Pike Peak Trekking

Overview:

With the altitude of 4090m PIKE peak trekking is also known as High Solu Trekking as it lies in the Solukhumbu region of Nepal. Pike peak trekking is regarded as one of the most beautiful and off beaten trekking trail in Everest region offering 360degree of mountain panorama. Pike peak is also known for the awe inspiring view of sunrise and sunset it offers. From Pike peak one can see the four of the highest mountains in the world: Mt Everest, Mt Kanchanjunga, Mt Lhotse and Mt Makalu along with the hodgepodge of many 6000 and 7000m high mountains like Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Kantega, Kusum Kanaru and Mera Peak. Other eye popping factor of the trek is Dudh Kunda a holy white water lake which is situated beneath Mt Numbur.

Situated in the south of the original Everest Trail from Bhandar we will pass through many Sherpa villages. Continuing the trek to Linkhu khola the trail goes uphill through the terraced fields and the forest of Rhododendron and Magnolia. Now leaving the villages behind us we will again ascend through hemlock firs to the cheese factory at Nagur. The next day we will climb Pike peak which will leave us dumbfounded. Anyone with a moderate level of fitness can complete the trek.

Itinerary Detail

Pike Peak Trekking Itinerary:

Day 1: Kathmandu Arrival
Our local representative will be receiving you in Tribhuwan International Airport and transfer to the hotel room. Get freshen up in the hotel and come to our office to finalize the formalities. Stay overnight at hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 2: Kathmandu Sightseeing
Today we will visit some of the world heritage site located in Kathmandu which includes Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath Temple, Bouddhanath Stupa and Hindu temple of Pashupatinath. Stay overnight at hotel.

Day 3: Drive to Jiri(1350m); 9hours
Early in the morning after having breakfast drive to Jiri which is situated just 188km away from Kathmandu. In the path we will pass the town of Bhaktapur, Banepa, Dhulikhel, Dolalghat and Lamasanghu which all fall in Araniko Highway and you will right from Lamasangu for Jiri. The way to Jiri passes through the beautiful hills densely forested with pines and offers the distant mountain views. Though the road is narrow it is well pitched. Jiri got its named after Jirel who are the dominant ethnic group residing here. Stay overnight at hotel.

Day 4: Trek to Shivalaya(1770m); 4hours
We will start the trek with a climb to a ride top at 2400m and the trail descends to Shivalaya. Shivalaya is a small village settled by Tamang and Newar ethnic community near the bank of Shivalaya River. Stay overnight at tented camp.

Day 5: Trek to Bhandar(2190m); 3hours
Leaving Shivalaya behind us we will climb to Deurali which is a small village offering the beautiful vista of Dudh Kunda Himal, Khatanga, Karylung and Pikey. After a one or two hour of walk takes us to Bhandar which is a small village having two stupas and a monastery. Stay overnight at guesthouse.

Day 6: Trek to Namkhile(2320m);4-5hours
Leaving Bhandar behind the trail goes down for one hours which brings us to Likhu Khola which is boundary of Solukhumbu district and Sagarmatha zone. We cross the river and another three hours of continous walk will take us to Namkhile which offers the fine view of Numbur Himal. Stay overnight at guesthouse.

Day 7: Trek to Golla(2980m); 3hours
Today’s walk is quite strenuous. The walk is through a forest of Pines and Rhododendron takes us to Golla. Golla is an authentic Sherpa village where the people mostly depend on agriculture for livelihood. Here you can enjoy delicious Sherpa food. Here you can visit 3main monasteries which are run by Peekeye Hill Social Organization.Stay overnight at camp.

Day 8: Trek to Nagur(3350m); 4hours
From Gola a four hour of continuous walk through the Rhododendron forest takes us to the beautiful village of Nagur which is situated in the hilltop. From Nagur one can see the spectacular mountain vista of Gaurishankar and Numbur Himal. Overall Nagur has six houses and a small monastery. Stay overnight at camp.

Day 9: Trek to Chamdingma(3510m)
From Nagur the trail goes through the pasture land where the Sherpas spend there with cattle. From Chamdingma one can see the snow capped Himalayas. Spend overnight at camp.

Day 10: Hike to the top of Pikey(4065m); 5hours
Early in the morning hike to the top of Pike to witness the magical view of Sunrise over the world’s highest mountains like Everest, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Makalu, Kanchanjunga, Gaurishankar, Rolwaling Himalayan range , Langtang Himalayan range along with many others. The ascent takes three hours and descends from Pikey peak needs two hours. We will descend back to Chamdingma for overnight stay.

