-
5,050m at Tserko Ri
-
Moderate
-
Syabrubesi/Sundarijal
-
Hotels and Teahouses
-
Drive
-
5-7 hours per day
-
Autumn and Spring
-
Minimum 2 People
Overview
Langtang Gosaikunda Trek is a spectacular journey that combines the high Himalayas of the Langtang region with the sacred alpine freshwater lakes of Gosaikunda. Just north to the valley of Kathmandu, this epic adventure is the most accessible trek from the capital city.
The Langtang Gosaikunda adventure provides you the opportunity to traverse through deep gorges, rhododendron forest, traditional villages, cascading waterfalls, high meadows, alpine lakes, and breathtaking mountains.
Langtang Gosaikunda Trek is a moderately challenging trek, making it an ideal destination for both novices as well as experienced trekkers. On this trek, you’ll savor the mountains’ breathtaking scenery, including Langtang Lirung, Dorje Lakpa, Changbu, Langshisha Ri, and Yala Peak. You’ll also get to stand at the shore of sacred Gosaikunda Lake and marvel at pristine Bhairav Kunda, Saraswati Kunda, and Suryakunda.
The adventure of Langtang Gosaikunda Trek begins with a 7-hour drive from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi. From the town of Syabrubesi, you’ll start walking along the rugged trail of the Langtang region. On the trek, you’ll walk past several Tamang villages, including Bamboo, Lama Hotel, Langtang Village, and Mundu to reach Kyanjin Gompa, the highest sleepover point of the trek.
This small settlement in the Himalayas’ lap offers a close-up view of Langtang Lirung and other surrounding mountains. This village is also home to an ancient Buddhist monastery.
At 5,050 meters above sea level, Tserko Ri marks the highest elevation point of Langtang Gosainkunda Trek. From the summit of this viewpoint, you’ll get to marvel at the incredible panorama of the mountains and the valleys below. Moreover, this trek is also a cultural experience. It lets you witness the local culture, rustic lifestyle, and warm hospitality of Tamangs.
Protected as a National Park, Langtang Gosaikunda is home to some of the rarest wildlife and birds, including red panda, Himalayan Tahr, snow leopards, musk deer, and langur. Likewise, in the forested trail of Langtang, you might encounter exotic birds such as the Snow Patridge, Himalayan monal, and white-winged redstart.
Langtang Gosaikunda Trek is a teahouse adventure. The lodges and teahouses in this region are relatively cozy and comfortable. They provide all the necessary services, including twin rooms, meals, hot showers, and charging facilities.
Why You’ll Love This Trek
- Traverse along Langtang National Park and Shivapuri National Park
- Encounter rare animals such as snow leopard, langur, red panda, and musk deer
- Travel across the rustic Tamang settlements and live through their culture, lifestyle, and hospitality
- Visit the ancient monastery of Kyanjin Gompa
- Enjoy the incredible mountain views of Langtang Lirung, Langtang Ri, Dorje Lakpa, Langshisha Ri, Changbu, and Yala Peak
- Explore the holy lake of Gosaikunda
- Taste the local meals and delicious local yak cheese
Is Langtang Gosaikunda Trek Right For You?
- Langtang Gosaikunda Trek is considered a moderately challenging trek in the Himalayas of Nepal. Nonetheless, this trek is no walk in the park! This trek will take you up to 5,050 meters at Tserko Ri and 4,380 meters at Gosaikunda. So, it demands both physical fitness as well as mental strength.
With prior trekking experience, you’ll always have that extra confidence when it comes to high altitude adventures. However, with proper training and preparation, Langtang Gosaikunda Trek is achievable for first-time trekkers as well. So, if you think you can resist such challenges, this trek is for you!
- While trekking to Langtang Gosaikunda, you’ll have to hike for about five to seven hours every day on the Himalayas’ rough and rugged trails. If you think walking for such a long hour every day isn’t much of a problem, you’ll undoubtedly be able to pull this through.Be sure to dedicate enough effort and time for training and preparation before heading to the mountain. To train and prepare your body for the trek, we advise you to engage in as many cardio-related exercises as possible. It is advisable to go running, go cycling, go jogging, and swim at least a month before the trek.
- Keep in mind that you’ll be gaining about 300 to 800 meters elevation every day. Commencing the adventure at 1,503 meters at Syabrubesi, you will be hiking up to 5,050 meters at Tserko Ri. Such massive altitudinal variations may possess a potential risk of high altitude sickness.Therefore, it is advisable to take the necessary precautions, especially in the upper reaches of the trek, to minimize the risk of altitude sickness. Make sure to walk slowly and steadily without rushing towards the destinations. Additionally, drink enough fluids and stay hydrated throughout the trek.
- Bear in mind, trekking in the Himalayas is not a luxury, and Langtang Gosaikunda Trek is no exception! During the trek, you will be staying in pretty basic teahouses which aren’t going to be as comfortable as those star hotels in the cities. Generally, a teahouse is a basic accommodation facility that provides the necessary services and amenities to the tourists.Usually, the teahouses in the Langtang Gosaikunda Trek provide twin rooms, blanket, food, charging facilities, and hot showers. Therefore, if you think you can adapt to such a basic lifestyle for a little over two weeks, this trek is the ideal one for you well.
