Nagarkot–Chisapani Trek: Self-Launched Version
3 days · Kathmandu Valley Rim, Nepal
Nepal Hiking Team charges £275
No-markup version: ~£112 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Nepal Hiking Team's 3-day Nagarkot–Chisapani trek — the classic Kathmandu Valley rim walk from Sundarijal through Shivapuri National Park to Chisapani, on to Nagarkot, then down to the UNESCO-listed Changunarayan temple and back to Kathmandu. You do the same trail, stay in the same style of village guesthouses, and eat the same dal bhat — just without a guide, porter or minibus transfer. Nav Gupta's guidebook description of the Chisapani–Nagarkot route plus free offline maps make navigation straightforward; the trail is well trodden and signposted for most of its length. Budget roughly £95-130 all-in versus US$350 (£275+) for the packaged tour.
Day-by-day
Sundarijal to Chisapani via Shivapuri National Park
Kathmandu → Sundarijal → Chisapani
Leave your Kathmandu hotel around 7am and take a local bus or share taxi from Ratna Park / Chabahil to Sundarijal (about 45-60 min, NPR 60-100 by bus, ~NPR 1,200-1,500 split by taxi). Buy your Shivapuri National Park entry permit at the checkpoint near the Sundarijal dam (NPR 1,000 for foreigners — bring passport photos and cash). The trail climbs steadily past the waterworks, through oak and rhododendron forest, over the Bagmati headwaters and up to Borlang Bhanjyang, then along the ridge to Chisapani (approx. 5-6 hours, ~15km). Expect leeches in the monsoon months — gaiters and salt help. Chisapani has a handful of simple lodges; the newer ones near the ridge are cleaner. Ask for a room with an east-facing window for sunrise over the Himalaya. Dinner is dal bhat at the lodge.
🚌Local bus Kathmandu (Ratna Park/Chabahil) to Sundarijal ~NPR 80 (~£0.50); trek 5-6 hrs; onward on foot
🛏Simple village guesthouse in Chisapani (twin/dorm room, shared bathroom, blanket provided — bring a sleeping bag liner)
- →Shivapuri National Park trek (self-guided, permit NPR 1,000)
- →Sundarijal dam and waterworks walk
- →Ganesh Himal and Langtang views from the ridge
Chisapani to Nagarkot across the valley rim
Chisapani → Nagarkot
Sunrise views from Chisapani are worth the early alarm — on a clear day you get Ganesh Himal, Langtang Lirung and, further east, the Gaurishankar range (and Everest on the very clearest mornings). Set off around 8am with breakfast done. The trail undulates along the ridge through Chisapani's military checkpoint area, past Pati Bhanjyang and on through terraced villages, pine and bamboo forest, to Nagarkot — roughly 6-7 hours, 18-20km, with plenty of tea-house stops (NPR 50-100 for a milk tea and momos). This is the flattest-to-moderate day of the trek. Nagarkot has a good spread of guesthouses and small hotels; book a night ahead on Booking.com or by phone so you get a room with a Himalayan-facing balcony. Watch sunset from the lodge terrace.
🚌On foot 6-7 hrs (~18-20km); no transport needed
🛏Budget guesthouse/hotel in Nagarkot (private twin with hot water and mountain-view balcony, ~£12-16)
- →Ridge trek Chisapani to Nagarkot through forest and Tamang villages
- →Sunrise Himalayan panorama at Chisapani
- →Sunset over the Himalaya from Nagarkot
Nagarkot sunrise, trek to Changunarayan, back to Kathmandu
Nagarkot → Changunarayan → Kathmandu
Walk up to the Nagarkot View Tower (about 30-45 min from the village) for sunrise around 5:45-6:15am — free and superb on a clear morning. Back to the guesthouse for breakfast, then take the stone-stepped trail down through pine forest and villages to Changunarayan (2-2.5 hours). Changunarayan is one of the oldest Hindu temples in the valley and a UNESCO World Heritage site — entry NPR 300 for foreigners, and it's worth an hour of wandering. From the temple car park, catch a local bus to Bhaktapur (NPR 30-50, 20 min) or straight to Kathmandu's Ratna Park/Chabahil (NPR 60-80, ~1 hr); shared taxis run the same route for NPR 3,000-4,000 if split. Aim to be back in Kathmandu early-mid afternoon.
🚌Trek down to Changunarayan 2-2.5 hrs; local bus Changunarayan → Bhaktapur NPR 40 / → Kathmandu NPR 70 (~£0.45)
🛏Own hotel/guesthouse in Kathmandu (Thamel or Patan) — not included
- →Nagarkot View Tower sunrise walk
- →Descent trek to Changunarayan
- →Changunarayan UNESCO temple (entry NPR 300)
- →Optional Bhaktapur Durbar Square stop (entry NPR 1,800)
Self-launched vs. Nepal Hiking Team
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Nepal Hiking Team | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£112 | £275 |
| Duration | 3 days | 3 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £163 per person (59%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Nepal Hiking Team-style trips? Check them out here.~£112
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Nagarkot–Chisapani Trek: Self-Launched Version cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £112 per person for 3 days in Kathmandu Valley Rim, Nepal. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Nepal Hiking Team?+
Yes — Nepal Hiking Team charges around £275 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £112 — a saving of roughly £163 (59%) per person.
How long is the Kathmandu Valley Rim, Nepal trip?+
This itinerary runs 3 days, covering 3 day-by-day stops through Kathmandu Valley Rim, Nepal.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a hiking, adventure, budget trip through Kathmandu Valley Rim, Nepal, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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