Day 11: Trek to Junbesi(2670m);6hours
From Chandingma we will walk downhill for two hours for Jasa warnyang pass at the altitude of 3800m. After crossing the pass we will walk for another one hour in Pasture land which offers the beautiful view of Pikey peak before arriving to Pambuk La yet another pass at 4000m). From here, walk downhill for another 2hours through Pine and Rhododendron forest to a Sherpa village of Takur. Half an hour later from here we will be at the village of Junbesi for overnight stay.

Day 12: Trek to Shengeephuk
Start the trek from Junbesi to Shengeephuk via Thuptenchholing(2920m). The trek gives every trekker an opportunity to observe the wildlife and vegetation of the area from very near. On the way you will visit Thuptenchholing monastery and get a change to observe the Tibetan medicinal therapy at Thuptenchholing Monastery, Phunmoche and meditation cave. Stay overnight at camp.

Day 13: Trek to Sansare Danda

Day 14: Trek to Beni

Day 15: Trek to Dudh Kunda(4561m); 3hours
Leaving Beni behind us trek to holy Lake of Dudh Kunda. In the way we will see the mountain glacier and close up view of mountains. In the rainy we too can see different species of migratory birds. Stay overnight camping in Dudh Kunda.

Day 16: Trek to Taksinda La; 5-6hours
After having lunch in Beni we will continue our walk to Taksindu la. In the way we can see Sherpa culture at its finest, animal herds in the Himalayan pastures, beautiful landscape and raw wilderness. In the Taksindu we will find some teahouse and lodges where we will stay for overnight.

Day 17: Trek to Phaplu; 3-4hours
Continuing the walk through the mixed alpine forest we will trek to Phaplu from Taksindu. On the way we will experience an extreme wilderness. Beside this we will also find many Sherpa hamlets. On the evening we will enjoy cultural show on request. Stay overnight at guesthouse.

Day 18: Fly to Kathmandu
Early in the morning catch a flight for Kathmandu. In the airport our representative will receive you and get you transferred to the hotel. The remaining time you can do some family shopping and walk around the streets of Thamel. Stay overnight in hotel.

Day 19: Farewell
Drive to airport at the time of departure for your onward flight.

Cost Info

The Trip Cost Includes:

• All airport/hotel transfers
• Half day Guided tour of Kathmandu valley with private car
• 3 nights accommodation in 3-star hotel in Kathmandu (2 before trek, 1 after trek)
• Teahouse accommodation enroute
• Breakfast in Kathmandu
• Full board of meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, tea coffee)
• Welcome and farewell dinner
• All ground transportation as per the itinerary by private vehicles
• Salary for all expedition staff.
• All necessary paper work, including trekking permits
• Travel and rescue arrangements
• All government and local taxes
• Duffel bag, t-shirt, trekking map

The Trip Cost Does Not Include:

• Nepal Visa fee
• International airfare to and from Kathmandu
• Excess baggage charges (if you have more than 15 kg luggage, cargo charge is around $1.5 per kg)
• Extra nights accommodation in Kathmandu or Lukla
• Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu
• Bottled beverages, including water
• Snacks such as energy bars, candy or chocolate
• Travel and rescue insurance
• Personal expenses such as snacks, laundry, battery recharge, extra porters
• Optional trips and sightseeing
• Tips for guides and porters

Trek Info

Accommodation

Wildpath Adventure Pvt. Ltd has chosen the best accommodation with your comfort and budget in mind. This includes staying in a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu and staying in comfortable, well-run lodges along the trekking route.

All accommodation is based on twin sharing but we will provide a single supplement if there is an odd number of participants. If you simply prefer a single room, this is available by paying an additional single supplement.

Meals

One of the joys of travelling abroad and trekking is the wonderful food prepared for you at each meal at the lodges and hotels. From the first tea of the morning to the last meal of the day, you will be treated to meals that are nutritious, healthy, fresh and suitable for a mountain expedition. 

We have chosen lodges and hotels where the food is of the highest quality. Their experienced local cooks will provide meals from a variety of cuisines such as Nepali, Sherpa, Tibetan, Continental, Italian and Indian cuisine. Breakfast and dinner will be taken at the lodges where we are staying, while lunch and tea breaks will be taken at a suitable lodge or teahouse along the day’s route.

Note: Before arriving in Nepal, please advise Wildpath Adventure  if you have any special dietary requirements or restrictions such that we can accommodate your request. 

