Champadevi Hill and Pharping Day Hike is a 1-day hike for walkers who want a real hike and a morning of temples close to Kathmandu. It reaches 2,278 m (Champadevi Hill) and is graded Moderate: a climb of about 800 m in 5 km on forest paths, with a steeper section near the top. It costs from USD 100 per person (Budget, couple). The price per person is the same for a private trip and a group of the same size, and it falls as the group grows.
Champadevi Hill and Pharping at a glance
| Duration | 1 day, from your Kathmandu hotel and back, 4 to 6 hours of walking |
|---|---|
| Maximum altitude | 2,278 m / 7,474 ft (Champadevi Hill) |
| Distance | 10 km round trip, about 800 m of climbing |
| Grade | Moderate. Steady climb on forest paths. No technical skill needed |
| Best months | October to May. Clearest in October and November |
| Group size | 1 to 20, always private |
| Permits | None needed. No TIMS card |
| Start dates | Any day. See the 2027 notes below |
| From price | USD 100 per person, Budget, couple. Standard USD 130, Luxury USD 150 |
Why I built it this way
Champadevi is the hike I add to a Kathmandu stay when someone has a free day and wants to walk, not sightsee. It sits on the southwestern rim of the valley, and it gives you something the other hikes near the city do not: a close view of the Chandragiri range, with the valley spread out below. It starts from Pharping, a town of temples and monasteries, so you also get a morning of culture. Fewer people walk it than Shivapuri, and no permit is needed.
It is a proper hike. You climb about 800 m in five kilometres and come down the same way, so you need to be reasonably fit and happy on steep forest paths. If you are not used to hills, start with the Nagarjun Jamacho forest hike or the Nagarkot to Changu Narayan walk, both on the same list. Read Best Day Hikes Near Kathmandu: 8 Trails for Every Fitness Level for all eight hikes, ranked from easiest to hardest.
It also makes a good warm-up before a longer trek. It tests your boots and your legs without any altitude risk. If you are doing our Kathmandu valley tour, it makes a good extra day. Every booking helps pay the teacher's salary at our Nagarjun Learning Center in Saldum. The Everest Holiday is a family company founded in 2016, from three generations of guiding in the Himalayas.
Best time to go, month by month
There is no weather station on the hill, so these notes come from our guides and our day hikes guide. They are not forecasts.
| Month | What it is like | My verdict |
|---|---|---|
| January | Clear mornings and cold starts. Views of the mountains are often sharp. | Good, wear a fleece |
| February | Cold mornings, clear days, and few hikers. | Good |
| March | Warmer, with haze building by midday. A good morning hike. | Good, start early |
| April | Warm, hazy afternoons. Start at first light. | Good, start early |
| May | Hot and hazy before the monsoon, so mountain views are unreliable. | Only if you start very early |
| June | Monsoon: wet, slippery trails and cloud over the rim. | No |
| July | Monsoon: heavy rain and almost no views. | No |
| August | Monsoon: heavy rain and almost no views. | No |
| September | The rains are easing, but the trails are still muddy. | Late September only |
| October | After the monsoon the air is clean and the skies are sharp. | Best |
| November | Dry, clear and pleasantly cool. The prime month for views. | Best |
| December | Dry and clear, with cold mornings. | Good, wear a fleece |
October to May is the hiking window, and October and November give the clearest air. Start early in every season, because the morning is the good part of the day and afternoon cloud builds by midday. One price applies all year.
Starting dates for 2027
This is a day trip, so you choose your date. These are the windows I would pick for 2027. Festival dates for 2027 are the expected ones from public calendars, and the government confirms them each year.
| Window in 2027 | What to expect | My advice |
|---|---|---|
| January to February 2027 | Cold starts and clear days. Few hikers on the trail. | Good |
| March to May 2027 (Holi expected 22 to 23 March) | Warm and increasingly hazy. Start at first light, and avoid the middle of the day. | Good in March and April |
| June to mid September 2027 | Monsoon. Wet, slippery trails and cloud over the rim. | No |
| October 2027 (Dashain expected 6 to 10 October, not yet announced) | The air is clean after the rains. Dashain closes some shops and fills the roads around the festival days. | Good, avoid the Dashain days |
| November to December 2027 (Tihar expected 29 to 31 October) | Dry, clear and cool. Some of the clearest weeks for the view across the valley. | Best |
We confirm the day the evening before, according to the weather. Tell me your dates and I will tell you what I know for that week.
