Langtang Gosaikunda Trek - 15 Days

The trek starts from the village Syafru Beshi and takes you on a trail that crosses the Bhote Kosi river and climbs through a scenic forest to the village of Changtang, also known as Lama Hotel.

After Lama hotel you pass small villages in the forest. You reach the U-shaped glacial valley and follow the path all the way along the Langtang Khola.

You cross the village of Langtang which was completely destroyed after the earth quake in 2015.

After Langtang the path meanders on through yak-herding villages like Mundu, Sindum and Yampha. Enjoy a piece of Yak cheese from the cheese factory on the way back.

From Kyanjin most trekkers explore the surrounding valleys and make excursions to the viewpoint at Kyanjin Ri (4600m), or a longer daytrip to the east to Tsergo Ri (4984m) from where you have breath taking views on the Langtang mountain range.

For the return trip, you go back the way you came to Thulo Syabru over two days and continue via Gosaikunde to Helambu.

From Thulo Syabru the route climbs up to the village of Dursagang than steeply uphill through hemlock and rhodondendron forest. After a while you reach the ridge at Phoprang Danda (3190m). The trail crosses the ridge, climbs through the forest while the views get better and better. You pass clusters of lodges at Sing Gompa where you can stay the night, or move on a little further to Chalang Pati from where you have a spectacular sunset view.

The trail continues up to Laurebina Yak (3920). Take a tea break here and enjoy the magnificent vista spanning the Annapurna’s, Manaslu, the four peaks of the Ganesh Himal, some unnamed peaks in Tibet and the Langtang Lirung.

The second part of the trek follows the Laurembina pass up to 4300 meters, to the magical rocky area with plenty of half frozen lakes. The most important lake is Gosaikunde. Gosaikunde is a holy lake where each year with the full-moon festival in August thousands of pilgrims from Nepal and India come together and walk clockwise around the lake passing hundreds of small cairns and bring their offerings and prayers. The clear blue lake is surrounded by rocky peaks, and colorful prayer flags that decorate the source of the lake which Lord Shiva has created. When you wonder around the area you can feel it’s powerful energy. You get the best views on the lake from the viewpoint at the ridge behind the lodges.

You follow the Laurembina pass to its highest point at Laurebina La (4610m) with more scenic views over the mountain Lakeland above the treeline. Descend into the rocky plains with plenty of small lakes and rivers with snow and ice streaming down. The trail onwards climbs through bamboo forest, than drops below the cliffs of Thare Danda to Ghopte. You find cosy guest houses here, heathed by stoves.

Going up and down, with a long descent through ravines you reach the lodges of Tharepati on a windy ridge. After Thadepati you enter the Helambu circuit area. You follow the trail along a scenic ridge covered by green firs, oaks and rhodondendron trees. Through the trees at some spots with clear weather, the Mount Everest is visible

The more you descend, the more you see the landscape changing with an increasing variety of trees and plants. You reach the farmland area close to welcoming village of Kutumsang, where you enjoy the best Dal Bhat.

You finally reach the modern settlement Chisapani, a popular holiday destination for local people from Kathmandu. In Chisapani you can enjoy hot showers again.

Continue to descend through the villages of Borlang Bhanjyang and Mulkhara. Than you reach Shivapuri National park checkpoint. From here you see day visitors wander around with picknick baskets.

The trek ends at Sundarajal, just a 1,5 hours drive back to Kathmandu.

sightseen around kathmandu valley