If you have three to five days in Kathmandu and want a taste of the Himalaya without flying to Lukla, the Chisapani Nagarkot Trek is the classic answer. The route runs along the Kathmandu Valley rim from Sundarijal to the hill station of Nagarkot, crossing Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park and climbing to a modest 2,195 metres. It is the most accessible multi-day trek in Nepal and a great shakedown trip for first-timers testing their boots before bigger objectives like the Helambu Trek or the Gosaikunda Trek.
Trek Overview
The Chisapani Nagarkot Trek covers roughly 25 kilometres of ridge-top trail north-east of Kathmandu. It starts at Sundarijal, a short drive from the city, climbs through the Shivapuri watershed to the village of Chisapani, then follows the ridge east to Nagarkot. The trail stays between 1,400 and 2,195 metres, making it suitable for families, older trekkers, and anyone short on time. Most operators sell it as a three-day package, but we recommend stretching it to four or five days for proper rest and better sunrise windows. The route is well marked and easy to follow without a guide.
Why Visit
The headline reason to do this trek is the sunrise from Nagarkot, where you can see eight Himalayan ranges from Annapurna in the west to Kanchenjunga in the east on a clear morning. You also walk through Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, a protected watershed forest that feels a world away from Kathmandu's traffic despite being only an hour away. The trail passes Tamang and Gurung villages where you can try homestays and eat dal bhat with local families. Because the trek is short and low, it works in winter and even during the monsoon when higher routes are obscured by cloud. It is also the easiest way to acclimatise gently before flying to Lukla for the Everest View Trek.
Best Time to Trek
The best months are October to November and March to April, when skies are clear and daytime temperatures sit between 15 and 22 degrees Celsius. Winter (December to February) is also excellent for visibility, though mornings at Chisapani can drop close to freezing. We avoid the monsoon (June to September) for the views, but the forest is lush and the trails are quiet if you do not mind rain. Spring brings rhododendron blooms along the Shivapuri ridge. For planning a 2027 or 2028 trip, aim to book lodges in Nagarkot two to three months ahead during peak October weeks.
Difficulty Level
This is rated an easy trek and is the gentlest multi-day walk we sell. Daily walking time is four to six hours on well-graded stone steps and dirt trail. There is one sustained climb from Sundarijal up to Chisapani (about 1,000 metres of ascent on day one), but the rest of the route rolls along the ridge. No technical terrain, no glaciers, no high passes. Anyone who can walk a half-marathon can finish this trek comfortably. Children as young as eight and trekkers in their seventies complete it regularly.
Duration
The standard itinerary is three days, with two nights on the trail. We recommend four days for a more relaxed pace, and five days if you add a side trip to the nearby hill village of Dhulikhel or a day hike from Nagarkot to the viewpoint tower. Day one is the longest at six hours; days two and three are shorter. You can also finish in two long days if you are very fit, but you lose the slow sunrise-to-sunset rhythm that makes this route enjoyable. Most of our clients use this as a soft start to a longer Nepal trip.
Route Details
The classic route runs Sundarijal to Mulkharka to Chisapani to Kutumsang to Nagarkot. A shorter version skips Kutumsang and walks directly from Chisapani to Nagarkot in a single day. The trail enters Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park within an hour of Sundarijal and stays inside the park boundary until Chisapani. After Chisapani you leave the park and follow a mixture of dirt road, village path, and forest trail. The final approach to Nagarkot climbs a paved village road. Allow time for photo stops at the many viewpoints along the ridge.
Itinerary Overview
Day 1: Drive Kathmandu to Sundarijal (1 hour), trek to Chisapani (5-6 hours, 2,150 m). Day 2: Trek Chisapani to Nagarkot via Kutumsang or the ridge trail (6-7 hours, 2,195 m). Day 3: Sunrise at Nagarkot, optional hike to the viewpoint tower, drive back to Kathmandu (2 hours). A four-day version splits day two with a night at Kutumsang or Jhule. A five-day version adds a night in Dhulikhel on the way back. Plan to start day one early to reach Chisapani before dark.
Maximum Altitude
The maximum altitude is 2,195 metres at the Nagarkot viewpoint. Chisapani sits at about 2,150 metres. These elevations are well below the 2,500-metre threshold where altitude sickness becomes a concern, so acclimatisation is not an issue. The altitude does mean nights are cool, with temperatures dropping to 5-10 degrees Celsius in spring and autumn, and close to freezing in winter. Pack a warm layer for evenings even in October.
Weather
Daytime temperatures on the trail range from 15 to 25 degrees Celsius in spring and autumn, with cool mornings and evenings. Winter days are clear and crisp, with daytime highs of 12-18 degrees and frosts at night. The monsoon brings heavy rain from late June to early September, and the Shivapuri forest trail becomes leech-infested and slippery. October and November are the driest and clearest months. Carry a light rain shell even in the dry season, as afternoon showers can occur.
