Hiking around Kathmandu

The Kathmandu valley is surrounded by verdant mountains with beaten trails leading to pilgrimage sites or hilltops overlooking the wide range of the Himalayas. Hiking around Kathmandu is the best way to observe the countryside lifestyle of Nepal, connect with nature, and observe the awe-inspiring Himalayan ranges. Whether you are seeking a stroll or a more challenging trek, the options are abundant and cater to all levels of expertise. You can also combine day hikes with a comfortable stay in hill stations, watching sunrise and sunset over the Himalayas.

Nagarkot - Changunarayan Hiking

The 'Nagarkot-Changunarayan' hiking is the most popular hiking around Kathmandu. This is a gentle walk along the ridge overlooking the Kathmandu valley and the Himalayas. We will first walk through the charming, self-sufficient Tamang villages and then through the beautiful woods. This walk gives a good insight into the countryside lifestyle of the Himalayan foothills. Tamangs are pre-Buddhist Tibetan immigrants following shamanism. The walking ends at the oldest documented Hindu pagoda of Changunarayan, tagged as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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Nagarjun Hiking

Nagarjun Hill in the north of Kathmandu is the nearest hiking trail to the tourist center of Thamel. The well-preserved Nagarjun forest is part of the youngest and smallest Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park. The well-made trail climbs on steps at first and then gradually through the thick forest. At the top are a Buddhist monastery and a view tower. The hill is named after the 'Siddha Nagarjun', as there are caves and dwellings of him. The hilltop of 1,950 m offers magnificent views of Ganesh Himal and Langtang ranges towards the north.

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Dhulikhel Namobuddha hiking

Hiking in southeast of Kathmandu valley

We will drive for about 42 km / 1.5 hrs to Kavre Bhanjyang past Dhulikhel and then start walking through the pine forest. The trail climbs gradually through the villages with terraces and woods with a far-reaching view of lush valleys with snowpeaks in the backdrop. Namobuddha is one of the important Buddhist pilgrimage sites. This is where one of the Bodhisattvas (Buddha to be) sacrificed himself to feed a nourishing tigress. A stupa has been built with his relic. From the 1,750 m hilltop, one can see a long stretch of the central Himalayas. Walk back to the pickup point after lunch.

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NOTE: Since we drive to Dhulikhel, this hiking could be planned with an overnight stay in Dhulikhel. Dhulikhel is another popular hill station east of Kathmandu. It is also possible to spend a night in the monastery at Namobuddha or walk further to Balthali village resort.

Short trek from Kathmandu

Kathmandu is surrounded by verdant hills overlooking at the Himalayan ranges. These hills still exhibits countryside lifestyle of Nepal and shelters significant species of wildlife. Day hike or short trek around Kathmandu is fantastic idea to prepare yourself for high altitude trek or Tibet trip.
Nagarkot, Dhulikhel, Balthali village resort and Shivapuri village resort are excusive places to stay away from hustle and bustle of Kathmandu.

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Ama Yangri 3 day trip from Kathmandu

Hiking around Kathmandu with overnight stay

  There are few luxury resorts in the outskirts of Kathmandu which will give you deeper insight into the Nepalese countryside lifestyle and the scenery. Balthali is one of such destinations some 40 km southeast of Kathmandu. Balthali offers a stay amid lush vegetation with bird eye view of mountains and valleys glistening with seasonal crops and the wide range of the Himalayas in the background. There are several short and long nature walks from the resort in Balthali.
Namobuddha is another less touristic hilltop destination around Kathmandu. There are few resorts, farmstay and also luxury hotels to spend a night. 

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