Langtang & Gosaikunda Trek — 13 Days

The Langtang and Gosaikunda Trek is Nepal's most complete circuit within a day's drive of Kathmandu — a 13-day journey that combines two of Nepal's most distinctive mountain environments: the glaciated Langtang Valley corridor and the sacred Gosaikunda alpine lakes, linked by the dramatic Laurebina La high pass (4,610 m). It is 65 km north of Kathmandu, yet few trekkers know it exists — annual visitor numbers are a fraction of the Everest and Annapurna regions.

The Langtang Valley (3,430–4,984 m) is a hanging valley carved by the Langtang Glacier, walled on three sides by peaks above 6,000 m: Langtang Lirung (7,227 m) to the north, Ganesh Himal to the west, Dorje Lakpa to the east. The valley floor is a flat moraine plain of extraordinary silence, accessible via the suspension bridge crossings above Syabrubesi and through rhododendron and oak forests at the valley entrance. Kyanjin Gompa (3,870 m) is the base for the acclimatisation walks to Kyanjin Ri (4,773 m) and Tsergo Ri (4,984 m) — both with outstanding Langtang range panoramas.

The Gosaikunda section crosses the Laurebina La into a sacred alpine landscape of sixteen lakes, the most important being Gosaikunda Lake (4,380 m) — one of Nepal's holiest Hindu pilgrimage sites, thronged with devotees during Janai Purnima in August.

Best seasons: October–November and March–May. Access: Kathmandu–Syabrubesi bus (included). Max altitude: Tsergo Ri 4,984 m (optional) / Laurebina La 4,610 m.