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Chisapani Nagarkot Dhulikhel Trek

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Trip Duration

6 Days
destination

Destination

Nepal
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Max. Altitude

2,175 m.
difficulty-icon

Trip Difficulty

Easy
group-size

Group Size

1-12
transportation

Transportation

Private Vehicle
accommodation

Accommodation

Hotel/Teahouse
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Activity

Trekking
meals

Meals

All Inclusive
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Start / End

Kathmandu
best-season

Best Season

Spring & Autumn

Trip Overview

Are you looking for a short trek that will give you a proper Himalayan experience? The Chisapani Nagarkot Dhulikhel Trek is exactly what you need that provides the easiest way to escape from Kathmandu’s traffic and noise into a quite trails surrounded by forests, hilltop village and wide-open mountain views, all within just few days.

The Chisapani Nagarkot Dhulikhel Trek is located near the Kathmandu Valley, making it one of the ideal treks for those who have very limited time, but want to experience real trekking experience. There is no need for weeks of holidays or flying into the remote areas. Just a short drive out of the city and few days of time is enough for this trek.

What stands out about this route is the diversity of the experience that one gets in a relatively short span of time. You will get the opportunity to walk through villages where nothing much has changed since generations and walk through the forest of rhododendrons and pine. If the weather is clear, then the view of the Himalayan Range from Nagarkot will be absolutely breathtaking.

The trek also offers a true experience of Nepali culture. You will meet Tamang and Brahmins villages along the route, pass by tea houses and observe terraced agriculture fields which took centuries to cultivate.

This is not an adventure requiring expertise or skill. There are no glaciers to cross, no mountain to climb and no necessity for mountaineering experience. If you seek a trek which can offer everything from mountain range to forests, sunrises and Nepali culture in one package, then you should definitely consider the Chisapani Nagarkot Dhulikhel Trek.

Route Overview of Chisapani Nagarkot Dhulikhel Trek

Chisapani Nagarkot Dhulikhel Trek is an adventure that takes place on well-marked trails in the hills northeast of Kathmandu which takes 6 days combining trekking and sightseeing.

You start your trek with a short drive from Kathmandu to Sundarijal, which is the starting point of the trek. In no time, the hustle-bustle of the city will be behind you, as the trekking starts off.

The first walking day starts from Chisapani and ends up at Nagarkot. The trekking will pass through pine and rhododendron forest, where there are some settlements in between. Nagarkot is located on a ridge and is famous for viewing the sunrise in the Himalayas, making it one of the highlights of your trek.

The walk from Nagarkot goes down to Dhulikhel, a town with an ancient history and old temples with views of mountain peaks. The walking part of the trail has both open ridges and village walks under shade, and it is all relatively flat.

The last walking day will be from Dhulikhel through Namo Buddha to Panauti. Namo Buddha is famous for having a well-respected Buddhist monastery, while Panauti is a small town that has well-preserved old Newari-style architecture and temple squares. It is a great way to finish the trek.

The trails throughout the trip are easy to moderate, with most of the trails being dirt paths and stone steps with no challenging sections in them. On average, treks take between 4 and 6 hours per day.

Highlights of Chisapani Nagarkot Dhulikhel Trek

  • Himalayan sunrises from Nagarkot
  • Short and easy trek near the valley of Kathmandu
  • Trek in pine and rhododendron forests
  • Discover ancient Newari cities such as Dhulikhel and Panauti
  • See Namo Buddha, a significant place for Buddhism pilgrimage
  • No altitude sickness risks and technical climbs
  • Authentic teahouses and taste local cuisines during the trek

Itinerary of Chisapani Nagarkot Dhulikhel Trek

Your adventure on the Chisapani Nagarkot Dhulikhel trek starts off right from your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. A representative from Epic Trek Nepal will receive you at the airport and take you to your hotel.

Based on your arrival time, you can take some rest, freshen up, or go for a short walk in the city to get familiar with the place. Tonight, your guide will give you a briefing about the trek. Here you will learn about the trail and all the equipment that you will need during the upcoming days.

