Trek the Langtang Valley to Summit Yala Peak (5500m)

Much of the trek is within the capabilities of people with good fitness and stamina who are keen and experienced trekkers. Still, it is important to note that trekking at altitudes above 3000m (10,000ft) is more demanding on the body than walking at low elevations. Some training beforehand will help and we advise doing at least one weekend of back-to-back days walking. The guide will set the pace and as with all treks at altitude, the approach is ‘slowly, slowly’ to help you adjust.

The ascent of Yala Peak is non-technical so you do not need previous mountaineering or high-altitude climbing experience. You will, however, summit using ropes, crampons and an ice axe – you will learn the basics and practice using these while hiking on the previous days, and there will be plenty of time to go through these skills with your guide before you start the summit attempt. It may be that you use these items for a short period only or for a couple of days as you approach the summit, the weather is highly changeable so you will prepare early on in the trek to ensure you feel confident with the ascent. Overall, the climbing day will still feel challenging due to the rapid altitude gain and the terrain during the summit push, so good stamina and preparation is crucial.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

We do not include meals on the trek as from experience, we know that altitude and physical exercise can mean appetites vary hugely. The cost of food rises as you ascend as it is all carried in by porters and yaks and as you get higher up, very little food can be grown. How much you spend per day will vary according to your choice of meal but generally, people spend between $25-$35 per person per day on meals and hot drinks. Below is an approximate breakdown of some items:

• Dal Baht: $4 to $7
• Chow Mein: $2 to $4
• Eggs: $2 to $4
• Toast: $1.50 to $3
• Tea/Hot Chocolate: $1.00 to $3.00
• Chocolate Bars: $2 to $4

Teahouses will provide cold water free of charge, however it needs to be treated to enable you to drink it. Please read the FAQ below regarding our advice here.

Other extra costs to be considered:

• Shower: $2-$4
• Wifi: $2-5
• Electricity: $2-5

It is customary in Nepal to tip guides and porters. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. You can give any tips to your lead guide at the end of your trip. This will then be shared amongst the whole team. For full transparency, the lead guide will distribute the tips to the guides and porters in your presence. It is customary for the guides to receive a higher share than the porters as they are more highly qualified. This particular trip has a higher staff-to-customer ratio than other Nepal treks and more porters in order to carry the climbing equipment, so a good rule of thumb is around $170pp as a tip, although the amount you give is entirely your choice. 

If you would like to give an additional tip to a member of the team who has supported you personally please do so directly and discretely.

The preferred currency is the Nepalese Rupee (NPR). Whilst ATMs are available in the main cities, please do not rely on them as they are often out of order and most have a maximum withdrawal limit equivalent to about GBP £300.

It's best to bring the bulk of your money with you in cash and exchange it at a bank or at one of the many money changers in Nepal - your guide will help you with this. Most major currencies are accepted, including GBP (Sterling), Euros and US Dollars, however Scottish or Irish currency cannot be changed. Keep your exchange receipts in case you want to change any unused Rupees back into hard currency when you leave Nepal (it is illegal to export Nepalese Rupees as it is a closed currency).

You will need to carry a fairly large amount of cash while trekking for the meals. We advise that you keep this in a waterproof bag and in your day bag along with your passport.

We work with some of the best leaders in the industry. Every single one of them is government licensed and very experienced. In order to ensure the guides high standard of performance, the host provides them with top-notch in-house training that covers advanced wilderness first aid, hyperbaric chambers, oxygen system, mountain rescue and incident management and Leave No Trace (LNT) principles.

When you trek in the mountains, there's always the risk of getting altitude sickness, regardless of how old, young, fit or unfit you are. We would expect most trekkers to feel some mild symptoms of altitude sickness (headache, sleeplessness, heavy breathing) when over 3000m. Our guides are trained to identify the symptoms of altitude sickness so if any more serious symptoms are noted, there is a strict procedure regarding extra care or a rapid descent or evacuation if needed. All of our trips have been designed with altitude best practice in mind so acclimatisation days have been built in and our experienced guides follow advice to ‘walk high and sleep low’. On this trip, medical oxygen is available to treat altitude sickness should it be needed.

There are two key seasons for trekking Yala Peak in Nepal:

Pre-Monsoon/Spring (March-May): Temperatures rise significantly in spring and flowers are in full bloom in the lower lands. Although it can still drop below freezing at night, the daytime temperatures tend to sit between 10-15°C.

Post-Monsoon/Autumn (Sept-Nov): This is the most popular time to trek in Nepal with sunny and mild days generally. It can get cold and windy at higher altitudes, however skies are usually clear.

