A week-long trek from Dhunche in Rasuwa up through Sing Gompa and Laurebina to the sacred Gosaikunda lakes at 4,380 m, with views across the Langtang, Ganesh Himal and Manaslu ranges, returning the same way to Dhunche.
A week-long trek from Dhunche in Rasuwa up through Sing Gompa and Laurebina to the sacred Gosaikunda lakes at 4,380 m, with views across the Langtang, Ganesh Himal and Manaslu ranges, returning the same way to Dhunche.
Gosaikunda is a cluster of high glacial lakes in Langtang National Park, held sacred by Hindus and Buddhists alike. The main lake sits at 4,380 m in a bowl of bare rock, with Saraswati Kunda and Bhairab Kunda strung along the trail just below it. Gosaikunda and its associated lakes are a Ramsar wetland site, and in August thousands of pilgrims walk up for the Janai Purnima full moon to bathe in the water.
We drive from Kathmandu to Dhunche, the district headquarters of Rasuwa and the park's administrative centre. From there the trail climbs steadily through oak, pine and rhododendron forest, past the tea stops of Deurali and Dhimsa, to Sing Gompa (also called Chandanbari), a small settlement with a gompa and a yak-cheese factory. Above Sing Gompa the forest thins out at Chalangpati and the path follows an open ridge to Laurebina, where on a clear morning you look north to Langtang Lirung and west along the Ganesh Himal towards Manaslu and the Annapurnas.
The pacing is deliberate. The climb from Dhunche to the lakes is close to 2,400 m, so rather than pushing straight through from Sing Gompa we spend a night at Laurebina at 3,910 m. That leaves a short walk the next morning over the shoulder at the Buddha shrine and past the smaller lakes to Gosaikunda, with the afternoon free to walk round the shore and rest. We then descend over two days to Dhunche and drive back to Kathmandu.
Expect steep, sustained climbing on stone steps and forest paths, and very little level ground. The lodges are simple teahouses with shared bathrooms; at Gosaikunda they are basic and cold, heated only by the dining-room stove. Above Laurebina there is no shade and the weather can turn quickly, with snow possible at the lakes in any month outside the summer monsoon.
Your guide handles the Langtang National Park permit and TIMS card, arranges lodges along the way and keeps a close eye on how everyone copes with the altitude. Anyone wanting a longer walk can add the crossing of Laurebina La (4,610 m) to Helambu, or combine Gosaikunda with the Langtang Valley; ask us about these extensions.
This trek suits reasonably fit walkers who are comfortable with several days of steep uphill walking. The first trekking day from Dhunche to Sing Gompa gains about 1,400 m, much of it on stone steps, and the descent on the way back is hard on the knees. No technical skills are needed, but you should be able to walk five to seven hours with a light daypack. In the two months before the trip, aim for regular hill walks or stair sessions with a pack, building up to back-to-back days of four to six hours, and add some leg strength work for the descents. Previous trekking above 3,000 m is helpful but not required; we spend a night at Laurebina to help you adjust before sleeping at the lake.
We leave Kathmandu early by private jeep and head north through Kakani and Trishuli, then climb the winding road above the Trishuli river into Rasuwa. The drive takes six to eight hours depending on road conditions. Dhunche is the district headquarters and the administrative centre of Langtang National Park, and your guide completes the permit checks here. On a clear evening you can see Langtang Lirung up the valley.
The longest climb of the trek. We leave Dhunche past the last houses, cross the stream at Ghatte Khola and climb steadily through oak, pine and rhododendron forest to the tea stops at Deurali (around 2,500 m) and Dhimsa. The trail eases a little before Sing Gompa, a small settlement with a gompa and a yak-cheese factory. Take it slowly today: the gain is about 1,400 m.
A short day by design, to help you adjust to the height. The path climbs through fir and rhododendron to the clearing at Chalangpati, where we usually stop for tea, then follows the open ridge up to Laurebina at 3,910 m. The views open up as the forest thins: Langtang Lirung to the north and the Ganesh Himal, Manaslu and on clear days the Annapurnas to the west. The afternoon is free to rest or walk a little higher and come back down to sleep.
We climb above Laurebina to the Buddha shrine at about 4,200 m, the steepest section of the trek, then follow a narrower path cut across the slope with drops on one side. The trail passes Saraswati Kunda and Bhairab Kunda before reaching Gosaikunda at 4,380 m. After lunch at the lodges by the shore, you can walk round the lake and visit the small Shiva shrine at the water's edge.
Early morning is usually the clearest time at the lake, so we take time for photographs before breakfast. We then retrace the trail past Bhairab Kunda and down through Laurebina, enjoying the mountain views facing us this time, and descend through the forest via Chalangpati to Sing Gompa. The descent is long and steep in places, so poles help.
The last walking day drops back through Dhimsa and Deurali on the forest trail we came up, with more time to notice the birds and the moss-covered oaks. We reach Dhunche by early afternoon, leaving time for a shower and a last evening with your guide and porter.
After breakfast we drive back down through Trishuli to Kathmandu, arriving in the afternoon or early evening. We drop you at your hotel in Thamel or elsewhere in the city.
Permits we arrange: Langtang National Park, TIMS card
On 26 August 2026 a flood on the Bhote Koshi damaged Syabrubesi and the road between Dhunche and Syabrubesi. This trek starts and ends at Dhunche and climbs away from the flooded valley, and the Gosaikunda area has been reported safe to trek. Road conditions to Dhunche can change after heavy rain, so we confirm the drive and the route before every departure.
