Chisapani-Nagarkot Trek is a short and easy 3-day hiking trail for beginners to explore around Kathmandu Valley with a stunning view of the Himalayas and the lush green forest. This is one of the most popular SHORT HIKE destinations around Kathmandu, located just 12 kilometers north of the main city, surrounded by green hills.

Chisapani Nagarkot Trek is very popular among people of all age groups and for those who prefer to trek in Nepal but are worried about time restriction, this will be the best option. This hike is also known as the Shivapuri or Sundarijal hike.

This is a diverse trekking trail that helps us to reach different trekking destinations and can also be used as a gateway and exit point of Gosainkunda, Langtang, Helambu, and Melamchi trek which is a week-long trek in the Himalayas.

Nagarkot trek offers a spectacular view of Kathmandu Valley and stunning views of the mighty Himalayas throughout the trail. Passing through the dense forest of Shivapuri National Park and Tamang villages mixed with culture and nature. You will be able to encounter different flora and fauna and also marijuana plantations that still are grown in abundance, just close to the capital city of Nepal.

The trail is easy compared to other short treks of Nepal and is diverse in terms of the view of nature and different ethnic settlements. The trail passes through Shivapuri National Park of Nepal, which is one of the very famous watershed areas and the main source of drinking water supply to Kathmandu Valley and is a reservoir. The park lies between the temperate and subtropical climatic zones, rich in flora and fauna.

Shivapuri National Park is a protected area, so different army checkpoints exist to maintain its conservation project. It is also one of the religious heritage areas for both Hindu and Buddhist followers, as different hermitages from different periods came here for meditation, and among them ‘SHIVAPURI BABA’ is one of them. Above all, this conservation area is the source of the Bagmati and Bisnumati Rivers of Nepal, a highly sacred river.

Furthermore, different subtropical hardwoods, pine, oak, rhododendron, etc are grown and the park is blessed with an abundance of different species of butterflies and birds. Shivapuri is also a popular destination for Bird Watching and in terms of wildlife sloth bears, jungle cats, monkeys, leopards, deer, etc can be seen. So to protect all these army checkpoints keep their eyes on visitors’ records.

The trek will lead you to Nagarkot, a popular tourist destination for the sunrise and sunset view and also for the majestic view of the Himalayas. Spensding a night in Nagarkot Hill Station, then your hike descends towards Changunaraya, a village situated towards Bhaktapur, which is also a World Heritage Site with the popular Changunarayan Temple.

The trek program ends by driving from Changunarayan towards the medieval city of Bhaktapur for a day tour (Optional) and finally ends with an hour's drive to Kathmandu, the main city.

Discover Altitude has designed the Chisapani-Nagarkot Trek Itinerary with frequent field visits by our professional staff to make sure the program goes according to the itinerary mentioned below.

For the convenience of our client minute detailed itinerary, cost, highlights, pictures, and the map have been provided. As it is an easy trek below the Himalayas, trekkers can visit this trail throughout the year.

The intenary can be customized according to the limitations of your time and interest.

Regarding the Nagarkot Trekking Cost, it varies from the number of days and number of trekkers as well. If you are interested in the same trek in a more relaxing way better option can be the Kathmandu City Tour and Short Trek around Kathmandu.

Trip Reviews

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5based on 57 reviews

The sunrise and sunset over the Himalayan mountains was a gift

I did the Chisapani to Nagarkot 3-day trek. It was interesting to see how the local people live and to walk through the villages in the hills. It was nice to have the meals and accommodation included. I did this trek as training for poon hill and it helped me condition for it. I will say someone said it was “easy trekking” and compared to Everest I am sure it is, it was personally the hardest challenge I’ve ever done. My guide Suresh was really helpful and let me go at my pace when I was tired or struggling. I felt safe the whole time.

Great time hiking along Nagarkot-Changunarayan trail

I had a great time hiking to see the sunrise at Nagarkot and then hiking along the Nagarkot-Changunarayan Trail with Kumar! Highly recommend to anyone looking for a quick half day hike on a weekend.

If you want to experience true, kind Nepali hospitality and a great trek, don’t look for another agency.

I had the incredible opportunity to complete 4 different treks with Discover Altitude: Three Passes, ABC, Annapurna Circuit and Langtang. Each time, the experience exceeded my expectations! The owners, Kumar and Santosh, along with their guides are exceptionally professional, knowledgeable and attentive to every detail. Everything was very well planned for all treks, and I felt safe even at the highest altitudes, thanks to their friendly and supportive guides.

There are many agencies to choose from, and I visited many, but when I met Kumar and Santosh the quality of their personalities quickly became evident. They treated me as a friend they genuinely wanted to support, not just a client, caring only about the money. Even if I hadn’t signed up, they would have treated me the same, not as potential or lost business. This authenticity is why I chose them! This was the only agency where I had that gut feeling, which turned out to be correct. They always went the extra mile. Before each trek, they spent a lot of time going through all the details with me to ensure I had everything I needed and was ready to go. They also checked up on me along the way. During all these times, they truly became my friends!

