Pikey Peak Trek
Overview
Explore the Hidden Trails of Solu: Pikey Peak Trek Overview
Far from the busy trails around Everest, the Solu region rewards trekkers with a sense of authenticity and calm. The landscapes unfold gradually: rolling hills, dense rhododendron and pine forests, open yak pastures, and wide Himalayan horizons. Along the way, daily life continues much as it has for generations, offering meaningful interactions with local people and insight into their customs, beliefs, and spiritual traditions.
Monasteries and chortens punctuate the trail, reflecting the deep-rooted Buddhist culture of the region. Prayer flags flutter in the wind, prayer wheels line village paths, and the sound of chanting often drifts through the valleys, creating a peaceful and reflective atmosphere.
The highlight of the journey is the ascent of Pikey Peak (4,068 m), a sacred mountain named after Chyabo Pikey, the Sherpa deity of the West. From its summit, trekkers are rewarded with one of the finest panoramic views in Nepal. On clear days, the horizon reveals a breathtaking lineup of Himalayan giants, including Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, and Annapurna. This unforgettable viewpoint perfectly captures the natural beauty and spiritual depth of the Solu region.
Itinerary
Expand AllFlight from Europe to Kathmandu. Arrival is usually on Day 2. Upon arrival, you will be warmly welcomed by our local team and transferred to your hotel in a private vehicle (approximately 1 hour). Your first impressions of Kathmandu include lively streets, colorful markets, and famous temples with a traditional pagoda-style roofs.
- Meals: Breakfast (not included) / Lunch (not included) / Dinner (not included)
- Accommodation: Hotel in Kathmandu
We leave Kathmandu by private vehicle for the scenic drive to Phaplu. The road winds through green valleys, terraced hillsides, traditional villages, and panoramic viewpoints. Some sections of the road are rough, making the journey slow but rewarding. We arrive in Phaplu in the late afternoon.
- Note: Flights to Phaplu exist but are irregular and often canceled.
- Driving time: 8 hours
- Altitude: 2,470 m
- Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
- Accommodation: Lodge
We begin trekking towards the village of Jambuk, where we stop for lunch. In the afternoon, we climb up to Chiwong Gompa, a spectacular monastery perched high above the Phaplu Valley. From here, enjoy impressive views of Numbur (6,958 m) and Katang (6,852 m). Founded in 1923, Chiwong is one of the most important monasteries in Sherpa country and hosts the Mani Rimdu festival every November.
- Walking time: 2 hours
- Elevation gain: +130 m
- Altitude: 2,600 m
- Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
- Accommodation: Lodge
A gentle trekking day with minimal elevation changes. We walk through peaceful landscapes to Ringmo, a charming village surrounded by orchards, especially apple trees. Ringmo lies along the trail leading to Thupten Chöling Monastery.
- Walking time: 4 hours
- Elevation: +400 m / -200 m
- Altitude: 2,720 m
- Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
- Accommodation: Lodge
Today’s trek begins with a beautiful ascent through rhododendron forests, offering stunning views of Thamserku, Mera Peak, Numbur, and other Everest-region peaks. After crossing the pass, we descend to Thupten Chöling, one of the most important and authentic monasteries in Sherpa country. Founded in the 1960s by Trulshig Rinpoche, the monastery houses over 400 Nyingma monks and nuns. Free time to explore the monastery and surroundings.
- Walking time: 6 hours
- Elevation: +750 m / -550 m
- Altitude: 2,920 m
- Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
- Accommodation: Lodge
This is the most demanding day of the trek. We follow the Taktor Khola valley before climbing steeply through dense rhododendron and conifer forests. From the Pabu Danda Pass (3,730 m), we enjoy a magnificent panoramic view before descending to Jase Bhanjyang.
- Walking time: 7 hours
- Elevation: +850 m / -400 m
- Altitude: 3,550 m
- Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
- Accommodation: Lodge
An early start for the ascent of Pikey Peak, rewarded with breathtaking 360° Himalayan views—from the Annapurnas in the west to Kanchenjunga in the east, including Everest. After enjoying the summit, we descend to Pikey Peak Base Camp for the night.
