| Trip code | HH-NK-SUN |
| Package name | Nagarkot Sunrise/Sunset Tour |
| Duration | 1 |
| Max. elevation | 2195 m |
| Level | EASY |
| Transportation | Private Vehicle Car/Bus |
| Accomodation | Hotel |
| Starts at | Kathmandu |
| Ends at | Kathmandu |
| Trip route | Kathmandu - Nagarkot - Kathmandu |
| Cost | USD 160 per person |
There are 5 best reasons why one must do Changunarayan-Nagarkot Hiking from Kathmandu?
This Changunarayan-Nagarkot Day Hike offers stunning views of the Himalayas, including peaks like Everest, Langtang, Ganesh Himal, Manaslu and Dorje Lakpa as well as lush valleys and terraced farmlands of the Kathmandu Valley Ridge
This best hike near Kathmandu begins from Changunarayan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with ancient architecture and rich history. Before one begins the Nagarkot Hiking from Changunarayan, one can explore the Changunarayan Temple, a popular UNESCO Site located in Bhaktapur.
During the day hike to Nagarkot, you will pass through various local villages and settlements and the trekekrs can observe and explore true and ancient Nepali culture and lifestyle of the local people. Even one can do it in Nagarkot Hill. You will see several homestays in Nagarkot.
The Nagarkot Day hiking trail passes through peaceful forests of Shivapuri National Park ( only some parts) experiencing diverse species of flora and fauna and charming villages, providing an opportunity to connect with nature and observe local wildlife. One can, at least, escape the bustle of the Kathmandu valley for a day for refreshments and enjoyments into the wild nature.
Suitable for both beginners and experienced hikers alike, the Nagarkot Hiking offers a fulfilling experience without being overly strenuous. This short and day hike near Kathmandu provides an excellent opportunity to engage them in regular hiking or trekking activity for the purpose of regular exercises.
Nagarkot is renowned for its breathtaking sunrise and sunset views over the Himalayas, creating unforgettable moments at the end of your trek. The Nagarkot Viewpoint and the Nagarkot View Tower offers the most exhilarating sunrise and sunset over Mt. Everest, Langtang, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal and Dorje Lakpa. Both your eyes and the cameras will get stunned to capture the most marvelous views of landscapes, sunrise/sunset and the holy snow-fed Himalayas including the top of the world, Mt. Everest.
Nagarkot Sunrise Tour Booking can be done instantly even at the eleventh hour before you leave from Kathmandu for Nagarkot. It means if you like to go Nagarkot in a few hours, you can do it but you need to be very confirmed and confident that you are going to Nagarkot from Kahtmandu for Sunrise/Sunset.
Before bokking Nagarkot Sunrise Tour from Kahtmandu, check every detail like cost, accommodation, meals plan, transportation, guide and what to pack. Make sure that you have planned it very well and you are going to enjoy Nagarkot Sunrise Tour from Kahtmandu with marvelous mountain ranges including Langtang, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Dorje Lakpa and even Mt. Everest, the to pof the world.
Again, make sure that you don’t waste your time and money for Nagarkot Sunrise/Sunset Tour. The time and the cost you pay should be worthwhile and fruitful.
Do you know the best and the most exciting way to getting Nagarkot from Kathmandu is Hiking via Changunarayan Temple. This Changunarayan-Nagarkot Hiking takes maximum 4 hours after 30 minutes drive from Kahtmandu to Bhaktapur, Changunarayan Temple. You can enjoy day hike via Shivapuri National Park and finally ascend Nagarkot Hill and can enjoy enthrallin sunrise and mountain views the next morning from Nagarkot view point. You’d better do this than driving to Nagarkot from Kathmandu for sunrise/sunset.
Nagarkot Sunrise Tour Cost ranges between USD 85-125 depending on the Nagarkot Sunrise Tour Package you choose. If you choose very basic Nagarkot Sunrise/Sunset tour Package, it costs only USD 85 per individual traveler and if you join with other people, then, the cost will go down to even USD 65. What kind of Nagarkot Sunrise Tour Package you want? Private or Sharing? Normal or Luxury? with Guide of without guide? with Changunarayan Day Hike or direct drive to Nagarkot? First, fix these things, and you can make a request for the Nagarkot Sunrise Tour Cost with an authorized tour/travel company to provide the kind of Nagarkot Sunrise Tour from Kathmandu.
Even an individual traveler pays USD 150 per night with all meal plan (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) for luxury accommodaton in either Cub Himalaya or Mystic Mountain. If you choose ordinary Nagarkot Sunrise Tour with non-star accommodation, it will just cost USD 75-80 per individual. Adding on day hike from Changunarayan – Nagarkot, the cost will go higher like USD 150 including guide, permits, transportation, accommodation and meals.
