The Langtang Valley and Gosaikunda trek is a hidden gem when it comes to trails in Nepal. With its indigenous settlements, Buddhist monasteries, tranquil trails along the ridges of the valley with the roaring Langtang river below, and at the end of the trek, the majestic Langtang range and the charismatic Kyanjin Gompa village waiting for trekkers, it quickly becomes a favourite. From Kyanjin Gompa, you can do several side treks. The most popular ones are Kyanjin Ri (4773m) or Cherko Ri (5000m) with ‘Ri’ standing for ‘mountain’ with viewpoints where you can get amazing panoramic views of the Langtang range.
Along with the Langtang Valley, this trek also takes you to Gosaikunda (4380m), an alpine freshwater lake which is also a Hindu religious site. In Hindu mythology, it is believed that Shiva, the god of destruction, resides in the lake and upon consuming a poison that would contaminate the world’s ocean, drank water from the lake to heal and soothe himself. Gosaikunda is not the only alpine lake, surrounding it are numerous other lakes such as Bhairav Kunda (Nepali for ‘lake’), parvati kunda, and Surya Kunda, all as breathtaking as the next.
There is a rich history of the Langtang Valley trek as well: the starting point of the trek, Syaprubesi is purported to have been established 200 years ago as part of the salt trade route from Tibet to Nepal. The village of Langtang and the valley itself is said to have been discovered by a Buddhist monk chasing his runaway yak sometime in the 15th century who then built a community there that has now flourished.
While the Langtang Valley and Gosaikunda trek is not as popular as the Everest Base Camp trek, Annapurna Base Camp trek, or the Annapurna Circuit, this exclusivity means the trails are quieter and there is more time to truly appreciate nature and the wilderness around you. The Langtang Valley trek is actually a part of the buffer zone of the Langtang National Park, which means you will be in close proximity to the habitats of charismatic animals like the red panda and the snow leopard.
The Langtang Valley trek is an easy to moderate one and with plenty of villages and lodges along the way, it is extremely beginner-friendly and often recommended for those who want to get a feel for trekking in Nepal. With ample lodges and a relatively low altitude change along the trail, you can take your time with this trek which allows you to acclimatize and avoid altitude sickness along the way. The latter stretch to Gosaikunda is more challenging and would be considered moderate.
What is it like trekking the Langtang Valley and Gosaikunda Trek?
Our Langtang Valley and Gosaikunda Trek spanning 13 days will take you to an incredible range of landscapes, cultures, and terrains Nepal has to offer. From the Himalayas at the end of the trek at Kyanjin Ri and the mountain vistas from Kyanji Ri and Cherko Ri, to the sacred lakes of Gosaikunda, this trek will be an awe-inspiring and life-changing adventure, one which will stay with you for a very long time. The trek starts from Syaprubesi after a 6 to 7 hours’ drive from Kathmandu. The ride takes you through the hills and mountains of Nepal with verdant landscapes and valleys.
From Syaprubesi, you will begin your trek through iconic villages in the Langtang Valley like Lama Hotel, Langtang, and Kyanjin Gompa. From Kyanjin Gompa, you will have the choice to hike up to Kyanjin Ri or Cherko Ri, hills amidst the Langtang range that will allow you to get panoramic views of the Himalayas and bird-eye views of Kyanjin Gompa and the Langtang Valley below. From Kyanjin Gompa, you will make your way to Thulo Syapru and to Sing Gompa, a picturesque village before reaching Gosaikunda, the land of sacred lakes.
The trails on this trek are diverse and you will walk through lush forests of rhododendron, oak, bamboo, and pines or alpine meadows depending on the altitude. Most of the trail is protected as they fall under the Langtang National Park Buffer Zone, meaning you will see untouched natural rivers, waterfalls, forests, and grasslands. In the quieter months, you may even come across troops of langur monkeys sunning themselves on large rocks in the rivers.
Langtang Valley trek follows the Langtang River so the trails are along the ridges of the hills leading to the Langtang range. While there are some stairs and uphills, the trail also has undulating hills, making it a suitable trek for beginners or for those who need some breaks along the way. All along the trail are villages (often in an interval of 2-3 hours of walking) so you always have a place to rest if you need. The highest altitude in the Langtang Valley trek is Cherko Ri (5000m) with an additional day of acclimatization at Kyanjin Gompa (3800m) so this is ideal for those who are cautious about altitude sickness.
After Langtang Valley, you make your way to Thulo Syapru and then to Sing Gompa, a beautiful village nestled in the hills. From Sing Gompa, you make your way to Gosaikunda, with the sacred lake lending a mystical air to the trail. You then descend from Laurebina La (‘La’ means ‘mountain pass’ in Nepali) which is surrounded by alpine lakes to Dhunche which will be your final stop of the trek. From Dhunche, you drive back to Kathmandu for 4-5 hours. In Kathmandu, you are free to explore the city before flying to your next destination, bidding farewell to an epic adventure!
Major attractions of the Langtang Valley and Gosaikunda Trek
Before you begin your trek, you will have the opportunity to explore Kathmandu, the historic capital city of Nepal. Here you can visit Nepal’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the revered Hindu temple Pashupatinath, significant Buddhist stupas and sites: Swayambhu and Bouddha, and the ancient palace squares with their unique architecture and historical temples.
