Gosaikunda TrekThe Lake Shiva Made With His Trident
Nine days from Kathmandu to a glacial lake at 4,380 metres in Langtang National Park, sacred to Shiva and holy to Buddhists. Up through rhododendron and pine forest to Chandanbari, past the tree line to a night on the Lauribina ridge, and over the rise to the lakes.
Journey at a Glance
- Max Altitude
- 4,380 mGosaikunda Lake
- Duration
- 9 Days5 days walking up and down
- Group Size
- 2 or more
- Difficulty
- ModerateSteep stone stairs
- Best Season
- Mar to May, Sep to Nov
- Trailhead
- Dhunche
Package Cost
USD500
per person
(Group of 6 or more)
- 2 to 5 travellers
- $665
- 6 and above
- $500
Last updated
Overview
A Sacred Lake at 4,380 Metres
Gosaikunda is a glacial lake at 4,380 metres in Langtang National Park, north of Kathmandu. Hindu tradition holds that Shiva struck the mountainside with his trident to draw water and cool his throat after swallowing the poison that rose from the churning of the ocean, and that the lake is the result. At the full moon of Janai Purnima, in August, thousands of pilgrims climb here to bathe.
The trek begins at Dhunche, a day’s drive from Kathmandu up the Trishuli valley. The trail climbs through pine, oak and rhododendron forest to Chandanbari and the Sing Gompa monastery, where a cheese factory makes yak cheese, then breaks above the tree line at Lauribina for wide views of Langtang Lirung and Ganesh Himal before cresting into the basin of Gosaikunda, Saraswati Kunda and Bhairab Kunda.
The route passes through Tamang villages and some of the best protected forest in central Nepal, home to the red panda. It needs no technical skill, but the stone staircases are steep and the air is thin at the top, so it is graded moderate.
Pilgrims have walked to the lake for centuries. The first recorded Hindu pilgrimage to Gosaikunda was in 1447, when a king of the Kathmandu Valley made the journey, as Scroll.in recounts.
“Nine days, and a lake that pilgrims have climbed to for centuries.”
Journey Highlights
- Three sacred lakes
- Lauribina ridge
- Sing Gompa monastery
- 4,380 m
Detailed Itinerary
9 DaysKathmandu, Dhunche, Gosaikunda
| Day | Route | Overnight | Travel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 01 | Arrive in Kathmandu (1,400 m) | Kathmandu, 1,400 m | Airport pickup |
| Day 02 | Drive from Kathmandu to Dhunche (1,960 m), 6 to 7 hours | Dhunche, 1,960 m | 6 to 7 hours by road |
| Day 03 | Trek from Dhunche to Chandanbari (3,330 m), about 6 hours | Chandanbari, 3,330 m | About 6 hours on foot |
| Day 04 | Trek from Chandanbari to Lauribina (about 3,900 m), 2 to 3 hours | Lauribina, about 3,900 m | 2 to 3 hours on foot |
| Day 05 | Trek from Lauribina to Gosaikunda (4,380 m), about 3 hours | Gosaikunda, 4,380 m | About 3 hours on foot |
| Day 06 | Trek from Gosaikunda down to Chandanbari (3,330 m), 4 to 5 hours | Chandanbari, 3,330 m | 4 to 5 hours on foot |
| Day 07 | Trek from Chandanbari down to Dhunche (1,960 m), 4 to 6 hours | Dhunche, 1,960 m | 4 to 6 hours on foot |
| Day 08 | Drive from Dhunche to Kathmandu, 6 to 7 hours | Kathmandu | 6 to 7 hours by road |
| Day 09 | Departure | Departure | Airport transfer |
Day 01Arrive in Kathmandu (1,400 m)
You are met at the airport and taken to your hotel, with a briefing on the trek and time to buy or rent any gear you need.
Day 02Drive from Kathmandu to Dhunche (1,960 m), 6 to 7 hours
North up the Trishuli valley to Dhunche, the headquarters of Langtang National Park and the start of the trail.
Day 03Trek from Dhunche to Chandanbari (3,330 m), about 6 hours
A steady climb through forest to Chandanbari and the Sing Gompa monastery.
Day 04Trek from Chandanbari to Lauribina (about 3,900 m), 2 to 3 hours
A short climb above the tree line to Lauribina on its ridge, with wide views of Langtang Lirung and Ganesh Himal. The day is short on purpose: the night here lets the body adjust to the height before the lake.
Day 05Trek from Lauribina to Gosaikunda (4,380 m), about 3 hours
Over the rise to Gosaikunda and the sacred lakes, with the afternoon at the lake.
Day 06Trek from Gosaikunda down to Chandanbari (3,330 m), 4 to 5 hours
Back over the Lauribina ridge and down through the forest to Chandanbari.
