Mountain Trek / Everest Region / Nepal Pikey Peak TrekNext tentative Date: Available as a Private Trek on a date of your preference.
The best-kept secret in lower Solukhumbu makes for a grand alpine landscape and culture trek, with Everest and other mountains dominating the horizon. |
The Pikey Peak Trek offers a stunning and diverse journey through Nepal’s enchanting landscapes and rich culture. Starting with a drive from the vibrant capital of Kathmandu to Pattale, the trek gradually ascends through lush rhododendron forests, terraced farmlands, and charming villages where warm and welcoming locals greet you with smiles. As you reach higher altitudes, the spectacular vistas unfold, offering sweeping panoramas of Everest, Numbur, Lhotse and Gaurishankar ranges. Along the trails, you might encounter Himalayan wildlife such as yaks and rare birds, adding to the adventure. The highlight is the summit of Pikey Peak itself, where sunrise paints the entire Himalayan skyline in golden hues. Cultural immersion is deepened with a visit to the peaceful Thupten Choling Monastery in Junbesi, leaving you with a sense of tranquility and spiritual connection.
Cultural Immersion: Trek through traditional Sherpa villages, experiencing the rich heritage, lifestyle, and warm hospitality of the local people, as well as their Buddhist customs and traditions. | |
Thupten Choling Monastery: A visit to this renowned Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Junbesi offers a spiritual glimpse into monastic life and an opportunity to engage with monks practicing centuries-old rituals. | |
Breathtaking Panoramic Views: From the summit of Pikey Peak, witness one of the best sunrise views in Nepal, with sweeping vistas of Everest, Kanchenjunga, Makalu, and Annapurna ranges. | |
Diverse Landscapes: Hike through a dynamic range of environments, from lush forests of rhododendron and pine to high-altitude meadows, terraced farmlands, and rolling hills. | |
Off-the-Beaten-Path Experience: Pikey Peak is a less-traveled trek, allowing for peaceful solitude along the trails and an authentic, untouched natural environment compared to the more crowded routes. | |
Authentic Trekking Adventure: The varied terrain, cultural richness, and majestic mountain views combine to offer an unforgettable experience of Nepal’s natural beauty and traditional way of life. | |
Scenic Flight from Phaplu: The flight from Phaplu to Kathmandu offers a scenic aerial journey over the lush hills and terraced farmlands of the Solukhumbu region, gradually transitioning to views of the bustling Kathmandu Valley. |
Anybody with basic hiking experience and an active lifestyle can opt for the Pikey Peak Trek. For the most part, the gradient of the trail is fairly levelled with some gradual uphill except one day, where you will experience a mix of uphills and steep downhill stretching over hours. The highest elevation you will reach is Pikey Peak (4,065M / 13,337Ft), making the risk of altitude sickness very low. We maintain a very comfortable hiking pace throughout the trek.
The accommodation on the first few days is at basic mountain lodges. For a safe and fun experience, there will be experienced trekking guide and porters (carrying your luggage) accompanying you.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJun
JulAugSepOctNovDec
Spring is one of the best times to trek in the region with gorgeous mountain vistas. The weather is blissful, and the trails are adorned with vibrant rhododendron flowers from mid-March onwards. The skies are sunny, clear, and the days are warm. The average daytime temperature ranges between 10°C to 20°C (50°F to 68°F) and drops lower at night. There are chances of occasional downpours and flight cancellations towards the end of May, so make sure to carry rain gear. Trails could be crowded as it is a busy time of the year.
Monsoon brings mysticism to the region, with dramatic clouds and wildflowers in the meadowy rolling hills. The trails will be slippery and have leeches, but trekking during June and September is very pleasant. Visibility can be compromised, and mountain views are not guaranteed. The average daytime temperature ranges between 12°C to 25°C (50°F to 77°F) and drops lower at night. The roads leading up to the trailhead can sometimes be affected by landslides and rockfalls (but are generally cleared fast). Flights may be irregular.