Accommodation
Lodges in Chisapani and Nagarkot range from simple family-run guesthouses to mid-range hill resorts with hot showers and WiFi. Chisapani has about a dozen tea-house style lodges with shared bathrooms and basic rooms. Nagarkot has a much wider range, including a few proper hotels with mountain-facing rooms and lawns. Standards have improved steadily since 2020, and most lodges now offer attached bathrooms for a small premium. Book Nagarkot lodges ahead in peak season, as weekend visitors from Kathmandu fill the best rooms.
Tea Houses
The tea houses on this route are basic but comfortable, with foam mattresses, blankets, and shared squat or western toilets. Most have a communal dining room with a wood stove in the evening. Hot showers are usually available for a small fee (gas-heated, not solar). The lodges in Chisapani are smaller and more rustic than those in Nagarkot. Expect to pay for charging devices, typically 100-200 Nepali rupees per item.
Camping
This trek uses tea-house lodging; camping is not typically required. There are organised campsites at Chisapani and at the Nagarkot Community Forest if you prefer to pitch a tent. School groups and scout troops sometimes camp at designated spots inside Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park with prior permission. We do not recommend camping for private trekkers because the lodges are affordable and more comfortable than a tent. If you do camp, carry your own stove as open fires are prohibited inside the park.
Food
Lodge menus offer the usual Nepali trekking fare: dal bhat, fried rice, chowmein, momos, and Tibetan bread. Nagarkot lodges also serve pizza, pasta, and continental breakfasts because of the higher number of foreign tourists. Chisapani menus are simpler but reliably good. Try the local Gurung potato curry and the fresh Gundruk soup. Boiled eggs and porridge are reliable breakfast options. Food costs 300-600 Nepali rupees per meal.
Drinking Water
Safe drinking water is widely available. Most lodges sell boiled and filtered water for 50-100 rupees per litre, and you can refill at springs along the trail. We recommend a SteriPen or purification tablets as a backup. Avoid single-use plastic bottles, which are banned inside Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park. Carry at least two litres per person for the day-one climb to Chisapani, as the upper section has limited water sources.
Electricity
The entire route is on the national grid, so power is reliable in lodges and villages. Plug sockets are standard 220V with the round two-pin or three-pin Indian style. Charging phones and cameras is usually free in dining rooms but may cost 100-200 rupees in your room. Carry a power bank for the day-one climb, as Chisapani can have brief outages in the windy season. Solar chargers are unnecessary on this route.
Internet & Mobile Network
Nepal Telecom and Ncell both have strong 4G coverage along the entire route, including at Chisapani and Nagarkot. Most lodges offer free WiFi in the dining room, with paid WiFi (100-200 rupees per day) for higher bandwidth. Speeds are good enough for video calls and photo uploads. The Nagarkot viewpoint tower has variable signal due to its exposed position. Buy a local SIM at Kathmandu airport for the best data rates.
Transportation
The trailhead at Sundarijal is a one-hour taxi or local bus ride from central Kathmandu. The return from Nagarkot to Kathmandu takes about two hours by taxi or three by local bus. We recommend arranging a private vehicle through your trekking company for the start and end, as public transport is crowded and slow. For 2027 trips, expect to pay $40-60 for a private one-way transfer. If you are extending to Dhulikhel, the drive back via the Arniko Highway takes about 90 minutes.
Required Permits
You need two permits: a Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park entry permit (1,000 Nepali rupees for foreigners) and a TIMS Card (2,000 rupees for individual trekkers, 1,000 rupees in a group). Both are arranged in Kathmandu through your trekking company in a few hours. Bring four passport photos and a copy of your passport. The park permit is checked at the Mulkharka entrance gate. No restricted-area permit is required for this route.
Packing List
Pack light, as you can do this trek with a small daypack if you have a porter. Essentials: broken-in walking shoes, two pairs of trekking socks, a fleece or warm layer, a light rain shell, two trekking shirts, trekking trousers, a sun hat, a warm hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, a headlamp, a 1.5-litre water bottle, a small first-aid kit, and personal medication. Trekking poles help on the day-one climb. Do not over-pack; lodges are warm and dry. A 30-litre daypack is sufficient.
Budget Guide
This is one of the cheapest multi-day treks in Nepal.
| Item | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Permits | $30 |
| Transport Kathmandu-Sundarijal-Nagarkot-Kathmandu | $60-90 |
| Lodging (3 nights) | $30-75 |
| Food (3 days) | $45-75 |
| Guide (optional, 3 days) | $90-150 |
| Porter (optional, 3 days) | $60-90 |
| Total (independent) | $165-270 |
| Total (with guide and porter) | $315-510 |
An organised package from a Kathmandu operator typically costs $300-500 per person for three days including everything. For a 2027 or 2028 trip, prices may rise 5-10 percent due to inflation. Budget an extra $50 for hot showers, charging, and snacks.
