Trip Duration
11 Days
Trip Difficulty
Difficult
Group Size
1-16
Max. Altitude
4,380m. /14,370 ft.
Accommodation
Hotel/ Lodge /Tea House
Best Seasons
Mar-May/Sept-Nov
Activity per day
Trekking
Start/End
KathmanduTrip Overview
Adventure Tansen’s Gosaikunda Lake Trekking journey is an amazing opportunity for you to explore the Langtang region of Nepal, view great panoramic scenes of the peaks in the region, and visit a couple of Himalayan lakes along with Gosaikunda Lake. This lake is situated at 4380 meters above sea level and is located a couple of km away from the Langtang National Park territory.
Along with the amazing natural feature, the Gosaikunda Lake is also a sacred Hindu site. As per the mythology, Lord Shiva created this pure source of water to quench his thirst after gulping down poison. The ancient texts say that Lord Shiva struck the region with his trident to let the cool Himalayan water accumulate in a big area. At certain times of the year (during Janai Purnima), many Hindu pilgrims visit this lake to bathe in its pure water or perform a prayer ritual.
This 50 km trek can be done in just 8 days as well, but it is going to feel rushed. Our 11-day itinerary is the perfect balance of exploration and ample time. In addition to that, we offer a flexible itinerary as per your preference. You can choose to stay at the villages you like, change the daily destinations, and extend the Gosaikunda Lake Trekking journey. But, make sure that you let us know about it before the start of the trek, particularly during the booking phase.
Throughout the trek, we will stay at authentic Tamang villages, which give us more than ample opportunities to experience the daily practices and life of the countryside in Nepal. The culture of the Tamang communities is also an aspect you will find interesting. If you are in the right place at the right time, you might just get to enjoy the vibrant dance and musical performance of the Tamang people.
Before you decide to go on this trek, we want you to understand all the different aspects of it. This detailed breakdown should just do the job and hopefully help you make a final decision.
Highlights of Gosaikunda Lake Trek
- Experience the lush forests of the Langtang region and trek through vibrant Rhododendron forest to get to your daily destinations.
- Visit the sacred Gosaikunda Lake, along with Saraswati Kunda Lake and Bhairav Kunda Lake.
- Visit the Sing Gompa monastery (Chandanbari) for a short cultural and religious side trip.
- Experience the daily lives of the local Tamang people, living a self-sufficient life in the middle of remote hills.
- Explore the Kathmandu valley with a cultural sightseeing itinerary.
Itinerary of Gosaikunda Lake Trek
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu
Arriving at the capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu, counts as your very first day of the Gosaikunda Lake Trekking journey. The government of Nepal offers a visa-on-arrival for most international travelers except for some countries that are deemed unfit. This means you do not necessarily have to apply for a tourist visa before your arrival. However, you also have the option of an online tourist visa application.
Regardless of whether you apply online or at the airport’s immigration center, you are required to present a couple of documents along with your visa application. These paperworks include your passport that has 6 more months before expiry, proof of return tickets, proof of stay, bank receipt of visa fees, and two passport-sized photos.
Your visa application will be processed within an hour at the immigration booth in the airport, while your online visa application will take at least a couple of business days. You will be sent a barcode to the email address you provided, which you have to print out and present at the immigration booth to have your tourist visa stamped.
Max. Altitude: 1350m./4,429ft. (Kathmandu)
Meal: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 02: Explore day in Kathmandu
The valley of Kathmandu is the historical center of Nepal, since many of the major historical events that shaped the country happened there. As a result, there are many historical buildings such as royal courtyards, temples, and palaces that have been standing for centuries. We will start our historical sightseeing tour with a visit to the royal palace complex of Kathmandu Durbar Square. Within this complex, we will get to visit the Hanuman Dhoka Palace, the Taleju Temple, and the Kumari Ghar.
