Yala Peak Climbing - 14 Days

Free airport pick-up and hotel transfer

After booking the trip, please send us your flight details. It will enable us to arrange an airport pick up for you. We do not want you to face difficulties navigating in a foreign country. If we have your flight details, our company representative will be awaiting you at the Tribhuvan International Aiport, holding a pamphlet with your name and our company logo. After receiving you, they will present you with a marigold garland and then take you to your hotel in a private vehicle. 

Journey start Yala Peak climb

We advise you to arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu at least a day before your package starts. The next day you will go on a sight-seeing tour in and around Kathmandu Valley. We will also conduct a trip briefing on this day. During this briefing, we will provide important information about your trip and check your luggage to ensure you have not missed packing any required gear or equipment for Yala Peak climbing. On the trip departure date, we will take you from Kathmandu to Syabrubensi on a public bus.

Accommodation details during Yala Peak Climbing

This 14-day trip culminates in summiting Yala Peak and includes 10 nights lodge to lodge stays at trekking regions, where we will choose the best available hotels/lodges. You will stay in rooms with attached bathrooms at Syabrubensi (2N), Langtang Village, and Kyanjin Gompa (4N). Similarly, you will spend two nights at Lama Hotel in standard rooms and a night in a tent at Yala Base Camp. This package includes three-night accommodations at a three-star hotel in Kathmandu. 

The Meals

During Yala Peak Climbing, you will be spending time trekking and climbing at high altitudes, which requires plenty of nutrient-rich food. Hence, we will provide you with plenty of nutritious, tasty, and hygenic food. However, as you elevate, your food choices may get limited.  

We will provide you with 10 breakfasts, 10 lunches, and 10 dinners in the trek regions. This package also covers 3 breakfasts in Kathmandu.

Some of the popular menu items are -

Breakfast - Local Tsampa porridge, Eggs, Oatmeal, Pancakes, Muesli Breads, Fruits, Corn Flakes, French toast with Jam, Butter, Cheese, Honey Tibetan bread or Chapati, Vegetables, Hot drinks (varieties of teas and coffees, hot chocolates, etc.)

Lunch - Dhal, Bhat, & Tarkari, Thukpa, Pasta, Salad Pizza (Tomato, Mushroom, Mixed), Tibetan Bread, Vegetable curry, Potatoes, Vegetables, Various Soups, Sherpa Stew, Steaks, Sandwiches, Momo (dumplings), Macaroni dishes, Tenduk, Spaghetti Noodles, Snacks (Papad, Prawn), Desserts (Rice Pudding, Apple pie), etc

Dinner - Dhal, Bhat & Tarkari, Tibetan Bread, Macaroni, Tenduk Spaghetti, Sherpa Stew, Steaks, Sandwiches, Momo (dumplings), Noodles Thukpa, Pasta, Vegetable curry, Potato items, Vegetable and Salad Pizza (Tomato, Mushroom, Mixed), Various Soups, Snacks (Papad, Prawn), Korean Ramen, Desserts items (Rice Pudding, Apple pie), Hard Drinks Steaks, etc

The food that we serve will be traditional local, Asian, and western cuisine. However, the menu gets shorter as you elevate.

While choosing your food, please pay attention to health benefits. Experts advise high-altitude trekkers to eat lots of fresh vegetables and liquids such as lemon, ginger, and green tea, garlic soup (must), and hot lemon.

You will have plenty of non-veg items available during the trek, but we do not advise you to take them because the meat at trek regions may not be hygienic. Similarly, we advise you to avoid alcoholic and caffeinated drinks in addition to hot chocolates. 

Best time for Yala Peak Climbing

For the best experience and easy climb, we recommend Yala Peak Climbing for autumn or spring. In Nepal, spring starts in March and lasts till May, and autumn begins in September and lasts till November. During this time, the temperatures are cool, the skies are clear, and there is almost zero chance of rain.

Summer in Nepal starts in June and lasts till August. Though the temperature is tolerable, the monsoon coincides with summer, making the trek paths wet and slippery. Yet, the forests look lush, and waterfalls look spectacular during this time.

