Langtang Gosainkunda Trek - 13 Days

Starting this marvelous trip to Langtang Gosainkund Trekking, taking an early morning scenic drive from Kathmandu to Syabru Besi village around the Rasuwa district of Langtang area, The drive leads north passing interesting towns and farm villages, The journey continues towards the cooler area above mid-hills leaving behind low land of rice terraces. On reaching the entrance of Langtang National Park in Dhunche 1,965m, a major town of Langtang area and Rasuwa district, after a short stop drive continues further downhill to our first overnight stop at Syabru Besi village.

The morning begins with our first-day walk with a climb for a few hours, then on a gradual path through terraced farms and scattered villages, the walk continues reaching a riverside where the trail from Thulo Syabru meets with a few teahouses and lodges after a short rest here walk uphill through serene forested areas of tall rhododendron, oaks, and pines trees entering a river gorge following Trisuli River upstream to Lama Hotel for an overnight stop.

After a pleasant morning with the sound of the river flowing, the walk leads into a river gorge within dense woodland, passing a few small settlements and farms. the mid-day walk reaches a nice place at Ghoretabla, the name means "Horse-Stable" in Nepali. After a nice break or lunch stop, an afternoon walk leads to our overnight destination at Langtang village. With a few hours of a good walk from Ghoretabela to Langtang village, this is a nice moderate-sized village with Bhotia and Tamang people, the natives of Langtang Region for hundreds of years. (The villages around were destroyed by the avalanche due to the huge earthquakes of 25th April & 12th May 2015, and are slowly returning to normal life).

Today a short walk today to Kyanjin Gompa of a few hours as the walk enters a wide valley after leaving the tree lines and river gorge, The morning walk follows a short steep hill where tree lines decline for short bushes of azalea (bush rhododendron), juniper and prickly Burberry bushes, finally walk enters a wide path around the glacial valley with splendid scenery of snowcapped mountains of Dorji Lakpa, Langtang Lirung, Tserko RI, Langshsisa, and Naya Kanga or Ganja la peak. After a wonderful scenic walk ending at Kyanjin Gompa, a beautiful spot with a wide, beautiful valley and close views of Langtang Lirung glacier, ice falls just next to the lodges of Kyanjin. Kyanjin, with an old small monastery located on a rocky moraine ridge top, Langtang Valley has huge grazing areas for Yaks, and the place has a Yak Cheese Factory established three decades ago with Swiss assistance.

A rest day at Kyanjin for people who would like to hike up to the hilltop at Tserku Ri (5,033m) high. The climb to Tserku Ri leads to a steep climb offering glorious mountain views of the central Himalayan range. Afternoon at leisure to enjoy rest with a panorama of Chimsedang Lekh, Kangjal Himal, a ridge of peaks bordering the valley to the south, Naya Kanga (5,844m), super views of great mountains dominating Langtang valley, includes Ganchenpo 6,387m, Dorje Lakpa (6,990m), Pemthang Karpo Ri (6,830m), Langtang Lirung (7,245m) and across the northern boundary in Tibet rises the huge massive Shishapangma (8,046m) the last worlds 14th highest mountain.

After an enjoyable time at Kyanjin Gompa around Langtang Valley, the morning leads to a long walk but much easier on a downhill path most of the way through Langtang village and Ghoretablea, following Langtang Khola enjoying walks back into the cool forest and then back at Lama Hotel for an overnight stop.

From Lama Hotel, a morning walk follows downhill to Bamboo a small place with few teahouses serving as a lodge. After a nice short rest continue to walk past farm terraces of millet, corn, and wheat (depending upon the season for crops), on leaving the farm area uphill to Upper or Thulo Syabru for an overnight stop, an interesting Tamang village, where houses are linked together in a row with an old monastery above the village.

From Shing Gompa, the walk leads to Gosainkund, starting with a climb into pine and rhododendron forest then over Lauri Binayak pass above (3,932m), the walk leads past Laurebina and Cholang Pati. After Lauri Binayak with fantastic views of Ganesh Himal and Langtang Lirung reach at holy Gosaikund Lake (4,381m) area for an overnight stop. The legendary and mythic story of this holy place as per the ancient Hindu epic, Gosainkund a pond believed as the vicarage of Lord Shiva (one of three main Hindu deities) and Goddess Gauri. Hindus believe that this pristine pond was formed due to the digging of the land by Trishul (a holy Trident) weapon of Lord Shiva, thousands of Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims from India and Nepal visit Gosainkund every year, especially on full moon day which lies August, the special auspicious occasion of ‘Janai Purnima’ festival.

From Shing Gompa, the walk leads to Gosainkund, starting with a climb into pine and rhododendron forest then over Lauri Binayak pass above (3,932m), the walk leads past Laurebina and Cholang Pati. After Lauri Binayak with fantastic views of Ganesh Himal and Langtang Lirung reach at holy Gosaikund Lake (4,381m) area for an overnight stop. The legendary and mythic story of this holy place as per the ancient Hindu epic, Gosainkund a pond believed as the vicarage of Lord Shiva (one of three main Hindu deities) and Goddess Gauri. Hindus believe that this pristine pond was formed due to the digging of the land by Trishul (a holy Trident) weapon of Lord Shiva, thousands of Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims from India and Nepal visit Gosainkund every year, especially on full moon day which lies August, the special auspicious occasion of ‘Janai Purnima’ festival.

A pleasant stop at Gosainkund Holy Lake, a tough morning walk to climb over Laurabina eastern or Gosainkund pass (4,600 m /15,091ft), the highest point of this adventure after walking past Ganesh and Surya Kund. From the pass downhill with few short ups and downs to an overnight stop at Ghopte Odar, a small settlement located in the middle of a forest on route Kathmandu and Helambu area.

After breakfast, we start trekking through groves of juniper, rhododendron, and pine in a remote, unpopulated area before we reach the peaceful highland setting of Tharepati. From Tharepati, the path descends gently through the forest on the western ridge slope. After walking for a while, we will pass a large meadow with ruins of shepherd's huts. From the route, you can see Gangchempo and Dorje Lakpa peaks. Then the descent gets steeper as it leads through a forest to Magin Goth (3,265m). After a short walk, we will pass Kuala Bhanjyang (3,335m) and descend to the village of Kutumsang.

From Kutumsang, we will ascend for a while and then descend to Gul Bhanjyang (2,140m) Village. Then we climb up to reach a dusty wide road at Thorong Danda (2,500m) and continue on a steep and rocky path to Chipping village. We then drop down steadily and reach Pati Bhanjyang (1,760m) - a village between Chipping and Chisopani. After walking half an hour from here, we reach Chisopani, famous for spectacular panoramic views of several mountains.

After a few minutes walk after Chisopani, we reach the Shivapuri National Park checkpoint. From here, we take a wide road leading down the hill, then on a paved path up the hill. Eventually, walking past a few water reservoirs and large water pipes, we reach Sundarijal (1,460m), where we say goodbye to the trails and take local transport to Kathmandu.