Pikey Peak and Dudh Kunda Trek
This captivating trek in the lower Everest region, Solu, brings together the very best of Nepal - a rich tapestry of culture, breathtaking mountain vistas, and some remote trekking.
The trek starts by climbing up the wonderful ridgeline towards Pikey peak, the area also offers magnificent views of Mount Everest and lots of other stunning mountains. The view from Pikey peak is the best panoramic view in all of Nepal or so Hillary thought, and we don't disagree!
As you descend into the valleys, you'll be immersed in traditional Sherpa culture and Tibetan Buddhism, even spending a night in a monastery guest house.
Turning away from the beautiful villages of Solu, the Dudh Kunda trek enters a loop of the trail that has very few permanent inhabitants apart from some seasonal yak herders. Once a year in August thousands of local pilgrims, both Hindu and Buddhist, visit the sacred Dudh Kunda lake for the annual Janai Purnima Festival when it is said that the water in the lake turns milky colour and taking a dip in the water will grant you all your wishes.
The idyllic lake is situated at the base of mount Numbur, Khatang and Karyolung; the perfect backdrop to the glimmering waters and holy shrines.
Beyond the lake, your trek continues over a small mountain pass, revealing breathtaking hillside views and leading to the incredible village of Junbesi.
Our thoughtfully designed trek begins with Pikey Peak, not just for the views but also as an ideal acclimatization before ascending to Dudh Kunda, ensuring you will be able to enjoy being there even more.
Note: If time allows plan for an extra day in Junbesi to explore the Sherpa village and visit the village-like Tubthencholing Monastery. This is trying a wonderful part of the world to spend a day or two, relaxing or exploring!
- Starts In: Kathmandu
- Ends In: Kathmandu
- Duration: 10 Days
- Difficulty Grade: Demanding
Highlights
- See Everest from what Edmund Hillary considered Nepal’s best viewpoint
- Sacred lakes and stunning mountain views
- Get off the beaten path in Solu the lower Everest Region
- Experience Sherpa culture and Tibetan Monastic life
- Incredible arid, alpine terrain, contrasted with dense, mossy forests
Itinerary
Day 01: Drive from Kathmandu to Dhap, Trek to Jhapre [2920m]
We leave Kathmandu early morning, as we have a big day ahead of us. We follow a Japanese build road, through the mountains to the Sun Kosi River. We then follow the river down for a long time before crossing it and climbing up to Okhaldhunga. From here it’s about a 2-hour drive from the trail head at Dhap.
The road from Okhaldhunga is a good black top road that climbs from 1560m at Okhaldhunga up to 2800m at Dhap. From here we start our trek and as we near Sigane, we see mountains coming into view which we 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’s a pretty little Gompa and Stupa here and we will make our first stop here for the night.
Driving time: Approx. 9 hours
Walking time: Approx. 3 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
Meals included:
Lunch, Dinner
Day 02: Trek from Jhapre to Pikey Base Camp [3640m]
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 we turn right to Pikey Peak. We pass some old yak herders houses and a long Mani Stone wall. The trail then contours the hillside below Taklung Danda and goes through a beautiful forested trail, with many Rhododendrons. As we leave the forest it’s not far to Pike Peak base camp, about 2 hours away.
There’s just one lodge here at 3640m, with some (draughty) rooms in a separate building, but we use the dining room as our hangout. It’s a short climb to the summit at 4092m but unless there’s an unusually clear evening it’s better to climb for sunrise.
Walking time: Approx. 6-7 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 03: Trek from Pikey Base Camp to Loding [2515m], Sunrise at Pikey Peak [4092m]
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 we will be rewarded with views from Annapurna to Kanchenjunga, it is truly amazing!
From the top of Pikey we head north down a ridgeline which starts as quite flat and gets steeper as you go down through the forest to Jase Bhanjyang, where our crew will have breakfast ready for us. If there there is snow we will retrace our steps to Pikey BC and take a longer but less step trail around the mountain to Jase Bhanjyang. We’ll enjoy breakfast with the curious yaks at the Jase Bhanjyang yak farm and then continue our walk down to Loding.
