Yala Peak Climbing 13 Days | Itinerary, Cost & Permit

Your Yala Peak journey begins when you land at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. The airport sits at 1,350 meters above sea level, which means you start your adventure in a low-altitude city.

Most international flights arrive between 11 AM and 8 PM, so you will be able to reach your hotel without much rush. The distance from the airport to Thamel, the main tourist area, is around 6 kilometers, which takes 20 to 30 minutes by car depending on traffic.

After reaching the hotel, you can take time to rest and recover from your flight. Because tomorrow involves a long drive to Syabrubesi, it is best to go to bed early and stay hydrated.

Note: You can also explore the nearby shops if you want to buy snacks, water bottles, or warm layers for the trek. Most shops in Thamel are open until 9 PM and carry basic trekking supplies.

Briefing With Your Guide

In the late afternoon or evening, your guide will meet you at the hotel for a short briefing. The meeting usually lasts 20 to 30 minutes. During this time, your guide will check your gear, explain tomorrow’s plan, and answer any questions.

Your journey begins with a morning drive from Kathmandu, which sits at about 1,350 meters, to Syabrubesi at 1,550 meters.

The total road distance is 120 to 130 kilometers taking almost 8 hours.

However, let us remind you that the drive will feel long because the route follows winding mountain roads.

The first section of the drive, from Kathmandu to Trishuli Bazaar, is about 75 kilometers and has a smooth paved road.

After Trishuli Bazaar, the next 25 kilometers become a mix of gravel and broken tarmac.

The last stretch from Dhunche to Syabrubesi is only 15 kilometers, but this part is the slowest because of sharp turns and rough gravel surfaces.

Note: The last stretch is also the zone where most of the landslides take place.

Along the way, we will stop in Trishuli for simple meals. There are also small tea shops in Betrawati and Dhunche, where we normally stop for a quick bite.

Mobile network coverage is strong until Trishuli, but it becomes weak near Dhunche. By late afternoon, you reach Syabrubesi, where temperatures stay between 16 and 22 degrees Celsius in autumn.

You start walking from Syabrubesi at 1,560 meters and follow the Langtang Khola upstream. The total distance to Lama Hotel is about 11–14 kilometers, which usually takes 6-7 hours of steady walking.

The trail first drops slightly to the junction of Bhote Koshi and Langtang Khola. From here, you cross the main suspension bridge and continue on the west bank of the Langtang Khola toward New Bridge. This first stretch is around 1.5 to 2 kilometers and takes about 1 hour.

After New Bridge, you climb gently through pine, oak, and alder forest to reach Domen at 1,670 meters. The distance from Syabrubesi to Domen is roughly 3-4 kilometers and takes about 1.5 hours. From Domen, the trail keeps rising to Pairo or Hot Spring at about 1,770 meters, where traders once rested on the old Tibet route.

The path now becomes narrower between Pairo and Bamboo at 1,970 meters, where you walk through dense bamboo and rhododendron forest. This section is about 2 kilometers long and gains roughly 200 meters of height.

From Bamboo, the path turns steeper and leaves the river, climbing through mixed forest to Rimche at 2,100–2,450 meters over 3 kilometers.

The final climb from Rimche to the Lama Hotel, at around 2,560 meters, takes 1 to 1.5 hours over 2 to 3 kilometers. By the time you reach Lama Hotel, you will have gained around 1,000 meters of elevation in a single day, which is a big but manageable jump for most trekkers.

You start from Lama Hotel at 2,470 metres on the west bank of the Langtang Khola.

During the first 1.5 to 2 kilometres, you will climb through dense oak and rhododendron forest to Riverside at about 2,600 metres.

From then on, the trail stays on the same side of the Langtang Khola and climbs steadily. Over the next 5 to 6 kilometres, you gain around 370 metres to reach Ghodatabela at 2,972 metres.

This section is mostly stone steps and inside a temperate forest. Water is easy to find from small streams and from the river, but it should always be treated before drinking.

Pro Tip: Always carry water purifying tablet during the trail.

Above Ghodatabela, the valley becomes wider, and the trees become fewer. You walk 3 to 4 kilometres on gentle slopes to reach Thyangsyap at about 3,140 metres, where most of the trekkers stop to have some rest.

