Langtang region · Tea house trek
Langtang Gosaikunda Trek
- Trek
- Langtang Gosaikunda Trek
- Trek type
- Tea House Trek
- Duration
- 13 days
- Program starts/ends
- Syabrubesi / Sundarijal
- Trek difficulty
- Moderate to Challenging
- Maximum elevation
- 4,773 m
- Walking duration
- 3–8 hours
- Group size
- 1–6 people
- Best season
- Mar–May · Sep–Nov
- Accommodation
- Tea house
- Transportation
- Jeep and car
- Permits
- Langtang National Park and Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park permits and TIMS card
From $1,450 for 1 Trekker
Book this trekOverview
The Langtang Gosaikunda Trek joins two of the best treks close to Kathmandu. First you walk up the Langtang Valley to Kyanjin Gompa (3,870 m), below the glaciers of Langtang Lirung, and climb Kyanjin Ri (4,773 m) for a wide view of the high peaks. Then you cross over to the sacred lakes of Gosaikunda (4,380 m), a Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage site, and over the Lauribina La pass (4,610 m) into the Helambu region.
No flights are needed: the trek starts with a drive to Syabrubesi and ends on foot at Sundarijal, on the edge of the Kathmandu valley. On the way you stay in Tamang and Hyolmo villages, walk through rhododendron and pine forest, and see Langtang, Ganesh Himal, Manaslu and Annapurna from the ridges.
You sleep in simple family-run tea houses and pay for your food and room directly, so your money stays with local families. The walking days are 3 to 8 hours, with one long pass day, so it is a good trek for fit walkers who want variety without going above 5,000 m.
Related treks: the shorter Langtang Valley Trek, the Manaslu Circuit Trek and the Makalu Base Camp Trek.
Highlights
- The Langtang Valley and Kyanjin Gompa (3,870 m), below the glaciers of Langtang Lirung (7,227 m)
- Sunrise view from Kyanjin Ri (4,773 m) over Langtang Lirung, Gangchempo and the upper valley
- The sacred lakes of Gosaikunda (4,380 m), a pilgrimage site for Hindus and Buddhists
- Crossing the Lauribina La pass (4,610 m) into the Helambu region
- Laurebina Yak viewpoint, with Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal and Langtang in one line
- Tamang and Hyolmo villages, monasteries and cheese factories
- No flights: the trek starts and ends by road from Kathmandu
- Trek with purpose: a licensed guide, fair porter wages and insurance, and a share of every trip fee for community projects
Itinerary
A. Outline Itinerary
- Day 1 1,550m
- Day 4 3,870m
- Day 7 2,210m
- Day 9 4,380m
- Day 10 3,430m
- Day 13 1,400m
| Day | Description | Altitude (m) | Net Gain/Loss (m) | Duration (hours) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drive from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi | 1550 | 150 | 7-8 by road |
| 2 | Trek from Syabrubesi to Lama Hotel | 2470 | 920 | 6-7 |
| 3 | Trek from Lama Hotel to Langtang village | 3430 | 960 | 6-7 |
| 4 | Trek from Langtang village to Kyanjin Gompa | 3870 | 440 | 3-4 |
| 5 | Hike to Kyanjin Ri (4,773 m), back to Kyanjin Gompa | 3870 | 0 | 4-5 |
| 6 | Trek from Kyanjin Gompa to Lama Hotel | 2470 | -1400 | 6-7 |
| 7 | Trek from Lama Hotel to Thulo Syabru | 2210 | -260 | 5-6 |
| 8 | Trek from Thulo Syabru to Sing Gompa | 3330 | 1120 | 4-5 |
| 9 | Trek from Sing Gompa to Gosaikunda | 4380 | 1050 | 5-6 |
| 10 | Cross Lauribina La (4,610 m) to Ghopte | 3430 | -950 | 7-8 |
| 11 | Trek from Ghopte to Kutumsang via Tharepati | 2470 | -960 | 6-7 |
| 12 | Trek from Kutumsang to Chisapani | 2165 | -305 | 6-7 |
| 13 | Trek to Sundarijal, drive to Kathmandu | 1400 | -765 | 3-4, then 1 by road |
B. Detailed Itinerary
Itinerary
- Altitude: 1,550 m
- Walking: None (7 to 8 hours by jeep)
Your guide picks you up from your hotel in Kathmandu. The road follows the Trishuli River north through terraced hills, past Dhunche, the headquarters of Langtang National Park, and down to Syabrubesi, the starting point of the trek. Overnight at a tea house.
- Altitude: 2,470 m
- Walking: 6 to 7 hours
Cross the suspension bridge over the Bhote Koshi and follow the Langtang Khola upstream through forests of oak, rhododendron and bamboo. Look out for langur monkeys and, if you are lucky, the red panda. Overnight at a tea house in Lama Hotel.
- Altitude: 3,430 m
- Walking: 6 to 7 hours
The valley opens up as you climb past Ghodatabela, with the first views of Langtang Lirung (7,227 m). Walk past water-driven prayer wheels and yak pastures to the rebuilt Langtang village, home of the Tamang people. Overnight at a tea house.
