Gosaikunda and Helambu Trek
- Duration
- 11 days
- Max altitude
- 4,610 m
- Difficulty
-
Moderate
Difficulty scale
- Easy Short walking days on good trails below about 3,000 m. Suitable for anyone in ordinary health, including families.
- Moderate 5 to 6 hours a day with some steep sections, reaching up to about 4,000 m. A reasonable level of fitness and a few weeks of preparation walking recommended.
- Strenuous 6 to 8 hours a day, high passes or altitudes above 5,000 m, and remote stretches. Good fitness, prior trekking experience and proper acclimatisation days are essential.
- Very strenuous Long days, multiple high passes or technical sections, sustained time above 5,000 m. For experienced, well-conditioned trekkers only.
- Best season
- Autumn (Sep–Nov) · Spring (Mar–May)
- Group
- Private
- From
- $705.00
Overview
A traverse north of Kathmandu with no flight needed: a long day’s drive to Syabrubesi, up through Tamang villages and forest to the sacred lakes at Gosaikunda (4,380 m), over the Laurebina La at 4,610 m, then down into the Sherpa villages of Helambu and back to Kathmandu by road. A good choice when you want a real high pass without the Everest flight.
Every departure is private and led by a government-licensed Nepali guide, so the plan flexes to your party and to the mountain. Permits, park fees and local taxes are inside the price you see.
See our roundup of the best treks in Nepal for first-timers for how this compares with our other routes near Kathmandu.
Trip highlights
- The Gosaikunda lakes at 4,380 m
- Laurebina La, the high point at 4,610 m
- Helambu's Sherpa villages, with homestay nights
- Starts and ends by road from Kathmandu, no flight
Day by day
The itinerary
-
Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu (1,400 m) 1,400 m Hotel
Our representative meets you at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfers you to the hotel, followed by the trek briefing. No other plans for the day.
-
Day 2: Drive to Syabrubesi (1,460 m) 1,460 m 7-8 hrs Teahouse
A long road day north out of the valley, over the ridge at Kalikasthan and down the Trishuli and Bhote Koshi valleys. Rough in places and slow, but the views back to Ganesh Himal and Langtang make up for it. Syabrubesi is the roadhead for the whole region.
-
Day 3: Syabrubesi to Thulo Syabru (2,210 m) 2,210 m 5-6 hrs Teahouse
Across the river and up through terraced fields and oak forest. Langur monkeys are common on this stretch. Thulo Syabru is a Tamang village strung along a single steep ridge, with the Langtang peaks opening up behind it.
-
Day 4: Thulo Syabru to Sing Gompa (3,330 m) 3,330 m 5-6 hrs Teahouse
A steady climb all day through rhododendron and hemlock forest to the ridge at Sing Gompa, also called Chandanbari. There is a small monastery here and a local cheese factory that has been running for decades. The first real altitude of the trek.
-
Day 5: Sing Gompa to Gosaikunda (4,380 m) 4,380 m 5-6 hrs Teahouse
The forest thins into juniper and then open hillside, with Manaslu, Ganesh Himal and the Annapurnas across the valley on a clear morning. Past the smaller lakes of Saraswati and Bhairav to Gosaikunda itself, a deep blue lake under a rock wall. Hindus walk here in their thousands each August for Janai Purnima. Take the afternoon slowly; this is a gain of more than 1,000 m in one day.
-
Day 6: Gosaikunda to Ghopte (3,430 m) over the Laurebina La (4,610 m) 4,610 m 7-8 hrs Teahouse
The hardest day, and an early start. The trail climbs past the upper lakes to the Laurebina La, the high point of the trek, then drops a long way down a rough boulder-strewn descent past Phedi to Ghopte. Snow can hold on the pass into spring and your guide will turn the party around if it is not safe.
-
Day 7: Ghopte to Melamchi Gaon (2,530 m) 2,530 m 6-7 hrs Homestay
Up and over to Tharepati, where the Helambu trail splits, then a long descent into a different world: forest, water and the first farmland in days. Melamchi Gaon is a Sherpa village that was badly hit by the 2015 earthquake and rebuilt by its own people.
