Langtang Valley & Gosainkund Trekking after the Earthquake

Langtang Valley Trek is a pleasant trip in Nepal. The Langtang valley declared as Langtang National Park in 1976 and covering approximately 1710sq. km stretching up to the Tibetan border. Trekkers will be surrounded by awesome forest, high peaks and Himalaya range of mountains.

On this trek Langtang Valley & Gosainkund you can view from Annapurna I (8,091m / 26,545ft) Annapurna South (7,219m-23,693ft), 08th highest Mt. Manaslu at 8,163 m, Ganesh Himal Ganesh Himal (7,405 m) Langtang Lirung (7,234 m)  Ghengu Liru(Langtang II 6571m / 21,560ft), and to the south, the Chimsedang Lekh forms a ridge of peaks which includes Naya-Kanga (5,846m) and Gangchempo, Tilman's beautiful Fluted Peak. Beyond it extends to the Jugal Himal, terminating in Dorje Lakpa (6,980m/22,929ft).

Langtang Valley & Gosainkund one of the most popular and trekking region due to its easy accessibility from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi, the trek is moderate with ups and downs trail.

This trek leads through many traditional Tamang villages famous for culture and Buddhist religion and as well for mountain and trekking guides they are also well known for making unique wooden handcrafts and Thanka painting.

This remarkable trek starts from Syabrubesi and into enchanting forest of rhododendron, oaks and pines tree lines where the rare red panda, snow leopard roams with other wild life in this beautiful Himalayan environment.

Drive to Syabrubesi 1,460 m - 07 hrs journey.

Starting this wonderful journey driving towards North West of Kathmandu passing interesting villages and towns with fabulous scenery of hills, farm terraces and snow capped peaks after the warm area reaching to cooler region at Langtang National Park entrance in Dhunche 1950 meters, the one and the only major town of Rasuwa district and Langtang area, inhabited mostly of Tamang ethnic tribes throughout the area of this trekking.

Langtang Valley and Gosaikunda Trekking, Syabrubesi

Trek to Lama Hotel 2, 350 m - 06 walks.

The first day walk of this adventure leads to cross a bridge over Langtang Khola (river) later joins the great Trisuli River, and then on the uphill walking through scattered farm villages and terraces with views of surrounding landscapes and into a cool shade of forest reaching near a place with small lodges and tea house at Riverside where the trail from Upper or Thulo Syabru meets, after a rest or lunch break trek continues with a climb through beautiful forests of rhododendron, pines, bamboo tree lines, Langtang area is famous for rare and elusive Red Panda and other wildlife’s, after a good day’s walk reaching at Lama Hotel located in between forest surrounding and by the Langtang Khola  with 5-6 simple lodges.

Langtang Valley and Gosaikunda Trekking, Lama hotel

 

Trek to Langtang village 3, 307m via Ghoretabela - 06 hrs.

Morning walk heads higher up through the river gorge  in the middle of enchanting woodlands of tall trees of pines, rhododendron and following the river upstream passing few houses and cattle herders shelters and then to more cooler place at Ghoretabela for lunch break in beautiful forest surrounding with few lodges around. From here another 2-3 hours of good walk and the leaving the tree lines behind reaching at Langtang village for overnight stop, the last village before Kyanjin. Here explore this interesting village of Tamang and Bhotias people of Tibetan origin with similar life style of Tibet religion and culture.

Trek to Kyanjin Gompa 3,749 m - 04 hrs.

After a wonderful stop in this last village, while other up are temporary settlement of yak herders and lodge to serve the trekkers, moving on the winding up trail and then the gorge opens to a wide beautiful valley with awesome views of snow capped peaks that lines this Langtang valley, walking on encountering few prayer or mani walls and then reaching our first destination of this trip at Kyanjin Gomba for two nights in this lovely valley surrounded by many peaks around with Langtang Lirung glacier just close by from the lodges and a cheese processing factory established some 35 years ago with help of Swiss assistance.

Langtang Valley and Gosaikunda Trekking, Kyanjing Gompa

Rest day at Kyanjin for acclimatization and hikes.

A perfect spot for rest day to acclimatize at this high altitude before our next higher journey to Gosainkund and beyond, here many places for short hike and climb like to the hill top of Tsego and Kyanjin ri at over 4,000 meters top for better panorama of surrounding mountains.

From view point hill overlooking at Langtang Himal, beyond which lies Tibet. The major peaks include Ghengu Liru (Langtang II 6571m / 21,560ft),  Langtang Lirung  (7,425m / 23,765ft) Kimshun (6,745m / 22,137ft) and Shalbachum (6,918m / 22,699ft) to the south, the Chimsedang Lekh forms a ridge of peaks which includes Naya-Kanga 5,846m and Gangchempo, Tilman's beautiful Fluted Peak.

Beyond it continues to the Jugal Himal, ending with Dorje Lakpa (6,980m / 22,929ft), extending further east on the upper meadows of the Langtang range ends in a huge and massive mountain wall, forming the border with Tibet.

Trek back to Lama Hotel 2, 350m - 07 hrs.

Morning catching the last view of this wonderful surrounding and high snow capped mountains in amazing Langtang valley, then heading downhill for another adventure on route Kathmandu, walk leads on the same route till Lama Hotel after a long descend with few short ups in between the walks.

