Langtang

Gosainkunda Lake

A steep climb from Dhunche to the glacial lakes of Gosainkunda, then back to Dhunche or across the Laurebina pass and the Helambu region to the edge of Kathmandu.

Walking days 4–8 days
Highest point 4,610 m
Level Challenging
Permits 5,000 NPR (≈ €29)
Start Kathmandu
Mandatory guide, checked

Access disrupted after the flood of 26 August 2026. As of 10 October 2026, a temporary track has reopened as far as Betrawati (buses and jeeps running again since early October) and the Bailey bridge at Betrawati is being finished, with opening targeted before 12 October (Ratopati, 9 October 2026). Beyond it, agencies say Dhunche should be reachable again around mid-October, without official confirmation. The lake trail itself reportedly wasn't affected, but only one agency has confirmed this: check before you go. You can also do the trek in reverse, from Sundarijal.

At a glance

From Dhunche, the trail climbs relentlessly through forest to Sing Gompa (Chandanbari), then comes out onto a ridge facing Langtang Lirung and Ganesh Himal. You reach Gosainkunda Lake (4,380 m), Shiva's sacred lake, surrounded by other glacial lakes.

You head back down to Dhunche, or cross the Laurebina pass (4,610 m) and traverse the Helambu region to Sundarijal, less than an hour and a half by bus from Kathmandu: no long bus ride home.

Highlights

The sacred lake and its neighbours, in high mountain terrain
The view from Laurebina over Langtang Lirung and Ganesh Himal
The Helambu traverse, through less and less visited villages
Kathmandu within bus range at both start and finish

Drawbacks

A very fast ascent: from 1,960 to 4,380 m in three days, a real risk of altitude sickness (AMS)
Guide mandatory and checked in Langtang National Park
Pass closed in winter, lake frozen from December to February, high lodges closed
Access via Dhunche disrupted since the August 2026 flood

In pictures

Route

Up via Sing Gompa and Laurebina; back to Dhunche in one long day, or across the pass and through Helambu.

4 daysof walking

4,380 mhighest point

35 kmD+ 2,510 m D− 2,550 m

Road (bus)
Track (jeep)
Chosen route
Other possible trails
Optional side trip
Possible start or finish

Drag the “Start” and “Finish” labels to another served point, or tap a point. The “+” buttons add a side trip. Zoom with + and − (or Ctrl + scroll wheel), then drag the map to move around.

How do I use it in a hiking app?

The file contains the route you chose on the map (start, finish, side trips), with altitude, and a marker for each night, pass and viewpoint.

Organic Maps or Maps.me (free, offline): download the Nepal map before you leave, then open the GPX file from your phone and choose the app.
OsmAnd: menu “My places” → “Tracks” → “Import”.
Komoot, Gaia GPS, Wikiloc, Garmin: use the app's or website's “Import a GPX file” feature.

With no signal, your phone's GPS still works: you can see your position on the track. The track is indicative: on the ground, waymarks and advice from the lodges come first.

Itinerary

DayNight atAltitudeVs prev.DistanceAscentDescent
D 0Dhunche1,960 m
D 1Sing Gompa3,330 m+1,370 m8 km1,360 m30 m
D 2Laurebina via Cholangpati3,930 m+600 m5 km570 m30 m
D 3Gosainkunda4,380 m+450 m4 km530 m20 m
D 4Dhunche via Laurebina, Cholangpati, Sing Gompa1,960 m−2,420 m17 km50 m2,470 m

Distances and elevation gain estimated from OpenStreetMap and a terrain model.

Dhunche — Bus from Machhapokhari or Gongabu (Kathmandu): 7 to 10 hrs, 700 to 1,000 NPR (≈ €4 to €6); shared jeep 2,000 to 2,500 NPR (≈ €12 to €14). ⚠ After the flood of 26 August 2026: temporary track as far as Betrawati since early October, Bailey bridge being finished, Dhunche not yet confirmed: check before you go.
Dhunche — Descent from the lake to Dhunche in one day (about 7 hrs), then bus or jeep to Kathmandu.

Elevation

Altitude of each night, with the day's passes and viewpoints (red dots). Green dot: rest day.

Permits

The Langtang National Park entry fee, paid in Kathmandu or at the Dhunche checkpoint. If you exit via Sundarijal, you also cross Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park (1,000 NPR (≈ €6), paid at Chisapani or Sundarijal).

National park

Langtang National Park

3,000 NPR (≈ €17)

At the Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu or at the Dhunche checkpoint, on the road.

Trekker card

TIMS card

2,000 NPR (≈ €12)

Issued only by a licensed agency since April 2023: it goes hand in hand with hiring a guide. See the Guide and porter page.

The TIMS card is handled by the agency that provides the guide. See Permits.

Guide

Mandatory guide, checked

Licensed guide mandatory in Langtang National Park, which includes Gosainkunda and Helambu; the rule is enforced, especially at Dhunche.

Budget 25 to 30 USD (≈ €22 to €27) a day for a guide. See Guide and porter.

A guide for this trek? The Guides Nepal directory lists guides, porters and agencies who know this trek, with their licence checked, the languages they speak and traveller reviews.

See guides for this trek

Transport

Getting to the start

Kathmandu → Dhunche

Duration 7 to 10 hrsPrice 700 to 1,000 NPR (≈ €4 to €6)

Bus from Machhapokhari or Gongabu, in the morning; shared jeep 2,000 to 2,500 NPR (≈ €12 to €14) (6 to 7 hrs). ⚠ The Bhainse–Betrawati section was washed away by the August 2026 flood: temporary track since early October, Betrawati Bailey bridge being finished (opening targeted before 12 October).

Getting back

Sundarijal → Kathmandu

Duration 45 min to 1 hr 30Price ~100 NPR (≈ €0.6) by bus

Frequent local buses, or taxi.

Dhunche → Kathmandu

Duration 7 to 10 hrsPrice 700 to 1,000 NPR (≈ €4 to €6)

Same road as on the way in.

When to go

JFMAMJJASOND

IdealPossibleNot advised

October to mid-November and mid-March to April: the best periods. In August, the Janai Purnima festival draws thousands of pilgrims to the lake.

December to February: lake frozen, Laurebina pass usually closed, several high lodges closed. Monsoon: rain, leeches and landslides on the road.

On the trail

Accommodation	Basic lodges: about ten at Sing Gompa, two or three at Laurebina and at the lake. No lodge between Laurebina and the lake.
Budget	About 30 to 45 USD (≈ €27 to €40) a day, excluding guide and permits.
Money	No ATM after Dhunche; withdraw in Kathmandu.
Signal	Decent at Dhunche and Thulo Syabru, weak after Sing Gompa, very patchy at the lake.

Good to know before you go

Altitude: you climb from 1,960 to 4,380 m in three days. Don't go higher with symptoms; add a night at Deurali or Dhimsa, or the day at the lake before the pass. See Altitude and safety.

The Laurebina pass: 6 to 7 hrs from the lake to Ghopte, no lodge before Phedi. Start early; in bad weather or snow, head back down towards Dhunche instead.

What about the visa? A two-week trek plus a few days in Kathmandu and Pokhara quickly adds up to more than 15 days: get the 30-day visa. The calculator on our sister site Visa Nepal shows the cheapest length.

Which visa length?

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Preparing your trek

PermitsPrices, where to buy, documents needed, trek by trek.Guide and porterMandatory or not, region by region, and what it costs.TransportBuses, jeeps and flights to the start of each trek.Altitude and safetyAcclimatisation, altitude sickness, rescue, insurance.BudgetDaily costs, cash to bring, ATMs.FAQThe questions people ask before they go.