A day hiking tour in Kathmandu – Nagarkot to Changunarayan
Nagarkot tour offers travelers golden opportunity to witness the excellent view of sunrise and snowy-mountain peaks along with natural views of Nagarkot and Kathmandu valley. If you have limited vacation in Nepal and are not content with long hiking trail but still want to capture the panorama of mountain peaks, Nagarkot tour is the perfect option for you. Also known as Nagarkot sunrise tour, it is the great combination of sightseeing around the historically, culturally and religiously significant place and wonderful countryside offering the surreal view of snow-clad mountain peaks.
Located about 32 km east of Kathmandu valley, Nagarkot (2,175m) is the perfect gateway from the hustle and bustle of the city. It is also preferable family tour and honeymoon destination. September to December during autumn and March to June during spring are the recommended time of the year for a tour in Nagarkot.
Nagarkot day tour starts with an hour drive to Nagarkot through the green and terraced fields. This an exotic drive with green valley views and the stunning Himalayas. Here we enjoy the stunning sunrise view along with an extended view of Himalaya stretching from Dhaulagiri to the west, past Everest, Makalu and Kanchenjunga to the far west (subject to clear weather). Whether you want to witness Mount Everest or unwind in tranquil and pristine nature or just want to enjoy the tantalizing sunrise view, whatever the reason is, Nagarkot sunrise view tour is perfect for you.
The hiking trail from Nagarkot to Changunararyan begins with gradual descend through the terraced fields and sparsely populated Tamang settlements. The houses of the village are built with local stone hand-hewn by local craftsmen. The houses are normally 3 storied with kitchen on ground floor, bedroom on second and store on third. You will be delighted to witness how the culture along the hiking trail still remain intact and portrays their traditional lifestyle even located so close to a capital city. You can taste home-made local wine during your hiking trail.
The first section of the trail fascinates with you great cultural experiences while the second part goes through the deciduous forest with natural exploration. We can have the Himalayan view at a far distance. The hiking route is fairly easy and well-leveled perfect for any fitness level. It takes about 4 hours to reach Changunarayan, the oldest pagoda style Hindu temple protected by UNESCO World Heritage Site. We explore this shrine and enjoy the lunch before driving back to Kathmandu to end this exotic day hiking tour from Nagarkot to Changunarayan.