Pikey Peak Trek – 7 Days

The Pikey Peak Trek is a less-traveled route in Nepal’s lower Everest region. It is the best alternative to crowded routes, offering a blend of natural beauty and cultural immersion that other crowded routes in the Khumbu Valley do, but in a more peaceful environment. From start to finish, the trek offers a unique blend of natural and cultural attractions. Here are the attractions trekkers can see during the Pikey Peak trek:

Mountain Peaks

The journey to Pikey Peak offers amazing views of the surrounding mountains throughout the adventure. The sights of Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Thamserku, Nuptse, and Kangtega will accompany you throughout the trek. The peaks are lovely, especially at sunrise and sunset, when they color the mountains with different colors.

Rhododendron Forest

The trek to Pikey passes through the rhododendron forest, making the route colorful, especially from March to May. The red, pink, white, and carmine red all over the trekking path will attract anyone. Walking through these colorful forests, listening to the songs of Himalayan birds, and breathing the fresh mountain air make the journey even more enjoyable. More than just their colorful flowers, rhododendron forests offer a peaceful, refreshing place to walk.

Multi-Ethnic Villages

The journey to Pikey Peak offers a unique opportunity to experience Nepal’s cultural diversity. From the moment you start walking until you finish the adventure, you will travel through different villages and meet people from various ethnic communities, including Chhetri, Rai, Limbu, Magar, Tamang, and Sherpa. While walking through the lower section, you see Hindu communities; higher up in the Solukhumbu region, Tibetan Buddhist culture is common, with ancient monasteries, prayer flags, chortens, and mani walls along the trail.

Buddhist Monasteries

The Everest region is home to several Buddhist monasteries, reflecting the local population’s adherence to Buddhism. Throughout the expedition, you can see ancient monasteries, including the prominent Thupten Choling monastery. Moreover, the monasteries at each step, with their prayer wheels and flags, will create a spiritual atmosphere.

Rare flora and fauna

The trek to Pikey Peak takes place within the Gaurishankhar Conservation Area, where you can glimpse rare flora and fauna along the way. Besides, you’ll also see other wildflowers like primroses and magnolias, as well as ancient forests of oak, pine, and juniper. Although the national park is home to rare wildlife, sightings require luck and patience.

Located in the Lower Solu region of Solukhumbu District, the Twin Pikey Peaks are part of the Mahabharat range, at an elevation of 4,065 m/13,337 ft. The peak is unique for its twin summits, known as the Twin Pikey Peaks. The name Pikey means sky over nature, derived from the Sherpa language. Pikey Peak is named after the deity very famous in the Sherpa Clan. Every year during July, local people celebrate a unique festival dedicating their worship to their god Pikey Hlapchen Karbu, also known as the eastern Chyabu Pikey.

The history of Pikey Peak is linked with Sir Edmund Hillary, when he explored the location. He was pleasantly surprised by the beauty and views from the peak, which made Pikey Peak his best trekking destination until his last day.

The Pikey Peak trek offers a great blend of affordability and local culture, which is evidenced in the area’s food and accommodation. Trekkers stop for a meal at a teahouse run by the local family. Here is the detailed information about the food and accommodation along the trek to Pikey Peak:

Food

Nutritious food is necessary during your Pikey Peak Trek. It helps to keep you energized for the trek. However, the available resources are quite limited. Since it is in a remote Khumbu region, you may not be able to buy packaged foods at a higher altitude.

With us, you will get three daily meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Every meal you have during this trek will be organic and homemade.

You can choose from a wide range of breakfast items, including porridge, oatmeal, bread, toast, rotis, chapatis, soups, stews, sandwiches, and cornflakes.

You will also be served tea mixed with honey, ginger, and lemon during breakfast. You can also have energy drinks or coffee, which costs you extra. Still, we don’t recommend consuming caffeine-based products as it increases the risk of altitude sickness.

You can choose from local Nepali dishes such as Dal Bhat, vegetable curry, pickle, cucumber, and yogurt for lunch and dinner. Additionally, we don’t recommend eating meat in higher altitudes, as it might be stale and can cause health issues.

Accommodation

On the journey to Pikey Peak, you will trek through remote, high-altitude areas where teahouses are the primary accommodation option. You will sleep in a small twin room and must share it with another trekker. The teahouse provides pillows, blankets, bedsheets, and mattresses to keep you warm.

Toilets and sinks are also shared among all guests. Similarly, you will not get a hot shower in the bathrooms, but it can be arranged for an extra fee. Still, you’ll not find showerheads; instead, you have to take a bath from a bucket and mug. Besides, you will also have to pay extra for services like internet, phone calls, charging devices, etc.