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Activity: Arrival

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Max. Altitude: 1400m./4,593ft.

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Accommodation: 3 Star Hotel

If you are traveling in a private group, we can arrange a fully customized trip based on your preferences, group size, and travel dates, available any day you choose.

Includes/Excludes

What is included?

  • Airport pickup and drop off.
  • Private vehicle transportation from Kathmandu to Sundarijal and Panauti to Kathmandu.
  • Twin sharing accommodation in teahouse throughout the trek and 3 Star hotel accommodation in Kathmandu before and after the trek.
  • Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) throughout the trek.
  • Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park entry permit.
  • First aid kit.
  • Licensed experienced English speaking guide.
  • All government and local taxes.

What is not included?

  • International fee from/to Nepal
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal trekking equipment, such as hiking boots, down jackets, trekking poles, and other gear are not included.
  • Expenses for extra meals, drinks, snacks, charging devices, hot showers, Wi-Fi, and other personal costs are not included.
  • If you choose to extend your stay in Nepal, the cost of additional accommodation and meals will not be included.
  • Tips for guides and porters are not included and are left to your discretion.
  • Porter is not available in package, but it can be arranged on request at an extra cost, where one porter carries up to 25 kg (shared between two trekkers) to reduce your load and make the trek more comfortable.

Trip Information

Chisapani Nagarkot Dhulikhel Trek Difficult

The Chisapani Nagarkot Dhulikhel is one of the easiest treks in the Kathmandu Valley area which is considered easy to moderate level trek. You don’t need to have any climbing skills to strong physical capability to successfully complete this trek.

The trekking usually involves hiking for around 4 to 6 hours a day, which is just about right as it gives you a chance to enjoy a true trekking day while allowing you some time for other activities.

There will be quite a few ascents and descents during the Chisapani Nagarkot Dhulikhel Trek itinerary, but the steepest section will come with climbing from Chisapani to Nagarkot, where you climb all the way through the forest. After that, you go up and down through the hills and fields, without having to endure any tough ascents or descents.

You don’t require mountain fitness to do this trek. Some good physical fitness will definitely help you, particularly with the ascent, but that too does not mean that you need to have specific training in order to complete the Chisapani Nagarkot Dhulikhel Trek.

There are also no issues related to altitude on this trek, because the maximum altitude of the trek, Nagarkot, stands at about 2,175 meters, much lower than the altitude at which altitude sickness may start developing problems.

The trek is certainly beginner friendly. You can easily complete the trek if you are a first timer trekker or have young children.

Best Time for Chisapani Nagarkot Dhulikhel Trek

There are four season that decides your trekking experience:

Spring (March to May)

Spring is the best season to walk on this route. The rhododendron trees blossom into different colors such as pink and red and the temperatures remain quite comfortable during the day. Also, the visibility of the mountain scenery is quite clear during the early mornings.

Autumn (September to November)

Autumn is also another good season from trekking in Nepal. The weather becomes clear after the monsoon rain; there is not much humidity and the view of the Himalayas from Nagarkot are very clear.

Winter (December to February)

The winter is cooler, especially during the night and morning. But the days are clear and sunny, and the views of the mountains are probably the most beautiful.

Monsoon (June to August)

The monsoon season is one of the most challenging seasons. The heavy rains make the trails slippery and muddy. Moreover, the clouds cover the views of the mountains throughout the day. Leeches are common in the forest areas during this period as well.

For trekkers who are interested in viewing the mountains, the best season is autumn or spring. Winter is also an option for those who do not mind cold weather.

Accommodation and Meals

Accommodation on the Chisapani Nagarkot Dhulikhel trek is simple but comfortable and always available. As the trekking trail is very near Kathmandu Valley, there are teahouses and guesthouses along the entire trail route.

Most nights will be spent in teahouses or guesthouses owned by families which facilities are simple but clean, providing you with all that you require after a hard day of trekking.

