Yala Peak Climb with Gosainkunda and Helambu Trek  - 16 Days

Upon our arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, we will be greeted by a representative from Himalayan Glacier who will take us to our hotel. After checking in, we may take a rest or visit Himalayan Glacier’s office. In the evening, there will be a welcome dinner hosted by Himalayan Glacier. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Today after breakfast, we start a guided tour to several of the most historical and spiritual attractions in Kathmandu which are also listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. We visit the historic Durbar Square, the sacred Hindu temple of Pashupatinath, the famous ‘Monkey Temple’ (Swayambhunath) and the Buddhist shrine (Bouddhanath), which is also one of the largest stupas in the world. After the tour, we get our equipment checked by our climbing leader, get introduced to fellow participants, and discuss our trip at Himalayan Glacier’s office. Overnight in Kathmandu.

We leave Kathmandu in the morning for Syabrubesi, a village which is also the starting point for treks into the Langtang valley. Our journey will be on a winding road through frequent switchbacks. On a clear day we get to enjoy outstanding views of Manaslu, Annapurna and Ganesh Himal. Our trek for today ends with a descent into the small village of Syabrubesi. Overnight in Syabrubesi.

After breakfast, we begin our trek to Syabrubesi along the Langtang Khola. Our trail ascends and descends simultaneously through oak and rhododendron forests. After crossing a bridge over the Langtang Khola (small river), we ascend on a steep trail which will lead us to the Lama Hotel. Overnight in Lama Hotel.

We continue ascending from Lama Hotel and enjoy the mountain landscape with abundant waterfalls on our journey. As we reach the green meadows of Ghoda Tabela, we begin to see the white peaks of the Langtang range. We walk on a trail that continues to climb up the widening valley, passing a few temporary settlements used by herders who bring their livestock here in the summer. In spring, the forest here is covered with rhododendrons, Nepal’s national flower. We pass a Buddhist monastery before reaching the Langtang village. Overnight in Langtang village.

We leave the village and climb gradually through small villages and yak pastures as the valley opens up to reveal amazing mountain views. The mountain to our left is the Langtang Lirung and the one before us is the Ganchempo. We cross several small streams and moraines before reaching Kyanjin Gompa, a small monastery and the government-operated cheese factory. We reach the Kyanjin village by lunchtime which will give us ample time to acclimatize to the high altitude. Overnight in Kyanjin.

Today is set aside for acclimatization which is very important in order to have a safe journey into the mountains. However, it is also recommended that we keep ourselves busy by hiking around the area. Therefore, we will be visiting Lagsisha Kharka which is a good 5-6 hour long walk. Along the way, we get some great views of the nearby peaks including Dorje Lakpa and Shisha Pangma. In the Kharka, which means pasture in Nepalese, we see a number of semi-permanent stone settlements where herders live in the summer months while tending to their yaks. Overnight in Kyanjin Gompa.

We trek along a rocky glacier trail to reach the Yala Base Camp. From the base camp we get astounding views of Ganchenpo, Naya Kang, Tserko Ri, and Yala Peak. After reaching the base camp, our climbing guides will conduct a basic training on climbing techniques including the best way to use climbing gears such as ropes, ice pick, harness and crampons. Overnight in Yala Base Camp.

We start our summit to Yala Peak early in the morning. From the summit we get panoramic views of the mighty Himalayas including Shishapangma, Dorje Lakpa, Ganchenpo, Naya Kang, Tserko Ri, Langtang Lirung and others. After spending some time at the summit, we head back to the base camp. Overnight in Yala Base Camp.

We retrace our steps to the Langtang village.

Again we take a relatively familiar route, through woods and along the river valley passing Bamboo Lodge, where we join an uphill trail which will lead us to the Sherpa village of Thulo Syabru. Overnight in Thulo Syabru.

Today we get to enjoy fantastic panoramic views of the Himalayas including the Annapurnas, Hiunchuli, Manaslu, Ganesh and Langtang. We follow a ridge for most part of the day and catch a glimpse of the first of the holy lakes. The third lake, Gosaikunda (4380m), is of particular religious and cultural significance for the Nepalese and is one of Nepal’s most sought after pilgrimage sites. The lake is surrounded by mountains on almost all sides and has a great ensemble of nine other lakes to accompany it. Every year during Janai Purnima in August, hundreds of Hindu pilgrims visit the lake for a holy bath. The large rock at the center of the lake is said to be the remains of a Shiva shrine. Overnight in Gosaikunda.

We move around the lake’s shore before ascending towards the Laurebina Pass (4610m). The Helambu region begins at the Lauribina La (pass) and descends to the Melamchi valley. The trail is rough and crosses moraines, but is well marked with cairns. We pass through three more small lakes before reaching the pass. We climb a small hill and enjoy excellent views of the area. Our trail passes through Suryakunda, Ghopte and forests before reaching Tharepati. Overnight in Tharepati.

Today we leave Tharapati to Timbu which will be our last walk as we will be driving from Timbu. We descend through lush rhododendron forests and pass several chortens and mani walls before reaching Timbu. The village is well cultivated and beautiful. Overnight in Timbu.

From Timbu we drive to Kathmandu enjoying the changing landscape of Nepal. After reaching Kathmandu, we check-in to our hotel and freshen up and take a rest. In the evening, we celebrate the successful completion of our journey with a farewell dinner.

Our adventure in Nepal comes to an end today! A Himalayan Glacier representative will take us to the airport approximately 3 hours before our scheduled flight. On our way home, we have plenty of time to plan our next adventure in the wonderful country of Nepal.