Altitude sickness is a major concern while trekking to Pikey Peak. Since the trek duration to Pikey Peak is only five to seven days, and you need to hike above 4,000 m, which means there won’t be much time for acclimatization. So during the trek, the trekkers won’t have time to acclimate to those altitudes and oxygen levels. This automatically raises the risk of altitude sickness.

The symptoms of altitude sickness include fatigue, headache, dizziness, and hardness of breath. In the cases of altitude sickness, trekkers can avoid the risk by following the tips:

Ascent Gradually

Ascending gradually is one of the best ways to avoid altitude sickness. Consider ascending and taking breaks from time to time while walking at elevations above 3,000m. Similarly, avoid rapid ascent and try to cover longer distances at a time. Additionally, by giving your body time to adjust to the new temperature, you significantly reduce the risk of altitude sickness.

Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated is crucial for fighting altitude-related issues and supporting overall body function. Drink plenty of water during the trek, and carry a refillable water bottle and water purification tablet, as consuming water directly from a tap or any other resource is unhealthy. Also, avoid alcohol and caffeine, as they lead to dehydration and increase the risk of altitude sickness.

Acclimatization

While the trek to Pikey Peak doesn’t really require an additional acclimatization day, including one is recommended. Acclimatization is the process by which your body adapts to the lower oxygen levels at high altitudes. Thus, it lets you adapt to a changed temperature without feeling discomfort at a higher elevation.

Proper Nutrition

Eating a well-balanced diet helps reduce the symptoms of altitude sickness. It also supports the trekker’s body’s ability to adapt to high altitude. Healthy food enhances oxygen utilization, boosts energy levels, promotes hydration, and supports immune function. Likewise, your body burns more calories at high altitude. We recommend a diet rich in carbohydrates, as they are a more efficient source of energy in low-oxygen environments.

Descend

If trekkers experience symptoms like fatigue, loss of appetite, breathing problems, dizziness, and headache, they are likely to suffer from altitude sickness. As soon as you experience these symptoms, stop trekking and stay at the point until you feel better. If you don’t feel good even after taking a rest, it’s better to descend and follow whatever your guide suggests. Also, don’t push your body if you feel discomfort, as listening to your body is crucial.

One of the good aspects of the Pikey Peak Trek is that it doesn’t require a trekking permit. This helps trekkers to reduce the overall expenses of the trek. Unlike treks in the Annapurna and Everest regions, no TIMS card, national park fees, or conservation area permits are required for the Pikey Peak trek. So, you can start your trek without having to arrange or purchase any official documentation beforehand.

Furthermore, the absence of a permit requirement makes Pikey Peak one of the more accessible and hassle-free trekking options in Nepal. Similarly, there’s no stress in managing the paperwork, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the experience.

The Pikey Peak Trek starts in Dhap and goes via the villages of Jhapre, Junbensi, and Phaplu.

Newly popular Pikey Peak is a fantastic journey through the lower Everest region, providing various route options. One of the most significant and common routes to the peak begins with a drive from Kathmandu to Dhap and ends in Phaplu. From Kathmandu, the scenic drive takes 8-10 hours on the first day through terraced farmlands, green hills, and the countryside of Nepal. On the second day, the trek begins from Dhap to Jhapre, a gentle walk with views of Numbur Himal and Mt. Everest in the distance, taking 4-5 hours.

Day three is one of the prominent days that takes you to Pikey Base Camp. As you walk through stunning fields, rhododendron forests, and meadows, you witness rolling hills and mountain peaks. On the fourth day, you’ll take a morning hike to Pikey Peak and witness the view of the golden sunrise. Afterward, descend to Loding. Likewise, day five takes you down to Junbesi, where you visit Chholing monastery and walk through traditional settlements with terraced fields. On the sixth day, you’ll descend to Phaplu and back to Kathmandu on the seventh day.

A journey to Pikey Peak requires effective transportation planning. Dhap is the starting point, and Phaplu is the end point of the trek. However, the adventure offers multiple transportation options for getting to and from the Pikey Peak Trek, including:

Getting to Pikey Peak (Kathmandu to Dhap)

Dhap is accessible by road from Kathmandu, and you can get there by Jeep or bus. It takes 8-10 hours and covers 180 km via the route to Dhulikhel and Ghurmi. The private jeep to Dhap costs around NPR 20,000-25,000, whereas the shared Jeep costs NPR 1,500-2,000 per pax. Likewise, local or tourist buses are also available, costing from NPR 700-1,200 per person.

Returning from Pikey Peak (Phaplu to Kathmandu)

The trek to Pikey Peak concludes at Phaplu, a town in the Solukhumbu region. Flight, Jeep, and bus are the transportation options to return. A flight from Phaplu or Rumjatar airport to Kathmandu is possible, but the airports don’t have regular scheduled flights.