Winter starts in December and lasts till February. During this time, the high trek altitudes have heavy snowfall, and nights are frigid. The heavy snow makes it challenging to climb Yala Peak. 

Acclimatization

Your 14-day Yala Peak Climb package includes a day that we have allotted for acclimatizing at Kyanjin Gompa.

During this day, you will explore various local destinations like the Kyanjin Gompa monastery or the cheese factory. You can also hike to Tserko Ri Viewpoint. From this viewpoint, you can get clear views of side mountains next to Yala Peak. 

Altitude sickness is common among trekkers, and it can strike anyone anytime. However, with Discovery World Trekking, you are in safe hands. Your guide will suggest ways to avoid altitude sickness. It includes drinking enough liquids and walking at your own pace.

Our guides have completed extensive first aid training and are well experienced at handling altitude sickness. Your trek leader will also monitor your blood oxygen saturation levels at high altitudes.

Severe altitude sickness needs immediate treatment, so you should share the first signs and symptoms of altitude sickness with your trek leader. 

Please note that your group leader might stop the group from ascending based on the overall condition of all trek members. Some people are more vulnerable to altitude sickness than others. 

Trip Grade: Fitness level and Health

Yala Peak climbing trek is quite challenging. You will be hiking up to six hours a day based on the destination and the nature of the trails. The trails include long steep ascends, descends, and straight-forward easy paths. Some portions of the trail pass through dense forests. Please remember that the fitter you are, the more you will enjoy your trek. So, we advise you to participate in stamina-building exercises a few weeks before starting the Yala Peak Climbing trip. We do not advise persons suffering from certain health conditions such as heart, lung, or blood diseases. 

A typical day on the Yala Peak Climbing Trip

As you trek, each day will bring a new trek experience, and you will enjoy the breathtaking scenery, traditional villages, and heartwarming Nepali hospitality. You will find yourself reaching for your camera to capture the stunning geography. As you trek, our guide/Sherpa will also provide information about the places as you visit them. Our climbing instructor will teach you how to use the climbing gear and safely climb.

Our porters will carry most of your luggage. However, please note that per trekker luggage weight limit is 9 kg. We assign one porter for every two trekkers, and the combined luggage weight limit they will carry will not be more than 18 kg. If you need to bring more luggage, we can arrange a porter just for you for an extra cost.

Though porters will carry most of your luggage, we expect you to bring a small regular backpack to ensure the safety of your essential documents and other valuables.

You will start the day with a cup of tea. After a wholesome breakfast, you will start the trek. If that day's hike is short, we will trek from around 8. if the hike is long, we will start earlier, at around 7 am. After hiking for 3 to four hours, you will have your lunch, often on route to the next destination.

The afternoon hike is mostly shorter, lasting 2 to 3 hours. After reaching your destination, you can snack on your extra diet and explore the new place until it gets dark.

We serve dinner between 6 to 7 pm. After dinner, your guide will brief you about the plan for the next day. Then, you are free to engage in friendly conversations, read books, or watch mountaineering videos if available.

You can also play board games like cards, monopoly, or chess before going to bed. Most of our guests also choose to learn a few light Nepali words before sleeping. 

Communication

During the Yala Peak Climbing, you can use the internet from lodges/hotels/tea houses where you will be staying. At high altitudes, we will communicate with mobile/cell phones. Discovery World Trekking will remain in contact with all its trek teams at least once a day via the trek guide to ensure that the trek is progressing as planned. If you want, you can buy a local sim in Kathmandu, but depending on your network, the signals may not be strong enough.

Electricity and water during the trip

The lodges at the trek route to Yala Peak have electricity. So, you can use the electricity for battery recharge by paying a small fee. You can recharge your camera, mobile/cell, power bank, or laptop. 

Similarly, you can easily buy bottled water from en-route shops. However, some trek regions may not allow plastic bottles. So, we suggest you carry a water bottle and fill it with boiled water that you can easily buy in the lodges/tea houses. We also advise you to use water purification pills before drinking water. If you do not have water purification pills, we can provide them for you.