5:00 AM: Pick Up from the Hotel and Drive about 2 Hrs to Nagarkot for Sun Rise View
6:00 AM: After Sunrise and mountain views from Excursion, Drive back to Nagarkot Bazar for Breakfast
7:30 AM: After Breakfast day Nagarkot Excursion and evening drive back to the Hotel after the sunrise excursion
Note: If you want, you can stay all the afternoon and enjoy beautiful sunset in the evening as well and can drive back to Kathmandu for overnight stay. Go to explore the local villages of Nagarkot Hill in the afternoon.
The tour starts with a short 2-hour drive in the evening time go to Nagarkot Hill Station, where you will enjoy the breathtaking panoramic view of the mountains with sunrise the next morning and after looking at the panoramic mountain views including Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, Langtang Mountain Range, Dorje Lakpa and even Mt. Everest, then, have breakfast. And you will drive back to Kathmandu. For the rest of the day, you can do Day Tour to World Heritage Sites on your own around the city for a glimpse into the daily lives of the local people. Then, you will have your own life in Kathmandu for your accommodation.
The best day hiking near Kathmandu to capture and witness stunning sunrise/sunset and mountain panoramas including Mt. Everest is Changunarayan Sunrise Hiking. This Day Hike around Kathmandu takes you to Changunarayan located in Bhaktapur and paves the way to beautiful hillside, Nagarkot located in the ridge of Kathmandu Valley.
It takes around one hour to get Changunarayan from Kathmandu if the traffic is not heavy. You formally begin this rewarding day hike to Nagarkot from Changunarayan with your professional tour guide. The hike, then, takes you through serene and cool Shivapuri National Park with magnificent landscapes, local villages and the magnificent views of entire Kathmandu valley. Hiking through the wild nature of Shivapuri National Park near Kathmandu will be the best way of avoiding toxicity of Kathmandu valley at least for a day. After few hours of hike ( 3 hours) , you can get spectacular hillside Nagarkot . This Day Hiking to Nagarkot from Kathmandu via Changunarayan will be more exciting and memorable if you join a group of people rather than alone.
You can enjoy some light snacks along the trail you carry and drink plenty of water during this hiking from Changunarayan to Nagarkot. You can make beautiful photographs, videos and create the memories you really want during the Day Hike to Nagarkot. You can enjoy capturing the local authentic rural life of the people during this Nagarkot Day Hike from Changunarayan.
Once you get Nagarkot, located at an elevation of 2175m above the sea level, you will be mesmerized to observe the typical village lifestyle of the local people with marvelous mountain summits. The hilltop of Nagarkot, the viewpoint offers some of the most astounding mountain peaks including Langtang, Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, Dorje Lakpa and even Mt. Everest, the tallest peak of t he world. At the same time, the sunset and or sunrise make the atmosphere more breathtaking to celebrate. Therefore, Nagarkot is the most popular hillside near Kathmandu to see sunrise, sunset and mountain views including Mt. Everest. Nagarkot Hillside is the only place from where one can see Mt. Everest near Kathmandu.
Enjoying your favorite items of foods and drinks with your family or friends will me the memories for lifetime if you go to Nagarkot from Kathmandu via Changunarayan or directly via Bhaktapur.
Most importantly, one can view and enjoy starry night from Nagarkot. If you really love watching starry night with snow-fed mountain from Kathmandu, then, go to Nagarkot from overnight stay.
You can either stay overnight in Nagarkot or can return back to Kathmandu after the Changunarayan Day Hike. One can see mountains and sunset from the hillside of Nagarkot and then, can drive back to Kathmandu too if you don’t have time to stay overnight.
If one goes to Nagarkot in Springtime( Sep-Nov), the entire Nagarkot Hillside is astonishingly delightful with different seven colors of flowering rhododendron and other flowering and non-flowering plants. One should not miss this opportunity of Nagarkot Hiking from Kathmandu if you are in Kathmandu in Spring season.
On the other hand, Nagarkot Hillside is very popular for playing in snow. During winter( Dec-Feb), Nagarkot receives snowfall and the people who love playing in snow will find Nagarkot Hiking most favorite day hiking near Kathmandu City.
There are home stays, lodges, hotels and resorts for overnight stay in Nagarkot. You can find any item of food you want in Nagarkot at lodge, hotel and resorts as mentioned in their food menu. Nagarkot is not only popular among the international tourists, but also among the domestic people.
Nagarkot has ATM facility, money exchange, hospital and tight security for the safety of travelers.
One needs to cover 27.8 km to go to Kathmandu from Nagarkot. The road passes through Changunarayan Temple, Bhaktapur.
Both options are available for you: staying overnight in Nagarkot or drive back to Kathmandu after sunrise/sunset tour in Nagarkot. Even, Changunarayan-Nagarkot Hiking option is open for you if you enjoy a refreshing day hike from Kathmandu to Nagarkot though Shivapuri National Park.
