Chisapani, Nagarkot and Dhulikhel Trek, 4 Days is a 4-day short trek for first-time trekkers, families and anyone who wants Himalayan views without altitude. It reaches 2,175 m (Nagarkot) and is graded Easy to Moderate: two days of 5 to 6 hours on forest ridges, a morning walk to Changu Narayan and a half-day hike to Namobuddha. It costs from USD 465 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.
Chisapani, Nagarkot and Dhulikhel at a glance
| Duration | 4 days, 3 nights, Kathmandu to Kathmandu |
|---|---|
| Maximum altitude | 2,175 m / 7,136 ft (Nagarkot). Chisapani 2,165 m, Dhulikhel about 1,500 m |
| Grade | Easy to moderate. Long days on forest paths. No altitude risk |
| Best months | October and November, then March and April |
| Group size | 1 to 20, always private |
| Starts and ends | Your Kathmandu hotel, by private vehicle |
| Permits | Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park (NPR 1,000), TIMS (NPR 2,000) and Changu Narayan (NPR 300). All included |
| Hotels | 3 nights at Chisapani, Nagarkot and Dhulikhel are included. Kathmandu nights are not |
| Start dates | You choose. See the windows for 2027 below |
| From price | USD 465 per person, Budget, couple. Standard USD 710, Luxury USD 1,225 |
Why I built it this way
This is the walk I give to people who want to see the Himalaya from the rim of the Kathmandu Valley without committing to a long trek. You start at Sundarijal, climb through the forest of Shivapuri to Chisapani, follow the ridge to Nagarkot and walk down to Changu Narayan. Then you drive to the old Newar town of Dhulikhel and finish with the walk to Namobuddha. Each night is on a different ridge, with a different view.
It is easy to moderate, and there is no altitude risk: the highest point is Nagarkot at 2,175 m. Our 3-day Sundarijal to Nagarkot trek ends at Changu Narayan. This one adds a night at Dhulikhel and the Namobuddha walk, which is the best day hike near Kathmandu. It is also the best preparation I know for a longer trek, because three days of long walking with a day pack will show you what your boots and your knees can do. Read Nagarkot to Chisapani Day Trek: The Perfect First Hike in Nepal and Nagarkot or Dhulikhel: Which Hill Town Is Better for Himalayan Views Near Kathmandu? before you choose your month.
Nights are in simple lodges and hotels. Chisapani is a ridge settlement of small lodges, so rooms there are simple on every tier. Nagarkot and Dhulikhel have better hotels, and Standard and Luxury use the best in each.
Hotel nights in Kathmandu are not included, so you choose your own (our family homestay is USD 15 per person per night). 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 rim, so these notes come from our guides, as set out in our Nagarkot to Chisapani guide and Nagarkot guide. They are not forecasts.
| Month | What it is like | My verdict |
|---|---|---|
| January | Cold mornings, 0 to 5 C, but often unobstructed views. Few hikers. | Good, pack warm layers |
| February | Cold mornings and clear days. The Nagarkot sunrise is around 6:40 am. | Good, pack warm layers |
| March | Rhododendrons start to bloom in the forest. Mountain views are good but can be hazy by midday. | Good |
| April | The most photogenic month, with rhododendrons in full bloom. Haze builds by midday. | Good |
| May | Hot and hazy before the monsoon, so mountain views become unreliable. | Not my first choice |
| June | Monsoon: muddy trails, leeches and limited views. | No |
| July | Monsoon: muddy trails, leeches and limited views. | No |
| August | Monsoon: muddy trails, leeches and limited views. | No |
| September | The rains ease from late September, but the forest sections can still be muddy. | Late September only |
| October | After the monsoon the air is clean and the skies are sharp. Peak season. | Best |
| November | Clear skies, dry trails, warm days and the best mountain visibility. Peak season. | Best |
| December | Dry and clear, with cold mornings. Nagarkot sunrise is around 6:45 am. | Good, pack warm layers |
October to December gives the clearest views, with March and April the second window. The best sunrise months at Nagarkot are October to February, and from May to September views are the poorest. One price applies all year.
