Pike Peak Trek

Pike Peak Trekking Cost

The standard price of a 12-day Pike Peak Trekking is USD 1,190 per person. The package covers all the essentials, including guide and porter fees, accommodation, meals, transportation, and flight tickets. Nepal Gateway Trekking offers a special group discount of up to USD 120, depending on the group size.

Note that rooms and services in Pikey Peak Trek are relatively basic. Unlike treks in the upper Everest region, this route has no luxury hotels. Hence, there is no option to upgrade the package based on accommodation.

However, you can start the trek with a commercial flight from Kathmandu to Phaplu rather than driving to Dhap Bazaar. If you choose this option, the flight ticket will cost you around USD 150 to 200, depending on the season.

Likewise, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly alternative, Nepal Gateway Trekking offers a porter-guide option to minimize cost. You can contact us via phone or email to customize the trip according to your preference. 

Note: It is advisable to carry an extra few hundred dollars for personal expenses during the trek.

Getting to the Trailhead

Drive to Dhap Bazaar

Your journey to Pike Peak with Nepal Gateway Trekking typically begins with a 7-hour drive from Kathmandu to Dhap Bazaar. This small village in the lower Solukhumbu region is approximately 250 kilometres from the capital city.

If you choose this option, we’ll provide a private vehicle to pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to Dhap Bazar. In the first few hours, you’ll drive through a comfortable blacktop highway alongside the Sun Koshi River.

After reaching Okhaldhunga, the roads steadily climb on a narrow road to reach Dhap Bazaar. The road condition is still decent, with occasional potholes and off-road sections. 

Flight to Phaplu

If you’re short on time, the most preferred option is to fly from Kathmandu to Phaplu. The 20-minute flight is quite scenic, offering a distant view of mountains and surrounding landscapes.

Phaplu Airport is located at an elevation of 2,413 meters and has an asphalt runway of 617 meters long. Although slightly expensive, flying is much shorter and more comfortable than driving. Direct flights from Kathmandu to Phaplu operate only two to three times a week.

If you plan to take the flight option, inform us so we can make the flight reservation accordingly.

What permits are required for Trek to Pike Peak?

You do not require any permit for Trek to Pikey Peak if you follow our standard 12-day itinerary. However, the condition is likely to change with the change in the itinerary.

If you start the Pikey Peak Trek from Shivalaya instead of Dhap Bazaar, you’ll need to acquire Gaurishankar Conservation Area Permit (GSCAP). You can obtain this permit from the checkpoint in Shivalaya or the Nepal Tourism Board office in Kathmandu. The GSCAP costs NPR 3000 per person.

Furthermore, if you combine Pikey Peak with Everest Base Camp Trek, you must obtain two permits — Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit and Sagarmatha National Park Permit.

You can get the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit for NPR 2,000 from the checkpoint at Lukla or Monjo. Likewise, you can get the Sagarmatha National Park Permit for NPR 3,000 from Monjo or Kathmandu.

How difficult is the Pike Peak Trek route?

The Pike Peak Trek route is a moderate trek in the lower Everest region. It does not include any technical sections or mountain passes. However, it requires you to walk at least 5 to 6 hours every day on the remote terrains of the lower Himalayas.

Although remote, the routes of Pikey Peak are well-maintained and marked with occasional signboards. For the most part, this trek involves easy walking, while some sections of the route include steep ascents on a slippery and rugged path, which can be exhausting for beginners.

The highest elevation point of the trek is 4,067 meters at Pikey Peak, but you will only spend a short time at this elevation. The highest sleeping point of this trek is 3,640 at Pikey Base Camp. Hence, the risk of acute mountain sickness on this trek is significantly lower than on other high-altitude treks. Regardless, you must stay cautious, maintain your pace, and drink enough water to prevent high-altitude sickness.

In a nutshell, Pikey Peak Trek is a perfect option for beginners and suits all age groups.

Training for Pikey Peak Trekking

Although Pikey Peak is not as challenging, it is a good idea to prepare and train well to make the trek easy and enjoyable. So, start a basic training program to prepare your body and mind to walk along the remote terrains of the lower Everest region, carrying a decent-size backpack. 

For a better result, it is advisable to train at least 6 to 8 weeks before the trek. Here are a few pre-trip training tips to improve your fitness level for Pikey Peak Trek:

Incorporate a 30-minute daily brisk walk into your training routine. Start with a short-distance walk and gradually increase the intensity and duration of the walks. If possible, go for a full-day hike near your hometown once a week.

Engage in steady-state cardio workouts like swimming, jogging, cycling, rowing, and rope jumping at least three to four days a week to improve your lung capacity, stamina, and overall cardiovascular fitness.

Add a few exercises to strengthen your leg muscles to improve your strength, stability, flexibility, and balance. Strong legs help you walk through the rough, uneven terrains for a long period of time without risk of injury.

Along with the leg muscles, you should strengthen your core and upper body to maintain proper posture and balance. This helps you protect your back while hiking with a backpack and prevent injury.

