Tour Overview

Trip Code
DE-0010
Starting Point
Kathmandu
End Point
Kathmandu
Max Altitude
4,092 m
Duration
12 Days
Country
Nepal
Trip Grade
Moderate
Activities
Trekking
Best Season
Spring and Autumn

Pikey Peak Trek is a popular short trek in the Everest region with beautiful views of the tallest mountains in the world, like Mount Everest, Dhaulagiri, and Kanchenjunga. It is at an altitude of 4,092 m, with stunning views surrounding the surface. This trek also provides a rich cultural experience where you get to understand the Nepali culture and communicate with natives about the history of Pikey Peak. You get to experience the rich Sherpa culture up close and understand Tibetan Buddhism in depth. The Pikey Peak trek goes through Sherpa villages in the Everest region, Buddhist monasteries that follow Tibetan culture, and dense forests filled with Rhododendrons.

If you want to see Mount Everest but don’t want the usual longer route, Pikey Peak is the trek for you. It is a significantly shorter and easier way to see Mount Everest up close. Here, we have prepared an itinerary of 12 days; however, the trek can be completed in 9 days.

Let us discuss the details of this trek.

Pikey Peak: An Easy and Peaceful Alternative to Everest Base Camp

This trek is considered one of the best treks that does not follow the usual path to Mount Everest. You get to walk off the beaten path to Mount Everest, which provides an authentic experience, and it is not crowded since it’s not the usual route to see the amazing peaks of Nepal.

The name “Pikey” in this trek is believed to be derived from the local Sherpas of the region, representing the sky over nature. It makes this journey more exciting and spiritually meaningful as well. Pikey Peak Trek is not as difficult as the EBC. It is a trek that is shorter, and the path is easier. This means that you can participate in the trek with little to no trekking experience.

The Pikey Peak trek is recommended for Spring and Autumn since the skies are clear and the temperature is not too low. You also get to see more greenery and clear mountain views during the Spring and Autumn seasons. The Pikey Peak Trek provided by Destiny Excursion starts and ends in Kathmandu. It is a trek with a moderate difficulty level that is best suited for Spring and Autumn, as we already discussed.

Destiny Excursion provides you with a 12-day itinerary for the Pikey Peak trek so that you don’t feel rushed and you get to enjoy the trek to the fullest. We shall further discuss the highlights of the trek to encourage you to participate in the trek, and then we shall provide a detailed itinerary of 12 days.

Tour Highlights

  • Experience Sherpa Culture and Tibetan Buddhism in depth with the natives and history lessons.
  • Spectacular views of Mount Everest and the surrounding range from one of the best viewpoints in Nepal. The tallest mountains in the world are visible in this trek.
  • Off the beaten path in Solukhumbu, which makes it less crowded and shorter.
  • Lush green forest and stunning countryside landscape to escape reality and connect with nature on a spiritual level.
  • Walk through the blooming rhododendron forest during the spring season and witness beautiful and dense forests filled with life and joy.
  • Visit Buddhist monasteries, monuments, and religious sites for a deeper spiritual connection and a connection to yourself.

Points of Attraction

The Pikey Peak Trek is a journey through the beautiful Himalayas, different trails, new culture and food. It offers a connection to nature and self-actualization, helping you escape reality and living in a different mindset. This trek is about adventure, scenic views and a chance for you to challenge yourself by doing something out of your comfort zone. Here is a brief overview of the points of attractions in Pikey Peak Trek.

Scenic and Natural Attractions

  • Stunning views of Mount Everest: An opportunity to see the world’s highest mountain up close. You also get to see other mountains on the way to Everest. These mountains include Dhaulagiri and Kanchenjunga.
  • Different Zones: Experience a walk through dense forests and green lowlands to higher altitude regions with changes in climate and scenery.
  • Pikey Base Camp: The base camp has stunning close-up views of the surrounding peaks and an open sky full of stars at night.
  • Diverse landscapes: Trek through beautiful rhododendron forests, grassy ridges, terraced fields, and forests. The changing scenery gives you something new and exciting to look forward to every day.
  • Sunpati and Himalayan incense: Walk through areas rich in nature, including the Sunpati plant, which is used in local incense. The trail smells fresh and earthy throughout.
  • Remote trails: Compared to busy trekking routes, this trail is peaceful and uncrowded. You get to enjoy nature without much disturbance.

