Helambu trek is a hidden gem nestled in the serene landscapes of Nepal’s Himalayas. This lesser-known trek offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, cultural immersion, and gentle adventure, making it an ideal choice for trekkers seeking a quieter alternative to the more popular routes. Also called, Langtang Valley, Gosaikunda Lake and Helambu Trek or Gosaikunda Trek or Langtang Gosaikunda Trek is a trek to the holy glacial lake Gosaikunda at an altitude of 4,320 meters and cross Laurebina Pass at 4,610 meters above sea level. The lake melts and sips down to form the Trishuli River and remains frozen for six months from October to June.
Starting from the outskirts of Kathmandu Valley, the Helambu trek takes you through picturesque villages inhabited by the friendly Sherpa and Tamang communities. You’ll traverse verdant rhododendron forests, terraced farmland, and lush valleys, with breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks looming in the distance.
One of the highlights of the Helambu trek is exploring the traditional mountain villages along the way, where you can experience the rich cultural heritage of the region. Visit ancient monasteries, prayer flags, and stone chortens, and immerse yourself in the daily rhythms of village life.
Accommodations along the trail range from cozy teahouses to family-run lodges, where you can enjoy warm hospitality and hearty meals prepared with locally-sourced ingredients. With comfortable accommodations and manageable daily hikes, the Helambu trek is suitable for trekkers of all levels, from beginners to experienced adventurers.
If you prefer short trek in the same region, you can have a look at Langtang Valley Trek.
On arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, a representative from our office will greet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel. You’ll have rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight: 4 Star Hotel in Kathmandu
Included Meals: Welcome Dinner
Kathmandu’s Durbar Square: is one of three royal palace squares in the Kathmandu Valley. This site was the royal residence until the 19th century where important ceremonies, such as the coronation of the Nepalese monarch use to take place.
Swoyambhunath Temple: This Buddhist Stupa, said to be 2000 years old is a perfect architecture of gilded spire and white washed dome located under thousands of fluttering prayer flags.
Pashupatinath Temple: Pashupatinath, a pagoda style Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is considered to be the powerhouse of Hindu spiritual power in religious terms.
BoudhnathStupa: Listed in the UNESCO World Heritage list, this enormous stupa where thousands of pilgrims gather daily to make a ritual circumnavigation of the dome, beneath the watchful eyes of the Buddha, which gaze out from the gilded central tower.
Overnight: 4 Star Hotel in Kathmandu
Included Meals: Breakfast
Travelling through Trishuli (Nuwakot) we drive for 7 to 8 hours to Syabrubesi via Dhunche on the rough roads. The views on the way are very pretty.
Overnight: Teahouse in Syabrubesi
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The trail descends along the ridge on Syabru’s main street and then drop to the Ghopche Khola (2050 m.) and again descends to the Landslide (1810m.). Afterwards, you trek ascends gently to Rimche (2400m.) through Bamboo (1960m.) and at the end your trail is level to the Lama Hotel. En route you could see red pandas, monkey and bear if you are lucky.
Overnight: Teahouse in Lama Hotel
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Your gentle climb to begin with soon steepens high above the river to Ghora Tabela. (2970m). You will soon find yourself in open country with scattered Tamang settlements. You will have climbed nearly 100m today relatively steadily. The village here is home to some yak herds and cheese factories, worth exploring if you have the energy.
Overnight: Teahouse in Langtang Village
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
You will climb to the ridge this morning marked with a big chorten and some Mani walls, from here you will have views of Kyanjing Gompa and the icefall from Langtang Lirung surrounded by snowy mountains. You will be walking for around 3 hours today so time to explore the area this afternoon.
Overnight: Teahouse in Kyajing
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This is a day to rest and explore Tserko Ri to help our body get used to altitude. We get back to Kyangjin Gompa by late afternoon and explore the beautiful monastery while enjoying views of the Himalayas, glaciers, birds and yaks.
Overnight: Teahouse in Kyanjing
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
You will return the way you came today following the Langtang Khola river to Langtang Village and on to Ghora Tabela and down to Lama Hotel
Overnight: Teahouse in Lama Hotel
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The beginning of your journey today is very pretty and offers magnificent views. You will begin descending gently before it steepens to Syabrubesi, taking about 5 hours in total.
Overnight: Teahouse Lodge in Thulo Syabrubesi
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Your day’s walk of 6 hours will take you to Sing Gompa climbing steadily for the majority of the day until you see the small Buddhist Monastery of Sing Gompa where you will spend the night.
Overnight: Teahouse Lodge in Sing Gompa
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
You start with a climb through rhododendron forests this morning, if you are here during the spring, enjoy the fabulous colours as the trees are in bloom, eventually you will emerge at the saddle of Chalang Pati (3380m), you will soon enter the Gosainkunda protected area. There are few places to stop for water today so be sure you have enough on you. You will enjoy great views along the ridge of Langtang Lirung from the north and looking west you can see Ganesh Himal and Manaslu, Tibet is also visible in the distance. Shortly the lakes will come in to view as the climb continues gently, you will then drop to the third lake, the Gosainkunda (4320m).
