Langtang Gosaikunda combines the remote and spectacular valley of Langtang, with the high mountain lakes at Gosaikund. You can visit the beautiful Langtang National park and then trek to the end of the valley to view the wonderful mountains views. Following the Trishuli River north out of Kathmandu, you travel through Trishuli Bazaar and Dhunche to Syabrubensi, a Sherpa village located at the very edge of the Langtang National Park. You then swing east into the Langtang valley, crossing the river several times as you travel up along a gorge-like, lower section of the valley. You pass through oak and rhododendron forests and even cross glacial moraine on your way to the Tamang village of Langtang.
A little further up the valley is Kyangin Gompa, where you stop overnight and sample the local yak cheese. You pass through Nubamatang, nestled in a hidden valley, on your way up to view the glaciers, which mark the gateway into Tibet. Back trekking you travel through Syabru and Sing Gompa to a high plateau, where the sacred lake Gosinkund is located. Crossing the Lauribinayak Pass (4610m.), you continue south, leaving the Langtang region behind you as you travel through the Helambu valley to Gul Bhanjyang. |
Detail Itinerary:
Day 01 :
Drive from Kathmandu to Saybru Besi (1400m.) which takes about 9/10 hours.
You have to depart early for the nine/ten hours drive to your starting point at the foot of the Langtang Valley. The road takes a spectacular route, climbing high over the ridges to escape the Kathmandu Valley and providing you with a superb panorama of the Himalaya, including the Annapurnas, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal and the peaks of the Langtang region that you will soon become better acquainted with.
Day 02 :
Syabru Besi (1400m) - Lama Hotel (2450m)
4-5 hours, 1360m Ascent, 50m Descend .
The trail initially crosses the Bhote Kosi, flowing down from Tibet, literally a few kilometers away, and then gradually climbs up through the sub-tropical forests, teeming with bird-life, to join the trail from Thulo Syabru. You then follow the river by passing Bamboo & climbing though uninhabited forest of oak and rhododendron and maybe catching a glimpse of langur monkeys roaming through the trees. Also,if you are lucky enough,you will see Red Panda & Himalayan Black Bears.You climb along a steep trail to your camp in the forest. There are few lodges and teashops around this place.
Day 03 :
Lama Hotel (2450m.) - Langtang village (3670m.)
5 hours, 1120m.Ascent, 20 m.Descend.
As you continue climbing there are occasional glimpses of Langtang Lirung(7245m.) between the trees. At Ghora Tabela (3000m) the trail emerges from the forest. Once there was a Tibetan resettlement project here, but now it is a Nepalese army post though it has no permanent inhabitants. The trail continues to climb gently and the valley widens, passing a few temporary settlements used by herders who bring their livestock to graze in the high pastures during the summer months. There is a monastery which you can visit shortly before arriving at the village of Langtang, the headquarters of the Langtang National Park. The houses of Langtang and its neighboring villages are of the flat-roofed Tibetan style, surrounded by stone walls enclosing fields of buckwheat, potatoes, wheat, turnips and barley.
Day 04 :
Langtang village (3670m.) – Kyangjin Gompa (3900m.)
2 – 2 ½ hours, 250m.Ascent, 10m. Descend
The trail climbs gradually through small villages and yak pastures as the valley opens out further and the views become more extensive. After crossing several small streams and moraines, the trail reaches the settlement at Kyangjin. Here there is a small monastery and a government-operated cheese factory. You should arrive at Kyangjin by lunch time allowing time to acclimatize and explore the area. It is a dramatic setting with snowy peaks surrounding you in all directions. You can enjoy panoramic views of Kyangjin Ri (4750m.), Tsergo Ri (5000m.), Ganja la (5160m.), Langshi sa- ri (6427m.), Dorji Lhakpa (6430m.), Naya Kang (5844m.), Yala peak (5500m.) and so on.
Day 05 :
Rest day in Kyangjin. It is a day to rest and explore the area. You can visit the monastery and the cheese factory, walk up the moraine to see the spectacular ice faces and tumbling glaciers of Langtang Lirung or ascend Kyangjin Ri [4350m], directly behind the village, for a breath-taking panorama of the Langtang peaks.
Note: There is an alternative option to do a side trip to Langshisha Kharka (4,130m.) from Kyangjin Gompa which takes about 7-8 Hours & it covered about 24 Kilometers in Distance.It is 520m.Ascent & 520m Descend.
Day 06 :
Kyangjin Gompa (3900m.)- Lama Hotel (2450m.)
5 hours, 1450m. Descend, 60m.Ascent.
From Kyangjin you retrace your route, following the Langtang Khola to Langtang village and on to Ghora Tabela. After lunch you continue the steep Descend to Lama Hotel.
Day 07 :
Lama Hotel (2450m.) - Thulo Syabru (2350m.)
5 hours, 650m Descend, 880m.Ascent.
You continue retracing your steps some of the way to Thulo Syabru, but then branch left up a steep path through forest to suddenly emerge with a view of Syabru and its extensive area of millet terraces. An undulating path brings you to this fascinating village where each house is set above its neighbor, in a long line up the very crest of the ridge. It's a great place to wander about, catching glimpses of Tamang life, admiring the beautifully carved wooden windows or simply relaxing in the sun.
Day 08 :
Thulo Syabru (2350m.) – Sing Gompa (3330m)
5 hours, 980m Ascent., 50m Descend
From Thulo Syabru it is a steep climb through forests of oak, fir and rhododendron to the top of a ridge. From here it is only a short Descend to Sing Gompa. There is a Buddhist monastery and a small cheese factory here.
Day 09 :
Sing Gompa (3330m) – Gosainkunda (4320m)
4 - 5 hours, 990m Ascent., 50m Descend
From Sing Gompa you climb a ridge to the main Gosainkund trail. There are good views across Langtang valley to Langtang Lirung. To the west there are dramatic views of the Ganesh Himal and Manaslu. Eventually, the trail descends from the ridge to the first of three lakes, Saraswati Kund. The second lake in the chain is named Bhairab Kund, and the third, Gosainkund. This lake is particularly sacred and a place of pilgrimage in the summer. According to legend, this lake was created by Shiva when he pierced a glacier with his trident to obtain water, quenching his thirst after taking some poison.
Day 10 :
Gosainkunda (4320m) – Chandanbari (Sing Gompa) at 3300m.
4 – 4 ½ hours, 1000m Descend, 100m Ascent
The trail gently ascends for a short through different chortens and small Shiva temples. The trail then descends to Laure Binayak to Sing Gompa. The Gompa, which houses a statue of the Green Tara, is one of the famous destinations for the trekkers. You can witness small cheese factories and several lodges here. The trail now will go through the forest and reach Chandanbari.
Day 11 :
Chandanbari (Sing Gompa) at 3300m. – Dhunche (1960m)
4 – 4 ½ hours, 1340m Descend, 100m Ascent
The first part of the trails descend through pine, silver oak and rhododendrons forests with marijuana plants up to you cross suspension bridge over the Sing Gompa Stream. Now the path stretches at flat level through some human settlements and mineral water factories up to Dhunche. It is a small town and headquarters of Rasuwa district.
Day 12 :
Drive from Dhunche to Kathmandu by bus and it takes about eight to nine hours. It is a pleasant drive back to Kathmandu.
|
Facts of the Trek: