One of the best alternatives to Everest Base Camp Trek, Pikey Peak Trek is a newly explored destination of Nepal situates in the lower Khumbu region.
Pikey peak is a great vantage point itself that offers mesmerizing sunrise and sunset views along with the views of glittering mighty peaks as Everest (8848m), Kanchenjunga (8586m), Makalu (8463m), Lhotse (8414m), and Numbur Himal to the North and deep valleys dropping away into the clouds to the south.
As Sir Edmund Hillary mentioned, Pikey Peak is his favorite point to view Everest, people then began to visit this vantage point. This place carries cultural importance, as well as Sherpas, believe that their clan god lives at Pikey Peak and people gather, worship, and pray during the month of July.
The lustrous valleys, antique religious shrines as Mane walls, Chortens and monasteries, gorgeous vegetation, and rhododendron forests are other attractions of this trekking route.
Along with its tranquil landscapes, unique Sherpa and Rai culture, and beautiful mountain views trekkers are offered to have the picturesque views of sunrise and sunset along with distinctive way of living and cultures of the Sherpa people.
The journey to Pikey Peak commences with a scenic drive to Dhap Bazaar from Kathmandu which takes approximately 7-8 hours.
The actual trek commences from this very place and passes a plethora of ethnic settlements, changed landscapes, mesmerizing wildflowers including rhododendrons, lush valleys, antique monasteries, and beautiful vegetation combined with astonishing sunrise and sunset views.
Continuing the journey, you reach Pikey Peak on the 3rd day of the trek. Having 360 panoramic views of the surroundings including a number of world-class peaks, you trek to Loding and further to Phaplu before flying back to Kathmandu.
| Day | Highlight | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrival in Kathmandu (1350 m/4428 ft) | Kathmandu |
| Day 2 | Drive to Dhap Bazaar (3150 m/10334 ft) | Dhap Bazaar |
| Day 3 | Trek to Jhapre (2820 m/9251ft) | Jhapre |
| Day 4 | Trek to Pikey Base Camp (3640 m/11942 ft) | Pikey Base Camp |
| Day 5 | Sunrise at Pikey Peak (4065 m /13336 ft), Trek to Loding (2515 m/8251 ft) | Loding |
| Day 6 | Trek to Junbesi (2700 m/8856 ft) and Visit Thubtenchoeling Monastery | Junbesi |
| Day 7 | Trek to Phaplu (2380 m/7808 ft) | Phaplu |
| Day 8 | Fly back to Kathmandu(1350 m/4429 ft) | Kathmandu |
| Day 9 | Final Departure |
One of the airport representatives from Holy Mountain Treks awaits you to welcome you outside the terminal gate of Tribhuvan International Airport. Upon your arrival, he/she will offer you a garland and shifts you to your hotel via the windy streets of Kathmandu.
After checking in, you take a rest or stroll around the streets of Thamel, a tourist hub in Kathmandu for some souvenirs. As there are no other scheduled programs, can relax in the hotel or just ramble around the streets of Thamel-the tourist hub of Kathmandu.
In the evening, you will meet your trekking leader who shall explore concerning the upcoming journey to Pikey Peak. You can do the last-minute shopping if some trekking gear and equipment needed from the shops nearby.
After an early meal, we leave our hotel for our scenic journey to lower Khumbu. The journey continues following the BP Highway passing the changing terrains of Bhaktapur, Cavre, Sindhuli, Udayapur, Okhaldhunga, and finally reaching the Solukhumbu districts of eastern Nepal. The route today is blacktopped mostly except for some graveled ones.
Along with the local settlements, one gets panoramic views of torrential rivers including Tamakoshi, Sunkoshi, Bhotekoshi, and Dudhkoshi, lush vegetation, rhododendron hills, and magnificent waterfalls.
Enjoy our lunch at half of the journey and will get typical Dal-Bhat usually. After lunch, the journey offers spectacular views of the mountain ranges including Mt. Gaurishanker, Mt. Number, and their neighboring peaks. Ultimately, we reach the village of Dhap and stay overnight there.