After Kathmandu, you enter the buffer zone of the Langtang National Park, walking through the Langtang Valley to reach the villages of Langtang and Kyanjin Gompa where you can see Langtang Lirung (7234m) and the glacial lakes in the Langtang range, part of the larger Himalayan range. The last village on the trail, Kyanjin Gompa, is a fairly well settled mountain village that offers amazing side trips (either to Kyanjin Ri, Cherko Ri, the 300 year old Buddhist monastery which is one of the oldest in the country, yak cheese factory, or the Langtang river below) with a friendly community that has welcomed trekkers since the 1960s. Viewpoints Kyanjin Ri and Cherko Ri provide an amazing panoramic view of the Himalayas and the valley below.
Along the trek and from Kyanjin Ri and Cherko Ri, you will see mountain vistas with peaks like Langtang Lirung (7234m), Langtang Ri (7205m), Dorje Lakpa (6966m), among many many more.
From Langtang Valley, we take a detour towards Gosaikunda (4380m), a sacred alpine lake that is a religiously significant pilgrimage site in both Hinduism and Buddhism. Every year during the Janai Purnima festival, devotees trek to Gosaikunda to do ritual baths in the lake’s holy waters and offer prayers. After Gosaikunda, you go through a mountain pass, Laurebina (4610m) surrounded by mystical sacred alpine lakes and snowy mountains before reaching the final destination of the trek, Dhunche. From Dhunche, you drive back to Kathmandu where you are free to explore the city or kick back and relax after your epic adventure through mountains, forests, and lakes.
Who can do the Langtang Valley and Gosaikunda trek?
The Langtang Valley trek is known to be an easier alternative to treks in the Annapurna and Everest region. The trek is recommended for all ages. As long as you have basic fitness and endurance, you will be able to do this trek. While Gosaikunda is a little more difficult, the days you spend at the Langtang trail will have already prepared you for Gosaikunda so will be able to handle this leg of the trek as well.
Trekkers from around the world are welcome here. This trek can be done as a group or a solo trek as well. Solo trekkers will be accompanied by a guide and a porter (if required). Please note that if you choose to do a group trek, there may be other trekkers joining you as well. The Langtang Valley and Gosaikunda trek is quite flexible for different types of groups and we encourage everyone including students and senior citizens to join this trek.
What to pack for the Langtang Valley and Gosaikunda trek?
In order to avoid last minute packing, we have a list of things you would need for the trek. However, if you miss anything from the list below, Kathmandu and Pokhara, two major cities in Nepal we will visit, will have all your trekking essentials for you to purchase.
- Clothes: Underwear, thermal layer, trekking shirt and pants, fleece jacket, down jacket, windbreaker/waterproof jacket and pants, cotton socks, woolen socks, neck warmer or scarf, gloves, sunhat, beanie or winter hat, ear muffs, trekking boots, flip flops/sandals, microfiber towel (or any towel that dries fast)
- Trekking Gear: Trekking poles, daypack, duffel bag, sleeping bag, sunglasses, reusable water bottle or hydration packs (or both!), map, guidebook, headtorch, travelers knife, waterproof bag for important documents (in case of rain or snow)
- Toiletries and First Aid: Sunscreen, lip balm, moisturizer, wet wipes, toilet paper, soap and shampoo bar, comb, toothpaste and brush, deodorant, antiseptic cream, band-aid, pain relief spray, water purification tablets, general medicine (for indigestion, pain relief etc), oral rehydration salts, electrolytes, insect repellent, allergy medicine or inhaler (if required), knee brace or compressor (if required), hand sanitizer
- Miscellaneous: Adapter, charger, power bank, camera (if you are bringing one), spare batteries for your camera, snacks, journal/pen, travel insurance document, passport, visa, passport-sized photos, cash
Highlights
- A majestic and up close view of Langtang Lirung (7234m) and glacial lake in the Langtang Himal range, a subrange in the Himalayas
- Trek through Langtang National Park, a habitat for red pandas, Himalayan black bears, langur monkeys, and the elusive snow leopard
- Lodge in peaceful quaint villages with the Indigenous Tamang and Sherpa people
- A beautiful 300-year-old Buddhist monastery, one of the oldest in Nepal, at Kyanjin Gompa (3840m), the last village on the trail complete with its own yak cheese factory!
- A plethora of side treks to Kyanjin Ri (4773m) or Cherko Ri (5000m), hills that will allow you to see the panoramic view of the Langtang range and a bird’s eye view of the Langtang Valley and Kyanjin Gompa
- An easy to moderate trek that takes you through the heart of the Langtang Valley with the Langtang River roaring along the way and forests of rhododendron, pine, juniper, and bamboo
- Trails with ancient chortens, grazing yaks, and beautiful scenery of rolling hills and mountain peaks on the horizon
- A trek that takes you from the hills of Syaprubesi (2380m) to the alpine village of Kyanjin Gompa allowing you to see the myriad of landscapes and vegetation in Nepal
- From Langtang Valley, you then make your way through tranquil forests to Shin Gompa, a charming village close to red panda habitats
- Gosaikunda, a famous alpine lake and popular Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage site with historical and cultural importance