17-Day Langtang and Gosainkunda Trek with Kyanjin Ri and Helambu

• Land at the airport and transfer directly to the hotel for check-in and refreshment.

• Later in the evening, attend a short meeting about the trip ahead.

Overnight at the hotel.

• Prepare for sightseeing and the trek. After breakfast, embark on a guided tour to the valley's major historical, cultural, and spiritual attractions, including World Heritage Sites.

• Visit the historic Durbar Square, the sacred Hindu temple of Pashupatinath, the famous

• Start early for a long road journey of 7 to 8 hours to Syabrubesi, the starting point of the trek. Travel through small pristine villages and terraced hills along the banks of the Trishuli River.

• Enjoy enchanting panoramas of the Himalayas, including the Annapurnas, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, and the peaks of the Langtang region.

Overnight at Lodge.

• After a hearty breakfast, begin the journey by traversing the ridge on Syabru Besi's main road and soon reach Ghopcha Khola.

• Trek through terraced fields and dense forest with plant species such as oak, maple, alder, and bamboo.

• Look out for yellow-throated martin, wild boar, langur monkey, red panda, and Himalayan black bear along the route.

• Cross to the north bank of the Langtang Khola amid spectacular vistas of cascading waterfalls.

• Arrive in the scrub oak forest. On reaching 2,470 meters, settle into Lama Hotel, the day's final destination.

Overnight at Lodge.

• After breakfast, continue the trek ascending above the Langtang Khola.

• Take in exotic scenery as the trail progresses and becomes steeper toward Langtang Lirung, which rises to 7,246 meters.

• Head to a log bridge and climb further to reach the lush meadows of Ghora Tabela at 3,000 m, where there are several lodges and a police check post.

• Continue as the route opens into a wide valley of yak pastures and scattered Tamang villages with water-driven mills and prayer wheels.

• After reaching an elevation of 3,500 meters and crossing a stream, arrive at Langtang village. Langtang village is the headquarters of Langtang National Park and features flat-roofed Tibetan-style houses, hotels, and cultivated lands producing buckwheat, potatoes, wheat, turnips, barley, and more.

Overnight at Lodge.

• Walk through rich yak pastures and the interesting traditional villages of Muna to Singdun. Cross a wooden cantilever bridge and reach a wide valley after climbing a moraine.

• Ascend the mountain passes and arrive at Kyanjin Gompa, where there is a small monastery and a government-operated cheese factory famous for producing cheese and curd products. The short trek allows time to acclimatize and explore the surroundings.

Overnight at Lodge.

• Rest and explore the quaint village of Kyanjin Gompa.

• Visit the monastery and the local cheese factory in this region, and sample some of its products.

• Hike to Kyanjin Ri at 4,350 m to enjoy amazing 360-degree views of the snow-capped mountains.

• Take a walk to the foot of the huge Lirung Glacier.

• Lunch will be served at the Guest House, and after a short rest, stroll around the Kyanjin valley with the guide.

Overnight at Lodge.

• From Kyanjin, take the route back to Lama Hotel. Retrace your steps along the Langtang Khola to Langtang village and onward to Ghora Tabela. Stop briefly for lunch and then continue the steep descent to Lama Hotel.

Overnight at Lodge.

• Head to Thulo Syabru Besi. Walk along the undulating path leading to the village and gain insight into the culture and customs of the Tamang community.

• Pass through pine and juniper forests and enjoy magnificent views of Langtang Himal.

Overnight at Lodge.

• Trek to Dimsa village and continue through rhododendron, hemlock, and oak forests to Shin Gomba monastery, which is well known in Nepal for its cheese production.

• Enjoy views of the Langtang Himalaya and Langtang village along the trail.

Overnight at Lodge.

• After a hearty breakfast, continue the trail to Gosainkunda Lake. Gosainkunda is a very sacred lake of Lord Shiva, and pilgrims from all over visit this place to take a ritual cleansing bath in its holy waters.

• Ascend through rhododendron-covered forests. Walk through Shing Gomba and Laurebina Yak, a sanctuary for the red panda, an endangered species that Nepalese call the cat bear. You may catch sight of this animal.

• Return to the ridge path and climb a wider route to arrive at Gosainkunda, where there is time to explore the lakes. The view is simply amazing.

Overnight at Lodge.

• Climb some rough sections and cross several moraines.

• Cross three small pristine lakes before ascending to Laurebina La (4,609 m/15,121 ft), then descend to Phedi.

Overnight at Lodge.

• Climb through a forested area before crossing a dry riverbed to arrive at a Kharka surrounded by rhododendron forest.

• From Kharka, continue uphill through the forest to arrive at the village of Thare Pati. Climbing the ridge directly above the village gives you a marvellous view of the Jugal area.

• Cross the village and enter another forested area before descending to the Melamchi River.

• Take another uphill hike to Melamchi Gaun (village) at 2,560 m for the overnight stay.

Overnight at Lodge.

• Visit the cultural centre of the Helambu region. Continue to Tarke Gyang, an ethnic Sherpa village where culture and traditions are age-old.

• Explore the narrow alleys of this ancient and quaint village of the Sherpas of Helambu.

Overnight at Lodge.

• Take a leisurely hike through a wide valley between Parachin and Gangyul villages.

• Explore the villages and the area's culture. The people of this village practise Drukpa Kagyu Buddhism, the same as the national religion of Bhutan.

Overnight at Lodge.

• Take a short hike down to Melamchi Pul Bazaar, where you can catch transport back to Kathmandu.

• Attend a farewell dinner hosted on completion of the trek.

Overnight in Hotel.

• Arrive at the airport to fly back home. Leave Nepal with an incredible sojourn and an experience of a lifetime.

• If you have time and interest, you can extend your stay and take optional treks to other areas of Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, Darjeeling, or Sikkim, or participate in other activities in Nepal such as a wildlife safari.