Nagarkot, a scenic hill station located near Kathmandu at an elevation of 2175m above the sea level in Nepal, is renowned for its spectacular sunrise and sunset views over the Himalayas. Nagarkot is 27.8 km away from Kathmandu. The most popular destination for sunrise/sunset and mountain views including Mt. Everest near Kathmandu is Nagarkot.
Sunset Experience:
Timing: Arrive at your chosen sunset viewpoint well before dusk to secure a good spot and witness the gradual transformation of colors as the sun sets on the Himalayas. check the time for sunset, wait for it till it is beautifully reflected on the Himalayas. The sunset time is between 6-7 pm. After sunset view, you can stay overnight in Nagarkot or can drive back to Kathmandu.
Nagarkot View Points: Nagarkot offers several viewpoints for watching the sunset, including the Nagarkot View Tower, and various hotels with rooftop terraces. Those who have terraces and rooftops with their hotels, they don't really require going/walking up to Nagarkot View Station for sunrise and sunset with mountain views. The real Nagarkot Viewpoint Tower is very difficult to climb.
Weather: clear skies are ideal for sunset viewing. Check the weather forecast and plan your visit accordingly. After the sunset, consider exploring the streets of Nagarkot. In clear weather, one can view and capture astonishing starry night with cool breeze from your hotel's rooftops.
Sunrise Experience:
wake up Early: Plan to wake up before dawn to witness the breathtaking sunrise over the Himalayas. Check the sunrise time for your visit date to ensure you arrive at the viewpoint in time.
Viewing Point: Head to one of the designated viewpoints in Nagarkot, such as the Nagarkot View Tower or your hotel's rooftop terrace, to enjoy unobstructed views of the sunrise.
Weather: Keep an eye on the weather forecast, as clear skies are essential for optimal sunrise viewing.
Mountain Views: Everest, Langtang Mountain Range, Ganesh Himal, Manaslu and Dorje Lakpa.
Camera: Bring your camera or smartphone to capture stunning photographs of the sunrise as it illuminates the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas.
Clothing: Mornings in Nagarkot can be chilly, especially before sunrise. Dress warmly in layers to stay comfortable during the early morning hours if you are doing this tour in winter. In other seasons: Autumn, Summer and Spring, it is not necessary to bring multi layers jacket with you. The weather is as cool as in Kathmandu in Nagarkot.
Accommodation: staying overnight in Nagarkot to fully experience both the sunrise and sunset. There are various hotels, resorts, and guesthouses offering comfortable accommodations with stunning mountain views.
Transportation: Nagarkot is easily accessible from Kathmandu by road, with a travel time of approximately 1-2 hours depending on traffic conditions. Haven Holidays team Manage private vehicles for transportation. It's 27 km drive from central Kathmandu via Bhaktapur, Changunarayan Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The tranquility of nature and appreciate the beauty of the Himalayas as you witness both the sunrise and sunset in Nagarkot. Experiencing the sunrise and sunset in Nagarkot is a magical and unforgettable journey.
Changunarayan-Nagarkot Hiking or in a reverse way: If you plan doing Nagarkot Hiking from Changunarayan, you require comfortable hiking shoes, enough water, hat, sunglasses, anti-mosquito cream, trekking poles if necessary, some lights snacks including chocolates, rain coat( if you are travelling in the months of June, July and August) Leech-preventive socks in the rainy season, multi- layers jacket and long sleeve shirts and sleeping bag if you are travelling in winter months ( Dec-Feb).
Hire a professional trekking/tour guide for your Changunarayan - Nagarkot Hiking . If you are with your guide during the Nagarkot Day Hiking, you can a lots of benefits about local culture, lifestyle of the local people, names of the mountain summits, local authentic cuisines, arrangement of accommodation and proper and right management of transportation. Hiring Guide can assure that you are safe and your entire Changunarayan Day Hike is going to be more exciting.
Duration of the trip: It takes 3-4 hours if you choose hiking from Changunarayan via Shivapuri National Park( only some parts) to get Nagarkot. But, if you want to drive in Nagarkot from Kathmandu, it is maximum 1.30 hrs drive. So, if you are tired and lazy of doing hiking for 3-4 hours, you can drive and if you like a very refreshing walk through cool and shaded trails of Shivapuri National Park ( only some parts), you can spend 3-4 hours and enjoy it. Actually, it ups to you.
Drive from Kathmandu to Nagarkot: The drive for Nagarkot from Kathmandu begins from your hotel or from the specified place as you are instructed by your travel partner in Kathmandu. The drive is with private vehicle with full- fledge AC from the beginning to the end of the trip.
The drive passes Kathmandu via Tribhuvan International Airport and enters into Bhaktapur district. As you enter into Bhaktapur district, you will find the atmosphere more fascinating and cooler.
