Overview of Day Hiking Around Kathmandu
Graceful Adventure Travel organize day hiking around Kathmandu valley who don’t have much time to visit Nepal and also looking for Nepali culture, lifestyle, religions we offer for day hike tour around Kathmandu valley. Kathmandu valley constitutes three major cities namely Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur which are equally famous and known as an open museum because of its ancient art and architecture with massive cultural activities and numerous religious shrines among of which UNESCO has enlisted 7 monuments as world heritage sites.
Apart from all these amazing primitive and medieval period assets, Kathmandu valley equally holds beautiful and satisfying short trekking destinations through cultural villages, monasteries and many less explored communities around of it among of which Nagarkot, Champadevi, Shivapuri, Phulchoki, Kakani to Bhanjyang, Namo Buddha are some of the famous day hiking spots around Kathmandu valley.
Day hiking around Kathmandu valley is specially designed for those individual, group or families with children and of old age who have very limited time and can’t follow the tough trails of the Himalayas but wish to experience the beauty of Kathmandu valley having an opportunity to give an insight on the rural settlements, rich religious and cultural exploration and the amazing primitive and medieval art and architecture within a short period of time including the magnificent views of the Himalayas. Some of the important picturesque must see destinations are described below.
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- Years of experience
- Experience guide
- 24 hour service
- Comfortable vehicle service
- Expert team on Nepal tourism
- Value of money
- Quality service and management
- Competitive price
- More than 55%Repeatable clients
- No hidden cost
1. Champadevi Day Hiking (Altitude: 2300m)
Champadevi is one of the famous day hiking spot around Kathmandu valley which is famous for the Buddhist stupa and a Hindu shrine where followers from both the religion worship with ghee lamps and incense specially in the full moon. The hill top offers an enchanting view of mountains like Langtang, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Ganesh Himal, Gauri Shankar, Jugal and Dorge Lakpa. The view of Kathmandu valley is so amazing covered in white clouds. Explore the region and the settlements around.
Itinerary: Walking Hours: 3-6 Hours
We will take a vehicle facility up to the hiking point. There are few routes to follow to reach at the hilltop. You can take a route from Taudaha Lake or from Pharping near by the famous Dakshinkali temple which lies 16km south of the Kathmandu or from the Hattiban Resort. The trail normally follows relatively an easy walking including steep uphill climbing in some points through the north ridge in between lush pine forest. Enjoy the moments at the top hill and retrace back following one of the options.
2. Kakani to Bhanjyang Day Hiking (Altitude: 2075m)
Another beautiful day hike spot around Kathmandu valley is the Kakani to Bhanjyang day hiking which lies 26km Northwest to Kathmandu valley. This easy hiking offers you outstanding views of hills, terraced farming fields and astonishing views of Himalayas like Langtang, Shisha Pangma, Annapurna, Gaurishankar and Manaslu among many others.
Itinerary:Walking Hours: 5 Hours
We will take a drive to Kakani for an hour and start our trekking. The trail heads east following graveled road crossing many picnic spots and small villages. The hill is densely covered with colorful rhododendron, oak and pine forest. We walk for around 3 hours on a relatively flat route and 20 minute steep uphill climbing to reach the Bhanjyang. We will have our lunch at Bhanjyang and stroll around enjoying the scenic beauty. The tranquility of the surrounding offers you the immense pleasure. Stroll around enjoying the scenic beauty and hike down to Kakani from where we will drive back to Kathmandu.
3. Phulchowki Day Hiking (Altitude: 2750m)
Phulchoki is the highest hill point around the Kathmandu valley and a beautiful hiking spot in terms of natural vegetation, scenic beauty and mountainous views. Phulchoki is famous for its quiet surroundings and fabulous views of farming landscapes and towering snowcapped Himalayas far northeast including Mt. Everest, Cho Oyu, Gaurishanker, Langtang, eastern part of Annapurna range towards far west, Ganesh and many other. The botanical garden is another attraction of this trekking spot where you can observe hundreds of different species of flower, plants, trees and herbs. There is occasional snowfall in Phulchoki in the winter season.
Itinerary: Walking Hours: 3-4 Hours
After having breakfast and packing the lunch for the day, we will take vehicle service to the south of Kathmandu city for about 45 minutes covering a distance of 14km and reach at Godawari from where our hiking for the day begins. The trail follows a gradual uphill climbing through sub-tropical dense forest covered with rhododendrons and oaks along with several species of orchids, butterflies and birds. Visit the botanical garden, view the Kathmandu valley and the magnificent views of Himalayas and truly admire the beauty from Phulchoki. After strolling around and enjoying the moments we will retrace back to Godawari and then drive back to Kathmandu.
4. Shivapuri Day Hiking (Altitude: 2563m)
Shivapuri Day Hiking is another best second highest hill spot around Kathmandu valley located in the north of Kathmandu. You will visit one of the main sources of the holy river Bagmati at Bagdwar right below the Shivapuri summit which is the biggest water supply source for Kathmandu valley. Another important place to visit in this hiking is the Nagi Gumpa (2330m); the only Gumpa for the nuns to practice Buddhism and many foreigners frequently visit this place for meditation and of course the Shivapuri National Park itself.
Itinerary: Walking Hours: 6-7 Hours
After breakfast, we will take a ride to Budhanilkantha which lies 8km north from the city and then day hike starts. We will visit Budhanilkantha, a famous Hindu shrine of Lord Bishnu with the biggest statue sleeping in the water bed. We then walk through the Shivapuri National Park, a granary in both the flora and fauna, in a steep uphill trail. On our way to uphill climbing we will visit Nagi Gumpa. Continuous uphill walking mostly on stone stairs, we come to an open pasture area that provides marvelous view of the hills. Further ascending on the trail brings us to Bagdwar. We will take our lunch and visit the area and enjoy the natural beauty and retrace back to Kathmandu.
5. Namobouha Day Hiking (Altitude: 1800m)
Another good site to visit around Kathmandu valley is Namoboudha. This ancient holy site of Buddhist lies in the Kavre districts around 38km to the east of the city. The stupa and holy shrines holds a strong myth about its establishment. A legendary prince Mahasattva offered himself to a hungry tigress with several starving cubs at this place. This legendary myth is carved in a stone slab and placed right to the stupa. Besides the stupa itself, you will have chance to experience with the local people of different ethnic groups. Wonderful views of the Himalayas can be seen if the weather is clear. People around the area are mostly farmers who grow rice, millet, mustard and other seasonal food grains and vegetables.
Itinerary: Walking Hours: 4-5 Hours
After breakfast in the morning and packing lunch for the day, we will drive for around one and half hour to Dhulikhel enjoying the scenic beauty on the way. We will pass through a big statue of Lord Shiva and a typical Newari settlement on our way to Dhulikhel from where the hiking for the day starts. We follow the uphill trail towards northeast, cross a suspension bridge and pass many rural settlements to wide area rice fields with spectacular views of the surrounding green hills. Continuous uphill climbing brings us to the Namoboudha surrounded by Tamang settlements. We will take our lunch and stroll around enjoying the moments and trek down to Dhulikhel from where we take a drive to Kathmandu.