Day 07Trek from Chandanbari down to Dhunche (1,960 m), 4 to 6 hours
The last of the walking, down through the forest to Dhunche.
Day 08Drive from Dhunche to Kathmandu, 6 to 7 hours
Back down the Trishuli valley to Kathmandu.
Day 09Departure
Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
What's Included
- Airport pickup and drop-off
- Transport from Kathmandu to Dhunche and back by bus or jeep
- Teahouse and lodge accommodation on the trek
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner on the trek
- Langtang National Park entry permit (NPR 3,000) and TIMS card (NPR 2,000)
- Licensed English-speaking guide with a first-aid kit
- Porter, one shared between two trekkers, carrying up to 12.5 kg each
- Sleeping bag and down jacket on loan
- Basic first aid and an oxygen cylinder
What's Not Included
- International flights to and from Nepal
- Nepal visa fee
- Travel insurance, which must cover trekking to 5,000 m and helicopter evacuation
- Meals in Kathmandu, apart from hotel breakfast
- Personal trekking gear such as boots, clothing and poles
- Personal expenses such as snacks, drinks, hot showers, wifi and charging
- Tips for the guide and porter
- Emergency evacuation and helicopter rescue
- Extra nights caused by weather or delays
Before you book
Questions Travellers Ask
How high is Gosaikunda Lake?
Gosaikunda Lake lies at 4,380 metres (14,370 feet) in Langtang National Park, Nepal, by the Nepal Tourism Board’s figure, about a day’s drive north of Kathmandu.
How difficult is the Gosaikunda Trek?
The Gosaikunda Trek is graded moderate. It needs no technical skill, but the trail is long flights of steep stone steps, and the first day of walking climbs about 1,370 metres from Dhunche to Chandanbari. The two days above Chandanbari are short, with a night at Lauribina on the way up. If you can walk five or six hours on a steep incline, you can do it.
Why is Gosaikunda sacred?
Hindu tradition holds that Shiva created Gosaikunda by striking the mountain with his trident to cool his throat after swallowing poison, and thousands of pilgrims bathe in the lake at Janai Purnima in August. It is holy to Buddhists as well.
Is it safe to bathe in Gosaikunda?
Bathe at the edge and stay out of deep water. Gosaikunda is 25.5 metres deep by the Ramsar survey, and two pilgrims drowned there in July 2025 after going into a deep section, as the Gosaikunda article records.
Do I need a guide for the Gosaikunda Trek?
Yes. Since 1 April 2023 foreign trekkers in Nepal’s national parks and conservation areas must walk with a licensed guide. A licensed guide is included in this trek, along with the Langtang National Park permit and TIMS card.
What if I get altitude sickness on the way to Gosaikunda?
Headache, nausea and poor sleep are common above 3,000 metres. Above Chandanbari the trek sleeps about 500 metres higher each night, at Lauribina and then at the lake, the rate the CDC advises above 3,000 metres. Walk slowly, drink plenty of water and tell your guide at once. If symptoms worsen, the treatment is to descend, and the ridge path back towards Chandanbari is wide and clear.
How much does the Gosaikunda Trek cost?
The Gosaikunda Trek costs USD 665 per person for 2 to 5 trekkers and USD 500 for 6 or more, with permits, guide, porter and trail meals included. A solo trekker is quoted on request.
How many days of walking are on the Gosaikunda Trek?
The Gosaikunda Trek is 9 days in all, with five days of walking: about six hours from Dhunche to Chandanbari, two to three hours to Lauribina, about three hours to Gosaikunda, four to five hours back down to Chandanbari and four to six hours down to Dhunche. The drive between Kathmandu and Dhunche takes six to seven hours each way.
When is the best time for the Gosaikunda Trek?
The best seasons for the Gosaikunda Trek are March to May and September to November. At the full moon of Janai Purnima, in August, thousands of pilgrims climb to the lake to bathe.
Which permits does the Gosaikunda Trek need?
The Gosaikunda Trek needs a Langtang National Park entry permit (NPR 3,000 for foreigners) and a TIMS card (NPR 2,000). Both are included in the price.
What travel insurance do I need for the Gosaikunda Trek?
Travel insurance for the Gosaikunda Trek must cover trekking to 5,000 metres and helicopter evacuation. It is not included in the price.
Do I need my own gear for the Gosaikunda Trek?
Bring your own boots, clothing and poles. A sleeping bag and a down jacket are lent to you, one porter shared between two trekkers carries up to 12.5 kg each, and the first day in Kathmandu leaves time to buy or rent anything missing.
What is the booking and cancellation policy for the Gosaikunda Trek?
Sama Yatra takes a 30% deposit to confirm a booking for the Gosaikunda Trek. Bookings cannot be cancelled, but the journey can be postponed for up to two years at the same cost.
Traveller Reflections
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