Overview
The Gosaikunda Trek is a popular trekking route in Nepal, known for its scenic beauty, breathtaking mountain views, and the sacred Gosaikunda Lake. It takes you through the Langtang region, offering a combination of cultural immersion, alpine forests, and high-altitude lakes.
The Gosaikunda Trek Route usually begins in the village of Syabrubesi, which is accessible by road from Kathmandu. From Syabrubesi, the trail winds through lush rhododendron and bamboo forests, passing through small settlements and terraced fields. As you ascend, you’ll reach higher altitudes, witnessing stunning views of snow-capped peaks and the Langtang Himalayas.
The trail continues through picturesque villages such as Lama Hotel, Langtang Village, and Kyanjin Gompa, where you can explore Buddhist monasteries and interact with the local Tamang people. From Kyanjin Gompa, the route gradually ascends towards the Gosaikunda region.
Gosaikunda Lake is the highlight of the trek. Situated at an altitude of around 4,380 meters (14,370 feet), it is a sacred lake for both Hindus and Buddhists. The lake is believed to be formed by Lord Shiva when he struck the ground with his trident to quench his thirst during a battle. It is said to have been created from the water of the holy Ganges.
The turquoise-colored Gosaikunda Lake is surrounded by snow-capped peaks, including Langtang Lirung, Ganesh Himal, and other Himalayan ranges. The lake attracts pilgrims during the Janai Purnima festival in August when thousands of devotees take a holy bath in its freezing waters.
There are various trekking maps available that provide a detailed overview of the Gosaikunda Trek route. These maps typically highlight the trail, villages, viewpoints, and landmarks along the way. You can find such maps in local trekking stores in Kathmandu or consult with our agencies for accurate free maps.
The Langtang Gosaikunda Trek combines the beauty of the Langtang Valley and the Gosaikunda region. It allows trekkers to explore the Langtang Valley, visit Kyanjin Gompa, and then continue towards Gosaikunda Lake. This extended trek offers a comprehensive experience of the Langtang region’s natural and cultural diversity.
The cost of the Gosaikunda Trek can vary depending on several factors, including the trekking agency you choose, the duration of the trek, the level of accommodation and services, and the number of trekkers in your group. On average, the cost can range from USD 700 to USD 1,200 per person, which covers permits, guide and porter fees, accommodation, meals, and transportation.
The best time to visit Gosaikunda is during the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) seasons. These months offer stable weather, clear skies, and moderate temperatures, making for pleasant trekking conditions. During these seasons, you can enjoy vibrant landscapes, blooming flowers, and excellent visibility of the surrounding mountains.
It’s important to note that winter (December to February) brings heavy snowfall and extremely cold temperatures, making the trek challenging and risky. The monsoon season (June to August) also experiences heavy rainfall, which can make the trails slippery and leech-infested.
Gosaikunda Trek is a captivating journey that takes you through beautiful landscapes, traditional villages, and the sacred Gosaikunda Lake. It offers a blend of natural and cultural experiences, making it a memorable adventure for trekkers seeking both serenity and adventure in the Himalayas.
Thamel Marga Central Thamel Kathmandu (Google Map)
You are welcome to Nepal.
As soon as you arrive at the TIA, you can see our representative waiting for you. He will help you get to the destined hotel. After getting to the hotel, you can get a shower and rest. If you are not exhausted, you can roam in the nearby places to explore.
As a welcome to Nepal, we will be organizing a Nepali style dinner in the evening. Overnight stay in the hotel of Kathmandu
Duration: 5 to 6 hours tour
Today is your second day in Nepal, so we will give you a fresh start with sightseeing some of the popular places of the Kathmandu valley. We will visit various historical and cultural sites of the valley like: Pashupatinath Temples, Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath Stupa, Patan Durbar Square, Kathmandu Durbar Square, and Bhaktapur Durbar Square.
After sightseeing all the beautiful and rich sites, we will also enjoy some local cuisines of the valley. Then we will return back to the hotel and prepare all the stuffs for the trek. Overnight stay in Kathmandu.