With our legs rested and our bellies full from a hearty breakfast, well start with some steep sections through the forest, contrasted with some sections that flatten out. We’ll really take our time on the trail, stopping in at Tamakhani for a cup of tea and the friendly family who live there. Do ask if they have any fresh buttermilk for you to try, locally known as mahi. From here the trail is a more gradual slope down, all the way into Loding. At Loding we have 2 choices for accommodation, both which are very simple and charming in their own ways. The monastery has dorm-style accommodation which we’ll use for groups of 4 or more trekkers. A little further down the trail is a small homestay-style guest house by the river with a couple of rooms. The Tamang family that lives here speaks little English, but are hard-working and very welcoming!
Walking time: 1 hour (to reach Pikey Peak), Approx 6-7 hours (down to Loding)
Accommodation: Tea House
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 04: Trek from Loding to Chiwong Gompa [2930m]
Today we make our way through forest and along the ridge lines to Chiwong Gompa , a great walk. Chiwong Gompa is perched high on a cliff overlooking the valley. This monastery was founded in 1923 and has magnificent celebrations for the Mani Rimdu festival in autumn.
We will spend the night here, observing how the monastery functions and enjoying the view over Phaplu, staying at a newly build guest house right at the monastery.
Walking time: Approx. 5-6 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 05: Trek from Chiwong to Taksindu [2960m]
Our ascent begins again this morning through the forest and to the ridge that will lead us into Taksindu. The Taksindu Monastery was buildt in 1946 by the Tengboche Lama and is usually open early morning or late afternoon, please make sure to leave a donation if you visit.
Walking time: Approx. 5 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 06: Trek from Taksindu to Kamo Danda [3860m]
We say goodbye to the lovely villages for a few days and start following the Solu River directly north. The small road quickly becomes a beautiful trail, contouring through the forest of rhododendron and pine. For the most part we’ll gradually trend upwards until the last section which feels like a spiral staircase of natural rock steps. Popping out above the tree line, we arrive at our lovely lodging for the night.
We have valley views on the way, as well as the surrounding peaks. From our comfortable lodge at Kamo Danda we admire the Himalayas for their sheer proportions, steep cliffs and seemingly endless valleys: imagining what life is like in the villages below. The forest is a highlight today, the moss covered and gnarled trees remind us of their existence long before we got here. The trails are a mix of organic terrain and hand-laid stone steps.
Walking time: Approx. 4 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 07: Trek from Kamo Danda to Saharsbeni [4030m]
We’ve left the forest behind us for the stunningly arid and rocky Himalaya now. The trail takes us up the valley, following the Solu River. We pass by a couple of small seasonal camps where people who are trail building or grazing animals stay. There’s one small climb before we come around a rocky outcrop and arrive at camp. It’s not a long walk today but is excellent for acclimatisation, in preparation for our hike up to the high altitude Dudh Kunda lake tomorrow.
We’ve had some luxury on the way here at some very comfortable lodges but be prepared that that’s not what we’re in for tonight. We’ll stay in a very simple and breezy hut so all your warm gear will be put to good use! Your hosts for tonight are yak herders who have a wonderful entrepreneurial spirit, offering a place for visitors to sleep with hot, freshly cooked meals. The food is simple but filling and your menu will depend on the supplies available. There’s a plan for a full-service tea house to be built in this area so you may see some building works or even be able to stay in it if it’s ready!
Walking hours: Approx. 4 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 08: Hike to Dudhkunda [4561m] and back to Saharsabeni [4030m]
Dudh Kunda Lake, at the foot of Mount Numbur and Karyalung Glacier, is believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva and Buddhist and Hindu devotees believe that taking a dip in the icy lake, in August, will absolve them of their sins and help couples conceive a child. It only takes a couple hours walking from our camp. We will have picnic lunch enjoying this stunning place and you will also have an option to make Kora (circumambulation of the lake) which will take around 2 hours before heading back to our camp.
