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

Welcome to Kathmandu! After checking in you'll have a pre-departure meeting with your guides to run through the plans for the trek. You'll finish the day with a group dinner to get to know your team for the next couple of weeks.

Bidding goodbye to Kathmandu, you'll hop on a bus for a bone-rattling journey to Syabrubesi – the set-off point for the trek ahead. The journey will take approximately seven hours, but there's plenty to look at as you drive along the scenic banks of Trishuli River with beautiful views of valleys, meadows, rivers, and mountains. You'll make a stop at Dhunche to have your permits checked before bedding down in a teahouse in the village of Syabrubesi.

Time to lace up your hiking boots up and hit the trail. The gently undulating track weaves up and over the Bhote River suspension bridge through dense forest and past Langtang Khola. Passing through the hamlet of Bamboo, keep your eyes peeled for red panda – these elusive creatures can sometimes be spotted in the forest. You can expect a few glimpses of snow-covered peaks but today is mostly about the river, forests, rocky stairs and a few bridge crossings. Although the elevation is not high yet (below 2500m), the humid temperature will make the hike a sweaty one and test your stamina for the challenge ahead.

Start the day with a walk through beautiful wild forests of hemlock, oak and huge rhododendron, with snow-capped peaks beginning to appear in the distance. After a steady climb, you'll pass the army checkpoint at Ghodatabela before reaching Langtang village. This sombre spot was one of the worst-hit areas when the earthquake hit in 2015 and is still being rebuilt – income from tourism is fundamental to its recovery.

Leaving Langtang behind, the trail crosses yak pastures and follows a meandering stream. Gengchempo (6387m) is a prominent landmark off to the east and your first sight of a mighty peak. The trail reaches the Tamang settlements of Mundu (3410m) and Sindum (3410m) flanked by equally spectacular peaks, as the full Langtang range makes an appearance. Time for some dal bhat at your teahouse in Kyanjin Gompa to end the day.

No need to pack up this morning as you'll return to the same spot this evening. Today is a relatively easy day as you acclimatise to being at altitude (currently at 3830m). You can wander to a monastery, visit a local cheese factory or walk up the moraine to see the spectacular ice faces and tumbling glaciers of Langtang Lirung. For those with energy to burn, your guide can also take you up Kyanjin Ri (4773m) for a breathtaking panorama of the Langtang peaks. Overnight at Kyanjin Gompa, don't forget to look up at the stars!

Leaving behind the last settlement you'll see for a couple of days, you'll start to trek along the rocky glacial trail. You'll arrive at base camp (4600m) mid-afternoon with plenty of time to settle in, grab a hot drink and marvel at the peak above. Sunset this high up is something to behold, and worth checking out before you gather together in the mess tent for a hearty meal prepared by your crew.

Headtorches at the ready as you set off for the summit in the early hours, when conditions are usually at their best. The summit generally takes approximately eight hours, with the last 700m usually needing ropes, crampons and ice axes. You'll make your way along a small ridge to reach the top at 5500m – Yala Peak bagged! Your reward is panoramic views of Shishapangma, Dorje Lakpa, Gangchempo, Naya Kang, Tserko Ri, Langtang Lirung and many other astonishing mountains. After summiting, you'll head back to base camp for a quick refuel before descending back down to Kyanjin Gompa.

With lung fulls of oxygen, you'll hop, skip and jump back down the valley all the way to the Lama Teahouse in Rimche. Now at a sensible altitude to do so, you can grab a local beer and celebrate your achievement!

It's the last day on the trail today, with an easy walk through the forest, retracing the track past Bamboo and Dovan and onto the overnight spot at Syabrubesi. This small town perched above a river is the perfect place to end your trek and to reflect on your achievement, before saying goodbye to the mighty Himalaya tomorrow.

Jump on the bus back to Kathmandu, where a hot shower and your clean clothes await. You'll be staying right in the centre of Thamel, an area popular with travellers and packed with street food and backstreet bars. Head out for a final group meal and perhaps onto a local cocktail bar for a final celebratory nightcap.

Enjoy a well-earned lie in and breakfast at your hotel, then spend your last day exploring the city before heading back to the airport, and reality.