Government-licensed trekking agency
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The Pikey Peak Trek is a short walk in the lower Solu hills, south of the Everest National Park, to one of the widest mountain views in Nepal. From the summit of Pikey Peak (4,065 m) at sunrise you see a long line of Himalayan peaks, from Kanchenjunga in the east past Makalu and Everest to the mountains of Rolwaling.
You drive from Kathmandu to the trailhead, walk through yak pastures, rhododendron forest and Sherpa villages, and come down through Junbesi, where the Thupten Chholing monastery sits a short walk up the valley. There is no Lukla flight to wait for, and you meet very few other trekkers.
The days are short and the altitude is moderate, so it suits first-time trekkers, families and anyone with a week to spare.
Verified route 2026/2027
Our heritage and roots
Our story
Born and raised in the mountains of Nepal, our founder grew up walking Himalayan trails with the elders of his village. That lifelong respect for the mountains became the foundation of Travel To Nepal.
Sandip KshetriFounder and lead trek director
Read our storyDo you have any specific questions that you want to ask us personally?
Message us on WhatsApp or send us an email. Either I or my team will personally answer your questions and make sure all your doubts are answered properly.
Trek milestones
Pikey Peak sunrise (4,065 m / 13,337 ft)
A wide panorama of the eastern Himalaya, with Everest and Makalu on the horizon.
Sherpa villages of Solu
Stone houses, prayer flags and family lodges in villages far from the busy trails.
Junbesi and Thupten Chholing
A pretty Sherpa village and, nearby, one of the largest Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the region.
Rhododendron forest
In spring the forest below Pikey Base Camp turns red and pink.
No flight needed
Drive in and out, so Lukla weather delays never touch your plans.
Quiet trails
Far fewer trekkers than the Everest region, with time to talk to local families.
Trekker suitability guide
An honest checklist from our guides to help you decide if the Pikey Peak Trek suits you.
Suitability checklist
Physical demands and fitness: 4 to 6 hours of walking a day with a light daypack. Basic fitness is enough.
Altitude and acclimatization: You sleep no higher than about 3,640 m and climb to 4,065 m at sunrise. Suitable for anyone in good health.
Technical skill required: None. Village trails, forest paths and some steep steps. No climbing gear.
Trail comfort and accommodation: Simple family-run lodges with shared dining rooms. Basic, but warm and friendly.
Mental resilience: Long jeep days at the start and end on mountain roads, and cold nights at Pikey Base Camp.
Medical conditions: With heart or lung conditions or severe asthma, speak to your doctor before booking.
Unsure about your fitness or readiness?Our lead trek director gives a free, no-obligation preparation check.
Step-by-step route
Seven days from Kathmandu to the summit of Pikey Peak and back. You drive to Dhap, walk up to Pikey Base Camp, climb the peak at sunrise, and come down through Jase Bhanjyang and Junbesi to Phaplu, where you fly or drive back to Kathmandu. Every night on the trail is in a family-run lodge.
Airport pickup · Gear check in Thamel
Arrival · 1,400 m
Our team meets you at Tribhuvan International Airport and takes you to your hotel. In the evening we check your gear and talk you through the route.
Long mountain road · Into the Solu hills
8–10 hrs drive · 2,900 m
A long drive east through the middle hills to Dhap, the trailhead village on the edge of the Solu region.
Yak pastures · Rhododendron forest
5–6 hrs · 3,640 m
Climb through forest and open pastures past the village of Jhapre to the lodges at Pikey Base Camp, below the summit ridge.
The high point of the trek · Everest on the horizon
5–6 hrs · up to 4,065 m at Pikey Peak · sleep 3,500 m · High point
An early climb to the summit for sunrise on Everest, Makalu and the peaks beyond. Back to base camp for breakfast, then along the ridge to Jase Bhanjyang.
Sherpa village · Thupten Chholing monastery
5–6 hrs · 2,675 m
Down through forest to Junbesi, a Sherpa village with an old monastery. In the afternoon, walk up the valley to Thupten Chholing if you have the energy.
Last trekking day · Celebrate with your team
5–6 hrs · 2,413 m
Over a low ridge and down through villages and farmland to Phaplu, where we celebrate the end of the trek with your guide and porters.
