Pike Peak: The foothills of the Lower Everest Region

Altitude above sea level: 1,302 m

Driving Time: Approx. 30 minutes, depends on traffic

Accommodation: Hotel Tibet or similar

Upon arrival at Tribhuvan International airport, our representative will be awaiting you to cordially welcome you with great hospitality. The representative will be displaying the “Nepal Sanctuary Treks” placard outside the airport terminal.

You will be then escorted and transferred to the hotel in our private vehicle. Further, you will be given a brief description of the activities that will take place during the upcoming trip and a preliminary briefing on hygiene and safety by our representative.

Altitude above sea level: 1,302 m

Tour Duration:  Approx. 8 hours

Accommodation: Hotel Tibet or similar

Meal: Breakfast

9:00 AM: After breakfast, we start our guided cultural tour around Kathmandu Valley. On this cultural tour, you will experience the numerous colors, sounds, and tastes of authentic Kathmandu and its surroundings. Our experienced tour guides will tell you all you need to know and answer all your curiosities regarding those sites.

Kathmandu Durbar Square

You will head towards Kathmandu Durbar Square, also called Hanuman Dhoka Durbar. This ancient site used to be the residence of the Nepali royal family and administrators. It incorporates an architecturally extraordinary complex of ancient palaces, temples, courtyards, and shrines dating from the 15th to the 18th century.

The prominent sites of Kathmandu Durbar Square are Kumari Ghar or the house of the living goddess.  Kasthamandap is a huge rest house that is said to have been built with the wood from a single tree and is the source of which Kathmandu valley got its name. Other sites around Kathmandu Square are the ferocious Kal Bhairab – the red monkey God- Hanuman, hundreds of erotic carvings, temples, and statues dedicated to different deities.

Swayambhunath:

Swayambhunath (monkey temple), is the magnificent ancient religious architecture and center faith of Hinduism and Buddhism. Its lofty white dome and dazzling golden spire are visible from far and wide. Swayambhunath is the ideal place to observe the religious harmony in Nepal.

Upon arriving at the top, you can hear the Buddhist song “Om Mani Padme Hum” resounds everywhere. The candles and the aromatic fragrance of incense that burns constantly create a serene vibe and enormous prayer wheels which encircle the stupa.

PM: Boudhanath

Then we drive towards Boudhanath.  From the moment you step into the sanctuary, you’ll immediately feel the spiritual energy that comes from the place. Boudhanath is one of the biggest stupas in Nepal built in the 5^th century and listed in the world heritage list by UNESCO in 1979. The surrounding area is a central spiritual hub of Tibetan life and culture in Nepal. You can see the beautiful dome-shaped structure stupa surrounded by brilliant colorful prayer flags.

Witness monks draped in maroon robes rolling the prayer wheels, burning incense, and flickering butter candles. Moreover, it’s fascinating to see the people feeding grains and maize to hundreds of pigeons around stupa areas. The devotees turn the prayer wheels & chant, which is humbling to see such dedication to their beliefs.

Delight in the serenity as you hear the Buddhist mantra ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’ being chanted by devotees, alongside the echo of music streaming out from the nearby shops.

Pashupatinath

Moving on, you will visit the Pashupatinath temple, a Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva located on the bank of the Bagmati River. The word Pashupati means “the king of animals” and the temple is famous for its monkeys. You will be visiting the Pashupatinath area to indulge in a spiritual journey.

Pashupatinath is more than just a religious destination. It is a combination of religion, art, and culture. The temple, spread across 246 hectares of land, abounds in temples and monuments. Hundreds of rituals are performed here every day. You will get to witness people performing the religious ritual and funeral pyres burn at open-air cremation. Also witness elaborately dressed holy men meditating outside the temple and pilgrims placing offerings at the shrines.

After touring around prominent sites, you will be transferred safely back to your hotel.

Altitude above sea level: 1,790 m (Shivalaya)

Driving duration: 8-9 hrs. 

Accommodation: Tea house Lodge

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

After early breakfast, you leave Kathmandu for the long drive to Shivalaya via Araniko Highway. The scenic drive provides wonderful views of the eastern Himalayas, including Langtang, Dorjee Lakpa, Ganesh, Lirung.

The drive goes all the way through Kodari road (Tibet road) then turns off to Jiri & passes through the Bhotekoshi River. This river is one of the well-known rivers for water-based activities such as rafting and kayaking.

You reach Shivalaya after crossing several hills and rivers. Shivalaya is a picturesque village also known as the gateway to Everest.

Altitude above sea level: 2,200 m (Bhandar)

Hiking duration:  5- 6 hours approx.

Accommodation: Tea house Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a hearty breakfast, you continue your journey to the village of Bhandar. The trail provides beautiful scenery of villages, grazing cattle, and green fields. Thereafter, you pass through the forests of rhododendron and oak trees.

Further, you hike up again to Sangbadanada (2,150 m) continue uphill to Deurali Pass (2,705 m). You hike up through the forest, and then cross a stream and then ascend the pass at Deurali. Witness a superb view of Dudh Kunda Himal, Khatanga, Karylung and Pikey peak from the pass. Also, you can see the grid of Mani walls, carved thousands of times with the Tibetan Buddhist mantra.

Thereafter, follow the trail covered with beautiful rhododendron clusters, which plunge straight down to the hillside. After an hour, you will reach the periphery of Bhandar.

Altitude above sea level: 2,300 m (Namkhili)

Hiking duration: 6-7 hrs. Approx.