Overnight: Teahouse Lodge in Gosaikunda
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
People come here to worship and bath in the lake during full moon festivals every August. It is believed that the large rock in the centre of the lake is said to be the remains of a Shiva shrine and it is also claimed that channel carries water from the lake directly to the tank at the Kumbheshwar Temple in Patan of Kathmandu valley. In this festival, thousands of Hindu pilgrims from Nepal and India come to take holy bath in the lake.
Overnight: Teahouse Lodge in Gosaikunda
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
To begin with you will follow the north side of the Gosaikunda lake before climbing towards the pass of Laurebina La (4610m), on the way you will see more lakes as you go. You will find many cairns on the pass, from here you will begin your descent through some summer pastures to Phedi (3740m) and Dupi Chaur (3630m) and finally to Ghopte (3440m).
Overnight: Teahouse Lodge in Ghopte
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
From Ghopte, the trail descends to more caves and enters a thick forest of rhododendrons. After crossing a stream, which is dry for part of the year, the trail will make a final ascent to Tharepati (3510m), a group of small stone huts used in the summer months by herders. Here we’ll take a moment to climb the hill to the east of the ridge for views of DorjeLakpa, Shisha Pangama (8013m) and peaks all the way to Khumbu. From Tharepati trek to Melamchi gaon.
Overnight: Teahouse Lodge in Melamchi gaon
Overnight: Teahouse Lodge in Tarkeghyang
Overnight: Teahouse Lodge in Sermathang
Day with good views of Helambu valley and walking up and down the along the ridge all day and climb up to Chisapani for good Sun set views. Ascend up to Borlang Bhanjyang 2430 m and descend down steeply to Melamchi Bazar. From Melamchi Bazar we drive to Kathmandu for 1 hr.
You spend the last evening in Kathmandu in a farewell dinner together sharing photos recalling the excitements of trip and exchanging emails in one of the traditional Nepalese restaurant.
Overnight: 4 Star Hotel in Kathmandu.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Fare well Dinner
Today after breakfast you are in leisure on your own. You will be escorted to airport for your flight home at your flight time
Included Meals: Breakfast
In Kathmandu, you will stay in 4 Star Hotels with breakfast included. Along the trekking routes, you stay in teahouses/lodges that generally provide basic clean facilities with a mattress and a quilt or blanket. Accommodation are on a twin sharing basis. The accommodation in lodges in trekking routes can be single and double rooms, or a dormitory. The toilets in tea houses provide essential and basic facilities and are always outside the room. Single supplement will be provided on request and will cost an additional and depend upon availability. Although single rooms are readily available in Kathmandu and the trekking regions at lower elevation, it might be difficult to find them at higher elevations. Hotels in Kathmandu can be upgraded to 5 star in an additional cost.
In Kathmandu breakfast, welcome dinner and farewell dinner are provided. While on trekking, we provide breakfast, lunch and dinner. Usually, each day dinner and breakfast will be at teahouses/lodges where you will stay and lunch will be on the way. We make it sure that the food is hygienic and at the same time suits your palate. Foods cooked in lodges and guesthouses on the way are pasta, tuna bakes, noodles, potatoes, eggs, daal bhat (rice and lentils), bread, soup, fresh vegetables (variety depends on the season) and even some desserts like apple pies, pancakes, and some interesting attempts at custard. You will find a lot of garlic on the menu because it assists with acclimatization. In many larger villages you may find some meat items on the menu. You can always find hot chocolate, tea, and hot lemon drinks, as well as soft drinks, and treats like chocolate and crisps.
The spring time from March to May and the Autumn months from September to November is considered the best months for Langtang Valley, Gosaikunda Lake and Helambu Trek
Anyone who is fit and healthy and have a habit of walking for few of hours a day can do this trek. However walking in higher altitudes is more physically demanding than walking in lower altitudes. Exercising and jogging regularly for some weeks prior to the trip is a good idea to enhance your stamina. Participants with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart, lungs and blood diseases are required to consult their doctor before taking the trip. It is also advised that you inform Eve Holidays about the medical condition before booking the trek.
All of Eve Holidays trekking itineraries are planned keeping in mind the risk of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). Going up at higher altitude too fast causes a medical condition called AMS which is serious enough to kill if neglected. We are well aware that it is essential to allow you sufficient time for acclimatization to minimize the risk. However it is important to remember that some people are more vulnerable than others. So we suggest to avoid alcohol and drink enough water and get good night sleep during the trek.
March April May and Sept Oct Nov are the best time to trek
Yes, we give you the flexibility to change the travel date or amend the itinerary and that has to be in written and at least 25 days before departure date. The cost incurred due to the changes has to be borne by you.
Booking deposits are transferable to anyone you want for any time in future. For cancelling the trip, cancellation policy in our booking terms and conditions will apply.
Me and my friends did this trek. Although challenging but view was spectacular. Was well organized and our trekking guides, hotel we stayed in Kathmandu and meal everything was perfect.
