Gosainkunda Lake Trek

Best Period for Gosainkunda  lake Trek

The most beautiful period for our Langtang Gosainkunda lake trek is autumn and spring.

Also known as Fall, the autumn period (September-November) starts after the rainy hot season (June-August). With the spectacular beauty of the red-yellow forest,aromatic air of fallen leaves, and the pleasurably warm heat of 18 to 20 degrees Celsius, the hiking journey becomes very easy and fun.

The Himalayas of Langtang will also be at their most beautiful while the  Gosainkunda  waters also remain unfrozen and crystal clear. Kathmandu also hosts a huge number of festivals such as Dashai, Tihar, and Holi during this period.

On the other hand, in spring (March-May), everything around begins to flourish, the mountain slopes will be covered with dark and light green meadows and red-crimson spots of blooming rhododendrons. The air will be fragrant and the trekking paths through the forest enliven with the melody of the beautiful birds.

Since the torrential monsoon rain begins from early June until the last of August, it will be quite problematic to put up with endless rains, mosquitoes, leeches, and washed-out roads during trekking to  Gosainkunda  Lake.

The Langtang Gosainkunda lake trek in winter (December-February) is also safe because of minimal precipitation but there can be snow dumps that can make the Gosainkunda trail challenging or even impassable.

So you may have to wait for the snow to either melt or consolidate so you can pass through. Likewise, the waters of Gosainkunda Lake can also freeze solid as the winter progresses. And, the temperature can also dip to minus degrees, however, with decent gear, you can battle the cold.

If you decide to go for the Gosainkunda lake Trek in winter, then you should set aside enough time for your adventure.

Gosainkunda Lake Trek Challenge Level

Our 8 days Gosainkunda lake trekking journey is of medium difficulty level which means some experience of previous hikes is required but not mandatory.

So even a beginner hiker who has adequate physical fitness, endurance, and readiness to be in uncomfortable, unusual living conditions can also try this trek.

Thanks to the well-built concrete roads, the first half of the journey will be pretty pleasant. However, you still have to be ready for the river crossing over a frail suspended bridge, a sharp ascent to the High Mountain pass with a similar sharp descent back down.

You will also have to prepared for walking and climbing through the thickets en route. Thus, all these factors will often reduce your walking speed leading your daily walks up to 6 hours each day.

Additionally, you will also have to face the significant change in elevation with nearly 1000 m ascent on day 4 when you trek from Shin Gumba to  Gosainkunda Lake. As you climb higher, the temperatures can drop dramatically. Keep in mind that mornings in the mountains may be stable but the afternoon can suddenly change bringing the fierce winds along.

However, you won’t need any specialized gear or equipment for the ascent and crossing of the pass. Plus, you will be hiking with a light backpack since our porter will carry most of your load.

So, if you have some hiking experience, a background in sports, or regularly hit the gym, or have taken some nature trips, then you can overcome all the difficulties of the trek easily.

Who is this Gosainkunda lake Trek suitable?

Our 8 days Gosainkunda lake trekking is a low-intensity trekking adventure that will take you to one of the most beautiful natures on the planet. So if you love to walk in nature, if you like to experience the pleasure of a journey through the jungles, in the mountains, and if you want to discover some small villages that still preserve the history and tradition, then our Langtang Gosainkunda lake trek is open to embrace you.

If you are a relatively fit individual who has the passion and capability to tackle a multi-day hike (4 days of 6 hours) but has a very busy schedule, then you should also consider joining our  Gosainkunda Lake trek.

In short, all those who are in their prime health and fitness can join our trek. However, please keep in mind that if you have any serious health concerns, such as heart, liver, kidney, or lung problems, or if you have untreated or treated thrombosis, you must seek your doctor’s permission before participating.

It is because the high-altitude and cold mountain environment can intensify these conditions, and quick medical treatment may also not be easily and readily available.

Also, if you are expecting, you should also consult your gynecologist before joining, as the mountain trails, although paved, can be tough for you and your unborn child.

AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) or Altitude Sickness in  Gosainkunda Lake Trek

The AMS or altitude sickness can be one of the potential concerns in our trek to Gosainkunda. The high-elevation air itself contains less oxygen which can cause slight difficulty in breathing. This condition will be exaggerated by the speedy or sudden climb, rapid change and increase in heights, and lack of steady acclimatization.

The itinerary of our 8 days Gosainkunda lake trekking also consists of faster ascension with the increase of nearly 1000 m elevation in just a day. Therefore, some of you (not all) can develop hypoxia, headache, accompanied by shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness and difficulty in balance, tiredness, insomnia, or repeated awakenings during the night.

No stress should be taken as these symptoms will disappear themselves within 24 to 48 hours. But if they do not, you should immediately descend to an altitude where you feel at ease in breathing.

There are also pharmacological assistance that can help to reduce or treat these symptoms such as analgesic for headache (Cetamol) or administration of acetazolamide- Diamox more commonly known medicine. This is a drug used to help the acclimatization process before and during the trekking adventure.