Drive Duration: 7-8 hrs
Maximum Altitude: Dhunche (1960m)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we will begin our journey to Gosaikunda. Our team will pick you up from the hotel and drive to the bus stand. From there we will drive to Dhunche where we will start our trek. The drive won’t be boring as you will see beautiful scenes from the window throughout the drive. You can see beautiful green hills, terraced farm fields, and most exciting scenes are the mountains.
You will be able to spot Mt. Manaslu, Langtang Himal, Ganesh Himal, and more during the journey. We will also take short lunch break in between. Overnight stay in Dhunche.
Trek Duration: 5 to 6 hours.
Maximum Altitude: Shin Gompa (3330m)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Dhunche will be our starting point of this trek. We will have a light breakfast and head to Shin Gompa. The trail gently goes up until it reaches Trishuli River. From here we will go steeper to Chandnbari. The trail also passes through silent pine forest and walking in the steeper path gives you the glimpse of Ganesh Himal.
After reaching Shin Gompa we will also visit the famous cheese factory and also visit the monasteries styled in Newari structures. Overnight stay in Shin Gompa.
Trek Duration: 5 hours.
Maximum Altitude: Laurebina (3910m)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We will have breakfast in Shin Gompa and get ready for today’s trek. We will gradually ascend to Laurebina. The trail passes through a beautiful and dense pine forest. You might spot some wildlife passing in these routes. On the way to Laurebina you can see the clear snow-capped mountain ranges from Annapurna to Langtang.
After 4 to 5 hours of trek we will finally reach Laurebina which brings us closer to Gosaikunda. Overnight stay in Laurebina.
Trek Duration: 3 hours.
Maximum Altitude: Gosaikunda (4380m)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today is the day to trek towards our main part of the journey that is Gosaikunda. We have a short trek to reach Gosaikunda from Laurebina so we can move slowly. To reach Gosaikunda we have a long 2 hours of uphill climb. The chortens and the prayer flags represents that we are in Gosaikunda.
Since there is plenty time left in the afternoon, you can also see the nearby places in Gosaikunda or you can rest with a cup of tea along with mesmerizing mountain views. Overnight stay in Gosaikunda.
Maximum Altitude: Surya Peak (5145m)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we will take an entire day to explore and acclimatize around Gosaikunda. The morning obvious starts with a warm breakfast and mountain views. Then we will hike to the sacred lake Gosaikunda. The water of the lakes is pearl blue and is so dreamy. The shadow of the mountain and cloud looks so satisfying in the lake. It is said that Gosaikunda washes away all your sins.
You can also hike to Surya Peak (5145m) which gives you a closer view of Langtang ranges. The hike will be quite steep and will take 2 hours. The peak provides you a splendid view of landscapes. Then we will return back to Gosaikunda for the night.
Trek Duration: 6 hours.
Maximum Altitude: Laurebina La Pass (4165m)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After spending such a beautiful time in Gosaikunda, it is time to descend our trek. After having breakfast, we will continue our steps and head to Shin Gompa. The trail passes through Laurebina La Pass which offers us splendid views of various mountains. Then we will continue the walk via Cholangpati.
After a few hours of trek, we will finally reach Shin Gompa. Overnight stay in Shin Gompa.
Trek Duration: 6 hours.
Maximum Altitude: Shin Gompa (3330m)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After having breakfast, we will gradually descend our journey to Dhunche. Today will be the last trek of our Gosaikunda Trek. We will start to descend through the rhododendron, bamboo, and pine forest. Crossing the forest we will reach Deurali, from here we will enter another forest. Then the trail comes across the river.
Descend from here will take us to Dhunche. Overnight stay in Dhunche.
Trek Duration: 7-8 hours.
Maximum Altitude: Dhunche (1960m)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
We will have an early morning breakfast today. After packing all the stuffs we will leave Dhunche. Taking all the good memories with us we will return back to Kathmandu by bus. We will be driving via the same route as earlier. You can enjoy the beautiful scenes throughout the way to Kathmandu.
