Yala Peak Climbing
- duration 15 days
- usd 2,350 All inclusive
- difficulty Hard
- best season Sep-Dec | Mar-May
- max altitude From 4,600 feet at Kathmandu to 18,806 feet on top of Yala Peak
trip overview
Summit the Yala Peak standing 18,806 feet high above the sea level in this trip designed to get you to the top of a Himalayan mountain.
A holiday in the Himalayas is incomplete if you do not summit an actual mountain. Enter Yala Peak. This giant standing 18,806 feet high from the sea level is a perfect mountain for the mountaineering enthusiast. Its height and its trail makes it difficult for the uninitiated but not too difficult for amateurs. Most mountaineers who aspire to scale the Himalayas begin with Yala Peak and go on to climb higher mountains. And as an icing on a cake, the journey to the peak and back takes you through scenic landscape and beautiful villages.
Detail itinerary
- day 01Arrival.
We will pick you up at the airport as you land into Kathmandu (4,600 feet) and drop you to your hotel. You must be tired after such a long flight.
- Accomodation: Hotel
- day 02Sightseeing around Kathmandu Valley. Pre-trip meeting.
The Kathmandu Valley is dotted with ancient temples, monasteries, and former royal courtyards so you will be thoroughly entertained hopping from one monument to another. The city is also a good place to go shopping and the food here is also amazing. And if you want to go out for drinks, there are several good cafes and bars that cater well to tourists. In the evening, w e will meet up to brief you on your trip ahead.
- Accomodation: Hotel
- Meal: Breakfast
- day 03Drive to Syabrubesi (4,797ft) by public bus.
It takes about eight hours to reach Syabrubesi in a public bus. The view outside the window is very beautiful as we pass through rivers, hills and towns all the way through to Syabrubesi. We will have lunch somewhere along the way.
- Accomodation: Guesthouse
- Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- day 04Trek to Lama Hotel (8,202ft).
After getting out of Syabrubesi, we head into a forest. If you are lucky, you may spot some exotic Himalayan animals here. We pass through several streams, waterfalls and small settlements along the way till we reach Lama Hotel. Overall, it is a tough day of hiking for about five hours.
- Accomodation: Guesthouse
- Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- day 05Trek to Langtang (10,850ft).
We will have gain more than 2,000 feet this day and the trail is steeper than the previous day. You will get to see vast Himalayan grasslands which serve as yak pastures as we head towards Langtang village. We reach the village in five hours.
- Accomodation: Guesthouse
- Meal: Breakfast. Lunch & Dinner
- day 06Trek to Kyanjin Gompa (12,461ft).
We walk past some more meadows till we arrive at the largest Buddhist prayer wall in Nepal. Look around and pray cause you will need it for making it this high above the sea level without getting sick. We will finally arrive at Kyanjin, right in the middle of the Himalayas, after four hours of trekking.
- Accomodation: Guesthouse
- Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- day 07Rest & sightseeing at Kyanjin.
The Kyanjin Gompa monastery is the main attraction here. Besides, you can gaze at the Himalayas and the shifting glaciers that are visible all around. And if you consider yourself a mountain enthusiast, you can summit the Kyanjin Ri which is 14,272 feet high.
- Accomodation: Guesthouse
- Meal: Breakfast. Lunch & Dinner
- day 08Trek to Yala Peak Base Camp (14,436ft).
You will be treading in cold and arid ground. After walking on top of glaciers continuously for five hours, we reach the base of the Yala Peak. As there are no guesthouses here, we have to camp in a tent.
- Accomodation: Tented
- Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- day 09Summit Yala Peak (18,806ft). Then trek back to Kyanjin Gompa.
Our guides will provide you a basic training before embarking on this expedition. We start early in the morning and make this tough climb to the summit. The view from the top is extraordinary and we will spend some time here. But we have to return back to Kyanjin Gompa before night. The whole endeavor takes about eight hours.
- Accomodation: Guesthouse
- Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- day 10Spare day in case of bad weather.
We have a spare day in case we cannot reach the summit in one day.
- Accomodation: Guesthouse
- Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- day 11Trek to Lama Hotel (8,202ft).
We start getting back and pass through the same forests and rivers till we get to Lama Hotel. It takes about five and a half hours.
- Accomodation: Guesthouse
- Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- day 12Trek to Syabrubesi (8,202ft).
We trek further downhill to Syabrubesi, the same place we were at on Day 03 of the trip. This is where the trek ends.
- Accomodation: Guesthouse
- Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- day 13Drive back to Kathmandu by public bus.
We drive back to Kathmandu through the same serpentine roads we had arrived.
- Accomodation: Hotel
- Meal: Breakfast
- day 14Leisure day. Farewell dinner.