Add 15 to 20 minutes of regular stretching to your fitness regimen to improve body flexibility and joint mobility. Stretching also improves blood circulation, which helps you recover from sore muscles and aches.

Give your body enough time to rest and recover. It is essential to have a rest day once a week to let your muscles recover and repair after regular exercise. Adequate rest also helps to improve performance, restore energy, and prevent burnout. 

Best Time for Pikey Peak Trek

Most people will tell you that the best time to visit Pikey Peak is in autumn and spring. This is because the weather often stays dry, and the skies remain clear during these seasons.

As a matter of fact, Pikey Peak is one of the best year-round treks in Nepal. Every season brings unique elements, making this trek an attractive holiday adventure among the trekkers.

Autumn (September to November)

Autumn is by far the best time to do the Pikey Peak Trek. This season brings pleasant weather, spectacular scenery, and vibrant fall colors. The sky usually remains bright and clear in autumn, making it the best time to see the 360-degree panorama of the mountains from the top of Pikey Peak.

The temperature is cooling down around this time, with warm mid-day weather and gentle winds. Hence, this is the most favorable season for long-distance hiking.

One downside of trekking to Pikey Peak in autumn is the crowded routes and packed teahouses.

Spring (March to May)

Spring is another popular season to trek to Pikey Peak. This season brings warm mornings and hazy evenings. 

You’ll get to enjoy the panoramic mountain view from the summit of Pikey Peak during this season. However, the evenings bring thick cloud covers and low visibility, blocking the sky and mountain view.

Besides that, the wildflowers are in full bloom during the spring season. If you trek to this region during this time of the year, you’ll see the trails surrounded by colorful rhododendrons.

Winter (December to February)

Due to the low altitude, you can trek to Pikey Peak even in the winter season. The skies remain bright and clear during this time of the year. However, you’ll have to bear with the excessive cold.

The summit of Pikey Peak and its surrounding area will be covered in thick snow. Therefore, it can be a bit difficult to navigate the upper section of the trail. But the mountain scenery from the top will make the effort worthwhile, with thick snow resting on the mountains and high hills.

Note: If you’re trekking to Pikey Peak in the winter season, we recommend you carry a 20-degree sleeping bag.

Monsoon (June to August)

Monsoon is the least preferred time to trek to Pikey Peak. Due to the low altitude, the downpours in Pikey Peak Trek are excessive. Although the mornings are often clear, the weather tends to change drastically in the afternoon with cloud coverage and heavy rainfall. 

The steep sections towards the Pikey Base Camp and Pikey Peak are likely to be muddy and slippery. So, climbing up and down these sections can be a bit tricky and challenging. Besides that, leeches can be another serious problem for trekkers during the monsoon season.

Having said that, the atmosphere around Pikey Peak will be pleasant, with greenery and colorful flower blooms. Since monsoon sees the least number of visitors in Pikey Peak, you’ll have a relatively quiet and isolated trail.

Note: If you’re trekking to Pikey Peak in the monsoon season, make sure you pack a good quality waterproof jacket or poncho.

Acclimatization and Safety on Pikey Peak

With regards to its elevation, Pikey Peak Trek does not possess significant risk of acute mountain sickness (AMS). For most days, you’ll walk below the elevation of 3,500 meters in this trek. 

However, you’ll reach up to 4,067 meters at the summit of Pikey Peak, and you’ll stay overnight at 3,640 meters in Pikey Base Camp. Although this elevation is not that high, it is still high enough to cause mountain sickness. Therefore, you must stay cautious and take necessary measures to prevent it. 

It is advisable to walk at a comfortable pace and let your body acclimatize to the increasing altitudes. Likewise, stay hydrated and avoid all stimulants, including alcohol, cigarettes, and caffeine, throughout the trek.

Accommodation in Pikey Peak Trekking Route

Your accommodation in Kathmandu will be at Woodapple Hotel and Spa (or similar) in Thamel. This 3-star hotel offers first-class amenities such as luxurious rooms, a spa, a wellness center, and a rooftop restaurant, ensuring comfort and exceptional service.

While on the trek, you will stay in the local teahouses on a twin-sharing basis for overnight accommodation. Since Pikey Peak is not as commercial as other treks in Everest or Annapurna, the teahouses in this region are extremely commonplace, providing only basic amenities. The rooms are relatively smaller and include two beds, mattresses, blankets, and pillows.

Except for a few lodges in Junbesi and Phaplu, most teahouses do not have attached bathrooms. So, you’ll have to adjust to shared toilets and bathrooms.

The teahouses include a communal dining area, usually warm and cozy (heated with stoves). The dining area is generally crowded and noisy, as most trekkers use it for meals and relaxation.

Note: Unless you’re doing the Pikey Peak Trek in the depths of the winter season, you do not need to carry sleeping bags.

Meals

During your stay in Kathmandu, our standard package price only includes breakfast at the hotel.

However, we provide three daily meals—breakfast, lunch, and dinner—on the trek. While breakfasts and dinners are often served at the same teahouse where you stay overnight, lunches are served en route. Typically, these meals include a hot drink such as tea, coffee, or hot juice. 