Permits and costs
No permit is needed for this hike, and no TIMS card. We pay the small entries at Pharping.
| Permit or fee | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Trekking permit or TIMS card | None | Not needed for Champadevi |
| Pharping temple and cave entries | A few hundred rupees, with donations | Included |
The price per person falls as the group grows, and a child pays the same as an adult. Private or group, the price per person is the same. Here is the full table. These prices hold for 2027.
| Group size | Budget | Standard | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 guest (solo) | USD 160 | USD 190 | USD 245 |
| 2 to 4 guests | USD 100 | USD 130 | USD 150 |
| 5 to 8 guests | USD 95 | USD 125 | USD 140 |
| 9 to 12 guests | USD 90 | USD 115 | USD 135 |
| 13 to 20 guests | USD 85 | USD 110 | USD 130 |
Not included: international flights, your Nepal visa (USD 30 for 15 days or USD 50 for 30 days, paid in cash on arrival), Kathmandu hotel nights, travel insurance, tips, personal spending and any extra porter (USD 25 per day plus 13% VAT and the 3.5% bank charge). You pay a 10% deposit to book and the balance in Kathmandu. We take US dollars or euros, in cash or by card. We cover the card fee on the deposit. If you pay the balance by card it carries a 3.5% bank charge, and cash in Kathmandu has no fee.
Getting there and getting back
We collect you from your Kathmandu hotel early and drive about 45 minutes south to Pharping. The trail starts near the Dakshinkali road. After the hike we drive you back to your hotel. There are no flights or long roads, and no altitude risk.
Visa on arrival is USD 30 for 15 days or USD 50 for 30 days, and your passport must be valid for at least six months.
Safety and altitude
There is no altitude risk: the hill is 2,278 m. The risks are steep, uneven ground and the weather. In the monsoon the trail is slippery. Your guide leads the group and sets the pace, and carries a first aid kit with a pulse oximeter. Wear shoes with a good grip, drink water through the climb and tell your guide if you feel unwell.
The descent is on the same steep path, so trekking poles help your knees. Buy travel insurance at home that covers day hikes.
What to pack
- Trail shoes or light hiking boots with a good grip (not sandals)
- A light fleece for the cold start and a sun hat for midday
- SPF 50 sun cream and sunglasses
- A daypack with 2 litres of water and snacks
- A rain jacket if the weather looks uncertain
- Trekking poles if you have them
- A little cash for tea and small donations
- Our full list is in Nepal Trek Packing Checklist: The Only List You Need (Printable 2026/2027)
Budget, Standard or Luxury
All three tiers do the same hike on the same day. What changes is lunch and the vehicle.
| Budget | Standard | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle | Local shared vehicle | Shared tourist vehicle | A comfortable air-conditioned private vehicle |
| Lunch | Not included | Lunch with tea or coffee | Lunch with all non-alcoholic drinks |
| Guide | Licensed English-speaking guide | Licensed English-speaking guide | Licensed English-speaking guide |
Read before you book
- Best Day Hikes Near Kathmandu: 8 Trails for Every Fitness Level
- Shivapuri National Park Day Hike: Kathmandu's Backyard Wilderness
- Nagarkot to Chisapani Day Trek: The Perfect First Hike in Nepal
- Kathmandu Valley UNESCO World Heritage Sites: The Seven Zones, Fees and a 3-Day Plan
- Chandragiri Hills Cable Car: Panoramic Himalayas Without Breaking a Sweat
- Shivapuri Peak and Nagi Gompa Day Hike from Kathmandu
- Pharping, Dakshinkali and Asura Cave Day Tour
The Everest Holiday is a family company founded in 2016, from three generations of guiding in the Himalayas.
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