Trekking · Kathmandu
Sundarijal to Chisapani to Nagarkot Trek
A 2–3 day ridge walk from Sundarijal through Shivapuri forest to Chisapani and Nagarkot, with sunrise mountain views.
The Sundarijal to Chisapani to Nagarkot trek is the classic short walk on the Kathmandu Valley rim — a 2–3 day ridge route that climbs from the waterfall gorge at Sundarijal through the forests of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park to the village of Chisapani, then follows the high ground east to the famous viewpoint of Nagarkot. It needs no flights and no acclimatisation, starting barely an hour from the city, and is one of the most popular entries in our Kathmandu Valley rim treks collection.
The short answer
Climb from Sundarijal into Shivapuri forest to Chisapani (about 2,165 m) on day one, then trek the ridge to Nagarkot on day two, where you can catch a Himalayan sunrise before descending. The walk is easy to moderate, stays below roughly 2,300 metres, and finishes on a road, so getting back to Kathmandu is simple.
Itinerary
| Day | Stage | Approx. altitude |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sundarijal to Chisapani via Shivapuri | 2,165 m |
| 2 | Chisapani to Nagarkot ridge | 2,175 m |
| 3 (optional) | Nagarkot sunrise, descend to Changu Narayan | 1,540 m |
The first day's gorge-and-forest climb is described in detail in our Shivapuri to Sundarijal trek, walked in the reverse direction.
The route
From Sundarijal, a stepped path climbs beside the cascading stream into the broadleaf and pine forest of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, rich in birdlife. The trail rolls along the northern rim past Mulkharka and Borlang Bhanjyang to Chisapani, a small ridge settlement with teahouses and a wide-open mountain horizon. Day two follows farm tracks and forest paths east along the rim, through Tamang and Brahmin villages, to the resort ridge of Nagarkot. For the village-and-culture take on this same eastern leg, see the Chisapani to Nagarkot cultural trek.
Difficulty and best time
This is an easy to moderate trek with no altitude difficulty, though the undulating ridge rewards a basic level of fitness. Autumn (October–November) and winter give the crispest skies and longest mountain views, while spring adds rhododendron colour in the Shivapuri forest. Avoid the monsoon, when cloud and leeches spoil the higher trails. It ranks among the best short treks in Nepal for clear-weather value close to the capital.
Permits and getting there
The only permit is the Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park entry fee, paid at the gate above Sundarijal. The trailhead is about an hour by taxi or local bus from central Kathmandu via Boudha and Jorpati; from Nagarkot at the finish, frequent buses and taxis run back to Bhaktapur and the city. For routing details, see our guide to getting around Nepal.
Good to know
- Carry cash for the park fee and ridge teahouses, and a passport for the checkpoint.
- Start early each day to beat afternoon haze on the peaks.
- Sleep at Nagarkot to catch the dawn before continuing onto the Nagarkot to Dhulikhel trek.
- Wear trail shoes; the forest ridge is uneven and slippery when wet.
Frequently asked questions
How many days is the Sundarijal to Chisapani to Nagarkot trek?+
It is usually walked in two to three days. A typical plan climbs from Sundarijal into Shivapuri forest to Chisapani on day one, then follows the ridge to Nagarkot on day two, with an optional third day to add a Nagarkot sunrise and a descent to Changu Narayan.
Is this trek difficult?+
It is easy to moderate. The route stays below about 2,300 metres so altitude is not a factor, but there is steady up and down along the forested ridge. It suits fit beginners, families and trekkers acclimatising before a bigger Himalayan route.
What permit do you need?+
The trek begins inside Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, so you pay the park entry fee at the gate above Sundarijal. No TIMS card is required for this short, low-altitude route. Carry cash and a passport for the checkpoint.
What mountains can you see?+
On a clear day the ridge opens a long Himalayan panorama from the Annapurna and Manaslu ranges in the west, across Langtang and Ganesh Himal, to the Everest massif in the east, with Dorje Lakpa and Gauri Shankar between.