Fall is the absolute best time to trek. The skies are clear blue, and mountains grace their glorious presence on the horizon. Trekking in these months is perfect as the days are warm and sunny, and the nights are cold. The average daytime temperature ranges between 10°C to 20°C (50°F to 68°F) and drops lower at night. The trails will be busy with flocking trekkers, and so will the lodges.
Winter in the region is pretty cold, but trekking in the region from December to mid-January is extremely rewarding with great views of the snowcapped mountains. The average daytime temperature ranges between 5°C to 15°C (41°F to 59°F) and drops at night. You will come across freezing temperatures in some parts. We take caution during some parts as there can be snowy patches atop Pikey Peak. Only a few lodges will be open during January and February.
Group Size | Price per person* |
2 pax | USD 900 |
3 pax | USD 825 |
4 - 7 people | USD 775 |
8 and above | USD 685 |
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Valid until Dec 31st, 2024
An unbroken chain of Khumbu mountains stretch across the horizon
Last rays of sun on Everest seen from Pikey Peak
Above the misty valley
An early morning jaunt to Pikey Peak is rewarding and peaceful
Photogenic houses are as charming as the views seen from here
A smiley lady in Pikey Peak Base Camp ready to serve you dalbhat and stories
Walking down to the picturesque Sherpa town of Junbesi
The entire trek boasts houses with traditional Sherpa architecture
Cheeky kids in Jhapre
At Pikey Peak top, surrounded by prayer flags
Catch great views of rolling hills and mountains as you gradually gain elevation
Walking up the vast open landsacpes to reach the famed viewpoint
Clear skies far away from light pollution and off the grid
Vibrant yellow morning in the valley and hills of Jhapre
Walking downhill through rhododenron forests to Junbesi
A girl in Jhapre
Buddhist Chorten and Mani Wall, with prayers incribed
Ridge to Pikey Peak gets the evening lights just before sunset
Mount Everest peeks between smaller neighboring mountains in the Khumbu region, seen here from Pattale
Terraced fields and woods are riddled by houses with dictinctly blue roofs of Sherpa houses
Dwarfed by mountains that rise high above the mist
Layers of hills merge into snowcapped Himalayas
Traditional house en route to Junbesi
Numbur mountain appears huge in the horizon of Khumbu mountains
Traverse through wide open pastures
Get views of mountain ranges Ananpurna to the west and Kanchenjunga to the south
Prayer flags flutter in the chilly dawn atop Pikey Peak
Basking lazily under the winter sun
Firewood is the primary fuel in this region, still mostly inaccessible by roads
Monastery in Jhapre
Buddhist Chorten on the way to base camp
The tiny hamlet of Pikey Peak Base camp
Day 1 |
Kathmandu - Pattale |
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Day 2 |
Pattale - Jhapre |
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Day 3 |
Jhapre - Pikey Peak Base Camp |
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Day 4 |
Pikey Peak Base Camp - Pikey Peak - Junbesi |
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Day 5 |
Junbesi [Exploration to Thupten Choling Monastery] |
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Day 6 |
Junbesi - Phaplu |
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Day 7 |
Phaplu - Kathmandu |
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Day 1 |
Kathmandu - Pattale |
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Drive from Kathmandu to Pattale 8 to 9 hrs Set off to Pattale on an eight-hour-long scenic drive along the winding hilly roads east of Kathmandu. You will witness tiny villages nestled in the hills as well as the modernizing highway cities on this journey that constantly follows a river. We make multiple stops on the way for lunch, tea, and restroom. Our stop for the night is Pattle, a tiny village that offers a range of mountains on the horizon. |
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Mountain Lodge
Day 2 |
Pattale - Jhapre |
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Trek from Pattale to Jhapre 4 to 5 hrs The architecture, culture and surrounding lush alpine landscape of Pattale is something to admire. We start walking after breakfast, and the sights of the mountains stay with us throughout. Jhapre is another lovely place with views of rolling valleys and mountains that start appearing closer. |
