Nagarkot Sunrise Escape
Four easy days pairing Kathmandu heritage with a hill station sunrise and a short walk down to Changu Narayan.
- Duration 4 days
- Region Kathmandu Valley
- From ₹15,999 per person
- Max altitude approx. 2,175 m at Nagarkot
- Group size 2 - 12 travellers
- Best time Oct - Mar
- Pickup Kathmandu airport
Overview
Nagarkot sits on a ridge at 2,175 m on the eastern rim of the Kathmandu valley, and on a clear winter morning you can see from Dhaulagiri to Everest without leaving the hotel terrace. It is the easiest Himalayan view in Nepal.
We pair it with Bhaktapur, which is on the way, and with the short downhill walk from Nagarkot to the Changu Narayan temple - two hours through farmland with the mountains behind you, and the only walking on the whole trip.
Rooms are booked north-east facing so the view is from your bed, not from the car park. Winter mornings are cold up there; the hotels have heating and the sunrise is worth the alarm.
Destinations covered
- Kathmandu
- Bhaktapur
- Nagarkot
- Changu Narayan
Highlights
- Sunrise from the ridge Everest visible on the clearest winter mornings, and the whole eastern range on most of them.
- Bhaktapur Durbar Square The best preserved medieval city in the valley, and the pottery square at golden hour.
- Walk to Changu Narayan A gentle two hour descent to the oldest temple in Nepal, through terraced farmland.
- A hotel with a view North-east facing rooms confirmed at booking, with heating for winter.
Day by day itinerary
Day 1 – Arrive Kathmandu
Airport pickup and check in, then old Kathmandu on foot - Durbar Square, Ason market and the Thamel lanes.
Day 2 – Bhaktapur, then up to Nagarkot
A full morning in Bhaktapur, lunch in the square, then the climb to the ridge in time for sunset over the valley.
Day 3 – Sunrise, walk to Changu Narayan, return to Kathmandu
Up for first light on the range, breakfast, then the downhill walk to Changu Narayan and the drive back to the city.
Day 4 – Boudhanath and departure
An hour on the kora at Boudhanath, last shopping in Thamel, then the transfer to the airport.
What is included
- Three nights accommodation including one at a Nagarkot view resort
- Breakfast daily and dinner on the first two nights
- Private vehicle throughout, including the Nagarkot transfers
- Guide for Kathmandu and Bhaktapur sightseeing
- Changu Narayan walk with a local guide
- All monument entry fees listed and applicable taxes
What is not included
- Airfare to Kathmandu and the Nepal visa fee
- Lunch throughout and dinner on the last night
- Personal expenses, tips and travel insurance
Photos
Frequently asked questions
- Will we see Everest from Nagarkot?
- On a clear morning between November and February, yes - as a small triangle on the far right of the range. From March onward haze makes it much less likely, though the nearer peaks stay visible.
- Is the walk to Changu Narayan difficult?
- No. It is around two hours, downhill, on a farm track and road. It can be skipped and driven instead if the weather is poor.
- How cold does it get?
- Nagarkot drops close to freezing on winter nights. The resorts have heaters and hot water, but carry a warm layer for the sunrise terrace.