Cultural and Heritage Attractions

  • Traditional Tibetan-influenced and Sherpa villages: In the Everest region, Sherpa and Tibetan culture are widely followed. So, you get to experience the beautiful culture and food in detail.
  • Monasteries: There are many monasteries in the Everest region, and the trail to Pikey Peak is a tourist attraction to teach you about our culture. You get to visit ancient Gompa and the Monastery.
  • Rich culture: North-eastern Nepal is filled with different types of culture from Sherpa and Tibetan communities. They have unique languages and cultures that are fascinating to understand and learn.
  • Homestays and Teahouses: There are many homestays and teahouses that you shall be staying in throughout the trek. Each of them is different and has different stories behind them that you can learn from the locals.
  • Festivals: Nepal is a country that likes to celebrate festivals. Depending on the season, you get to witness celebrations of multiple festivals along the trail.

Adventure and Trekking Highlights

  • 9 days of trekking: The height elevates from 1,342m to over 2,938m with different trails, and it is a memorable experience to be walking 3-4 hours every day and getting to see new scenery.
  • Trekking with permits: Pikey Peak is a secluded trek with fewer trekkers, so you may need a permit to enter some areas.
  • Expert-guided journey: This trek has experienced experts who know the trails well, and they guide you throughout the journey, making it safer and exclusive.
  • Less-crowded: Compared to other popular treks in Nepal, like ABC and EBC, this trek is performed in small groups by fewer people due to its popularity.

Stay and Experience

  • Teahouse: Staying in a simple and cozy teahouse throughout the trek makes you feel closer to the culture and nature. They provide traditional meals, which are perfect for trekking.
  • Night views of the villages: Many festivals and markets open at night time, enhancing your trekking experience.
  • Hotels in Kathmandu: You get to stay in comfortable hotels with excellent amenities before and after the trek.
  • Free days: Extra days are provided for acclimatization, rest, exploring the city and many more.

Itinerary

Elevation: 1,342 m (4,401 ft)

The first day is about your arrival in the capital city of Nepal. Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Kathmandu, is where you shall land, and you will be picked up from the airport and transferred to your hotel by Destiny Excursion. Kathmandu is 1,342m high, which is 4,401 ft, with amazing hotels that provide a warm welcome and fit your needs after a long travel day. You can walk around the hotel after arrival if you have energy, but if you arrive late, it is best to go to bed and rest yourself before the official trek begins.

Overnight: Hotel in Kathmandu

Meals:

Elevation: 1,342 m

The next day of your trek is for you to fix the jetlag and prepare for the trek that officially starts on day 3. On this day, you shall also do some sightseeing in Kathmandu since it’s a beautiful city rich in cultural sites and night markets. You can also go shopping for trekking essentials if you do not bring them with you. Kathmandu has many places to find trekking gear and help you prepare for the Pikey Peak Trek. On day 2, your trekking guide will come to visit you and have a trek briefing and prepare for the trek after you have your breakfast at the hotel. This gives you an idea of how the trails are and what to expect during your trek. You can get more sleep this day and be well-rested for the trek that starts the next day.

Overnight: Hotel in Kathmandu

Meals: Breakfast

Elevation: 2,820 m

Day 3 is the drive from Kathmandu to Sigane, which is around an 8-9-hour drive. The road passes through remote villages and towering hills after a few hours of highway road following the Sunkoshi River. You get to see glimpses of shimmering snow peaks, streaming rivers and terrace farm fields, lush green hills, and diverse landscapes. This area is rich in Sherpa culture so you can experience the best Sherpa hospitality culture and traditions. On this day, you will also be trekking to Jhapre, which is at an elevation of 2,820m. As you can see, with the change in elevation, we are going higher, and we will continue to go higher as the trek progresses.

Overnight: Tea house

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Elevation: 3,640 m

The trek has officially started, and this is day 2 of your official trek. After breakfast, we continue our trek to Pikey base camp by climbing a grassy ridge to Bhulbule, where we stop for lunch. We ascend gently uphill, which might be a little exhausting. After 3 hours of gradual walk, we reach the foot of Pikey Peak. During the trail, we walk through the lush Rhododendron forest during the spring season (mostly April) while experiencing the best mountain view from the ridge. Here we shall also witness many chortens (stupas) and stone-carved mani-walls. We reach Pikey Base Camp, which is at an elevation of 3,640m.