We have nothing planned for this day so you might want to go sightseeing around Kathmandu. But before you leave, we have a farewell dinner to officially end your vacation.
- Accomodation: Hotel
- Meal: Breakfast & Farewell Dinner
- day 15Final Departure.
We will drop you to Tribhuvan International Airport and recollections of your Himalayan journey will surely keep you busy throughout the flight.
- Meal: Breakfast
Included in cost
- Receive you from and drop you to the airport or hotel in our company vehicle.
- Stay at a three-star hotel in Kathmandu on a twin-sharing basis. Breakfast is on us.
- Sightseeing around Kathmandu in a private vehicle with our guide. All entrance fees will be paid.
- Stay at guesthouses during the trek on a twin-sharing basis. Breakfasts, lunches and dinners will also be taken care of.
- Fees for camping at certain sites and all meals during such stays.
- Local government-licensed guides.
- Porters (one each for a pair of travellers) and local support staff to help you trek.
- Fees for entering Annapurna Conservation Area and Trekkers’ Information Management System card
- We will lend you a down jacket and a sleeping bag for throughout the trek.
- Fully paid round bus tickets for Kathmandu-Syabrubesi ride and back. Other rides in private vehicles included in the itinerary.
- A duffel bag, a sun hat and a t-shirt as a souvenir from us.
- A traditional Nepali feast with cultural shows as a farewell dinner.
- All tourist fees, government charges and other official expenses throughout the trip.
Not included in cost
- Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu.
- Additional stay before, during or after the set itinerary.
- Charges at airports or other areas for excess luggage.
- Alcohol, hot or cold drinks, bottled water, and other snacks.
- Phone calls, internet, laundry, additional porters, and other personal expenses.
- Travel insurance. (It is compulsory and covers emergency rescue and evacuation.)
- International airfare to and from Kathmandu.
- Visa fees for entering Nepal.
- Trekking equipment.
- Other expenses not mentioned in “Included in cost” list.
Accomodation during the Trip
In Kathmandu, you will stay in a three-star hotel while you will be staying at standard guesthouses during your travel. There will be electricity, internet, laundry and hot showers in all of the places you stay. You will have to share your room with a fellow traveller in our typical package. Single supplement will be served on request and will cost an additional USD 50.Also note that single rooms is easily available in Kathmandu and the trekking regions at lower elevation but it might be difficult to find them at higher elevations.
faqs
- How do I come to Nepal?You have to book your own international flight from your country to Nepal and back according to your trip departure dates.
- What happens after I land into Nepal?A chauffeur from Mountain Kick will come receive you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Representatives of the company will visit you at the hotel itself and brief you on your trip.
- What will a climbing trip with Mountain Kick involve?We arrange a group of like-minded international travellers and take them to the summit and back with the help of our guides, porters and local support staff. We will begin the trip with short and easy treks as preparation for the tougher climbs and gradually gain altitude. Travel will involve plenty of sightseeing and mixing with local culture.We will have acclimatization rest, especially before the final summit, when our guides will train you on valuable mountaineering skills.
- Where will I be staying during the trip?In Kathmandu, you will stay in a three-star hotel while you will be staying at standard guesthouses during your travel. There will be electricity, internet, laundry and hot showers in all of the places you stay. You will have to share your room with a fellow traveller in our typical package. At some destinations, especially in the Himalayas, you will have to stay in a tented camp. If you want to make separate living arrangements, talk to us beforehand and we can arrange single rooms for additional $250.Some guesthouses at very high altitudes and remote places may not have attached washrooms or single rooms.
- And food?All your major meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are included in your climbing package except in Kathmandu (where only breakfast is provided for). You will be served local food at all places we dine but you can order anything you like on the menu which you will have to pay for yourself. You will have a range of options so there won’t be a problem if you are a vegetarian or vegan. We make sure you get healthy and hygienic food throughout your travel.
- In what physical condition do I need to be for the trip?You need to come well-prepared, both physically and mentally, before attempting to summit a Himalayan peak. You will have to trek for several days in harsh climate and rugged terrain before even reaching the base of the mountain. Climbing a mountain requires a specific set of skills and although our guides and trainers prep you up before the summit, it will be better if you come prepared beforehand. It is recommended that you take light endurance training before attempting to scale the Himalayas.
- What will I have to carry for the trip?You will carry a light backpack which will contain some equipment and the things you might need (see here for suggestions).Your bag shall not weigh more than 20 pounds. On the day of the summit, you will also carry your climbing gears. Everything else will be carried by our porters. We have one porter assigned each for two travellers and you will have to pay separately if you want to hire extra porters.
