Gosaikunda - Helambu Trek

Take a day tour to five of the Kathmandu Valley’s cultural world heritage sites: Swayambhunath, the famed “monkey temple;” the city’s historical Durbar Square with ancient temples, unique art, architecture, and the chance to see the Kumari (living goddess); Patan’s Durbar Square; the Hindu temple Pashupatinath and Bouddhanath, the world’s largest stupa.
A car and driver will take you to each site-entrance and wait for you. (Entry tickets and lunch are not included.)

The tarred Northern Highway from Kathmandu snakes northeast through Middle Hill forest and farmland to cross the Tadi Khola at Devighat, near its confluence with the Trisuli Nadi from Tibet. It then swings northeast up the Trisuli Valley to Betrawati, snakes over a pass to Ramche and continues, more sedately, to Dhunche. Overnight in Dhunche.

An upward day: begin up a road from the lower end of the village to a trail through fields on the south bank of the Trisuli Khola. Cross to the north bank and head steeply up the narrowing valley to a spur before turning NE to Deorali. Continue upwards, for ~1hr, through stands of fir and rhododendron towards a higher ridge and on to a clearing. An hour on is a small hamlet and later a single teahouse with views over the valley. The next ridge leads to the hamlet of Dimsa (3 030m) and a fork: the right trail leading to an army post and final pull, through scrub oak, to Chandan Bari and the Shin Gompa. The Gompa has a cheese factory; both worth visiting! Overnight in Chandan Bari.

Views of the Ganesh and Langtang Himals continue as the trail steadily rises. A sanctuary for the preservation of the endangered red panda (in Nepalese: cat bear) has been created on the northern slopes.

With altitude, trees are gradually replaced by scrub vegetation: Chalang Pati’s (3 550m) open panorama makes a good tea venue. The views broaden as the trail continues to rise with Manaslu (8 156m) appearing in the east while the sweep of peaks, including some north of the border, stretches to the Annapurnas in the west. Enjoy a free afternoon and night in Laurebina Yak.

Catch the sunrise on camera before breakfast. Hike to a ridge and pass waterfalls from the Saraswati Kund (4 100m, lake). A high, exposed trail overlooks the south-western Trisuli Valley then the Bhairav Kund.  Ahead is the largest lake; Gosain Kund with the village on its north-western shore. A ridge behind the village offers good viewpoints: including semi-frozen lakes to the S. The lakes are holy to both Hindus and Buddhists alike. There is an important Hindu Temple to Shiva in the village. A revered festival is held annually over full moon in August. Afternoon exploration and overnight in Gosaikunda. 

Approximately 1½ hrs is needed to summit the La, passing three smaller lakes and the Sura (Sun) Kund. Summit views are magnificent. The 1 200m descent follows a stream to a seasonal ‘high camp teahouse’ before dropping down to Phedi (3 740m). A rocky trail then undulates down several ridges, eventually descending into pine and rhododendron forest below the cliffs of the Thare Danda (ridge). Finally, negotiate more ravines before ascending to Gopte’s ridge. Overnight in warmer Gopte. 

Trek across several rocky ravines with old boulder-strewn moraine beds before climbing to a high, windy ridge and the village of Tharepati. Views to the northeast include Gauri Shankar in the NE, Dorje Lakpa, the Jugal Himal, and ranges into Tibet: with Shisha Pangma (8 027m/26 335ft), China’s only 8 000m peak.

A further 1 200m descent over a succession of ridges, promises a more comfortable night. It begins steeply through dense pines to Magin Goth (3 290m); in hilly Helambu. Then climb the Mera Danda (3 510m) for the last good sighting of the Langtang Himal. A further valley crossing heads for Panghu Danda (3 350m). Then follow ridges down, past a waterfall, through fir and rhododendron forest to the fields surrounding Kutumsang.  Overnight in Kutumsang.

Initially the trail climbs past granite cliffs, then meanders to the Tamang village of Golphu Bhanjyang (2 140m). It then continues gently upward to Thotong (2 260m) and the Lapchu Danda (2 420m). Fine views over this lovely region continue to the south from high ground. The trail then descends through terraces and new forest to substantial Chipling. Finally, negotiate two lower ridges before rising gently to Chisopani: with distant peak views to the north once more. Overnight in Chisopani.  

Chisopani lies on the northern border of the Shivapuri National Park; and is Kathmandu’s chief water catchment basin. Walk through dense forest, up to the Borlang Bhanjyang (2 430m) before undulating to Mulkharka (1 800m) and descending to Sundarijal on the southern border of the park. A car will return you to your hotel in Kathmandu. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your flight to your next destination.