Sir Edmund’s Footsteps

The inspiration for this journey comes from Sir Edmund Hillary himself, who spent his later life in the Pikey Peak region of Nepal. He dedicated that stage of his life to building schools that would benefit Sherpa communities, and every so often would ascend to Pikey Peak to get another glimpse of his beloved Everest.

Our itinerary has been researched by Roy Francis, and good friend of ours and incredibly respected mountaineer. Roy has been leading treks and climbs in Nepal for over twenty years. He developed this itinerary for people who feel that trekking to Everest Base Camp is just too serious an adventure for them, but would still like to get a look at Everest. The longest sections of walking are 6km, with mostly gentle gradients and a team of our own Sherpas to carry our packs.

The route takes in a long forgotten section of the old Everest trek, with very few visitors and very modest guest houses. This is old Nepal, but broken into short and achievable walks. We walk through rhododendron forests, yak pastures and alpine meadows. If you can walk 6km a day, then you can complete this adventure.

This trip will be led by Ewen Bell, Roy Francis and Tsering Dolker, with the help of a team of additional guides and porters who are local to the region.

Research Trip

Research trips are once off itineraries where we test out new routes and locations to see if elements of the route might be viable for future Be Your Best itineraries. The details of such trips can change on short notice, and typically they cover a small region but offer more time in that region to discover new highlights.

The travel style is often very basic and prone to unforeseen compromises. They are adventures in the true sense of the word! Always chat with Ewen or Shellie first before booking onto a research trip to make sure you are fully aware of the rough edges in the package.

Itinerary & Highlights

Arrival in Kathmandu
– Our team will collect you at Kathmandu Airport
– All meals, transport, accommodation and permits are included during the tour

Dhap to Pikey Peak
– We have a long drive to the Dhap region, south of Everest.
– Dhap itself is at an elevation of 2900m, so we spend a night lower down before moving on.
– Jhapre is our first destination by foot, a Sherpa village only slightly higher than Dhap.
– Walk to Bhulebhule is possibly the hardest day of the trip, gaining 500m of elevation in 6kms.
– Bhulebhule is also the least comfortable lodgings, and we’ll arrange tents instead for this night.
– Pikey Peak Base Camp is only slightly higher up and an easy walk day.
– We rest for an entire day to ensure good acclimation before ascending to Pikey Peak.
– Early start to head up to Pikey Peak at 4000m and sunrise with Everest.

Downhill to Phaplu
– From here on the walking is downhill and we get to enjoy quality oxygen again.
– Junbesi is another Sherpa village, and where Hillary built his first school in the region.
– We have a day trip to meet the nuns and monks at Thupten Chholing.
– Our trekking adventure finishes in Phaplu with a charter flight back to Kathmandu.

 Email for a Chat

If you have any questions, just drop us a line and we can make a time to chat over Zoom or come see us in Melbourne CBD for a chat and a coffee 🙂

The Basics

– All meals, accommodation, transport, tipping and permits are included. 
– Accommodation in Kathmandu is very comfy, but once we enter the Everest section of the tour expect only very basic guesthouses. Sleeping bags and towels will be provided by our ground team so you don’t have to pack extra gear.
– Weather conditions will be very cold above 3000m, with sub-zero at night but typically comfortable during the day while the sunshine is out.
– Elevations on this trip are not difficult, because we take time to acclimate. Ascending slowly is the key to avoiding drama, and we are experienced at designing trips to minimise any risk of altitude sickness. You do not need special medication or training to complete this journey.
– Packing and pre-departure docs will be supplied in advance of the trip. A limit of 10kg per pack is enforced for the safety of our porters and guides.