RUN NEPAL: PIKEY PEAK TRAIL EXPLORER

Description

Dates:10 – 22 April 2021 / 13 – 25 November 2021

Duration: 13 Days / 12 Nights

Price:Euro 2,245 per person

Booking window closes 21 days before departure date.

You will pay a deposit of 10% to secure your spot. Once confirmed, your tour operator will charge the remaining amount.

Terrain: Trail Running

Average daily running distance: 10 km.

Longest running distance in a day: 5 Hours (Stop/Start running with lots of rest). Equivalent of around 8-10miles in the mountains.

Group size: up to 12 participants

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What level of running is this trip suitable for?

Are there any alternatives for non-runners?

Accommodation

Dietary accommodation

Itinerary (day-to-day)

What’s included in the price?

What’s NOT Included in the Price?

See Additional Information for more details on Payment Procedure and Cancellation Policy.

What Level of Running is this Trip suitable for?

Suitable for all abilities. Previous experience of trail running preferred.

Are there any Alternatives for Non-runners?

No.

Accommodation

Twin/Double Share Included. If you require a single room please ask and we can provide a supplement accordingly.

Dietary Accommodation

• Vegetarian
• Vegan
• Dairy-free
• Gluten-free

If you have any dietary requirements, please let us know about them in a comment upon your booking.

ITINERARY

DAY 1 | ARRIVE INTO KATHMANDU

Welcome to the Himalayas! Day arrival into Kathmandu’s International Airport at any time and we will have a private transfer waiting to collect you in the arrivals area. A short journey to your hotel with time to relax and chill before we all meet up over fresh tea on the garden terrace of the hotel (which has great views of the city!). We then don our trainers and head out into the ancient streets to get a slice of Kathmandu. We have an evening meal planned at one of the cities best-kept secrets, to chat further about our adventure and get to know the rest of the team, before retiring for some well-earned rest.

DAY 2 | EXPLORE KATHMANDU

We have a beautiful day planned as we head out into Kathmandu to see some of its ancient wonders. We will also have the opportunity to stretch our legs and do some light running as our friends from the Trail Running Association of Nepal will show us around. We’ll start in the adventurous Thamel district, weaving our way past mountaineering shops and local artisans plying their trades. Moving onto Kathmandu’s Durbar Square – a medieval wonder – as well as the Swayambhunath Monkey Temple for crowning views of the entire city and the nearby Himalayas. Downtime this evening to recheck our kit and get ready to hit the trail.

DAY 3 | INTO THE FOOTHILLS OF THE HIMALAYA…

Checking out of our hotel our 4WD transfer will be waiting to drive us along the Tibetan Road as we head into the Himalayan foothills to the start of the trail. It’s a bit of a journey along the mountain roads (8 hours drive), as we cross glacial rivers and drive past many local ethnic villages. We’ll make plenty of stops along the way to make the most of the route. Eventually arriving into the village of Sivalaya for our overnight stay. The village has a rich Tamang, Newar and Sherpa culture and is the perfect spot to try some tasty Dhal Bhat before getting our heads down in our tea house.

DAY 4 | HIT THE TRAIL TO BHANDAR

Up early as we hit the trail after breakfast. All of our travel gear will go ahead of us by yak or porter which allows us to travel light with only small packs. The trail rises through scattered ancient villages, over mountain rivers towards the village of Deurali (2,705m) which is covered in Tibetan and Buddhist Mani walls. It also doesn’t take long until we start seeing the mighty Himalayan peaks on the nearby horizon. Our route then gently descends into the Sherpa village of Bhandar, which has a collection of Buddhist stupas and a small monastery. Checking into our tea house we have the village to explore with the chance to meet local people.

DAY 5 | ONWARDS TO NAMKHELI

On this day, we will run to Namkheli from Bhandar which sits slightly higher at 2,300m. We make a gradual descent along the trail to the Likhu River before we make our climb up to Chaulakharka for a tasty local lunch. We then have a steep two-three hour ascent of Namkhile where we stay overnight.

