The Langtang Gosainkunda Helambu trek is a spectacular and diverse trekking route in the Langtang Region, taking hikers through stunning landscapes, lush forests filled with rhododendrons, oak and pine trees to undulating hills, snow-capped mountains and glistening glaciers. In comparison to other trekking destinations, Langtang is easily accessible with a day drive north of Kathmandu. The trek forms a circuit, leading us through charming villages like Langtang, Kyanjin Gompa, Thulo Syabru, sacred Gosainkunda Lake, and Hyolmo villages of Helambu, all surrounded by jaw-dropping mountains. As a result, you will get the opportunity to interact with several ethnic groups, such as Tamang, Sherpa, and Tibetan, and learn about their local culture and way of life.
Throughout the trek, we also have the chance to immerse ourselves in the region’s rich flora and fauna, encountering a wide variety of plant and animal species that thrive in this ecological wonderland. This trek gives trekkers unique experiences such as viewing sacred lakes, high-altitude meadows, and witnessing the region’s rich spiritual legacy.
12 – 15 Langtang Gosainkunda Helambu trek starts from driving northwest of Kathmandu Valley to Syabrubesi. This trek takes you to less crowded region compared to the other renowned trekking destinations in Nepal, giving hikers with a more authentic and quiet experience, connecting with the natural beauty and culture of the Langtang region on a deeper level.
Upon your arrival in Kathmandu, you will be greeted at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Later in the evening, we will have a pre-departure meeting regarding the details of your trip.
In the morning, we will pick you from the hotel and drive northward of Kathmandu valley passing through different picturesque village and river before arriving to Syabrubesi, village inhabited by Sherpas and Tamangs. Along the drive you will be welcomed by an amazing view of Manaslu (8156m), Annapurna (8091m), and Ganesh Himal (7422m).
On first day of walking starts by crossing a suspension bridge over Bhote Koshi River. Following Langtang Khola, the trail leads us through a beautiful forest of Oak and Rhododendron with Langtang Lirung as the backdrop. Further, the trail takes you through a series of quaint teahouse settlements such as Tiwari Gaon, Bamboo, and Rimche, each offering a unique charm and respite for trekkers. After passing Rimche, trail becomes relatively steep and demanding until you reach Lama Hotel, where we will stay for the night.
Leaving Lama hotel behind, we continue of our trek to Lantang Village. Crossing various Buddhist Mani walls, adorned with sacred inscriptions and prayer flags, and Chortens, traditional Buddhist stupas, we traverse through vibrant villages, each with its own distinct character. The trail leads us through a dense forest of rhododendrons and pine trees, adding a sense of mystique and beauty to the surroundings. As we approach Ghoda Tabela, also known as Horse Stable, the trail widens, providing more space to relish the stunning views of the snow-capped Himalayan peaks. The majestic Langtang Lirung stands tall to the North, greeting us with its imposing presence. Continuing our trek, we proceed towards the village of Langtang, passing through a few more traditional settlements along the way. An ancient monastery graces our path, offering a serene ambiance for spiritual reflection.
The devastating earthquake of 2015 brought about significant changes to Langtang village. The entire village was tragically buried under a catastrophic landslide. However, despite the challenges, the resilience of the locals prevailed, and new teahouses and lodges were constructed slightly further away from the old village, providing shelter and comfort for trekkers.
Today is a short day of walking to Kyanjin Gompa, one of the oldest monastery in this region. As we continue our trek through the Langtang region, the trail continues to lead us on a gradual climb, meandering through quaint small villages and picturesque yak pastures. As we progress further, the valley begins to widen, and the landscape opens up, offering expansive and breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. After crossing several small streams and moraines, we will reach Kyanjin Gompa. We will be rewarded with breathtaking panoramic view of the majestic mountains such as Mt. Langtang Ri, Mt. Dorje Lakpa and Mt. Langtang Lirung upon reaching Kyanjin Gompa.