Extra personal expenses

This package covers major costs. However, it does not cover all the costs. So, trekking guests need to bring spending money for meals (except breakfast) in Kathmandu, travel insurance purchases, visa processing, beverages (hot (tea/coffee), cold, and alcoholic drinks), tips, souvenirs, etc. We recommend you to carry cash (major currencies) and convert them to Nepali Rupees in Kathmandu as trek regions do not have cash exchange facilities. We estimate you will need USD 10 to 20 per trekking day for spending.

Yala Peak Climbing Travel Insurance

As with other high altitude treks and climbing, Yala Peak Climbing entails a risk of catching high altitude sickness and other unfortunate high altitude mishaps. Hence, adequate travel insurance is compulsory for this trip. Your insurance must cover medical and emergency repatriation, including helicopter rescue and evacuation up to the highest trek altitude. 

If you need, we can recommend you travel insurance companies based on our previous clients' experiences. However, we are not involved in selling insurance policies directly or indirectly. In emergencies, we will use your insurance documents to arrange rescue operations. So, we request you to send us your insurance policy certificate after booking your trip. 

Passport and visa

Foreign nationals, except Indians, need a visa to enter Nepal. Fortunately, citizens from most countries can get an on-arrival visa at the Tribhuvan International Airport or immigration checkpoints along Nepal borders. 

You will need a passport with at least six months of validity, a passport-size photo, and visa application fees to apply for the visa. The current visa application for a 30-day stay costs USD 50. Children under the age of 10 get a free visa. 

Citizens from China and SAARC (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Pakistan) get free visas. 

Citizens from Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, and Afghanistan are not entitled to on-arrival visas. So, if you are a citizen of these countries, please consult your nearest Nepal embassy. 

The Nepal government can change visa rules without notice. Hence for the latest information, please visit https://www.immigration.gov.np/.

Money exchange

Nepali Rupee (NPR) is the local currency.

(1 USD = ~ Rs.125 NPR)

Money exchange is easily available in Nepal. You can exchange most major currencies through financial institutions, such as banks and co-operatives, or private money exchanges all over Kathmandu. 

You can see the ongoing exchange rates displayed for the public at the legal money exchangers. If you have Indian Rupees (INR), please note that only INR notes of 100 and 2,000 are legal in Nepal. Though you may want to bring traveler's cheques due for security, we advise you to carry cash (major currencies) because cashing traveler's cheque entails lengthy processes and high bank commission rates.

There is another option. You can withdraw cash in Nepali Rupees from ATMs all over Kathmandu and in Thamel, itself. Many of these ATMs are open 24/7. However, using a foreign card, the maximum you can withdraw is Rs. 35,000 for Rs 500 as a processing fee.

You can also use banks and financial institutions for money exchange, but you may have to pay 4% or more depending on the institution. Since trek regions do not have money exchange facilities, you must exchange your foreign currency in Kathmandu based on your expense estimations. Trek regions do not accept foreign currency. We recommend that you carry USD 10 to 20 per trek day. 

How much luggage can I bring to Yala Peak Climbing?

Your trek package includes porter cost. However, your luggage weight limit is 9 kg. We assign one porter for two trekkers and do not allow our porters to carry more than 18 kg combined weight. If you need, for an extra cost, we can arrange a porter for you. We also expect you to carry a regular backpack to keep your valuables and important documents safe. If you have extra luggage, you can keep them at our store for free for the duration of the trek.

Yala Peak climbing safety

We guarantee your safety, security, and satisfaction, safety being the utmost concern. For the trip, we will carry all the necessary gear, equipment, and first aid kits. Moreover, we use the best equipment available in the market. Our guides have completed extensive first aid training and can handle mishaps. Furthermore, for safety, you will be traveling in a group. 

For Yala Peak, a Sherpa climbing guide who has summited Yala Peak multiple times will climb alongside you. If, in case, you fall sick, your guide has the authority to decide whether to continue the trek or descend immediately based on the overall team condition.

If a participant falls sick due to the altitude, it is entirely up to the trek leader to decide whether to continue the trek or descend immediately. We will be trekking together for group safety.