Snow is likely in early March and late November but for other dates later in Spring and earlier in Autumn, it will be less prevalent. If there is minimal or no snow, the summit will be approached as more of a scramble than a snowy hike, so crampons and ice axes won't be needed. Of course, mountain weather is notoriously hard to predict and snow can be expected on any trip, so all the kit will travel with you in case it is needed.

Although we schedule departure dates outside of the main monsoon season, weather conditions in any mountain region can be unpredictable and sometimes your host will need to revert to 'Plan B'.

No two trekking seasons are the same, but occasional landslides or heavy snowfall and avalanches have been known to lead to trail closures in this region. In this event, it will not be possible to reach Yala Peak or summit a peak and your host will organise an alternative trek: usually the Laurebina La to Gosainkunda.

As you are summiting a peak in mountainous terrain, it may be that the weather isn't perfect – if this is the case, you are likely to get another chance to summit the next day. So to play it safe, we advise you to consider booking an extra night’s accommodation in Kathmandu at the end of the trip.

You can leave any extra luggage that you don't need on your trek at your hotel in Kathmandu.

There will be one porter for every person. They will each carry up to 20-25kg of kit (including your climbing gear), so your overnight bags will be transported for you. Please pack no more than 15kg per person of personal clothing/items (including your sleeping bag) in a soft backpack or duffel bag, allowing for the climbing equipment to make up the remainder of the porter's weight limit. You will only need to carry a daypack with essentials in it (extra layers, snacks, water, suncream, camera etc).

We’ve sourced some great optional activities for you to do in and around Kathmandu, should you wish to explore that little bit further. Please discuss these directly with your host who will be able to book them for you.

Cook Like a Local: This short cooking workshop (approx. 3 hours) teaches you how to cook popular Nepali dishes like momos and dal bhat. You’ll meet your teacher and accompany them shopping, then head to the kitchen and learn to cook alongside them. Price: pay what you think the workshop is worth!

Shop Local: A 2-3 hour guided exploration of the markets of Kathmandu. Prepare to learn about the vendors that line the crowded narrow alleyways and to witness everything you could ever imagine being sold, haggled and bargained for. A great experience to learn about the melting pot of cultures that exist in Kathmandu. Price: $9-$50pp, depending on the group size.

Master of the Arts: Patan Durbar Square is popular for its Fine Arts and this trip will explore the local factories where handicrafts are made. You’ll visit 2-3 factories and learn about traditional processes and see art being produced. Price: $14-$59pp, depending on the group size.

Introduction to Shamanism: Shamanism, which is believed to heal many diseases, is not practised widely these days however this trip enables you to meet a practising Guru and learn all about this age-old tradition. You’ll visit a small house to have an introduction, followed by lunch and a drumming session where you’ll learn the importance of rhythm pattern to healing. Price: $90-$150, depending on group size.

Although most teahouses have the option to buy bottled water, we advise against it to reduce the use of plastic in the mountains (this ends up being burnt, or dumped in landfill out of sight). You will instead be provided with cold water that needs treating. There are a wide range of products available these days which are more effective than traditional purification tablets – some trekkers like to use UV handheld devices such as a Steripen, but other options are available (just check that they perform in freezing conditions).

We recommend checking out the country specific information here and also talking to a travel nurse.

For current advice regarding travel in Nepal, have a read of the FCO pages here.

Whilst there are no domestic flights included in this itinerary, should you choose to add one to your booking as an additional service you should be aware of the following:

Nepal's mountainous terrain and weather make for challenging flying conditions and sadly more incidents (including fatalities) occur here than in other countries. Since 2013 the EU has banned all Nepalese domestic airlines from flying within EU airspace in order to raise awareness of the poor safety record (although no Nepalese airlines were operating routes within the EU prior to the ban). You should be aware that flying in Nepal is an identified risk: please consider this carefully before booking. Additional information can be found on the Aviation Safety Network entry for Nepal as well as the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice for Nepal.

Domestic airlines in Nepal are generally not accredited by any internationally recognised safety audit systems and the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal does not operate to the same standards as those of Western nations.

What does Much Better Adventures do about this?

Much Better Adventures collaborates with other UK travel companies to arrange for independent air-safety auditors to visit Nepal annually and assess the local airlines. Much Better Adventures then only uses the carriers that were approved as part of the most recent audit. If any concerns are subsequently raised about an approved airline between audits, we put them on hold until the auditors are satisfied that safety standards are being met.

Owing to the nature of this trip, it is essential that your personal travel insurance policy provides cover to the maximum altitude visited on this trip (5500m), as well as for emergency medical evacuation by helicopter.

Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.

Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.

We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.

Our team of Adventure Hunters create exclusive adventures with highly vetted, specialist hosts. We only work with independent, local in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. See here for more info about the local teams we partner with.