Gosaikunda Trek- Dhunche to Sundarijal

After a good night’s sleep and enjoying a breakfast, you will proceed for the tour of Basantapur Durbar Square. Recorded by UNESCO as a cultural World Heritage site, Kathmandu Durbar Square is a bunch of medieval temples, palaces, courtyards and streets that date back to the 12th and 18th centuries. Within this square you will find Hanumandhoka Palace Museum, Taleju Temple, Kumari Ghar (House of the Living Goddess), Kasthamandap and other temples and buildings as old as the city itself; from here you will head for a tour of the famous Boudhanath Stupa (said to be the largest in the world) and a major centre of Tibetan culture in Kathmandu. The stupa is designed to be like a giant mandala (a representation of the Buddhist cosmos).

Your next drive is down to Swayambhunath (popularly known as Monkey Temple) “Swayambhu” means “self-created” and refers to the myth that the hill sprung up suddenly from a great lake that once covered Kathmandu Valley. Your next destination is Pashupatinath Temple. This temple is dedicated to Hindu deity Lord Shiva and is said to be the most holy Hindu shrine in Nepal. Hereabouts you will see a cremation ritual of Hindus at ‘Aryaghat’, the cremation area of the temple. This cremation site is used for the once royal family of Nepal and also for the simple Nepalese people who live within the country. You will return back to your hotel, refresh, buy any necessary things you may need for your trek the next day, have an early supper and retire to bed.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Kathmandu Hotel
• Place: Kathmandu
• Altitude: 1300

After an early breakfast, you will set out for a scenic drive from Kathmandu to Dhunche. Dhunche is a lively town and trading post that’s important for the local folks in this area who need to buy their essential commodities and a government office expedites paperwork sometimes necessary for the local folks for any purchase of land or business enterprise they would like to start. We head north out of Kathmandu driving through scenic foothills and ridgeline vistas to Dhunche. Stay overnight in a teahouse lodge.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Place: Dhunche
• Altitude: 1950

The trails from Dhunche to Foprang Danda (3,200m ) goes by a steep ascent route passing through Dursagang (2,660m) where our guide will guide you along the Langtang Himal, Ganesh Himal, Tibetan Mountains with a spectacular view nearby, Hemlock and lush forests. Now the path gently ascends for a while then it follows a flat level to Sing Gompa. Hereabouts you will find a well managed local cheese factory and a Buddhist Monastery. You can sample some of the fresh cheese you see here. Sing gompa provides delightful views, elating nature and a yak cheese factory. The cheese manufactured here is considered to be the best in Nepal. Overnight at teahouse lodge.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Teahouse
• Place: Sing Gompa
• Altitude: 3584

Initially, the trail emerges and you gradually climb up to Laurebinayak. With a steep ascent all the way to Gosainkunda, you will follow a roughshod trail with theatrical views of the Manaslu range, Ganesh Himal range, Tibetan peaks and Langtang Lirung. On a great clear day, even the Annapurna range can be seen rising up from behind. You pass a few huts in the high pastures of Laurebinayak, cross a small ridge and enjoy your first views of the holy lake of Gosainkunda. There is something like a dozen lakes in the Gosainkunda Basin - the three most telling ones are Saraswatikunda, Bhairabkunda and Gosainkunda. As per mythological stories, Gosainkunda was created by Lord Shiva when he pierced a glacier with his trident to obtain water to quench his thirst after swallowing poison that threatened to destroy the world. This is where you bunk out for the night in teahouse lodge; it’s a nice place to spend the night. 

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Teahouse
• Place: Gosaikunda
• Altitude: 4381

Your trail heads out of Gosaikunda after breakfast amidst the sweet chirping of birds and climbs through rugged territory, past four small lakes to the Laurebina La at (4,610m), this is where you peak on your trek. You keep looking back at the stunning views of Manaslu and the mountain of the Ganesh Himal, as well as the now familiar Langtang Lirung that never tires your eyes. You will then descend steeply to lodge near Ghopte. This is where you will stay for the night. 

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Teahouse
• Place: Ghopte
• Altitude: 4609

You will hike below Ghopte on a steep trail mostly through Fir and Rhododendron forest where there are no permanent settlements. The trek continues to Yurin Danda with magnificent views of the Himalayas. Finally, you will arrive at Tharepati for overnight stay in lodge

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Teahouse
• Place: Tharepati
• Altitude: 3600

The trail here, with brilliant open views and a gentle downhill start your 8th day of the journey. You will pass through the village of Pati Bhanjyang at a pass over the ridge. You contour around the next hill on the ridge and then start a steep climb to the village of Chipling. A further climb again after the village, up a steep stone staircase, takes you over the next hill on the ridge, passing through shady forest before descending the main ridge to Gul Bhanjyang at (2492m.). On the way you pass a couple of large 'chorten', indicating that you are already crossing into Buddhist land. Gul Bhanjyang is a charming, classic hill village and is also situated at a pass on the ridge. You will haul up hereabouts for the night or further up the next climb - 'Dragon Lodge' and your campsite here is serene and gives you grandstand views of the ancient valley of Kathmandu. 

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Teahouse
• Place: Gul Bhanjyang
• Altitude: 2492

From Gul Bhanjyang, it is an easy climb to cross a pass at 2492m before descending to Pati Bhanjyang, a large Tamang village. From here it is a 3 hour hike to Chisapani. A short distance above Chisapani is a high knoll which is known as Chisopani Danda, where there is a temple. You will get splendid mountain views from here. The landscape spreads from the mountains south of Everest to the Manaslu range. Overnight in lodge 

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Teahouse
• Place: Chisapani
• Altitude: 2194

From Chisapani the trail passes through meadows and cultivated fields then climbs through Oak and Rhododendron forest to Burlang Bhanjyang. From here there are brilliant views, from Annapurna in the west to Ganesh Himal and Numbur in the east. This ridge marks the northern rim of the Kathmandu Valley. Just after Chisapani there is an entrance to Shivapuri watershed and wildlife reserve. The trail goes through the reserve, moving up to the hill and down to Mulkharka, from which you can already see Kathmandu. From Mulkharka, you will descend on stairs to exit from the reserve and to Sundarijal from where you get on to your vehicle for a 45 minute drive back to Kathmandu .

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Kathmandu Hotel
• Place: Kathmandu
• Altitude: 1300

After breakfast, our representative and office vehicle will be on standby at your hotel to transfer you  to the airport for your connecting flight home. 

• Meals: Breakfast
• Place: Kathmandu
• Altitude: 1300