The Gosaikunda Lake Trek is an 8-day guided trek from Dhunche to the sacred Gosaikunda Lake (4,380m), crossing the Laurebina Pass (4,610m) before descending to Sundarijal, priced from $598 per person.
A high-altitude Himalayan journey north of Kathmandu, this trek reaches a cluster of sacred alpine lakes without the cost or complexity of the longer Langtang Valley routes. The ascent is gradual and paced for proper acclimatisation — Chandanbari, then Laurebina, then the lake itself — before a single committed day over the pass and down into the Helambu region.
The route starts by road at Dhunche, about 6–7 hours from Kathmandu, and ends at Sundarijal, roughly an hour’s drive back to the city — no domestic flight anywhere on this trek. Want to add the full Langtang Valley first? See the Langtang Gosaikunda Trek instead.Customise your itinerary here.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Trip Name | Gosaikunda Lake Trek |
| Duration | 7 Nights / 8 Days |
| Maximum Altitude | 4,610m — Laurebina Pass |
| Highest Overnight | 4,380m — Gosaikunda Lake |
| Major Highlights | Gosaikunda Lake, Laurebina Pass, Chandanbari, Laurebina, Ghopte |
| Trek Difficulty | Moderate to Challenging |
| Trek Start / End | Dhunche / Sundarijal |
| Best Season | Spring (March–May) and Autumn (September–November) |
| Low Season | Winter — cold nights, clear mountain views, very few trekkers |
| Avoid | Monsoon — June, July, August |
| Accommodation | Teahouse lodges throughout |
| Meals Included | Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (all trekking days) |
| Permits Required | Langtang National Park Entrance Permit, TIMS Card |
| Region | Langtang & Helambu Region, Nepal |
Kathmandu → Dhunche → Chandanbari → Laurebina → Gosaikunda Lake → Laurebina Pass → Ghopte → Kutumsang → Chisapani → Sundarijal → Kathmandu
The Gosaikunda Lake Trek reaches sacred alpine lakes above the tree line without the cost or duration of the longer Langtang routes. Eight days from Kathmandu and back, with a paced ascent — Chandanbari, then Laurebina, then the lake itself — rather than a single rushed push to altitude.
The trek crosses the Laurebina Pass (4,610m) on Day 5, the highest point of the trip, before descending into the Helambu region and down to Sundarijal — a genuine one-way journey rather than a there-and-back trek, so the scenery never repeats itself.
Want the full Langtang Valley first, before the climb to Gosaikunda? See the Langtang Gosaikunda Trek instead — same lake, same pass, with five extra days through Kyanjin Gompa and an optional Tserko Ri summit beforehand.
Gosaikunda Lake at 4,380m — the sacred alpine lake itself, one of the highest overnight stops accessible without technical climbing
Laurebina Pass at 4,610m — the highest point of the trek, crossed on Day 5
Laurebina at 3,910m — the acclimatisation overnight before the final push to the lake
Chandanbari — monastery and yak cheese factory, the first high stop after Dhunche
Ghopte — forested descent stop just below the pass, a real change of terrain after the alpine crossing
One-way route — Dhunche to Sundarijal, no retracing the same trail twice
Close to Kathmandu — no domestic flight, reasonable drive on both ends
This trek is moderate to challenging, centred on one real test: Day 5, crossing the Laurebina Pass (4,610m) — the highest point of the entire trip. No technical climbing anywhere on the route, but the pass day is long and the altitude is genuine. The itinerary builds in a dedicated acclimatisation night at Laurebina (3,910m) before the lake, rather than pushing straight through — six to eight weeks of uphill fitness work beforehand is still worth doing, not a formality.
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✅ All ground transportation as per the itinerary (Kathmandu–Dhunche and Sundarijal–Kathmandu) by local vehicle
✅ All trekking accommodation in local teahouse lodges (shared basis)
✅ All meals during the trek (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner), including tea or coffee in the early morning
✅ Licensed, experienced English-speaking trekking guide
✅ One strong, experienced local porter (1 porter for 2 trekkers, maximum load 15 kg)
✅ All required trekking permits for the route (Langtang National Park Entry Permit and TIMS Card)
✅ Guide and porter wages, meals, accommodation, insurance, and local transport
✅ Necessary staff equipment and logistical support
✅ Acclimatization planning and route management
✅ All applicable government taxes and service charges
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❌ International airfare to and from Nepal<br />
❌ Nepal entry visa fee<br />
❌ Travel and medical insurance (must cover high-altitude trekking and emergency helicopter evacuation)<br />
❌ Personal trekking gear and equipment, including personal medications<br />
❌ Meals and accommodation in Kathmandu (unless specified in the itinerary)<br />
❌ Hot showers, Wi-Fi, and charging of electronic devices during the trek<br />
❌ Alcoholic beverages, bottled drinks, snacks, and other personal expenses<br />
❌ Tips for guide and porter<br />
❌ Additional accommodation or meals due to early arrival, late departure, or itinerary changes<br />
❌ Costs arising from delays, landslides, road closures, or circumstances beyond our control
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Altitude: 2,030m | Drive: 6–7 hours | Accommodation: Teahouse, Dhunche | Meals: Lunch, Dinner
The Gosaikunda Lake Trek begins with the drive north from Kathmandu, following the Trishuli River through terraced hills and small Tamang settlements. Dhunche is the administrative centre of the Langtang region and the road-head for the trek.
Dhunche has real hotels rather than basic teahouses — hot showers, a proper menu, and reliable electricity. The trail climbs immediately from here tomorrow, so use tonight to charge devices and check gear.