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Mountain Lodge
Day 3 |
Jhapre - Pikey Peak Base Camp |
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Trek from Jhapre to Pikey Peak Base Camp 4 to 5 hrs The walk takes us above the treeline today, and in a wide prairie-like landscape, the panorama starts getting more dramatic. As we gain more elevation, we get 360-degree view of the mountains on one side and layers of hills on the other. It can get quite windy so have a windcheater handy. We check into a hotel at Pikey Peak Base Camp and have some hot food. Although we'll be going to Pikey Peak the following morning for sunrise, you may choose to either take rest for the day today or make it up to Pikey Peak in late afternoon to watch the sunset over the mountains. |
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Mountain Lodge
Day 4 |
Pikey Peak Base Camp - Pikey Peak - Junbesi |
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Trek from Pikey Peak Base Camp to Junbesi, via Pikey Peak 7 to 8 hrs We set off to Pikey Peak early morning before dawn to catch the changing colors and sunrise over Khumbu mountains. Besides Everest, you can see other giant mountain ranges like Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Manaslu and Annapurna. After photo ops and catching final glimpses from Pikey Peak, we walk down to Jasmane Bhanjyang where we have a hearty breakfast, then on to the gorgeous monastery town of Junbesi through lush jungle. |
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Mountain Lodge
Day 5 |
Junbesi [Exploration to Thupten Choling Monastery] |
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Explore Junbesi and hike to Thupten Choling 3 to 4 hrs Junbesi has a lot to offer. We explore this picturesque town of Junbesi and visit the biggest and oldest monastery of Solu- Thupten Choling. |
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Mountain Lodge
Day 6 |
Junbesi - Phaplu |
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Trek from Junbesi to Phaplu 3 to 3.5 hrs Bidding farewell to the gorgeous Sherpa town of Junbesi, we make our way to Phaplu through a local school. The walk today is short and easy. We reach Phaplu in the early hours and settle down in the comfortable and homely Kyirmu lodge. You have an option to go on a guided evening walk to witness a beautiful sunset from this airport town. |
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Kyirmu Lodge, Phaplu
Day 7 |
Phaplu - Kathmandu |
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Fly from Phaplu to Kathmandu 20 mins We have an early breakfast in Phaplu before catching our morning flight back to Kathmandu. The flight gives us a bird's eye view of Pikey and the mountains. It's quite an amazing feeling to see how much we've walked, seen and experienced in this short but incredible trek to Pikey Peak. |
Meals Included: Breakfast
Mountain Lodge |
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Mountain lodges are the basic accommodation set up by locals to cater to trekkers in the trails. The common features across all lodges are standard rooms, a spacious and heated dining hall, and a restaurant with a menu. The rooms in mountain lodges generally have two or three twin beds with a mattress and blanket. If you are used to sleeping warm, we highly recommend bringing your own sleeping bag and liner. Other amenities could be a table, hanger, and dustbin but do not expect to have charging ports and attached toilets in the rooms. Moreover, it is mandatory to have meals in the facility you’re staying at.
• | Shared Toilet |
• | Restaurant and Bar | • | Outdoor Seating | • | Mountain Views |
Mountain Lodge |
X Close Accommodation Popup
X Close Popup
Mountain lodges are the basic accommodation set up by locals to cater to trekkers in the trails. The common features across all lodges are standard rooms, a spacious and heated dining hall, and a restaurant with a menu. The rooms in mountain lodges generally have two or three twin beds with a mattress and blanket. If you are used to sleeping warm, we highly recommend bringing your own sleeping bag and liner. Other amenities could be a table, hanger, and dustbin but do not expect to have charging ports and attached toilets in the rooms. Moreover, it is mandatory to have meals in the facility you’re staying at.