A Typical Day on the Trek

Days on the trek start early. After dressing, head to the lodge restaurant for a nutritious and appetizing breakfast, along with a steaming mug of tea or coffee. After packing up your bag for the porters and your daypack, you’ll head out for another day’s adventure.  We will trek for a couple of hours, then stop for a welcome tea break at a lodge. Generally we trek for a couple more hours after tea and then we will stop for lunch at a teahouse , often at a scenic spot. You will have plenty of time to relax and take photos as you enjoy the lunch meal.

Throughout the day we will take rest breaks as needed and there will always be time to stop and admire the flowers, the scenery, a village or just to soak in the pleasure of being on an adventure in Nepal.

After lunch, we will usually trek for another 2-3 hours before reaching the village where we will spend the night. On arrival you will have time to rest and enjoy another welcome hot mug of tea, coffee, or one of the trail favorites, hot lemon. There is usually time to explore a village or Gompa or the surrounding neighborhood, write in your journal, take a shower (sometimes hot, sometimes not) or simply relax. After a delicious dinner, there will be a briefing on the next day’s program before you head off to your bed for a warm and snug sleep. You may be surprised to find that you are sleeping 10 to 12 hours per night, but that is normal on a trek

TheTrekking Group

For most treks there will be one guide, one assistant guide per 4 trekkers, one cook, and one Sherpa porter per 2 trekkers. This arrangement ensures that should anybody in the group fall sick, the trip can still go ahead as planned.

The minimum group size is 2 and the maximum is 12. However, if you'd like to make a group booking for more than that, we will be happy to arrange this for you.

What to Know

Fitness Requirements

In order to maximize your enjoyment of this trek, you will need to be in good physical condition and you will need to be prepared for rough conditions.  In general, trekking consists of many days of walking for at least  5-6 hours, some of it on rugged terrain. You should also be very comfortable walking with a small daypack and carrying up to 5kg of weight.

In addition to a good level of fitness, we believe you must possess: a willingness to tolerate difficult conditions, a flexible mindset, a sense of humor and good health.

Health & Safety

Your safety and well-being are of paramount concern to Wildpath Adventure Pvt. Ltd. For that reason, the trek leader has the authority to change or cancel any part of the trek if it is deemed necessary for safety reasons. Wildpath Adventure will make every effort to keep to the planned itinerary; however, we simply cannot guarantee it. Changes to the itinerary can occur due to weather conditions, the health of a team member or unexpected natural disasters. The leader will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but please understand that these events are a possibility.

It is imperative that participants with pre-existing medical problems or conditions make these known to Wildpath Adventure when booking. Medical and evacuation expenses are the responsibility of the participant and must be covered by your personal travel insurance. It is also important that you consult your doctor for vaccinations and other medical requirements for your trip. Wildpath Adventure reserves the right to require a medical certificate prior to booking your trip.

Acclimatization

Any trek to high altitude carries with it the risk of Acute Mountain Sickness, or AMS. This is a serious and potentially life-threatening illness, generally caused by going up too fast. The higher the altitude, the less oxygen there is in the air. For example, at 6500m there is only half the oxygen that there is available at sea level.

Your body needs many days to adapt to this less-oxygen environment. Our itinerary is planned to allow sufficient time for acclimatization, by going up slowly and including acclimatization days as needed. It is not uncommon to experience mild headaches, loss of appetite or nausea when ascending, but these symptoms usually disappear with rest...

Although your appetite may diminish as you trek higher, it is very important to eat enough to maintain a good energy level. Similarly it is extremely important to drink sufficient water to stay hydrated.  The trek leader will advise you on what is sufficient food and water and we ask that you follow his advice.

We also advise anyone with known heart, lungs or blood diseases to consult their doctor before traveling. Our itineraries are designed to prevent AMS as much as possible, but it is important to remember that some people are more vulnerable than others.

Our team will check very carefully to determine if anyone has a serious problem. If anyone is showing signs of AMS, they will not be permitted to trek higher and will be required to descend to a safe altitude with a member of the team.  If the symptoms disappear at the lower altitude, the person may be permitted to rejoin the trek after a suitable rest period.

Please Allow Extra Time

We strongly recommend that you allow a few extra days at either end of your trip. In addition to the reasons mentioned above, flights in Nepal are notorious for being delayed anywhere from a few hours (common) to one week (rare) due to bad weather. This can occur even in the best trekking months.

If all goes well, you will then have extra days to enjoy in Nepal, taking in activities such as sightseeing near Kathmandu , river rafting, or perhaps relaxing at one of the nearby hilltop resorts.

In the event of bad weather, it may be possible to arrange a helicopter evacuation, which can vary in cost from USD $300 to $3500, depending on the demand.