-
Day 8: Melamchi Gaon to Tarkeghyang (2,600 m) 2,600 m 5-6 hrs Homestay
Down to the Melamchi river, across it, and back up the far side through forest to Tarkeghyang. This is the largest Sherpa village in Helambu, with an old gompa at its centre and a very different feel from the Khumbu Sherpa settlements.
-
Day 9: Tarkeghyang to Sermathang (2,620 m) 2,620 m 4-5 hrs Homestay
An easy ridge walk through pine and rhododendron, past small gompas and mani walls, with the Himalaya to the north and the haze of the Kathmandu valley to the south. Sermathang has apple orchards and one of the better views of the whole trek at sunset.
-
Day 10: Sermathang to Melamchi Pul Bazaar (870 m), drive to Kathmandu 1,400 m 4-5 walking, 3-4 driving hrs Hotel
A long descent through villages and cardamom gardens to the road at Melamchi Pul Bazaar, then the drive back into Kathmandu. Evening free.
-
Day 11: Departure 1,400 m
Our representative takes you to the airport about 3 hours before your onward flight.
Altitude profile
The climb, day by day
Comfort tiers
Choose your level of comfort
| Amenity | Standardfrom $845.00 | Comfortfrom $997.10 | Luxuryfrom $1,225.25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kathmandu hotel | 3★ | 4★ | 5★ |
| Trail accommodation | Standard teahouse | Best lodge in each village | Premium lodge where the route has one |
| Porter support | Shared porter | Private porter, lighter load | Extra porter, carry almost nothing |
| Transfers | Shared | Private | Private, throughout |
What's included
Included
- Included: Two nights at Hotel Vistara in Kathmandu or similar
- Included: Teahouse and homestay accommodation on the trek
- Included: A government-licensed, English-speaking guide
- Included: All required national park and TIMS permits
- Included: Pulse oximeter checks twice a day to watch for altitude sickness
- Included: Luggage storage in Kathmandu for anything you do not need on the trek
- Included: First aid kit
- Included: Official charges, government tax and VAT
Not included
- Not included: International airfare
- Not included: Nepal entry visa
- Not included: Travel and health insurance, including emergency rescue and evacuation
- Not included: Personal expenses such as snacks, drinks, bottled water, wifi, battery charging and hot showers
- Not included: Porter: one porter shared between two trekkers, USD 160
- Not included: Private jeep from Kathmandu to the trailhead: USD 150
- Not included: Private jeep from the end of the trek back to Kathmandu: USD 150
- Not included: Food in Kathmandu
- Not included: Tips for your guide
Know before you go
Suitability & requirements
The price covers your guide, permits, the Kathmandu hotel and accommodation on the trek. Road transport and porters are extra and listed under what is not included, so a party of two using a jeep both ways and one porter should budget about USD 460 between them on top of the trek price.
The climb from Sing Gompa to Gosaikunda gains more than 1,000 m in one day. Walk slowly, drink plenty, and tell your guide straight away about any headache, nausea or unusual tiredness.
Your team
Led by a licensed guide
Every route is led by a government-licensed guide from our team. Licences are on record with us before departure, and you'll meet your guide once your trip is confirmed.
Guide language(s): English, Nepali
Group-size pricing
Walk together, pay less
Every trip is private, so the guide, permits and transfers cost the same however many walk. Sharing them is why the per-person price falls: arithmetic, not a sale.
| Group size | per person | You save each |
|---|---|---|
| 1 traveller | $845.00 | base rate |
| 2 to 3 travellers | $705.00 | $140.00 |
| 4 to 6 travellers | $665.00 | $180.00 |
| 7 or more | $620.00 | $225.00 |
Per person, including permits, park fees and taxes. Nothing is added at checkout.
Weather
What to expect, month by month
- Autumn (Sep–Nov)The most reliable trekking season: clear air, stable weather and cold nights, right after the monsoon clears.
- Spring (Mar–May)Warmer than autumn, with rhododendron forests in flower and slightly hazier mountain views as the season goes on.
Traveller reviews
What travellers say
Why book with us
Every trail, one licensed team
You may also like
