Lantang and Gosainkunda Trek

1-Join tour in Kathmandu
Our tour beings today in the Nepali capital, Kathmandu.
Overnight: Standard Hotel
Single Rooms Available

2-Kathmandu walking tour: trek briefing
This morning we have a full briefing on the trekking days ahead. We then take a tour of the bazaars and temples of old Kathmandu in the company of a local Nepali guide. Our sightseeing takes in Durbar Square, with its collection of ornate palaces, courtyards and temples, as well as the Taleju Temple and the Kumari Ghar, home to the Kumari Devi, a living goddess worshipped by both followers of the Hindu and Buddhist faiths. The afternoon is then free to visit a local hire shop should any last minute equipment still be needed
Overnight: Standard Hotel
Single Rooms Available

3-Drive to Syabrubensi
Departing Kathmandu after breakfast we head north, driving out of the Kathmandu Valley towards Trishuli Bazaar and then on to Syabrubensi, a journey of some seven to eight hours. The first part of the drive is along well maintained roads that take us through Dunche (1,950m) and into the scenic foothills to Trishuli. Once we start following the east bank of the Trisuli River though, we begin climbing along a collection of unpaved and narrow winding roads that offer some precarious views down into the valley below and out towards Ganesh Himel. Passing tiny mountain villages and fields of corn and mustard seed, we then descend towards the hot springs of Syabrubensi by way of a series of bumpy zigzags.
Overnight: Simple Teahouse

4-Trek to Lama via Ghopcha Khola
Our trek begins after breakfast this morning, starting close to the main road initially, before crossing a stream and a bridge that leads us along the banks of the Ghopcha Khola and on up to the small village of Bamboo. The trail takes us up past terraced fields and small tea houses (bhattis), as we make our way through dense forests of oak, maple and alder. These landscapes are home to wild boar, langurs and Himalayan black bear and from Bamboo we have a steep ascent up to a steel suspension bridge at 2,000 metres. Crossing over to the north bank of the Langtang Khola we find ourselves enjoying some spectacular views of cascading waterfalls and scrub oak forests, as we begin the final leg of the day’s journey to Lama Hotel, our final stop for the evening.
Total walking time approximately 11.5 kilometres/7 hours. Ascent/descent 1120m/90m.
Overnight: Simple Teahouse

5-Trek to GhodaTabela
Continuing our ascent above the Langtang Khola this morning, we begin with a gentle climb that eventually turns into a steep zigzag trail up towards the lush alpine meadows of Ghoda Tabela. Our journey up takes us across a log bridge and in the distance we should catch sight of the towering peak of the 7,000 metre Langtang Lirung. We spend this evening at Ghoda Tabela in a simple teahouse.
Total walking time approximately 3 kilometres/4 hours. Ascent/descent 4900m/20m.
Overnight: Simple Teahouse

6-Trek to Langtang
Passing several lodges and a police check point this morning, our route opens up into a wide valley of yak pastures and scattered Tamang villages. We’ll pass water-driven mills and prayer wheels as we head up towards Langtang Village today. Home to the headquarters of the Langtang National Park, the village is made up of a collection of flat-roofed Tibetan-style houses, surrounded by fields of buckwheat, potatoes, wheat and barley, providing us with a suitably traditional setting for our night stop.
Total walking time approximately 6 kilometres/7 hours. Ascent/descent 575m/10m.
Overnight: Simple Teahouse

7-Free morning in Langtang: trek to Kyangin
After a relaxing start to the day we leave the village later this morning, heading out along a trail that takes us through the yak pastures. Today’s hike will also take us past the largest mani wall in Nepal, whose stones are inscribed with the six syllabled Buddhist mantra of ‘Om mani padme hum’, which loosely translates as ‘Hail to the jewel in the lotus’. Crossing several wooden bridges we find ourselves high amongst the mountain landscapes of the Langtang National Park and, as we approach Kyanjin Gompa, the Himalayan peaks are all around us. Kyanjin Gompa is home to a small Buddhist monastery and on arrival we should have a little time to walk around the village to enjoy the breathtaking natural beauty.
Total walking time approximately 6 kilometres/4 hours. Ascent/descent 425m/40m.
Overnight: Simple Teahouse

8-Rest day in Kyangin
With a free day to relax and take stock, we have the option today to pay a visit to the monastery, or perhaps take a hike out to Kyanjin Ri (4,350m), where we can get some amazing views out across the snow-capped peaks and the glaciers. The climb up Kyangjin Ri should take us around 4 hours, ascending to the summit and then returning by the same route, a distance of some seven kilometres.
Overnight: Simple Teahouse

9-Return to Lama
We retrace our steps this morning, following the Langtang Khola as we head back down through Langtang Village and Ghoda Tabela. Most of today’s walk will be downhill, passing back through the forest and following the river past the ethnic Tamang villages that lined our route on the way up. The Tamang are closely related to their Tibetan neighbours and still follow the traditions and customs of their forebears, boasting a quite distinct culture, language and religion to the other Nepali tribes. We will overnight back at Lama Hotel this evening, in readiness for our descent down to the Langtang Khola River in the morning.
Total walking time approximately 15 kilometres/6 hours. Ascent/descent 70m/1,490m.
Overnight: Simple Teahouse

