Langtang and Gosaikunda Trek

You will be greeted on arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport by a representative of Crystal Mountain Treks holding a placard at the arrival gate. You will then be escorted to your hotel in Kathmandu. Once in the hotel you can refresh and take a rest as the day will be free. In the evening you will be entertained with a welcome dinner (included).

Overnight Hotel Tibet or similar

Meals: D

After breakfast, drive to Pashupatinath, Nepal’s most sacred Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, with its two-tiered golden roof and silver door. Shiva, meaning “The Auspicious One”, also known as Mahadeva (“Great God”), is a popular Hindu deity and is considered to be the Supreme God within Shaivism, one of the three most influential denominations in Hinduism. Here, you’ll probably witness a Hindu cremation along the banks of the Bagmati River and many ascetics and Sadhus.

Then on to Bhaktapur, which is located about 20 km east of Kathmandu in the Kathmandu Valley, Bhaktapur is known as the ‘City of Devotees’, the ‘City of Culture’, the ‘Living Heritage’, and ‘Nepal’s Cultural Gem’. It is one of the 3 royal cities in the Kathmandu Valley. The others are Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, and Patan. Bhaktapur is filled with monuments, most terra-cotta with carved wood columns, palaces and temples with elaborate carvings, gilded roofs and open courtyards. As a World Heritage site listed by the UNESCO, Bhaktapur has been heavily restored since a 1934 earthquake severely damaged the city.

In the afternoon, final preparations for your Langtang trek.

Overnight at Hotel Tibet or similar.

Meals: B, L

Board a chartered vehicle early in the morning for a 7-8 hour drive to Syabrubesi where our trek begins. Though the distance is only 82 miles (132 Kilometers), most of it is on unpaved jeep track. After the 2015 earthquake the Kodari-Zhangmu border (East of Kathmandu) between Nepal and Tibet was closed and the Kodari highway is no longer used for entry into Tibet. Instead, Kerung which lies just above Syabrubesi is the new entry point into Tibet and work is underway to widen this highway.

Overnight Lodge.

Meals: B, L, D

The trek begins today and soon you cross a suspension bridge over the Bhote Koshi to the village of old Syabrubesi. Cross another bridge over the Langtang khola and start a gentle but continuous ascent trekking past several landslides, many of which were triggered by the 2015 earthquakes. Today’s and tomorrow’s trail is mainly along the river through forests which abound in fauna including the wild boar, red panda, langur monkey and the Himalayan black bear. You will most likely stop at Bamboo for lunch where wild bee combs can be spotted across the river on the rocky cliffs.

After lunch, it is again a continuous ascent with ocassional steep ascents to camp at Lama Hotel.

Overnight Lodge.

Meals: B, L, D

SYABRUBESI TO BAMBOO:
Total Distance: 6.06 miles (9.75 Kilometers)
Ascent: 2,357 feet or 718 meters
Approximate ascent time: 2 hours and 10 minutes
Descent: 547 feet or 167 meters
Approximate descent time: 40 minutes to an hour
Approximate flat time: 30 minutes

BAMBOO TO LAMA HOTEL:
Total Distance: 1.88 miles (3 Kilometers)
Ascent: 667 feet or 204 meters
Approximate ascent time: 2 hours
Descent: 196 feet or 60 meters
Approximate descent time: 20 minutes
Approximate flat time: 5 minutes

The trail continues to climb through thick forests of oak, maple and rhododendrons. Langtang Lirung is visible directly ahead. Soon the trail becomes more gradual as you pass Ghoda Tabela which once was where Tibetans were resettled. Cross a suspension bridge and ascend to Thanshyap and continue a steep ascent to Langtang village. Just before you enter Langtang village is the site where a huge landslide triggered by the 2015 earthquake buried several locals, trekkers and army personnel.

Overnight Lodge.

