Pikey Peak Trek, Nepal: 5, 6, 7 & 8 Days Itinerary

Looking for information about the Pikey Peak Trek in Nepal?

You’ve come to the right place! I really enjoyed the Pikey Peak Trek and it is a short trek that is also good for beginners.

The Pikey Peak Trek is one of the less touristy trekking routes in Nepal. It has been gaining more and more popularity in recent years but the trails are still not as crowded as if you were going to Everest Base Camp or trekking in the Annapurna Region.

Trekking to the Pikey Peak is also a relatively easy trail, perfect for beginners and you can even complete it without hiring a guide or buying a permit.

Once you reach the Pikey Base Camp, you get beautiful panoramic views of the Himalayas including the Annapurna, Everest, Langtang and Makalu mountain ranges.

Here is everything you need to know about Pikey Peak itineraries, trekking costs, weather, what to pack, permits, guide rules and trekking solo!

Pikey Peak Trek Information

Trek Difficulty

The Pikey Peak Trek difficulty level is easy. It is a great trek for beginners or those looking for an easy trek in Nepal.

It is a short trek and not very strenuous. You can go at your own pace and you can always stop at a village for the day if you feel too tired.

I took my brother with me on this trek which was his first trek in his life and he also found it is a good trek for beginners.

Best Time to Trek Pikey Peak

The best time to go trekking in Nepal (as well as for Pikey Peak) is in the Autumn and Spring.

The most popular trekking routes (EBC, ABC) are usually very busy in the main trekking seasons, but Pikey Peak is not that popular yet, so it is not that crowded.

Permits

No need for a permit if you are starting the trek from Dhap Bazaar
If you are starting the trek from Shivalaya, you will need to get the Gaurishankar Conservation Area Permit (GSCAP). The permit costs Rs. 3,000 and you can get it at the checkpoint in Shivalaya or at the Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu.

Guide Rules

It is not mandatory or required to have a trekking guide for the Pikey Peak Trek.

Although, the Government of Nepal tried to enforce a rule of mandatory guides for foreign trekkers, in reality it has not been implemented.

So, you can trek here peacefully as a solo trekker without getting a guide or paying for permits.

A girl standing at the Mardi Himal Viewpoint with the Annapurna Mountain range behind her.

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Solo Trekking Pikey Peak

The Pikey Peak Trek has an easy to moderate level difficulty so it is perfect for beginner trekkers, and also if you want to trek solo in a less crowded trekking route.

The trails are well-marked and if you download the maps.me app on your phone (maps.me on the Apple Store, maps.me on Google Play) you will be able to follow the trail well.

Just make sure to download the map beforehand so you can use the app while you are offline.

Pikey Peak Trek Map

The trekking route for Pikey Peak generally follows the following villages:

Dhap Bazaar
Jhapre
Pikey Base Camp
Jasmane Bhanjyang (optional to stop, if you have energy or short on time, just continue onto Junbesi)
Junbesi
Phaplu/Salleri

Pikey Peak Trek Itinerary: 5, 6, 7 & 8 Days

Pikey Peak Trek 5 Days

View of Himalayas during the Pikey Peak Trek in Nepal. — Pikey Peak, Nepal

The Pikey Peak trek can be completed in 5 days if you are really short on time and are fit enough to trek a little bit faster than the average.

If you plan to complete it in 5 days, it is best if you hire a private jeep to get you to Dhap, the starting point of the trek. This is due to that on the first day, you will have to trek to Jhapre village after you get off the jeep in Dhap Bazaar.

If you take the public bus or jeep, you will arrive around 2-3 pm in Dhap and you will not have enough time to walk to Jhapre.

The 5-day trek option for Pikey Peak could feel very rushed and to be honest, you may not be able to enjoy it as much as if you added 1-2 days extra to complete it. I did it in 6 days (including 2 days of travel) and it still felt slightly rushed.

Pikey Peak Trek 5 Days Itinerary:

Day 1. Private jeep from Kathmandu to Dhap (8 hours on the bus/jeep), trek from Dhap to Jhapre (10.5 km, 3.5-4 hours trek)
Day 2. Jhapre to Pikey Base Camp (13.5 km, 5-6 hours trek)
Day 3. Sunrise at Pikey Peak (1 hour uphill for sunrise view), afterwards breakfast back in the hotel and then trek from Pikey Base Camp to Junbesi (15.7 km, 5-6 hours)
Day 4. Junbesi to Phaplu (11 km, 4 hours trek)
Day 5. Bus from Phaplu to Kathmandu (the bus goes around 6 am in the morning, costs Rs. 1,500).

