Trip Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrival in Kathmandu Airport Meet assist at the airport and transfer to the hotel. O/N in Hotel
Day 2 : Visit to Pilgrimage sites; Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupatinath and Budhanilkhanta. O/N in Hotel.
Day 3 : Drive from Kathmandu to Melamchi Pul Bazaar (846 m.) which takes about five hours.
You drive along well paved road up to Zero Kilo and then you travel through gravel and bumpy path. This is a picturesque journey as you will be surrounded by green hills, terraces, streams, human settlement respectively from place to place. Melamchi Pul Bazaar, at the bank of Melamchi river is a small town where people from surrounded villages come to buy commodities as there are numerous shops, lodges and few small hotels
Day 4 : Trek from Melamchi Pul Bazaar to Shermathang (2590 m.) and it takes approximately five hours.
The trail gradually ascends all the way to Shermathang through meadows ad cultivated fields. On the way, you come across several old villages with their own particular tradition. Walking this day is quite pleasant with views of green hills and interaction with local and friendly people. There you can see Jugal Himal range at the north face of Shermathang village
Day 5 : Trek from Shermathang to Tarkeghyang (2743 m.) which takes about four hours.
This day the trail is quite easier through flat land with beautiful forests on the way. You trek on crossing some small streams on the way. There is situated a beautiful village on the half way to Tarkeghyang. To add your joy, Tarkeghyang is another pretty Sherpa village where you can visit many ancient monasteries. Tarkeghyang, also known as Helambu is named after the Helmu caste. The Sherpa people living here originally belong to Helmu caste
Day 6 : Trek from Tarkeghyang to Melamchi Gaon (2640 m.) and it takes about six hours.
The early part of the trek descends until you cross the stream named as Melamchi. Now you trek steep up to Melamchi Gaon passing through Sherpa settlements such as Nakotegaon which you come across before crossing Melamchi bridge. After you cross this Iron Bridge and trek for steep up trail for nearly two hours you reach Melamchi Gaon. There is a monastery, a school, chorten, prayer flags fluttering in the sky and few guest houses and lodges. In terms of scenery is green hill which has surrounded this village. Most notably, there is an ancient cave with legendry story that Guru Ringboche once took shelter here
Day 7 : Trek from Melamchi Gaon to Ghopte (3430 m.) via Tharepati pass (3490 m.) which takes about six hours.
The first part of the trails ascends up to Tharepati the rhododendron forests until Thearepati. Before you reach Tharepati, a group of herders' huts at 3579m, you cross a stream after coming through rhododendron, oak and juniper forests. From Tharepati the trail gradually descends through blue pine and rhododendron forest with good views down into the Helambu valley and across to Jugal Himal and Numbur in the Solu Khumbu. There is an ancient cave at Ghopte which is surrounded by verdant forest of bamboo, juniper and rhododendron. There are only two tea houses
Day 8 : Trek from Ghopte to Lauribinayak pass (4610m.) and trek to Gosaikunda Lake (4460m.) and it takes about seven hours.
The trail climbs through rugged country, rocky trail and small streams to reach Phedi. You leave the last tea house at Phedi until you reach Gosaikunda Lake. To cross Lauribinayak pass you trek steep up passing through scenery of green hills. From the top of Lauribinayak pass, you get an excellent view of Rolwaling, Jugal Himal, and Gang Chhenpo (6388m.), Langshisha (6427 m.) and many other snow capped mountains and peaks. You climb 300 m. down passing four lakes with spectacular views of Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, Annapurna to reach Gosaikunda Lake. There are about a dozen lakes in the Gosainkunda Basin, the main three being Saraswatikund, Bharab Kunda and Gosainkunda. According to legend, Gosainkunda was created by Shiva when he pierced a glacier with his trident to obtain water to quench his thirst after having swallowed a poison that threatened to destroy the world. There are few tea houses and lodges at the lakeside. Gosaikunda Lake is a holy lake where people gather during the month of August to pay homage to God Mahadev (Shiva). There is held a big fair during this time on full moon day
Day 9 : Trek from Gosaikunda Lake to Sing Gompa via Lauribinayak pass and it takes four hours.
You follow a rugged trail with dramatic views; to the west lie Himal Chuli (7893m.,) Manaslu (8156m,) and Ganesh Himal (7406m.) On a clear day, even the Annapurna range, Dhaulagiri can be seen rising up behind and to the north across the valley is Langtang Lirung. You pass a few huts in the high pasture of Laurebinayak pass and trek downhill passing through rocky trail with magnificent mountain views. There are few lodges and hotel at Lauribinayak pass. There lies a small village, Chyolangpati at the bottom of Lauribinayak pass. Now you trek gentle descent path which is quite pleasant until you reach Sing Gompa. There is a well managed local cheese factory and a Buddhist Monastery
Day 10 : Trek from Sing Gompa to Dhunche (2030 m.) which takes about four hours.
You trek downhill all the way to Ghatte Khola (stream) passing forest, a small village Dimsa and terraces. Now you trek over levelled path along Ghatte Khola (stream) till Dhunche
Day 11 : Drive from Dhunche to Kathmandu and it takes about eight hours.
You drive through scenic foothills and ridgeline vistas to Kathmandu. The first part of your drive upto Trishuli Bazaar is through gravel and bumpy road and then well paved road up to Kathmandu
Day 12 : Transfer to the International airport to connect onward flight