We will then visit sites like Swayambhunath Stupa, also known as Monkey Temple, Kasthamandap, Patan Durbar Square, Changu Narayan Temple, Pashupatinath Temple, Bouddhanath Stupa, and a couple more. Most of the sites we visit are free to enter, but some require a couple of hundred Nepalese rupees as an entry fee, which the Gosaikunda Lake Trek cost will cover. The sites we visit are not mandatory or a fixed itinerary, you can simply ask the tour guide to visit a site you want to within the Kathmandu valley.
Max. Altitude: 1350m./4,429ft. (Kathmandu )
Meal: Breakfast, Launch
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 03: Drive from Kathmandu to Dhunche
The third day of the Gosaikunda Lake Trekking journey takes us to the starting point of the trek, Dhunche. We will start the day at 1400 meters above sea level and gain an elevation of over 600 meters to get to Dhunche village, sitting at 2030 meters. The total distance between the two destinations is 100 km, which requires a 5-hour road drive. It could have been quicker if the road conditions were great, but unfortunately, that is not the case.
Leaving the valley of Kathmandu, we will head north from the city center towards Sangla. We will then cross Thana Bhanjyang, Hattigauda, Sunkhani, and Thanapati to arrive at Thapagaon. The drive is scenic as we are now winding our way through the hills. Driving over the Pushpalal Highway, we will soon reach the junction at Bidur. From there, we will continue going straight, driving over the Pasang Lhamu Highway to reach Dhunche.
Max. Altitude: 2030m./6,660ft. (Dhunche )
Meal: Breakfast, Launch, Dinner
Accommodation: Lodge
Day 04: Trek from Dhunche to Sing Gompa
Today is the first trekking day of the Gosaikunda Lake Trekking journey. The day starts at 2030 meters above sea level and takes us to 3330 meters of altitude at Sing Gompa, gaining 1300 meters of elevation. The total distance we will cover throughout the day is 12 km, which should take us about 5 hours to complete, perhaps a little more if our pace is slower than average.
Leaving the village of Dhunce, we will first ascend a lush forested trail, dominated by rhododendron, oak, and pine trees. This section has some clearings along the way that show us great views of the Langtang region peaks. Our first stop will be at Deurali village (2635 m); it is a great place to rest and enjoy the hilly scenes of the valley.
From there, we will continue the trek and reach Dhimsa, sitting at 3000 meters of altitude. This requires a steep climb, but it is not that difficult. From Dhimsa, we will soon reach Sing Gompa, where we will spend the night.
Activity: Trek
Max. Altitude: 3330m./10,925ft. (Sing Gompa)
Meal: Breakfast, Launch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tea house
Day 05: Trek from Sing Gompa to Lauribina
Today’s total distance is short, only 5.7 km of trekking throughout the day, but this takes about 5 hours to complete since the trail is rugged and raw. The starting elevation is 3330 meters, and by the end of the day, we will reach 3910 meters above sea level at Lauribina. Our elevation gain of the day is 580 meters.
Leaving Sing Gompa, we will climb up a lush forest with occasional scenes of Langtang peaks in the distance. This path leads us to Cholang Pati, reaching 3650 meters of altitude, where we will rest a little. Continuing the trek, the trail gets steeper as we get closer to Lauribina village. We will trek past small patches of grasslands and small settlements to reach our destination of the day.
Activity: Trek
Max. Altitude: 3910m./12,828ft. (Lauribina)
Meal: Breakfast, Launch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tea house
Day 06: Trek from Lauribina to Gosaikunda Lake
This day is the climax of your Gosaikunda Lake Trekking journey since we will be reaching the ultimate destination, the Gosaikunda Lake. The day starts at 3910 meters above sea level and takes us to 4380 meters, gaining more than 450 meters of elevation. We will be on the road for about 3 to 4 hours, covering a distance of 5 km. Today is also the shortest trekking day of the Gosaikunda Lake Trekking journey.
The trek starts with an ascent through a rocky trail, along with a few patches of grassland. This section is adorned with the views of the Ganesh Himal mountain range and the Langtang range. We will soon reach the viewpoint of Lauri Binayak that offers a great scene of the nearby peaks.
