Sundarijal Chisapani Nagarkot Trek – 3 Days Trek Near Kathmandu

Day 1: Kathmandu – Sundarijal – Mulkharka – Chisapani (Trek: ~5–6 hours, 13–15 km, ascent to ~2,215 m)

The day begins early with a roughly one-hour private vehicle transfer from Kathmandu to Sundarijal (1,460 m), a small settlement on the northeastern rim of the Kathmandu Valley that also serves as the main entrance to Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park. After registering permits at the park checkpoint, the trail immediately begins climbing on a stone-paved staircase that runs alongside a large water pipeline supplying Kathmandu — a legacy of the old hydropower and drinking-water scheme built here decades ago. Waterfalls tumble beside the trail in the first hour, and the forest closes in quickly, shifting from open scrub to dense stands of chir pine, oak, and rhododendron as the elevation increases. This first stretch is the steepest of the day and can feel demanding on legs that haven't yet warmed up, so a slow, steady pace pays off. After roughly two hours of climbing, the trail reaches Mulkharka (around 1,895 m), a small Tamang village with a handful of teahouses where trekkers typically stop for tea, noodles, or a light breakfast while taking in the first real views back over the Kathmandu Valley. From Mulkharka, the trail continues climbing more gradually through thicker forest — this is prime terrain for spotting Himalayan langurs and a wide variety of birdlife, since Shivapuri is one of the most biodiverse protected areas close to the capital. The path eventually crests near Borlang Bhanjyang (around 2,440 m), the high point of the day, before descending gently for the final stretch into Chisapani ("cold water," around 2,215 m). Chisapani is a small ridge-top settlement of lodges strung along the trail, and on a clear afternoon it offers the trek's first real panorama — Langtang Limal, Ganesh Himal, and the Jugal range unfolding to the north. The evening is spent at a teahouse here, with dinner and an early night in preparation for a longer day ahead. Many trekkers set an alarm to catch sunrise from the ridge just above the village before breakfast, weather permitting.

Day 2: Chisapani – Pati Bhanjyang – Chauki Bhanjyang – Thakani – Nagarkot (Trek: ~6–7 hours, 15–16 km, undulating with a net descent then re-ascent)

This is the longest and most varied day of the trek, so an early start — often before 6 a.m. to catch the sunrise from Chisapani itself — sets the tone. After breakfast, the trail drops fairly steeply through forest and terraced farmland toward Pati Bhanjyang (around 1,770 m), a village at the bottom of a valley that marks the lowest point of the day and a natural junction where routes toward Helambu and Langtang split off from the Nagarkot trail. From here the path undulates through a mix of cultivated fields, scattered farmhouses, and patches of community forest, climbing gradually to Chauki Bhanjyang (around 1,930 m), a good spot for a mid-morning tea break and, often, lunch depending on pace. The trail beyond Chauki Bhanjyang becomes noticeably more rural, weaving through small hamlets where daily life continues much as it has for generations — women carrying doko baskets of fodder, buffalo grazing on terraced slopes, children walking to school along the same trail. From here the route begins a longer, steadier climb toward Thakani (around 2,240 m), passing through pine and rhododendron forest again as the trail regains altitude. The final push into Nagarkot (2,175 m) follows a broad ridge with increasingly open views, and by the time trekkers reach the town's outskirts, legs are usually tired but the payoff is immediate: Nagarkot is one of the most celebrated viewpoints in the Kathmandu Valley, and on a clear late afternoon the sunset over the Himalayan range — from Dhaulagiri in the west to Everest and Kanchenjunga far to the east on exceptional days — is a fitting reward. The night is spent at a lodge in Nagarkot, with many properties offering rooms specifically oriented toward the mountain panorama.

Day 3: Nagarkot Sunrise – Drive to Kathmandu via Bhaktapur (Optional stop; drive ~1.5–2.5 hours depending on route)

The final morning starts before dawn, typically around 5:30 a.m., with a short walk up to Nagarkot's main viewing tower (2,175 m) or a nearby vantage point to watch the sunrise strike the Himalayan range. This is often considered the single best moment of the trek: as the sky lightens, the mountains change color in sequence, and on clear mornings the visible range stretches from Annapurna and Manaslu in the west across Ganesh Himal, Langtang, and the peaks around Rolwaling, sometimes as far as Everest on the eastern horizon. After soaking in the view, trekkers return to the lodge for breakfast and a relaxed morning — some use the extra time for a short walk around Nagarkot's ridge trails or to visit the nearby watchtower for a second look at the panorama in better light. Around mid-morning, the group departs by private vehicle for the drive back to Kathmandu. Most itineraries build in an optional stop in Bhaktapur, the medieval Newar city roughly halfway down the descent, where an hour or two can be spent wandering Durbar Square, admiring the pagoda-style temples, pottery squares, and traditional brick architecture before continuing on to Kathmandu, arriving by early-to-mid afternoon. This flexible finish makes it easy to combine the trek with a cultural half-day without adding an extra night, bringing the trip to a close with a rounded mix of forest trekking, mountain views, village life, and heritage sightseeing all within three days.