Overnight: Tea house

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Elevation: 4,092 m (Pikey Peak summit)

Today we start our day early to see the sunrise view from Pikey Peak. If the weather is nice and clear, we can witness 360-degree views of the Everest Himalayan range, including Mount Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Kanchenjunga. Also, Mera Peak, Thamserku, Numbur Himal, Gauri Shanker (Holy mountain) and many more. After a 1.5-hour hike to Pikey Peak and experience the breathtaking views, we head back to base camp, have breakfast and head towards Taktor, which is a gradual walk of 5 hours. During this trail, we walk through dense rhododendron forests and tall pine tree forests, which are famous for Himalayan incense (Sunpati). Then, we reach Jasmani Bhanjyang for lunch. After lunch, we steeply ascend for 1 hour and reach Pabu Danda, which is 3,841m high. From there, you can witness the stunning Mount Everest view and the surrounding Himalayan range, with valley views of Phaplu, Chiwang and Lhoding. Then we descend 2 hours downhill to Taktor through pine and rhododendron tree forest.

Overnight: Tea house

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Elevation: 2,700 m

After breakfast, we start our gradual walk for 2 hours and reach Junbesi by lunch time. After lunch, we hike up to Thupten Chholing Monastery. We ascend uphill for 1.5 hours to reach the monastery. Thupten Chholing monastery dates back to the 1960s; currently, several hundreds of Buddhist nuns and monks (80% of them being Tibetan refugees) live there. Dozens of newcomers join each year, flourishing the monastery’s population day by day. After exploring the monastery, we head back to our hotel at Junbesi, which is 2,700m high. This is day 4 since our official trek, but since we have been acclimatizing well by going downhill after seeing uphill sights, the trek difficulty continues to be moderate.

Overnight: Tea house

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Elevation: 2,930 m

Taksindu is a peaceful place with a historic monastery. We walk through a lush green forest of pine trees and distant mountain views. We pass through the beautiful village of Ringmo before ascending to the Taksindu, with an Everest view along the trail. Walking this day is for 6 hours, and then we have lunch at Ringmo village. We continue uphill and reach Taksindu by the end of the day. It is at an elevation of 2,930m with a lot of cultural significance to soak in before moving forward on our trek. We are nearing the end of our Pikey Peak trek, so by this day, it is important that you rest well and eat well so that you can make it to the end of the trek.

Overnight: Tea house

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Elevation: 2,469 m

After breakfast, we descend downhill through the beautiful rhododendron forest, walk for 3 hours, and reach Chiwong Monastery. Chiwong Monastery is situated on a cliff overlooking Chiwong Hill, which is somewhat similar to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery of Bhutan. It was founded by the late Sangay Lama in 1923. His Holiness Trulshing Rinpoche lived at the monastery from 1960-1967. All vegetarian food is available with clean accommodation. We then descend to Phaplu for 3 hours through rhododendron and pine forests and through the Sherpa village. If you are interested, we can visit Chyalsa Gompa, which is an old Tibetan camp for refugees.

Overnight: Tea house

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Elevation: 2,469 m

After breakfast, we descend from Chiwong Monastery through serene rhododendrons and pine forests, reaching the Sherpa town of Phaplu in about 3 hours. Once settled in, you can relax or join an optional visit to Chyalsa Gompa, a peaceful Tibetan monastery and refugee settlement just an hour’s walk away. It offers a quiet insight into Tibetan culture and spirituality. We return to Phaplu for dinner and our final night in the mountains.

Overnight: Tea house

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Elevation: 1,342 m

We head back to Kathmandu today after having breakfast at Phaplu. It is an 8-9 hour drive back, and lunch will be provided on the way. You get one last experience of the rural side of Nepal before entering the city. Ensure to enjoy the moment and soak it all in since this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. After arriving in Kathmandu, you will be dropped off at a beautiful hotel with all the amenities. The hotel will provide snacks and dinner after arrival, and you can rest well now since the trek is over and you only have one more day in the city.

Overnight: Hotel in Kathmandu

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Elevation: 1,342 m

This is your last full day in Nepal, and you can do some sightseeing on your own to wrap up your trip. Kathmandu Valley is well known for its unique art, culture and history. It is also famous for the UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Boudhanath, Pashupatinath Temple, Swoyambhunath Temple, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Kathmandu Durbar Square and the Patan Durbar Square. You can explore the beautiful Kathmandu city and do some shopping or check out some souvenirs. Since it is your last full day, you can just stay at the hotel and rest before you have to travel again and go back home.

