Best Short Hikes Around Kathmandu Valley
by Jayaram Thapaliya · Updated March 7, 2023
Besides Kathmandu Valley city sightseeing, there are also remarkable hiking trails around Kathmandu City. All the avialable trails are best to do 1 DAY HIKE. You can do the Kathmandu Valley sightseeing tour along with Day hikes near the city. As Kathmandu city is surrounded by beautiful hills, we can explore top of hills by 4 to 5 hours walking and it offers mountain views as well as city views.
If you don’t have time to do trekking in the Himalayas, you can do short, 1 day hiking in Kathmandu. Hiking around Kathmandu is the best way to have a break for 1 day from the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu city.
Unlike trekking in the Himalayas, hiking around Kathmandu is very budget-friendly. In the post, I am going to highlight some popular hiking spot that lies in Kathmandu. All of the hikes mentioned here can be done in a single day. Nonetheless, it is suitable for children and aged people.
A short day hike is an ultimate way to get a refresh with nature exploration by leaving the hustle and bustle of the Kathmandu Valley. There are some hill stations that are below 3000m and immensely popular for hiking. Most of these hill stations provide beautiful views of the snow-capped Himalayas.
In fact, most of the hiking spots around the valley are accessible within a couple of hours’ drive from Kathmandu. Keep in mind, day Hike in Kathmandu valley packages are totally customizable. We can make an itinerary of day hikes adding your preferences.
Hiking throughout the subalpine forests and quiet countryside make relief from noisy and busy city areas. Most of the hikes mentioned below can be done within a day and are fit for children and older people.
Best Short Hikes Around Kathmandu Valley That You Must Try Out in 2022
They are as follows:
1. Nagarkot Hike
We can get to Nagarkot by hiking. To start this hike we will drive to Sankhu from Kathmandu(22km). Sankhu is a Newari village where you can taste the Newari Culture. We reach Nagarkot by walking around 11 kilometers from Sankhu. From Nagarkot view tower, we will see Kanchenjunga, Everest, Manaslu, Langtang, Ganesh Himal, and so forth.
| Trails Name | Nagarkot Hike |
| Maximum Elevation | 2175 |
| Starts from | Sankhu |
| End in | Nagarkot |
| Hiking Hours | 3-4hours |
2. Shivapuri Hike
The Shivapuri is the 2nd highest hill near the Kathmandu Valley and is popular for one-day hikes. Budhanilkantha temple is the starting point of Shivapuri Hike. It is easy to get to the starting point of the Shivapuri hike because it just takes around a 20-minute drive to get to Budhanilkantha temple from Thamel. This hike goes through Shivapuri National Park. On the top of Shivapuri hill, Nagi Gumpa is situated at an altitude of 2330 m.
| Trails Name | Shivapuri Hike |
| Maximum Elevation | 2560 m |
| Starts from | Budhanilkantha |
| End in | Shivapuri |
| Hiking Hours | 5-6 hours |
3. Chisapani Hike
Chisapani Hike is one of the remarkable hikes near the Kathmandu Valley. It will take 4-5 hours to hike from Shivapuri to Chisapani.
From Chisapani you will get the best views of Langtang, Ganesh Himal, Gaurishankar, and Jugal Himal.
| Trails Name | Chisapani Hike |
| Maximum Elevation | 2,215m |
| Starts from | Shivapuri |
| End in | Chisapani |
| Hiking Hours | 4-5 hours |
4. Champadevi Hike
Located in the southwestern part of Kathmandu valley, Champadevi Hiking is considered an easy hike near Kathmandu.
We will start this hike from Pharping Village and ascend around 2-3 hours to get to Champadevi Hills.
On the Champadevi Hills, you will see a Buddhist stupa and a Hindu shrine at the top. From Champadei hills, you will get beautiful views of Langtang Himal, Dorge Lakpa, Gauri Shankar, Jugal Himal, and so forth mountains.
| Trails Name | Champadevi Hike |
| Maximum Elevation | 2278 |
| Starts from | Pharping |
| End in | Kirtipur |
| Hiking Hours | 5-6 hours |
5. Phulchowki Hike
Considered the highest hill near Kathmandu, the Phulchowki hike is one of the remarkable short day hikes on the list of days hikes trail around Kathmandu.
To get there you need to drive to Godawari (14 km south of Kathmandu), from where you can start the hike. Indeed, the Godavari is rich in vegetation. You can see a botanical garden at the Godavari.
Upon crossing 14km south of Kathmandu, you will get a hiking starting point of Phulchoki.On this hike, you will walk through sub-tropical thick forests filled where you will see rhododendrons and oak trees.
From Phulchoki Hill, you have an amazing view of the Kathmandu valley and on Annapurna range, and Gaurishankar( if the weather permits). In winter, it gets snowfall every year.
| Trails Name | Phulchowki Hike |
| Maximum Elevation | 2,782m |
| Starts from | Godavari |
| End in | Kirtipur |
| Hiking Hours | 7 hours |
Bottomline (Best Short Hikes near Kathmandu Valley)
Though DAY HIKING is one day trip, it provides refreshment to the tourist. It is not like trekking in the Himalayas but provides a short trekking experience.
As day Hiking is cheap, easy and 1 Days activity, certainly you will get an outdoor experience like trekking.
If you wondering to get the right spot for a Day hiking experience, Contact us. We will make your amazing day hiking experience in Kathmandu, Nepal with the best prices.