Short flight or long jeep ride
30-min flight · 1,400 m
A short flight from Phaplu when flights run, or a long drive back by jeep. We confirm which one when you book.
Unlimited free changes until it is right
Want to match your own pace, fitness, group or holiday dates? Tell us what you have in mind and our Kathmandu team will change the route as many times as you need, until it is the Pikey Peak Trek you want.
WhatsApp +977 9847693070 · inquiry@traveltonepal.com · Reply usually within a few hours
Local expertise and safety first
Licensed guides from the Solu and Khumbu hills, trained in first aid and happy to share Sherpa life on the trail.
Photography
First aid
Trek guide and photographer
Salleri, Solukhumbu
“The best photo of Everest is often from a quiet hill where you have the view to yourself.”
Rescue trained
WFR certified
Senior trek leader, Everest region
Khumjung, Solukhumbu
“We climb slowly and check everyone every evening. The mountain is not going anywhere.”
Full disclosure
Ground transport: Kathmandu – Dhap by jeep, and Phaplu – Kathmandu by jeep or flight.
Licensed guide and porters: first-aid trained, insured and fairly paid.
Lodge stays: 5 nights on the trek and the first hotel night in Kathmandu.
Local papers: any local area papers checkpoints ask for on the route.
Safety gear: pulse oximeter and first-aid kit.
Airport transfers: arrival and departure in Kathmandu.
Meals on the trek: order freely from the menu (about $20–30 a day).
International airfare: flights to and from Kathmandu.
Travel insurance: required, with helicopter rescue cover.
Nepal tourist visa: on arrival at the airport.
Lodge extras: hot showers, battery charging and Wi-Fi where available.
Trekker-first transparency
Freedom of choice and appetiteAppetite changes with altitude. Order what your body wants, from dal bhat to pasta, porridge or soup.
Direct support for teahouse familiesYou pay the lodges directly, so all food money stays with the local families who run them.
No package markupsAll-inclusive meal packages are often padded. Here you pay real menu prices for what you eat.
Dietary needs and allergiesVegetarian, vegan or gluten-free: order on the spot and get food made the way you need it.
Average daily food budget: plan on about $20–30 USD per day for hearty breakfasts, lunches, hot dinners and boiled drinking water or tea.
“Dal bhat power”: unlimited refills of rice, lentils and vegetable curry. The best fuel on the trail.
Try local food: Sherpa stew, potatoes and fresh yak cheese are common in Solu lodges.
Stay hydrated: drink 3–4 litres a day (ginger-lemon-honey tea, garlic soup, boiled water).
Cash is king: there are no ATMs on the trail. Bring enough Nepali rupees from Kathmandu.
Lodge rule: eat breakfast and dinner where you sleep. Lodges keep room prices low because of it.
Order early: small lodges cook to order, so tell them your dinner around 5 pm.
Simple menus: fewer choices than on the busy trails, but fresh and filling.
Acclimatization map
You sleep no higher than 3,640 m and only day hike to the high point.
Peak: 4,065 m
Route and GPS waypoints
Interactive map
Interactive Google map
Loading it connects to Google, which can see your IP address and may set cookies.
Kathmandu 1,400 mStart
Day 1Dhap 2,900 m
Day 2Pikey Base Camp 3,640 m
Day 3Pikey Peak 4,065 mHigh point
Day 4Pikeay Peak 3,500 m
Day 4Junbesi 2,675 m
Day 5Phaplu 2,413 m
Day 6Kathmandu 1,400 m
Day 7Interactive map by Google Maps. See our privacy policy for how Google handles your data.
Direct operator advantage
Local leadership, honest pricing and careful safety standards, straight from our Kathmandu team.
Every trek is private, so the plan fits you. Want an extra rest day, a slower pace or a different route? Just tell us, and we’ll change it at no extra cost.
We give you the same advice we’d give a friend, even if it means you book less with us. Our prices are transparent and there are no hidden fees.
Your guide grew up in these mountains and knows every turn of the trail you’re trekking.
We build acclimatization days into every itinerary, check your oxygen levels daily and have a rescue plan ready on every trek. Plans can change, but safety never does.
