Pikey Peak Trek

a) Best Time

If you are wondering which is the best season for the Pikey Peak trekking journey, then the best choice is the fall and spring. Traveling during the best seasons will offer the peak trekking experience, with fewer obstacles on the route. An unfavorable season can add more challenges to the trek than what is already present.

The spring season is the top choice for many trekkers from around the world. This time of the year provides perfect weather with mild temperatures and clear blue skies. Along the walk, you may take in the full spectrum of flowers of all hues. You will get to experience the peak nature of the Everest region this season, which makes the journey even more memorable and pleasurable.

Another popular choice of trekkers for the Pikey Peak Trek excursion is the fall or autumn season. There will be good weather with clear skies and moderate temperatures. Observing the expansive vistas of the mountains is both thrilling and stunning. Major festivals like Dashain and Tihar add an enjoyable touch to the trek.

If you are looking to hike on sunny days with greenery all over the landscape, then summer or monsoon season can be ideal. However, with the start of this season, regular rainfall is normal, which will make the trails slippery and obstruct the best views of nature. Therefore, you should prepare carefully if you wish to travel to Nepal this season.

If you are brave enough to face the cold and relish in the beauty of snow, you might want to consider the cold months. The trails will be very peaceful, saving you from the noise of crowds. The primary challenges of this season include avalanches, extreme cold, and trail blockages due to thick snow.

b) Elevation and distance

The highest location that you will walk on this Pikey Peak trek journey is when you summit Pikey Peak at the altitude of 4065 meters above sea level. Similarly, the second highest trekking destination will be Pikey Peak Base Camp at 3640 meters. The trekking destinations on this journey are below 4100 meters, which decreases the probability of getting altitude sickness.

Besides this, you will travel 230 kilometers from Kathmandu in a local bus to reach Dhap Village in the Solukhumbu region. During the trek, you will cover approximately 28 to 34 kilometers, starting from Dhap to Jhapre, then to Pikey Peak Base Camp, ascending to Pikey Peak Summit, and finally descending to Junbesi.

c) Difficulty and altitude sickness

The Pikey Peak Trek is a usual difficulty level trek in the mountains of the Solu Khumbu region designed for both hikers with experience and those without any experience. The trekking trail will have a few ups and downs, which can be easily conquered by those with a good level of fitness. The trek requires only 5 hours of your time.

As the high destination of this trip is Pikey Peak summit at 4065 meters, the risk of altitude sickness is improbable. However, altitude sickness can affect anyone above 3500 meters; therefore, it is essential to take significant precautions to avoid this tragedy. You should know about the symptoms.

If any symptoms of altitude sickness are seen in your body, you must tell your guide instantly. If the symptoms worsen, you should descend to a lower altitude. It is better to keep medications like Diamox on hand for treating the symptoms. Therefore, it is essential to have travel insurance for emergency rescue.

d) Maximum and minimum walk per day

On this trek to Pikey Peak, you will only walk for three consecutive days out of seven days in the journey. The usual walking time for this trek is only 5 hours. The minimal walk per day will be on the third day, which is just four to five hours when you trek to Jhapre village from Dhap, the starting location of the trek.

In the same way, the maximal hike per day on this journey will be on the fifth day, which is about seven to eight hours when you trek to Pikey Peak summit from Pikey Peak Base Camp. So, just average fitness can also help you to complete this 7-day exciting journey easily.

e) Accommodation, Food and Drink

During your time in Kathmandu, Nepal, you will stay at a three-star hotel in Thamel. The rooms will be comfortable, with all of the amenities you need. However, on the Pikey Peak hiking excursion in the Khumbu region, you will spend four days at a well-maintained teahouse.

Here, the rooms are generally twin-sharing with either a standard or an attached bathroom. The owners of the teahouses are friendly and polite, ensuring your stay is pleasurable and preparing delicious meals for you. The food dishes feature a variety of traditional to international options.

