Nepal is considered one of the best trekking destinations globally because of its scenic beauty and magnificent mountain views. Located in the Langtang region of Nepal, the Gosaikunda Lake Trek allows you to explore this beautiful lake on a short and adventurous trek north of the capital Kathmandu. The Langtang Gosaikunda trek combines one of Nepal’s easiest and most picturesque treks with a scenic portion along the Gosaikunda trail.

You will witness the views of Ganesh Himal, Langtang Lirung, Annapurna, and many others on this Trek. However, the climb up Luaribina Pass is quite challenging.

The Gosaikunda trekking trails include long, steep, and descending climbs, a sub-alpine deep forest with blue gentians, epiphytic orchids, and primroses as beautiful vistas of glacial mountains and charming villages. This Trek takes place in a less-traveled area than the Annapurna and Everest regions, allowing you to enjoy silently getting into the Himalayan peaks.

The Gosainkunda lake trek offers breathtaking views of the Langtang Himalayan range, Manaslu, and Ganesh Himal as well. Not to mention, Gosainkunda Lake is also the source of the Trisuli River.

About the Region

At 4,380 meters above sea level, Gosaikunda Lake is an important Hindu and Buddhist religious site. As a pilgrimage site, Gosaikunda is visited by thousands of pilgrims every year during Janai Purnima. Here, pilgrims pray for the well-being of their loved ones and take holy baths. A trek to the lake makes for an unforgettable experience.

Additionally, the Gosaikunda Lake is considered sacred in Hindu religious belief. People believe that the god Mahadev drunkenly felt thirsty due to the grief of his deceased wife. The legend says that Gosaikunda lakes were naturally constructed when he struck the rocks with his holy stick, and water came out.

Pilgrims of all ages attend the festival, but mostly middle-aged and elderly come to take holy dips; however, many young people and tourists visit the lake to experience the amazing Gosaikunda Trek.

Permits and Accommodations

TIMS Card and Langtang National Park Entry Permit are required for the Gosainkunda trek since you enter Langtang National Park and walk through the Langtang Valley. These permits mostly determine Gosainkunda trek costs. You need them both for legal reasons as well as to ensure your safety while trekking.

Additionally, the revenue from these permits is used to maintain and rebuild safer trails. You can obtain the permits at either of the Nepal Tourism Board offices in Kathmandu or Pokhara. However, TIMS cards can be obtained at the Trekkers’ Agencies Association of Nepal and also at Dhunche, the beginning of the Gosainkunda trek.

Regarding accommodations, you can choose from various lodges and tea houses en route to Gosaikunda. Most of them provide basic amenities, such as hot showers and bathrooms. Some of the lodges provide WiFi as well. 

Preparing For the Gosaikunda Trek

As you will ascend to high altitudes in a matter of days on the Gosaikunda Lake trek, it is very important to adapt your body to the altitude as you gain altitude. Furthermore, taking part in the Trek requires participants to walk for many hours daily.

Therefore, people with lung disorders or breathing problems should either stay away or take precautions before participating in such activities since high altitudes are difficult to adjust to. Not to mention that altitude sickness can be a big issue for some individuals.

The list mentioned below is the list of items for our group on the Gosaikunda trip. Because of the cold conditions at high altitudes, we recommend bringing these items with you on your Trek.

  • Warm clothes, including jackets, sweaters, and thermal wears
  • Water bottles and thermos
  • Tents if you plan to camp by the shore of Rara Lake
  • Backpack
  • Portable fire stoves
  • Snow Glasses and flashlight
  • Well-fitting gloves, socks, and shoes or boots
  • Trekking sticks
  • First aid kit
  • Moisturizers and lip guard
  • Energy bars

We have designed the Gosaikunda Lake Trek itinerary to keep you away from altitude sickness with ample rest periods in between walks.

The Gosaikunda Trek Itinary

Leaving Kathmandu in the early morning, we get to the Machha Pokhari bus station and then head to Dhunche, which is 2,030m/6,660ft above sea level. On the way, we will see scenic settlements and meadows. We will reach Dhunche in about 5-6 hours through a beautiful scenic route and along the Trishuli River.

Dhunche is the headquarter of the district of Rasuwa. When we arrive in Dhunche, we can stroll around the village and meet locals. After a wonderful evening with locals, we can stay overnight at a homey teahouse.

On our second day of trekking, we will start from Dhunche and hike towards Chandanwari. After hiking for approximately two hours, we will reach Deurali (2,500 meters), a small village, on our way to Chandanbari. The trail leads us to Dhimsa (2,900m) after 3 hours of hiking.

From Dhimsa, the climb becomes more difficult as the trail climbs steeply uphill through pine forests. The climb to Chandanwari is the most challenging part of the hike.

We will spend the night in Chandanwari after eating a hearty meal with lots of cheese in the evening.

This morning we will hike uphill to Gosaikunda (4361m) following our hearty breakfast in Chandanwari. Today's hike will be more tiresome than yesterday's. From the beginning, the trail gradually ascends. We will hike on a rough and narrow trail all the way to Gosaikunda. As we ascend, you will have to walk through barren hills and be exposed to cold breezes. Make sure you bring warm clothes.

We will trek for about an hour to two hours and reach Cholangpaty (3500m), where there are clear and close views of Langtang Ri(7205m), Manaslu(8163m), Langtang Lirung(7234m), and Ganesh Himal(7422m).

A further 2 hours of walking will lead us to Lauribinayak (3900m). From here, we can see the beautiful Langtang Lirung, Ganesh Himal, Masalu and Langtang Ri. Our next stop will be Sakyamuni's Hindu temple, which carries Hindu and Buddhist values. Another half-hour of hiking will take us to our first lake, Saraswati Kunda, then Bhairav Kunda, and the Mighty Lake Gosaikunda.

Our morning will start with breakfast at our hotel, and then we'll explore Gosaikunda before proceeding downhill to Dhunche via Lauribinayak, Dhimsa, and Deurali. Today is our last trekking day, so let's enjoy the views of the mountains, pine forests, and the delicious cheese of Chandanwari.

As we descend, hiking will be more relaxed and enjoyable. Several protected species of birds are also along the trail, such as Wood Snipe, Snow Partridge, Tibetan Snowcock, etc. Finally, after hiking for roughly 7 hours, we get back to Dhunche and stay here for the night.

Our journey ends today. We will have breakfast in Dhunche after enjoying a wonderful rest in one of the tea houses. After breakfast, we depart from Dhunche on a coach to Kathmandu and take the scenic route passing along the vast Trishuli River, through meadowlands, and through picturesque villages.

Note

The itinerary mentioned above is the general plan arranged by Pokhara Info. However, the above itinerary is only a guideline; it might change due to the availability of lodging and campsites, fluctuating weather conditions, unforeseen political, trail, and environmental, or any other factors beyond our control. After consulting with the group, your trek leader will decide the best way to reach a final decision if this occurs.

If the itinerary is unsuitable for you, please let us know, and we will customize it. We will be able to make changes to the itinerary if clients want to do so.