Kalinchowk Bhagwati and Kuri 2027: 2-Day Trip, Cost, Snow and Best Time

Updated 18 October 2026.

Short answer: Kalinchowk Bhagwati is a hilltop temple at 3,842 m in Dolakha district, about 150 km east of Kathmandu. You drive to Kuri village in a long first day, sleep there, then take the cable car up at dawn. It is a 2-day trip, and it is a short way to see snow from Kathmandu between December and February, in a normal year. For two to four people it costs USD 595 Budget, USD 665 Standard and USD 735 Luxury per person, and it gets much cheaper in bigger groups because most of the cost is the vehicle.

I am Shreejan. It is easy to do, but it is easy to do badly. You sleep high and go higher the next morning, and the road is long. Here is what the trip really looks like.

What is Kalinchowk?

Kalinchowk is a ridge in Dolakha district with the Kalinchowk Bhagwati temple on top, at 3,842 m (12,605 ft). It is a pilgrimage site, and in winter it is also known for snow. Kuri is the village below, where most visitors sleep. A cable car runs from Kuri to the temple in about six minutes. If you prefer to walk, the climb takes one to one and a half hours.

Published sources disagree on the altitude of Kuri village, so I do not print a figure for it. What matters is that it is high and cold, and that you sleep there before going higher.

What is the 2-day plan?

You can stop at the Dolkha Bhimsen temple in Charikot on the way. Ask your guide on the day.

When is the best time to go?

Snow depends on the year, so ask me about conditions the week before you travel. In winter, snow can close the last section of road, and if it does I move your dates free of charge. For what winter is like on other routes, read winter trekking in Nepal.

How cold and how high is it, really?

This is not a trek, so people arrive under-dressed. You sleep in a cold village, and at dawn you go up to 3,842 m. Bring a down jacket, a warm hat, gloves and good boots or shoes with grip. We lend a down jacket and sleeping bag on request on our treks, but ask me when you book so I can tell you what is available for this trip.

Go slowly. Drink water. If you get a headache, tell your guide at once. There is no acclimatisation on this trip, and that is the honest weak point of a 2-day schedule. If you have a heart, lung or blood-pressure condition, speak to your doctor and tell me before you book. For the basics, read altitude sickness in Nepal.

What does it cost in 2027?

These are the prices on the trip page today, in US dollars per person. Most of the cost is the private vehicle, so it falls fast as the group grows.

All three tiers include a licensed English-speaking guide, the cable car ticket, bottled water, government taxes and first aid with a pulse oximeter. Your Kathmandu hotel is not included. I can book it, or you can stay at our family homestay for USD 15 per person per night, which supports the Nagarjun Learning Center. A Luxury room in Kuri is the best available there, and I want to be honest that Kuri is a simple village.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Kuri from Kathmandu? About 132 km to Charikot by road, then an 18 km off-road climb to Kuri. Plan a full day, arriving in the afternoon.

How high is Kalinchowk Bhagwati? The temple is at 3,842 m (12,605 ft).

Does it snow at Kalinchowk? Snow usually comes between December and February. It depends on the year, so ask me the week before you go.

Do I need a permit or TIMS card? No trekking permit or TIMS card is needed for this trip. The cable car ticket is included. I have not found a park or conservation fee for the temple or Kuri. If one applies, we pay it and it is in your price.

How does the cable car work? It takes about six minutes from Kuri to the temple, opens at about 05:00 on most days, and can stop in strong wind. If it stops, you can walk up in one to one and a half hours.

Is Kalinchowk worth it without snow? Yes, for the temple and the views on a clear morning, but snow is what most visitors come for. October and November give clear air.

Can children go? If they are comfortable on a long drive and in the cold. The temple is at 3,842 m, so tell me their ages and I will say honestly if it suits. A child pays the same as an adult.

Do I need travel insurance? Yes, bought at home. The temple is at 3,842 m, and I round up to the next 500 m, so ask your insurer for cover to 4,000 m.

How do payment and cancellation work?

You pay a deposit of 10 per cent to book and the balance when you meet us in Kathmandu, in US dollars or euros, in cash or by card. Cash carries no fee, and card carries a 3.5 per cent bank charge. We cannot take Nepali rupees from foreign guests.

The deposit is non-refundable, and there is no refund if you cancel yourself. I can move your trip free of charge to any date within one year, with at least 72 hours notice. If we cannot run the trip, we refund what you have paid, less taxes, bank or card charges and any money already spent on your behalf.

What is the next step?

The full trip page is Kalinchowk Bhagwati and Kuri Village Tour, 2 Days. If you want a day trip from Kathmandu instead, look at the Sundarijal day hike. For a short snow-free winter walk, read the Shivapuri day hike guide. Message me on WhatsApp on +977 9810351300 with your dates and group size, and I will give you the exact price and the snow outlook for the week.

Written by Shreejan Simkhada, CEO of The Everest Holiday, from a family of three generations of family guides. TAAN Member #1586. WhatsApp +977 9810351300.