Pikey Peak Trek 6 Days (4 days trekking, 2 days travel)

Pikey Peak Trek Nepal. — Pikey Peak Trek Nepal (Dhap to Jhapre)

Alright, this is the trek itinerary that I did. Although it was fine to complete it in 6 days, if I had more time, I probably would have extended it by one more day.

Day 4 is pretty rough if you go see the sunrise and then trek all the way to Junbesi. Most of the people break their trek in Jasmane Bhanjyang (between Pikey Base Camp and Junbesi). With a stop in Jasmane Bhanjyang, it makes it into a 7-day trek and less tiring.

Pikey Peak Trek 6 Days Itinerary:

Day 1. Bus/jeep from Kathmandu to Dhap
Day 2. Dhap to Jhapre (10.5 km, 3.5-4 hours trek)
Day 3. Jhapre to Pikey Base Camp (13.5 km, 5-6 hours trek)
Day 4. Sunrise at Pikey Peak (1 hour uphill for sunrise view), afterwards breakfast back in the hotel and then trek from Pikey Base Camp to Junbesi (15.7 km, 5-6 hours)
Day 5. Junbesi to Phaplu (11 km, 4 hours trek)
Day 6. Bus from Phaplu to Kathmandu

Pikey Peak Trek 7 Days (5 days trekking, 2 days travel)

This is the trek itinerary most people I met on the trail were doing. Making it 7 days, lets you have enough rest between villages so that you do not exhaust yourself.

If you are very fit and an active trekker, you may not need this extra day. You can just decide on the way, how far you will go each day.

Pikey Peak Trek 7 Days Itinerary:

Day 1. Bus/jeep from Kathmandu to Dhap
Day 2. Dhap to Jhapre (10.5 km, 3.5-4 hours trek)
Day 3. Jhapre to Pikey Base Camp (13.5 km, 5-6 hours trek)
Day 4. Sunrise at Pikey Peak (1 hour uphill for sunrise view), afterwards breakfast back in the teahouse and then trek from Pikey Base Camp to Jasmane Bhanjyang (6 km, 2 hours trek)
Day 5. Jasmane Bhanjyang to Junbesi (10 km, 4.5 hours with a lot of downhill trek)
Day 6. Junbesi to Phaplu (11 km, 4 hours trek)
Day 7. Bus from Phaplu to Kathmandu

Pikey Peak Trek 8 Days (6 days trekking, 2 days travel)

Day 1. Bus/jeep from Kathmandu to Dhap (8 hours travel on bus/jeep)
Day 2. Dhap to Jhapre (10.5 km, 3.5-4 hours trek)
Day 3. Jhapre to Pikey Base Camp (13.5 km, 5-6 hours trek)
Day 4. Sunrise at Pikey Peak (1 hour uphill for sunrise view), afterwards breakfast back in the teahouse and then trek from Pikey Base Camp to Jasmane Bhanjyang (6 km, 2 hours trek)
Day 5. Jasmane Bhanjyang to Junbesi (10 km, 4.5 hours with a lot of downhill trek)
Day 6. Junbesi to Ringmu (10 km, 6.5 hours trek)
Day 7. Ringmu to Phaplu (13 km, 5.5 hours trek- mostly downhill so faster)
Day 8. Bus from Phaplu to Kathmandu (11 hours on the bus)

How to Get from Kathmandu to Dhap

Kathmandu to Dhap Bazaar by Bus/Jeep

Dhap Bazaar is a popular starting point to the Pikey Peak Trek and you can easily get your ticket either for a bus or jeep.

The buses and jeeps go every day early morning from Kathmandu to Dhap, and arrive by 2-3 pm in the afternoon.

Where to Buy the Bus/Jeep Ticket to Dhap:

You can buy the bus/jeep tickets at the Chabahil bus ticket counter.

You can get there by taking a taxi (Pathao or Indrive) or ask at your hotel if they can arrange it for you. Generally, everyone buys their ticket 1-2 days before starting the trip.