Hiking up Tsergo Ri is an exciting and exhilarating day on the Kyanjin Gompa Trek, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges. As we ascend to an impressive altitude of 5,000 meters (16,404 feet), the air becomes thinner, and the trail becomes steeper and more demanding. However, the efforts put into this challenging climb are handsomely rewarded. From the summit of Tsergo Ri, we are treated to a jaw-dropping panoramic view that spans over 20 peaks in the region such as Langtang Lirung (7234m), Tserko Peak (5749m), Yala Peak (5500m), and so on; entire Langtang Valley and frozen lakes. As we descend back to Kyanjin Gompa, we carry the memories of the stunning vistas and the sense of achievement, knowing that we’ve witnessed nature’s grandeur from one of its most incredible vantage points. Upon arrival at the village you can visit the village’s monastery and its local cheese factory.
After a rewarding stay at Kyanjin Gompa, we bid farewell to the people and nature and retrace our way back to Lama Hotel by crossing streams and hiking through forests.
We’ll retrace our route today toward Thulo Syabru, ascending to Rimche Village and then descending to the Langtang River. We then continue on the easy trail to Bamboo and finally uphill to Thulo Syabru inhabited by Sherpa and Tamang people. A breathtaking view of Langtang Himal and Ganesh Himal greets us here.
As we leave Thulo Syabru behind, today’s trail will be a steep and you will walk through Rhododendron and pine forest, charming villages and Phulung Monastery. After taking some rest, we will visit an ancient Shin Monastery and local cheese factory.
Today we will visit the ssacred Gosainkunda Lake, one of the spiritual highlights of our journey. Our trek begins by leaving the lush forests behind and embarking on a steady climb towards Lauribinayak. As we ascend along high ridges, we are treated to awe-inspiring views that stretch as far as the eye can see. The panoramic views of the Himalayas unfold before us, revealing the majestic peaks of the Annapurnas, Hiunchuli, Manaslu, Ganesh, and Langtang ranges.
The Hindu deity Shiva is said to have thrown his trident into the ground to create a stream of water to comfort his burning throat after saving the world by ingesting the poison that threatened to destroy it. The pristine waters of Gosainkunda are believed to wash away the sins of those who bathe in its holy waters. Throughout the year, but especially during the annual full moon festival known as Janai Purnima, many Hindu and Buddhist devotees make a pilgrimage to this sacred site. Exploring other high altitude sacred lakes such as Bhairav Kunda and Saraswoti Kunda adds a feeling of reverence to our trek.
Today is a challenging day, but it will also be a rewarding one. We will be crossing Laurebina Pass, one of the highest pass of our trek. The trail takes us through a series of three small lakes before ascending towards the Laurebina Pass (4610m). The trail to the pass is rough and crosses moraines and cairns. However, the views will be worth the effort. From the summit of Laurebina pass, you can see Mt. Langtang Lirung and other Tibetan ranges. After crossing the pass, we will descend steeply to Phedi. From there, we will continue walking up and down, crossing a rocky hill with pine and rhododendron forest. We will end our day in Ghopte, a small village in the Helambu Valley. Ghopte is a beautiful village, and it will be a great place to relax after a long day of trekking.
Leaving Ghope behind, we walked through lush forest trail, winding our way up and down. The path led us to Thadepati, where we climbed a ridge to get a view of the settlement below. After crossing two suspension bridges, we climbed gently through a forest of rhododendron and oak trees to reach Sherpa village of Melamchigaon, a beautiful village with a monastery.
Today, we continue our descent towards the Melamchi Khola Bridge. Along the way, we will pass by sacred chortens and prayer flags. We will then walk along a ridgeline and dense rhododendron forest to reach Tarkegyang, an indigenous Hyolmo settlement. We will visit the ancient Gekye Gompa of Tarkegyang.
Sermathang, another Sherpa settlement, is our destination for today. We trek steadily up a dirt road through the jungle, chortens, and Mani Walls to reach the village. The views from Sermathang are breathtaking, including the Ganesh Himal, Jugal Himal, Dorje Lhakpa, Langtang Range, and Panch Pokhari lakes.
Today is the last day of our trek. We will slowly descend towards Melamchi Bazar, the meeting point of Melamchi Khola and Indrawati Nadi. Enroute, we will pass through temples, chortens, small settlements, cultivated fields, and green meadows. Our transportation will be waiting for us in Melamchi Bazar to take us back to Kathmandu.
