Langtang, Gosainkund and Helambu trek.
The steep, snow-capped mountains at the head of the Langtang valley, the stunning glacial lakes of Gosainkund and the friendly villages of Tamang combine to make this a great trekking alternative to the well-known Everest and Annapurnas treks.
The Nepal tour starts in Kathmandu with an introduction to your trekking guide and a walking tour of this bustling area. There is still time for any last-minute purchases to be made on your trek.
Following the Trisuli River north from Kathmandu, we'll drive you to Syabrubesi, a village in Sherpa, located at the very edge of Langtang National Park, where your trek begins and you'll spend the first night in a trekking lodge. Staying in lodges helps you to spend more time meeting and talking to other trekkers and guides at night, as well as getting a little more warmth at the end of each day and contributing to the local economy.
From Syabrubesi, turn east into the valley of Langtang, cross the river many times as you walk along the gorge-like lower part of the valley. You pass through the oak and rhododendron forests and trek through the glacial moraine on your way to the Tamang village of Langtang, which was hard hit by the earthquake of 2015.
A little further up the valley is Kyangin Gompa, where you spend 3 nights and have plenty of time exploring the local area. You can take a few day-walks, such as going up via Nubamatang, nestled in a secret valley, on your way up to see the glaciers that mark the gateway to Tibet.
After a brief backtracking, you can fly through Syabru and Sing Gompa to the high plateau, where the sacred lake of Gosainkund is located. Crossing the Llaurebena Pass (4,610 m), proceed south, leaving the Langtang area behind as you ride through the scenic Helambu Valley to Gul Bhanjyang. It's just a few days of hiking and a bus trip back to Kathmandu.
Once back in Kathmandu, you have a free day to explore this fascinating and colourful area. Alternatively, you may venture out into the nearby valley, where there are many fun places to explore.
The itinerary shown below is very versatile and can be greatly shortened or extended depending on the time available. Options are also possible to make a mountain flight to Mt. Everest, or to add extensions to the trip to try some white-water rafting, or to visit Chitwan or Bardia National Park.
Highlights
Tour of ancient Kathmandu, trek into the Langtang Valley, cross Laurebena Pass (4,610m), views of Langsisa & Ganesh Himal, beautiful panorama of the Langtang peaks, sacred lake at Gosainkund, walk through the Helambu Valley.
Why you'll love this adventure
- Passing through oak and rhododendron forests
- Trekking into the Langtang Valley
- Views of Langsisa & Ganesh Himal
Dates
This trip can be tailor made for your perfect travel dates. Please make a booking enquiry for more information.
Itinerary
This trip includes an action packed itinerary! Please make an enquiry and we'll send you the full itinerary for each day including meals, activities, travel and accommodation.
What's included
- All accommodation (4 nights in mid-range hotels, 16 nights in trekking lodges)
- 24-hour airport arrival & departure transfer service
- Half day walking tour in Kathmandu
- Private car/minivan for drive to Syabrubesi
- Services of a trekking guide and porter(s) throughout the trek
- Insurance for porters and guides
- Trekking area permissions/permits
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary (breakfasts in hotels, all meals on trek)
Trip notes
Price
Who is this trip for?
- Suitable For Solo
- Suitable For Couples
- Suitable For Children
- Suitable For Groups
- Suitable For Students
- Suitable For Business
- Suitable For Wheelchairs
Additional notes
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu
We welcome you to the airport and take you to your hotel in the centre of Kathmandu, where our Encounters Travel agent welcomes you, helps you settle in and explains the agenda for the rest of your trip.
| OVERNIGHT: Kathmandu hotel
Day 2: Kathmandu – Half-day walking tour and free time.
The first part of the morning will be a pre-trek briefing and introduction to your trekking guide. After that, he’ll take you on an informal tour of the interesting, vast city of Kathmandu. You will walk through the busy tourist streets of Thamel (where there are lots of trekking shops perfect for any last minute purchases) and past tiny corner temples, small markets and down to central Durbar Square with its magnificent collection of Hindu Temples and the old Royal Palace. In the evening, you can try the many restaurants and bars and enjoy the unique nightlife that makes Kathmandu a magnet for travelers from all over the world.
