HELAMBU & GOSAIKUNDA TREK

Arrive at Kathmandu Airport. Upon arrival, met by representative from Sacred Summits and transferred to the hotel. At the hotel, the guests will be welcomed with a welcome drink and assigned to their rooms.

18:00 Hrs: A short briefing about the trek will be carried out at the hotel lobby. Later board the waiting vehicle and proceed for a welcome dinner at typical Nepali Restaurant.

Overnight at the Hotel

A 15 km drive from Kathmandu takes you to a small town of Sundarijal, the starting point of the trek. From Sundarijal, the trail heads up to the concrete steps beside the pipeline which supply drinking water for the valley. We leave the pipeline near the dam, and then on to Mulkharka, trek the ridge at around 1895m, some 600m above Sundarijal. There you can take some time to relax in the convenient tea shops, and to enjoy the view back over the valley.

We then continue walking to Chisopani (2300m). From here there is a small flat stretch providing respite from the initial hard climb. The route climbs further up to the crest of the ridge and then on to the army camp. The vegetation changes providing shade from a thick foliage besides the main trail. There is more climbing to be done until we arrive at the deserted village of Buriong Bhanjyang. Walk along the ridge for another 20 minutes and then finally descend to Chisopani Danda, with magnificent views of the Northern Himalayas and demarcates the northern limits of the Kathmandu Valley.

Dinner and overnight at the Lodge                                              Trek duration: 5 ½ to 6 hrs

From Chisopani, descend for about an hour on the other side of the valley to Pati Bhanjyang to find oneself in the middle of a densely populated Tamang Village. Agriculture is the main source of income and so we see many terraced fields with crops such as millet and lot of fruit trees providing the terraced Nepalese landscape an attractive appearance. The red brown Tamang houses with their shady verandas are typical of this region.

The higher we climb up the valley there are more noticeable changes in the settlements and human physiognomy. We now start to find a mixture of Tamang and Sherpa people living side by side. In good weather we get a splendid view of the mountains as we steadily climb past the Tamang village of Chipling (2170m) which is reached in about 2 hours. From here, we start to climb further on a rocky path until we arrive at the hamlet of Bettini at 2521 meters and then a 30 minute walk on the ridge trail brings us to another Tamang village Gul Bhanjyang (2141m). The trek to our campsite at the Sherpa Settlement of Kutumsang (2492 m./8101 ft.) is another climb for another 1 ½ hours but it is a pleasant walk through forests. There is a National Park Office here and the National Park entrance tickets are checked/ purchased here

Dinner and overnight at the Lodge                                                      Trek duration: 6 ½ to 7 hrs

From Kutumsang, there is no further permanent settlements until Melamchi Gaon, but since we head on to Gosainkund we bypass the village and head on to Thare pati, the starting point for a tour of the Gosainkund Region, which consists of half derelict stables (Goth) and several seasonal cabins for individual trekkers operated by Sherpa people providing basic accommodation and food. The going is quite tough as we climb sometimes quite steeply and sometimes along scree covered slope till our arrival at the village Mane Goth with a few bhattis. From here it is a easy hours walk through Rhododendron and Oak forests to our Lodge at Tharepati.

Dinner and overnight at the Lodge                                                 Trek duration: 6 ½ to 7 hrs

The trail proceeds behind Tharepati initially at the same altitude past several streams that feed the Tadi Khola. We continue to climb a little till Ghopte, whose name is taken from the several overhanging (Ghopte) which provide shelter or campsite to trekkers. This is a short day of about 2 ½ hours of walking and a rest is necessary to allow time for acclimatization and crossing the Laurebina pass (4609 m) the next day. The distance and time taken from Tharepati to Gosainkund is long and can scarcely be reached in a single day.

Dinner and overnight at the Lodge                                        Trek duration: 4 ½ to 5 hrs

Early start essential. The trail up to the Laurebina Pass (4609m) is not difficult in itself, however it rises in altitude of more than a 1000 meters making walking slow with some difficulty in breathing because of low oxygen.

After crossing over the pass, there is a breathtaking view of a portion of the Gosainkund Lakes (i.e. Surja Kund, Saraswati Kund and Bhairav Kund) and the panorama of the Ganesh Himal and the Langtang Mountain range. The Gosainkund Lake is a relatively easy way to pass between the upper Helambu and the Langtang Valley. It is also a destination for those trekkers who want to experience the mountain world around the holy lakes of Gosainkund. The Laurebina Pass, at the height of 4,609 meters, is at somewhat modest altitude for the Himalaya and presents no technical difficulties.

Later head down to a few pilgrims huts that serve as tea houses and provide meals and accommodations to trekkers on the banks of the Gosainkund Lake. On the way there are many smaller lakes but the most significant one is the Surja Kund, as it is the largest as well as closest to the track just below the Laurebina pass.

Dinner and overnight at the Lodge    

                                 Trek duration: 5 ½ to 6 hrs

AM: Free to explore the surroundings. There are some caves which the pilgrims use as shelters during festivals. A huge white rock, engraved with a stylized trident, emerges dramatically from the centre of the lake. According to legend, when Divine Shiva threw his trident (Trishul) here, the glacier melted giving birth to the Trishuli River.

After an early lunch, follow the ridge trail gently descending for about an hour then the path gently descends until passing the Bhairav Kund (4,150m) and then followed by Saraswati Kund (4,000m) below the trail.

After leaving the last lake, we set out on a ridge and then it is a relatively easy walking till our arrival at the Sing Gompa Village.

Dinner and Overnight at the Lodge                

Trek duration: 4 ½ to 5 hrs

After breakfast, the trail descends on a path where one sees the destruction of this once wonderful forest by fire caused by lightning. The trees stand gnarled and burnt and one can only imagine the beauty of the glory days. The trail bifurcates and we take the lower trail to Dhunche. The descent is steep made much worse by the uneven steps and after about 4 hours, arrive at Dhunche for Lunch. Here, met by waiting vehicles and then a 6 hour drive to Kathmandu.

Overnight at Hotel

Trek duration: 3½ to 4 hrs

Transferred to the airport for the onward flight home. (Reporting time is at least 3hrs before flight time)