What to Bring

The following list is a guideline of what you should bring with you for the trek. Please note that clothing for Kathmandu and other non-trekking destinations is not included in this list. While you can bring everything from your home country, it is also possible to rent or purchase almost everything in Kathmandu.  Most of the gear for sale in Kathmandu is manufactured locally and thus considerably cheaper. However, it is also possible to buy brand name clothing and equipment at quality and prices that are comparable to home country prices.

At lower elevations on the trek it is likely to be very warm and the lightest of layers can be worn. However, at altitudes above 4000m it may be bitterly cold and windy, particularly after the sun disappears. The secret to staying warm and comfortable is to layer your clothing and to avoid cotton, as it becomes very cold when wet and is slow to dry. Pack with a minimalist view, as the load limit per person for porters and on domestic flights is 15kg.

Treks in Nepal are tough on gear and clothing. We recommend that you bring well-used items that can stand a fair bit of abuse. Many people bring gear that can  be given away at the end of the trek to the porters or guides. Please check with Wildpath Adventure if you are uncertain about what to bring – we will be happy to advise you.

During the trek the porters will be carrying most of your gear. On the trail you can expect to carry in your daypack item such as 1 to 2 liters of  water, your camera, a jacket for rest stops, sunscreen, tissue paper, a route map and binoculars.

CLOTHING

• T-shirts – 2 or 3, long-sleeved and short-sleeved, quick-drying
• Hiking shorts or capris
• Lightweight Long Hiking pants
• Lightweight thermal inner layer – top and bottom
• Fleece pants and jacket
• 2 pair inner liner socks
• 2 pair outer socks, wool,  medium to heavy weight
• Shirt with collar

OUTERWEAR

• Lightweight gloves
• Heavyweight gloves or mittens and waterproof  outer shell
• Wind-Stopper jacket (optional)
• Waterproof, breathable jacket
• Down jacket
• Waterproof, breathable  shell pants
• Warm hat or balaclava
• Gaiters (for high-elevation treks and passes)

FOOTWEAR

• Hiking boots
• Sneakers or  Teva-like sandals
• Down booties (optional, but very nice at high altitude)

MISCELLANEOUS

• Camera and extra battery and card
• Sun hat or bandana
• Sunglasses with UV protection
• 4 season sleeping bag (rated to -15 to -20 degree centigrade.  Down is preferable)
• Sleeping bag liner  (optional, but very useful)
• Trekking Bags/Duffel bag *
• Headlamp with spare bulbs and batteries
• Small lock
• Basic First Aid Kit (Wildpath Adventure staff will also carry a team First Aid kit)
• Daypack (approximately 2500 to 3000 cubic inches)
• Trekking Poles
• Water bottles (2) or camel back
• Ear Plugs
• Sewing and repair kit
• Sarong (optional, but very useful when washing)
• Energy bars, chocolate, candy
• Water-purifying tablets or water filter pump

TOILETRIES

• Sunscreen with high UV protection
• Lip balm for altitude (e.g. Labazan)
• Face and body moisturizer
• 1 medium sized quick drying towel
• Tooth brush/paste (preferably biodegradable)
• Multipurpose soap (preferably biodegradable)
• Deodorant
• Nail clippers
• Feminine hygiene products
• Small mirror
• Wet wipes
• Toilet tissue
• Ant- bacterial hands wash

FIRST AID AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES

All of the items listed here can be purchased in Kathmandu, however you may prefer to bring trusted brands from home. Note also that Wildpath Adventure will carry an extensive first aid and medical kit, so please bring the minimum required.  There are many good books and websites which carry extensive lists of recommended drugs and medical supplies. We suggest that you review this material before making any purchases.

• Plasters/Band aids
• Moleskin
• General-purpose  antibiotic such as Cipro
• Headache medicine –  (not Codein-based)
• Anti-inflammatory pills
• Antibiotic cream
• Eye drops
• Rehydration salts such as ORS
• Multi-vitamins
• Throat lozenges
• Anti-diarrheal  medicine
• Anti-constipation medicine

 
And if your pack is still light:

• Binoculars
• Journal
• IPOD (note that recharging may not always be possible)
• Reading material
• Travel game or cards
• Photos from home

Travel Insurance

All participants in a Wildpath Adventure must have travel insurance. This will protect you against the risk of comprehensive expenses which may result due to medical emergencies or accidents. This insurance should include air ambulance, helicopter rescue, and treatment costs.  Please be noted that we don't arrange or sell insurance and it is best to arrange this in your home country.