Continuing the trek, the trail starts getting steeper as we get closer to our destination. The sacred lake of Gosaikunda is a highly revered site in Hinduism. At a specific time of the year, there are many pilgrims who visit the lake or take an icy bath in its water.
Activity: Trek
Max. Altitude: 4380m./14,370ft. (Gosaikunda Lake)
Meal: Breakfast, Launch, Dinner
Accommodation: TeaHouse
Day 07: Exploration day in Gosaikunda Lake
Today is the one and only exploration day of the Gosaikunda Lake Trekking journey. We will start the day with a stunning sunrise view. The first rays of the sun reflecting off the calm waters of the deep blue lake are something that can not be fully described in words. It is an experience that you must witness firsthand.
Following that, we will visit the Bhairav Kunda lake and the Saraswati Kunda Lake. Both lakes are a part of the Gosaikunda ecosystem and are considered to be sacred sites. If you are looking for something challenging, we can arrange a hike up to the Surya Peak. This is a great acclimatization hike, which requires 4 to 5 hours of trekking.
The option of resting after visiting the other lakes is the most popular way of spending this day of the Gosaikunda Lake Trekking journey. Most trekkers rest for a couple of hours and visit the local monasteries, explore the nearby area, and engage with the locals to spend their day. The sunset views are amazing as well.
Activity: Rest
Max. Altitude: 4380m./14,370ft. (Gosaikunda Lake)
Meal: Breakfast, Launch, Dinner
Accommodation: TeaHouse
Day 08: Trek from Gosaikunda Lake to Sing Gompa
The 8th day of the Gosaikunda Lake Trekking journey is the first day of descent. We will go down from 4380 meters of elevation to 3330 meters, losing 1050 meters of altitude to get to Sing Gompa. We will be retracing our steps, starting with a descent on a rocky trail. We will leave the Gosaikunda lake settlement and pass Bhairav Kunda and Saraswati Kunda on the way out.
After about 3 hours of a downhill hike, we will reach the Lauri Binayak village (3910 meters). It is a refreshing scene of the Ganesh Himal and the Langtang mountain range. Continuing the descent, we will get to Sing Gompa after about 2 more hours of hiking.
Activity: Trek
Max. Altitude: 3330m./10,925ft. (Sing Gompa)
Meal: Breakfast, Launch, Dinner
Accommodation: TeaHouse
Day 09: Trek from Sing Gompa to Thulo Syabru
The total trekking distance is just 6 km today with an elevation loss of 1200 meters. The day starts at 3330 meters and ends at 2130 meters above sea level, this downhill hike requires about 4 hours of walking. Leaving Sing Gompa, we will first go through a lush pine and rhododendron forest with a wide view of the valley and peaks.
We will first reach Dursagang village, sitting at 2660 meters of elevation. We will stop there for a while before getting on the road to Foprang Danda, this 3200-meter-high settlement is yet another great scenic viewpoint. Continuing the trek, we will shortly reach Thulo Syabru village. This marks the end of the trekking day on the Gosaikunda Lake Trekking journey.
Activity: Trek
Max. Altitude: 2130m./6,988ft. ( Thulo Syabru)
Meal: Breakfast, Launch, Dinner
Accommodation: TeaHouse
Day 10: Thulo Syabru to Kathmandu by drive
Today, we will make it back to Kathmandu, where you first arrived in Nepal. This drive from Thulo Syabru to Kathmandu is about 122 km long, which takes about 7 hours to complete. Leaving Syabru, we will head north for a short distance before heading southeast to get to the Pasang Lhamu Highway.
This road takes us to Dhunche, Dandagaun, Ghale Gaun, Betrawoti Bazaar, and Gerkhutar to get to Nuwakot. From there, we will get down to the town of Battar and get on the Pushpalal Highway all the way down to Kathmandu.