The teahouses and restaurants in Pikey Peak offer limited food items on their menus. Dal Bhat and Sherpa stew are the favorites among the trekkers in this region. 

Other local options include momo, fried noodles, Tibetan bread, chapati, noodle soup, and fried/boiled eggs. The menu also includes limited continental options such as pasta, pancakes, and hash brown potatoes.

Likewise, beverage options are limited to ginger tea, milk tea, black tea, hot lemon, milk coffee, black coffee, soft drinks, and hot juice.

Drinking Water

Like most trekking regions, the teahouses in Pikey Peak offer tap, boiled, and bottled water. Although most teahouses have water filters, they’re rarely cleaned or maintained. So, it is advisable not to drink untreated water to avoid water-borne diseases.

Instead, carry a reusable water bottle with a straw filter and make a habit of purifying the water yourself. After filtration, use chlorine—or iodine-based purifying tablets to make the water safe and contamination-free.

Boiled water is usually safe, but you shouldn’t entirely rely on it. If possible, consider using water purification drops or tablets to stay safe. Note that teahouses are likely to charge a nominal price for boiled water.

We do not recommend buying bottled mineral water. Bottled water is generally expensive and contributes to environmental issues.

Hot Shower

Hot showers are available for a few extra dollars in Pikey Peak Trek. The teahouses in the lower region have gas or electric-powered hot showers, while the upper region offers solar-powered ones. 

While most teahouses provide running hot water for showers, a few in the upper region offer hot water buckets. The teahouses charge around USD 2 to 5 per shower.

Mobile Network and Internet Connectivity

Mobile network is available in almost the entire trail of Pikey Peak, except Bhulbhule. However, the mobile coverage is relatively weak and irregular. In some places, you might have to walk around the village to find a decent signal.

The same is true for mobile data connections. Although the data connection is available, it is too slow and unusable due to a weak signal.

If you’d like to stay connected to your family and friends, buying internet service from the teahouses is the best option. Almost all teahouses in this region provide WiFi service for a small charge of USD 3 to 7 per device.

Remember that mobile and internet connections in Pikey Peak are weather dependent. The connection is likely to be poor and irregular in bad weather conditions.

Electricity

Most teahouses along Pikey Peak Trek have solar-powered electricity. Although charging your phones and other devices is possible, it is not always guaranteed. On a cloudy or rainy day, the electricity generated by the solar panels alone may not be sufficient to charge other devices.

Therefore, it is advisable to carry a high-capacity power bank to charge your devices and spare batteries for cameras and headlights.

In bright and sunny weather, you can charge your devices for a small fee of USD 2 to 5 per device. Except for a few high-end lodges in Phaplu, the teahouses do not have charging sockets in the rooms.

They have a shared charging station in the dining area or the reception with a large multi-plug. During peak seasons, you might have to wait a few hours to charge your device.

ATMs and Money Exchange

We recommend you carry enough cash for personal expenses in Pikey Peak Trek. Most teahouses and local shops along the trail only accept Nepalese rupees (NPR).

Since there are no exchange centers or banks along the route, it is best to exchange your foreign currency in Kathmandu. For a reasonable exchange rate, you can visit any money exchange center or bank in Thamel.

Likewise, if you want to withdraw cash in Nepal, we recommend you do so in Kathmandu. The only ATM available throughout the route is in Phaplu, which is highly unreliable. There are no ATMs in the rest of the trail.

Travel Insurance

Pikey Peak is a moderate trek in the remote parts of Solukhumbu. Unlike other high-altitude treks, the risk of altitude sickness is significantly low in this trek. However, there’s always a possibility of accidents, physical injuries, or illnesses in the mountains.

Therefore, we recommend buying a valid travel insurance policy to sign up for Pikey Peak Trek with Nepal Gateway Trekking. Your insurance policy must cover:

Altitude limit of at least 4,500 meters, as you’ll be reaching 4,067 meters at Pikey Peak.

Medical expenses, including altitude sickness, accidents, and general illness.

Trip cancellation, including reimbursement of flight change fees.

Emergency evacuation by helicopter or ambulance (even though the possibility is the bare minimum).

Guide and Porter Information

Nepal Gateway Trekking will provide an English-speaking professional trekking guide with an experienced team of Sherpas and porters to lead the Pikey Peak Trek. Our guides and porters have more than a decade of experience in operating high-altitude treks. Hence, their knowledge and expertise regarding the region's culture, history, and natural essence are top-notch.

Besides that, our guides and porters are first-aid certified to provide emergency assistance and ensure the safety of our clients. They are experts in maintaining the pace according to the altitude, terrain, and distance to help you conserve energy and prevent burnout.

Gratitude for the Trekking Crew

Tipping is not compulsory but a matter of personal appreciation. It is an excellent way to express gratitude for the service of the guides and trekking crew. It helps encourage them to improve their service and support their income.

If you plan to offer tips to the team, we suggest you collect the money and give it to the guide, who’ll split it equally among the members. Additionally, you can donate your used gear, including jackets, boots, shirts, hats, and trekking poles.