The weather of the high Himalayas is simply unpredictable. You’ll never know when or where the weather might do a complete flip, making you suffer the awful conditions. In the upper reaches of Langtang Valley and Gosaikunda, you might have to bear frigid weather, heavy rainfall, or even heavy snowfalls if the condition gets worse depending on seasons.
Therefore, you need to be able to brave these unpredictable circumstances during the trek. Always wear enough layers to keep your body warm and protect you from harsh weather conditions, even during the spring or autumn.
Langtang Gosaikunda Trek – Outline Itinerary
Day | Description | Altitude (Meters) | Trekking Duration |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Arrival in Kathmandu. Meet at Airport and Transfer to Hotel | 1350 | - |
2 | Drive from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi | 1503 | 7 hours |
3 | Trek from Syabrubesi to Lama Hotel | 2500 | 5 hours |
4 | Trek from Lama Hotel to Langtang Village | 3430 | 7 hours |
5 | Trek from Langtang Village to Kyanjin Gompa | 3870 | 3 hours |
6 | Excursion to Tserko Ri (5,050m) | 3870 | 8 hours |
7 | Trek from Kyanjin Gompa to Lama Hotel | 2500 | 7 hours |
8 | Trek from Lama Hotel to Thulo Syabru | 2200 | 6 hours |
9 | Trek from Thulo Syabru to Sing Gompa | 3580 | 5 hours |
10 | Trek from Sing Gompa to Gosaikunda | 4380 | 5.5 hours |
11 | Trek from Gosaikunda to Phedi via Lauribina Pass (4610m) | 3420 | 6 hours |
12 | Trek from Phedi to Thadepati | 3690 | 6 hours |
13 | Trek from Thadepati to Kutumsang | 2470 | 7 hours |
14 | Trek from Kutumsang to Chisapani | 2215 | 6 hours |
15 | Trek from Chisapani to Sundarijal (1,460m) and Drive to Kathmandu | 1350 | 7 hours |
16 | International Departure | - | - |
Important Notes
- Since you’ll be walking up to 5,050 meters at Tserko Ri on Langtang Gosaikunda Trek, the risk of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is considerably high. One might assume that the risk isn’t much since you won’t spend a long time above 5,000 meters. But, it is important to note that you will be sleeping above 3,500 meters for five nights. Sleepover at such a high altitude possesses maximum chances of altitude sickness if you do not stay cautious about it. Therefore, we highly recommend you to walk at your own pace and drink plenty of water to reduce the risk of AMS.
- Langtang Gosaikunda Trek is more likely to test your endurance. It will challenge your physical fitness as well as mental strength. Therefore, instead of heading straight to the Himalayas, we recommend you do enough preparation and training for the trek. Start engaging in cardio-related workouts, such as swimming, running, biking, and jogging at least one month before the trek. It is also advisable for you to go for a short hike in the nearby destination around your hometown.
- Although Langtang Gosaikunda Trek is a moderately difficult trek, do not neglect it! You will have to walk across a few landslide-prone areas during the trek. You’ll also be walking up to 5,050 meters at Tserko Ri. Not only that, but you’ll be crossing a few high passes during the trek. Therefore, it is mandatory to have travel insurance before you head to the Himalayas. Make sure to buy a policy covering all the necessary expenses, including helicopter evacuation, accident, medical charges, trip cancelation, and theft.
- Carry a universal travel adapter! If you want to charge your mobile phone, camera, go pro, or any other electronic appliances. At the same time, it is always handy to carry a travel adaptor. The charging sockets in the teahouses may not be compatible with the adapter of your charges.
- Carry enough cash! Nobody likes to run out of money in the middle of their adventure in the remote mountains. Note that there are plenty of ATMs and credit card services in Kathmandu. You might also find a few ATMs at Syabrubesi, but the service may not be reliable given the circumstance. Once you go further than Syabrubesi, there is no ATM service available on the trail. Therefore, it is advisable to dispense enough money in Kathmandu before driving to Syabrubesi.
- Carry a portable backup charger or a solar charger to charge your electronic appliances. Note that the electricity in the upper reaches of the Langtang Gosaikunda Trek may not be reliable. So, these backup chargers work wonders when the power supply is not sufficient.
Required Permit for Langtang Gosaikunda Trek
To trek to Langtang Gosaikunda Trek, you’ll need to obtain two trekking permits. They are:
Langtang National Park Permit
Where to obtain
- Nepal Tourism Board Office on Pradarshani Marg, Kathmandu
- National Park Entrance Gate in Dhunche
How much does it cost
- USD 30 for international trekkers
- USD 15 for SAARC Nationals
Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) Card
Where to obtain
- Nepal Tourism Board Office on Pradarshani Marg, Kathmandu
- Trekking Agencies’ Association Nepal (TAAN) Office, Maligaon
How much does it cost
- USD 20 for individual trekkers
- USD 10 for group trekkers
- For SAARC, USD 6 individual trekkers
- For SAARC, USD 3 group trekkers
Things required to acquire TIMS Card
- Permit fees
- Photocopy of your passport
- Passport size photographs
Write a Review