• | Shared Toilet |
• | Restaurant and Bar | • | Outdoor Seating | • | Mountain Views |
Mountain Lodge |
X Close Accommodation Popup
X Close Popup
Mountain lodges are the basic accommodation set up by locals to cater to trekkers in the trails. The common features across all lodges are standard rooms, a spacious and heated dining hall, and a restaurant with a menu. The rooms in mountain lodges generally have two or three twin beds with a mattress and blanket. If you are used to sleeping warm, we highly recommend bringing your own sleeping bag and liner. Other amenities could be a table, hanger, and dustbin but do not expect to have charging ports and attached toilets in the rooms. Moreover, it is mandatory to have meals in the facility you’re staying at.
• | Shared Toilet |
• | Restaurant and Bar | • | Outdoor Seating | • | Mountain Views |
Mountain Lodge |
X Close Accommodation Popup
X Close Popup
Mountain lodges are the basic accommodation set up by locals to cater to trekkers in the trails. The common features across all lodges are standard rooms, a spacious and heated dining hall, and a restaurant with a menu. The rooms in mountain lodges generally have two or three twin beds with a mattress and blanket. If you are used to sleeping warm, we highly recommend bringing your own sleeping bag and liner. Other amenities could be a table, hanger, and dustbin but do not expect to have charging ports and attached toilets in the rooms. Moreover, it is mandatory to have meals in the facility you’re staying at.
• | Shared Toilet |
• | Restaurant and Bar | • | Outdoor Seating | • | Mountain Views |
Mountain Lodge |
X Close Accommodation Popup
X Close Popup
Mountain lodges are the basic accommodation set up by locals to cater to trekkers in the trails. The common features across all lodges are standard rooms, a spacious and heated dining hall, and a restaurant with a menu. The rooms in mountain lodges generally have two or three twin beds with a mattress and blanket. If you are used to sleeping warm, we highly recommend bringing your own sleeping bag and liner. Other amenities could be a table, hanger, and dustbin but do not expect to have charging ports and attached toilets in the rooms. Moreover, it is mandatory to have meals in the facility you’re staying at.
• | Shared Toilet |
• | Restaurant and Bar | • | Outdoor Seating | • | Mountain Views |
Kyirmu Lodge, Phaplu |
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Phaplu, Solukhumbu
A well serviced, comfortable and very hospitable mountain lodge perfectly nestled in the airport town of Phaplu.
• | Free Wi-Fi | • | Room Service | • | Private Bathroom | • | Hot Shower | • | Bathtub | • | Free Toiletries | • | Towels | • | Electric Blanket | • | Slippers | • | Power Socket | • | Daily Housekeeping |
• | Restaurant and Bar | • | Child-friendly | • | Garden | • | Outdoor Seating | • | Mountain Views |
For those short on time or looking to add an exhilarating experience of flying over the majestic Himalayas, you have the option to charter a private helicopter on the way down. Inquire for prices and options!
Group Size | Price per person* |
2 pax | USD 900 |
3 pax | USD 825 |
4 - 7 people | USD 775 |
8 and above | USD 685 |
Valid until Dec 31st, 2024
Important
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We take altitude sickness very seriously and all our itineraries are designed to go on a slow pace, covering short distances as we go higher. With the increase in every thousand meters, we stay an extra night at the same stop or place with a similar elevation to acclimatize our bodies to the altitude.
During the trek, we will also take precautions by staying hydrated, avoiding alcohol consumption, and going for acclimatization hikes as needed. Our guide will check your vitals with oximeter every evening during the trek so we know how your body is reacting to the changing elevation. If you see any symptoms of AMS or have a headache, please contact our guide immediately. In most cases, mild headaches can be tackled with food, hydration and rest. We don’t recommend diamox (pills for altitude sickness) but you can take it as precaution starting a day or two before the trek if you are coming from sea level.
Our guide will have a well-equipped first-aid kit at all times. Please go through our equipment and medical checklist for better preparedness as the common problems like foot blisters and knee pain can be tackled with proper packing. If you have any pre-existing health conditions, kindly let us know when booking.
Pack your passport, flight tickets, phone, wallet, camera equipment, cash, and all your valuables in your day pack or waist belt. Please don’t bring or carry expensive items like jewellery etc or a large sum of cash while travelling for security reasons.