Then, the final 2 to 3 kilometres to Langtang Village are on open yak pasture with a steady climb of about 300 metres.

Finally, you arrive at Langtang Village at 3,430 metres, where 8 to 12 teahouses offer simple rooms, hot meals, and boiled drinking water.

From Langtang Village at 3,430 meters, you start the day on an easy trail above the Langtang Khola, still on the north bank of the river.

The valley here feels vast and open, with stone houses, rebuilt fields, and long mani walls guiding you toward Mundu and Sindum, both at about the same altitude as Langtang itself.

In the first 2 to 3 kilometers, you walk through a few small villages. This section takes about 1 to 1.5 hours. The trail heads east and then northeast up the valley, passing prayer walls, small chortens, and the first open yak pastures.

Langtang Khola, now, flows just below the trail, and you cross small side streams on basic wooden bridges.

After Sindum, the trail heads gently upward toward Yamphu at around 3,640 meters, where the ascent becomes more noticeable, and the landscape turns into true high pasture.

From Yamphu, the final 2 to 3 kilometers feel a little steeper as you cross low moraines and stony ground before Kyanjin Gompa finally appears at 3,870 meters.

You enter the village past mani walls, prayer wheels, and the monastery complex, with glaciers and peaks like Langtang Lirung and Gangchempo closing in the head of the valley.

By the end, of day, you would have gained the elevation of around 470 m.

Your acclimatization day begins already high at Kyanjin Gompa, where the lodges and monastery sit at 3,870 meters in the middle of the upper Langtang basin.

But our aim today is to let your body adapt to the climb to Yala Base Camp by gaining extra height during the day, then returning to the same safe sleeping altitude.

For a shorter acclimatization walk, you can follow the ridge above Kyanjin toward the lower shoulder of Kyanjin Ri, turning around somewhere near 4,300 to 4,350 meters. This usually gives you 400 to 500 meters of vertical gain in about 2 to 3 hours round trip, enough to increase acclimatization without draining your legs before summit days.

However, if you feel strong and symptom-free, you can commit to the main Kyanjin Ri summit at about 4,773 meters, or even to Tserko Ri, which rises to roughly 4,984 to 5,033 meters behind the village.

These options involve between 750 and more than 1,100 meters of ascent above Kyanjin, with walking times between 3 and 5 hours for Kyanjin Ri and 6 and 9 hours for Tserko Ri, so they are full mountain days rather than gentle strolls.

From these high points, the reward is a full view of peaks, including Langtang Lirung around 7,245 meters, Dorje Lakpa close to 6,990 meters, Gangchempo around 6,378 meters, and, on clear days, even Shishapangma at 8,013 meters on the Tibetan side.

After your chosen hike, you descend all the way back to about 3,870 meters at Kyanjin Gompa, hydrate well, monitor for any signs of altitude sickness, and get your body ready for the move toward Yala Peak Base Camp.

Today’s day starts from Kyanjin Gompa at around 3,870 m.

The trail first moves north out of the village and climbs gently above the last stone houses.

Within the first 20 to 30 minutes, you cross a small wooden bridge over a meltwater stream. After this point, the path enters Yala Kharka, where the ground is covered with short alpine grass, low juniper bushes, and old yak shelters. This pasture area lies between 3,900 m and 4,200 m.

As the elevation rises above 4,200 m, the pasture gradually fades, and the route becomes rocky. The trail turns northeast and follows a long stretch of grey moraine. You walk beside small meltwater channels that flow down from the upper glacier.

Most teams refill their bottles here because there are no water sources higher up. The ground becomes uneven and covered with large stones as you approach 4,500 m.

Above 4,500 m, the trail enters a cold and dry zone with no vegetation. The slope becomes steeper, and you gain height quickly. The terrain now shifts to loose scree and broken rocks. The wind is stronger in this section, especially after midday.

Yala Peak Base Camp sits on a flat moraine shelf at around 4,750–4,800 m. This area has space for several tents, but the ground is hard and dusty. Water comes from nearby glacial melt, and the temperature drops below zero soon after sunset. This is the final resting point before the summit attempt.

The summit push starts at 4:00–4:30 AM from the base camp at 4,750–4,800 m. The air is cold at around -5 to -10°C, and the headlamp is needed for the first 30–40 minutes. The trail moves east–northeast, slowly climbing above the rocky moraine valley. Within the first 1 km, the path becomes snowy, and the slope increases to around 25–30 degrees.