We’re registered with the Government of Nepal and TAAN. You book straight with our team in Nepal, with no middleman. Our porters carry limited loads and get warm gear, insurance and fair wages.
Along the trail, your guide takes you into village homes, quiet monasteries and local kitchens. Many guests tell us these moments changed the way they see Nepal.
Official verification
Est. 2025 · Kathmandu
Nepal Department of Tourism registration certificateRegistration Tourism Office Kathmandu · licensed trekking agency
Fast reply on WhatsApp
Direct local pricing, no middlemen. Fill this in and we open WhatsApp with your request already written.
Gear and essentials
Tested gear for the Solu hills: −5 °C nights at Pikey Base Camp to warm days in the villages.
Base layers: 2–3 merino or synthetic tops and bottoms.
Fleece mid-layer: a warm fleece or softshell.
Down jacket: for the sunrise on the summit and cold evenings.
Waterproof shell: jacket and trousers for rain and wind.
Trekking boots: waterproof, broken in, with ankle support.
Camp shoes: light trainers or sandals for the lodge.
Socks: 4 pairs of cushioned trekking socks.
Gaiters: useful for spring mud in the forest.
Daypack (25–35 L): with a rain cover for layers, water and snacks.
Duffel bag: carried by your porter (max 15 kg).
Sleeping bag: comfort to −10 °C (you can rent one in Kathmandu).
Trekking poles and headlamp: for the steep descents and the sunrise climb.
Water purification: tablets or a UV pen, plus two 1 L bottles.
Medical kit: blister plasters, painkillers, rehydration salts and travel-sickness tablets for the roads.
Sun protection: SPF 50 sunscreen and lip balm.
Hygiene: wet wipes, hand sanitizer and a quick-dry towel.
Practical field knowledge
Essential insights from our local trek leaders.
Autumn and early winter (October to December): the clearest views of the year and dry trails.
Spring (March to May): rhododendron forest in bloom; views are best early in the day.
*Winter (Jan–Feb) is cold but clear. The monsoon (Jun–Sep) brings rain, leeches and muddy roads.
Rooms: simple twin rooms with blankets; use your sleeping bag on top.
Heating and showers: dining rooms are warm in the evening; hot showers are basic or by bucket.
Power: charging is available in most lodges, sometimes only by solar.
Dal bhat: rice, lentil soup, vegetables and pickle, with free refills.
Local menus: Sherpa stew, potatoes, noodles, porridge and Tibetan bread.
Hydration: drink 3–4 litres a day and treat your water.
Rescue: our Kathmandu office coordinates helicopter evacuation with your insurer if it is ever needed.
On the trail: your guide carries a first-aid kit and pulse oximeter; Phaplu has a hospital.
Insurance: travel insurance covering emergency evacuation is required for every trekker.
Yes. On a clear morning Everest, Makalu, Lhotse and Kanchenjunga are all on the horizon. Sunrise from the summit is the highlight of the trek.
Pikey Peak at 4,065 m (13,337 ft) on day 4. You sleep no higher than Pikey Base Camp at about 3,640 m.
October to December for the clearest views, and March to May for rhododendrons. The summit is low enough to climb in winter, but the monsoon (June to August) hides the mountains.
Our itinerary is 7 days from Kathmandu, with 4 days on the trail. You can add Dudh Kunda or extra nights in Junbesi.
By jeep from Kathmandu to Dhap, about 8–10 hours on mountain roads. The trek ends at Phaplu, where you fly back when flights run, or drive.
Pikey Peak is outside the national parks, so no park permit is needed. Local checkpoints sometimes ask for a TIMS card, and we carry what is needed. Nepal requires foreign trekkers to walk with a licensed guide arranged through a registered agency. All our treks include one.
Easy, grade 2 of 5. The days are 4–6 hours and the highest point is 4,065 m. The early climb to the summit for sunrise is the hardest part.
The risk is low because you sleep below 3,700 m, but we still walk slowly, check how you feel every day and descend if needed. Your guide carries a first-aid kit and pulse oximeter.
Fast reply · local operator
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Get a personal itinerary, packing advice and a confirmed price for your group, straight from our Kathmandu team.
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