Both are short treks of about a week with a view of Everest. The Everest View trek flies to Lukla and walks to Namche and Tengboche inside the national park, close to the big peaks. The Pikey Peak trek is reached by road, climbs to 4,065 m and gives a wide, distant panorama. Choose Everest View to be among the mountains and Pikey Peak to avoid flights and crowds.
Everest View and Pikey Peak at a glance
- Days from Kathmandu. Everest View: 6 to 8. Pikey Peak: 6 to 8.
- Highest point. Everest View: about 3,880 m at the Everest View Hotel, or Tengboche at about 3,860 m. Pikey Peak: Pikey Peak, 4,065 m.
- Access. Everest View: flight to Lukla. Pikey Peak: jeep to Dhap or Jhapre, 7 to 9 hours.
- The view. Everest View: close: Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku. Pikey Peak: wide and distant: Kanchenjunga to Dhaulagiri on a clear day.
- Crowds. Everest View: busy main trail. Pikey Peak: very quiet.
- Culture. Everest View: Sherpa villages and Tengboche monastery. Pikey Peak: Sherpa villages and monasteries of lower Solu.
Two different kinds of view
On the Everest View trek the mountains are close. From the ridge above Namche you look straight up the valley to Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam, and Thamserku and Kangtega tower over the trail. From Pikey Peak the mountains are further away, but there are far more of them: a long line of the Himalaya across the horizon, with Everest, Makalu and, on the clearest days, Kanchenjunga in the east and the Annapurnas in the west. Sunrise and sunset from the summit are the highlight.
Getting there
The Everest View trek depends on the Lukla flight, which is quick but often delayed. Pikey Peak is reached by a long jeep ride, with no flight at all, which makes it more predictable and usually cheaper. It also means no national park crowd at the start: you walk from the road head through pasture, forest and villages.
Trail, lodges and altitude
The Everest trail is the best equipped in Nepal, with comfortable lodges, bakeries and Wi-Fi in Namche. Lodges on the Pikey route are simpler, and at the base of the peak they are basic. Both treks stay near or just under 4,000 m. Pikey Peak base camp is at about 3,600 m, so take the climb slowly; a mild headache at the top is not unusual.
Best season
October to December has the clearest skies for both. Spring, March to May, is warmer, and the forests below Pikey Peak are full of red and pink rhododendron in April. Both are possible in winter with warm clothing. In the monsoon the views are mostly hidden and the Pikey road is at its worst.
Permits and cost
The Everest View trek needs the Sagarmatha National Park permit and the local Khumbu permit. Pikey Peak lies outside the park and needs only local paperwork, which your agency arranges. With no flight and simpler lodges, Pikey Peak is usually the cheaper of the two by a clear margin.
For families and first-timers
Both suit beginners. The Everest View trek has the edge on comfort, with good food and warm dining rooms. Pikey Peak has the edge on calm: no flight to worry about and a trail you may share with only a handful of other walkers and a great many yaks and dzos.
How hard are the days?
Neither trek has long days. On the Everest View trek the toughest stretch is the climb from the river to Namche, about 600 m of ascent on day two. On the Pikey route the days are four to six hours on forest and ridge trails, with an early start on summit morning.
Choose Everest View if
- You want to walk the famous Everest trail and visit Namche.
- You want the big peaks close.
- You like comfortable lodges.
- You are happy to fly and can allow a spare day.
Choose Pikey Peak if
- You want to avoid the Lukla flight.
- You like quiet trails and simple village lodges.
- You want the widest panorama for the least altitude.
- You are travelling in winter and want a clear, low-risk trek.
Can you do both?
They are in the same district, and a longer trek can link them: walk from Pikey Peak through Junbesi and on towards Lukla and Namche. That takes about two weeks and follows part of the old Jiri route.
Plan it
See the Everest View trek guides and the Pikey Peak trek guides, or ask us for both plans.
Common questions
Can you see Everest from Pikey Peak?
Yes, as part of a long panorama. It is further away than from Namche, and the appeal is the breadth of the view.
Which is easier?
They are similar. Everest View has more comfortable lodges; Pikey Peak has a slightly higher top.
Which is cheaper?
Usually Pikey Peak, because there is no flight.
Which is better in winter?
Both work. Pikey Peak is often chosen because it avoids flight delays, though snow can lie near the summit.
Heights, days, fees and rules are approximate and can change, so confirm the current details with us before you book.