- Walking time: 4 hours
- Elevation: +520 m / -370 m
- Altitude: 3,700 m
- Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
- Accommodation: Lodge
If weather conditions were poor the previous day, there is an optional return ascent to Pikey Peak. We then descend to Naur (3,400 m) to visit a local cheese factory before continuing to Goli Gompa, the spiritual heart of the region with several monasteries.
- Walking time: 5 hours
- Elevation: -700 m
- Altitude: 3,000 m
- Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
- Accommodation: Lodge
We descend towards Namkheli village, cross the Likhi Khola river, and then climb steadily to the Bandhar plateau, where we rejoin the classic Everest trekking route.
- Walking time: 5 hours
- Elevation: +600 m / -1,450 m
- Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
- Accommodation: Lodge
We climb to the Deurali Pass (2,700 m) before a long descent to Shivalaya, a large riverside village. This historic route was followed by Sir Edmund Hillary in 1953 and remains scenic and unspoiled.
- Walking time: 5 hours
- Elevation: +500 m / -900 m
- Altitude: 1,790 m
- Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
- Accommodation: Lodge
Our final trekking day begins with a steady climb to the Mali Danda Pass (2,335 m), followed by an easy descent to Jiri.
- Walking time: 4 hours
- Elevation: +600 m / -400 m
- Altitude: 1,995 m
- Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
- Accommodation: Lodge
We drive back to Kathmandu by private vehicle, arriving in the late afternoon.
- Driving time: 8 hours
- Meals: Breakfast (not included) / Lunch (not included) / Dinner (not included)
- Accommodation: Hotel in Kathmandu
A full day exploring the Kathmandu Valley. We visit Bhaktapur, the beautifully preserved medieval city known for its exquisite architecture, then continue to Boudhanath, home to Nepal’s largest stupa and a major center of Tibetan Buddhism.
- Meals: Breakfast / Lunch (not included) / Dinner (not included)
- Accommodation: Hotel in Kathmandu
Transfer to the airport for your return flight .
Note:
If you have a private group and prefer a personalized experience, we can organize a custom trip tailored to your requirements and group size, running it any day you choose.
Plan a Private TripIncluded & Excluded
Included Points
Excluded Points
Trip Information
Pikey Peak Trek Details
Your guide, from your arrival in Kathmandu until your departure, is responsible for the success of your trip and oversees your team. Do not hesitate to ask him questions, respect his position as the team leader, and above all follow his advice! Often your guide is the only English-speaking member of the team. In the mountains and, especially when during high-altitude travels, your guide is responsible for the safety of the group. The instructions he gives and the remarks he makes to all participants must be carefully followed. The interest and safety of the trekking group must be preserved, even when it may be to the detriment of an individual member of the group.
Your Nepalese team may consist of several people, each with different responsibilities. They are:
- The Guide Leader (Sirdar) is responsible for and the leader of the whole team and is treated with respect by all. Often he has earned his position by starting as a porter and rising through the ranks.
- The Assistant Guide: is actively helping clients under the leader’s direction and set camp.
- The Porter is the load carrier for the trekking group. As Nepal is a mountain country with few roads, porters are employed to carry loads. Compliance with regulations and common courtesy dictates the maximum weight carried and the minimum wage paid. Porters are provided with gear based on the routes they follow and with insurance for alpine treks.
( from 4 people of the group of trekkers: we will provide 1 Leader Guide, 1 Assistant Guide, And 2 porters ) . Nepalese teams depend on the Number of Clients and the area of trekking
Each trekker is allotted the following maximum weights per person: For Lodge (tea house) Accommodations trek:15 kg maximum;
Additionally, the Alpinist Club ensures that insurance is provided for the guide and porters. They are also equipped with specific gear for crossing high-altitude passes.
Accommodations in Kathmandu
In Kathmandu, you will be accommodated in a hotel. We use different hotels depending on availability. The two preferred hotels are:
- Hotel Himalayan Suite: Located in the heart of Thamel, this hotel is ideal for walking the bustling streets of Kathmandu. The spacious rooms all have a bathroom, air conditioning, and Wi-Fi. A fully equipped and active dining room is available for all meals, and the breakfast buffet offers a wide choice of foods. The hotel offers currency exchange, laundry services, and luggage storage.