Kathmandu to Dhap Bus:

The bus ticket from Kathmandu to Dhap costs Rs. 1,500. The bus leaves at 6 am from Chabahil and takes about 8 hours to get to Dhap Bazaar.

It is usually a little bit more comfortable to go by bus as the jeep can get too crowded.

Kathmandu to Dhap Jeep:

The jeep ticket from Kathmandu to Dhap costs Rs. 2,000. The jeep officially leaves from Chabahil at 5 am but then the jeep goes around picking up the passengers close to their home addresses.

If you decide to go by jeep, ask at the ticket counter to pick you up from a location near your hotel/home.

Just be aware that due to the jeep picking up most of the passengers near their home, it can take up to 1.5 hours to pick up everyone and start the trip to Dhap Bazaar.

Bus vs Jeep: Which One is Better for You?

The bus is generally more comfortable as the jeeps can get very crowded if there are a lot of passengers.

The time it takes to get to Dhap Bazaar is about the same whether you take the bus or the jeep.

If you hire a private jeep for the journey, that’s the fastest and most comfortable way to go.

Phaplu/Salleri to Kathmandu by Bus/Jeep (Return Trip)

Depending on where you finish your trek, you will be able to easily find buses going back to Kathmandu.

One of the popular places to finish the Pikey Peak Trek is in Phaplu. In Phaplu, there is even an airport, if you want to fly back to Kathmandu.

Salleri is about 2 hours walk from Phaplu. The bus that starts in Phaplu is the same bus that also stops in Salleri for passengers. So it is up to you if on the day of your trek you feel like walking down to Salleri or just staying in Phaplu and then take the bus the next morning.

The bus ride takes about 11-12 hours and costs Rs. 1,500 from Phaplu to Kathmandu.

🚌 Want to know more about Nepali buses? Here is everything you need to know about bus travel in Nepal!

Pikey Peak Trek Packing List

View of Himalayas during the Pikey Peak Trek, Nepal. — Pikey Peak Trek Nepal

I did the Pikey Peak trek without a guide or porter and carried a 28 litres backpack. The days are not too difficult and if you pack lightly, it won’t be too difficult to carry your own backpack.

I usually try to pack less for treks and then sometimes wear the same clothes even 2-3 times. If you pack items that dry quickly, you can also hand wash items if needed.

It is good to prepare well for a trek and pack all the necessary items, however, you should also try to limit it and carry just the most essential items. Otherwise your backpack will be too heavy.

Here is what I packed for a 6 days Pikey Peak Trek (4 days trekking, 2 days travel):

Clothes

1 x Trekking shoes
3 x Quick dry T-shirts
1 x Leggings
1 x Trekking pants
1 x Fleece jumper
1 x Wind jacket
1 x Thermal base layer (top and bottom) for sleeping
1 x Hat
1 x Buff/Scarf
Socks and underwear
2 x Sports bra (for women)
1 x Slippers

Other Items

1 x Sleeping bag liner
1 x Headlamp (needed for the sunrise hike to Pikey Peak as you will start off in the dark)
Sunscreen
Trekking poles
Medicines: paracetamol, medicine for diarrhoea, cold, + other personal medication
Other items: shower gel, toothbrush, toothpaste, face cream, body lotion, hand sanitizer)
Nalgene bottle (You can ask in your tea house at night to fill it with hot water. Then, you can use it as a “heater” and put it inside your sleeping bag liner or blanket to keep you warm at night).
Trekking snacks, dried fruits
Tissues, toilet paper roll (there is no toilet paper in the teahouses in Nepal so you have to bring yours. It is possible to buy toilet paper in the teahouses but they are more expensive than buying them in Kathmandu).

Pikey Peak Nepal Weather

It is very windy up at Pikey Peak and also during some sections on the trail.

Some parts of the trail is through open fields, and as you are high up in the mountains, you get a lot of wind on the way.

It might be sunny during the day but you will need gloves and a wind jacket with hoodies on as the wind will hit you pretty hard.

Teahouses on Pikey Peak Trek

Teahouse Dining Hall while trekking in Nepal. — Teahouse Dining Hall, Nepal

The teahouses on the Pikey Peak Trek are pretty good, and most have hot showers as well. I found the options for accommodation the most basic and limited in Dhap Bazaar (trek starting point), but in all the other villages, the options were better.

