Langtang Gosaikunda & Helambu Trek

Overview

Langtang, Gosaikunda, and Helambu Trek is a perfect combination of the remote and splendid Valley of Langtang with the purest holy lake of Gosaikunda and culturally rich Helambu Valley. The trail lies on the north side of Kathmandu Valley near the Tibetan border, also known as Langtang Circuit Trek.

The Langtang trail’s major highlights are Langtang National Park, Langtang Valley, Kyanjin Gompa, Kyanjin Ri, Laurebina Pass, Gosaikunda Lake, and Helambu cultural village.

The wildlife is quite prominent. You can witness Red Panda, Himalayan Black Bear, Wild Boar, and Langur monkeys with a bit of good luck.

This trek features a glorious adventure with jaw-dropping views of Himalayan ranges, including immediate insight into the ethnic Tibetan culture and lifestyle.

Trip highlights

• Enjoy a scenic drive from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi
• A circular trek around the third most popular Langtang trekking region of Nepal
• Experience an incredible offbeat trek in the Nepal Himalayas
• Explore Langtang village, the Valley of Glacier
• Walkthrough Langtang National Park, famous for endangered species such as Red Panda
• Enjoy solitude and wilderness during hiking through the remote off the beaten track paths of the Langtang region
• Visit ancient Kyanjin Gompa, glaciers, and cheese factory
• Majestic view of snow-capped peak including Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, and Annapurna Range
• The trail is dotted with monasteries, Buddhist shrines, chortens, and prayer flags
• A splendid adventure and breathtaking views of diverse landscapes and Himalayas
• Visit Gosaikunda, a pure, holy, high-altitude lake
• Climb Laurebina Pass for stunning panoramic views of the Langtang range
• Explore Helambu Village, a lower part of the Langtang region
• Learn about Buddhism, which is similar to the Tibetan culture and tradition
• A wonderful blend of the quaint natural beauty and culturally rich traditions and lifestyle

Day to day itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu

Once you arrive at the airport in Kathmandu, you will be greeted by one of our representatives who will transfer you to a pre-booked hotel in Kathmandu. After checking in at the hotel, you can decide whether you would like to relax at the hotel or take a walk in Kathmandu (if you have any spare time).

Day 2: Trek preparation

After breakfast, there will be a discussion session where we will talk about our trekking/climbing plan and how to prepare. Your trek leader will brief you about the expedition and answer your queries.

Day 3: Kathmandu to Syabru Besi (1550m) [7-8 hours’ drive]

Early morning, you will begin your trek with a scenic drive from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi, the starting point of the trek. Enjoy great views of the Himalayan range, countryside, rice terraces, and small settlements throughout the bus ride.

All the way to Syabrubesi, you will come across one of the most popular markets, Trisuli Bazaar. The continuous ride will lead you to Dhunche (1,780 meters), an attractive town in the Langtang region. From here, it’s a 1-2 hours’ drive that takes you to Syabrubesi village. Overnight stay in Syabrubesi.

Day 4: Syabru Besi to Lama Hotel (2380m) [5-6 hrs]

Today is the first day of the trek, which leads you to Lama Hotel. It is one of the popular trekking stops which lies on the Langtang Valley trekking route.

You will walk through uneven, rocky, and rugged paths and reach Bamboo along the Langtang Khola. You can witness splendid rhododendron and conifer forest and river on the trek. Then you will trek towards Rimche, which leads to Lama Hotel. You will enjoy the vast meadows, the changing vistas, and the silence of nature along the trail.

As you will be trekking on Langtang National Park’s premises, you will get a glimpse of the fantastic flora and fauna of the region. Once you reach the hotel, you will listen to the nearby river, which is a delightful sound. Overnight stay in Lama Hotel.

Day 5: Lama Hotel to Langtang Village (3430m) [5-6 hrs]

After breakfast, you will head towards Langtang Valley, prominently known as the Langtang region’s hidden gem. Taking you to the scenic beauty of Langtang, you get to witness the beauty of nature in its purest form.