Max. Altitude: 1350m./4,429ft. (Kathmandu )
Meal: Breakfast, Launch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 11: Depart Kathmandu
This is the last day of the Gosaikunda Lake Trekking journey, we will have a brief farewell ceremony to toast you on a successful Himalayan trek and set you off on your way. The program is short, as we do not want to take much of your time on your last day in Nepal. Adventure Tansen hopes to see you again soon for a new adventure in the Himalayas.
Max. Altitude: 1350m./4,429ft. (Kathmandu)
Includes/Excludes
What is included?
- All arrival, departure transfers as per the itineary by car, van or coach.
- Sightseeing tour in Kathmandu with English speaking guide, transport and entry fees.
- Domestic airfares and road transportation according to your choice.
- All hotel accommodation with breakfast.
- All meals (3 meals each day) during camping or tea-house trek.
- Full service from our guides, cooks, and porters.
- All camping and kitchen equipments and camp site fees.
- Staff salary, transport and insurance.
- Langtang Area National Park entry permit.
- TIMS (Trekkers Information Management) fee.
- Necessery government taxes.
- Company ground handling charges.
What is not included?
- International flights to Nepal.
- Meals not mentioned above or in the itinerary.
- Travel and medical insurance including evacuation.
- Nepal entry Visa fee.
- Expenses of personal nature such as laundry, bar bill, telephone calls etc and tips for staff.
- Any additional activities not in the itinerary
Route Map & Altitude Chart
Trip Information
How does our trip start?
The Gosaikunda Lake Trekking journey starts with an arrival in Kathmandu. One of our representatives will receive you at the airport after you get your tourist visa approved. He will help you with your bags and escort you to the hotel we arranged for your stay in Kathmandu. After you are refreshed, we will have you meet the porters, drivers, and guides, who are responsible for making your trek easy and successful.
The next day, we will take you on a cultural tour around the valley of Kathmandu. This day tour will have you visit sites like Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Changu Narayan Temple, Pashupatinath Temple, and more sites along the same theme. You can also choose your own itinerary for the sightseeing tour. Following that, we will travel to Dhunche the next day to begin our first day of trekking.
Difficulty
The only difficult aspects of this trek are the couple of steep ascents that we have to traverse to get to our daily destinations. Those ascents are not very difficult but do require a level of endurance and fitness. Other than that, there is not much you have to worry about; the maximum altitude we reach on this Gosaikunda Lake Trekking journey is not that extreme, in fact, it is a very safe elevation with regards to altitude sickness. It is a very mild trekking experience, which is why we are rating it a 6 out of 10.
Best seasons
The best season for this Gosaikunda Lake Trekking journey is autumn. During autumn, the trails are dry, the views are clearer than ever, and the day temperature is very favorable. In addition to that, the Nepalese people celebrate many festivals during this season, which is a great way to experience Nepalese culture and tradition. You might see huge celebrations on the streets of Kathmandu.
The other best option is the spring season. Most trekkers prefer this season because the blooming flowers make the lush forest scenes even better. The national flower of Nepal, the Rhododendron, blooms during the early weeks of spring. Overall, the scenes of the nature of the Langtang region are very well captured in the spring season.
Altitude Sickness
The main cause of altitude sickness is rapidly climbing to considerable altitudes, not keeping oneself well hydrated, and a lack of acclimatization hikes. When you are trekking with Adventure Tansen, our guides will not let you make such rookie mistakes. In addition to that, although altitude sickness starts from 3500 meters of elevation, it is not a major issue till we reach 5000 meters of elevation. The maximum height this Gosaikunda Lake Trekking journey takes us to is 4380 meters.
Safe to say, our journey to visit the Gosaikunda lake seems more than safe from altitude sickness. We will make sure to maintain a good hydration level, climb high and sleep low, and maintain a safe climbing pace. On top of that, our trek guide will make sure that your oxygen levels are up to standard; he will check them every night before bed and every morning before breakfast.
