Top Day Hiking Near Kathmandu

Nagarkot Day Hiking Tour

Are you looking for a day hiking near Kathmandu valley? There are several hiking routes popular for day hiking. These hiking routes offer one day to long day walking. This article is about the full-day hiking near Kathmandu.

Perfect for travellers looking to enjoy the full extent of Nepalese culture, be amongst the unique natural environment, and the spectacle of mighty mountains, Kathmandu is the place to be. Walking around the valley, one can experience untouched nature away from the capital crowd. Kathmandu valley has to offer hiking routes passing through steep hills, forests, and antique villages of people practising various cultures and having differing beliefs. Even people with no prior hiking experience or remarkable stamina can efficiently complete hiking around the valley. Age is also not a barrier, as the paths are suitable for all ages, from kids to older people. Champadevi, Shivapuri, Nagarkot, Dhulikhel, Namobuddha, and Sundarijal are famous one-day hiking sites in the valley.

Namobuddha Dhulikhel Day Hiking Tour

The Namobuddha Dhulikhel Day hiking tour commences from Dhulikhel after an hour’s drive from Kathmandu. Namobuddha and Dhulikhel are separated by a hiking route of around 20 kilometres and can be quickly completed by a hiker with average physical fitness. The hikers can enjoy their journey from start to finish as the route passes through villages with terraced farmlands, typical Nepalese mud houses, and so on. Newars are the dominant inhabitants of the area covering the hike between the start and endpoints.

Namobuddha is a Buddhist stupa and holds a famous fable about a young prince who sacrificed his life to save the life of tiger cubs. Initially, the hike heads to Panauti, a small Newar village offering a taste of old-fashioned Nepalese cultures and foods. The short route includes a walk via Batase-Sankhu Road or the Namobuddha road, both just less than 12 kilometres, and entails mesmerizing hiking trails filled with sublime sceneries. The view towers in both Namobuddha and Dhulikhel are the window to the mountain ranges of Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Langtang, Jugal, Rolwaling, Everest (Mahalangur), and Number, which are 8 of the 13 degrees in the Nepalese Himalayan Ranges. With the panorama of the Himalayas, the views of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur are also a treat to curious eyes.

The price of the Namobuddha Dhulikhel Day Hiking Tour is USD 120, and an experienced hiking guide for the trip will accompany you.

Nagarkot Day Hiking

Nagarkot is one of the most famous hills east of Kathmandu Valley. With an altitude of 2,175 meters above sea level, it is visited by locals and foreigners alike for picnics, hiking, or to relish the breathtakingly beautiful views from the hill surrounded by breezy forests.

The trip begins when the hikers take a drive from Kathmandu to Changunarayan. Here, the hikers can explore the ancient temple of Changunarayan, dedicated to the Hindu deity Bishnu. After exploring the temple that dates back to the 5th century, the hike begins along the forested route with views of Sankhu village and Bhaktapur accompanying the hikers. Playing hide and seek with the Himalayas to the north, the trek heads to the quaint town of Nagarkot. Here, the diverse arrays of inhabitants welcome you with mesmerizing hospitality. The routes around Nagarkot can be a little busy, given the popularity of the destination. A short hike from the Bazaar in Nagarkot takes you to the viewpoint. On a clear day, the summits spanning from Kanchenjunga in the east to Dhaulagiri in the west, including Mt Everest (8848m), Mt Manaslu (8163m), Ganesh Himal (7422m), Langtang (7227m), and even Mt Annapurna (8091m) can be witnessed from the vantage point. The orange shades of the setting sun make up for an even more enchanting affair. With the Himalayas offering their majesty to the hikers, the return entails a downhill route to the Nagarkot Bazaar. A nerve-settling drive back to Kathmandu completes the trip.

Accessible all around the year, the Nagarkot Hiking Tour can be done at the cost of USD 90. Such a surreal journey at a reasonable price is a catch for any nature lover.

Primarily famous for its Heritage sites and as the capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu has a lot more to offer to the visiting public that most people are unaware of. The natural desirability and the socio-cultural aspects of the outskirts of the valley add a much stronger attraction. With the cost-effectiveness, attractive hiking features, vast ethnicity, various heritage sites, and the view of the mountains from every hiking route, day hiking around Kathmandu valley is one journey everyone must take, whether short of time and budget or to enjoy an extra day in the valley.

The day Hiking tour is Perfect looking and enjoys the full extent of Nepalese culture and the old city with the Himalayas & unique natural environment.

Puru Founder of My Everest Trip

Puru Thapaliya

My name is Puru (Purushottam Thapaliya). Since completing the Government Guide Training from Nepal’s Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (KEEP and HRA), I have been a specialist in mountain trekking and peak climbing. With specific expertise in the Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan regions, I have now been a trekking guide and tour operator in Nepal, and across the Himalayas, since 2012.