The trek climbs from 1,960 m at Dhunche to 4,380 m at Gosaikunda in three walking days, which is a fast gain. We sleep at Laurebina (3,910 m) before going up to the lake rather than walking straight from Sing Gompa, and we keep the day to the lake short. Drink plenty, walk slowly on the climbs and tell your guide early about headaches, nausea or unusual breathlessness. If symptoms get worse we go down; Sing Gompa is about four hours below the lake.
You need a Langtang National Park entry permit and a TIMS card, both checked at the park post near Dhunche and along the trail. Since April 2023 foreign trekkers in Nepal's national parks and conservation areas must walk with a licensed guide, so independent trekking on this route is not allowed. We arrange both permits before you leave Kathmandu; we need a copy of your passport and a passport photo. Gosaikunda is not a restricted area, so no special permit or minimum group size applies.
The only way to the trailhead is by road, via Trishuli and Betrawati, and the drive takes six to eight hours. This road is prone to landslides in the monsoon, and the flood on the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli in August 2026 damaged the road near Betrawati and the town of Syabrubesi. We check road conditions before every departure and choose the route to Dhunche that is open at the time; our itinerary starts and ends at Dhunche and does not depend on Syabrubesi.
There is no ATM on the trail; withdraw Nepali rupees in Kathmandu for drinks, snacks, charging and tips. Dhunche has shops and a mobile signal. Teahouses at Sing Gompa, Laurebina and Gosaikunda charge for battery charging and hot water, and power is solar and limited at the lakes. Mobile coverage is patchy above Sing Gompa.
October and November bring the clearest skies and cold nights, with temperatures at the lake well below freezing. March to May is warmer and the rhododendron forest above Dhunche flowers, though afternoons are often cloudy. In winter the lake freezes and snow can block the trail above Laurebina for days at a time. June to September is the monsoon: the trail is wet, leeches are common in the forest and the road to Dhunche is often blocked by landslides.
Gosaikunda is a pilgrimage site for Hindus and Buddhists, linked in Hindu tradition to Shiva. Do not swim, wash or throw anything in the lakes, walk clockwise around shrines and chortens, and ask before photographing pilgrims. During the Janai Purnima festival in August thousands of pilgrims walk to the lake and lodges are full, so we avoid scheduling departures in that week unless you want to see the festival.
Everything is yours to bring, except items marked “We provide” or “Rent locally”.
Moisture-wicking base layers, top and bottom
Fleece or light insulated mid-layer
Down jacketWe provide
On loan; nights at Gosaikunda are below freezing in autumn and winter
Waterproof and windproof shell jacket and trousers
Trekking trousers and quick-dry shirts
Warm hat, sun hat and buff
Liner gloves and insulated gloves
Trekking socks (3-4 pairs) and thermal socks for evenings
Broken-in waterproof trekking boots with ankle support
The descent from the lakes is steep and rocky
Camp shoes or sandals
Sleeping bag rated to about -10°CWe provide
On loan
Daypack, 25-35 litres, with rain cover
Trekking polesRent locally
Strongly recommended for the descent to Dhunche
Headtorch with spare batteries
Two 1-litre water bottles or a hydration bladder
Few refill points between Laurebina and the lake
Water purification tablets or filter
Sunglasses with UV protection
Needed above Laurebina, especially on snow
Power bank
Charging is limited and paid at the lakes
Sunscreen SPF 50 and lip balm
Personal first-aid kit and any prescription medicines
Discuss altitude medication with your doctor
Hand sanitiser, toilet paper and quick-dry towel
Passport with Nepal visa and two passport photos
Needed for permits
Travel insurance policy and emergency contacts
Nepali rupees in small notes
No ATMs on the trail
Energy snacks
We grade it moderate. There are no technical sections, but the climb is steep and almost continuous: from Dhunche at 1,960 m to Gosaikunda at 4,380 m in three walking days. The first day to Sing Gompa gains around 1,400 m. If you can hike five to seven hours on hilly ground for several days in a row, you will manage it.
Anyone can be affected above about 3,000 m regardless of fitness. Our itinerary includes a night at Laurebina (3,910 m) before the lake, which most people find makes a real difference compared with going straight from Sing Gompa. Your guide checks how you feel each evening and carries a pulse oximeter. If symptoms persist we descend.
Yes. Since April 2023 foreign trekkers must walk with a licensed guide in Nepal's national parks, and Gosaikunda is inside Langtang National Park. You need a Langtang National Park entry permit and a TIMS card, which we arrange in Kathmandu before the trek.
October and November give the most reliable clear views and stable weather. March to May is also good, with rhododendrons in flower lower down. December to February is possible for experienced trekkers but the lake freezes and snow can close the trail above Laurebina. We do not recommend June to September because of rain, leeches and landslides on the road to Dhunche.
Simple. Expect twin rooms with thin walls and foam mattresses, shared toilets and a heated dining room. Dhunche and Sing Gompa have more choice and some rooms with attached bathrooms; Laurebina and Gosaikunda have only a few lodges, which are basic and cold. Hot showers and charging cost extra higher up.
Yes, if you travel in August around the Shrawan full moon. Thousands of pilgrims walk to the lake to bathe, and shamans (jhankri) arrive in procession the night before. It is the monsoon, so the trail is wet and cloud is likely, and the lodges are full; temporary shelters are set up for pilgrims. Ask us about a festival departure if this interests you.
Yes. The two common extensions are crossing Laurebina La (4,610 m) beyond the lake and descending through Phedi, Ghopte and Tharepati into Helambu, or linking with the Langtang Valley via Thulo Syabru. Both add several days. Tell us when you book and we will adjust the itinerary.
By private jeep from Kathmandu to Dhunche, which takes six to eight hours depending on road conditions. There are no airstrips on this route. After the August 2026 flood on the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli we check road status before each departure and use whichever route to Dhunche is open.
Gosaikunda Trek
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