Pikey Peak Trek

Situated in the mountainous region of lower Khumbu, Pikey Peak enjoys a diverse landscape. The Pikey Peak short trek route is fueled by the life-giving waters of the Sun Koshi and Tama Koshi Rivers. Thus you can enjoy a cool breeze flowing through the dense forests of rhododendrons, juniper, pine, and fir.

As you climb to higher altitudes, the once dense woodlands will gradually give way to more open pastures and small grasslands. Although the terrain starts to be uneven with various altitudes, it is relatively less challenging compared to other treks in the upper and central Khumbu regions.

As for the length of the 8 days Pikey Peak trek, it spans approximately 94 km beginning with a stunning but long drive from Kathmandu to Dhap traversing 87.5 kilometers of winding roads.

Once in Dhap Bazaar, you will walk in a total 15 km long track to reach the Pikey Peak base camp. The trek ultimately ends at the stunning Pikey Peak, at 4095 m with the maximum sleeping altitude being at the base camp lodge, situated at 3,640 meters.

In our 8 days Pikey Peak trek, we will travel from the temperate climatic zone of Kathmandu to the alpine weather in Pikey Peak. In the temperate climate, you can expect warm summers with day heat of around 24 to 31 degrees Celsius.

In winter, you can expect the day heat to be around 10 degrees Celsius. On the other hand, in the alpine climate, cold, ice and snow prevail all year round.

Therefore, the opportune time period for the Pikey Peak trek will be in autumn. From September, autumn arrives, when the temperature drops slightly, rainy days decrease to 4 days, and the hours of sunshine increase again.

In October and November, temperatures range between 27 and 23 degrees Celsius. The closer we get to winter, the more the temperatures drop. At night it gets really cool at 7 to 13 degrees Celsius.

The next best season is spring which hits the lower Khumbu from March. Temperatures climb the thermometer and reach 28 degrees Celsius in April. At 12 degrees Celsius at night, it is fresher, but still not too cold. In March the sun shines for 7 hours, in April there are even 10 hours of sunshine.

The most rain of the entire year falls during the monsoon season from June to August in lower Khumbu. During this time it is not only very wet, but also very warm. An unpleasant mix.

The winter in Khumbu begins from December and lasts till February. With colder days even coldest nights, and snow, the trek and peak climbing can be troubling job.

In our 8 days Pikey Peak trek, you can expect days to be medium difficult while the Pikey Peak itself standing below 4100 m is considered the most achievable peak in Nepal, making it accessible even for those new to trekking.

This distinction as a trekking peak, rather than a climbing peak, highlights its attainability. There are hills, mountain passes, and ridges in Nepal particularly in Everest that are higher than this peak. So it is the most accessible peak that will take you even closer to the giant mountains.

However, it is important to note that even this accessible peak carries inherent risks and challenges. Although less difficult, the route still goes up and down though not too steep.

And of course, the walking duration will be between 5 to 7 hours with a long driving journey along the winding roads spanning 9 to 10 hours. so basic fitness and mental readiness are a must for this trek.

The 8 days Pikey Peak trek is a beautiful easy trek that offers a very nice first hiking experience over 94 km. The positive and negative elevation gain is more than 1000 m. This accessible hike offers a beautiful final climb to reach the summit of Pikey Peak, with a breathtaking view as a reward.

Many of our participants have done this trek with their family members such as mothers, fathers, wives, and children. Obviously, they were not great hikers and it was their first time hiking.

In addition, the entire part of the trek is all done in the company of our guides and porters in the protective shelters of mountain huts (teahouse or lodge). On every corner, you can find lodgings or accommodation.

So this can be a great first-time hiking experience to ignite your passion for trekking in Nepal.

The Pikey Peak trek is quite short; however, within this short timeframe, you will ascend from 1,300 m above sea level to 2,850 m in Dhap in just one day. The following two days will see you climbing to elevations of more than 3,000 meters. Therefore, your body may not have sufficient time to acclimatize gradually to the thinner alpine atmosphere.

Nausea, disorientation, vomiting, and headaches with exhausted bodies and sleepless nights may follow which are the minor indications of altitude sickness.