Photography Tips
The Nagarkot sunrise is the money shot, so arrive at the viewpoint tower at least 30 minutes before official sunrise time to claim a good spot. A wide-angle lens (16-35mm) covers the panorama; a 70-200mm is useful for compressing the distant peaks. Bring a tripod for low-light shots, as the pre-dawn light changes quickly. In Chisapani, the late-afternoon light on the ridge is excellent for portraits of porters and trekkers. Carry lens cloths, as the morning mist at Nagarkot can leave moisture on the glass.
Wildlife
Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park is home to over 300 bird species, making it a popular birdwatching destination. You may see Himalayan monal (the national bird of Nepal), kalij pheasant, and various laughing thrushes along the trail. Mammals include barking deer, wild boar, and the occasional leopard, though the latter is rarely seen. Rhesus macaques are common around Sundarijal and can be aggressive if you carry visible food. Keep snacks inside your pack. Birdwatchers should bring binoculars and start early.
Flora
The park's forests range from subtropical chir pine at lower elevations to oak-rhododendron and laurel forest higher up. Spring (March to April) brings rhododendron blooms in pink and red along the upper ridge. The park has over 2,000 plant species, including medicinal herbs used in Ayurveda. Look for orchids on tree trunks in the wetter sections near Mulkharka. The forest is densest between Sundarijal and Chisapani, then thins out toward Nagarkot as the trail enters farmland.
Local Culture
The trail passes through Tamang and Gurung villages, descendants of Tibetan migrants who settled the Kathmandu valley rim centuries ago. Most families combine subsistence farming with seasonal work in Kathmandu or abroad. You will see Buddhist prayer flags, chorten, and small gompas along the route, particularly around Chisapani. Many lodges are family-run, and hosts are happy to explain local traditions if you ask. Dress modestly when passing through villages and always ask before photographing people.
Local Villages
Sundarijal is the trailhead, a small town famous for its waterfalls and the Bagmati river source. Mulkharka is a Tamang village of about 50 houses inside the park boundary, the first overnight option if you want a slow start. Chisapani (literally "cold water") is the main overnight stop, perched on a saddle with views of the Ganesh Himal range. Nagarkot is the largest settlement, a hill station developed since the 1970s as a weekend escape from Kathmandu. Each village has at least one lodge and a small shop.
Safety Tips
This is a very safe trek, but a few basics apply. Carry your own first-aid kit with blister plasters, paracetamol, and rehydration salts. Treat all tap water before drinking. Watch for traffic on the dirt road sections near Nagarkot, where motorbikes and 4WDs share the trail. Leeches are a nuisance in the monsoon; wear long socks and salt. Solo trekking is fine, but a guide adds context and language help. Register your TIMS Card so authorities know you are on the trail.
Altitude Sickness Guide
Altitude sickness is not a concern on this trek because the maximum elevation (2,195 m) is below the 2,500 m threshold. You may still feel slightly breathless on the day-one climb if you are coming straight from sea level. Stay hydrated, eat regular meals, and rest when you need to. If you have a headache or nausea after arriving in Nepal from a long flight, it is more likely jet lag and dehydration than altitude. The trek is a good place to test how your body responds to modest altitude before attempting higher routes.
Emergency Contacts
The nearest hospital is Norvic International Hospital in Kathmandu, about 90 minutes from Nagarkot by road. For emergencies, dial 102 for ambulance service or call your travel insurance's 24-hour assistance line. The Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park office (01-4351108) handles trail incidents inside the park. Mobile coverage is good throughout, so you can call for help if needed. Carry your insurance details and emergency contact numbers in print as well as on your phone.
Responsible Tourism
Carry a reusable water bottle and treat water yourself rather than buying plastic. Do not buy bottled water inside the national park, where plastic is banned. Stay on marked trails to protect regenerating forest. Use lodge toilets rather than the forest, and carry out all toilet paper. Tip guides and porters fairly: about $10-15 per day for a guide and $8-10 per day for a porter. Support community-run homestays in Chisapani and Mulkharka, which keep more of your money in the village.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are the questions we get most often about the Chisapani Nagarkot Trek. The answers reflect current conditions for 2027 and beyond.
Summary
The Chisapani Nagarkot Trek is the most accessible multi-day trek in Nepal, ideal for families, first-timers, and anyone with limited time in Kathmandu. It offers sunrise views of eight Himalayan ranges, forest walking in Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, and a glimpse of Tamang and Gurung village life, all at altitudes where acclimatisation is not an issue. The route is short, safe, and affordable, and it works in every season except the peak monsoon. It is also an excellent warm-up before bigger treks like the Langtang Valley Trek or the Helambu Trek.
Conclusion
If you want a low-commitment trek with a high reward-to-effort ratio, this is it. The Chisapani Nagarkot Trek gives you a real sense of walking in the Nepal Himalaya without the cost, time, or altitude risk of a major route. Pair it with a few days in Kathmandu and a Chitwan safari for a complete two-week Nepal introduction. For 2027 and 2028 trips, book Nagarkot lodges early in peak season, and consider adding the nearby Dhulikhel ridge for a longer four- or five-day version. We send more first-time trekkers on this route than any other, and almost all of them come back wanting more.