Adventure · Kathmandu
Kathmandu Valley Rim Bikepacking
How to loop the forested valley rim over several days, linking Shivapuri, Nagarkot, Phulchowki and Chandragiri with village stays.
Kathmandu Valley rim bikepacking strings the forested ridge that circles the city into a multi-day loop, linking the best riding zones — Shivapuri in the north, Nagarkot in the east, Phulchowki in the south and Chandragiri in the west — with overnight stops in rim villages and hill stations. It is not a single marked trail but a self-styled circuit pieced together from ridge trails and dirt roads, typically over three to five days. It suits fit, experienced riders who enjoy navigation and long days in the saddle.
This is the most ambitious ride in our mountain biking and trail running collection; read mountain biking in the Kathmandu Valley first for the zone-by-zone overview.
The concept
The valley is a bowl roughly 25 km across, ringed by hills rising from about 1,300 m on the floor to nearly 2,800 m at Phulchowki. Bikepacking the rim means riding from one high zone to the next, dropping into saddles and climbing back to the ridges, and overnighting where the route allows. Because there is no fixed waymarked loop, riders assemble the best sections — using the Shivapuri mountain biking trails in the north and the Kakani to Tokha descent on the north-western corner as building blocks.
A typical loop
A common sequence starts at Shivapuri/Sundarijal, follows the northern rim toward Chisapani and Nagarkot, drops and climbs around toward Phulchowki in the south, then works west to Champadevi and Chandragiri before descending back into the city. Days are broken by simple lodges in villages such as Chisapani, Nagarkot and Kakani. The exact line is flexible — you can shorten it to a long weekend or extend it with more singletrack.
Logistics and stays
You overnight in rim villages and hill stations using basic guesthouses, so carry enough to be self-sufficient between them, as services are spread out. A national park fee applies for the Shivapuri sections. Given the unsigned trails, repeated big climbs and remoteness in places, most riders go with a guide who knows the ridge.
Practicalities
- Days: Allow three to five days; the loop is flexible.
- Fitness: High — expect repeated climbs and descents on rough trail with a loaded bike.
- Season: October–November and March–April; avoid the muddy, leech-prone monsoon.
- Packing: See the Nepal packing list and carry spares, layers and water.
For costs, operators and bigger multi-day rides beyond the valley, read mountain biking in Nepal.
Frequently asked questions
Can you bikepack around the Kathmandu Valley rim?+
Yes. The forested rim that circles the valley can be linked into a multi-day loop, riding ridge trails and dirt roads between zones such as Shivapuri, Nagarkot, Phulchowki and Chandragiri, and sleeping in rim villages and hill stations. It is a self-styled route rather than a single marked trail, so a guide or careful planning helps.
How many days does the valley rim loop take?+
Most riders take three to five days to link the rim, depending on how much singletrack they include and how far they ride each day. The route is more about stringing together the best ridge sections than completing a fixed distance, so the length is flexible.
Where do you sleep on a valley rim bikepacking trip?+
You overnight in rim villages and hill stations such as Nagarkot, Chisapani, Kakani and the settlements around Phulchowki, using simple lodges and guesthouses. Carry enough to be self-sufficient between them, as services are spread out along the ridge.
Is valley rim bikepacking hard?+
It is demanding — the rim involves repeated climbs and descents between roughly 1,300 m and 2,800 m, often on rough trail with a loaded bike. It suits fit, experienced riders comfortable with navigation and long days, ideally with a guide for the unsigned trail sections.
