137ft) and Shalbachum (6,918m / 22,699ft) to the south, the Chimsedang Lekh forms a ridge of peaks which includes Naya-Kanga 5,846m and Gangchempo, Tilman’s beautiful Fluted Peak.

Beyond it, it continues to the Jugal Himal, ending with Dorje Lakpa (6,980m / 22,929ft). Extending further east on the upper meadows of the Langtang range, it ends in a massive mountain wall, forming the border with Tibet.

In the morning, we will catch the last view of the beautiful surroundings with high snow-capped mountains in the fantastic Langtang Valley. Then, we will head downhill for another adventure. The trail leads on the same route to Lama Hotel after a long descent with a few short ups between the walks.

From Lama Hotel, our journey leads to an alternative route towards Upper Syabru, also called Thulo Syabru. We will take a short morning walk downhill to Riverside and the Bamboo area, which has small lodges and teahouses in the middle of rhododendrons, oaks, and bamboo forests. After a brief rest here, our walk continues uphill to Upper Syabru’s ridge, passing a few farmlands and an extensive landslide section, and then to Thulo Syabru village.

Upon reaching the village, you will see many traditional Tamang houses linked together like a long locomotive with beautiful carved windows and doors. Thulo Syabru village has 6-8 good lodges and a monastery above the town.

After staying overnight at the charming village of Thulo Syabru, we will continue our journey. The route leads to more climbs through an enchanting dense forest of lovely rhododendrons, oaks, and pine trees with views of Langtang and Ganesh Himal and as far as the west peaks of Manaslu and Annapurna Himalaya.

Although it is a steep climb, it is an exciting walk into beautiful, thick woodlands where more than ten varieties of rhododendron species exist. En route, we will pass summer pastures and the shade of cattle herders and then follow the pleasant, winding trail to Sing Gompa / Chandanbari village, which has a cheese factory and an old monastery at the top.

Today, we walk to our next destination, one of the highlights of this incredible journey. We will walk uphill through the beautiful alpine coniferous forest with views of Annapurna and the Manaslu Mountains towards the Northwest and the Langtang Himal range ahead north. The trail passes a few settlements with small lodges and settlements at Laurabinaya, where the tree line stops with only a few bushes of juniper and dwarf rhododendrons.

Our walk continues with a climb, reaching the top-notch of the west Laurabinaya pass via Cholang Pati and Laurabinayak. We will make a short descent and then head towards the holy Gosainkund area. First, we will reach Saraswati and Bhiarav Kund. Then, we will briefly climb to the main massive pond at Gosainkund for an overnight stop. It takes 5 hours to reach Gosaikunda from Sing Gompa / Chandanbari village.

Godaikunda is a fascinating place with an ambiance environment surrounded by high Rocky Mountains. In the afternoon, we will take a short walk around the lake and to the hilltop for impressive views of the mountains of Langtang and Ganesh Himal. This place has been regarded as a holy site for hundreds of years. Thousands of Hindu pilgrims, Buddhists, and shamans (Witch Doctors) visit here at a festival held around “Jani Purnima” in August as per the Hindu / Buddhist Lunar calendar.

From holy Gosainkunda Lake, we will follow the trail to the pond in the east direction and then climb to a rocky ridge and a basin with two more frozen small ponds of Suraya kund, and from here on, the gradual section of the walk for an hour and then with a last final climb towards the high ridge pass of another east Laurabina-La at 4,609 meters or 15, 100 feet.

After catching the panoramic views of mountains and hills, a long descent to the base of this pass to Phedi (bottom or base) with a few lodges and teahouses serving travelers and trekkers using this way to Gosainkund. After a time, the walk continues on the excellent trail and back into tree lines of lovely junipers, rhododendrons, and pines. After a few steady walks, we will reach the overnight stop in a small place called Ghopte Odar (overhanging cave), which has small and straightforward lodges and teahouses.

After a great moment on the highest spot of this trek around the Gosainkund area, we will begin our descent. After breakfast, our walk leads further to the east and in south directions, reaching Tharepati at 3,597 meters en route to Helambu, Gosainkund, and Kathmandu. A small settlement on a ridge offers excellent views of snow-capped mountains, rolling hills, and valleys. We will take a lunch break here. Then, we will continue trekking with a long descent through a lovely dense forest to Kutumsang village, a farm place with Sherpa, Hyalmo, and Tamang people.

The trek on this day leads to Gul Bhanjyang village. It starts with a gradual winding path through a farm and a small forest area, with more descent passing many small villages and farm fields with terraces. Finally, we will end the trek for the day at Gul Bhanjyang village, where we will take an overnight stop.

The trek on this day leads to more villages and incredible scenery surrounding beautiful landscapes with high Himalayan mountains. We will have to make a short climb and then trek on the gentle trail for hours before heading downhill to the beautiful Hindu village of Patbhanjyang. Patbhanjyang is located on a basin between hill ridges with tremendous views of the green valley and rolling green hills, contrasting with high snow-capped peaks.

From here, it takes another two hours to walk on a short, steep climb to reach Chisopani Danda, the last overnight stop of this remarkable adventure. This beautiful spot has 5-6 cozy lodges with an overwhelming panorama of mountains with stunning sunrise views over the chain of mountains from Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh, and Langtang Himal and towards the Jugal Himalayan range.

We will wake up early to catch the stunning sunrise over a range of snow-capped peaks. After breakfast with mountain views, our last day’s walk leads downhill through green forests and farmlands around Tamang villages. We will then end our walk at Sundarijal (beautiful water).

This beautiful area supplies pure drinking water to urban areas around Kathmandu Valley. From the small town of Sundarijal, we take a short drive back to Kathmandu, reaching respective hotels with free afternoons for individual activities.

Today is your last day in amazing Nepal. As you reminisce about a fabulous time in the high hills and around Langtang and the Holy Gosainkund trek, our staff will transfer you to Kathmandu International Airport for your final flight home or to your respective countries.