Pikey Peak Trek: One of Nepal's Best Short Treks - 7 Days

Day 1: Welcome to Kathmandu!

It's a beautiful flight into the Kathmandu Valley, with views of the Himalaya and terraced valley floor. Upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, a representative will greet you and transport you to your hotel.

After you've settled in (and depending on your arrival time), you'll have time to explore the city. Recommended sights to see on your first day include Kathmandu’s Durbar Square and its narrow alleyways teeming with small shops, ancient temples, and local restaurants, and also Swayambhunath temple, where you can watch the sunset over the valley and the Himalaya to your north.

The tourist hub of Thamel is a good place to grab your first meal, with a variety of restaurants to chose from offering both Western and local Nepali dishes. Then, if it's not too late, head to the busiest bazaar in the city, Asan Tole, which offers an authentic display of spice, fish, and vegetable stands that make for great photo ops. Practice some basic Nepali phrases and chat with friendly locals!

Day 2: Drive from Kathmandu to Dhap, Trek to Sigane or Japre (2920 m)

You leave Kathmandu in the early morning for the long drive to Dhap. You'll follow a Japanese-built road through the mountains to the Sun Kosi river. You then follow the river down for a long time before crossing it and climbing up to Okhaldhunga. It’s about a 3-hour drive from the trailhead at Dhap. The road from Okhaldhunga is a good blacktop road that climbs from 1560m at Okhaldhunga up to 2800m at Dhap.

At Dhap, your trek begins. As you near Sigane, you'll see mountains coming into view which you will get to know very well; these are the peaks of the Numbur Himal section of the Himalayan Range.

The trail from Sigane follows a road under construction for the first couple of hours. The first village is called Japre (2920m). It’s perched above a deep valley with nice views of Everest and Numbur Himal. There are a monastery and Stupa here and this will be your first stop of the trek.

Walking time: 4-5 hours 
Accommodation: Teahouse

Day 3: Trek from Japre to Pikey Base Camp (3640 m)

From Japre, the trail climbs up to a grassy ridge at Bhulbhule. There’s one lodge with no name and nice views of the Everest range from here.

Soon after Bhulbhule, the trail splits and you turn right to Pikey Peak. You pass some old yak herders houses and a long Mani stonewall. The trail then contours the hillside below Taklung Danda and goes through a beautiful forested trail, with many rhododendrons. As you leave the forest, it’s not far to Pikey Peak base camp, about 2 hours away.

There’s just one lodge here at 3640 m, with some rooms in a separate building, but you use the dining room as our hangout. It’s a short climb to the summit at 4065 m but unless there’s an unusually clear evening it’s better to climb for sunrise.

Trekking time: 6-7 hours 
Accommodation: Teahouse

Day 4: Trek from Pikey Peak Base Camp to Chaulakharka (1460 m) via Pikey Peak

The trail to the top of Pikey Peak starts from behind the lodge and follows a gradual slope to the summit, strewn with prayer flags. It’s important to start before dawn to reach the top for sunrise as the views from the top are breathtaking. If the weather is clear you will be rewarded with views from Annapurna to Kanchenjunga.

It’s a quick descent back to the lodge for breakfast and then hit the trail without too much delay. You’ll leave Pikey base camp past a Mani Wall and then the trail goes down to the left and stays on a high contour through trees. It’s a beautiful trail with stunning mountain views. The route bends around the valley and descends through pretty forest. Eventually, you’ll pass a cheese factory on the left which marks the beginning of Ngaur. Ngaur is a very pretty cluster of houses on an outcrop. There’s bad earthquake damage here, the Gompa is ruined. There’s a small new prayer wheel building next to it.

The trail goes into a steep descent through forest to Kosinasa which local people are now calling Lamane (2872m). There’s a place here for Daal Bhat. The trail follows the hillside to Gumba, climbing slightly up to 2980m. Gumba is a pretty place of about a dozen houses on the hillside and a newish looking Gompa. There's significant earthquake damage here. At Gumba the trail turns right and drops steeply through the forest down to Namkheli. Leaving the forest the trail carries on all the way to the river (Likhu Kola) at 1535m and Chaulakharka where you spend the night.

Trekking time: 6-7 hours
Accommodation: Teahouse

Day 5: Trek from Chaulakharka to Shivalaya (1770 m)

This morning you have a 750 m ascent to Bhandar. It’s a fairly steep climb sometimes on a new tractor track. The best lodge in Bhandar is Shobha Lodge by far, here you will have a cup of tea before continuing the climb to Deurali. 

The trail climbs up to the Deurali pass at 3700 m. On the east side of the pass, there are great views over the valley and river back towards Pikey Peak. On the west side sits the little village of Deurali. Langtang comes into view here. There are some teas houses nestled together around rows of Mani Walls, where you will have lunch.

The trail drops steeply at first and then levels out all the way down to Shivalaya, which is quite a big village on the river, you will spend the night here unless you are eager for more walking, in which case you can continue to Those or Jiri and catch the bus from there tomorrow morning.

Trekking time: 7-8 hours 
Accommodation: Teahouse

Day 6: Drive from Shivalaya to Kathmandu

Today you bid farewell to the mountains and take the bus back to Kathmandu. The first part of this journey follows a stunning route on a Swiss-built mountains road, first descending all the way to the Tama Kosi before climbing to Charikot and eventually to Mudu from where it is all downhill to the Bhote Kost about 3000 m below.

From here you follow the Arniko highway from Tibet, climbing to Dhulikhel and then into the Kathmandu valley, where you arrive by mid-afternoon. In Kathmandu, we take you into any hotel of your choice, we can of course help if you which and then leave you to explore Kathmandu on your own.

Day 7: Depart Kathmandu

It's time to say farewell to Nepal, for now.

Enjoy your last moments in Kathmandu with breakfast in a café, a city stroll, and/or souvenir shopping. A representative will meet you at your hotel and drive you to the airport for your return flight home. It's good to be at the airport at least 2 hours prior to departure.