The Kathmandu Valley Trek 3 days is an incredible short trek package in the hills of Kathmandu valley. The trek is perfect for trekkers who have a busy schedule and want to trek for a short duration.
The route of 3 days Kathmandu valley trek passes through the scenic viewpoints of Chisapani and Nagarkot. The wonderful views of the Himalayas in the North is the primary attraction of the trek. We also cross the subalpine forests of pine and oak trees in the Shivapuri National Park.
You can also explore the unique Tamang community and their village lifestyle. The trek takes you to the fantastic hilly landscapes of the Kathmandu Valley in just 3 days. This trip is ideal for all seasons and all skill levels. The 3 day Kathmandu Valley Trek is also perfect for families with kids and seniors.
The amazing villages settlements, dense forests, and spectacular views of Himalayan range will amaze you. If you are someone who loves to trek in quiet environments, then the Kathmandu Valley trek 3 days suits you perfectly. Read further for some essential information about the trek and book your trip now!
Table of Content:
▪ Major Highlights of the Trip:
▪ Best Time for the Kathmandu Valley Trek
▪ Accommodation Facilities along the Trek
▪ 3 Days Kathmandu Valley Trek difficulty
▪ Trekking Permit Necessary
▪ Hire a Guide and Porter
▪ Kathmandu Valley Trek 3 Days Cost
▪ What To Pack for the Trek?
▪ Kathmandu Valley Tour Itinerary
▪ FAQ
▪ The Final Say
Major Highlights of the Trip:
- Trekking the amazing landscapes of Chisapani (2,350m/ 7,709ft)
- Spectacular sunrise view from Nagarkot (2,100m/ 6,889ft)
- Incredible panoramic views of the Himalayan ranges in the North
- Walking across the beautiful forested trails of Shivapuri National Park
- Pilgrimage to the World Heritage site of Changu Narayan Temple in Bhaktapur
- Staying at the best accomodations in Nagarkot
Best Time for the Kathmandu Valley Trek:
The Kathmandu Valley Trek 3 days is doable all round the year. This short trek around Kathmandu Valley is ideal for all seasons. Since this is not a high altitude trek, altitude sickness will not affect you much.
However, the best time to trek the region would be the autumn months of September to November and the spring months of March to May. The autumn months provide you with clear and unobstructed views of the mountains. The post monsoon weather makes the trekking adventure delightful.
The spring months of March-May offers beautiful scenic trails. The environment turns beautiful, and the soothing weather is also one of the perks of trekking in spring. Many wildflowers blooming along the trails will make you fall in love with the place.
Besides these, the weather around monsoon season can bring unexpected rainfalls around the trail and can derail your journey. If you are trekking at this time of the year, you must carry a windproof and waterproof jacket and cover. There might be some leeches along the trail too. In winters, you can observe some instances of snowfall in Nagarkot.
Accommodation Facilities along the Trek:
The Kathmandu valley trek starts from the beautiful point of Sundarijal and arrives at Chisapani village on the first day. The village of Chisapani is also the starting point of the Langtang Valley Trek, and you can find many trekkers along the same route. Thus, many tea houses provide service in the region with the necessary facilities for this reason.
The Kathmandu Valley Trek then leads to Nagarkot, which is one of the most popular hill stations in Nepal. There are many hotels and resorts, ranging from small lodges to five-star hotels. The cost of the hotels varies upon the facilities provided. The view of the mountains also plays an important role in determining the prices of the Accommodation.
The panoramic view of the snow-capped mountains, including Annapurna, Langtang, and Everest mountain ranges from the hotel balcony, will take your breath away. On a clear day, the beautiful landscape of the entire valley from Nagarkot is also visible. Thus, you don’t have to worry about the accommodation facilities as they are quite good.
3 Days Kathmandu Valley Trek difficulty:
The Kathmandu Valley trek 3 days is a short duration trek. The trek is not a high altitude trek, and it does not require rigorous training like the Everest base camp treks. The Sundarijal to Chisapani trek requires a 900m uphill hike and takes about 5 to 6 hours of trekking. The second day from Chisapani to Nagarkot requires 7 to 8 hours of trekking, on a gradual trail.
Trekkers with all skill levels and experience can take this trek. This trek is also perfect for families with kids and senior citizens. The trek is relatively easy primarily because of the time duration. On a difficulty scale, this trek is similar to Ghandruk trek, Ghorepani-Poonhill trek and other short treks around Pokhara.
Trekking Permit Necessary:
The Kathmandu Valley Trek passes through the spectacular forested trails. Trekkers need to trek through the green landscapes of Shivapuri National Park and thus require an entrance ticket. The entrance ticket is 1,000 NRP for a foreign tourist and 600 NRP for a tourist from a SAARC country.
Nepalese require only 100 NPR for the entry in the national park. Children, on the other hand, do not require any entrance fee. Another advantage of this trek is that trekkers do not need a TIMS card (Trekking Information Management System) for this trek.
Hire a Guide and Porter:
Hiring a guide and a porter depends upon your desire and requirement. The short trek doesn't require dense packing, so you might not need a porter. However, the guide is a great help along the trek.
If you find it hard physically to carry heavy stuff for a long duration, then you should hire a porter as well. The Sundarijal to Chisapani trek is a 900m uphill journey. The trek from Chisapani to Nagarkot proceeds through a gradual trail but requires 7 to 8 hours of trekking.
