Langtang Gosaikunda Trek

Kathmandu has a special atmosphere during the early morning hours when the city is slowly coming to life yet not too chaotic. It's a great time to walk and explore the streets or have a chai overlooking one of the local courtyards or durbar squares.  After breakfast, there are then several ways you can spend your day given the numerous famous sights around the Kathmandu Valley. You can use this as a free day or we can provide a local English-speaking guide who knows the city well and can explain the history and significance of the sights (along with a private jeep to take you around). However you choose to spend your day, you’ll return to your hotel in Kathmandu in the early evening and meet your trekking guide who will go over details for tomorrow’s adventure.

After an early breakfast in Kathmandu, you'll begin a 7-8-hour road trip to Syabrubesi. The drive climbs high over ridges as it leaves the Kathmandu Valley, and provides impressive snow-capped views of the Annapurna Himalayas to the west, as well as Manaslu, Ganesh Himal and the minor peaks of the Langtang mountain region ahead. Keep your camera close as you'll also encounter rivers, terraced hillsides, and rustic villages as you head into this mountainous region.  You'll drive through the bustling town of Trisuli before climbing up towards Dunche. From Dunche, you'll head downhill for an hour to get to Syabrubesi for the night. Driving time: 7-8 hours Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Overnight: Syabrubesi

After breakfast in Syabru Besi, you'll begin today’s trek that crosses over the Bhote Kosi River—meaning ‘Tibet River’—which flows from nearby Tibet.  You'll follow the stone-paved main street out of town over Langtang Khola. After crossing the suspension bridge, the trail gradually ascends up to ‘Bamboo’ passing a famous old landslide. The trail continues through several sub-tropical forests and then joins the trail from Syabru Besi, before climbing through uninhabited oak and rhododendron forests. Keep an eye out for langur monkeys in the trees, as well as an abundance of wildlife such as yellow-throated martens, wild boars, and red pandas. The trail to Lama Hotel becomes steep in places but then ascends gently and finally levels off before you reach your overnight stay. Trekking time: 5-6 hours  Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Overnight: Lama Hotel

After breakfast at the Lama Hotel, you'll continue climbing through the forest with occasional glimpses of Langtang Lirung between the trees. When you reach Ghora Tabela, the trail emerges from the forest and you'll see snow-capped mountains on either side of the valley. At one time, there was a Tibetan resettlement project here, but now it is a Nepal Army post with no permanent inhabitants. The trail continues to climb gently as the valley widens, passing a few temporary settlements used by herders who bring their livestock to graze in the high pastures during summer. You'll probably get a glimpse of your first yak if you haven’t seen one already. Our time at Langtang Village is a somber one, as the signs are still all too evident of the tragic landslide from the devastating 2015 earthquake that completely destroyed the original village and took many lives. The new community has been more prudently placed, but a memorial at the site of the landslide reminds us of the painful event. Trekking time: 6 hours  Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Overnight: Langtang Valley

Today is a rest for you; you can walk around and explore the Langtang village or stay at the lodge and rest.

After breakfast, the trail climbs gradually through yak pastures. Notice how the valley extends even further than before allowing for extensive views. After crossing several small streams and moraines, the trail reaches the settlement at Kyangjin. This village has a small Tibetan monastery and a government- operated cheese factory—a good place to stock up for lunch and afternoon snacks. Since you'll likely arrive at your overnight location by lunchtime, you'll have plenty of free time to take it easy in the afternoon. Relax at the village bakery and cafe, or explore the area by foot. If you are feeling energetic, head up the valley towards Langshisha Kharka to see some of the amazing views.  Trekking time: 4 hours Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Overnight: Kyangjin Gompa

Today we take a break to adjust with the high altitude, it is time to rest up and soak in the atmosphere and explore the area. We have the options we can take a walk up the valley moraine to see the spectacular ice faces and tumbling glaciers of Langtang Lirung or we can ascend Kyangjin Ri which lies directly behind the valley from the to we have a breath-taking panorama of the langtang peaks.