As soon as we reach Kathmandu, we will drop you at the hotel. We will meet you in the evening to have a farewell dinner and you can share your trekking experience with us. Overnight stay in Kathmandu.
Here comes the day to say a hard bye to Nepal. Our representative will help you to drive to TIA. He will drop you a few hours before your flight period. We hope you had a great time in Nepal. Hope to be a part of your trek in Nepal again.
Two permits are needed which are the Langtang National Park Entry Permit (USD 30) and the TIMS card (USD 20). Nepal Mountain Adventure arranges both permits in Kathmandu before departure ensuring smooth entry at the Dhunche national park checkpoint.
The Gosaikunda Trek with Nepal Mountain Adventure starts from USD 549 per person including a licensed guide, porter, teahouse accommodation, three daily meals, Langtang National Park entry permit, and TIMS card for the complete 7 to 9 day itinerary.
The Gosaikunda Trek takes 7 to 9 days with Nepal Mountain Adventure, trekking from Dhunche through Sing Gompa and Lauribina to the sacred Gosaikunda Lake at 4,380 m and descending through Helambu to Kathmandu, completing a fully one way route with no trail repetition.
Gosaikunda Lake is one of the holiest Hindu pilgrimage sites in Nepal where Lord Shiva is believed to have created the lake by striking the ground with his trident. During the Janai Purnima full moon festival in August tens of thousands of Hindu devotees from across Nepal and India undertake the trek to bathe in the sacred waters, making it one of the most spectacular religious events in the Himalayas.
Spring (April to May) and autumn (September to November) are the best trekking seasons. The August Janai Purnima festival is spectacular but extremely crowded with pilgrims. Winter from December to February is very cold at the lake altitude of 4,380 m and the trail can be covered in heavy snow making access difficult.
The highest point is 4,380 m at Gosaikunda Lake with an optional hike above the lake to Surya Kunda and Bhairab Kunda at approximately 4,600 m for trekkers who want a higher altitude experience on clear days. The main Lauribina La viewpoint above the lakes reaches approximately 4,610 m.
The trail passes through Sing Gompa (an active Tibetan Buddhist monastery at 3,330 m), the sacred Gosaikunda Lake basin with its cluster of 108 holy lakes, the Lauribina La viewpoint used for centuries by Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims, and several ancient Shiva shrines and rock carved prayer walls throughout the upper section.
Yes, Acute Mountain Sickness is a real concern as trekkers spend the night at 4,380 m at Gosaikunda after ascending rapidly from Sing Gompa at 3,330 m in one day. Nepal Mountain Adventure recommends a gradual approach with a rest day at Sing Gompa for trekkers who have not recently been at altitude, and all NMA guides carry pulse oximeters and emergency altitude medication.
Gosaikunda Lake is a stunning deep blue glacial lake completely surrounded by barren rocky peaks and snow fields above 4,000 m. The reflection of the surrounding peaks in the still lake water at sunrise and sunset is extraordinarily beautiful and the spiritual atmosphere created by the centuries of pilgrimage to this sacred site makes it one of the most memorable destinations in all of Nepal.
The Holy lake of Gosainkunda in Langtang National Park is one of the best destination to visit by trekking. The lake and surrounding is really beautiful. Since the lake is surrounded by high hills, they are covered by snow during most of the time in a year. Just you need to take care that you might be caught by high altitude sickness.
One of the best trekking and mostly recommend trek.
We have been to Gosainkunda twice. Both times we stayed several days and hiked around the lakes, up to the pass and explored the nearby trails and ridge lines. On this last trip we followed the mostly unused trail, taking off from the lowest lake, discovering that, though it was in rough shape in places, you could make it out to the road and the bus back to Kathmandu in a day if you started early and kept moving. There are also great views from the trail to the ridge starting behind the tea houses and often wonderful sunsets as well.
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