THE LANGTANG – GOSHAINKUNDA – HELAMBU TREK

Difficulty:

Hiking days: 15 days

Season: Autumn and Spring

Highlights of the trek

This trek is a must for hikers who want to immerse themselves in fabulous, unspoilt nature, with spectacular landscapes and mountain views, rich in both flora and fauna.

The Langtang – Goshaikunda trek explores the northern region of Kathmandu and Langtang National Park. From Syabrubesi, the route crosses the Langtang Valley, reaches Cherko Ri (~5,000 m) for spectacular views of glaciers and mountains, then the sacred lakes of Goshainkunda and the Laurebina Pass (4,610 m) before descending to Melamchi Bazaar.

This 15-day trek, accessible without mountaineering, offers varied landscapes, unique flora and fauna, and immersion in Buddhist culture. The best seasons are October-December and March-April. Accommodation is in lodges along the trail, which also serve meals. In Kathmandu, hotel accommodation is provided.

Trekking itinerary Langtang - Goshainkunda - Helambu

Details of the circuit

Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu (1,300 m)

Upon arrival in Kathmandu, a representative from Rêve d’Himalaya Trekking will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to rest after your long flight. You will spend the night in Kathmandu.

Day 2: Kathmandu: city tour and trek preparation

After breakfast, we offer a guided tour of two sites of your choice from among Kathmandu’s historical and spiritual attractions, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You can choose between the historic Durbar Square, the sacred Hindu temple of Pashupatinath, the famous ‘Monkey Temple’ (Swayambhunath) and the Buddhist sanctuary (Bouddhanath), which is also home to one of the largest stupas in the world.

In the afternoon, a trek preparation meeting will allow you to meet your trek leader and other team members. Rêve d’Himalaya Trekking will inform you of the details of your trek and give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about our upcoming adventure. You will spend the night in Kathmandu.

Day 3: Departure from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi (1,550 m): 7-8 hours by road

You leave Kathmandu in the morning by bus or jeep for Syabrubesi, a village that is also the starting point for the trek in the Langtang Valley. You take a winding road with hairpin bends and numerous switchbacks.

On a clear day, you can enjoy exceptional views of the peaks of Manaslu, Annapurna and Ganesh Himal. Your day ends with a descent to the small village of Syabrubesi. You spend the night in Syabrubesi.

Day 4: Trek from Syabrubesi to Lama Hotel (2,380 m): 6 hours

After breakfast, you will begin your trek from Syabrubesi along the Langtang Khola. You will ascend and descend frequently through oak and rhododendron forests.

After crossing a bridge over the Langtang Khola (small river), you will climb a steep path that will take you to Lama Hotel. You will spend the night at Lama Hotel.

Day 5: Trek to Langtang village (3543m): 6-7 hours

You continue the ascent from Lama Hotel and enjoy views of the mountainous landscape and abundant waterfalls. When you reach the green meadows of Ghoda Tabela, you begin to see the white peaks of the Langtang range.

Your trail continues to climb towards the top of the valley, which widens, passing a few seasonal camps used by shepherds. You will pass a Buddhist monastery before reaching the village of Langtang, which was badly affected by the earthquake in April 2015. But don’t worry about your stay in Langtang: there are more than a dozen lodges to welcome you. You will spend the night in the village of Lantang.

Day 6: From Langtang village to Kyangjin Gompa (3,870 m): 4-5 hours

After breakfast, you will begin your trek to Kyangjin Gompa, the main monastery in the region. You will pass through the village of Mandu with its water mills, prayer wheels, chortens and sacred rock mounds with inscriptions. You will also see the largest mani wall in Nepal, made of stones bearing prayers.

After a short hike, you will spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the Buddhist sanctuary of Kyangjin Gompa and its surroundings with breathtaking views of the mountains. You will spend the night at Kyangjin Gompa.

Day 7: Exploration day at Tserko Ri (4980m): 7-8 hours

You will spend the whole day exploring Tserko Ri, which will help you acclimatise to the high altitude. You will start climbing in the morning. The trail passes through yak pastures before climbing to the summit of Tserko Ri. The view at sunrise from the top of Tserko Ri is extraordinary.

You return to Kyangjin Gompa in the late afternoon and explore the magnificent monastery while admiring the views of the Himalayas, glaciers, birds and yaks. You spend the night at Kyangjin Gompa.

Day 8: From Kyangjin Gompa to Lama Hotel (2,380 m): 6-7 hours

After breakfast, you will begin your trek and retrace your steps back to Lama Hotel. Most of the day’s trek will be downhill through forests and beautiful Tamang villages. You will also have the opportunity to enjoy a different view of the Himalayas than the one you saw on the way up. You will spend the night at the Lama Hotel.