| OVERNIGHT: Kathmandu hotel
| MEALS: Breakfast
Day 3: Drive to Syabrubesi (1462m)
You will leave the Kathmandu Valley this morning and take a private car / minivan with your guide and porter(s) to the north through the hills and farmland to the town of Syabrubesi (1,462 m), where you will launch your trek (approx. 6 hours’ drive). Syabrubesi is situated at the junction of Trisuli Khola and Bhote Khosi, both well-known rafting rivers.
| OVERNIGHT: Syabrubesi trekking lodge
| MEALS: Breakfast
Day 4: Trek to Sherpagaon (2490m)
From Syabrubensi, head east towards the Langtang Valley and follow the route along the northern slopes of the valley above the Langtang Khola through the Rhododendron and Oak forests. Various forms of wildlife are present here, and it is not uncommon for Langur monkeys to be seen. We’re going to spend the night in the village of Sherpagaon.
| OVERNIGHT: Sherpagaon trekking lodge
| MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Trek to Ghora Tabela (3035m)
Continue climbing through lush forested areas, following the valley of the river, and steadily gaining altitude before reaching Ghora Tabela (3.005 m). Here you get a sight of Langtang Lirung, ahead of you.
| OVERNIGHT: Ghora Tabela trekking lodge
| MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Trek to Kyangin Gompa (3849m)
You continue to climb today, passing the ruins of the village of Langtang, which was severely damaged by the earthquake of 2015. On the way, look out for a mani wall (dry stone walls inlaid with Buddhist prayer slates. It’s probably one of the longest walls in Nepal. You should follow the Buddhist tradition and walk to the left of the wall). As you ascend, you’re rewarded with a clear view of the Langtang Lirung Glacier flow to your left, and the ice fluted Gyangchempo to your right.
The valley starts to broaden as you cross the glacial moraine and descend into Kyangjin Gompa (3,849 m). Once here, you’re surrounded by stunning high peaks. Kyangjin has a small monastery and is well known for its delicious cheeses made from local Yak herds.
| OVERNIGHT: Kyangin Gompa trekking lodge
| MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Kyangin Gompa. Optional hiking day to Tsergo Ri (4984m)
You’re here for the next two days, and there’s a lot of excursions so keep you busy. If you feel that you have the option of spending a day climbing Tsergo Ri (4984 m) and being rewarded with an amazing view of the snow-capped peaks. Renowned as one of the best spots for hiking in the Himalayas, you can see Langtang (7227 m) to the west, Yala (5500 m) to the north and Dorje Lakpa (6966 m) and Shisha Pangma (8027 m) to the east.
The hike up to the top is not too difficult, although there are some boulders to cross, and any snow and ice parts should be taken with care. Overall, the climb to the top and back will take about four-five hours depending on your speed and the high altitude you find.
There are also simpler things to do, including shorter hikes to the base of the Lirung Glacier, visits to the Gompa and cheese factory, and not forgetting the German bakery in town!
| OVERNIGHT: Kyangin Gompa trekking lodge
| MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Kyangin Gompa. Optional hike day to Langshisa Kharka (4285m)
You have a full day free to enjoy more optional treks or just relax and enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery that surrounds Kyangin Gompa. One alternative is a reasonably level walk up the valley to the secret Nubamatang valley (3,940 m) and Langshisha Kharka valley (4,285 m) where the Salbachum, Lanshisha and Langtang glacial moraines all converge. On the way to Tibet, the real terminal ice of the glaciers remains considerably higher, albeit visible in places. Langshisa Ri lies just ahead of you, but at 6,427 m, it’s not the highest peak in sight, as numerous other snow-capped peaks can be seen all around, including Shisha Pangma, the only 8,000-metre high in Tibet. Trekking time of 6-7 hours
| OVERNIGHT: Kyangin Gompa trekking lodge
| MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: Trek to the Lama Hotel (2500m)
Even though you’re going to be on your feet for most of today, this is a pretty simple day, with the journey mostly a fairly steady downhill as you begin to follow the Langtang Khola to Lama Hotel. Along the way, you can enjoy the views of the mountain from a different point of view to your trek up the valley. Our route from Kyangin Gompa takes us through the small village of Mundu, which will give you an idea of how most of the houses in this area once looked.
