Chisapani Nagarkot Trek - 3 Days

The Chisapani Nagarkot Trek begins in Sundarijal, about an hour's drive from central Kathmandu.

From here, the trail climbs through the forested slopes of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, passing the old waterworks reservoir before reaching the Tamang settlement of Mulkharka.

You will walk under pine and oak canopy for most of the first day, with clearings that open onto the valley below! By afternoon, you reach Chisapani, a hilltop village facing Langtang and Dorje Lakpa.

The second day crosses rolling, forested ridges toward Nagarkot, passing farmland and small settlements. This stretch feels slower and more rural, with terraced fields replacing dense forest as you near the valley's eastern rim.

Nagarkot is one of the valley's most established viewpoints, and your final morning here is built around sunrise.

From our experience, a clear morning rewards you with an unbroken line of Himalayan peaks stretching from Annapurna to Mount Everest. Afterward, you descend by road toward Bhaktapur before returning to Kathmandu, closing a trek that feels remote while staying close to the city.

Why Trek With Himalayan Ecstasy Nepal?

We have run this route often enough to know where the trail can be shortened, slowed down, or extended, depending on who is walking it. Here is what we handle for you:

• Permit Handling: We arrange your Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park entry permit at the Sundarijal checkpoint.
• Private Transport: We provide private vehicle transfers from Kathmandu to Sundarijal, and from Nagarkot back to your hotel.
• Local Route Knowledge: Our guides know the Jhule shortcut, trail conditions, and the right pacing for fast or slower walkers.
• Flexible Pacing: We can slow the second day down for less experienced walkers, as covered in Trip Options below.

Main Attractions of 3-Day Chisapani Nagarkot Trek

• Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park: This park covers the mid-hills on the northern edge of the Kathmandu Valley and protects the watershed that has long supplied the city's drinking water. Its forests of pine, oak, and rhododendron shelter deer, monkeys, and many bird species. Your first day passes almost entirely under tree cover, with birdsong replacing traffic, and early entry gives the best chance of spotting wildlife.
• Chisapani: Chisapani, meaning cold water, sits at 2,215 m on a ridge that once marked a stop on the older Helambu route. It is the first point on the trail where the Himalayan skyline opens up fully, with Langtang, Ganesh Himal, and Dorje Lakpa visible on a clear evening. Our team always recommends stepping outside just before dinner, when the mountain light changes fast and is easy to miss indoors.
• Nagarkot: At 2,175 m on the eastern rim of the valley, it has been a hill station for sunrise viewing for generations. Its long ridge gives an almost 360-degree view, running from Annapurna in the west to Everest in the east on a clear day. What you experience here is less about the walk and more about the wait, arriving in the dark and watching peaks appear one by one as the sky lightens.
• Changu Narayan Temple (Optional): Set on a hilltop in Bhaktapur district, Changu Narayan is often described as one of the oldest Hindu temples still in active use in the Kathmandu Valley, and forms part of the valley's UNESCO World Heritage listing. If your final day includes this stop, you will walk among carved stone pillars and wood struts that have survived earthquakes and fires across many centuries.