The trek can get challenging without a guide as it is not well marked like the Annapurna or Everest base camp treks. Multiple narrow trails are further subdivided into mini pathways. The off the beaten trails do not have a lot of trekkers trekking around or any major local settlements.
There are high chances of losing the path when walking alone in the forested trail. Hence, a professional guide will be a great help along the trail. However, with proper research of the route in advance, you can trek the path without a guide as well.
Kathmandu Valley Trek 3 Days Cost:
This Kathmandu valley trek 3 days is cheaper as it is a short duration trek and lies close to the capital city. The average cost of the trip is around USD 130 and USD 200. The cost highly depends on the accommodation facility you choose on your stay at Nagarkot.
What To Pack for the Trek?
The Kathmandu Valley Trek is not a high-altitude trek or a long journey expedition. Hence, you need to keep it as light as possible. Some of the essential things to pack for the trek are:
Clothing:
- One pair of light trousers and one spare
- 2 -3 light shirts
- One pair of sports / hiking/ trekking shoes in good condition
- Two pairs of trekking socks
- Windproof/ waterproof jacket
- Trekking Hat or cap
Accessories:
- Sunglasses
- Sunblock
- First aid kits
- Light snacks (protein bars, granola bars, sneakers, etc)
- Lightweight backpack
- Water bottle
Essential tips for the Kathmandu Valley trek 3 days:
- Hire a guide as the trails are not well marked
- Acclimatize and hydrate regularly during the trek
- Pack lightly with only necessary equipment
- Carry light snacks like protein bars, snickers, granola bars, etc
- Pre-book your accommodations
- Get a proper Travel insurance package
Kathmandu Valley Trek Itinerary:
Day 01: Drive to SundariJal and hike up to Chisa Pani through Shivapuri National Park
✔ Maximum altitude: Chisapani (2,350m)
✔ Trek duration: 4-5 hours
✔ Drive duration: 1 hour
You will get picked up from the hotel early in the morning at around 8:00 AM. You will ride a private vehicle for a drive to Sundarijal. The 1-hour drive passes through the scenic hilly routes to arrive at the starting point of our trek.
After a trek of almost 4-5 hours, we arrive at Chisapani (2,350m), which is the entry point of the stunning Shivapuri National Park. The spectacular National park provides with the incredible views of the Shivapuri hill and consists of beautiful pine and oak trees.
The landscape around the region is very fertile, and we pass through the village of the traditional Tamang settlement of Mulkharka. We descend further to Chisapani, where we stay overnight at a lodge.
Day 02: Early sunrise at Chisapani, hike to Nagarkot
✔ Maximum altitude: Nagarkot (2100m)
✔ Trek duration: 6 hours
We wake up early in the morning to observe the beautiful panoramic sunrise overlooking at least 20 snow-capped mountains of the Himalayan range. After having a delicious breakfast, we start our trek to Nagarkot.
We then rest briefly at Chauki Bhanjyang, where we have our lunch overlooking the beautiful mountain views. On the 6 hour trek to Nagarkot, you can see the Himalayas from Dhaulagiri in the west to Everest and Kanchenjunga in the east. You will stay overnight at the hotel in Nagarkot.
Day 03: Trek down to old Hindu temple of Changunarayan, drive back to Kathmandu
✔ Maximum altitude: Nagarkot (2175m)
✔ Trek duration: 6 hours
✔ Drive duration: 1 hour
We wake up early in the morning to observe the beautiful sunrise view and panoramic views of various mountains, including Mount Everest. After breakfast, we start our hike to Changunarayan, which takes about 3-4 hours.
The ancient Changu Narayan temple was built King Hari Datta Varma in 323 AD and is the oldest temple in the valley. We can also observe the beautiful views of Sankhu and Bhaktapur from the top of the hill.
The historically important temple has medieval sculptures and carvings. After observing the area around, we drive back to Kathmandu from Changu Narayan as the trip comes to an official end.
Kathmandu Valley Trek 3 days - Frequently asked questions (FAQs):
1. Where is the Kathmandu valley trek 3 days located?
- The Kathmandu valley trek 3 days lies in the Northern parts of Kathmandu and Bhaktapur district of Kathmandu Valley. The trek passes through Sundarijal, Chisapani and ends in Nagarkot.
2. How difficult is the Kathmandu valley trek of 3 days?
- The trek is moderate to easy in difficulty primarily because of its short duration.
3. How much is the cost of the Kathmandu valley trek 3 days?
- The budget trek costs around US$150 and US$200 on average.
4. What is the highest point of the trek?
- The highest point of the trek is Chisapani (2,350m)
5. Should I hire a guide for the trek?
- While hiring a guide entirely depends upon your requirement, the trek gets relatively easy with the help of a professional guide as the trails are not well marked.
The Final Say:
The Kathmandu Valley Day Trek is unique Tour and Trek in the outskirts of Kathmandu valley. The trek moves along the hilly landscapes of Kathmandu valley, providing fantastic views of the beautiful mountain ranges and the village lifestyle.
The trek is ideal for trekkers who only have a short time on their schedule or do not wish to trek longer. The trek is also perfect for all skill levels and families with kids and senior citizens. Hence, this trek is quite popular among short treks near Kathmandu Valley.
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