Day 7 Gosainkund to Laurebina Yak

Gosainkund, looking back to the pass...

Gosainkund Laurebina Yak Latitude 28°05.05'N 28°05.50'N Longitude 85°24.75'E 85°23.00'E Altitude 4,321 metres 4,026 metres Descent 295 metres Time (excluding rests) 1 hour 10 minutes Distance 3 kilometres As you leave Gosainkund, this view takes you by surprise

The path to Laurebina Yak...   Langtang Lirung 7234 metres... Gateway pillars... Chautra, or resting place...

The area around Gosainkund is interesting, and it has the cultural interest of the Gosainkund Lakes. It’s also a good place for knackered trekkers to rest. That’s why this day is so short. Just over an hour’s walk below lies the next stop, Laurebina Yak. The reason for stopping here is to give you an easy day, and to have the whole day to gaze at one of the best views in the world.        Follow the path north along the right bank of the valley. After about 25 minutes the magnificent view presents itself when you reach some yak herders’ huts. These yak herders seem to build huts in the most scenic places. From here you get a great view of Langtang Lirung 7,234 metres. I was a member of the 1989 UK Expedition which made the first UK ascent of the mountain.        Follow the path down past two ancient gateway pillars to reach a Buddhist chautara (place of rest) that marks Laurebina West (45 minutes). [28°05.25’N 85°23.50’E 4,252 metres]. The chautara has a statue of Amitabha Buddha inside. Amitabha is the Buddha of boundless light, and is regarded by his followers as the primordial Buddha, without beginning or end. Amitabha Buddha lives in the world Sukhavati, which means ‘happy land’. Here, there is no possibility of an inauspicous re birth, for there are no animals. Everyone is rich and comfortable. It is an ideal place to gain kharma merit to reach nirvana, or enlightment in heaven.        There is an exceptionally broad view from this chautara, from Langtang Lirung in the east, deep north into Tibet and as far as the Annapurna range in the west. You can see Sing Gompa and even Syabru in the distance below. I’d recommend resting here for while to take it all in.

YetiZone Guidebooks   YetiZone Langtang and Helambu Guidebook     Helambu - Langtang map from Nelles Verlag

Amitabha Buddha gets to look out on the view to the right....

The magnificent view north from above the Chautara. You can see into Tibet.

Laurebina Yak... Laurebina Yak is perched among the clouds... The Annapurna range may be seen in the distance... Manaslu and Paldor... Ganesh Himal range

Continue down the ridge to Laurebina Yak (1 hour 10 minutes). There are three giant lodges here: Hotel Morning View Maya Lodge Hotel Mount Rest        More mega lodges are under construction by the family that owns Laurebina Yak. I think these people will be very wealthy one day - as they own a piece of the world’s prime real estate, prime as it has one of the best views on the planet. The view from left (west) to right (east) consists of: The stunning view just after sunrise Annapurna 8,091 metres - 286° Himal Chulli 7,893 metres - 289° Manaslu 8,163 metres - 294° Ganesh Himal 7,406 metres - 300° Tibetan Peak 6,578 metres - 328° Tibetan Peak 7,416 metres - 0° Langtang Lirung 7,234 metres - 30° Tibetan Peak 5,766 metres - 42° Shishi Pangma 8,027 metres - 50° (not shown above)                        Get up early in the morning to see the view as the sun strikes the range, and before the clouds rise. This is not a view to be missed. Wait here if the weather is bad, that’s an order! Annapurna range and Manaslu - you can see it all up here

The evening clouds.... The Laurebna Yak bog (bathroom) has the best view in the world...

Annapurna range, Manaslu and Ganesh Himal - all digital photograph   The view later in the morning Created May 2000 - copyright Ian Johnson Last updated 28 October 2000 - Laurebina Yak longtitude correction