For the prevention of AMS during our  Gosainkunda Lake trek, we suggest you tackle the climb at a comfortable pace. We also suggest you do not use any type of alcohol and drink at least two liters of liquid or plain water a day, necessary to avoid dehydration.

Essential Preparation for the  Langtang Gosainkunda lake trek

If you are a first-timer hiker who is going to participate in this trek,  then ask yourself these questions: How mentally and physically fit am I? Do I walk or exercise every day? Do I walk to work or is my longest trail from the living room to the kitchen?

When you are clear with your answer, you should then test your hiking capabilities. Go for some random walk in the park and find out how long you can walk or climb up and down the long stairs of your home or apartment and evaluate how long can you continue doing it.

After this evaluation, you should start with a simple and easy workout plan. Your workout routine should have a blend of flexibility, cardio, and strength exercises. Some examples of exercises to include are hiking, weight lifting, cycling, yoga, and running.

Then decide to follow the plan three times a week probably about an hour or two for two times each day. Then, steadily progress through your training plan, and slowly increase the complexity of your workouts and daily hikes.

All these measures will help your body to get used to the physical demands of trekking journey and also diminish the injury risk.

Now, it is time for you to go on a simple trekking adventure first on easy terrain then on moderate one carrying a light backpack on your shoulder or back.

Another essential role-playing factor in the success of your hiking trip is your mental readiness and expectations. Do not expect our  Gosainkunda Lake trek to be easy, and comfortable; such inflated expectations can often hurt you in your real trekking adventure.

Just remember, you will be walking in the territory of the National Park of Langtang, the land where wildlife and humans coexist so prepare to let go of your home habits. You should always embrace the hike with an open heart and you will certainly return much richer than you were before.

You should also enjoy your treks and your everyday journey so be ready to communicate with the other hikers and the instructor. Understand that on a hike, all the members are a team.

And the instructor is the unquestionable authority on the hike. He decides which way to go, when, and where. And he will help you avoid conflicts on the hike.

Sleeping and Dining

As soon as you land in Kathmandu, we will take you straight to your three-star accommodation we have pre-booked for your comfortable evening and sleep.

The room will have two single beds equipped with an attached bathroom. You can enjoy the hot shower and WiFi during your time in Kathmandu with an in-house breakfast every morning.

Since Kathmandu has a variation of culinary options from tasty street food to delightful rich restaurants and pubs, we have excluded the service of dinner and lunch so you can yourself venture out and try various cuisine on your own.

After leaving Kathmandu, in the Villages of Dhunche, Shin Gumba, and  Gosainkunda, the clean, spacious, and warm mountain tea house will be managed for your sleep.

In these tea houses, you will have a room equipped with two beds, pillows, mattresses, and cozy blankets. However, furniture may be very minimal, and the latrine will be generally situated outside the lodge for shared use among fellow travelers.

You will have three times meals (lunches, dinners, and breakfast) in these tea houses with typically similar menus but of different flavors. Dal Vat Tarkari, noodles, momos, eggs, fried potatoes, and thukpa will be the common dishes. You may also find the local pizzas and pastries sometimes.

When in Dhunche Bazaar, make sure to try the real coffee as the instant coffee will be the one accompanying you on the journey ahead.

Travel Insurance

When it comes to the Gosainkunda Lake trek, travel insurance is not only a requisite component but also a necessary one for responsible tourism. For the permits obligatory for this trek, we must provide your policy number or a copy of your insurance, then only we will be provided with the permits.

Additionally, travel insurance will offer you comprehensive support in case of any inconveniences, accidents, or problems with luggage along with 24-hour health care each day of the year.

You have to understand that trekking along the mountain trail always carries a higher risk of accidents such as a fall or fractures. In such case, your insurance provider will cover the medical and hospital expenses for you.

Such medical coverage often includes emergency medical transport, medical assistance services, and even medical repatriation. And, what if your trip gets postponed, delayed, or canceled?

In such an event, your insurance provider will reimburse you the costs you spent for booking the trip, including flights, hotels, and prepaid tours. And, if your luggage is lost or delayed, it will also cover your expenses for replacing the missing items.

The accurate and right insurance policy will also cover damage or theft during your stay, protecting your valuable gadgets such as cameras, electronic devices, or sports equipment.

So please prepare with travel insurance first before deciding to visit  Gosainkunda  or any other part of the planet.

Essential Permits for the Gosainkunda Lake Trek

For the Langtang Gosainkunda lake trek, two permits are obligatory to obtain and they are the entrance permit to the National Park of Langtang and the TIMS (Trekkers Information Management System) card permit.

The entrance permit for the National Park will give us access to the inside territory of the park. It can be easily acquired from the NTB (Nepal Tourism Board) office in Kathmandu, the TAAN office (Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal) also in Kathmandu, or at the army checkpoint in Dhunche. Each permit costs US$ 30, and every traveler must have one.

The next TIMS card permit can also be conveniently obtained from the NTB (Nepal Tousim Board) office in Kathmandu, and the TAAN office (Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal) in Kathmandu. The fee is only US$ 20 for each traveler.

All the permit arrangements will be managed by us and the fee of these essential permits is also part of our overall Gosainkunda Lake trekking cost.