Walking time: Approx. 4-5 hours (extra 2 hours for Kora)
Accommodation: Tea House
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 09: Trek from Saharsbeni to Junbesi [2675m]
We’ll be up early this morning to take advantage of the clearer morning weather and enjoy taking our time on the way. We make our way across the bridge, following the flow of the river, contouring around the base of the valley until we turn up another valley and start our climb.
The low shrubs of juniper and sunpati are commonly used as incense in Nepal and Tibet – don’t be surprised if you see your crew collecting some of the rare flowers as gifts for when they return home.
Don’t forget to stop and turn around on you way today as the views behind us (in clear weather) are stunning! It’s particularly gratifying to see Dudh Kunda lake that we visited yesterday from a very different point of view.
It’s quite a climb this morning so we take our time to reach our highest point of the day. We contour the ridges for a little while and stop for a picnic lunch in a sunny spot at the yak grazing field. After lunch we pass by a few chortens and finally it’s down, down, down! From our vantage point high on the ridge we see our destination far below, the Sherpa village of Junbesi.
Junbesi is a lovely settlement with comfortable lodges, which we’ll enjoy after a couple of nights at high altitude and harsher conditions.
If you’ve got the energy, Tubthencholing Monastery is worth a visit on your way into Junbesi.
Walking time: Approx. 7 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10: Drive from Junbesi to Kathmandu
Today we bid farewell to the mountains and board our vehicle for the drive back into the Kathmandu Valley. In Kathmandu we take you into any hotel and the evening is yours to relax after a long drive.
Driving time: Approx. 12 hours
Accommodation: None
Meals included:
Breakfast
Gallery
Included In Price
- Tea house accommodation while on trek
- Meals as per the itinerary (all meals on trek, with filtered drinking water)
- Transportation as per the detailed itinerary
- Your trekking guide, sherpas and porters, with all their transport, equipment, insurance, meals and accommodation
- A first aid kit with basic supplies appropriate for the group size and trek route – if you require or are taking specific medications it is critical that you discuss this with us prior to your trip departure
- Trekking permits and registration fees
Note: The local tea houses are basic but clean and they do not often have attached bathrooms or hot showers. The price is based on twin share and does not include any extra charge that lodge owners may levy for single rooms, attached bathrooms or hot showers (if these facilities are available) or for battery charging. We can’t know in advance what they may charge for such things in the different lodges along the way, so we prefer to leave this cost out, rather than pass along an estimated charge to you.
The meal inclusions on trek are breakfast (one set breakfast and a tea or coffee), lunch (one main meal and a tea or coffee) and dinner (soup, main and dessert with a tea or coffee).
Not Included In Price
- Single supplement, please see single supplement charge
- International flights to and from Kathmandu; Nepal visa fees and international airport taxes; any excess baggage charges
- Comprehensive travel insurance that includes trip cancellation and emergency rescue / evacuation that covers all of the activities you will undertake during your trip should this be required for any reason (we require this as the minimum insurance cover)
- Services and activities not mentioned in the detailed itinerary above (eg additional nights, optional trips and sightseeing tours)
- Any gear or equipment that you may need to rent/buy – please ask us if you would like any advice about gear to bring/buy/rent
- Personal expenses (eg mineral water/soft drinks/bar bills, entrance/photography fees at monasteries, laundry, telephone calls, postage, donations, extra snacks etc)
- Any extra charge that tea house owners may levy for single rooms, attached bathrooms, or hot showers (if these facilities are available) and charging of batteries
- Tips for your city guide, drivers, hotels, restaurants etc (please ask if you would like guidance about appropriate tips)
- Costs incurred due to unforeseen events (eg caused by natural disasters, adverse road conditions / flight delays, labour strikes, fuel shortages, extreme exchange rate changes, etc)