If you want to experience true, kind Nepali hospitality and a great trek, don’t look for another agency. They are also very competitively priced for both solo and group trips! I cannot recommend them highly enough!

A short walk from Jomsom to Muktinath.

We had great dealings with Kumar and the team at Discover Altitude. Kumar was our initial contact, and Santosh was our day to day contact on-the-ground. Their communication was great, and everything went smoothly.

Before departing for Nepal, we emailed Kumar about what we had in mind, and he presented us with different options. We settled on a short trip from Jomsom to Muktinath - flying from Kathmandu to Pokhara and on to Jomsom the next day to commence our hike. (We took the same air-route in reverse on our way back.) In total, the trip was six or seven days, with three days hiking. (This worked out well due to our schedule, but next time we might spend a few more days walking.)

Our guide on the trip was Amar Magar. We really recommend him. (Ask for him by name!) He was thoughtful, organised, and provided clear information on what we were doing each day. His patience and pleasant manner made the trip really enjoyable.

The hike itself was good. The area from Jomsom to Kagbeni (where we stopped for the first night) was primarily along the road and the riverbed, and the scenery was primarily the dry and desolate scenery one might expect of the Mustang area. Kagbeni was a nice village to rest. (There are a number of tea houses, and an interesting temple where one of the monks showed us around.) The walk up to Muktinath the next day was a little bit tough - being a climb of about 1,000 meters. (Not 'technically' tough; more of a challenge due to low fitness levels!) After resting, we visited the Hindu pilgrimage site, which was quite an interesting experience as it attracts a lot of visitors. We stayed the night at a tea house in Muktinath, and then walked back to Jomsom via a different route, stopping at a village called Lupna on the way back. The route from Muktinath to Lupna was probably the highlight of our trip, with much more diverse terrain, including great alpine scenery, fantastic rocky cliffs and forests, and the picturesque village of Lupna itself, with a very old temple and some caves used for solitary retreats.

If you have limited time, then I would recommend the approach we took. It provides a glimpse of the Mustang region (without getting in to the Upper Mustang region, which requires more time and an expensive permit), and a taste of walking in the region. On our walk, we met a number of people who had walked the Annapurna Circuit, taking around two weeks. We might plan better and aim to do that next time!

In terms of practical considerations, noting it was mid-May, we found that we were able to walk in t-shirts and long pants. We carried a lot of warm clothing with us, but didn't need really it. (We were a bit cold briefly after arriving at Muktinath, but generally we didn't use our warm clothing. It would be smart to take something - but no need to take too much.) The bedding provided in the rooms was more than adequate, and we didn't need our own sleeping bags. (Taking a sleeping bag liner might suffice from a cleanliness perspective if this is a concern.)

Mustang - Kagbeni, Muktinath 6-day tour

We chose a 6-day course that tours Kagbeni and Muktinath, the gateway to Mustang from Kathmandu. It takes 3 days to actually walk, so it's a safe course even for beginners.

Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Fly from Pokhara to Jomsom (30-minute flight), then hike 3 hours to Kagbeni. Hike 5-6 hours to Muktinath. Return to Jomsom via a different route. Take a lunch break at Rupna on the way. Fly to Pokhara. Fly back to Kathmandu.

It was late May before the rainy season, but we were blessed with clear skies and were able to see the beautiful mountain ranges of Nilgiri and Annapurna. The desolate landscape of Mustang was very beautiful, and it was a very interesting experience to get a glimpse of the life of the villagers in Kagbeni.

It was quite hot during the daytime walks in late May. Short sleeves are fine. If you don't want to get sunburned, wear thin long sleeves. Since it gets cold in the mornings and evenings in Muktinath, I wore a light down jacket, but if you layer up a warm long sleeve jacket, you can wear a hiking jacket instead of a down jacket.

Our trekking guide, Amar, was very kind and not only guided us on hiking but also carefully explained the history and people's lives. (In English) He always took care to make the trek comfortable, and the walking pace was adjusted to suit our physical strength, so we were able to enjoy it without any strain.

Kumar handled advance reservations and questions, and he responded to emails very quickly. After arriving in Kathmandu, I visited the office and Kumar gave me a brief explanation of the schedule. In Kathmandu, Santosh handled my communications and accompanied me to the transfer between the hotel and the airport. Both of them were cheerful and kind.
During the tour, I asked to change my plan to stay in Pokhara for two nights after the trek (of course, the additional hotel fee was at my own expense), and I am grateful that he quickly and readily responded to my request, such as changing my flight on the return trip.