Day 9: Lama Hotel to Thulo Syabru (2230m): 5-6 hours

You will start the day with an ascent to the village of Rimche. From there, you will descend to the banks of the Langtang Khola. You will continue on an easy trail to Bamboo and begin the ascent to Landslide Lodge. From there, you will continue your trek to Thulo Syabru.

After crossing another bridge, there are two trail options. You follow the one that passes in front of the Pahare Hotel and a waterfall at 2,210 m to reach Thulo Syabru. You spend the night in Thulo Syabru.

Day 10: Thulo Syabru to Shin Gompa (3,130 m): 3-4 hours

Today’s hike is short, but it is important to reach Gosainkunda because the steady climb over a short distance will help you acclimatise to the altitude. You will pass a Chorten and a checkpoint. From there, you will head south and pass through the village of Garta and Phulung Monastery before reaching Shin Gompa. You will spend the night in Shin Gompa.

Day 11: Shin Gompa to Goshaikunda (4,460 m): 5-6 hours

During this section, you will enjoy fantastic panoramic views of the Himalayas, including the Annapurnas, Hiunchuli, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal and Langtang.

You follow a ridge for most of the day and catch sight of the first of the sacred lakes. The third lake, Goshainkunda (4,380m), is of particular religious and cultural importance to Nepalese people and is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the country. The lake is surrounded by mountains on almost all sides and is part of a large group of ten lakes in total.

Every year during the Janai Purnima festival in August, thousands of Hindu pilgrims visit the lake for a sacred bath. The large rock in the centre of the lake is considered to be the remains of a Shiva shrine. You will spend the night in Goshainkunda.

Day 12: Gosainkunda to Ghopte (3,440m): 6-8 hours

You walk around the lake following its shores before climbing up to Laurebina La (pass, 4,610m). You pass three other small lakes before reaching the pass. This is where the Helambu region begins.

The trail is rough and crosses moraines, but it is well marked with cairns. You descend to reach the Melamchi Valley. You climb a small hill from where you can enjoy an excellent view of the region. Your trail passes through Surya Kunda before reaching Ghopte. You spend the night in Ghopte.

Day 13: Ghopte to Melamchigaon (2560m): 6-7 hours

You ascend and descend on a trail that crosses dense forests. The trail will take you to the village of Thare Pati. You climb a ridge above the village and continue your trek. The view from the ridge over the Nepalese hills and the Soli Danda region is particularly beautiful. You cross two suspension bridges before reaching Melamchigaon, a beautiful village with a monastery. You spend the night in Melamchigaon.

Day 14: Melamchigaon to Tarkeghyang (2,590 m): 5-6 hours

You pass a stupa and cross a small stream below Melamchigaon. Your trail winds through forests and leads to Ama Yangri, the highest point of today’s hike at 3,800 m. There is a stupa and Buddhist prayer flags at the top of the hill.

A little further on, you will have a breathtaking view of Mount Shishapangma and the Langtang mountain ranges. The mountains are so close that you can almost touch them.

On the way down, you can often see yaks grazing among the bushes before entering a forest. You walk on a path made of broken stones before reaching Tarkeghyang, a beautiful Sherpa village. You spend the night in Tarkheghyang.

Day 15: From Tarkeghyang to Sermathang (2,610 m): 3–5 hours

You begin your trek after breakfast. The trail is easy and passes through lush forests. You pass through beautiful villages, chortens, a monastery and a mani wall before reaching Sermanthang. It is a beautiful Sherpa village with incredible views of Ganesh Himal, Jugal Himal and the Langtang ranges. On a clear day, you can even see Everest in the distance. You spend the night in Sermanthang.

Day 16: Sermathang to Melamchi Bazaar, drive to Kathmandu: 3-4 hours walking, 2 hours driving

The trail passes through meadows, fields and beautiful villages before finally reaching Melamchi Bazaar. From there, you will return to Kathmandu by bus, giving you the opportunity to reminisce about the fantastic journey through the Langtang and Helambu regions that you have just completed.

After reaching Kathmandu, you can freshen up and rest. In the evening, there will be a farewell dinner to celebrate the success of our expedition. You will spend the night in Kathmandu.

Day 17: Last day (departure)

Your trip to Nepal ends today! A representative from Rêve d’Himalaya Trekking will drop you off at the airport approximately 3 hours before your flight’s scheduled departure time. On the way back, you will have plenty of time to plan your next adventure in the wonderful country of Nepal!

Useful information:

Difficulty: Moderate