In such cases, resting where you are, and hydrating your body with water and electrolyte fluids along with painkillers certainly help. If you think you are more prone to the altitude, then you can take Diamox one or two days before the trek.

Please, do not race, walk slowly according to your build and ability. After all, trekking adventure into this scenic region is not a race. If the symptoms continue to persist and increase with time, please consult our guide and walk down. The mountains will always be there, your health should be your highest priority.

The Pikey Peak short trek demands average physical prowess and some mental preparedness. The medium-challenging tracks are mountainous that leaves no room for any mistakes. If anything goes wrong, the rapid exit may not be possible.

So we urge you to mentally prepare yourself by gathering all the information you can about the Pikey Peak trek route.

On the other hand, the long walking days also demand from you a good level of endurance, energy, and stamina. So dedicate your time to jogging, swimming, stretching, stair climbing, running and some squats.

Our Pikey Peak trek itinerary takes care of all your accommodation and meal expenses throughout the trip. In Kathmandu, you will live for two nights in a standard three-star tourist hotel located in the city center. You will share a room with another traveler of the same gender, with two beds available.

During the trek, you will find shelter in mountain huts or lodges that offer double beds for your overnight stays.

Breakfast will be included at your hotel in Kathmandu, while lunches and dinners will be at your own discretion in the restaurants. On the trekking segment, your meals—breakfasts, lunches, and dinners—are covered in the tour cost and will be served at the mountain shelters.

The lodges provide a wide variety of meals, ranging from Dal Bhat to Tibetan, Chinese, and other international dishes, including pizza, pasta, and baked goods.

All transportation arrangements, including your airport transfers, will be well taken care of. A shared 4×4 Jeep will take you on your road journey from Kathmandu to Dhap and from Phaplu back to Kathmandu. For an additional fee, we can upgrade your return trip from Phaplu to Kathmandu with either a private jeep or a short domestic flight.

As you reach Kathmandu, you can obtain a local SIM card for mobile communication. The two leading providers are Ncell and NTC, both of which offer 4G services and can be easily purchased by providing a photo and a copy of your passport.

The entire route of the Pikey Peak trek has WiFi access, and in certain areas of the Everest region, you can even take advantage of free WiFi. If you want to have constant connectivity, you can use the Airlink or Everest Link prepaid cards for WiFi.

Additionally, with 230 volts available at each lodge, you will have the opportunity to charge your phone, camera, tablets, and power banks conveniently.

Travel insurance for Pikey Peak short trek is a must to take out. Travel insurance for trekking is not only for expert hikers who dare to take on the most difficult routes. Because an accident can happen to you both in the middle of a trek in the Annapurnas in Nepal or while climbing an easy peak like the Pikey in Everest.

For those who run more risks as well as those who like simpler trails, trekking insurance is something as essential as good shoes, comfortable clothes, or water to stay hydrated. A sprained ankle, a cut with a branch, a slip from the path, or a sudden infection- anything anytime is possible.

Although this is a trek suitable for most people, there are frequent reports of helicopter rescues of people who have slipped on one of its slopes. A service of this magnitude obviously translates into a bill of several thousand dollars.

Therefore, travel insurance for hiking is an excellent protection and a saving that allows you not to have to worry about anything beyond the accident.

For the Pikey Peak trek, apart from the medical and rescue coverage, we suggest you cover hiking to the altitudes of above 4000 m.

It is a common misunderstanding that no permits are required for the Pikey Peak trek; however, this is not entirely accurate. While a climbing permit for Pikey Peak is not necessary as it falls under the category of trekking peaks, trekkers must obtain entry permits for two conservation areas: Sagarmatha National Park and Gaurishankar Conservation Area. Each of these permits costs approximately USD 30 per trekker.

Additionally, a local area permit for the Khumbu Municipality is required, which costs around USD 17 per trekker. Since 2017, the Solukhumbu region has started issuing its own permits, so there is no need for a TIMS (Trekkers’ Information Management System) card.

All permit fees are included in our service, and our guide will handle the procurement of these permits in Kathmandu or at the park entrance and municipal gate.