You will get pancakes, muesli, eggs, toast, porridge, and tea or coffee for breakfast in the morning. Similarly, you will have options such as dal bhat, Sherpa stew, noodles, mashed potatoes, macaroni, thukpas, and others for lunch and dinner in the afternoon and evening. The meal is well-cooked and nutritious, so you’ll stay energized throughout the journey without feeling hungry.

The teahouses along the walk also sell snacks and bottled water. Teahouses sell a wide range of products, including chocolates and energy bars, cookies and biscuits, cakes and pastries, instant noodles, fresh fruits, chips, and more.However, the Pikey Peak Trek pricing package does not include food or drinks.

f) A Typical Day for trekking to Pikey Peak

Hiking to Pikey Peak is not for the faint-hearted. You need to wake up early in the morning when the light of the mountain turns the sky violet and the air is still moist with the scent of pine. After a cup of butter tea and a plate of fresh Tibetan bread, you set off on a small trail that transitions from a rhododendron tunnel to a grassy ridge.

In the middle of the day, you will stop for lunch at a trailside teahouse, where the meal will be prepared over a wood stove. The meals are usually rice and lentils with vegetables in a teahouse, helping as a family business, and together with the locals, yak-herding stories from the nearby slopes are shared.

At high noon, distant peaks like Makalu, Lhotse, and Everest emerge from hiding to reappear in your line of sight. Afterwards, you will reach your overnight stay destination and rest there. The day ends with the warmth of the tea, the fading light, and the continuous laughter by the fire.

g) Can a beginner join this trip?

The Pikey Peak Trek is accessible for people from old age to young age who have a good level of physical fitness. Whether you’re traveling with your kids or other families, this journey is sure to create countless memories at every step you take in the mountains. Before embarking on this 7-day trip, you can consult with us to know what to pack or what not to pack according to the season you are traveling in the Everest region.

h) Trekking Permits

To explore the lower region of Khumbu on the Pikey Peak Trek, you should have three trekking permits, which are listed below with brief descriptions:

i. Gauri Shankar Conservation Area Permit: This permit costs approximately $17. It will help preserve the wildlife and surroundings in the Gauri Shankar region.

ii. Sagarmatha National Park Permit: The permit to enter Sagarmatha National Park costs approximately $30. Without this permit, you cannot continue your trekking journey in the Everest region.

iii. TIMS (Trekkers’ Information Management System) card: It is also required for the Pikey Peak Trek for your registration, which will help you track in case you are in trouble and for immediate rescue operations. It will cost roughly $20.

Note: Fees can vary depending on your nationality, as well as local rules and regulations. If you are from a SAARC nation, the permit price is lower than the usual price, depending on the destination.

i) Transportation

We offer transfer services between the airport and hotel as part of the Pikey Peak Trek package. On the second day, we will use the local bus to travel from Kathmandu to Dhap. If you want to upgrade to more comfortable transportation, you can opt for a jeep instead of a local bus or a private car at an additional cost. However, we don’t cover international airfare when you fly to Nepal from your home nation.

j) What to expect from this trip?

The short Pikey Peak Trek lasts a week, where you will relish in a perfect combination of green rolling valleys, emerald hills, and swift mountain streams while journeying through well-worn paths from Dhap to the crest of Pikey Peak.

Daily, you will be presented with a new set of scenery to admire, such as the traditional Sherpa villages, homes to friendly people, the multi-colored prayer flags along the tops of green-covered ridges, and the ancient gompas hidden in the quiet places.

The elevation of 4,065 meters at Pikey Peak provides travelers with access to breathtaking views of the most prestigious peaks, including Everest, Annapurna, Makalu, and their frozen neighbors, which are especially charming at dawn on the first day.

Besides some gentle ups and downs, you will have a chance to take a nap in some welcoming hotel rooms, enjoy the company of the local people by having a conversation, and get a chance to have a feeling of being in a unique alpine atmosphere.

When you descend to Junbesi, you will not only have experienced the grandeur of the Himalayas and made cultural connections, but you will also have accomplished a great mission that will leave you with a sense of deep fulfillment on this 7-day Pikey Peak Trek adventure.