Langtang Gosainkunda Trek

Get refreshed and familiar with your surroundings. Your senior trek leader will meet you at eventide & brief you on the pros & cons of your whole trip. Have supper & if you feel like it you can go for a stroll down the streets of Thamel, a well-known hub for tourists throughout the world. If you reckon you are tired with the jetlag, then you can go to bed & get up fresh for a new day in the land of the Himalayas. It’s your first overnight in the valley of temples and cows. O/N at Hotel. (A)

We take an early morning drive after breakfast to Dhunche; the bus ride takes you through a winding uphill and downhill road, the drive also passes through many rural towns and farm villages; one of the bigger towns on the way is Trisuli Bazaar, this place lies in the sub-tropical climatic zone. The road from here climbs uphill to a cooler region leaving the rice paddy fields behind to maize and millet terraced fields as the weather changes with the culture and the people as well. On arrival at the entrance of Dhunche 1,965m, the one and theonly major town of the Langtang area and Rasuwa district. There's a Langtang National Park headquarters office where your Trekking and Park permits are checked by the Royal Nepalese Army that serves as the Park wardens also. O/N at Lodge. (B, L, D, A).

The trek today follows the road for a while, then reaching a small settlement of Barkhu, leaving the road behind the trail which leads uphill for an hour & then the path comes to a pleasant walk through the rain and bamboo forest; after leaving the forest and entering the farm fields, the climb starts uphill, passing through farm terraces till upper Syabru is reached, & rows of houses can be seen perched like a locomotive with wagons on a ridge. Syabru has a monastery near a helipad just a few minutes up from the main village.O/N at Lodge. (B, L, D, A).

The walk from here follows a winding uphill trail above the Monastery, as the trek gains more height, superb views of Ganesh-Himal, Manaslu, Langtang and the Annapurna range in the far west can be seen as we reach higher ground, after few refreshing stops on the teahouse route, our journey continues an hour uphill from farmlands into the cool shade of alpine forest. Once out of the thick forest, we come to a meadow with one or two teahouses, where a lunch break can be had here depending on the availability of clean fresh water. From this spot, the walk is almost gradual with a good hike through the pines and rhododendron forest with views of Dhunche town down below. On arriving at Singh Gompa, the first few houses are a cheese processing factory, and we check in to our lodge O/N at Lodge. (B, L, D, A).

The trek today offers more spectacular views of an array of snow peak ranges of Langtang to the north and Ganesh-Himal range northwest along with Manaslu and Annapurna range due west, the walk is gradual up in the beginning for an hour, as we enter the woodland of oaks, pine and rhododendron after being in the cool shade of the forest, we come to a clearing where one or two teahouses are located. After a brief stop here amidst excellent views of the Langtang range, the trail continues uphill leaving the tree lines and lush vegetation behind for dwarf rhododendron, juniper, and alpine shrub bushes. The walk leads uphill passing through few teahouses at Laurabina, with more views of the northwestern Himalayan range, after Laurabina which means {a place of walking sticks}, during the auspicious time in and around August in the full moon as per the Nepali Luna calendar, pilgrims come here to pay homage and where a ritual bath at the Gosainkund pond delivers pilgrims to paradise as per local beliefs; and visitors drink of its holy water which is said to relinquish the sins of a hundred lifetimes and Hindus pilgrims come here to change their holy threads, too, on the way back here at the top of Laurabina pass at 4,165m. Most of the pilgrims leave their walking sticks behind, needing no more as they head down, after a hard strenuous climb up. On reaching the top ridge, the trail descends for half an hour coming near the first two ponds, Saraswati and Bhairab kund after a pleasant walk a short climb brings us to our overnight camp at Gosainkund near the shore of this glacial pristine pond. Hereabouts, you can see lots of ritual traces left behind by the pilgrims. O/N at Lodge. (B, L, D, A).

The trail leaves Gosainkund and climbs through rugged country, past four more small lakes to the Laurebina La [4,610m], the highest point of this trek. Keep looking back for wonderful 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 Ghopte. O/N at Lodge. (B, L, D, A).

Today, the trail descends for a short time and starts ascending as we cross lovely green meadows and fields. You will then descend through Pathi Bhanjyang till Gul Bhanjyang. The trail climbs the ridge from Gul Bhanjyang to another pass at 2,620m. The meadow makes it a good camping spot, its downhill to Kutumsang at 2,470m, in a saddle atop the ridge. O/N at Lodge. (B, L, D, A).

From Kutumsang, it is an easy climb to cross a pass at 2,492m before descending to Pati Bhanjyang, a large Tamang village. From here it is a 3 hours hike to Chisopani. A short distance above Chisopani is a high knoll which is known as Chisopani Danda, where there is a temple. We get splendid mountain views from here. The landscape spreads from the mountains south of Everest to the Manaslu range. O/N at Lodge. (B, L, D, A).

From Chisopani the trail passes through meadows and cultivated fields then climb through oak and rhododendron forest to Burlang Bhanjyang. From here there are brilliant 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 you can already see Kathmandu. From Mulkharka, we descend on endless stairs to the exit from the reserve and to Sundarijal from where we get on to our vehicle for a 45-minute drive back to Kathmandu and a warm soft bedO/N at Hotel. (B, L, D, A).

Our office representative from Index Adventure will personally take you to the airport for your flight home. (Or stay longer for short tours such as game drive at National parks, do some wild-water rafting, a Tibet tour or even mountain biking, etc - please don't hesitate to let us know). We would be glad to help you. Thank you for doing this venture with us and it's been wonderful knowing you over the weeks. Please do stay in touch in the months ahead. Bon Voyage and take care!!! Index Adventure was happy to serve you!! Breakfast