- What if I want to do something beyond the itinerary?We are always happy to accommodate your wishes during the travel so far as they do not conflict with schedules and other travellers. If you have special plans, you can talk to us beforehand so that we can arrange a customized trip for you.
- What equipment do I bring?You have to bring all travel equipment yourself. Please see the equipment section for a standard list of required equipment prepared by our guides. Most of the items are easily available in Kathmandu in case if you miss any and we also lend you some of the gears for the duration of the trip for a small fee. You will not need specialized mountaineering gears like ice axes, crampons, helmets, or harnesses but our porters will carry them nonetheless if need arises.
- Will I get to communicate with the outer world?There is internet and telephone connection in all of our stops for the day throughout the journey. You will be able to call back home or post your pictures on Facebook every day. Our guides also carry satellite phones so that you can make calls in the remotest places. There is a small fee for using the phones though.
- What travel documents do I need?As soon as you land into Kathmandu, we take care of all your travel documents required during your trip. You just need to bring your passport and a copy of your travel insurance. Tourist fees and permits to enter certain areas will be arranged for by Mountain Kick.
- Which is best time of the year to travel?Most of the climbing routes are open throughout the year but September through to December and March to May are the best months to travel.
- Will oxygen and other medical and emergency kits be carried?Our porters will carry oxygen cylinders as anybody might need it on very high altitudes. They will also carry personal altitude chambers which helps people suffering from mountain sickness.The guides always carry a professional medical kit with them to treat with minor injuries. We also have health professionals at villages and camps along the journey. The travel insurance you take (which is compulsory) covers any and all emergency rescue and evacuation.
- What are the modes of transportation for travel mentioned in the itinerary?Rides for sightseeing and reaching destinations within city limits are done in a private vehicle like a car, a jeep or a microbus. Most of the long distance travel is done in luxurious tourist buses hired exclusively by the company. In some journeys, you may also need to take a public bus but as you will travel in a group with our guides and support staff, you need not worry about your safety or comfort.
- How much money do I need to carry during the trip?Around $50 will be enough to buy you lunch and dinner in Kathmandu. During your travel, you can get by with around $25 a day. But it depends on how much you want to spend. Due to the exchange rate and predominantly rural economy of Nepal, things are pretty cheap in Nepal.
- Can I use my credit cards?Almost all international credit cards are accepted in Nepal. However, not all places, especially during your travel, accept them. There may be a fee involved in processing your card.
- Are tips for my guides and porters expected? How much?Our staff do not expect you to tip them. Generally, travellers tip them if they are satisfied with the service as a means of gratitude. Even when travellers tip the guides and porters, there is no fixed rate. However, if you like to tip them, follow customs of your own country for tipping (which, as we have learned, is 10 to 15 percent of total cost for most western countries).
- Where will I get a visa to come to Nepal?You can obtain a visa at your home country through Nepal’s embassy or consular office. But you can easily get a visa upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. You just need two passport-size photographs. A tourist visa with multiple entry for 30 days costs $40 while the same for 90 days costs $100.
- How do I book a tour?Click Book Now to enter your details and we shall contact you. You can contact us directly for any further information or to prepare a customized itinerary for you. For payment information, see our Terms and Conditions.
Trip notes
- Please make sure you take a travel insurance at home before arriving here. It is mandatory and you cannot take it in Nepal. Your insurance agent will know which insurance plan suits your travel.
- It is advisable that you free up a few days before and after your trip schedule. For reasons beyond our control like flight delays, accidents and natural hazards, the itinerary may have to be altered.
- Please inform us and our guides if you have any medical condition that might affect your trip. Please consult your doctor beforehand for any precautions you need to take and always carry medicines if you need them. However, our guides and local support staff have been trained in basic medical intervention and your travel insurance covers any emergency rescue or evacuation.
- You may decide to alter your itinerary to some degree as long as there are no time constraints and everyone consents, if you are travelling in a group. Talk to us before embarking on the trip or you may also talk to our guides to see if we can arrange something. One thing we have learned from mountaineering all these years is however good you plan your journey, there are bound to be some improvisations to make our experience richer.
- You have to climb an actual Himalayan peak so this requires mountaineering experience and skills. You have trek in the mountains for as much as eight hours a day to reach there.
Equipment List
General
- 2 season sleeping bag – one. (You can rent one sleeping bag and one down jacket for the entire trip from us for USD 25)
- Spring down jacket – one. (You can rent one sleeping bag and one down jacket for the entire trip from us for USD 25)
- Duffel – one. (We will provide you one complementary duffel bag for you to keep.)
- 35-45 liter daypack – one.
We never force our customers to follow our set itinerary.You can customize your itinerary exactly the way you want. Please share with us your ideas.
