Pikey Peak Trek – 9 Days

Short Pikey Peak Trek: Best Season

The Pikey Peak trek due to its relatively lower altitude is an all-season trek wonderful to experience in spring, winter, and autumn. The rainy season is less suitable due to slippery roads and high monsoon rain.

March marks the beginning of spring which exists till May dissipating the winter chill with heat increasing to 28 degrees Celsius. The forest trail gets abundance with the full bloom of rhododendrons and orchids while the sun frequently plays hide and seek never showering the heavy water.

From September, the autumn heat of 23 degrees Celsius starts to settle around the Pikey region till November bestowing the warm sun all through the day with the excellent panorama of the Khumbu and Annapurna Himal.

Winter starts to enter from December onward till February with the heat often plummeting to 0 or less around the Pikey Base camp and the summit. The presence of thick snow is nothing but all the way manageable.

The humid rain showers from June existing till August often drench the jungle trail into rivers which will be quite unpleasing for trekking.

Pikey Peak Trek 9 Days Adventure: Difficulty

Acknowledged as the hiking summit, Pikey Peak with its 4065 m elevation is therefore the easiest Himalayan mountain to conquer. Without physical training, experience, and advanced technical skills, the summit can be triumphed easily within two hours from its base.

If you are new to climbing and mountaineering and still want to take pride in conquering a Himalayan peak in Nepal, choose Pikey Peak. In terms of the walking trail, it belongs to profile 2 moderate level with more or less straightforward and signposted trails.

En route, there will be several ridges to cross, typical of Nepal’s mountainous trails. However, the entire route is devoid of any high passes, very steep inclinations, and hills.

However, the presence of the deep jungle, the rivers to cross, the steep stone steps to ascend and descend, and each day’s walking time of up to 6 hours has to be considered.

Additionally, keep in mind that less tourist traffic trail means astounding nature but at the same time less comfortable lodging and utilities for which you should have the mindset to accept these drawbacks for a few days.

Suitable Candidate for our Pikey Peak Trek Itinerary

The Pikey Peak trek itinerary is just nine days long spanning over the length of only 94 km. Thus, the entire walking segment can be taken very leisurely at a gradual pace without overexerting oneself.

The trail to the summit top does have some vertical and difficult sections but they are not overly demanding. Also, we have taken measures to limit the daily elevation change limit within 1000 m making it accessible for all individuals of all types of abilities.

You will also have the company and all the time support of our Adventure Walk Way expert guide and porters ensuring you remain safe and have a pleasant and satisfying journey.

Thus, our Pikey Peak trek is a trip made for anyone and every one of different ages, skills, caliber, gender, and experience. So we call all the adventurists, naturalists, culturalists, and historians to reach out to Pikey Peak once.

Although we do suggest people who have chronic ailments to once go to their doctors for comprehensive review before joining our short Pikey Peak trek.

Altitude Sickness and Acclimatization

Pikey Peak trek in terms of altitude is slightly lower than the other Himalayan treks in Nepal but still, the climax altitude reaches 4065 m within a fifth day of the Pikey Peak trek itinerary.

The altitude variation on the trekking section is also comparable to the EBC trek as it will also lead you to 2850 m elevation in Dhap instantly on the second day.

The latter days till the summit ascent will keep you ascending with your highest sleep occurring at 3640 m height at the summit base camp. However, you will have very short exposure to the high altitude thus limiting the chances of acute mountain sickness/AMS.

But please remember, it will be limited and not completely eliminated so you may still have minor signs such as disorientation, nausea, sleeplessness, slight swelling, and headache.

All these will disappear if you keep hydrating yourself and rest at the same altitude for a night. Remember, not to hurry your pace; it is wise to be behind but not in front completely exhausted and stressed.

If you think being new to 4000 m can make you more vulnerable to AMS, then Diamox can help you to adjust quickly to the Pikey Air. If still, you still have these minor signs present for a day or so, then you should go to the lower area with our guide.

To facilitate your adjustment to the altitude, our Pikey Peak trek itinerary consist of moderate walking days and a rest day in Junbesi.