DAY 6 | TO NGAWAR GOMPA

We start our journey with an ascent to the Goli Gompa Danda, a curious Buddhist settlement which is worth exploring. Our day then continues upwards towards Ngawar Gompa at a lofty 2,800m. The views up here are outstanding with plenty of places to stop and enjoy our surroundings along the way. The valleys below our mouth-watering. There is a small cheese factory we’ll stop by at before heading through lush Rhododendron forests and onto our tea house stay for the night.

DAY 7 | PIKEY PEAK BASE CAMP

We have an easier, shorter day today as we head upwards to the base camp of Pikey Peak. It’s important to rest and acclimatise to the rising altitudes. The trail continues through ludicrously beautiful scenery with colourful meadow flowers and forests to traverse through. If the weather is nice we may continue up to the summit of Pikey Peak and return back down to our base camp for the evening.

DAY 8 | SUMMIT PIKEY PEAK

We start our day nice and early this morning to catch the best views from the summit of Pikey Peak (4,065m). We follow a gradual trail to the top with the summit covered with prayer flags. The views up here are breathtaking with panoramic views of Kanchenjunga, Everest, Makalu, Rolwaling, Numbur, Gauri Shanker and many other peaks from East to West. From the top of Pikey Peak, we then follow a ridgeline which starts flat and then steepens as we enter the forest to Jase Bhyangyang.

DAY 9 | TRAIL TO JUNBESI

Leaving behind Jase Bhyangyang we head towards Lamjura-La (3,530m) a beautiful spot covered with prayer flags and incredible views of the surrounding mountains. The trail descends nicely over an old jeep track and picks up a local trail through traditional villages until we reach Junbesi. The village is known as a cradle of Sherpa culture. As we are in this remote part of Nepal with the nearby borders of Tibet, Buddhism flourishes and there are numerous Buddhist monasteries along the way. We’ll stop by to explore some of them before pulling into our accommodation for the evening.

DAY 10 | RUNNING TO TAKSINDU DEURALI

We head up the valley through lush forests again, catching sights of Mount Everest and the surrounding peaks. It’s also a day where we cross Nepali suspension bridges over glacial rivers as we ascend to the village of Ringmo which has some truly outstanding Tibetan architecture and apple orchards. We’ll be stopping to try some delicious apple pie and cider. The trail then descends sharply through forests with great mountain views until we reach our overnight stop.

DAY 11 | FINAL DAY TO PHAPLU

Our last day on the trail so we will start with a hearty breakfast before leaving our tea house. Our route today heads down a beautiful path via forests with the chance to stop by a monastery that is perched high on a cliff overlooking the valley. We continue down into Phaplu, arriving at our cozy tea house with time to celebrate completing our journey. Beer and tasty Nepali food will be aplenty.

DAY 12 | RETURN TO KATHMANDU

Early this morning we’ll meet up with our 4WD vehicles as we head back to Kathmandu. The journey is scenically outstanding but will take as long as 7 hours to reach the city as we travel along slow roads. Don’t worry, as we will have mountain views to keep us company. Arriving at our hotel, it’s time to relax, chill, and have a well-deserved soak to rest after our journey. The rest of the day is at your leisure to explore or try a spa treatment.

DAY 13 | HOMEWARD BOUND

It’s time to pack up and bid farewell to your new-found trail running friends and our local team. Private transfers are arranged for you back to Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan Airport in time to connect with your onward flight back home.

What’s Included in the Price?

• 12 nights accommodation in boutique hotels in Kathmandu and cost tea-houses on the trail
• Fully-supported trail running trip
• Internal flight ticket (Lukla – Kathmandu) one-way in Economy Class
• Cultural sightseeing incl full day city trail running sightseeing
• Dinner on the first and final night in Kathmandu
• Full board throughout the duration of the trail run
• All transfers
• Permits and conservation fees
• 4:1 Runner to Guide Ratio
• Local porterage
• Return airport transfers
• 12-week training programme
• Comprehensive first aid kits, along with oximeter and PAC (Portable Altitude Chamber) bag

What’s NOT Included in the Price?

• International flights
• Lunches and some dinners in Kathmandu
• All beverages and snacks
• Personal equipment
• Personal bills
• Visa fee US$25 per person for 15 days
• Travel insurance (required)
• Tips
• Excess baggage beyond 15kg (for local flight)

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