Dhap Bazaar Teahouses:

Dhap is a really tiny place for a starting point for a trek. When you arrive in Dhap, it really hits you that the Pikey Peak Trek is not as popular yet as other trekking routes in Nepal.

Dhap is basically made up of only just about 2-3 guesthouses on the main road and then some villagers’ houses behind.

In Nepali language, “bazaar” means “market”, so I was preparing to find Dhap as a market town but there is really not much to it yet.

The guesthouses are yet to develop into more comfortable lodges, the only option as of now is bucket shower. When we were there, they were building a new bathroom/shower in our teahouse, so in a few months’ time, it might be better.

Jhapre Teahouses:

Himalayan Lama Hotel and Guesthouse: Rs. 1,000/night for 2 people. Best place in Jhapre with a hot shower for Rs. 300. I stayed here and the hot shower was really worth it!

Pikey Base Camp Teahouses:

Peekey Shangri La Hotel: Rs. 1,000/night for 2 people. Rooms with attached toilets. Rs. 300 for hot shower.

I stayed here during my trek and it was the best teahouse throughout my whole Pikey Peak Trek. The walls of the teahouse are like half a metre thick, which is nice when you are at 3,600 metres and it’s super cold at night.

Junbesi Teahouses:

Apple Garden Lodge: Rs. 500/night for 2 people. Most rooms with shared bathrooms. If you pre-book or arrive early, you can choose a room with an attached toilet. Hot shower for Rs. 300.

We arrived late in Junbesi and by that time, all the rooms with private toilets were taken. The shared bathrooms were okay for 1 night but if you spend more days in Junbesi, it might be worth finding a place with an attached toilet.

Phaplu Teahouses:

Sunshine Hotel and Lodge: Basic accommodation but they have hot shower for free. Rs. 500/night for 2 people. Owner is nice and helps to get your bus ticket back to Kathmandu.

Pikey Peak Trek Cost

Price of Rooms in Teahouses

Room in Teahouse while trekking in Nepal. — Typical Room in a Teahouse, Nepal

The prices of rooms are between Rs. 500-1,000 for 2 people per night in a twin room.

Usually, the teahouses that have hot water shower are the ones that charge Rs. 1,000/night. The hot shower is a shared bathroom and if you ask, they unlock the door for the shower for you.

In Jhapre and Pikey Base Camp were the only places we paid Rs. 1,000 for the rooms. The rooms are usually twin rooms and if you are travelling with a friend, then the price of the room is shared between the two.

Price of Food in Teahouses

There is usually an unwritten rule that the teahouse you are staying in is also the place that you will be having your breakfast and dinner too.

A meal generally costs around Rs. 500 in each teahouse along the trail. If you want to buy beer, expect to pay around Rs. 500-600 for a can.

Price of Other Items (in Teahouses)

Toilet paper: Rs. 200/roll
Wifi: Rs. 100
Charging phone: Rs. 100-200
Hot Shower: Rs. 300

Total Cost for 1 Person

It was around Rs. 13,000/person for a 6 days trek including the bus tickets (to and from Kathmandu).

Rs. 9,500 for 6 days, plus Rs. 3,500 total for transport. (This includes also money I spent on wifi, charging, hot shower, extra tissues, toilet paper and snacks).

It does not include costs for a trekking guide or porter as we trekked on our own. Usually, the cost of hiring a trekking guide is Rs. 2,500-3,000/day.

Nepal Trekking Itineraries

Not sure about the Pikey Peak Trek? Check out my itineraries and posts about trekking in Nepal:

FAQs: Pikey Peak Trek Nepal

How hard is Pikey Peak?

The Pikey Peak Trek in Nepal is considered an easy trek that even complete beginners can complete.

How long is the Pikey Peak trek?

The Pikey Peak trek can be completed in minimum 5 days (including travel). It might feel a bit rushed if you plan to complete it in 5 days, so if you have more time it is good to make it 6-7 days.

What is the height of Pikey Peak?

The height of Pikey Peak is 4,065 metres. The Pikey Base Camp is at 3,640 metres where there are teahouses for the night. Most of the people then go to see the sunrise at Pikey Peak the next morning.

Conclusion