Within 15-20 minutes of drive after you enter into Bhaktapur district from Kathmandu, you will see popular Changunarayan Temple, a World Heritage Site and the way to go to Bhaktapur Durbar Square. If you are hiking to Nagarkot, you begin it here from Changunarayan Temple.
The drive, further take you to countryside of Bhaktapur district and lets you enjoy beautiful hills and landscapes on the trail. You will enjoy the drive via beautiful country landscapes, villages, water falls, deep woods and local resorts.
The final part of the drive will go up all the way to Nagarkot Hillside. As you reach the top of the hill, you can see there a small town with ATMS, Hotels, Resorts, Police Station, Homestays, resorts, banks and money changers.
You will get to your hotel and stay overnight there. You can enjoy mountains and starry nights.
Hike from Changunarayan to Nagarkot : If you choose doing Changunarayan- Nagarkot Hiking, you will first drive to Changunarayan temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, from Kathmandu spending an hour and then begin the walk via Shivapuri National Park ( only some parts) and other forested areas at the Kathmandu valley ridge.
The Nagarkot Day hiking from Changunarayan will be every exciting and rewarding as the hikers can experience a refreshing walk via deep woods, local settlements and picturesque landscapes around Kathmandu Valley ridge. During this Chnagunarayan Nagarkot Hike, one can vie entire Kathmandu valley and some of the breathtaking mountain views including Ganesh Himal, Manaslu and Langtang Mountain range.
You will have some light snacks on the way to Nagarkot from Changunarayan. After 3-4 hours of marvelous hiking, you will reach the hills station of Nagarkot with local town. The final section of walk is all the way up to Nagarkot hillside.
You will stay in hotel or resort for overnight and enjoy breathtaking sunrise and mountains including Mt. Everest next morning. You can either drive back directly to Kathmandu or can do Bhaktpaur Sightseeing tour before heading back to Kathmandu.
Actually Nagarkot sunrise Tour depends on what kind of services you want like transportation, hotels category, meals and guide. If you want luxury accommodation like 4-5 star hotel and resort in Nagarkot, it costs USD 250 and if you go with normal tourist standard accommodation for overnight stay in Nagarkot, it costs USD 95 to 150. And, if you join with a group in sharing transportation and Changunarayan-Nagarkot Hiking, it costs only 75 USD. So, the Nagarkot Sunrise Tour cost ranges between USD 75- 250 depneding on the service you want during your Nagarkot Tour. You can stay overnight in Nagarkot or you can directly drive from Kathmandu for sunrise. The drive from Kathmandu is only 1.30 hrs. So, if you don’t want to stay overnight in Nagarkot, you can do take a early morning drive from Kathmandu to Nagarkot Hill Top, Nagarkot Viewpoint Station via Bhaktapur.
Nagarkot Sunrise Tour offers you astounding views of Mt. Everest, Manaslu, Langtang Mountain Range, Ganesh Himal and many other alluring snow-fed mountain peaks near Kathmandu.
Nagarkot has a sunrise viewpoint station with a tall tower to view the sunrise and the mountains. The distance between viewpoint tower and the Nagarkot town is 2.5 kms. It takes around 45 minutes to walk to the Nagarkot Sunrise Tower. The tower premises has some local shops which serve tea, coffe and some other snacks for the visitors.
Some people love hiking to the Nagarkot view tower and some adore driving to it. Both ways are okay.
Climbing Nagarkot sunrie Tower is very challenging as the iron tower has very nasty steps to climb to the top of it. If you are strong and confident, then only climb the main tower, otherwise, you can capture and wintess mesmerizing views from the base of the tower with enough pace for sunrise and mountain views.
Optionally, if you don’t like to go to Nagarkot Sunrise Tower, you can enjoy stunning sunrise and mountain from the roof of your hotel too.
2 days are enough for Nagarkot: One day Village and local area exploration with typical Nepali cusines and the other day for sunrise and mountain views from the viewpoint tower and short hiking. You can also enjoy starry night from the rooftop of your hotel in Nagarkot. You can combine Nagarkot Sunrise Tour with Changunarayan Nagarkot Hiking. This hiking begins from Changunarayan Temple and ends in Nagarkot taking 4-5 hours.
These two viewpoints are toatally distinct eachother: as one is located in western belt of Nepal and the other in the east. Saarnagkot is popular for Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and Machhapuchhre but Nagarkot is well-known for Everest, Langtang and Manaslu Himalayan ranges. If you are in Kathmandu and don’t want to go Pokhara, enjoy views from Nagarkot and if you are going Pokhara, you can celebrate the astonishing views of mountain ranges from Sarangkot. Both are equally popular among the both international and domestic travelers.
The best view from Nagarkot is the view of Mt. Everest, the top of the world. People go to Nagarkot to witness Mt. Everest in the clear mornings with spectacular sunrise.