Introduction
Distance
km
Starting point
Syabrubesi / Dhunche
Total elevation
m
End point
Syabrubesi / Dhunce
Duration
days
Accommodation
Teahouses
Map
What to Expect
Holy Lakes
A Quiet Trail
Quiet trail, not many foreign tourists (but pilgrims come)
Diverse Landscape
The trail climbs an astonishing 2330 meters in 3 days, and the landscape changes the further up you go. Starting in deep coniferous forests, you will follow the river up the valley towards wide meadows. As you get near Kyanjin (3830 m), you will have a close look at the astonishing snow-capped peaks surrounding the Langtang Valley.
Sleeping at 4300 m
How Difficult is this Trek?
Moderate Terrain
We consider the Gosainkunda Trek a moderately difficult hike.
High Altitude
The trail climbs from 1500 m to 3830 m in 3 days, meaning that there is a risk of experiencing altitude sickness on the way. In addition, the high altitude makes climbing tougher on the breath. Taking proper precautions (LINK) such as going slowly, as well as knowing how to handle symptoms of altitude sickness, is strongly advised when embarking on the trek.
Fairly Easy Navigation
For the most part, there is really only one path to follow on the trek which makes route finding relatively straight-forward. Although you should generally know how to navigate and carry a map with you, you can always ask the local people for directions if you are in doubt.
The possibility of hiring a guide and/or a porter is a good option if you wish to do this trek but are unsure about certain aspects of it. You can read more information about hiring a guide in Nepal in our post here.
When to Hike
The best seasons for hiking in Nepal are Autumn (October – November) and Spring (March – May). In these months, the temperatures are not too cold, and the weather is mostly clear and stable without much precipitation.
Hiking in Winter might be an option, but you will need to check snow conditions around Gosainkunda and make sure that the teahouses are open. You will also have to carry proper gear for dealing with the cold weather (such as a really warm sleeping bag and warm clothes). The nights in particular can get really cold, especially when sleeping above 4000 m, so make sure you are prepared! At this time of year, the sky is often very clear, and you can expect even fewer people on the trail.
Hiking during monsoon season (June – September) is generally not advised due to the high rate of precipitation.
Possible Itineraries
Loop: Dhunche –> Dhunche (be careful about AMS)
Map
Combine with Helambu trek and walk to Kathmandu
Map
Combine with Langtang Trek (you can either walk back to Dhunche or continue on Helambu)
Getting to the Trail and Back
First and foremost, you must get to Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. Most visitors stay in the part of Kathmandu called Thamel and spend a day or two here before starting trekking. Kathmandu can be reached by airplane or by bus (if you are travelling from India).
Getting to and from Dhunche
You can start and end in the mountain village of Dhunche. From Kathmandu, Syabrubesi can be reached by local bus or by hiring a private jeep.
Bus to Dhunche
There are several busses running to Syabrubesi every day, and most of them leave in the morning. The busses depart from the road across the river from Gongabu Bus Park (you can find the exact location here). You can reach the bus stop from Thamel by 30 min on foot or 10 min driving. The trip takes around 7-8 hours and includes a short lunch break.
Tickets can be bought on the day of departure, or you can buy them in advance if you want to be sure to have a seat. You will have to buy the ticket at the bus stop, or you can ask your hotel to arrange the ticket for you. The price varies depending on your bargaining skills, but as an indication, we paid 1000 npr ($ 7.5) per ticket (November 2023).
Private Jeep to Syabrubesi
You can also hire a private jeep to take you to Syabrubesi. The price is considerably higher than taking the bus, but if you team up with other hikers, you can split the cost. A private jeep can be arranged through your hotel or one of the trekking companies in Kathmandu.
