14-day Langtang Gosaikunda trek in Nepal

After breakfast, our guide will pick you up from your hotel. Drive from Kathmandu to Syabru Besi 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’ll catch a glimpse of Ganesh Himal, beautiful terraces and green hills. Stay overnight at the lodge.

The first part of the trail crosses through Bhote Koshi and follows the Langtang Khola. This trail gradually takes us through a Bamboo forest. Afterward, we’ll trek down gently to Rimche (2400m.) through Bamboo (1960m.) lies at the bank of Langtang Khola. En- route you could see red pandas, monkeys and bears if you are lucky. Stay overnight at lodge.

As you continue climbing there are occasional glimpses of Langtang Lirung between the trees. At Ghora Tabela [3000m], the trail emerges from the forest. While walking here, you can catch a glimpse of white monkeys and local birds. 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 we 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. Stay overnight at lodge.

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 arrive at Kyangjin by lunch time allowing time to acclimatize and explore the area. At this point, you can enjoy the panoramic view of Dorje Larpa (6990m.), Langtang Ri (6370m.), Langtang Lirung (7245m.) and so on. Stay overnight at lodge.

This is 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. Stay overnight at lodge.

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. Stay overnight at lodge.

You retrace your steps to Thulo Syabru, and then take a path passing through forests. Stay overnight at lodge.

From Thulo Syabru it is a steep climb through forests of oak, fir and rhododendron to the top of a ridge. From here it is only a short descent to Sing Gompa. Stay overnight at lodge.

You follow a rugged trail with dramatic views; to the west lie Himal Chuli (7893m.,) Manaslu (8156m,) and Ganesh Himal (7406m.) 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 pastures of Laurebina, 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, Bharab Kunda and Gosainkunda. Stay overnight at lodge.

The trail leaves Gosainkunda and climbs through rugged country, past four more small lakes to the Laurebina La [4610m], the highest point of this trek. Keep looking back for spectacular views of Manaslu and the mountains of the Ganesh Himal, as well as the now familiar Langtang Lirung. You then descend steeply to camp near Gopte. Stay overnight at lodge.

From Ghopte to till Tharepati, the trail ascends through forest of rhododendron, oak and bamboo. From Tharepati, the trail gradually descends through pine and rhododendron forest all the way to Kutumsang. Kumtumsang is a Sherpa village and lies with Helambu Valley. You can enjoy good views of Langtang, Jugal, Gaurishankar, Numbur and many other mountain peaks. Stay overnight at lodge.

From Kutumsang onwards, you climb a pass at 2620m before descending to the Tamang village of Gul Bhanjyang. Further, your trek ascends to a ridge with splendid views, stretching from the Annapurna and Manaslu on the west to Numbur on the east. Descend the ridge down to Pati Bhanjyang, a large Tamang village with a few shops and a police checkpoint. Another 1 ½ hour climb from Pati Bhanjyang arrives at Chisopani. Chisopani is an excellent view point to see many snowcapped mountain peaks. Stay overnight at lodge.

Leaving Chisopani, the trail passes through meadows and cultivated fields, and then climbs through the oak and rhododendron forest to Burlang Bhanjyang. From here, there are magnificent views, from Annapurna on the west to Ganesh Himal, Langatang and Numbur on the east. This ridge marks the northern rim of Kathmandu valley. You now begin descending steeply through dense forest of oak, pine and rhododendron to cross a dam and then follow a large water pipe which supplies much of the water for Kathmandu. Soon you are down into Sundarijal from where you will drive back to Kathmandu.