This classical trek combines three major areas north of Kathmandu along the border of Tibet Langtang, Gosainkund and Helambu. Langtang is a narrow valley that lies just south of the Tibetan border. It is sandwiched between the main Himalayan range to the north and a slightly lower range of snowy peaks to the south. This trek offers an opportunity to explore villages, to climb small peaks and to visit glaciers at a comfortably low elevation. You can trek to Langtang by returning to Kathmandu via the holy lakes of Gosainkunda at 4,300m, thousands of Hindu pilgrims visit the lakes during the full moon festival in August. The lake is also sacred to Buddhists. Gosaikunda is actually the largest of three main lakes the other two being Saraswatikunda and Bhairabkunda. Hindu legend has it that the lakes were formed when the God Siva plunged his trident (Trisul) into the ground in order to obtain water. The Trisuli River has its source in the lakes; thus the name.
Helambu valley is very famous for its natural beauty and wonderful climate with superb views of magnificent snow-covered mountains. The area covers typical highland Sherpa villages along with beautiful Rhododendron forests. This region extends from the north to Taramarang to the Gosaikunda Lake and the lower Jugal Himal from the north. The valley is approached from Trishuli River Valley, north of Kathmandu.
Itinerary Overview
- Day 01 - Arrival at the Tribuwan International Airport in Kathmandu (1,345m).Overnight at a hotel.
- Day 02 - Pre-trip meeting and sightseeing around the Kathmandu valley. Overnight at a hotel.
- Day 03 - Drive to Syabru Besi (1,462m) on a public bus - 8 hrs .Overnight at guesthouse.
- Day 04 - Trek to Lama Hotel (2,500m) - 5 hrs . Overnight at a guesthouse.
- Day 05 - Trek to the Langtang village (3,307m) - 5 hrs. Overnight at a guesthouse.
- Day 06 - Trek to Kyanjin Gompa (3,798m ) - 4 hrs. Overnight at a guesthouse.
- Day 07 - Kyanjin Gompa exploration day. Overnight at a guesthouse.
- Day 08 - Trek back to Lama Hotel (2,500m) - 5.5 hrs. Overnight at a guesthouse.
- Day 09 - Trek to Thulo Syabru (2,250m) - 5 hrs. Overnight at a guesthouse.
- Day 10 - Trek to Singompa (3,250m) - 5 hrs. Overnight at a guesthouse.
- Day 11 - Trek to Gosaikunda (4,300m) - 5 hrs. Overnight at a guesthouse.
- Day 12 - Cross the Laurebinayak pass (4,610m) then trek to Ghopte (3,430m) - 6 hrs. Overnight at a guesthouse.
- Day 13 - Trek to Melamchi Gaon via Tharepati Pass (3,490m) - 6 hrs. Overnight at a guesthouse.
- Day 14 - Trek to Tarkeghyang (2,743m) - 5.5 hrs. Overnight at a guesthouse.
- Day 15 - Trek to Shermathang (2, 621ms) - 5.5 hrs. Overnight at a guesthouse.
- Day 16 - Trek to Melamchi Pul Bazaar (8,46m) - 5 hrs. Overnight at a guesthouse.
- Day 17 - Drive from Melamchi Pul Bazaar to Kathmandu - 4 hrs. Overnight at a hotel.
- Day 18 - Leisure day and farewell dinner in Kathmandu. Overnight at a hotel.
- Day 19 - Transfer to international airport for your final departure
Trip Detail at-a-Glance
Trip Code: ATH308Best Season: February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November & December.
Country Visited: Nepal
Trip Start: Kathmandu
Trip Ends: Kathmandu
Destination: Langtang Valley
Trip Route: Kathmandu-Syabru Besi-Langtang Village-Kyanjin Gompa-Syabru-Singompa-Gosainkunda-Laurebinayak pass-Melamchi-Kathmandu
Trip Style: Lodge to Lodge Trekking
Activity: Sightseeing and High Altitude Trekking
Max. Altitude:
4,610 m /15120.8 ft
Group Size: Min. 1 pax
Activity Per Day: Approximately 4-6 hrs walking per day
Trip Category: Langtang Region
Trip Highlight
- Kathmandu city tour.
- Explore Langtang valley.
- Hiking up to Kyanjin Ri 4,350m.
- Visiting the sacred lake of Gosaikunda.
- Crossing over Laurebina Yak 4,610m.
- Explore Helambu Valley.
Day 01- Arrival in Kathmandu airport (1345meters).
Our airport representative will be receiving you at Tribhuvan International airport, Kathmandu and s/he will be displaying on himalayas signboard outside the airport terminal. You will be then transferred to your respective hotel in our private tourist vehicle. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 02- Pre-trip Meeting and Sightseeing around Kathmandu valley.
