Gosaikunda Lake Trek
A sacred alpine lake trek to 108 glacial lakes — one of Nepal's most revered pilgrimage sites where Shiva struck the mountain with his trident.
Know before you go
Trip readiness
Best timing
March-May, September-November
Treat this as the first planning window, then verify local trail and weather conditions.
Time needed
8 days
Include acclimatization and transport buffers for mountain routes.
Permit status
Permit required
Langtang National Park entry permit (NPR 3,000) and TIMS card (NPR 2,000)
Difficulty
Moderate
Langtang route. Match this to fitness, altitude experience, and daily walking hours.
Live conditions
Trail weather available
Use the weather card before starting, especially during monsoon and winter windows.
Gosaikunda is one of Nepal's most revered alpine lake treks, combining spiritual significance with stunning high-altitude scenery. The trail passes through dense rhododendron, oak, and bamboo forests before ascending above the treeline into a stark, rocky landscape dotted with glacial lakes. Gosaikunda Lake at 4,380m is the centerpiece — crystal-clear and sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists.
Hindu mythology holds that Shiva created the lake by striking his trident into the mountain to obtain water after consuming poison during the churning of the ocean. During the annual Janai Purnima festival in August, thousands of pilgrims make the journey.
The trail from Dhunche (7-8 hours drive from Kathmandu) climbs through Sing Gompa before reaching the lake basin. Trekkers continuing over Laurebina La (4,610m) can descend into the Helambu region, creating an excellent through-route with panoramic views of Langtang, Ganesh, and Annapurna ranges.
Field log · Day by day
The route, walked
- Stages
- 7
- Day01
Dhunche→Chandanbari
moderateOvernightChandanbari- Walking
- 5.0–6.0h
Start from Dhunche in the Langtang National Park and climb through rhododendron and oak forest toward Chandanbari (also known as Sing Gompa).
- Day02
Chandanbari→Gosaikunda
hardOvernightGosaikunda- Walking
- 6.0–7.0h
Climb steadily above the tree line to the sacred Gosaikunda Lakes (4,380m). Panoramic views of Langtang Lirung and the Ganesh Himal.
- Day03
Gosaikunda→Gosaikunda
AcclimatizationOvernightGosaikundaExplore the sacred lakes complex — Gosaikunda, Saraswati Kunda, and Bhairav Kunda. The area is holy to both Hindus and Buddhists. During Janai Purnima (August), thousands of pilgrims bathe here.
- Day04
Gosaikunda→Gopte
hardOvernightGopte- Walking
- 7.0–8.0h
Cross the Laurebina La pass (4,610m) and descend into the Helambu region. Long day with stunning ridge-walking.
- Day05
Gopte→Kutumsang
moderateOvernightKutumsang- Walking
- 6.0–7.0h
Descend through rhododendron forests and Sherpa/Tamang villages to Kutumsang on the Helambu ridge.
- Day06
Kutumsang→Chisapani
moderateOvernightChisapani- Walking
- 6.0–7.0h
Follow the Helambu ridge with valley-rim views. Reach Chisapani on the northeastern rim of the Kathmandu Valley.
- Day07
Chisapani→Sundarijal
moderateOvernightSundarijal- Walking
- 4.0–5.0h
Descend from the valley rim through Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park to Sundarijal, the northeastern edge of Kathmandu. Return to the city by vehicle.
- End
views
Planning this trek? Local operators publishing trips here can arrange it.
Elsewhere in this region
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