After breakfast, we start our trek towards Jhapre initially walking the dusty road reaching Sigane. Following the bumpy road, we shall walk witnessing the panoramic views of the mountain ranges including the Number Himal ranges.
Walking further after lunch, one can have vivid scenery of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and several others. Our journey will be stopped reaching the ethnic village of Jhapre. After check-in at the hotel, we shall rest for a while. Then we shall go around to explore the stupas and monasteries nearby.
Leaving Jhapre, we climb up via grassy ridges reaching Bhulbhule; a place with panoramic views of Mt. Everest. After Bhulbhule, the trail splits and turns right towards Pikey Peak passing some of the old houses and yak sheds.
A long Mane wall is on the way and the trail passes below the Taklung Danda and passes via gorgeous forested trails that contain numerous rhododendron trees and other wildflowers. Passing the forests, the trail continues for the next 2 hours reaching Pikey Peak Base Camp. We shall spend our overnight there.
Beginning early in the morning, we ascend towards Pikey Peak gradually. Once we reached there, we get the panoramic views of the Himalayas as like Mt. Everest (8848m), Number Chuli (6959m), Thamserku (6608m), Kangtega (6685m), Khatang (6853m), Kanchenjunga (8586m), Manaslu (8163m), Dhaulagiri (8167m), Gaurishankar (7134m), Dorje Lakpa (6966m) and Langtang.
Capturing the breathtaking views of the sunrise and sceneries around, we trek down following the way of Loding. The trail passes via some of the steep sections inside the deeply forested lands.
With the lustrous sceneries of the surroundings, we reach the village of Loding and spend overnight. This place has a couple of choices for accommodation and eateries and mostly are charming and basic ones.
The journey continues downward via ridges reaching Jase Bhanjyang. Further walking onwards, we can choose either of the routes to reach Junbesi.
The most likely is a stunning shortcut trail that leaves the ridge shortly after Jase and descends steeply through spectacular old-growth forest to Taktor. This path meets the Everest Base Camp trail coming from Jiri.
Walking approximately for the next 2 hours, we shall reach Junbesi, a traditional Sherpa village elevated at 2700m above sea level. It is considered a cradle of Sherpa culture and architecture. Along the way, you can witness a couple of Buddhist monuments. Reaching Junbesi, we shall check in the teahouse and get some refreshment.
In the late afternoon, we shall go to visit Thubtenchoeling Monastery. Elevated at stands at an altitude of 3050 meters this monastery is known as the little Tibet where you will get to learn about the ancient and traditional Tibetan Medical Therapy.
The monastery is also popular as a center of religious tourism and its reputation has further been boosted by the fame of the most revered His Holiness Trulshi Rinpoche who passed away into Parinirvana only a few years ago. Exploring this sacred monument, we hike back to our teahouse and spend it overnight.
Following the dusty trail, we trek following Junbesi Khola till we reach a steel suspension bridge. Crossing the river, we reach Beni Ghat. Continue the trek following the forested lands, pastures, large meadows with the scenic beauty of the landscapes, Himalayan ranges, and terrains until we reach Phaplu.
In the evening, participate in Sherpa cultural programs and enjoy the last night in the Himalayas.
We bid farewell to the Himalayas and board our plane for the flight back to Kathmandu. Spending about 35 minutes in the craft, we land at Kathmandu Airport and a private vehicle awaits us to shift our hotel.
The rest of the time either we can rest in the hotel or visit some cultural, religious, and historical shrines situated inside Kathmandu valley. The UNESCO World Heritage Sites as Swyambhunath, three durbar squares (Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur) Swyambhunath, Boudhanath, and Changunarayan are some of the touristic zones which can be explored this very day.
We are leaving Kathmandu today after an epic journey of the lower Khumbu region of Nepal. One of the representatives from Holy Mountain Treks shifts you to the airport 3 hours before our scheduled flight.
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