- Sampada Garden: Located just 20 minutes on foot from Thamel and Durbar Square, this hotel is convenient for exploring Kathmandu. The rooms have all the comforts for your stay: air conditioning, bathroom, and Wi-Fi. Breakfasts are served as a generous buffet. The hotel provides currency exchange, laundry services, and luggage storage.
Meal in Kathmandu: Upon arrival in Kathmandu, a welcome dinner is provided on the first evening. Similarly, upon return from the expedition, a farewell meal is provided. In the cities, many small (or large) restaurants allow us to discover the typical local cuisine.
Accommodation and Meals during the pikey Peak
For lodge accommodation: during the Everest Base Camp, you will stay in the lodge or Tea House with twin shared bedrooms. The lodge is good in the Everest Region, and we will provide you with a room with an attached bathroom ( Lukla, Phakding, Namche, Phortse, and Dingboche ) at lobuche and Gorakshep have only normal rooms.
Meal in Everest Base Camp: for this trek Meals are prepared by the Lodge's cook and served in the dining room.
Here is a typical one-day menu:
- Breakfast: eggs, toast or chapati, or Tibetan bread or pancakes, or pancakes, butter/jam, ginger honey, tea or coffee
- Lunch: a main course, tea or coffee
- Dinner: soup, main course, fruit (fresh or canned), tea or coffee. During the trek, tea or coffee is served with meals. Two cups per person are included. Apart from these included menus, other drinks and foodstuffs will be at your expense.
- Water: We provide water purification tablets. and recommended to bring refilling bottles with purified water. Avoid buying mineral water due to its environmental impact.
Pikey Peak Physical level
This program is designed for those who exercise regularly, especially in endurance activities. You only need to carry a daypack with essentials. The trek lasts 19 days, with daily hikes of 6 to 7 hours and altitude changes between 400 m and 1,350 m. The Everest Base Camp (5,360 m) often has snow later in the season.
Preparation for the Pikey Peak
Preparing for the trek requires several months of preparation with 4 to 6-hour walks every weekend for stamina and participating in a sport that requires short periods of high exertion.
Medical check-up before going to Pikey Peak trek
Being in good health is essential to fully enjoying your Alpinist Club trip. If your last medical visit was more than four years ago, please get another general physical exam and tell your doctor the nature of your trip (climate, altitude, difficulty, etc.). The altitude also has the effect of reviving dental problems or other chronic pain, so getting a dental checkup is also prudent. If you are undertaking a high-altitude expedition, we advise you to consult a mountain medicine specialist.
Acute Mountain Sickness in Pikey Peak Trek
This trip takes place at high altitudes, so some people may experience altitude-related discomforts like headaches, loss of appetite, and swelling of limbs. Most of these symptoms usually go away within a few days, but sometimes they can develop into a serious illness: pulmonary or cerebral edema. There are no preventive drugs for AMS. Diamox diuretic is often effective for symptomatic relief, but you should first check with your doctor to verify that it is not contraindicated for you. Think about it before you go.
Group size for the Pikey Peak Trek
The group is composed of 1 to 10 participants maximum. The number of participants is voluntarily limited to allow a better immersion, to not embarrass our hosts, to develop spaces of freedom and to allow a great flexibility of operation. However, the maximum number can be exceeded in the case where the last person who registers wishes to travel with another or several other people. The services will not be modified and the conditions of the trip will be identical as a result.
Personal Equipment for Trekking
Personal equipment is not provided, but a complete list will be shared later. We will refine the list with you during the preparation days and up until departure based on your questions.
High-altitude sleeping bags and quality down jackets are costly items you may not use often. We offer these specific items for rent during the trek. You must return the equipment clean and in good condition, with a deposit required.
Safety During the Pikey Peak trek
Safety has always been our top priority at Alpinist. Our team of expert guides is dedicated to leading a fun and successful climb while ensuring safety remains uncompromised. We plan carefully, considering daily weather forecasts and paying diligent attention as we venture into high altitudes. Throughout the journey, we carry comprehensive medical kits, rescue equipment, and reliable radio and satellite communication gear.
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