Chisapani and Nagarkot sit on the Kathmandu rim: you walk from Sundarijal through Shivapuri forest to Chisapani lodge, then along the ridge to Nagarkot for sunrise over the Himalaya. Terraces and pine woodland fill the middle day. Sundarijal waterfalls, Shivapuri forest, and Nagarkot sunrise are the three set pieces.
Changunarayan or a road pickup closes the walk. It is a short, viewpoint-led trek with teahouse dinners and an easy return to Thamel. A pine-ridge middle day and a Changunarayan temple stop close the walk without a high lake.
Three days on the Shivapuri rim start at Sundarijal, sleep at Chisapani, then walk the ridge to Nagarkot for sunrise. Our Kathmandu office keeps the briefing short so you spend the day in pine forest, not in traffic. A vehicle covers the road gaps, including the Changunarayan stop and the return to Thamel.
Valley-rim guides know which lodge windows catch the Himalayan dawn and which Shivapuri shortcuts stay kind after rain. Lodge nights stay low enough that the trip is about forest and sunrise, not altitude calls. We are licensed with the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and the Nepal Tourism Board, and a share of profits supports school students in remote villages.
Your itinerary for the short Chisapani Nagarkot Trek begins with the drive up to the Sundarijal. You will get your pick-and-drop service from your hotel stay in Kathmandu and drop to Sundarijal. From there the walk will start following the trail which leads us to the Chisapani.
This trail follows the huge nature walk inside the protected forest under the Shivapuri Nagarjuna National Park. The route is filled with dense forest offering top-notch tranquility despite of very near to the Kathmandu Valley which is the capital of Nepal. You will witness the rare plants and the ecosystem of flora and fauna surviving inside the great preserved nature.
The journey also goes through the small settlements with the farming fields and the terrace along the traditional living style. The mentioned dense forest filled with rare plants and the preserved ecosystem, is itself a greater witnessing feature that you will have during this journey.
On the second day, after the freshening morning and the tranquil day at Chisapani, you get your breakfast and ready for the day. We will continue our journey for the Nagarkot, following the trail over the Nagarkot Hill leaving the Shivapuri forest. The journey is filled with ethnic people and traditional villages passing the dense forest and the beautiful picturesque landscapes. During this journey, you will get to see the traditional living style of people and also witness some of the wildlife including deer.
The cultivated farm around the hill slopes made it a more mesmerizing journey. Within such a beautiful trail and a diverse journey, we will move to Nagarkot Hill. There you will have to pass through small village towns where some of the local services and products are available. Also as soon as you arrive at Nagarkot you will see the different luxury stays and hotels too.
The Nagarkot View Point will be the point of the day. From there the panoramic view of Kathmandu Valley backdropped by the Mountain peaks and the landscapes will give you majestic scenery.
This day will be a sightseeing day too around the Bhaktapur Durbar Square and the Patan Durbar Square which offers you insight and the reflection of the ancient kingdoms of the Valley. So, after getting breakfast at Nagarkot, you will get a drive down to the Kathmandu valley through Bhaktapur. The drive will be a scenic journey for you, offering the panorama of the city and the passing landscape beauty all along the drive. After arriving in Bhaktapur you will get a sightseeing journey around UNSECO-listed Bhaktapur Durbar Square in World Heritage Sites where you will witness the temples and palaces from ancient times.
There you also witness the 55-window palace which is filled with handcrafted window beams. In there, you can also have some local cuisines and the foods from different restaurants and cafes. You can also vita to the museum where you can see the different collections of artifacts and mostly the old painting methods called the Thanka. From there you will be taken to the Patan Durbar Square which is also another UNESCO listed world heritage site.
There you will witness the different temples and palaces which are built in different timelines and in different periods of rulers. The stone-caved Krishna Mandir and the museum will be the ultimate feature for you on the day.
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.