Trek to Upper (Thulo) Syabru village 2,118m - 06 hrs.

From Lama Hotel our journey leads to alternative route towards Upper Syabru also called as Thulo Syabru, morning walk a short downhill to Riverside and Bamboo area with small lodge, teahouses in the middles of rhododendron, oaks and bamboo forests, after short rest here walk continues leading  uphill to the ridge of Upper Syabru passing few farm lands and a big landslide section and then to Thulo Syabru village where the traditional Tamang houses are linked together like a long locomotive with beautiful carved windows and doors, this village with 6-8 good lodges and a monastery above the village.

Trek to Singh Gomba / Chandanbari 3,254 m - 05 hrs.

After this nice village walk leads to more climb through enchanting dense forest of lovely rhododendron, oaks and pine trees with views of Langtang and Ganesh Himal and as far towards west peaks of Manaslu and Annapurna Himalaya, although a steep climb but interesting walking into this beautiful forest where more than 10 varieties of rhododendron species exists around this thick woodlands, passing summer pasture  and shades of cattle herders and then on the pleasant winding trail to Singh Gomba / Chandanbari village with cheese factory and an old monastery at the top of the village.

Langtang Valley and Gosaikunda Trekking, Laurebina

Trek to Gosainkund 4,381 m / 14,375ft - 05 hrs.

Today, walk leads to our next destinations and one of the highlight of this great journey, morning walk leading to an uphill through beautiful alpine coniferous forest with views of Annapurna, Manaslu Mountains towards North West and of Langtang Himal range ahead north, walk passes few settlement with small lodges and huts at Laurabinaya where tree line stops with only few bushes of juniper and dwarf rhododendrons.

Walk continues with a climb reaching the top notch of west Laurabinaya pass at 3,932 meters via Cholang Pati and Laurabinayak from here heading with short descend and then to holy Gosainkund area at first reaching Saraswati and Bhiarav kund  and short climb to the main huge pond at Gosainkund for overnight stop, a fascinating place with ambiance environment surrounded by high Rocky Mountains, afternoon a short walk around the lake and to hill top for impressive views of mountains of Langtang and Ganesh Himal. This place regarded holy for hundreds of years where thousands of Hindu pilgrims, as well Buddhist and Shaman (Witch Doctors) visits here on festival held around “Jani Purnima” in the month of August as per the Hindu / Buddhist Lunar calendar

. 

Trek to Ghopte Odar 3,566 m cross Laurabina-La 4,609 /15,100 ft – 07 hrs.

From holy Gosainkund morning walk follows the pond to east direction and then a climb to a rocky ridge and a basin with two more frozen small ponds of Suraya kund, and from here on the gradual section of the walk for an hour and then with a last final climb towards the high ridge pass of another east Laurabina-La at 4,609 meters or 15, 100 feet.

After catching the panoramic views of mountains and hills a long descend to the base of this pass to Phedi (bottom or base) with few lodge and teahouses serving travelers and trekkers using this way to Gosainkund. After a time here walk continues on the good trail and back into tree lines of lovely juniper, rhododendron and pines after few of steady walk reaching to the overnight stop in a small place of Ghopte Odar (over hanging cave) with small and simple lodges and teahouses.

Trek to Kutumsang 2,445m - 06 hrs.

After a great moment being on the highest spot of this trek around Gosainkund area, morning walk leads further east and to south directions reaching at Tharepati at 3,597 meters on route to Helambu, Gosainkund and Kathmandu, a small settlement located on a ridge with great views of snow capped mountains, rolling hills and valleys, after a lunch break here continue walk with a long descend through nice dense forest to Kutumsang village, a farm place with Sherpa, Hyalmo and Tamang people.

Langtang Valley and Gosaikunda Trekking, Magen Goth

Trek to Gul Bhanjyang 2,125 m - 05 hrs.

Morning walk leads to Gul Bhanjyang village on route Kathmandu, starting with a gradual winding path through farm and small forest area with more descend passing many small villages and farm fields with terraces and finally ending the day walk at Gul Bhanjyang village for overnight stop.

Trek to Chisopani Danda 2,195 m -05 hrs.

Today walk leads to more villages and awesome scenery of surrounding beautiful landscapes with high Himalayan mountains, walk with short climb and then on the gentle trail for hours and then heading downhill to a nice Hindu village of Patbhanjyang located on a basin between hill ridge with tremendous views of Melamche area green valley and green hill with dramatic contrast with high snow capped peaks. From here another two hours walk with a short steep climb to Chisopani Danda for last overnight stop of this remarkable adventure. This beautiful spot with nice 5-6 lodges with overwhelming panorama of mountains with stunning sunrise views over chain of mountains from Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh and Langtang Himal and towards Jugal Himalayan range.

Trek to Sundarijal 1,380m with an hour drive to  Kathmandu.

After catching the striking views of sunrise over range of snow clad peaks, morning walk leads to a long downhill through enchanting forests and farm lands and Tamang villages and reaching at upper Sundarijal (beautiful water) as this place supplies pure drinking water to the urban areas of Kathmandu valley, from here another hour of downhill brings to the road head at Sundarijal town for a short drive back to Kathmandu from this town at North East of the valley rim, on reaching Kathmandu transfer to respective hotels around Thamel area, with whole day free for individual activities.