Accommodation: Tea house Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a hearty breakfast, you leave Bhandar village behind and continue your trek downhill to Likhu Khola.  Further, you ascend through dense forests of rhododendron and pine trees until it reaches Chaulakharka.

On the way, you can savor the view of quaint villages, small tea houses, and terraced farmlands. The trail rewards you with captivating views of Barha Himalayan Range, Karylung, Lambur, and other snow-blanketed peaks that will refresh you. Eventually, you reach Namkhili village, where you can visit a few monasteries maintained by Pike Peak Social Organization.

Altitude above sea level: 3,350 m (Ngaur Gompa)

Hiking duration: 6 hrs. Approx.

Accommodation: Tea house Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a hearty breakfast, you continue your trek towards Goli Gompa Danda by crossing pine and rhododendron forests. Along the way, you can enjoy the magnificent view of the surrounding mountains. Further, you pass stupas decorated with chortens, mani walls, and prayer flags.

Moving ahead along the thick forests, enjoying the birds chirping, you reach Ngaur Gompa. You can explore a local Buddhist gompa and cheese factory.  Situated on top of a foothill, Ngaur Village offers the marvelous sight of Gaurishankar Himal and Numbur Himal.

Altitude above sea level: 3,585 m (Pike Base Camp)

Hiking duration: 5-6 hrs. Approx.

Accommodation: Tea house Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, you hike through a dense forest of rhododendron and pine trees, savoring the mesmerizing mountain views. As this region is well-known for Numbur Cheese Trekking Trail, you will visit the dairy and can try the yak cheese that is made here.

The trail offers you an incredible view of Mt. Gaurishankar, Manaslu region, Annapurna Himalayan Range, and neighboring peaks. Further, you pass Mani walls carved with stunning Buddhist paintings and scripts to reach Pikey Peak Base Camp. Marvelous views of mountains, diverse flora, and fauna will keep you refreshed throughout the trek.

Altitude above sea level:  Pikey Peak (4,065 m), Lamjura La (3,530 m)

Hiking duration: 7 hrs. Approx.

Accommodation: Tea house Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Today is the most awaited moment of the entire Pike Peak Everest View trek as you are going to reach the summit of the peak. Starting early in the morning, you’ll follow a gradual trail to Pike Peak, beautifully decorated with multi-colored prayer flags.

From the top of Pike Peak, catch a mesmerizing sunrise view over the Himalayan range. Savour the breathtaking views of the majestic Himalayas specifically Mt. Everest, Mt. Kanchenjunga, Mt. Dhaulagiri, Mt. Makalu, Mt. Gauri Shanker, Mt. Annapurna, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Thamserku, Mera peak, and many more.

From the top of Pikey Peak, you’ll follow a ridgeline that starts flat and then steepens as you enter the forest to Jarse Bhanjyang. Leaving Jarse Bhanjyang there are few options for the descent to Junbesi, we head towards Lamjura La covered with prayer flags, which offers a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains.

Altitude above sea level: Junbesi (2,675 m)

Hiking duration: 3 hrs. Approx.

Accommodation: Tea house Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we descend the pass to Tragdobuk and onto Junbesi. Junbesi is a traditional Sherpa village and is the cradle of Sherpa culture and architecture. The Sherpas consider the Solukhumbu a sacred valley. In this remote part of Nepal that borders Tibet, Buddhism flourishes and there are numerous Buddhist monasteries along the way.

After lunch, we visit Thubten Chholing Monastery, a huge Tibetan Buddhist Monastery founded by the revered Lama Trulsik Rinpoche, who fled to Nepal from Rongbuk Gompa in Tibet with a large group of Anis (Nuns) and monks in the 1960s. Since then, many more refugees have fled to Thubten Chholing en route to join the Dalai Lama at Dharamsala in India. The small monastic cells dotted around the hillside are reserved for private meditation by resident monks and nuns. The trail to Thupten chholing starts in front of the Junbesi Gompa and follows the west bank of the Junbesi Khola upstream past a Chhorten. Cross to the east bank by the powerhouse at Mopung, and then climb the ridge to the Gompa. After visiting the Monastery, we retrace our way back to our Lodge.

Altitude above sea level: Ringmo (3,660 m)

Hiking duration:  5–6 hrs. approx.

Accommodation: Tea house Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

This morning, hit the trail, bound for Ringmo. Cross the river at the bottom of town and climb through the forest up to Salung. From here, you can see the views of Mount Everest (8,848 m/ 29,028 ft.), Chamlang (7,319 m/ 24,012 ft.), and Makalu (8,481 m/ 27,824 ft.). There are also gorgeous views out across the valley to Chiwong Monastery and down towards Phaplu.

Continue on the trail, contouring and then dropping down to a stream before a short climb up into Ringmo, famous for its apple orchards and interesting apple products such as apple rakshi (alcohol), cider, and apple pie.

Altitude above sea level: Phaplu (2,413 m)

Hiking duration: 4–5 hrs. approx.

Accommodation: Tea house Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, leave the main trekking route again and take a beautiful path down to Phaplu through the forest. There’s also the option of hiking up to Chiwong Gompa, 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. Continue on down into Phaplu and celebrate the completion of a great trek at your cosy tea house.

Driving duration: 7 hrs. approx.

Accommodation: Hotel Tibet or similar

Meals: Breakfast, and Lunch

After a hearty breakfast, you take a long scenic drive back to Kathmandu.

Meal: Breakfast

It is time to fly back home, keeping all the wonderful experiences of Nepal in mind. The representative from Nepal Sanctuary Treks will transfer you to TIA airport, where you should check-in 3 hours prior to your scheduled flight.