Altitude: 3,330m | Trek: 5–6 hours | Ascent: +1,300m | Accommodation: Teahouse | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A steady, sustained climb through pine, oak, and rhododendron forest. This is the biggest single-day altitude gain on the trek — over 1,300m — though it stays below the 3,000m threshold for most of the day, so it’s demanding on the legs more than a genuine altitude concern.
Chandanbari, also called Sing Gompa, has a small monastery and a working yak cheese factory. Worth a look if you arrive with daylight to spare.
Altitude: 3,910m | Trek: 4–5 hours | Ascent: +580m | Accommodation: Teahouse | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The forest thins out and the trail opens onto ridgeline views of the Langtang and Ganesh Himal ranges. A shorter day by design — this overnight exists specifically to break the climb to Gosaikunda into two safer stages rather than one large push.
Laurebina is a handful of guesthouses rather than a village. Book ahead in October–November, when it fills quickly.
Altitude: 4,380m | Trek: 3–4 hours | Ascent: +470m | Accommodation: Teahouse | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A short, steady climb to the sacred lake basin. Gosaikunda is one of several glacial lakes here, revered in both Hindu and Buddhist tradition — pilgrims gather in large numbers during the August Janai Purnima festival, though most of the year the lakeside is quiet.
This is the highest overnight of the trek. Lodges are basic and cold, with limited heating — dress for a genuinely cold night regardless of the daytime weather. Move slowly this afternoon.
Altitude: 4,610m pass, 3,430m overnight | Trek: 6–7 hours | Accommodation: Teahouse | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The longest and most demanding day of the trek. An early start crosses the Laurebina Pass (4,610m), the highest point of the entire trip, with views across the Langtang, Ganesh Himal, and Manaslu ranges before the trail descends into the Helambu region.
The descent to Ghopte drops over 1,000m through changing terrain — alpine ridge giving way to rhododendron and bamboo forest. Trekking poles matter as much on this descent as they did on the climb up. Ghopte itself is a small, quiet settlement surrounded by forest.
Altitude: 2,470m | Trek: 6–7 hours | Accommodation: Teahouse | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The descent continues through dense forest and traditional villages. Breathing gets noticeably easier below 3,000m, and the pace feels different after yesterday’s pass crossing.
Kutumsang marks the start of the Helambu region proper — warmer temperatures, different vegetation, a real change of atmosphere from the alpine terrain of the past few days.
Altitude: 2,215m | Trek: 5–6 hours | Accommodation: Teahouse | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
An easier day through terraced farmland and local settlements, with a gentle climb to Chisapani. On clear days, the ridge here gives wide views back across the Himalayan range you’ve just crossed.
This is a good day to slow down and take in the cultural side of the trek — the villages here are lived-in, not built for tourism the way some higher trekking hubs are.
Altitude: 1,460m | Trek: 4–5 hours | Drive: 1 hour | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
The final trekking day descends through Shivapuri National Park’s forest, on stone steps and shaded trail, to Sundarijal. From here it’s a short drive back into Kathmandu.
The Gosaikunda Lake Trek ends on arrival in Kathmandu — eight days, one sacred lake, one pass crossing, two distinct regions of the country.
The Gosaikunda Lake Trek is an 8-day guided trek from Dhunche to the sacred Gosaikunda Lake (4,380m), crossing the Laurebina Pass (4,610m) before descending to Sundarijal. It is a standalone trek — it does not include the Langtang Valley or Kyanjin Gompa.
Gosaikunda Lake lies inside Langtang National Park, north of Kathmandu. The trek starts at Dhunche and finishes at Sundarijal, crossing from the Langtang region into the Helambu region on the way.
Moderate to challenging. There is no technical climbing, but Day 5 — crossing the Laurebina Pass at 4,610m — is a long, demanding day at genuine altitude. The itinerary includes a dedicated acclimatisation night at Laurebina (3,910m) before the lake to keep the ascent properly paced.
4,610m at the Laurebina Pass on Day 5 — the highest point of the entire trek. The highest overnight is Gosaikunda Lake itself at 4,380m on Day 4.
Yes — a licensed guide is required for this route and is included as standard. Your guide handles permits, navigation, and altitude safety across both the Langtang and Helambu sections of the trail.
Two permits cover the full route — the Langtang National Park Entry Permit and the TIMS Card. Both are included in Mountain Hike Nepal’s package price.
This trek is 8 days, starts at Dhunche, and does not include the Langtang Valley or Kyanjin Gompa. The Langtang Gosaikunda Trek is 12 days, starts at Syabrubesi, and covers the full Langtang Valley with an optional Tserko Ri summit before reaching Gosaikunda Lake from the opposite direction, ending at Dhunche rather than crossing the pass to Sundarijal.
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) offer the most stable weather and clearest mountain views. Avoid the monsoon months of June, July, and August, when the trail is slippery and views are obscured.
Climbing directly from Chandanbari to Gosaikunda in one day gains too much altitude too quickly. Splitting the ascent across Chandanbari, then Laurebina (3,910m), then Gosaikunda Lake (4,380m) keeps each day’s altitude gain within safe limits.
The trek starts from USD 598 per person for groups of 8–12, up to USD 799 for solo trekkers — guide, permits, all meals, teahouse accommodation, and ground transport at both ends included.
Porter support is included for groups of 2 or more. Solo trekkers can add a porter for an extra cost. One porter carries a maximum load of 15kg, shared between two trekkers.
Yes. Travel insurance is mandatory and must cover high-altitude trekking above 4,600m and emergency helicopter evacuation.
Gosaikunda is a sacred alpine lake at 4,380m, revered in both Hindu and Buddhist tradition. It is one of several glacial lakes in the Gosaikunda basin, and draws pilgrims in large numbers during the Janai Purnima festival each August.