The forest trail leads you to the Ghore Tabela “Horse Stable.” You will gradually ascend through the small settlement areas and reach Langtang Village. A photographer’s paradise, Langtang valley offers some of the most picturesque sites for your wide-angle lens. The panoramic view of the entire Manaslu and Langtang range would be an experience worth trekking for. Overnight stay in Langtang Village.

Day 6: Langtang village to Kyanjin Gompa (3870m) [3-4 hrs]

Today, you will continue your journey from beautiful Langtang village to Kyanjin Gompa through tiny Tamang settlements. En route, you will witness small chortens, many mani-prayer walls, and sacred rocks with Buddhist inscriptions.

The mesmerizing beauty of the trail ensures motivation and encourages you to take one more step forward. Continuous walk on the forest trail on the foothills of the Langtang Himal, you reach Kyanjin Gompa.

At the end of the trek, you will get rewarded with the panoramic views of towering snow-capped peaks of the Langtang range. The Kyanjin Gompa lies at the top of the ridge makes it one of the best vantage points to see Mt. Langtang Lirung (7,234m). Overnight stay in Kyanjin Gompa. 

Day 7: Rest Day at Kyanjin Gompa / Exploration day

Today is the rest or exploration day of the Langtang, Gosaikunda, and Helambu trek. You have a full day to explore the surrounding area of Kyanjin Gompa. You can visit the monastery and the cheese factory. Also, you have options to ascend Tserko Ri (5,000m), one of the best vantage points in the region for innumerable 360-degree panoramic mountain views. The view is mind-blowing, with the backdrop of high snowy mountains and the glacier. Overnight stay in Kyanjin Gompa.

Day 8: Kyanjin Gompa to Lama Hotel [6-7 hrs]

After exploring Kyanjin Gompa with a fantastic view of the valley surrounded by impressive peaks, you will trek back to Lama Hotel. Passing through lush forests, Langtang village, Ghodatabela, and Gumanechok, you will finally reach Lama Hotel. Throughout the trek, the lovely Langtang River and the fantastic mountain views will accompany you. Overnight stay in Lama Hotel. 

Day 9: Lama Hotel to Thulo Syabru (2250m) [5-6 hrs]

From Lama Hotel, you will start your trek with the short ascend to the village of Rimche through bamboo forests. Gradually after crossing the Langtang River down, you will reach the Bamboo village. Further, with continuous walking, you will reach the top of the ridge from where you will get the impressive view of Thulo Syabru valley. Then you gently descend and cross a bridge.

After one final climb through terraced fields and farmhouses, you will reach the tiny settlement of Thulo Syabru. The rest of the time, you can explore a nearby monastery. Overnight stay in Thulo Syabru. 

Day 10: Thulo Syabru to Sing Gompa (3250m) [3-4 hrs]

Early in the morning, you can explore the nearby monastery and pray. After having breakfast, you will begin your trek toward Sing Gompa. Passing through Upper Syabru, you will walk through a winding trail and slowly gain some altitude.

You will enjoy the astonishing view of the Langtang, Manaslu, and Annapurna range on the far west side. The path has its own local culture and life as Tamang people inhabit the nearby villages.

Along the way, you will enjoy the captivating view of Dhunche town down below. Walking on a pleasant path, you will reach Sing Gompa, where you see a few cheese factories. You can try some yak cheese which is considered one of the best in Nepal. Overnight stay in Sing Gompa.

Day 11: Sing Gompa to Gosaikunda (4380m) [5-6 hrs]

Today you will continue your trek to Gosaikunda, the purest holy lake. You will begin your walk with steady climbing to Lauribinayak. From the top of the Lauribinayak, you will enjoy the spell-binding views of the Himalayan range.

Following the rugged trail and with a steep ascent, you will come across a few huts in the high pasture of Laurebinayak. Here you will cross the small ridge and get the first view of Gosaikunda Lake.

