This day trip gives you the opportunity to see one of the best sunrises in the Himalayas and visit a hidden gem of the Kathmandu Valley.
Itinerary
The day starts with an early morning drive to the beautiful hill station, Nagarkot. On arrival we will be treated to the spectacular sight of the sun’s first rays appearing over the snow-capped Himalayan peaks, causing a surreal orange and yellow glow. It is fascinating to think that nestled between the highest mountains in the world are small villages and isolated monasteries, where the Nepalese and Tibetans have lived through hundreds of years.
The area around Nagarkot has a rich cultural heritage, so after breakfast, it’s time to explore the town and meet the residents of this impressive location. You will then be driven down to Telkot, where we get a chance to discover the area on foot. As we make our way gently up towards Changunarayan we will meet several of Nepal’s ethnic groups including Newar (the original occupants of the Kathmandu valley) and Chhetri, and learn about their cultures. We hear about village life, farming, and the laborious work required to maintain the impressive terraces that you can see on every hillside, getting a glimpse of life that is very different from what we have seen in Kathmandu.
This gentle hike takes us to Changunarayan Temple, situated on a ridge overlooking the Kathmandu Valley. One of the finest and oldest specimens of pagoda architecture, the temple is said to be the oldest pagoda-style temple in Nepal, built-in 323 A.D, and is dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu – the Preserver. Your local guide will escort you around this ancient complex, which is one of the Kathmandu Valley’s 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. From the temple, you also get amazing views of farming land and villages at this end of the valley against the stunning backdrop of the Himalayan Range. After the visit, you will be driven back to Kathmandu or you could consider a stop or even an overnight in Bhaktapur.
Accommodation: None
Meals included:
Breakfast
Included In Price
Not Included In Price
Kripa and her team at Himalayan Trails Treks & Expedition organized our trek of the Manaslu circuit down to the last detail. Everything from the airport pickup to our guide and porters was perfect. Our guide, Gelu, was in contact with Kripa almost every day, keeping her up to date on our progress. We would highly recommend Himalayan Trails and Kripa if you are planning a trek in the Himalayas.
Rick and Ami BergstromFrom the outset Himalayan Trails were nothing but efficient helping us to plan exactly what we wanted from our trip. Amanda was quick to respond to any queries and provided lots of additional useful information to ensure we were well prepared in advance. The accommodation we had was full of character and in traditional Nepali style rather than anonymous chain hotels, every pick up or meeting happened on time, Amanda even managed to find us last minute accommodation when one of our guest houses had overbooked. Our trekking guide, Mindu, kept us safe, fed and watered and motivated when we needed it - his cheerful singing and whistling along with his infectious laugh kept us entertained for 4 days on the Muldai Trek. Our city guide, Subash, was always on hand to answer our endless questions and was great company painting pictures of the sights we visited with lots of stories. He soon joined in our teasing and banter (and gave as good as he got!). We had a fabulous trip but it was the people we met who made it so special.I struggled to say goodbye to both our guides but know we have made some new friends for life. We have fallen in love with Nepal and will definitely be back and will not hesitate to use Himalayan Trails again. Thank you everyone - you did an amazing job!
Cheryl Robins
We travelled on an itinerary organised by Mads, Raj and Co in Nov/Dec 19. Our brief was a short trek and lots of culture. And culture we got! Our pickup was from Chitwan , and stayed a night in Bandipur. This was our introduction to the wonderful "hobbit houses" of Nepal, with its amazing woodwork. Then to a trek spread over 4 days , walking village to village, enjoying the terrace of a thousand of agriculture and the hospitality of locals. Then Lumbini, visiting Buddha's birthplace, Bandia to see hippos and tiger, and then to the personalised tour of the world heritage sites of the Kathmandu valley.
Every facet of the trip worked seamlessly, with drivers always ready, the guides expert, and the sites amazing. The standard of accommodation was always comfortable. In Kathmandu, the fabulous Hotel Manuslu, and a jazz club located around the corner. The hot shower at Sikles village, and the bottle of Gurka, after a 1600m ascent, was so welcome.
I recommend these guys to all.
And we are going back, ready for a trek through the flowering rhododendron forests and into the alpine areas
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