The best day trips from Kathmandu are Bhaktapur and Changu Narayan, Patan, Nagarkot for sunrise, Dhulikhel and Namobuddha, the Chandragiri cable car, Pharping and Dakshinkali, and a hike in Shivapuri National Park. All are within about two hours of the city.
Mountain viewpoints
- Nagarkot: about 32 km east, 1.5 to 2 hours, at roughly 2,175 m. The classic sunrise viewpoint, with a long sweep of the Himalaya from the Annapurnas to the Everest group on a clear day. Everest itself is a small point far to the east.
- Dhulikhel: about 30 km east on the road towards Tibet, at about 1,550 m. An old Newar town with broad mountain views and an easy pace.
- Chandragiri: a cable car on the south-west rim of the valley lifts you to about 2,550 m in ten minutes. Good views, a temple at the top and no walking needed.
- Kakani: about 25 km north-west, a quiet ridge with views of Ganesh Himal and Langtang, known for strawberries and trout.
Views are best from October to December and in February and March. In the monsoon and in hazy April they are often hidden.
Old cities and villages
- Bhaktapur: 13 km east, the best-preserved of the three royal cities. See the Bhaktapur guide.
- Patan (Lalitpur): just across the Bagmati, 20 to 30 minutes from Thamel. A compact, beautiful palace square, a very good museum and lanes full of metalworkers.
- Kirtipur: a hilltop Newar town about 6 km south-west with old temples and well-known Newari food.
- Panauti: a small, little-visited temple town about 32 km south-east at the meeting of two rivers.
- Bungamati and Khokana: twin farming villages south of Patan, known for wood carving and mustard oil.
Temples and monasteries
- Namobuddha: about 40 km south-east, a hilltop stupa and a large monastery at the place where, in legend, a prince gave his body to a starving tigress. Often combined with Dhulikhel, with a pleasant walk between the two.
- Pharping and Dakshinkali: about 20 km south, with the Kali temple in its gorge and the Buddhist caves and monasteries of Pharping.
- Changu Narayan: the ancient Vishnu temple on a ridge north of Bhaktapur.
- Kopan monastery: on a hill north of Boudhanath, with gardens and city views.
Day hikes
- Shivapuri: the national park on the north rim of the valley. The hike from Budhanilkantha to Shivapuri peak (about 2,730 m) takes six to seven hours return, through forest, past the Nagi Gompa nunnery. A park entry fee applies.
- Champadevi: a ridge walk in the south-west to about 2,250 m, four to five hours.
- Nagarkot to Changu Narayan: an easy, mostly downhill walk of three to four hours along a ridge.
- Dhulikhel to Namobuddha: three to four hours through villages and terraces.
These make good warm-up walks before a trek. They test your boots and your legs at a modest altitude.
The Everest mountain flight
If you are not trekking in the Everest region, a one-hour mountain flight from Kathmandu airport runs along the range in the early morning and gives every passenger a window view of Everest. It depends on clear weather and is often delayed or cancelled in poor visibility, so book it for the start of your stay and keep a spare morning.
How to choose
- Half a day: Patan, Swayambhunath and Durbar Square, or Pashupatinath and Boudhanath.
- One day, culture: Bhaktapur with Changu Narayan.
- One day, views: sunrise at Nagarkot, then walk down to Changu Narayan and finish in Bhaktapur.
- One day, quiet: Dhulikhel and Namobuddha.
- One day, exercise: Shivapuri or Champadevi.
Getting around
A private car with a driver for the day is the simplest and is not expensive when shared. Taxis and ride-hailing apps suit the short trips. Local buses reach almost everywhere and are very cheap, but slow. Traffic in the valley is heavy from about nine to eleven and four to seven, so start early.
Fitting it round a trek
Keep the day before a Lukla flight free of long drives, since flights leave very early and in the main seasons often go from Ramechhap, four to five hours from Kathmandu. After a trek, choose something gentle. See Kathmandu before and after your trek.
What it costs, roughly
Costs are modest. A private car with driver for a full day in and around the valley is the main expense and is easily shared between three or four people. Entry fees apply at the Durbar Squares, Bhaktapur, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, Changu Narayan and Shivapuri National Park, with lower rates for SAARC nationals. The Chandragiri cable car and the Everest mountain flight are the two pricier outings. Ask us for a current quote if you want a day arranged with a guide.
A note on haze and season
Mountain views from the valley rim are a matter of season and luck. After the monsoon, from October to early December, the air is clean and the peaks are sharp. Winter mornings are clear but cold. From March to May dust and smoke often build up into a haze that can hide the mountains completely, even on a sunny day. If views are your main aim, go at sunrise, keep a second morning in reserve, and do not judge the day from the city.
Common questions
What is the best day trip from Kathmandu?
Bhaktapur for culture and Nagarkot for mountain views. Many people combine the two in one day.
Can you see Mount Everest from Kathmandu?
Not from the city. From Nagarkot and Chandragiri it can be seen on very clear days as a small distant peak. A mountain flight gives a close view.
How far is Nagarkot from Kathmandu?
About 32 km, which takes 1.5 to 2 hours by road.
Are there short treks near Kathmandu?
Yes. Besides the day hikes above, two to four day walks include the Nagarkot to Dhulikhel trail, Chisapani and Helambu.
Heights, dates, fees and rules are approximate and can change, so confirm the current details with us before you book.