Meals: B, L, D

LAMA HOTEL TO GHODA TABELA:
Total Distance: 6.86 miles (11 Kilometers)
Ascent: 1,966 feet or 600 meters
Approximate ascent time: 2 hours
Descent: 224 feet or 69 meters
Approximate descent time: 20 minutes
Approximate flat time: 1 hour

GHODA TABELA TO LANGTANG:
Total Distance: 2.5 miles (4 Kilometers)

The trail continues to ascend gradually as the valley widens. Climb a moraine from where you can finally see Kyanjin Gompa and the ice-fall flowing from the peaks of Langtang Lirung and Kangshung. Continue over another ridge and descend to Kyanjin Gompa with its ugly collection of concrete lodges – most of which were built after the earthquake.

Overnight Lodge.

Meals: B, L, D

LANGTANG TO KYANJIN GOMPA:
Total Distance: 4.22 miles (6.8 Kilometers)

Wake up early to ascend Kyanjin Ri for a better view of the entire valley and the surrounding mountains. Those who are more fit and have acclimatized can attempt to climb Tsergo Ri which is twice as harder than Kyanjin Ri. From the top of Kyanjin Ri, it is possible to have a better view of Lantang Lirung and it’s icefalls (See picture above) along with the other mountains.

After the Kyanjin Ri excursion, follow trail back to Thangshyap which is an hour or so past Langtang Village.

Overnight Lodge.

Meals: B, L, D

KYANJIN GOMPA to Kyanjin Ri (same applies for return to Kyanjin Gompa):
Total Distance: .91 miles (1.5 Kilometers)
Ascent: 1,453 feet or 443 meters

KYANJIN GOMPA TO THANGSHYAP:
Total Distance: 5.55 miles (9 Kilometers)
Ascent: 245 feet or 75 meters
Approximate ascent time: 20 minutes
Descent: 2,086 feet or 635 meters
Approximate descent time: 2 to 3 hours
Approximate flat time: 30 minutes

Continue descent on the same trail to Bamboo.

Overnight Lodge.

Meals: B, L, D

THANGSHYAP TO BAMBOO:
Total Distance: 7.16 miles (12 Kilometers)
Ascent: 380 feet or 116 meters meters
Approximate ascent time: 32 minutes
Descent: 3,157 feet or 962 meters
Approximate descent time: 2.5 hours to 3 hours
Approximate flat time: 10 minutes

Continue descent to Pairo. A little beyond Pairo, a sign shows the route towards Thulo Syabru. Follow this steep trail and ascend rapidly to a lone tea shop from where Sherpa Gaon is visible high above on the other side of the river. Also, the Ganesh Himal range is visible in the distance. The trail then becomes level and is on a cliff until we cross a long suspension bridge and begin the ascent to Thulo Syabru. We continue past Thulo Syabru for about an hour to Upper Thulo Syabru. If all are feeling well, we continue to a meadow at Mu Kharka which is a little higher up.

Overnight Lodge.

Meals: B, L, D

LAMA HOTEL TO GHODA TABELA:
Total Distance: 5.28 miles (8.5 Kilometers)
Ascent: 3,005 feet or 916 meters
Approximate ascent time: 2 to 3 hours
Descent: 1,271 feet or 388 meters
Approximate descent time: 1.5 hours to 2 hours

Continue ascending through the forest which slowly gives way to a couple of meadows. The Upper meadow is Mu Kharka. Re-enter the forest (mainly Rhododendrons and Oak) and ascend steeply gaining altitude rapidly to Cholang Pati where the forest gives way to barren alpine landscape. Looking back, in the south west are the Ganesh Himal range and Manaslu. In the West is Langtang Lirung. From Cholang Pati, continue steep ascent to Laurebinayak.

Overnight Lodge.