- Altitude: 3,870 m
- Walking: 3 to 4 hours
A short, easy walk past long mani walls and chortens to Kyanjin Gompa, a small settlement with an old monastery and a cheese factory, surrounded by glaciers and snow peaks. Overnight at a tea house.
- Altitude: 3,870 m
- Walking: 4 to 5 hours
An early climb to the viewpoint of Kyanjin Ri gives a wide view of Langtang Lirung, Gangchempo, Langshisa Ri and the glaciers of the upper valley. Back in Kyanjin Gompa, rest or visit the monastery. This day also helps you acclimatise for Gosaikunda. Overnight at a tea house.
- Altitude: 2,470 m
- Walking: 6 to 7 hours
Walk back down the valley the way you came, through Langtang village and Ghodatabela, to the forest at Lama Hotel. Overnight at a tea house.
- Altitude: 2,210 m
- Walking: 5 to 6 hours
Below Rimche, take the high trail that leaves the Langtang valley and contours to Thulo Syabru, a Tamang village spread along a ridge, with views of Ganesh Himal. Overnight at a tea house.
- Altitude: 3,330 m
- Walking: 4 to 5 hours
A steady climb through pine and rhododendron forest to Sing Gompa (Chandanbari), with a small monastery and a cheese factory. On clear days you see Langtang Lirung and Ganesh Himal behind you. Overnight at a tea house.
- Altitude: 4,380 m
- Walking: 5 to 6 hours
Climb above the tree line to Laurebina Yak, one of the best viewpoints on the trek, with Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal and Langtang in one line. The trail then passes Saraswati Kunda and Bhairab Kunda to the sacred lake of Gosaikunda, where Hindu pilgrims come during the Janai Purnima festival in August. Overnight at a tea house by the lake.
- Altitude: 3,430 m
- Walking: 7 to 8 hours
The hardest day. Climb past more lakes to the Lauribina La pass (4,610 m), the highest point of the trek, then descend steeply over rocks to Phedi and continue through forest to Ghopte. Start early, as clouds often build in the afternoon. Overnight at a simple tea house.
- Altitude: 2,470 m
- Walking: 6 to 7 hours
Climb to Tharepati (3,690 m) on the ridge above the Helambu region, then walk down through forest and yak pastures to the village of Kutumsang. Overnight at a tea house.
- Altitude: 2,165 m
- Walking: 6 to 7 hours
Follow the ridge south through Gul Bhanjyang, a Tamang and Hyolmo village, and over Borlang Bhanjyang to Chisapani. On a clear evening you can see the Himalaya from Langtang to Everest. Overnight at a tea house.
- Altitude: 1,460 m
- Walking: 3 to 4 hours, then 1 hour by car
Walk down through Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park to Sundarijal on the edge of the Kathmandu valley. A car takes you back to your hotel in Kathmandu. End of the trek.
Permits for this trek
- Langtang National Park entry permit: NPR 3,000 per person. Covers the Langtang Valley and Gosaikunda.
- Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park permit: about NPR 1,000 per person, checked near Chisapani and Sundarijal at the end of the trek.
- TIMS card (Trekkers’ Information Management System): about NPR 2,000 per person.
Since April 2023 foreign trekkers must walk with a licensed guide through a registered agency. We arrange all your permits through our registered agency (TAAN no. 1597) before the trek. Please send us a copy of your passport and 2 passport-size photos. Fees can change, so we confirm the current amounts when you book. Want to know how your price is worked out? See how we price your trek.
How to Get to the Langtang Gosaikunda Trek
The trek starts in Syabrubesi in Rasuwa district and ends at Sundarijal on the edge of the Kathmandu valley. No flights are needed.
- Kathmandu to Syabrubesi (trek start): 7–8 hours by road via Trishuli and Dhunche. A local bus costs about US$10, a shared jeep about US$20 and a private jeep about US$150 for the whole jeep.
- Sundarijal to Kathmandu (trek end): about 1 hour by taxi or car (about US$15–20).
- We can book your jeep and car for you. The road to Syabrubesi can be slow after rain, so keep a spare day in Kathmandu if you can.
Cost and Price Details
The Price Includes
- A licensed, English-speaking guide: daily wages, food and accommodation throughout the trek
- Travel insurance for the guide
- A porter’s daily wages, food and accommodation throughout the trek (one porter for every two trekkers)
- Travel insurance for the porter
- TIMS card for each guest
- Langtang National Park entry permit
- Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park entry permit
- A contribution to our community projects
- 25% agency service charge, including government tax
The price does not include
- International flights
- Nepal visa (currently US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days)
- Hotel in Kathmandu
- Transport Kathmandu–Syabrubesi and Sundarijal–Kathmandu (shared or private jeep or car)
- Food and accommodation throughout the trek (paid directly to the tea houses by guests)
- Travel and medical insurance for the guest, including helicopter rescue
- Personal expenses: drinks, hot showers, charging, Wi-Fi, laundry, shopping
- Tips for your guide and porter
- Costs caused by events outside our control, such as landslides, road closures or strikes
Tea houses: pay as you go
We don’t include trail food and accommodation in our price. Instead, you choose and pay for them directly at family-run tea houses, so 100% of that money stays with local families. Budget about NPR 3,500 per person per day for food and accommodation. Prices are higher at Kyanjin Gompa and Gosaikunda, where supplies are carried up by porters and mules. There are no ATMs on the trek, so bring enough Nepali rupees from Kathmandu.