In the morning, after breakfast, At around 8am, we host a pre-trip meeting at your hotel in Kathmandu and introduce your trek leader/guide. Please seek this opportunity to ask questions about your trek. We will also supply you with our trek Duffel Bag, T-shirt and a Cap. For the meeting, please make sure you bring passport, three copies of passport-size photos, and a readable copy of your travel insurance policy. During this meeting, please clear the due balance, if any, and sign the legally binding trip form as well as the non-liability disclaimer. Please inform us in advance if you will be arriving late and therefore are unable to attend the pre-trip meeting.
After the meeting and a hearty breakfast, your sightseeing trip will start at around 9:45am. You will have a private vehicle and a professional tour guide at your disposal. We visit Boudhanath Stupa, one of the biggest Buddhist shrines in the world, where we observe Buddhist monks praying in the monasteries surrounding the stupa. After Boudhanath Stupa we visit Pashupatinath, the most famous Hindu temple in the country, located on the banks of the holy Bagmati River. Here we see Hindu holy men (sadhus) meditating, pilgrims bathing and occasionally funeral pyres burning on the ghats. We will also visit Bhaktapur Durbar Square, which is a collection of pagoda and shikhara – style temples grouped around a fifty-five-window palace of brick and wood. The attraction of the Bhaktapur Durbar Square is The Lion gate, The Golden gate, The Palace of fifty five windows, Art Galleries, The Statue of King Bhupatindra Malla.
The rest of our time in Kathmandu is free for further exploration and some last-minute shopping in Thamel area near by your hotel. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 03 - Drive to Syabru Besi (1,462m) on a public bus - 8 hrs
Early in the morning, we drive from Kathmandu to Syabru Besi which takes about eight to nine hours by public bus. Driving through scenic foothills and ridgeline vistas to Syabru Besi passing Dhunche, we’ll get a glimpse of Ganesh Himal after driving along the mighty Trishuli river. Terraced green hills and lush forests make the drive very pleasurable. Parts of the road though may be bumpy and under construction. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 04 - Trek to Lama Hotel (2,500m) - 5 hrs
The first part of the trail crosses through the Bhote Koshi river and follows the Langtang Khola. This trail gradually ascends up to Bamboo (1,960m) passing rugged paths. Afterwards, your trek climbs gently to Rimche (2,400m) through Bamboo which lies at the bank of Langtang Khola. You can have lunch at this place if you like and at the end your trail is the Lama Hotel. En route you could see red pandas, monkeys and bears if you are lucky. Overnight at a guesthouse.
Day 05 - Trek to the Langtang village (3,307m) - 5 hrs
The trek route follows Gumanechok at Ghoda Tabela which literally means the Horse Stable. After this the trail climbs gradually to the beautiful valley with yaks about. Langtang is a typical village and one of the oldest along this trekking route. The views of the mountains are spectacular and become more imposing as well trek closer. Overnight at a guesthouse
Day 06 - Trek to Kyanjin Gompa (3,798m ) - 4 hrs
It is shorter walk today, but adequate for acclimatizing. There are some interesting things to explore, especially the famouse cheese factory – don’t forget to try some locally produced cheese as fresh as it could get. This beautiful valley is on the lap of the Langtang Lirung. This is the spot where we can explore the valley and climbs several small peaks (hillocks). Overnight at a guesthouse.
Day 07 - Kyanjin Gompa exploration day
Today is a day to rest as we explore the area. You can visit the monastery and the cheese factory, walk up the moraine to see the spectacular ice faces and tumbling glaciers of Langtang Lirung or ascend Kyangjin Ri (4,350m) which is the highest point of this trek, directly behind the village, for a breath-taking panorama of the Langtang peaks. Overnight at a guesthouse.
Day 08 - Trek back to Lama Hotel (2,500m) - 5.5 hrs
Rejoin the trail to Lama Hotel. Overnight stay at a guesthouse.
Day 09 - Trek to Thulo Syabru (2,250m) - 5 hrs
The beginning of the trail gently descends to the Landslide which then goes steeply up to Thulo Syabru. En route you could see red pandas, monkeys and various species of birds. Thulo Syabru is a wonderful village from where you can enjoy the amazing land feature and the magnificent nature with splendid views of Ganesh Himal (7,110m) and Langtang Himal. Overnight at a guesthouse.
Day 10 - Trek to Singompa (3,250m) - 5 hrs
The trails from Thulo Syabru to Foprang Danda (3,200m ) follows a steep ascent path passing through Dursagang (2,660m) along with the views of Langtang Himal, Ganesh Himal, Tibetan Mountain, Hemlock and forests. Now the path gently ascends for a while then it follows a flat level to Sing Gompa. There is a well managed local cheese factory and a Buddhist Monastery. Singgompa provides panoramic views, exhilarating nature and a yak cheese factory. The cheese manufactured here is considered the best in Nepal. Overnight at a guesthouse.