After breakfast in Kyangjin Gompa, you'll hit the trail and retrace the route you took through the valley, following the Langtang Khola River to the village of Mundu and eventually Ghora Tabela. Though the trail is flat in certain places, the way down will certainly be faster than your ascent. You'll stop for lunch en route and then continue heading downhill until you get to Lama Hotel. This ancient area is one of the oldest undisturbed valleys in Nepal. Check out unique flora and fauna, including lush green forests, as well as snow-capped views of the Langtang mountain peaks. Due to the earthquake, there are fewer tourists here so you can expect uncrowded trails. Enjoy the easy downhill terrain and take in the scenery.   For those with limited time, an alternative option is to take a helicopter ride from Kyangjin to Kathmandu.  Trekking time: 5-6 hours  Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Overnight: Lama Hotel

From Lama Hotel, we hit the trails back to Thulo Syabru. We can wander around the undulating path leading to the village. This gives us a chance to get an insight of the culture and customs of the Tamang community. It’s a great experience interacting with these local folks. We can also simply relax in the sun savoring the beauty of the stately Himalayan Mountains that surround us. Trekking time: 6 hours  Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Overnight:  Thulo Syabru

The trail to Sing Gompa goes up through forests of oak, firs and rhododendrons to gain a ridge, then cuts across the ridge top, staying fairly level in forests as it crosses the head of a valley. We take the uphill trail at each junction and cross another forested ridge. The trail continues across the head of a second valley, and then reaches a final ridge at 3650m. Sing Gompa is about 100m along the trail to the left. Sing Gompa is the main attraction at Chandan Bari, which also home to a number of hotels and a small cheese factory. A great place to hang around and spend the night. Trekking time: 5 hours Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Overnight: Sing Gompa

From Sing Gompa we climb a ridge to meet up with the main Gosainkunda trail. The trail climbs steeply up the ridge and at several points on top of the ridge itself. There is rich, moist mountain forests on the northern slopes and dry scrub vegetation on the south. As the trail ascends, there are fantastic views across Langtang valley to Langtang Lirung. To the west there are compelling views of Himalchuli, Ganesh Himal and Manaslu. Eventually the trail descends from the ridge to the first of three lakes, Saraswati Kund. The second lake in the chain is named Bhairab Kund, and the third, Gosainkunda. This lake is largely sacred and a place of pilgrimage in the summer. The Gosainkunda (Holy Shiva's lake) is a high altitude lake. According to the Hindu mythology, Shiva himself created this high altitude lake. Trekking time: 6-7 hours Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Overnight: Gosaikunda

A rough trek and monotonous today as we head towards. First we have a slow ascent of Laurebina Pass coming across various lakes as we ascend toward the pass. From the top we have some tremendous views. A steep descent follows before a long series of ups and downs on a rough trail on our way to Ghopte. Trekking time: 7 hours Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Overnight: Ghopte

After enjoying our morning breakfast, we head for a journey to Kutumsang. Our day’s trek starts with a decent crossing through pretty meadows and fields. On the way we enjoy the splendid views of the Langtang Mountains. Thus, we arrive at Pathi Bhanjyang and Gul Bhanjyang. From Gul Bhanjyang, the trail climbs a ridge to another pass. And another downhill trek from the pass takes us to Kutumsang. Trekking time: 5 hours Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Overnight: Kutumsang

From Kutumsang, it is an easy climb to cross a pass at 2470m before descending to Pati Bhanjyang, a large Tamang village. From here it is a 2 hour climb to Chisopani. A short distance above Chisopani is a high knoll which is known as Chisopani Danda, where there is a temple. You will have the splendid mountain views from here. The panorama spreads from the mountains south of Everest to the Manaslu range. Trekking time: 6 hours Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Overnight: Chisopani

From here there are magnificent views, from Annapurna in the west to Ganesh Himal and Numbur in the east. This ridge marks the northern rim of the Kathmandu Valley. Just after Chisopani there is an entrance to Shivapuri watershed and wildlife reserve. The trail goes through the reserve, moving up to the hill and down to Mulkharka, from which we can already see Kathmandu. From Mulkharka, we descend on endless stairs to the exit from the reserve and From Sundarijal we take a 1 hour drive to Kathmandu.

It's time to say farewell to Nepal. Enjoy your last moments in Kathmandu. A driver will be waiting for you at your hotel to take you to the airport for your return flight home. It's best to be at the airport at least two hours prior to departure.