Shivapuri Peak and Nagi Gompa Day Hike is a 1-day hike for walkers in Kathmandu who want a real hill day close to the city. It starts at the Budhanilkantha gate, passes Nagi Gompa at about 2,100 m and reaches the summit of Shivapuri at 2,732 m. It is graded Moderate to challenging: you climb over 1,100 m in one morning. It costs from USD 115 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.
Shivapuri Peak and Nagi Gompa day hike at a glance
| Duration | 1 day from your Kathmandu hotel and back, about 6 to 7 hours on the trail |
|---|---|
| Maximum altitude | 2,732 m / 8,963 ft (Shivapuri summit) |
| Grade | Moderate to challenging. Over 1,100 m of climbing. No technical skill |
| Best months | October to early December. March and April for rhododendrons |
| Group size | 1 to 20, always private |
| Permits | Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park fee and TIMS card, included |
| Start dates | Any day |
| From price | USD 115 per person, Budget, couple. Standard USD 155, Luxury USD 170 |
Why I built it this way
If you have one free day in Kathmandu and your legs want something harder than a temple, this is the walk I give people. It starts about 45 minutes from Thamel. You pass through dense forest to Nagi Gompa, a Tibetan Buddhist nunnery, and go on to the summit, with views over the valley and, on a clear day, the Langtang range.
It is not the same as our Sundarijal day hike. That walk comes down the eastern side to Sundarijal. This one goes to the top of Shivapuri and back the way you came, so it is the better choice if you want the summit and a fitness check before a trek.
The park rule is that foreign visitors walk with a guide, so a guide is part of the price at every level. Every booking helps pay the teacher's salary at our Nagarjun Learning Center in Saldum. Read Shivapuri National Park Day Hike: Kathmandu's Backyard Wilderness for the full guide to the mountain and Sundarijal: The Gateway to Shivapuri, Chisapani and the End of the Helambu Trail.
Best time to go, month by month
These notes come from our guides on the Shivapuri trail. They are not forecasts.
| Month | What it is like | My verdict |
|---|---|---|
| January | Cold mornings, 0 to 5 C, often clear views. | Good, pack warm layers |
| February | Dry and clear, cold at the start of the day. | Good |
| March | Warmer, rhododendrons starting, haze by midday. | Good, start early |
| April | Rhododendrons in bloom, hazy afternoons. | Good, start early |
| May | Hot lower down, pre-monsoon storms and cloud by mid-morning. | Early starts only |
| June | Monsoon: cloud, mud and leeches. | No |
| July | Monsoon. | No |
| August | Monsoon. | No |
| September | The rains ease late in the month. | Late September only |
| October | Clean air after the rains and the clearest views. | Best |
| November | Dry, clear and cool. | Best |
| December | Dry and clear, cold mornings. | Good, pack warm layers |
October to early December is the sweet spot. Start early in every season, because cloud usually builds by noon and the views are best in the morning.
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 are the expected ones and are confirmed each year.
| Window in 2027 | What to expect | My advice |
|---|---|---|
| January to February 2027 | Clear and cold, quiet trails. | Good, pack warm layers |
| March to May 2027 (Holi expected 22 to 23 March) | Spring: warmer, hazier afternoons. | Good in March and April |
| June to mid September 2027 | Monsoon: wet paths, cloud and leeches. | No |
| Mid September to December 2027 (Dashain expected 6 to 10 October, Tihar 29 to 31 October) | The clearest views of the year, and the busiest weeks. | Best |
We confirm the start time the evening before, according to the weather.
Permits and costs
Shivapuri is a national park, so a park permit and a TIMS card are needed. We arrange both.
| 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 |
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 are our 2027 prices. If we have already quoted you a price in writing, we hold it.
| Group size | Budget | Standard | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 guest (solo) | USD 165 | USD 205 | USD 260 |
| 2 to 4 guests | USD 115 | USD 155 | USD 170 |
| 5 to 8 guests | USD 70 | USD 105 | USD 120 |
| 9 to 12 guests | USD 55 | USD 90 | USD 110 |
| 13 to 20 guests | USD 55 | USD 85 | USD 105 |
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 and personal spending. 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 has no fee. We cannot take Nepali rupees from foreign guests.
Getting there and getting back
We collect you from your Kathmandu hotel early and drive to the Budhanilkantha gate, about 45 minutes from Thamel. The vehicle waits for you at the gate and takes you back to your hotel in the afternoon. We check road conditions 48 hours before departure. If a road is not open, we move your dates free of charge.
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
The highest point is 2,732 m, so altitude is not the worry. The effort is the climb itself, over 1,100 m, and the descent is harder on the knees than the ascent is on the lungs. Your guide sets the pace, carries a first aid kit with a pulse oximeter and turns round with you if the weather changes.
There are no shops above Nagi Gompa, so carry your water. In the monsoon the trail is muddy and there are leeches. Buy travel insurance at home that covers day hikes.
What to pack
- Trail shoes or light hiking boots with good grip
- 1.5 to 2 litres of water and a packed lunch if you are on Budget
- A sun hat and SPF 50 sun cream
- A light rain jacket and a warm layer for the summit
- Trekking poles, which help on the way down
- Binoculars if you enjoy birds
- A charged camera
Budget, Standard or Luxury
All three tiers walk the same route. What changes is lunch and the vehicle.
| Budget | Standard | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle | Local shared vehicle | Shared tourist vehicle | A comfortable private vehicle |
| Lunch | Not included: carry a packed lunch or buy tea on the trail | Lunch with tea or coffee | Lunch, with tea, coffee and soft drinks carried by your guide |
| Guide | Licensed English-speaking guide | Licensed English-speaking guide | Licensed English-speaking guide |
Read before you book
- Shivapuri National Park Day Hike: Kathmandu's Backyard Wilderness
- Sundarijal: The Gateway to Shivapuri, Chisapani and the End of the Helambu Trail
- Champadevi Hill and Pharping Day Hike
- Chisapani, Nagarkot and Dhulikhel Trek, 4 Days
The Everest Holiday is a family company founded in 2016, from three generations of guiding in the Himalayas.
Secure payment by Himalayan Bank.