Accommodation, Food and Drink
Accommodation during the trekking days is not very wide-ranged, you only have a couple of options, including tea houses, lodges, inns, and homestays. Tea houses will be our main priority while booking rooms for you, since they are a major part of the Gosaikunda Lake Trekking experience. Lodges and inns are also available, but not throughout the entire itinerary. Wherever you stay, the rooms are on a twin-sharing basis, meaning two trekkers will share one room; there are two beds in each room. If you want a private room, we can make it happen at a price which is not inclusive of the Gosaikunda Lake Trekking cost.
During your time in the countryside villages, we recommend you try local dishes such as Aalu Tama (potato and bamboo shoot), phapar ko roti (flatbread made from buckwheat flour), Dhido (thick millet/buckwheat congee, Gundruk (fermented spinach), Sinki (fermented radish), Thukpa (noodles with veg/non veg broth), and more. You should go down the traditional and local food route before getting to the usual international food found in every corner of the world.
If you are unsatisfied or not fond of the local food, you can just stick to food like sandwiches, pasta, spaghetti, noodles, macaroni, burgers, pancakes, etc. These foods are basically found at most of the stops we make along the Gosaikunda Lake Trekking journey.
The range of drinks available in this trek is not very exciting, but it’s probably for the best since you only need a few essential drinks to complete this trek. First, warm teas of different flavors are available throughout the trek, at every eatery and every village we stay in. Second, instant coffee hot chocolate is partially available, but you can just carry some packets of instant coffee if you crave caffeine that much. Lastly, locally brewed beer and alcohol are available at every village, but we advise not to drink them until the end of the trek as they make your body dehydrated.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, during the trekking days, are covered by the Gosaikunda Lake Trekking cost, but any kind of drink you get throughout the trek is at your own expense.
Transportation
The itinerary that we have discussed above requires some level of ground transportation. First. All of those transportation costs will be covered by the Gosaikunda Lake Trekking cost, along with the driver’s daily wages.
Permit
For this journey, trekkers are only required to have the Langtang National Park permit, which can be obtained in Kathmandu. Our guide will assist you in obtaining your permit, which can take a day to process. The fees related to the permit will be covered by the Gosaikunda Lake Trekking cost.
Trip preparation and fitness
To prepare for this trek, you need to focus on being able to walk for 4 to 5 hours per day. It sounds really easy, but it is not a piece of cake; your legs need to be in good shape, and your body as well. Our trek experts recommend doing a lot of cardio exercises, a treadmill and a stair master. You do not have to do anything other than those three forms of exercise.
Cost & Budget
The cost of Adventure Tansen’s Gosaikunda Lake Trekking journey is USD ___________ per person. This affordable trek package will cover your daily meals during trekking days, permit fees, daily accommodation, daily wages for the crew members, and more.
Gadgets charging & Internet
Charging your gadgets should not be an issue throughout the trek, as solar/hydro electricity is available at every village we stay in. But the same thing can not be said for the internet; you are highly unlikely to get connected to the internet for most of the trekking days.
Your Extra expenses
International flights, hot shower fees, WiFi fees, additional meals, upgraded accommodation, emergency medical services, travel insurance, medical insurance, etc., are not a part of the Gosaikunda Lake Trekking cost.
Things to Remember Before Trekking Gosaikunda Lake Trek
- The highland communities are culturally very sensitive; do not engage in public affection and dress modestly.
- Make sure all your essentials are packed before we move to Dhunche from Kathmandu.
- Carry a bunch of water purification tablets since you will need them throughout the trek.
- Do not eat meat during the trekking days since most eateries do not have proper freezers.
- Do not expect a high level of services or plenty of options of food and drink.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, a beginner can join the Gosaikunda Lake Trekking journey, but only under the circumstance that they are well prepared.
Honestly, the weather in the hilly region is very unstable, it can change in an instant due to high-speed winds blowing in clouds. This is why you should choose the best season for trekking anywhere.
Late March and early April are the best times to view the Rhododendron bloom during this trek.
