Gosainkunda Trek - 13 Days

After arriving in Kathmandu, you will be picked by the representative of Ace Vision. From here, you will head to your hotel in Thamel. Thamel is a colorful and bustling tourist hub, ripe for exploration. However, feel free to rest up today after your long flight. Today, you can get your first taste of Nepal, both atmospherically and on the plate as you wrap up your day with a warm welcome dinner. Overnight in Kathmandu

Kathmandu is home to 7 UNESCO world heritage sites amongst other cultural attractions. Today you will be taken by a private vehicle to these areas and more and you will hike around these beautiful locations. You can go up to the Swayambhunath temple to witness the hilltop complex studded with Hindu and Buddhist shrines, which look down on a great view of the valley below. You can then follow up with a visit to Kirtipur. You can see the many ancient traditions and architecture still thriving in their community. You can then wrap up the day with a warm and welcoming Tibetan cuisine experience beside the majestic Stupa of Boudhanath. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Dhunche is our first destination of the day. The ride to Dhunche is rough as you drive through dirt and dust roads for the latter half of the trip. The roads wind up and down beside the river as we make our way up to Dhunche. Dhunche is 117km off the city. Below the city, the river of Trishuli flows, which is derived from Gosainkunda? If your vehicle arrives early, be sure to check out the Tamang museum, to get to know about the wonderful history of the main inhabitants of the region. Overnight in Dhunche.

Our first day of the trek will see an increase in the difficulty level. It will be a steep and hard trek that begins by following the southern bank of the Trishuli River. Then cross the river and follow the north bank of the river up to Deorali (2660m). The trek from here on has spots of Rhododendron trees, as you make your way to Dimsa (3030m). From here on its climbing up to the top of a ridge Chandanbari sits at through thick vegetation. Chandanbari is also called Sing Gompa for the monastery in the village. The monastery is worth a visit and has wood carvings in the door and a statue of Chenresig. There is also a cheese factory to visit this village. Overnight in Chandanbari.

The climb today will see us transition from the lush coniferous vegetation to the more alpine shrubs on the hilly slopes. As you climb today, you are rewarded with wonderful views of the Ganesh Himal. Further ahead lays the Chalang Pati ridge from where you can witness great views of the Tibetan mountains and the Langtang Lirung peak. Chalang Pati also marks the beginning of the protected natural park area. The views only get better as you climb nearer to the Laurebina Yak. The lodges at Laurebina Yak also give great views of the Ganesh Himal massif, Annapurna and Manaslu added to the ones mentioned before. Overnight in Laurebina Yak.

The trekking primarily ascends up the high-altitude desolate landscapes, with only shrubs in the name of vegetation. Yet the views are mesmerizing as Gosainkunda draws closer. The trails are the same of which the pilgrims to the lake have used since ancient times. As you reach close to the Gosainkunda Lake, the trail will appear high above the valley floors. Before arriving at Gosainkunda, you will pass by Bhairav Kund, one of the four lakes under the nomenclature of Gosainkunda lakes. Gosainkunda Lake itself is surrounded by lodges and pilgrim shelters. The view of the lake is mesmerizing and its frozen surface or turquoise waters depending on the season will leave you in awe. Overnight in Gosainkunda.

We will use this day to explore around the frozen lake. You can take about an hour to circumambulate the lake clockwise and soak in views from every angle of the Lake and the mountains further away. This also has a religious significance as the Buddhist pilgrims call this a Kora while the Hindus will call it a Parikrama. You can also make your way to the viewpoints at 4640m which can be reached by a 30-minute hike up. You can also spend the day exploring the other lakes of the region which will be the frozen lakes of Dudh Kunda (Milk Lake), Chandra Kunda (Moon Lake), Ragat Kunda (Blood Lake) and Ama Kunda (Mother Lake). Overnight in Gosainkunda.

From Gosainkunda, we will leave the lake premises from the Northern parts. The trail here is marked with stone cairns, which heads up to the Laurebina La pass. On your way, you will pass small frozen lakes. The Laurebina La pass would be the highest point on the trek. The pass offers a glimpse of the Surya Kund (Sun Lake) and of the surrounding mountains and high pastures. From here, it’s a trek to Bera Goth before making an hour-long descend down to Phedi. Overnight in Phedi.

From Phedi, we will initially hike up to Ghopte. The first half of this trek will have you walking on the rough and Rocky River beds and slopes. Then the second half will have you reenter into the tree line and ravines and cliffs studded with lush vegetation. After having lunch at Ghopte, we will continue down to Tharepati. The trail will get wavy and it will lead you through the ravines and cliffs like below before making an ascent to Tharepati. Tharepati sits on a ridge which gets windy in the evenings. Overnight in Tharepati.

You leave Tharepati in the morning. You will then pass through pine forests and the remnants of temporary huts on your way to the village of Magen Goth (3510m). From here, you will have to go over the Mere Danda hill. On your way you may see locals transporting the Bamboo they harvest from these forests. Further ahead is the very small settlement of Pangu through the Yurin Danda. The view from the Yurin Danda ridge includes the Langtang peaks’ jagged top edges. It's finally the last stretch heading south to Kutumsang. Overnight in Kutumsang.

From Kutumsang, we make our way to the edges of the Kathmandu valley, in the hilltop town of Chisapani. The sunset and the subsequent sunrise views that you witness in Chisapani are great and include a long stretch of the Himalayas. On your way to Chisapani, you will pass the Gulphu Bhanjyang at 2140m, Thotung, Lapcha Danda (2420m), Chipling (2170m) and Pati Bhanjyang. The area is relatively populated and you can witness the Tamang population going about their daily chores. The lower settlements are also home to the Chhetri population. The trail makes its way through dense forests, cultivated fields, and farmed terraces. Overnight in Chisapani.

From Chisapani, we head out after witnessing the sunrise views. We will pass the Borlang Bhanjyang and head to Mulkharka from where we get a wide view of the Kathmandu valley below. Mulkharka is a small Tamang village and is a great place to witness their day to day lifestyle. After Mulkharka we enter the Kathmandu valley through the Shivapuri National park. We are very close to Kathmandu once we reach Sundarijal. However, the last stretch of the trip is a quiet drive into the noisy city as we witness the suburban settlements and towns of the Kathmandu valley. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Today our trek wraps up and it’s time to say goodbye. Ace Vision representatives will come to your hotel and they’ll make sure that you get to the airport on time for your departure. We bid you farewell with our best wishes.