Furthermore, the plane ticket costs NPR 4,500-7,000 per person, and it takes 30 minutes to get from Phaplu airport to Kathmandu’s airport. Similarly, the Jeep costs NPR 20,000-25,000 for private and NPR 1,500-2,000 for shared, taking 8-9 hours. Moreover, a public bus costs NPR 800-1,200 per person and takes 10-12 hours.

Yes, you need travel insurance for Pikey Peak to ensure your safety and security. Trekking in Pikey involves hiking through rough sections and remote areas. Unavoidable circumstances like accidents, altitude sickness, and unpredictable weather can happen anytime during the trek. In such cases, travel insurance protects you by ensuring timely service or providing compensation if something goes wrong.

Consider buying travel insurance in your home country, as you may not find any in Nepal. When choosing insurance for the trek to Pikey Peak, ensure it covers high-altitude sickness, medical expenses, helicopter rescue for immediate help if something goes wrong, trip cancellation, and loss or delay. Moreover, buy from a reputable travel insurance company that offers trekking-specific policies and ensures 24/7 assistance.

Pikey Peak trek is a thrilling adventure, yet it isn’t without any challenges, demanding good physical fitness. Before starting on the journey, preparing physically and mentally is crucial. Preparing for a month of the journey helps handle the physical demands of trekking, reduce the risk of injury, and avoid altitude sickness. Here is the way you can prepare for the trek:

• Begin training 6-8 weeks before starting the actual trek.
• Focus on cardio exercise to improve stamina and lung capacity.
• Build leg strength, including squats and lunges, to walk uphill and downhill.
• Practice short hiking by carrying a backpack to help the shoulders and back to get used to the load.
• Improve core strength by trying planks and yoga, as they help balance and stability on rough trails.
• Stretch regularly to improve flexibility.

Packing wisely is crucial for the Pikey Peak trek. Here is an essential packing list to prepare you for varied weather and trails:

Clothing

• Base Layers
• Insulating layers
• Outer Layers
• Trekking T-shirt and pants
• Gloves
• Hat

Footwear

• Trekking boots
• Socks

Gear and Equipment

• Duffle and day backpack
• Sleeping bag
• Headlamp
• Trekking poles
• Sunglasses with UV protection
• Refillable water bottle

Personal accessories

• Toiletries
• Sunscreen
• Lip balm
• Snacks
• First Aid Kit

Other essentials

• Maps
• Passport copies
• Camera and other electrical item
• Power bank
• Cash

Island Peak is more challenging than Pikey Peak, as it sits at a higher altitude and has steeper trails. The Island Peak is 6189 m, while Pikey Peak is 4065 m. Also, Island Peak is a trekking peak and requires basic climbing skills. Trekkers must know how to use mountaineering tools like crampons, ice axes, ropes, etc., to climb Island Peak.

Pikey Peak Trek is Nepal’s “hidden gem” and an underrated trekking destination. Although considered as one of the vantage points by legendary Sir Edmund Hillary, the destination still faces less crowds, here’s why:

1. It’s a newly “discovered” trekking route:

Compared to classic trails like Everest Base Camp or Annapurna Circuit, which have been popular for many years, Pikey Peak has only gained popularity in the last 10-15 years. Also, many trekkers still don’t know it exists yet.

2. No direct flight access:

The Everest Base Camp trek starts with the famous Lukla flight, which brings thousands of trekkers to the Khumbu region every year. In contrast, reaching Pikey Peak requires a 7-8 hour drive from Kathmandu to Dhap or Jiri by jeep or bus. So, it’s unsuitable for those looking for a quick and easy entry point.

3. It isn’t as famous as Everest Base Camp:

The Everest Base Camp Trek takes you to the base of Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak. Thus, it is a bucket list for most adventure seekers. Although Pikey Peak offers amazing panoramic views of Everest and other Himalayan peaks, it isn’t as famous, so it attracts fewer trekkers.

4. It isn’t promoted as much by trekking companies:

Many trekking companies mainly promote popular routes like Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp because they attract more trekkers. Also, the trek to Pikey Peak is marketed as a lesser-known option. Thus, fewer people know about the destination, impacting the trail’s crowd.

5. It isn’t part of the Everest expedition route:

The Everest Base Camp route attracts not only regular trekkers but also climbers preparing to summit Everest, support teams, filmmakers, and media during the climbing season. Pikey Peak isn’t part of the Everest Expedition, so it naturally sees less visitors.

From Pikey Peak, you can enjoy wide, clear views of Everest and many other Himalayan mountains all at once. Many trekkers think the views from here are even more beautiful than those from the closer viewpoints on the Everest Base Camp trek.

Peaks visible from Pikey Peak summit (4,065 m):

Need more information before booking the Pikey Peak Trek? Email us at info@nepalalternativetreks.com for expert advice on itineraries, difficulty levels, packing lists, or anything else you’d like to know.