Gosaikunda Lake Trek

In the morning, we have a thrilling drive from Kathmandu to Dhunche, going through the foothills of the Himalayas and reaching a warm place called Trisuli Bazar. Then, we travel up a winding road through many farm villages to reach the cooler Dhunche town, which is at a height of 1,950 meters. Dhunche is the main town in Rasuwa district, where the Langtang National Park begins.

On the second day, we walk from Dhunche to Chandanwari, which takes about 4 to 5 hours. The journey starts through fields and villages, then goes by a river where we start going up into a beautiful forest with tall rhododendrons, magnolia, oaks, pines, and fir trees. We'll pass by shelters for cattle herders in the grazing pastures. We keep climbing until we reach the top of a ridge at Chandanbari, also known as Sing Gompa. It used to be covered with sandalwood trees, which is why it's called Chandanbari. After checking into a nice lodge, you have the afternoon free to explore.

On the third day, we trek to Gosaikunda Lake, which is at an altitude of 4,200 meters, and it takes about 4 to 5 hours. During the walk, you'll see amazing views of snowy peaks, including Langtang, Ganesh-Himal, Manaslu, and even Annapurna in the distance. The trail goes uphill through alpine woodlands for about an hour.
As we climb, we'll leave the trees behind and pass through dwarf rhododendron, juniper, and alpine shrubs. We'll reach a place called Laurabina, where pilgrims leave their walking sticks, giving it the name 'Laurabina.' After a short descent and then another climb, we'll reach the Saraswati and Bhairav kund before heading to our overnight stop at Gosainkund, near its beautiful pond. You'll notice traces left behind by pilgrims who have visited this sacred place.

On the fourth day, you have a free day to explore around Gosaikunda. You can take a short hike around the holy glacial pond. Gosaikunda is an important sacred place where a big festival happens every year in August. During the festival, which is called Janai Purnima, a lot of Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims come to the lake for a holy bath. People believe that the large rock in the middle of the lake is a Shiva temple.

On the fifth day, we trek to Gopte at 3,430 meters via Lauribina-la Pass, which is at 4,610 meters, and it takes about 6 hours. We start with a gentle walk by the pond at Gosainkund, then climb near a small creek between rocks and boulders. The path takes us close to a small pond called Surjakund before reaching the highest point of our adventure, Lauribina-la or Gosainkund pass. After reaching the top, we descend for a long time to Phedi, which is at 3,694 meters and has a few teahouses where we might stop for lunch. Then, we head east towards the Helambu region, surrounded by green vegetation like junipers and rhododendrons, until we reach Gopte, which means "overhanging rocks," for our overnight stay.

On the sixth day, we trek to Kutumsang, which is at 2,470 meters, and it takes about 4 to 5 hours. After wandering through the wilderness, our trail connects with the paths leading to Helambu and Kathmandu. We walk through the forest for about an hour, then uphill to reach Tharepati, a nice spot on a ridge above 3,597 meters. From there, you can see views of peaks, including the Jugal Himal range and Ganesh-Manaslu to the west.
We then descend to Mange Ghot, a pleasant place with a grassy field. Afterward, we walk through farm fields to reach Kutumsang for our overnight stay. It's a charming farm village inhabited by Sherpa, Hyalmo, and Tamang hill tribes.

On the seventh day, we trek to Chisapani, which is at 2,165 meters, and it takes about 4 to 5 hours. The morning involves a long walk on a winding path with some ups and downs, passing through many farm areas and villages. We reach Gul-Bhanjyang, situated on a ridge top, for a break. The walk continues on a nice trail, passing through farm villages and reaching the charming Pati Bhanjyang village. From here, we have a short climb to our last overnight stop at Chisapani, a scenic village close to the northern hills of the Kathmandu Valley rim. Chisapani offers a picturesque view of stunning sunrises over the peaks of Jugal Himal to the northeast and Ganesh Himal-Manaslu and Annapurna ranges to the west.

On the last day of the amazing Gosaikund Lake Trek, the morning walk takes you through beautiful forests and farmlands. After a few hours of walking, you'll reach a ridge top at Burlang and Chepu Bhanjyang, offering great views of Kathmandu Valley. From there, you descend to Sundarijal, a lovely spot with a cool forest, monkeys, and fresh streams. Sundarijal is a small farm town, and from there, you'll drive back to Kathmandu, marking the end of the enjoyable Gosainkund Lake Trek.