If you love to be with nature, hiking around Kathmandu can provide an easy escape from the city's humdrum. The north is always blessed with eye-catching mountain vistas, and any elevation along the hills provides a bird's eye view of the valley and its nearby places. We list a few places you should hike to when in Kathmandu.
Some Hiking Routes in Kathmandu Valley
Champadevi Hike
Situated at the height of 2278 m on the western ridge, the Champadevi hike is a good 5-6 hour hike starting from Pharping and ending in Kirtipur. The trail ascends through pine forests and reaches the pilgrimage site with a Buddhist stupa and a Hindu shrine. Campers also prefer the place which boasts views of Langtang, Gauri Shanker, and other mountains. Upon reaching Kirtipur, you will rejoice over the ancient Newar settlement. Many local joints where Newari food is served at its best are available here.
Nagarkot Hike
This scenic hilltop offers one of the best panoramic mountain views, including Everest. Just 32 km east of Kathmandu, Nagarkot is famous for its breathtaking sunrise and sunset views. The hill stands 2195 m tall and overlooks the Kathmandu Valley, a perfect retreat for nature lovers. Besides this, excellent hikes are possible here, including hikes to Changu Narayan Temple, Dhulikhel, Sankhu, and the surrounding hills. A multiday trip from Sundarijal to Chisapani and back to Nagarkot is preferred by many.
Shivapuri Hike
The hike to the Shivapuri Conservation area from Budhanilkantha (north of Kathmandu) is something you shouldn't miss if you are a nature lover. This route is favored especially for bird watching. It's a steep climb up to Nagi Gompa, a nunnery at the top of the hill, which is a good place for resting and great views. This hike offers magnificent views of the mountain ranges all year through. Varied wildlife and plant species are also a reason why most prefer to take this route. The hike can be ended at Kapan or Sundarijal. However, lots of exciting destinations take the same way. People even prefer to meditate around this area.
Nagarjuna Hike
Nagarjuna's beauty and ecstasy can be easily explained by choice of the former king to place his summer palace here. You can start the hike from Balaju after visiting the 22 holy taps. From the gates of the conservation area, the climb is about three hours to the top, with a clearing mid-way up through the forested hill. Regular bird watchers favor this hike. The top, with a miniature stupa and a view tower as its scanty attractions, gives a clear view of mountains like Langtang, Ganesh, and Manaslu to the north and Kathmandu valley down in the southeast.
Pulchowki Hike
The highest hill surrounding the Kathmandu Valley, Pulchowki (2782 m) hike, will blow your mind. It's a 4 hours challenging hike starting from the Godavari. The Godavari is rich in vegetation and hosts a well-maintained botanical garden. The trail is rich in flora and fauna (rhododendron fills the hill in spring), with the top offering a breathtaking view of the Kathmandu Valley and mountain ranges from Annapurna to Gauri Shanker. Interestingly, Pulchowki is the only hill that gets snowfall in most winters, owing to its elevation.
Get Started
If you are looking for any hiking experience around Kathmandu valley, here are the packages for the Nagarkot Changunarayan day hike, Dhulikhel Namobuddha day hike, or any easy trekking trip in Nepal. Having more days in Nepal after being experts on day hiking, we recommend doing the multiday trek such as Everest Base Camp or Annapurna Sanctuary. Furthermore, Island Peak Climbing in the Everest region and Yala Peak in the Langtang region enthrall you. Contact usToday or Plan your holidays as per your schedule and preference to travel in Nepal.