Starting dates for 2027
You choose your start date, because every trip is private. 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 mornings and often unobstructed views, on quiet trails. | Good |
| March to April 2027 (Holi expected 22 to 23 March, Nepali New Year and the Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur on 14 April) | Rhododendrons in bloom and the most photogenic weeks. Some buses and offices close on the festival days. | Good |
| May to mid September 2027 | Hot and hazy, then monsoon, with muddy trails and limited views. | No |
| Late September to October 2027 (Dashain expected 6 to 10 October, not yet announced) | The air is clean after the rains. Dashain closes some shops and lodges and fills the roads around the festival days. | Avoid the Dashain days |
| Late October to December 2027 (Tihar expected 29 to 31 October) | Dry, clear and warm by day. The best weeks for mountain views, and the busiest, especially at weekends in Nagarkot. | Best |
Nagarkot fills up at weekends in the peak season, so a weekday start is easier. Tell me your dates and I will tell you what I know for that week.
Permits and costs
We apply for every permit and pay for all of them. You send us your passport details early.
| Permit or fee | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park entry | NPR 1,000 (NPR 600 SAARC) | Included |
| TIMS card | NPR 2,000 (NPR 1,000 SAARC) | Included, we issue it through our agency |
| Changu Narayan temple | NPR 300 (NPR 100 SAARC) | 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 795 | USD 1,005 | USD 2,065 |
| 2 to 4 guests | USD 465 | USD 710 | USD 1,225 |
| 5 to 8 guests | USD 290 | USD 550 | USD 1,055 |
| 9 to 12 guests | USD 245 | USD 500 | USD 1,010 |
| 13 to 20 guests | USD 235 | USD 490 | USD 1,000 |
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, and card payments carry a 3.5% bank charge.
Getting there and getting back
There are no flights. On day 1 we drive 40 to 50 minutes from your Kathmandu hotel to Sundarijal. On day 3 we drive from Changu Narayan to Dhulikhel. On day 4 we drive back to Kathmandu, 1 to 1.5 hours. Everything is by private vehicle, and the roads are paved.
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 on this trek: the highest point is 2,175 m. The risks are long days on your feet, muddy trails in the monsoon and the cold mornings in winter. Your guide leads the group, sets the pace and carries a first aid kit with a pulse oximeter. Drink water through the day, and tell your guide if you feel unwell.
In the Shivapuri forest, keep to the path and follow your guide. Buy travel insurance at home that covers trekking to 3,000 m.
What to pack
- Broken-in trail shoes or light hiking boots
- A fleece and a warm layer for the cold mornings and evenings at Chisapani and Nagarkot
- A rain jacket if the weather looks uncertain
- A sun hat, sunglasses and SPF 50 sun cream
- A daypack of 15 to 25 litres. Your duffel goes with the porter if you have one
- Two litres of water and snacks
- A camera with a spare battery, because the cold drains it
- A little cash for tea at the villages
- Trekking poles if you have them
- Our full list is in Nepal Trek Packing Checklist: The Only List You Need (Printable 2026/2027)
Budget, Standard or Luxury
All three tiers walk the same route on the same days. What changes is where you sleep, what you eat and who carries your bag. Chisapani has simple lodges on every tier.
| Budget | Standard | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rooms | Shared rooms in simple teahouses | Private twin rooms, attached bathroom where the lodge has one | Private deluxe rooms, ensuite where the lodge has one |
| Porter | None. You carry your own pack. An extra porter is USD 25 per day plus 13% VAT and the 3.5% bank charge | One porter for every two trekkers, 20 kg each in total. A solo guest has no porter: the guide carries up to 10 kg | One dedicated porter for every trekker |
| Hotels | Simple lodges and hotels, twin share | The best standard lodge or hotel in each place, private room | The best available lodge or hotel in each place, ensuite where there is one |
| Meals | Not included on the trek | Breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, tea or coffee and seasonal fruit once a day | All meals, fruit and nuts, tea, coffee, soft drinks, juice and water whenever you want |
| Vehicle | Private car or van sized to your group | Private car or van sized to your group | A more spacious private vehicle |
| Guide | Licensed guide, one per group (a second from 13 guests) | Licensed guide, one per group (a second from 13 guests) | Licensed guide, one per group (a second from 13 guests) |
Read before you book
- Nagarkot to Chisapani Day Trek: The Perfect First Hike in Nepal
- Nagarkot Guide: Himalayan Sunrise Viewpoint Near Kathmandu
- Dhulikhel Guide: Himalayan Views & Namobuddha Day Hike
- Namobuddha: One of Nepal's Three Holiest Buddhist Sites
- Changu Narayan Temple Guide: Fee, History and the Nagarkot Walk
- Sundarijal: The Gateway to Shivapuri, Chisapani and the End of the Helambu Trail
- Nagarkot or Dhulikhel: Which Hill Town Is Better for Himalayan Views Near Kathmandu?
The Everest Holiday is a family company founded in 2016, from three generations of guiding in the Himalayas.