There are about a dozen lakes in the Gosaikunda area, but Saraswatikunda, Bhiaravkunda, and Gosaikunda are the three main lakes. 

As you reach Gosaikunda, you can observe the panoramic sight of the lake. The trek is extraordinary because it provides you with the grassland experience along with an unparalleled frozen lake in winter.

Most trekkers opt for this trek to witness the highest natural lake in Nepal because an experience like this is very hard to come. Overnight stay in Gosaikunda.

Day 12: Gosaikunda to Ghopte (3440m) via Laurebina Pass (4700m) [7-8 hrs]

Early morning, you will descend to Ghopte after crossing the Laurebina Pass, one of the trek’s highest passes. Enjoying the spectacular view of Manaslu and other mountain ranges, you will descend steeply to Phedi.

The terrain is quite treacherous, as the path is steep, and convoluted with boulders. At the same time, the trail also has lush and vibrant meadows. While walking through the dense forest, the trail opens up to the vast valley.

At the end of the treks, you will reach Ghopte. You will also catch the view of the Tasi Khola Valley to the south side. Overnight stay in Ghopte.

Day 13: Ghopte to Melamchi Gaon (2560m) [6-7 hrs]

From Ghopte, following the lush forest trail, you will pass through many clear streams. You will reach a small cave before crossing Thadepati Pass (3,690 meters). From the top of the pass, you will get an enchanting view of Helambu valley.

You will descend and take the left route from the pass and make your way to Melamchi Gaon through the tranquil forest trail. After crossing a small stream and a gentle climb through the forest of rhododendrons and oak forests, finally you reach Melamchi Gaon.

Explore the village by visiting the monastery and getting familiar with the local people’s culture and lifestyle who follow Tibetan Buddhism. Overnight stay in Melamchi Gaon.

Day 14: Melamchi Gaon to Tarkegyang (2590m) [5-6 hrs]

Today’s trail has a hidden paradise of high-altitude meadows right in the Helambu Valley. On the trekking route, there are many Buddhist monasteries and chortens.

The trail goes through the dense forest of rhododendrons, small streams, and yak grazing pastures. Once you reach Tarkegyang, you can visit the ancient Gekye Gompa of Tarkegyang. Here you will get immediate insight into the Tibetan Buddhist culture and tradition.

Moreover, you can be part of the simple lifestyle and fascinating culture of the Hyolmo people. Overnight stay in Tarkegyang. 

Day 15: Tarkegyang to Sermanthang (2610m) [4-5 hrs]

Leaving behind Tarkegyang, a cultural village, you will head towards another beautiful Hyolmo village in the Helambu region.

Along the route, you will encounter the Buddhist monastery in Ghangyul. Here you will cross a Mani wall and slowly descend until you reach Chimighyang.

After a pleasant walk on flat land, you will get to Sermathang, the most northern Nepal side. It is still untouched by travelers; hence you still witness some of the original Tibetan tribes people and learn about their local traditions. Overnight stay in Sermanthang.

Day 16: Sermanthang to Melamchi Bazaar (850m) and drive to Kathmandu – 2 hours’ trek and 5-6 hours’ drive

From Sermanthang, you will slowly descend towards Melamchi Bazaar. En route, you will catch a fascinating view of the Jugal Himal range, including Langtang, Ganesh, and Rolwaling Himal.

You will come across many temples and monasteries. After passing several small settlements, cultivated fields, and green meadows, you will reach Melamchi Bazaar. From here, you will begin your drive towards Kathmandu along the bumpy road from Melamchi Pul.

Upon your arrival in Kathmandu, you will transfer to the hotel. After getting fresh, you can stroll around the Thamel area and end the day with delicious Nepal cuisine.  Overnight in Kathmandu.

Day 17: Departure to airport

Today we will drive you to Kathmandu airport approximately 3 hours before your scheduled flight.