Watch Hindus wash away their sins in the freezing cold waters of a mountain lake.

Langtang Gosaikunda Lake Trek

Langtang Gosaikunda Lake Trek takes you to the high Himalayan valley of Gosainkund, lying at 4380m. The trail passes through a pristine alpine forest and offers spectacular views of Langtang Lirung (7246m), Kyajo Ri (6186m), and Dorje Lakpa (6979m). The route follows a ridge-top walkway that runs along the entire length of the Gosainkund glacier. It also offers views of Gosaikunda Lake, one of the sacred lakes in Hindu mythology.

Gosainkund Lake located in altitudes of 4,000 meters attracts both Hinduism and Buddhism to visiting the lake every year. On Janai Purnima, the birthday of Shiva, thousands of Hindu devotees flock to Gosainkunda’s holy lake to absolve their sins. Local Tamangs dance as part of the celebration.

Difficulty

Hard

Duration

16

Elevation

4600

Start

Syabru Besi

Place You'll See!

Highlights

Itinerary

After arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Thamel, a popular section of Kathmandu.

Stay the night at a hotel.

Spend the following day exploring UNESCO World Heritage sites Pashupatinath, Nepal’s largest Buddhist stupa, and Bouddhanath, the sacred Hindu temple of Pashupatinath.

Stay the night at a hotel.

On a northern road that zigzags and climbs over mountain ridges, Syabru Bensi is accessible in 7-8 hours by car on a rough one-lane track. If the weather’s good, we’ll have spectacular views of Manaslu, Annapurna, and Ganesh Himalaya.

Stay the night in Syabru Besi.

After submitting a trekking permit at the police station, cross a suspension bridge over the Bhote Koshi River that cascades down from Tibet. Follow the Langtang River gently before crossing the tiny waterfall bridge and ascending through the sub-tropical forest toward Bamboo. The trails continue to ascend uphill to Rimche before ending in Changtang, known as Lama Hotel.

Stay the night in Lama Hotel.

The first stretch of this trek takes us through a magnificent forest of hemlocks, oaks, and rhododendrons on the slopes of the Langtang Khola. The first view of Langtang Lirung (7,244m) from among the trees near the army post. Hike up to the Tamang villages of Thangshyap, Gompa, and lastly Langtang (3430m), the park’s headquarters.

Spend the night in Langtang.

Set out on a trek to Kyanjin Gompa, where we will stay for two nights for acclimatization.

We can also discover a variety of Buddhist monasteries, as well as the country’s two most famous government-operated cheese factories.

Spend two nights at a lodge in Kyanjin Gumpa.

Hike up to the glaciers of moraine for a spectacular view of Langtang Lirung and the surrounding area with gorgeous panoramic mountains views over the Langtang Himalaya.

Another option is to visit the Kyanjin Ri (4,350m) viewpoint. The more difficult alternative is hiking up to Tserko Ri (5,000m). Another viable option is to go trekking over Langshisa kharka for greater mountain vistas.

Retrace your steps along the Langtang Khola to the Lama Hotel, then trek through wooded areas and lovely Tamang villages with spectacular views of the Himalayas that we had overlooked on our journey up.

Spend the night in Lama Hotel.

Follow the banks of the Langtang Khola as it meanders through pine and juniper forests to Bamboo, then climb up to Thulo Syabru, a Sherpa and Tamang village with spectacular views of the Langtang and Ganesh Himalayas.

Spend the night in Thulo Syabru.

After a brief downward slope, trek on to the Gomba, a school, and an army post before gradually ascending through picturesque woods and several mountain hamlets towards Chandanbari (Also known as Sing Gompa), which is home to local running cheese factories and a Buddhist monastery.

Spend a night at a lodge in Chandanbari.

Today’s hikes offer fantastic panoramic views of the Himalayas including the Annapurnas, Hiunchuli, Manaslu, Ganesh, and Langtang. Follow a ridge for the most part of the day and catch a glimpse of the first of the holy lakes of Gosaikunda (4,380m).

Spend two nights at a lodge in Gosaikunda.

Gosaikunda Lake is a beautiful place to visit. It is surrounded by mountains on all sides, and it melts and absorbs from the Trishuli River during the winter season before returning to its frozen state for six months.

The trail climbs towards the Lauberina La (4,610), passing three little lakes before descending alongside a stream down into the alpine region and rocky route before rising to Tharepati.

Spend the night in Tharepati.

Set out on the trail through the alpine countryside then enter the forest before descending to Magen Goth. After the climbs to the Mere Danda Pass (3,510m) start our final descending through rhododendron forests towards Kutumsang.

Today’s itineraries will take you through the hill village of Gul Bhanjyang before culminating in Thodang Betini. After climbing to the top of the ridge and plummeting down via a stone staircase, you’ll descend through several hamlets, meadows, and pastures before reaching Chisapani.

After a brief ascent, ascend the final pass of Borlang Bhanjyang before dropping steeply to Mulkharka, then continue to Sundarijal where a jeep is waiting to transport you back to your hotel in Thamel. Farewell meal with Nepalese cuisine and traditional dance.

Kathmandu is your to explore at your convenience, to shop for souvenirs and gifts, perhaps indulge in a spa treatment.

We will take you to the airport for your flight back home.

Payment conditions

Trip Information

The Story of The Lake

According to Hindu mythology, Shiva, while helping other Gods he drank the poison so his throat turned blue, in order to cool off his burning throat he came to the Himalaya struck his trident (Trisul) against a rock from which three streams immediately burst forth, he had a memorable bathe, drake the icy water to got rid of pain, the waters meanwhile gathering themselves to form what is now the Gosaikund lake and headwaters of Trisuli river.

The Route

Accessing the lake from the spectacular Langtang valley with the southeast route is safer for gaining altitude. Then continuing to Helambu by crossing the challenging but yet beautiful Lauberina La (Pass). The journey takes you through lush forests, scenic villages inhabited by Sherpa and Tamang people, frozen glaciers, and lakes then finally reaching the pass. This region looks amazing during spring when rhododendrons are in bloom with Langtang and Ganesh Himal mountain soaring into the sky.

Activity Level

Hard

We will be walking for 2-8 hours each day, with some days taking us up and down steep mountainous terrain at elevations ranging from 2,700m to 5,000m. There will be rest days on occasion, as well as optional excursions to properly prepare your body for the climb.

Maximum Elevation

Tserko Ri at an elevation of 5,000

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