Training and Prep for the Pikey Peak Trek

The Pikey Peak trek contains some long vertical stone steps, and hilly ridges along with high-hung hemp bridges to cross. Plus, the path to the summit is also quite demanding thus complying you to be moderately fit and healthy.

The trekking route also demands from you the capability of walking for six hours each day till the penultimate days of the trek arrive. Thus, we encourage you to allocate one month in advance as preparation time for this adventure.

No fancy routine is needed but simple everyday activities such as cycling, swimming, jogging, walking, running, and stair climbing will train you perfectly for the Pikey Peak trek.

Just make sure to give continuity to your routine and do not overdo it. A rest in between is also a requirement not to over stress your muscles. Some other activities that you can integrate for your leg muscles include rope skipping, pull-ups, squats, and push-ups.

Please also know about the Pikey Peak route, its general weather, the lifestyle, and the lodgings available in the area.

Alternate Pikey Peak Trek Route and Extension

One other possible route exists that will take you to Pikey Peak Summit. This route navigates through Bhandar, Namkheli, and Golla hamlets before rejoining the path towards the Pikey Base Camp. This route was once walked by Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hilary back in 1953.

You don’t have to spare any extra days for taking this route but will reward you with much more rural lifestyle of Nepal. If you wish to extend your adventure, then you can choose to hike further towards Everest Base Camp as well.

Give nine more days and travel the path through Nunthala from Junbesi. Another extension could be a trek to the spiritual Dudhkunda Lake for which you will have to direct yourself towards Taksindu and Saharsabeni from Junbesi. Adding one or two more days to our Pikey Peak Trek itinerary will take you to Dudhkunda Lake’s higher grounds.

Accommodation, Dining, and Transportation

During your Pikey Peak trek 9 days journey, you will rest at night at comfortable traditional tea houses run by locals. You will generally two beds in a room provided with blankets, mattress and pillows. A single room can be arranged sometimes but it becomes rare as we reach high rise villages.

You also have to be prepared for the share bathrooms, and dining areas. Charging your mobile and camera along with hot water and WiFi may be available but at added nominal fee.

Our guide will make sure you get to sleep at the best lodges on the route with a safe and pleasant environment. There is no need for staying at camp at the base camp as although modest, the tea houses are present for warm sleep.

When walking on the Pikey trail, three meals a day everyday to be selected from the teahouse menu will be available. Mostly the dishes will revolve around the Nepali items such as Dal Vat and momos but you may also get to eat muesli, eggs, noodles and pancakes on the lower trail.

For your travel to Dhap from Kathmandu, a private jeep will be arranged by us and so is for the travel to Kathmandu from Phaplu. We will also foresee your hotel transfers and if requested, a flight can also be organized to Kathmandu from Phaplu.

Permits for the Pikey Peak Trek

Pikey Peak being officially acknowledged as the trekking summit do not necessitate the climbing permit as for the Himalayan Peaks in Nepal. But certain permits are applicable for the trekking portion which are the permits for the Sagarmatha and Gaurishankar Area and the local permit for Khumbu Area.

The Sagarmatha and Gaurishankar park and conservation area permits can be pre-organized through the Tourism center in Kathmandu at NPR 3000 for each tourists while the Khumbu Area permit can only be organized in Dhap at NPR 2000 for each traveler.

All the fees related to the permits have already been incorporated in our total Pikey Peak trek cost. Our team in Kathmandu and our guide will look after the official application procedure of the permits.

Travel Insurance

Please know that the travel insurance has been made compulsory in Nepal for all forms of mountain trekking trips. Without the correct type of travel insurance plan, trekkers will not receive their permits. Kindly understand that your regular insurance will not be applicable here.

You will need to have the insurance that covers the hiking actions in the high mountain grounds which your standard insurance plan will not provide.

For the Pikey Peak trek, you should mention your ultimate hiking altitude up to 4100 m. In case of any accidents, falls, injuries, or altitude sickness, or if you find yourself stranded, your insurer will cover you for helicopter rescue and emergency flights up to the mentioned altitude.

Please also remember to include medical coverage that will look after your expenses regarding hospitalization, medical bills, and treatments.

You should also protect yourself from other mishaps that may happen during any kind of international travel, such as loss of baggage, theft, robbery, damage to your personal equipment, extended stays, and trip delays or cancellations.