Langtang Gosaikunda Trek Cost: Your Full Budget
Our package is US$1,450 for 1–2 trekkers. It covers your guide, porter, national park permits and TIMS card. For a bigger group, ask us for a price.
Here is a full budget for one person in a group of two, so you know the real total before you book.
| What | Cost per person |
|---|---|
| MAST trek package (guide, porter, permits, TIMS): US$1,450 shared by 2 | about US$725 |
| Food and tea houses on the trek: about NPR 3,500 a day for 12 nights | about US$315 |
| Shared jeep to Syabrubesi and car back from Sundarijal | about US$30–60 |
| Tips for your guide and porter | about US$80–120 |
| Total for one person (group of 2) | about US$1,150–1,220 |
Trekking alone? You pay the full package of US$1,450, so your total is about US$1,850–1,950.
Not included in this budget: international flights, Nepal visa, hotels in Kathmandu, and travel insurance with helicopter rescue.
Your Guide and Porter
Your guide is licensed, speaks English and knows the trails, villages and tea-house families of Langtang and Helambu. A porter carries your main bag, up to 15–20 kg (one porter for every two trekkers). Your guide checks the weather before the Lauribina La crossing and looks after your health at altitude, and every staff member is paid a fair wage and insured.
Altitude and Fitness
This trek reaches 4,773 m on Kyanjin Ri, sleeps at 4,380 m at Gosaikunda and crosses the Lauribina La at 4,610 m. You should be fit enough to walk 6–7 hours a day, with one long, steep pass day. Visiting Kyanjin Gompa first helps you acclimatise before Gosaikunda. Walk slowly, drink plenty of water, and tell your guide straight away if you have a headache, nausea or dizziness. Travel insurance with helicopter rescue is required.
Best Time for the Langtang Gosaikunda Trek
The best months are March to May and September to November.
| Months | What to expect | Advice |
|---|---|---|
| Mar–May (spring) | Mild days, rhododendrons in flower, some haze in the afternoon | Best time |
| Jun–Aug (monsoon) | Rain, leeches and clouds; Janai Purnima pilgrimage to Gosaikunda in August | Possible with care |
| Sep–Nov (autumn) | Clear skies and the best mountain views | Best time |
| Dec–Feb (winter) | Very cold; snow often closes the Lauribina La and Gosaikunda freezes | Avoid the pass |
Langtang Gosaikunda Trek Map
FAQs
General
It is a moderate to challenging trek. Most days are 5 to 7 hours on good trails, but the day over the Lauribina La pass (4,610 m) is long, steep and rocky, about 7 to 8 hours. You should be fit and used to walking several days in a row. No climbing skills are needed.
13 days from Kathmandu to Kathmandu: a drive to Syabrubesi, 11 walking days including a hike to Kyanjin Ri, and a final walk out to Sundarijal. If you have less time, the Langtang Valley Trek takes 8 days.
The Langtang Valley Trek goes up the valley to Kyanjin Gompa and comes back the same way. This trek adds the sacred lakes of Gosaikunda, the Lauribina La pass and the Helambu region, so you see more and never walk the same trail on the way out.
March to May and September to November. Spring brings rhododendron flowers, and autumn has the clearest mountain views. In winter (December to February) the Lauribina La is often closed by snow. In the monsoon (June to August) the trails are wet and leeches are common, but many pilgrims visit Gosaikunda for the Janai Purnima festival in August.
Yes, some risk. You sleep at 4,380 m at Gosaikunda and cross 4,610 m. Our itinerary visits Kyanjin Gompa and Kyanjin Ri first, so you are already acclimatised before Gosaikunda. Walk slowly, drink plenty of water, and tell your guide if you have a headache, nausea or dizziness. Travel insurance with helicopter rescue is required.
The Langtang National Park entry permit (NPR 3,000), the Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park permit at the end of the trek (about NPR 1,000) and a TIMS card. All three are included in our price. Please send us a copy of your passport.
You pay for your meals and room directly at family-run tea houses, so 100% of that money stays with local families. Budget about NPR 3,500 per person per day. Prices are higher at Kyanjin Gompa and Gosaikunda.
By road. Syabrubesi is 7 to 8 hours from Kathmandu by local bus or jeep. The trek ends at Sundarijal, about one hour from central Kathmandu. There are no flights on this trek.
Since April 2023, foreign trekkers in Nepal's national parks must walk with a licensed guide through a registered agency. You can trek as a single person with your own guide, and our price is the same for one or two trekkers.
Yes. You can skip the Langtang Valley and start from Dhunche straight to Gosaikunda (about 8 days), or end at Dhunche instead of crossing to Helambu. Contact us and we will plan it with you.
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