Kathmandu Valley Cultural Trek

Open each day to see the route notes, overnight rhythm, altitude cues, and the small details that help you understand how the journey actually flows.

1. Day 1

   Arrival day (1,300m/4,264 ft)

   Day details

   Welcome to Nepal. Today, upon your arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, one of the company representatives from Amigo Treks and Expedition will receive you and escort you to the tourist standard hotel booked for you. If time permits, we also schedule a meeting at our office for the briefing regarding the trek, followed by and introduction session with other member (Sherpas, leaders and guides) of your team. Today we also host a welcome dinner in one of the most popular local restaurants, where you can enjoy the ethnic dance and cultural music along with authentic Nepali food. If your flight arrives late, both the meeting and the dinner can be scheduled for the following day. Meals included: Dinner (Highlights of the day: Authentic Nepali food, Cultural Music, and Ethnic Dance, which is a glimpse of culture of Nepal.)

2. Day 2

   Kathmandu Valley sightseeing and trek preparation (1,300m/4,264 ft)

   Day details

   The capital, Kathmandu valley itself, is a big storehouse of exclusive natural, cultural and historical sites. Therefore, today, we take you on a few hour tours to the major attractions of Kathmandu valley. After spending few hours observing these wonderful sites, we again meet for a few hours to finalize your clothing and trekking gears (down jacket, trekking boots, sleeping bags etc.) required during the trek. The night will be spent at a hotel in Kathmandu. Meal included: Breakfast                                                               (Highlights of the day: World Heritage sites like Kathmandu Durbar Square (a historical structure offering architectural wonders), the Pashupatinath temple (a Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva- lord possessing the power of destruction), Swyambhunath and Boudhanath (a Buddhist shrine dedicated to Lord Buddha- Light of Asia. Optional site:Another World Heritage site ‘Patan Durbar Square’ along with other historical masterpieces like Mahabouddha Temple, Krishna Temple, Golden Temple and Kumbeshwor Temple.)

3. Day 3

   Drive to Sundarijal and hike to Chisopani (2,165m/7,103ft)

   Day details

   Chisapani, situated 16 kms away from Sundarijal, is the destination of the day. About 30-40 minutes drive towards the northeast of the city, past Pashupatinath and Boudha Nath Stupa takes us to the starting point of the trek, Sundarijal. The trail from Surdarijal heads off on a stone steps towards the army check post, following the water treatment plant and the stream on the right side of the trail. Before reaching the check post, the trail passes through few teashops, small settlements of people, and the cascading waterfalls and enters the sub-tropical jungle. After a small formality at the check post (taken care off by the team leader), we enter the Shivapuri and Nagarjun National Park. We then ascend towards Mulkharka on stone steps, crossing the bridge (dam) across the river. After spending some time at Mulkharka, we now ascend to the top of the ridge at Deurali, through the forest of Rhododendron. The top presents the beautiful view of the snow covered towering peaks. Then we hike down to Chisapani, located on the boarder of Shivapuri & Nagarjun National Park. After a short rest at the lodge, we explore the landscape, settlement and the lifestyle of the people at Chisapani. The night will be spent at a lodge in Chisapani. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Highlights of the day: Spectacular views of some of the stunning mountains of Nepal including, but not limited to Annapurna, Manaslu, Langtang, and Dorje Lakpa, beautiful view of the Kathmandu Valley from Mulkharka, streams, cascading waterfalls, small settlements of people: their lifestyle, mud houses, temples, farm terraces flaunting different seasonal crops, and the refreshing sub tropical and  rhododendron forest of Shivapuri and Nagarjun National Park.)

4. Day 4

   Hike to Nagarkot (1,932m/6,338ft)

   Day details

   Nagarkot, located at the distance of 18 Km from Chisapani is the destination of the day. We wake up early to enjoy the sunrise view from Chisapani. Trekking through the wetlands and the lush forest, we now head towards Jhule, situated on the boarder of the Shivapuri and Nagarjun National Park. From Jhule, we follow the secondary trekking trail that passes through several farm  yards and terrace rice fields till the village of Kaule. The trail then takes us to Jarsingpauwa. Enjoying the beautiful community forest, we now walk up the pass beyond Kattike Bhanjyang. Crossing the pass, we hike down to the village of Kattike that greet us with a cluster of houses and shops. From the end of the village, following the main road we climb 3 km that finally takes us to Nagarkot, which is one of the most popular hill station that provides the best viewing station for the Himalayas. The evening can be spent enjoying the  beautiful sunset view from Nagarkot. The night will be spent at a lodge/hotel in Nagarkot. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Highlights of the day: Mind blowing sunrise view from Chisapani, experience of wetlands, dense forest, community managed forest, beautiful view of more than 20 snow-covered peaks including Mt. Everest, and cute little settlements of people, farm yards and terrace rice fields en route to Nagarkot.)

5. Day 5

   Hike to Changu Narayan and Drive to Kathmandu (1,300m/4,264 ft)

   Day details

   Today is the last day of the Kathmandu Valley Cultural Trek. We wake up earlier than usual to enjoy the sunrise view. Firstly, we hike down to the century old (5th century) and the oldest temple of the Kathmandu Valley, Changu Narayan (built by King Hari Datta Verma), situated at the end of a long ridge that runs into the valley. To reach the Changu Narayan temple, we walk all the way down, along the ridge, through through the cultivated lands and the reserved forest of Bageshwori and Tilkot. After exploring the temple area enjoying the sculpture and carvings for some time, we drive to Bhaktapur to explore the Bhaktapur Durbar Square area and the drive back to Kathmandu. The night will be spent at a tourist standard hotel in Kathmandu. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Highlights of the day: Beautiful view of the rays of the sun striking the mountains that stretches from Dhaulagiri in the west to Everest and Kanchanjunga in the east, magnificent glimpses of snow covered peaks like Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Langtang Himal, Gaurishankar, Dorje Lakpa and the Mt. Everest, view of a visit to the Changu Narayan temple that flaunts centuries old sculpture and carvings, a visit to Bhaktapur Durbar Square that gives an insight on the history and the culture and tradition of the Bhaktapur city and a comfortable night in a tourist standard hotel in Kathmandu.)

6. Day 6

   Departure day

   Day details

   This day is the last day of your trip in Nepal with Amigo Treks and Expedition. If your flight is scheduled early morning, then one of our company representatives will escort you to the airport as per your flight departure time. But, if the flight is scheduled later in the evening, you can go shopping and collect a few mementos or simply hang around shopping areas in Kathmandu. However, if you are planning to spend some extra days in Nepal, Amigo Treks and Expedition can also make the arrangements for some other top adventurous activities that you can attend while you are in Nepal. (The usual day for a trek: Every day, our guides will come to wake you up at around 7:00-7:30am. In case of special days like sunrise viewing days our guides will wake you up early in the morning at around 4-4:30am.  A western breakfast like porridge, oats, toasts, etc. will be served at around 8:00-8:30am. The lunch will be served from a teahouse menu at about 12-1pm. However, the lunch time can also be postponed on request. The dinner will be served at around 8:30-9:00pm. Both lunch and dinner are served in the accommodation itself. Your accommodation is arranged at a lodge or also in a tourist standard hotel (subject to availability) where we stop for overnight.   While you are walking, you can also request your guide to slow down and stop at the places where you want to take some snaps. After dinner and before going to bed your team leader will brief you regarding the next day’s schedule.)