Meals: B, L, D

THULO SYABRU TO CHOLANGPATI:
Total Distance: 3.63 miles (5.9 Kilometers)
Ascent: 3,697 feet or 1,126 meters
Approximate ascent time: 4 hours
Descent: 0

CHOLANGPATI TO LAUREBINAYAK:
Total Distance: 1.02 miles (1.6 Kilometers)
Ascent: 1,032 feet or 315 meters
Approximate ascent time: 1 hour
Descent: 10 feet or 3 meters

Wake up early to begin the ascent over Laurebina la pass. This is mostly windy and hence chilly so dress appropriately. From Laurebinayak, it is a steep ascent to the top of Buddha hill where there is a Buddha statue. The views from here are quite marvelous. The trail then become more gradual. The trail which is along a high cliff has now been widened but still isn’t advisable for those with vertigo issues.

We stop for lunch at Gosaikunda where there is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. From Gosaikunda, it is another hour or so (1.77 miles with 916 feet ascent) to the pass at Laurebina La. After the pass, it is a steep descent to Phedi. We continue further to Ghopte.

Overnight Lodge.

Meals: B, L, D

LAUREBINAYAK TO GOSAIKUNDA:
Total Distance: 2.5 miles (4 Kilometers)
Ascent: 1,735 feet or 530 meters
Approximate ascent time: 2 hours
Descent: 112 feet or 35 meters
Approximate descent time: 10 minutes
Approximate flat time: 30 minutes

GOSAIKUNDA TO PHEDI:
Total Distance: 4.31 miles (7 Kilometers)
Ascent: 916 feet or 280 meters
Approximate ascent time: 1 hour
Descent: 3,030 feet or 924 meters
Approximate descent time: 2-3 hours

The trail continues up and down through the forest past Ghopte. After a short gradual ascent, arrive at Tharepati from where the entire Helambu valley is visible along with Dorje Lakpa and Ama Yangri.

From Tharepati, it is a steep descent to Melamchi Ghyang.

Overnight Lodge.

Meals: B, L, D

PHEDI TO THAREPATI:
Total Distance: 5.31 miles (8.5 Kilometers)
Ascent: 2,243 feet or 683 meters
Approximate ascent time: 2 hours
Descent: 2,612 feet or 797 meters
Approximate descent time: 2 hours
Approximate flat time: 15 minutes

THAREPATI TO MELAMCHI GHYANG:
Total Distance: 3.1 miles (5 Kilometers)
Ascent: 143 feet or 43 meters
Approximate ascent time: 10 to 15 minutes
Descent: 3,707 feet or 1,130 meters
Approximate descent time: 2 – 3 hours

It is possible to drive back to Kathmandu from Melamchi but some sections of the road are scary and hence we choose to hike to Timbu. (This option is still available).

From Melamchi, descend steeply to the Melamchi river. Enroute, we will see a rock with a foot imprint which is believed to be that of Padmasambhava. We cross the river and continue along a forest and again cross another suspension bridge. A little later we arrive at the site of Melamchi Water Supply which through a man-made tunnel will provide much needed drinking water for the Kathmandu valley. A little further is Timbu from where we board a chartered vehicle back to Kathmandu.

Overnight Lodge.

Meals: B, L, D

MELAMCHI TO TIMBU:
Total Distance: 8 miles (12 Kilometers)
Ascent: 900 feet or 275 meters
Approximate ascent time: 1 hour
Descent: 5,000 feet or 1,524 meters
Approximate descent time: 3 – 4 hours
Approximate flat time: 30 minutes

Full day of sightseeing in Kathmandu. You will be accompanied by our in-house city guide. In the morning, visit Bodhanath to watch monks and devotees circumambulate the largest stupa in the world. Then visit Pashupatinath, Nepal’s most sacred Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, with its two-tiered golden roof and silver door. Drive to Patan for lunch in the garden of the Patan Museum Café. After lunch, visit the well-maintained Patan Museum storing ancient Nepali artifacts, followed by a tour of Patan Durbar Square. Drive back to Kathmandu.

Overnight Hotel Tibet or similar.

MEALS: B, L

Transfer to the airport for final departure.

Meals: B