Overnight: Hotel in Kathmandu

Meals: Breakfast

Elevation: 1,342 m

It is the final day of your trip and time to say goodbye to Nepal. The breakfast will be provided by the hotel, and you will be dropped off at the airport by our team at Destiny Excursion according to your flight schedule. If your flight gets delayed or canceled, our team shall handle that and ensure your safety. You can extend your trip if you wish to stay longer or partake in another trek of your choice.

Overnight:

Meals: Breakfast

Trek Route

Pikey Peak Trek Route Map

What's included

  • All airport transfers (international and domestic) via private air-conditioned vehicles.
  • Kathmandu-Sigane and Phaplu-Kathmandu drive by private basis.
  • All administrative expenses and government taxes.
  • Twin-sharing/double accommodation for 4 nights in a hotel in Kathmandu.
  • Twin-sharing guesthouse accommodation during the 7-nights trek in the Everest Region.
  • Standard meals throughout the trek (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner)
  • First-aid trained, government-licensed trekking guide.
  • Porters for luggage during the trek (1 porter for every 2 clients). Max weight limit for a porter- 18 kg (9 kg per trekker, weight limit). You can store non-essential items in your hotel or at the DWT store.
  • Fee and Permits for Sagarmatha/Everest National Park.
  • TIMS – Trekkers’ Information Management System (Please avail us with 2 passport size photos required for your permit).
  • Wages, accommodation, meals, gear, insurance, and medications for all staff.

What's excluded

  • Lunch and Dinner in Kathmandu.
  • Kathmandu-Lukla-Kathmandu flight fare.
  • International flight fare.
  • Nepal Entry Visa (Visa can be obtained easily upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, with a fee of (USD 30 for a 15-day visa, USD 50 for a 30-day visa and USD 125 for a 90-day visa).
  • Travel insurance and rescue.
  • Any further expenses that are not included in the “Include” section.
  • Charges for any excess baggage (Limit: 9 kg per person) during the trek.
  • Additional night accommodation in Kathmandu due to early arrival, late departure, or an early return from the trek.
  • Personal expenses (shopping, snacks, boiled bottled water, hot beverages like tea or coffee, cold drinks, hot showers, alcohol, Wi-Fi, telephone calls, battery recharge fees, extra porters, etc).
  • Individual clothing and equipment.
  • Tips for staff, guides and porters.

Gallery

Frequently Asked Questions

Pikey Peak has moderate level difficulty and can be performed by beginners with no trekking experience. There are more difficult treks in Nepal, like the Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Base Camp. So, Pikey Peak is one of the safer trails to see Mount Everest up close.

Yes, Pikey Peak is worth it since it offers one of the best sunrise views of Mount Everest and other major Himalayan peaks. The trek is peaceful, less crowded, and rich in Sherpa culture. It is also the shortest trail to see the top mountains in the world.

Pikey Peak is 4,092m high and provides panoramic Himalayan views. It is not as high as other popular treks in Nepal, but it definitely requires some effort to be able to reach the Pikey Peak.

To reach Pikey Peak, you can either drive from Kathmandu to Dhap, which takes around 9 to 10 hours or take a short flight to Phaplu and then join the trekking trail via Junbesi. Trekking the Pikey Peak is more common than directly reaching the destination.

You can see many mountains from the summit of Pikey Peak. On a clear day, you can see Mount Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Kanchenjunga, Gauri Shankar, Dhaulagiri, Numbur Himal, and even the Annapurna range.

Our packages combine authentic Sherpa hospitality with expert trekking logistics. You'll trek scenic trails, sleep in comfortable lodges, and enjoy personalized support, making your Pikey Peak adventure both safe and unforgettable.

The ideal seasons are spring (March) and autumn (September-November), when the weather is clear, temperatures are moderate, and mountain views are spectacular. Try to avoid going during monsoon and winter.

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Starting From:

US$1315

No. of peoplePrice per person
1 Pax$ 2466
2-3 Pax$ 1685
4-5 Pax$ 1465
6-7 Pax$ 1425
8-9 Pax$ 1365
10 Pax$ 1315

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