After about 1.5 km, climbers reach the crampon point at 5,000 m. From here onward, the surface stays icy, and crampons remain on till the descent.

Climbing the Glacier

The next 2 km climb over the Yala Glacier. The snow depth changes with season, from soft spring snow to hard autumn ice. The climb gains about 300–350 m in this section, reaching 5,300–5,400 m near the ridge. This part takes about 2 hours at a slow pace and stays steady, with no flat areas. Small crevasses may appear, but guides choose the safest line. Climbers are tied in small rope teams for safety.

Wind remains low in the morning, usually around 5–15 km/h, which helps maintain balance on the icy slope. Visibility is also best between 5–7 AM, before clouds begin forming.

Final Push to the Top

The final section is the steepest. The last 40 meters rise at 45–60 degrees and follow a narrow rocky ridge. Loose stones make this section slow and tiring. Fixed ropes are used here, and helmets stay on due to falling rocks. The summit lies between 5,500 and 5,732 m, depending on which measured height is used. Most climbers take about 4–5 hours from base camp to reach the summit.

The temperature at the top ranges from -5 to 5°C, and the oxygen level is about 50% of sea level. Climbers spend only a short time at the top before descending.

Descent to Base Camp

The descent is faster. It takes 1.5–2 hours to reach the base camp again. By this time, the snow becomes soft, especially after 10 AM, making every step heavier. Afternoon winds grow stronger, sometimes reaching 20–40 km/h. Because of these changes, all climbers must leave the summit before 11 AM–12 PM.

After reaching the base camp, we will call it a day and begin descending the same route tomorrow.

The day starts with a gentle descent from Yala Peak Base Camp, moving south toward the wide valley that leads to Kyanjin Gompa.

The route follows the same line we used earlier, crossing the rocky moraine near Yala Kharka and then entering the softer alpine meadow.

As we lose altitude, the air becomes warmer, and breathing feels easier. Small streams from the glacier appear along the route, allowing water refills.

The final stretch is almost flat as we approach Kyanjin Gompa at 3,870 m.

We settle by noon, where warm meals, comfortable beds, and phone networks are available again. It is an easy day meant for recovery after the summit.

From Kyanjin Gompa, the trail heads west along the Langtang Khola.

The descent passes Yamphu, Sindum, Mundu, and Langtang Village. Just like the time of ascent, the terrain is mixed, with open meadows at first and then forest patches after Ghodatabela.

The air grows thicker as we drop more than 1,000 m in a single day.

We follow the river on the left side of the valley, crossing small wooden bridges over tributaries. Once the valley narrows, the forest becomes denser with oak, pine, and rhododendron.

The final stretch to Lama Hotel at 2,470 m requires slow walking because the downhill slope can feel hard on the knees. We rest at a local teahouse for the night.

We start from Lama Hotel and descend through the thick rhododendron and bamboo forest.

The trail moves down the left bank of the Langtang Khola and passes Riverside Lodge and Bamboo. This area is known for langur monkeys and birds that stay close to the trees.

The route continues downhill on stone steps and forest trails until the valley opens near Thulo Syabru junction. The final hour follows a gentle dirt path that leads directly to Syabrubesi at 1,503 m.

Since the village sits near the road, it has more food options, shops, and better phone signals. Tonight we rest in a lodge before returning to Kathmandu.

We leave Syabrubesi and begin the long drive south toward Kathmandu. The road follows the Bhote Koshi River and later joins the Trishuli River.

As we move lower, the climate becomes warm and humid. Small villages, terraced farms, and highway towns appear along the roadside. The drive includes both paved and rough sections. After passing towns like Trishuli, Kakani, and Tokha, we enter the Kathmandu Valley at around 1,400 m. Upon arrival, we check into our hotel and rest for the evening after the long journey.

This is a relaxing final day in Kathmandu. You can explore nearby markets, buy souvenirs, or enjoy local food. In the evening, we gather for a farewell dinner where traditional Nepali dishes and music are offered. During dinner, we present your achievement certificate for completing the Yala Peak Climbing journey. It is a simple celebration to mark your effort, patience, and success in the mountains before your departure.