A Once-in-a-lifetime EBC Trekking Trip

What a once-in-a-lifetime trek to EBC! Waking up at midnight to dogs barking or in the morning to birds chirping and singing and the sound of rushing river, looking out the window and seeing the mountain so close as if within reach, roaming around Namche Bazaar and checking out the local markets, setting off in the sound of school children's morning drill, crossing rivers and valleys over the suspension bridges, passing the mani stones in the villages and the stupas on the trail, watching porters with oversized load strapped on their heads stepping to the lively beat of loud Nepali songs, navigating rocks uphill inside the dark clouds and white-out snow, trekking on the winding trail through dusty forests, misty mountain passes, wide open scrub land, and rugged and rocky barren land, with the famous and mysterious mountain peaks seemingly around every corner or suddenly elusive behind the wandering clouds, and flying down in helicopter provided every moment to admire the mountainous landscape and appreciate local life in this harsh environment. It’s been almost two weeks since I came back yet the sceneries and sounds on the trail still linger.

The EBC trek was also grueling - the long distance, the high elevation, the thin air at times mixed with dust or animal smell, the coldness at night, the completely unpredictable weather that could change by the minute – and every little inconvenience could pile on the exhaustion from a long day of trekking, but the thoughtful services by my guide Krishna made all these bearable. Every day after arriving at the tea house he made sure food was ordered and I had a spot to sit next to the stove to warm up. Every morning before we leave the tea house, he made sure bill was paid and everything was packed and ready. On the trail he was patient, watchful, and protective when the yaks and horses approaching. My tour company Discover Altitude was very flexible and allowed me to change my trekking schedule on the fly, including booking tea houses during peak season and securing single room occupancy. In fact, the three unplanned tea houses in Jorsalle, Phungi Thenga, and Dughla, allowed me to enjoy the real serenity near nature and away from crowds. The company also booked a helicopter, outside of my original plan, to fly me out back in Kathmandu in time. Their flexibility was crucial for me to have a successful and enjoyable EBC trekking trip.

Thank you Krishna for your kind-hearted service.

And thank you Santosh for showing me the street food, the hidden temples, and the vibrant life around the old town of Kathmadu.

Truly best tour of the seven UNESCO sites in Kathmandu

I had an amazing time with Kumar. Who is extremely knowledgeable and quite spiritual himself. He gave me great insights into the history of Nepal and the social cultural religious aspect of how things work today. I felt light and insipired. Very connected to the city. I highly recommend this tour with Kumar.

EBC with Amar, the best guide!!

I did the Everest Base Camp trek (8 days to reach EBC, Day 9 was to Kala Patthar). Started at the end of April and finished in May. We had great weather that time of year. The early days in the trek were warm enough for leggings and a lightweight shirt. A few people were in shorts. Day 7 was the first day I needed to wear down clothing items, gloves or a warm hat. Other days could be done with a baseball cap and a few layers - started the day with a windwall jacket and would switch to a vest or just my long sleeve dry fit top while trekking. The cardio keeps you pretty warm. Taking altitude sickness medication is key. Start taking it a day before you leave. We had no issue with altitude sickness but several people at the tea houses were not as lucky.

Kumar, the owner of Discover Altitude, organized everything for us and it was planned perfectly. He booked the best tea houses for us and everything was so well-organized that all we had to think about was making it to the top. Amar was our AMAZING guide. His brother Shukla was the porter. They were the nicest, most professional duo. Amar took very good care of us and it was obvious that he was one of the most well-respected guides on the trail. He knew everyone and was so experienced that we had a lot of tips and guidance that I don’t feel everyone else had on the mountain. Definitely request amar as your guide. We quickly realized how important the planning is and who your guide is for success on this trek.

Great experience and recommend doing Kala Patthar early the next morning for sunrise views of Everest!

No. of Person	Price Per Person
1 - 2 people	US$250
3 - 5 people	US$225
6 - 12 people	US$200

Chisapani Nagarkot Short Trek - 3 Days

Highlights

Gallery

Itinerary

Day 1:Drive from Kathmandu to Sundarijal by Private Car/Jeep and trek to Chisapani

Day 2:Trek from Chisapani to Nagarkot

Day 3:Trek from Nagarkot to Changunarayan visit Bhaktapur Durbar Square and Drive back to Kathnamdu.

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Cost Details

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Trip Reviews

The sunrise and sunset over the Himalayan mountains was a gift

Emilie N, United States

Great time hiking along Nagarkot-Changunarayan trail

Yosua S, Australia

If you want to experience true, kind Nepali hospitality and a great trek, don’t look for another agency.

Eva B, Hungary

A short walk from Jomsom to Muktinath.

Nick O'Connell, New Zealand

Mustang - Kagbeni, Muktinath 6-day tour

Hito, Japan

A Once-in-a-lifetime EBC Trekking Trip

Jackie Z, United States

Truly best tour of the seven UNESCO sites in Kathmandu

Cedric A, United States

EBC with Amar, the best guide!!

Stephanie S, United States

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