This two-day rim walk links Bhaktapur (Bhatgaon), a Nagarkot lodge night, and Changunarayan’s hilltop temple. You see Newar squares on day one, a Himalayan sunrise from the ridge, and one of the valley’s oldest Vishnu sites on the walk out. A night at Nagarkot puts you on the ridge before dawn instead of a same-day city return.
Terraces, pine, and temple courtyards set the walking. A vehicle shuttles the road gaps so you stay on the best ridges. Pottery Square and the stone courtyard at Changunarayan give the second day a Newar finish after the sunrise.
Our Kathmandu office handles the valley permits, temple tickets, and private vehicle so you spend the two days walking, not negotiating a taxi. Your guide is licensed through MOCTCA and NATHM and knows the Newari lanes of Bhaktapur as well as the Sankhu ridge. We'll share the daily plan the evening before so a late start or a slower climb still fits the resort check-in at Nagarkot.
You'll walk with someone chosen for patience on an easy family route, not a high-pass itinerary. Sunset and sunrise viewpoints sit a short stroll from the resort, and the downhill to Changunarayan finishes at the oldest temple in the valley. A private vehicle meets you there and brings you back into Kathmandu after the visit.
Our trip will start with Kathmandu to the ancient city of Bhaktapur. We will reach it after approximately one hour and will have some time to see its gorgeous pagoda temples and Newari architecture. We shall start at Bhaktapur and then make a brief drive to Sankhu where our walk will start. Our hiking will begin at Sankhu, and will be done along a slow uphill path through the green forests and terraced farms.
On our way, we will cross small towns where we will have an opportunity to observe the everyday life of locals. The path passes through rhododendron forests and pine trees and is a calm walking experience that is suitable for most travelers with normal fitness who are comfortable walking for a few hours. Our hiking will take approximately four hours after which we will be at Nagarkot, which is at an elevation of 2,175 meters. We shall enter our resort and have time to rest and relax.
Late in the afternoon, we will walk to a certain view point to have a nice sunset view of the Himalayan range. We will have dinner in the evening and spend the night in a nice resort in Nagarkot.
We will get up early to see the sunrise in Nagarkot where we have perfect views of the Himalayan peaks on a clear weather day. In the morning, when we have breakfast, we will start on our downhill walk to Changunarayan. The route is a moderate ridge and traverses agricultural, woodland and old fashioned villages. The walk itself will take place alongside the local villagers and will also include the Kathmandu Valley and the hills.
The walk is nice and mostly downhill hence comfortable and enjoyable. In approximately four hours of walking, we will arrive at Changunarayan Temple which is at approximately 1,600 meters. We will visit the Changunarayan Temple, which is one of the oldest Hindu temples in Nepal and is part of the UNESCO-listed Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site. We will get an opportunity to visit the areas of the temple and get to know about its history and cultural significance.
Our private vehicle will then take us back to Kathmandu after the visit, and it takes a journey of approximately 1 hour. The Bhaktapur, Nagarkot & Changunarayan Hike will finish at mid-day when we arrive in the city.
Fly into Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu unless the itinerary uses another regional hub. Airport or hotel pickup can be arranged when you share arrival details ahead of travel.
Briefings cover road or domestic travel to the trailhead. Build buffer time before onward international flights in case mountain weather shifts the schedule.
Twin or double rooms in a comfortable Kathmandu hotel cover your first nights and your return from the trail, with breakfast on those city stays when included in the package. Briefings happen at the hotel, and airport collection from Tribhuvan is available when flight times are shared in advance.
Family-run teahouses or lodges line the route with twin beds and a shared dining room. Rooms get simpler and colder as you climb, with shared bathrooms common at higher villages. Hot water, Wi-Fi, and charging are paid at the lodge when offered.
Spring from March to May and autumn from September to November usually bring the clearest views and stable walking conditions on this route. Winter is quieter but colder at altitude, while monsoon months bring cloud and wet trails at lower elevations.
Shoulder weeks need an honest weather call before high passes or dawn viewpoints. Monsoon cloud sits lower on the hills while winter brings ice on steps above village level.
You should be comfortable walking several hours a day on uneven paths with a daypack, including steady uphill sections as you gain height. Hill training and longer weekend walks in the months before travel help your legs and lungs on uphill trail days.
Hill training, stair climbing, and longer weekend hikes in the months before travel help your legs and lungs, even when acclimatisation days are built into the route. Break in boots before you fly and carry a light daypack on practice walks.
Guided trekking with licensed leaders, lodge nights on the trail, meals as described for walking days, and permits for the regions crossed are included when they are part of this trip. Domestic flights, porters, and airport transfers apply only when they are part of this trip.
Domestic flights, road transfers, porter support, and airport transfers apply only when they are part of this trip. Permits for the regions you cross are arranged in Kathmandu or Pokhara when included.
International flights to Nepal, visa fees, compulsory travel insurance, personal trekking clothing, snacks and drinks outside included meals, and tips for crew are not covered. Hot showers, Wi-Fi, and battery charging in lodges are usually paid locally when offered.
Charges for hot showers, Wi-Fi, or battery charging in lodges are paid locally when offered unless your trip notes say otherwise. International flights, visa fees, and personal insurance stay outside the trek package.
Pickup can be arranged from Tribhuvan International Airport or your hotel in Thamel when you share flight times ahead of travel. The pre-trek briefing is usually held at the hotel before the Lukla flight or helicopter sector.
Allow buffer days after the trek in case mountain flights move. Thamel hotels are the usual meet point; drivers need flight numbers to meet you at the international terminal.
Guides set a steady pace and watch for headache, nausea, or dizziness as you gain height. Weather can shift daily plans, so your guide keeps a steady pace with regular breaks.
Tell your guide early if symptoms appear so tomorrow's stage can shorten or descent can start before conditions worsen. Trail conditions are checked each morning before the group moves.
Jeep or bus days to the remote trailhead are arranged when they are part of your package. Your guide confirms departure times at briefing.
Motion sickness medicine helps on winding mountain roads. Your crew would rather wait for a safe window than rush marginal weather.
National park or restricted-area permits apply depending on the valleys you cross. The team arranges paperwork in Kathmandu or Pokhara when you provide passport copies and trek dates.
Keep copies in your daypack for checkpoint stops. Allow a little extra time after the trek before international flights home in case mountain roads or flights move.
Families join when children can manage the daily hours and terrain on this specific route. Pace and daily hours can be adjusted on private departures, though that may extend the calendar.
Ask our Kathmandu team if you are planning with younger walkers. Private departures can shorten daily hours, though that may add a day or two to the calendar.
Comprehensive travel insurance that covers trekking to the highest altitude on your itinerary, medical evacuation, and helicopter rescue when applicable is essential. Many standard policies exclude high altitude by name.
Read the wording before you travel so you can adjust cover if trekking above 5,000 metres is not named. Many standard policies exclude high altitude by name, so read the wording before you fly.
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About the centre
Kathmandu
You'll travel with a Kathmandu-based team that plans treks, peak climbs, helicopter flights, motorbike journeys, and cultural trips across Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan. Routes range from classic teahouse walks and high passes to luxury lodge itineraries and longer expedition-style climbs, with departures shaped around how you want to pace the mountains.
Licensed guides and office staff train regularly on mountain safety and guest care. Porters are insured, fairly paid, and equipped for the trail, with sensible load limits on lodge routes. We work with remote communities through sustainable tourism, including support for education in village areas, so your booking helps local people as well as your own adventure.
Operated by Himalayan Adventure Treks & Tours, a partner of adventuro.