Buying and renting gears – Kathmandu has a lot of gear shops. If you happen to miss anything, you can buy them at Thamel before your trek. Items like a sleeping bag can be rented in Kathmandu for about USD 1 a day
What not to carry – Oxygen cylinders, drones and satellite phones without permission, and sharp items like nail clippers and scissors, etc., can be confiscated at the airport.
• | Hiking Boots with a good grip |
• | Rain gear (for you and your bag) |
• | Comfortable hiking pants |
• | Quick dry, breathable T-shirts |
• | Windproof Jacket |
• | Sleepwear |
• | Trekking Socks (thick) |
• | Underwear |
• | Neck buff/ gaiter |
• | Sun hat/cap |
• | Downjacket |
• | Thermals (top and bottom) |
• | Fleece jacket |
• | Sleeping bag |
• | Sleeping bag liner |
• | Gloves |
• | Woolen hat/beanie |
• | Day bag |
• | Duffel bag (for porter) |
• | Quick dry towel |
• | Extra pair of shoes (preferably, slip-ons) |
• | Water bottle or camel bladder (1.5 litres). |
• | LifeStraw filter or purification tablets |
• | Flask (for hot water) |
• | Walking Poles |
• | Sunglasses (Polarized, with good UV protection) |
• | Locks for your backpack/luggage |
• | Waist belt |
• | A pair of binoculars |
• | Trail snacks and energy bars |
• | Head lamp (with extra batteries) |
• | Camera with charger and extra batteries |
• | Phone with charger |
• | Power bank |
• | Travel adapter (type C, D and M) |
• | Sunscreen (SPF 30 or above) |
• | Sanitizer |
• | Wet wipes |
• | Toiletries (incl toilet papers, soap, etc) |
• | Personal first aid kit |
• | Rehydration salts/tablets |
• | Throat lozenges |
• | Prescription Medications |
• | Lipbalm (SPF 30 or above) |
• | Passport with visa |
• | A copy of Work ID (for expats) |
• | A copy of Insurance papers |
• | Permits (carried by guide) |
• | Flight tickets (carried by guide) |
• | Money |
• | Credit Card |
The overall baggage limit is 15kgs (33lbs) per passenger, a policy set by the airlines for mountain flights. Excess weight is allowed at an additional expense. However, we recommend not exceeding this weight limit as it should be sufficient for the trek.
During the trek, porters are assigned to carry your bags. One porter carries the luggage of two trekkers in a big duffel bag that the company provides. The maximum weight carried by one porter is 25kgs (55lbs). This means you will pack two bags for your trek: a day bag for yourself and a softshell duffel that goes inside the porter’s bag.
A duffel bag is your pack that goes inside the porter’s bag. You can also go for a backpack as long as it is soft-shelled and easy to squeeze in. Each duffel bag can be no more than 75 liters & 10-12 kg per person or 150 liters & 20-25 kg for two people. Everything that you will not need during the walking hours of the day will go in a duffel bag. Do not put your valuables in it, as well as any items like cameras/laptops with a risk of getting crushed.
A day bag is your backpack that you will carry during the trek. Anything that you will need during the day, like rain gear, a warm layer, a water bottle, sunscreen, basic toiletries, your phone, and camera, money, important documents, a pair of gloves, a hat, and a few snacks, goes in this bag. A 35-50 liters bag & 5-6 kgs is your ideal daypack. It is advised to buy a good quality bag with adjustable waist straps, as good load distribution makes all the difference while trekking.
Please print and fill up the Booking Form. It’s pretty simple and short, please let us know if we can help you with it.
We’ll send terms and conditions, along with payment details. To confirm your spot, please pay 50% of the trip cost in advance.
Note: Full payment to be made at least 7 days before trip departure.
A few days before the trip, the lead guide will host a small briefing to discuss logistics and safety matters, and also answer any questions you have.
Do some light training and set your gears. Then off to the mountains we go!