It will include twin room with two single beds, blanket, and window. There are attached bathrooms available in Nagarkot and Dhulikhel and shared bathrooms at small teahouses along the way.

Meals comes as a part of this trekking package and the quality of food in this route is very good. Most lunches and dinners consist of dal bhat, the main Nepali dish which is made up of rice, lentil soup, and vegetable curry. This meal is filling in nature and most of the places will serve unlimited portions of dal bhat. The breakfast normally includes eggs, toast, porridge orb bread with tea or coffee.

Other foods that you can easily access along the route include noodles, soups, momos and pasta. Fresh vegetables and local fruits can also be found along the route.

Permit and Entry Fees

Chisapani Nagarkot Dhulikhel trek begin from Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, meaning that a valid permit is necessary for any trekkers before they can start the trek.

The entry fee of the Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park varies based on whether you are a foreigner, SAARC national, or Nepalese citizen. There is also a separate charge that is collected from visitors in some villages along the trail for the development of those villages where the money is used for the maintenance of trails, infrastructure and other facilities.

The good thing about the Chisapani Nagarkot Dhulikhel Trek route does not need a TIMS card like other famous trekking routes in Nepal such as Annapurna Region or the Everest Region. However, an entry permit to the national park is absolutely necessary and it is checked at every entry point of the route near Sundarijal.

What to Pack for the Trek

It became really crucial to pack lightly and smartly when going on the Chisapani Nagarkot Dhulikhel Trek as the trek remain within the lower altitude, so you don’t require expedition equipment.

The first step for proper clothing is picking out appropriate footwear. A good pair of hiking boots or trail shoes works better than sneakers.

Layering is more important than any jacket. Get a good moisture-wicking top as a base layer, a light fleece or sweater, and a good raincoat just in case and aΒ small backpack of 30-35 liters will be sufficient for carrying daily essentials like water, snacks, etc., while porters/vehicles take care of main baggage.

Do not forget trekking poles if you are having knee problems and during descents. A rain cover for the bag will be handy in case of unexpected rains.

Other essential include:

  • Warm hat and gloves in case you are going at winter and in the morning hours from Nagarkot
  • Sunshades and sunscreen as you will be exposed to direct sunlight at high points
  • First aid kit with blisters and your medicines
  • Headlamp for early sunrise or evening walk
  • Reusable water bottle as you should avoid throwing plastic bottles

Book Your Chisapani Nagarkot Dhulikhel Trek

Are you ready for forest walks and the sunrises of the Himalayas? Then, the Chisapani Nagarkot Dhulikhel Trek awaits you! Book the trek easily and join us!

From a standard trek to the customized one based on your own time schedule, fitness, and even the number of participants, our professional team will design the trek according to your requirements. If you are trekking alone, in couples, with a family or a group, there is an appropriate option for you.

Contact Epic Trek Nepal at +977-9764792172 to discuss availability and start planning the dates of your adventure in the Himalayas.

Frequently Asked Questions

This trek is easy to moderate difficulty level trek which makes this ideal for beginner trekkers and families.

The Chisapani Nagarkot Dhulikhel Trek 4 Days normally takes the walking days, but usually packages last for 5-6 days including time of arriving at Kathmandu and leaving from there.

No. This is one of the treks for newbies. If you can walk for few hours daily on rough terrains then you will be fit for this trek.

Autumn (September – November) and spring season (March – May) provide the clearest view of the mountains. The winter trek is also possible with sufficient gears, while monsoon trek is wet and muddy.

Yes, because the trek begins from within the Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park area. Epic Trek Nepal will take care of arranging this permit for you.

No. The highest elevation on this trek is Nagarkot at about 2,175 m above sea level, which is quite safe in terms of altitude sickness.

Bring layers, comfortable trekking boots, rain jacket, sunblock, and a small first aid kit.

Certainly. This trek is often combined by many tourists either with a long Everest or Annapurna trek, or even with an exploration of Kathmandu Valley.

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