Responsible travel

For sustainable tourism, we must save our environment against the adverse effects in trek regions. Unsustainable tourism activities may lead to an environment no tourist would visit. It is detrimental to the local communities as well as trekkers. Hence, we partner with Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP) to conduct eco-friendly, sustainable treks. We aim to balance the trekkers' expectations with that of the locals who reside in trek regions. We take nothing from the trek regions and leave only our footprints behind. Our team disposes of waste in proper places and doesn't pollute the rivers. We strive to leave behind the campsites in better condition than when we arrived. 

Discovery World Trekking Crew

During the Yala Peak Climbing, our local, Nepal-government licensed, and well-experienced guides/Sherpas will accompany you to make your trip more enjoyable and memorable. Your trek group will also include our porters, who will carry your luggage. However, the luggage weight limit per trekker is 9 kg. We never overload our porters. They will carry a maximum of 18 kg of luggage. We add an assistant guide for a group of 12 or more.

Our crew members come from remote high Himalayas, which makes them tolerant of high altitudes. We highly value our staff - we pay them well and cover their insurance, food, clothing, and lodging during the trip. They also have access to medical care when ill or injured. We believe that by caring for each employee, we keep them happy, and only a happy person can keep others happy.

Our guides are competent, skilled, and professional. They are

• Intensive Wilderness First Aid Trained
• Government-authorized 
• Fluent in speaking English and other major languages (Spanish/Japanese)
• trained on how to conserve nature and biodiversity
• experienced in rock climbing

Tipping

Nepali culture accepts tipping and views it as a validation of the service provided. However, tipping is at the trekker's discretion. While tipping, we urge you to consider the length of the trip, trip cost, and quality of service you received. We advise you to trek at the end of the trek and as a group.

Booking and payment process

Discovery world trekking is a Nepal-government authorized, registered, and bonded trekking and touring operator. We have been providing our services for over a decade.

We are also members of the Trekking Agency Association of Nepal (TAAN) and the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA). Hence, you can book our services with confidence. 

For booking confirmation, we require 10 % of the trip cost in advance. You can pay by bank transfer, western union, or directly online. The rest of the trip cost is due once you arrive in Kathmandu. Again, in Kathmandu, you can pay in cash, using a credit card or bank transfer. We will also email you payment details, including the modes of payment you can use. 

After you receive a booking confirmation, you need to send us your necessary documents like passport copy, passport size photos, travel insurance policy, and arrival and departure flight details. We expect to receive these documents within a week of trek booking. 

Last-minute booking for Yala Peak Climb

For those unable to book Yala Peak Climb early, we have a provision for a last-minute booking. To make use of this facility, you need to complete 100% of the trip cost 24 hours before the departure date. However, please bear in mind that though we are ready to conduct trips at any time, in case of last-minute booking, there is a slight chance of delays due to unforeseen circumstances such as bad weather or lodging unavailability.

For more information, call: 977- 9840055491 (Paul Gurung) or email us at [email protected]. 

Trip extension

If you are staying in Nepal for some more days, we can arrange fun activities for you. You can go on a sight-seeing tour in and around Kathmandu valley, a jungle safari in Chitwan, rafting, paragliding, or canoeing.

Feedback

After completing the Yala Peak Climbing, we will organize a farewell dinner in Kathmandu. It is our way of bidding you goodbye. After the dinner, we will present you with a certificate stating your climbing achievement. This is also a great time to provide your feedback. Your feedback will help us better serve our customers in the future.

Useful Info

The Yala Peak Climb trips have fixed departure dates from Kathmandu. However, if your departure date does not suit you, let us know so that we can conduct your trip at your convenience. 

Please also note that the trip itinerary is a general guideline. We might need to change the itinerary for reasons beyond our control, such as bad weather, unavailability of lodging and campsites, inaccessibility, etc. Though rare, if there is a need to change the itinerary, you cannot hold us responsible for the delays or circumstances that result from such delays. In case of need for itinerary adjustment, your guide has the authority to decide after consulting with all group members.