10-Descend to the Langtang Khola: trek to Thulo Syabru
Descending to the Langtang Khola River today we trek through a landscape blanketed in alpine forests, filled with colourful rhododendrons. Once we reach the river we begin our ascent up to Thulo Sayabru, enjoying the beautiful backdrop of the Langtang Himal range in the distance and making our way through forests of pine and juniper. Our destination today is the Tamang village of Thulo Syabru.
Total walking time approximately 9 kilometres/6 hours. Ascent/descent 650m/900m.
Overnight: Simple Teahouse

11-Trek to Shing Gompa
First thing this morning we trek up to Dimsa Village (3,030m), before following an easier trail that leads on to Shing Gompa. The broad trail takes us through rhododendron, hemlock and forests of oak and as we climb, we’ll be treated to some stunning views of Langtang Himal and Ganesh Himal. Shing Gomba is home to another Buddhist monastery and a factory that reputably makes the best cheese in Nepal. The panoramic views are also something to savour!
Total walking time approximately 5 kilometres/4.5 hours. Ascent/descent 1370m/15m.
Overnight: Simple Teahouse

12-Trek to Laurebinayak
Continue climbing today, trekking up past Cholang Pati and following a gentle ascent on up to Laurebinayak.
Total walking time approximately 4 kilometres/3 hours. Ascent/descent 350m/5m.
Overnight: Simple Teahouse

13-Trek to Gosainkunda
The trail today ascends quite steeply, following a rugged path all the way up to Gosainkunda. To the west lie the peaks of Himal Chuli (7,893m), the Mansula range (8,156m), Ganesh Himal (7,406m) and the Tibetan peaks. On a clear day even the Annapurnas can be seen rising up behind the distant mountains. Entering the high pastureland above Lauebinayak, we’ll then cross the ridge and catch our first sight of the holy lakes. The Gosainkunda Basin contains around a dozen lakes, but the three main ones are Sarawatikunda, Bhairabkunda and Gosainkunda. According to legend they were created when Shiva drove his trident into a glacier to quench his thirst after swallowing a poison that had threatened to destroy the world. Gosainkunda itself is considered sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists.
Total walking time approximately 4 kilometres/3 hours. Ascent/descent 490m/20m.
Overnight: Simple Teahouse

14-Cross the Laurebina Pass (4600m): trek to Ghopte
An early start this morning sees us ascending steeply for the first couple of hours, taking us up to the Laurebina Pass (4,600m), from where we should catch sight of three of the other lakes. Dropping down to Phedi (3,730m), we’ll then enter a bamboo forest and follow the rocky trail down the last two and a half hours to Ghopte, our final stop for the day.
Total walking time approximately 11 kilometres/7-8 hours. Ascent/descent 460m/1,210m.
Overnight: Simple Teahouse

15-Trek to Kutumsang
Another morning’s ascent takes us up to Tharepati (3,600m), after which the trail undulates along the ridge before dropping down through rhododendron forests and on to a stone staircase. Turning right, we take a wider trail that then leads us down to Mangan Goth in time for lunch. This afternoon we then climb towards Kyuola Bhanjyang, before finishing our day’s trek with a walk through scrub and rhododendron forest to Kutumsang.
Total walking time approximately 14 kilometres/7.5 hours. Ascent/descent 400m/1,360m.
Overnight: Simple Teahouse

16-Trek to Chisopani via Chipling.
After passing the Langtang Park office this morning, we leave Kutumsang village behind and walk on to Jogin Danda, around an hour away. Passing a small shrine, the trail then descends to Gul Bhanyjamg (2,130m), home to a large Tamang community, before continuing on to Thotong and then Chipling, where we stop for lunch. The afternoon then sees us trekking down to Pati Bhangjyang and the Nepali flatlands, before a final hour’s climb to Chisopani and the end of our day.
Total walking time approximately 16 kilometres/8-9 hours. Ascent/descent 1,030m/1,300m.
Overnight: Simple Teahouse

17-Trek to Sundarijal: Drive to Kathmandu
A gradual climb to Borlang Bhanjyang this morning takes us through a landscape of subtropical rainforest, before we continue along an undulating trail to the village of Mulkharka. From here it is then just a short hour and a half descent down through the Shivapuri Watershed and Wildlife Reserve to Sundarijal, where we meet up with our bus for the drive back to Kathmandu. From here we then have an hour’s drive back to the Nepali capital for our final night.
Total walking time approximately 10 kilometres/4-5 hours. Ascent/descent 260m/1,000m.
Overnight: Standard Hotel
Single Rooms Available

18-Tour ends in Kathmandu
Our tour ends this morning after breakfast.

Tour includes:

17 Breakfast
15 Lunch
15 Dinner
Transport:
Bus
Accommodation:
3 nights Standard Hotel
14 nights Simple Teahouse
Tour Staff:
Driver(s), Explore Tour Leader, Porter(s)
Maximum Altitude on Trek (m):
4600
Group Size:
Generally 10 – 16