Trekking · Kathmandu
Eastern Kathmandu Valley Rim Hikes
Eight day walks on the valley's eastern rim — Nagarkot, Sankhu, Changunarayan and the Kavre side, with routes and times.
The eastern rim of the Kathmandu Valley is the city's finest hiking ground — a green crescent of ridges, pine forest and old Newar villages strung between the sunrise viewpoint of Nagarkot and the Kavre hills. These eight day walks link ancient temples, terraced farmland and Himalayan panoramas, all within a couple of hours of the capital and none needing high-altitude acclimatisation. This collection gathers the rim's best routes in one place, with the practical detail to pick the right one for your day.
The short answer
If you only do one, walk downhill from the ridge on the Nagarkot to Changunarayan hike, which ends at Nepal's oldest Hindu temple. For a temple-to-temple link, continue on the Changunarayan to Sankhu hike. Prefer to earn your views? Climb the Telkot to Nagarkot hike, the Tinchuli to Nagarkot hike or the Sankhu to Nagarkot hike. For a cultural pay-off in Kavre, try the Nala to Bhagwati hike or the Dhulikhel to Namobuddha hike. With two or three days, walk the Nagarkot to Chisapani hike along the Shivapuri ridge.
Why the eastern rim
The valley's eastern edge holds an unusual concentration of heritage and high ground. Nagarkot sits at about 2,175 m and is famous for its Himalayan sunrise, from the Annapurnas and Manaslu across Langtang and Ganesh Himal to Everest on the clearest mornings. Below it, Changunarayan is a UNESCO-listed 4th-century temple to Vishnu, while Sankhu guards the hillside shrine of Vajrayogini and Nala keeps its old Newar squares in the Kavre hills. Walking between these places, rather than driving, is the best way to feel the valley's layered history.
Picking your route
- Easiest, all downhill: Nagarkot to Changunarayan, and the onward Changunarayan to Sankhu — both finish at major temples with transport waiting.
- Earn the view (uphill to the ridge): Telkot to Nagarkot, Tinchuli to Nagarkot and Sankhu to Nagarkot all climb to the sunrise viewpoint.
- Cultural Kavre walks: Nala to its Bhagwati temple, and Dhulikhel to the Buddhist hilltop of Namobuddha.
- A short trek: Nagarkot to Chisapani, two to three days through Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park.
Each route below has its own pin with the full description, distance, time and how to get back.
Plan around Kathmandu
These walks pair naturally with a city base — see the Kathmandu travel hub for orientation, and our roundups of the best day trips from Kathmandu and trekking from Kathmandu. Many travellers combine a rim hike with the eastern heritage town of Dhulikhel or the western Chandragiri Hills cable car on a separate day. For the wider picture, browse the national guide to the best day hikes near Kathmandu and the overarching Nepal trekking guide. Time your visit with the best time to visit Nepal for the clearest mountains.
Our top picks
Frequently asked questions
What are the best hikes on the eastern Kathmandu Valley rim?+
The classic is the downhill Nagarkot to Changunarayan walk to Nepal's oldest temple. Other favourites are Changunarayan to Sankhu, Telkot up to Nagarkot, Nala to its Bhagwati temple, Dhulikhel to Namobuddha, Sankhu up to Nagarkot, the Tinchuli ridge to Nagarkot, and the longer Nagarkot to Chisapani ridge trek.
Do you need permits for these eastern rim hikes?+
Most are free village-and-forest day walks needing no permit. The exception is the Nagarkot to Chisapani route, which enters Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park and charges an entry fee at the gate. No TIMS card is required for any of these short, low-altitude walks.
When is the best time to hike the eastern valley rim?+
Autumn (October to November) and clear winter mornings give the sharpest Himalayan views from the ridge. Spring (March to May) adds rhododendron colour and birdsong. Avoid the monsoon (June to September), when trails turn muddy and the mountains hide behind cloud.
Are these hikes suitable for beginners?+
Yes. Most are easy to moderate half-day walks that stay below about 2,200 metres, so altitude is never an issue. The downhill routes off Nagarkot are the gentlest; the uphill approaches from Telkot, Tinchuli or Sankhu and the Chisapani ridge ask for a little more fitness.
