Pikey Peak trek: views of Mount Everest | 8 days

Today you’ll drive from Kathmandu to the starting point of your trek in Dhap. It’s quite a long and adventurous drive!

Travel time: approx. 9 hours
Travel distance: approx. 250 km

Travel to Dhap – a comfortable start
Although it is possible to travel to Dhap by local bus, we recommend taking a private jeep for this long journey. The road is bumpy and long, and a jeep offers significantly more comfort, safety, and flexibility—ideal for starting your trek on a relaxed note.

From Dhap, you begin your trek until you reach the village of Sigane. Around Sigane, several snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas peek out; the Numbur Himal range.
From Sigane, you’ll first follow a road under construction until you arrive in the village of Jhapre (2,920 m), which lies just above a deep valley. From Jhapre, you’ll have a stunning view of Everest. Here, you’ll visit a beautiful Buddhist stupa and gompa.

After Jhapre, you’ll hike over a green hill to Bhulbhule, where you’ll have a beautiful view of the Everest mountain range. Further on, the trail splits, and you’ll take the path to the right toward Pikey Peak. You’ll walk past a long wall of mani stones and pass a few old houses. The trail continues along a slope through the forest.
If you do this trek in the spring, beautifully colored rhododendrons bloom along the path. Once you emerge from the forest, it’s about a 2-hour walk to Pikey Peak Base Camp, where you’ll spend the night.
The summit of Pikey Peak isn’t too far, but we recommend waiting until the next morning to hike there. From Pikey Peak, the sunrise over the Himalayas is breathtakingly beautiful!

Today is the highlight of your trek! Early in the morning, you’ll hike along a gently ascending trail lined with fluttering prayer flags to Pikey Peak. On a clear day, the view is breathtaking. You’ll be rewarded with a panoramic vista stretching from Annapurna to Everest and all the way to Kanchenjunga.
After you’ve fully enjoyed the view, you’ll follow a mostly flat ridge. Once you enter the forest, the trail becomes steeper. You’ll have breakfast in the next village, Jase Bhanjyang. Afterward, you’ll continue hiking through the forest, passing a few steep sections, until you arrive in Loding.

“I would rate the view from Pikey Peak as the finest in all of Nepal.”
— Sir Edmund Hillary

Sir Edmund Hillary was a New Zealand mountaineer and one of the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest, alongside Tenzing Norgay, in 1953. His name is inextricably linked with the Himalayas. The fact that he, of all people, described the view from Pikey Peak as the most beautiful in all of Nepal makes this place all the more special.

Today you’ll walk along a beautiful path that descends steeply through an ancient forest to Taktor. You’ll join the trail followed by trekkers walking from Jiri to Everest Base Camp. Before Lukla Airport existed, almost everyone took this route, but now it’s much quieter. It’s still used, so you’re likely to meet other trekkers here for the first time. The tea houses are also more developed from this point onwards.
From Taktor, it is another couple of hours’ walk to your destination for today: Junbesi. Junbesi is a traditional Sherpa village and the cradle of Sherpa culture. The Sherpas regard the Solu Khumbu as a sacred valley. In this part of Nepal, bordering Tibet, Buddhism flourishes and the area is dotted with stupas and Buddhist monasteries.
Junbesi is also home to the largest Tibetan monastery in the Nepalese mountains: the Thupten Choeling Monastery. It is home to a monastic community of over 500 Buddhist monks and nuns.

You leave Junbesi and continue the trek to Taksindu. After crossing the river, you climb through a forest to Salung. From here, on a clear day, you can see both Mount Everest (8,848 m) and Makalu (8,481 m). The view across the valley below to Chiwong Monastery and Phaplu is also stunning.
You continue along the path and descend to a small stream. Afterwards, you make a short climb to Ringmo, a village known for its apple orchards and delicious apple products such as apple cider and apple pie. After this village, you make one final short climb to Taksindu La (pass), enjoy the stunning views once more, and then descend further to Taksindu, where you will spend the night.
In Taksindu there is a Buddhist monastery which can usually be visited early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

Today is your last day of walking. You’ll take a lovely path down through the forest. You can also walk to Chiwong Monastery. This monastery is situated on a cliff, offering a beautiful view of the valley. It is here that the Mani Rimdu festival takes place in the autumn.
Continue walking down to Phaplu. In the evening, you’ll have every reason to celebrate: you’ve completed a wonderful trek.

Mani Rimdu Festival
Mani Rimdu is an important Buddhist festival celebrated annually in monasteries in the Everest region, such as Chiwong and Tengboche Monasteries. During the festival, monks perform impressive masked dances and rituals to bless the good and ward off evil. It takes place in autumn (October/November) and offers a unique insight into the spiritual life of the Sherpa community.

Your journey has come to an end. Today you will leave the mountains and travel by private jeep from Phaplu to Kathmandu. In Kathmandu, you will say goodbye to your guide and porter.

Travel time: approx. 9 to 10 hours
Travel distance: approx. 270 km

Return journey from Phaplu – Kathmandu
The journey from Phaplu to Kathmandu can also be made by domestic flight. However, please bear in mind that these flights are not operated daily and are highly dependent on the weather. In foggy or cloudy conditions, they are often cancelled at the last minute. To avoid delays, many travellers therefore opt for the jeep journey – a more reliable and flexible alternative.

The best months are October through mid-December and then March through the end of April. During these periods, the weather is clear, the path is easily accessible and the views are at their best. It can get cold in winter, but the air is often crystal clear.

The trek is moderately challenging and requires a good level of fitness. You’ll walk for an average of 5 to 6 hours a day, with a few steep climbs, particularly towards the summit of Pikey Peak (4,065 m). As you’ll have plenty of time to acclimatise and the walking pace is leisurely, this trek is suitable for fit walkers aged 55 and over.

Yes. The route is safe and peaceful, and you’ll be travelling with an experienced English-speaking guide who knows the area well. You’ll never be far from villages or help. Our organisation keeps track of your whereabouts and is in contact with your guide throughout the trip.

The trip begins with a private jeep ride of a few hours from Kathmandu. This is included in your travel package. The route to the starting point is bumpy in places, but perfectly manageable.

Connection is limited. Some villages have mobile coverage but no Wi-Fi. Expect to be offline for a few days. You might want to bring a power bank, as you won’t be able to charge your devices everywhere.

You’ll be staying in simple mountain lodges (tea houses) with basic rooms and shared bathrooms. There’s usually a hot meal, a cosy spot by the wood-burning stove and plenty of hospitality. Don’t expect luxury, but do expect charm and a warm welcome.

A complete packing list to guide you on the Pikey Peak trek will be sent to you after you’ve booked, but in any case:

– Walking shoes with good tread
– Warm, layered clothing (especially for nights near the summit)
– Down jacket
– Rainwear or poncho
– Sleeping bag (comfort rating down to -10°C)
– Reusable water bottle with filter or purification tablets
– Walking poles (optional, but useful)
– Head torch, snacks and sun protection

Your main luggage will be carried by a porter, with a maximum of 18 kg per two trekkers. You will only be carrying a daypack yourself.

Pikey Peak is just over 4,000 metres high, but the ascent is gradual. This means the risk of altitude sickness is low. Your guide will keep a close eye out for any signs of it, and plenty of time will be allowed for acclimatisation. Drink plenty of water and let us know straight away if you feel unwell. In that case, we will look into the possibility of sleeping at a lower altitude.

Speak to your guide. They will work with you to see where you might be able to adjust or shorten the Pikey Peak route. If necessary, we will arrange local transport or alternative accommodation. Your safety and comfort are always our top priority.