| OVERNIGHT: Lama Hotel trekking lodge
| MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10: Travel to Thulu Syabru (2260m)
Today you proceed along the valley of Langtang, covering a new ground after passing the junction with the path that you descended from Sherpagaon. You will continue to follow the Langtang Khola along the base of the valley, passing by the corn fields, before heading south and climbing up the side of the valley to the village of Thulo Syabru.
| OVERNIGHT: Thulo Syabru trekking lodge
| MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11: Trek to Sing Gompa (3300m)
Departing early from Thulo Syabru, you follow a slow zigzag path up the forest and past several small lodges. It’s a long, slow climb with excellent views of Ganesh Himal and other Langtang peaks that make these views so unique in this area. As you follow this route, you pass through the fir tree forests full of Rhododendrons. Shortly after you hit Sing Gompa (3300m).
| OVERNIGHT: Sing Gompa trekking lodge
| MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12: Trek to Gosainkund (4361m)
The path follows a ridge with stunning panoramic views of Himalchuli, Manaslu and Ganesh to the west and the high Tibetan plateau to the north. The trail then descends to Gosainkund (4,361 m) (one of many sacred lakes that serve as major pilgrimage sites to Hindus from all over southern Asia).
This region is a major destination in the summer months of July and August when Hindus flock to the full moon festival of Janai-Purnima. You stay in a lodge near this lake tonight. Legend has it that Shiva, who had saved the world by drinking poison, hit this land with his fork and formed this lake to quench his thirst.
| OVERNIGHT: Gosainkund trekking lodge
| MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13: Trek to Gopte/Gobie Char (3530m) via Llaurebena Pass (4610m)
You ascend from Gosainkund Lake, passing a few smaller lakes before crossing Llaurebena Pass (4,610 m), the highest point of your trek. This pass marks the western border of the valley of Helambu. Your trail takes you along a path that provides breathtaking views of the Annapurnas, Manaslu, Langtang Himal and Ganesh Himal. As soon as you cross the pass, you descend in a south-easterly direction and make your way to Gopte / Dobie Char.
| OVERNIGHT: Gopte/Dobie Char trekking lodge
| MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 14: Trek to Mangengoth (3390m)
Today our path passes through a thick forest, including a lot of rhododendron, bringing us to the Thadepati Pass and a good view of Soli Danda. A further ridge hike, some terraced farmland, broad oak forests and a gradual descent will lead you to the lodge and military checkpoint at Mangengoth.
| OVERNIGHT: Mangengoth trekking lodge
| MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 15: Trek to Gul Bhanjyang (2130m)
Today you’re going south, leaving the Langtang area behind and losing a lot of altitude as you pass through the Helambu Valley to the Tamang village of Gul Bhanjyang (2130m).
| OVERNIGHT: Gul Bhanjyang trekking lodge
| MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 16: Trek to Chisapani (2194m)
From Gul you have a short ascent before heading down to the village of Pati Bhanjyang and then to Chisopani (2,194 m), where you stay for the night. If you wish, you could cut the trek short and go back to Kathmandu.
| OVERNIGHT: Chisapani trekking lodge
| MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 17: Trek to Sundirajal (1460m) and drive to Kathmandu
From Chisopani you walk a few hours through the forested areas with a view of the Kathmandu basin ahead and below. It’s a short walk from here to Sundaria, where we’ll pick you up and drive you back to Kathmandu for a short distance.
| OVERNIGHT: Kathmandu hotel
| MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 18: Kathmandu. Free day
Today is a free day to spend relaxing and recovering from your workouts. We still leave it free in case your trek has been delayed. You may want to spend more time exploring Kathmandu and its surroundings; there are a lot of things to see and do. Maybe some last-minute shopping for gifts is going to fill your last day in Kathmandu.
We offer many options today, including a mountain flight to Everest, a tour of the nearby ancient areas of Patan and Bhaktapur, or an extension of the tour to visit Chitwan National Park, or to try some adventurous rafting on the Bhote Khosi River.
| OVERNIGHT: Kathmandu hotel
| MEALS: Breakfast
Day 19: Tour ends
Your tour will end after breakfast and, if possible, we will move you to the airport for your home flight.
| OVERNIGHT: N/A
| MEALS: Breakfast
Tour operator
Unforgettable encounters are at the heart of the adventurous cultural tours from this UK-based operator. Their experiences range from small group tours to epic overland journeys, family, private and tailor-made holidays.
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Langtang, Gosainkund and Helambu Trek
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