Day 11 - Trek to Gosaikunda (4,300m) - 5 hrs
The first part of the trail emerges and we steadily climb up to Laurebinayak. With a steep ascent all the way to Gosaikunda, you follow a rugged trail with dramatic views of the Manaslu range, Ganesh Himal range, Tibetan peaks and Langtang Lirung. On a clear day, even the Annapurna range can be seen rising up behind. You pass a few huts in the high pasture of Laurebinayak, cross a small ridge and have your first views of the holy lake of Gosaikunda. There are about a dozen lakes in the Gosainkunda Basin - the three most important ones are Saraswatikunda, Bhairabkunda and Gosainkunda. According to legend Gosainkunda was created by Lord Shiva when he pierced a glacier with his trident to obtain water to quench his thirst after swallowing poison that threatened to destroy the world. Overnight at a guesthouse.
Day 12 - Cross the Laurebinayak pass (4,610m) then trek to Ghopte (3,430m) - 6 hrs
The trail leaves Gosaikund and climbs through rugged country, past four small lakes to the Laurebina La (4,610m), the highest point of this trek. Keep looking back at the spectacular views of Manaslu and the mountains of the Ganesh Himal, as well as the now familiar Langtang Lirung. You then descend steeply to camp near Gopte. Overnight at a guesthouse.
Day 13 - Trek to Melamchi Gaon via Tharepati Pass (3,490m) - 6 hrs
The first part of the trail slightly descends and then begins to ascend through the rhododendron forests until Thearepati, after which we climb down to lower altitude. Before climbing to Tharepati, you can see settlements of cattle herders (mainly huts and mud houses) at 3,579m as you cross a stream after coming through rhododendron, oak and juniper forests. From Tharepati the trail gradually descends through pine and rhododendron forests with good views of the Helambu valley and across to Jugal Himal and Numbur in the Solu Khumbu. Melamchi Gaon is surrounded by beautiful forests, which is mainly inhabited by Sherpa people with their distinctive culture. There are also some Buddhist monasteries along the way. Overnight at a guesthouse.
Day 14 - Trek to Tarkeghyang (2,743m) - 5.5 hrs
The early part of the trek descends until you cross the Melamchi stream. You trek gently up to Tarkeghyang passing through Sherpa settlements. Tarkeghyang is a beautiful Sherpa village with one of the oldest and biggest monasteries. Overnight at a guesthouse.
Day 15 - Trek to Shermathang (2, 621ms) - 5.5 hrs
Today the trail is quite easy through flat land with beautiful forests on the way. You trek on crossing some small streams on the way. Situated in a beautiful village on the half way to Shermathang, another picturesque Sherpa village where you can visit many ancient monasteries. Jugal Himal range can also be seen from the north face of Shermathang village. Overnight at a guesthouse.
Day 16 - Trek to Melamchi Pul Bazaar (8,46m) - 5 hrs
The trail gradually descends all the way to Melamchi Pul Bazaar through meadows and cultivated fields. Along the way, you come across several old villages with their own particular traditions. Walking today is quite pleasant with mountain views and the possibility of interacting with the friendly locals. Overnight at a guesthouse.
Day 17 - Drive from Melamchi Pul Bazaar to Kathmandu - 4 hrs
You travel through a gravel and bumpy path up to Lamidanda and then follow the asphalt road up to Kathmandu. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 18 - Leisure day and farewell dinner in Kathmandu
You have the option to extend your trip to continue onto Chitwan jungle safari, rafting adventure, Kathmandu valley shopping tour, scenic Everest flight, mountain biking and other activities. In the evening we will have a farewell dinner in a traditional Nepalese restaurant with cultural performances. (Your guide(s) and an office staff will accompany you.) Overnight at a hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 19 - Transfer to international airport for your final departure
The trip concludes today. Our Airport Representative will drop you at the international airport in Kathmandu for your flight departure from Nepal.
Cost Includes
- Airport & hotel transfers.
- Star hotels in Kathmandu including breakfast.
- Teahouse/Lodge/ Tented Camp accommodation during trek, includes all meal.
- A full day sightseeing of Kathmandu valley including tour guide and entrance fees - Optional.
- Kathmandu-Lukla-Kathmandu flight and airport tax.
- All local & government tax.
- Experienced English-speaking trek leader (trekking guide), assistant trek leader (4 trekkers: 1 assistant guide) and Sherpa porters to carry luggage (2 trekkers:1 porter) their expenses & medical kit.
- On Himalaya's down jacket, sleeping bag, duffel bag, t-shirt, and trekking map (down jacket and sleeping bag are to be returned after trip completion).
- all trekking & other permit fees
- Welcome and farewell dinner.
Cost Does not Include
- Lunch and dinner whilst in Kathmandu.
- Travel insurance which covers emergency Rescue and Evacuation.
- International airfare and airport departure tax
- Nepal entry visa; you can obtain a visa easily upon your arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu. (Tourist Visa with Multiple Entries for 30 days can be obtained by paying US $ 40 or equivalent foreign currency. Similarly, Tourist Visa with Multiple Entries for 90 days can be obtained by paying US $ 100. Please bring 2 copies of passport size photos).
- Alcoholic, hot and cold drinks.
- Personal trekking Equipment (See the trekking equipment page).
- Tips for trekking staff and driver (Tipping is expected).
- Any others expenses which are not mentioned on 'Price Includes' section.