Day Hiking Destinations Around the Kathmandu Valley

There are several 1 day hiking destinations in the Kathmandu Valley that Nepal Kameleon Holidays has traced out. Generally, Kathmandu valley is known as the city of temples. It is dominated by the popular UNESCO monumental sites with the pagoda style temples, Durbar Squares and Stupas. But, if you want to enjoy a day hiking trip, you have some cool destinations for walking. Lets have a look 5 destinations for day hiking around Kathmandu.

1. Nagarjun Hiking/ Hike to Jamacho Gumba

Jamacho Gumba and Kathmandu Valley

The Nagarjun hill is the nearest hiking destination, just about 15 minutes drive from Thamel and easy 5 hours hiking (go and back). It is a hike under the shadow of the tree line, which goes through the fine step trail. This is also popular as the hike to Jamacho Gumba as the Gumba lies at the top of the Nagarjun hill. It is an excellent viewpoint of the Kathmandu valley, Langtang and Everest Himalayas along with the picturesque hillside territory. Nagarjun hill is the place, where the former royal family lives. It is bounded by the Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park.

Nature and Nurture

2. Nagarkot Hiking

Nagarkot is a famous hillside located at the hilltop of the Bhaktapur city. It is renowned as the best place for the sunrise viewpoint. Nagarkot hiking begins from Sankhu, which is about an hour drive from Thamel. If you love a gentle walk through the fine and wide trail, do not miss the Nagarkot day hiking. The terraced hill side view, the forest and the chirping melody of the birds are just incredible. If you are lucky, you can enjoy the 360 panoramas of the Everest, Langtang and Manaslu Himalayan panoramas. (Optional: if you want to enjoy the sunset and sunrise views from Nagarkot, spend an overnight and make your trip outstanding)

View from Nagarkot

3. Chandragiri Hiking

Chandragiri is another famous hill ridge, located at the southwest border of the Kathmandu valley. For a day hiking, you can select the Chandragiri hill, which offers a great experience of exploring the Kathmandu valley from eagle eye point, enjoy the Langtang, Annapurna, Manaslu and Everest region white peaks. If you want to experience cable bar ride, you have that option too. For the Chandragiri hiking trip, you need to drive for about half an hour (except traffic time) and begin the hike.

View from Chandragiri Top

4. Shivapuri Hiking

Shivapuri Hiking will take your boredom and let you enjoy in the nature. You can accompany with the freshness of the forest and enjoy the valley view along with the birds chirping. The Shivapuri hiking trail is bounded up by the Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park. You will reach to the gateway of Shivapuri hike with a half an hour drive from Thamel. Depending on your interest and walking speed, you can select Shivapuri circuit hike (7 hrs) or the half way, known as the hike to Nagi Gumba in Shivapuri (4 hrs). If you really want a perfect hike, take a circuit one. It leads you to the peak point of the Shivapuri ridge (2732 meters), via the emerging point of the Bagmati River, a sacred river that flows beside the Pashupatinath temple. Bagdwar is what it is called. Around this point, several sadhus (hermits) meditate for years. The peak point of Shivapuri is the viewpoint of the Langtang Himalayan range.

While hiking to the Shivapuri ridge

5. Namobuddha Monastery Hiking

By the private car, it takes an hour to reach Dhulikhel, from where the hiking to Namobuddha monastery begins. The setting of the Namobuddha hiking trail is awesome. The Himalayan views of Everest, Gaurishanker and Langtang region can be explored along with the terraced green hillside and the scattered villages. The route is also popular for the mountain biking. Namobuddha monastery is a spiritual center of the Buddhist devotees. Near the monastery, there is a stone sculpture of the tiger and a man, which relates to the sacrifice of a prince of his life to devour the hunger tigress and to save her cubs. (option: mountain biking day tour and 1 night/2 days hike to the Balthali village)