Kathmandu Valley Rim Tour
- Duration
- 8 days
- Max altitude
- 2,215 m
- Difficulty
-
Moderate
Difficulty scale
- Easy Short walking days on good trails below about 3,000 m. Suitable for anyone in ordinary health, including families.
- Moderate 5 to 6 hours a day with some steep sections, reaching up to about 4,000 m. A reasonable level of fitness and a few weeks of preparation walking recommended.
- Strenuous 6 to 8 hours a day, high passes or altitudes above 5,000 m, and remote stretches. Good fitness, prior trekking experience and proper acclimatisation days are essential.
- Very strenuous Long days, multiple high passes or technical sections, sustained time above 5,000 m. For experienced, well-conditioned trekkers only.
- Best season
- Autumn (Sep–Nov) · Spring (Mar–May) · Winter (Dec–Feb)
- Group
- Private
- From
- $1,040.00
Overview
Six days by mountain bike on the hills that ring the Kathmandu valley: up to Kakani and through Shivapuri National Park to Chisapani, along the eastern rim to Nagarkot and Dhulikhel, then down through Namobuddha, Balthali and Panauti to finish at Bhaktapur. Himalayan views on a clear morning, forest track and terraced farmland the rest of the time, and never far from a road if plans change.
Every departure is private and led by a government-licensed Nepali guide, so the plan flexes to your party. Permits, park fees and local taxes are inside the price you see.
Trip highlights
- Six riding days on jeep track and trail around the valley rim
- Sunrise over the Himalaya from Chisapani and Nagarkot
- Namobuddha monastery and the old villages of Balthali and Panauti
- Mountain bike of your choice, hardtail or full suspension
Day by day
The itinerary
-
Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu (1,400 m) 1,400 m Hotel
Arrive at any time. One of our team meets you at the airport, takes you to your hotel and explains the programme. Nothing else is planned for the day.
-
Day 2: Ride to Kakani (2,100 m), then on to Budhanilkantha 2,100 m Hotel B
A pre-trip meeting and bike fit at the hotel, then out through the back streets of Thamel onto wide, undulating jeep tracks beside the Nagarjun forest, the stretch known as the Trout Highway for the trout farms along it. Mostly uphill to Kakani, with views of Ganesh Himal and Langtang, then on round to Budhanilkantha below Shivapuri for the night.
-
Day 3: Ride to Chisapani (2,215 m) through Shivapuri National Park 2,215 m Teahouse B
A long, hard day. Paved road climbs from Budhanilkantha into Shivapuri National Park, then off-road jeep track up and down through the heart of the park via Mulkharka, partly on the Helambu trekking trail, to Chisapani, a village of Brahmin, Gurung and Sherpa families with a long view of the Himalaya at sunset.
-
Day 4: Ride to Nagarkot (2,195 m) 2,195 m Hotel B
About 12 km down a jeep trail through forest, with the mountains to the north behind you, to a junction for lunch, then 7 km of smoother track and a climb up to Nagarkot, the hill station on the eastern rim, for the sunset over the Himalaya.
-
Day 5: Ride to Namobuddha (1,750 m) via Dhulikhel (1,550 m) 1,750 m Resort B
Narrow roads and downhill runs through forest and small villages to Nala and on to the old town of Dhulikhel, then the ride out to Namobuddha, one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in Nepal, for the night.
-
Day 6: Ride to Balthali (1,445 m) 1,445 m Resort B
An easy, green ride through farmland to Balthali, a traditional village of old houses and temples tucked behind the forest of Panauti, with a view over terraced fields and hills and a faint line of Himalaya to the north.
-
Day 7: Ride to Panauti, then Bhaktapur and back to Kathmandu (1,400 m) 1,400 m Hotel B/D
Mixed jeep track and paved road down to the old town of Panauti, then on to Bhaktapur Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage site of pagoda and shikhara temples around the Palace of 55 Windows. Lunch and a taste of juju dhau, Bhaktapur's famous yogurt, then the short drive back to Kathmandu. Farewell dinner in the evening.
-
Day 8: Departure 1,400 m B
Our airport representative takes you to Tribhuvan International Airport for your flight home.
Altitude profile
The climb, day by day
Comfort tiers
Choose your level of comfort
| Amenity | Standardfrom $1,250.00 | Comfortfrom $1,475.00 | Luxuryfrom $1,812.50 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kathmandu hotel | 3★ | 4★ | 5★ |
| Trail accommodation | Standard teahouse | Best lodge in each village | Premium lodge where the route has one |
| Porter support | Shared porter | Private porter, lighter load | Extra porter, carry almost nothing |
| Transfers | Shared | Private | Private, throughout |
What's included
Included
- Included: Twin-sharing or double accommodation in a 3-star hotel for 2 nights in Kathmandu including breakfast. A private room can be arranged at extra cost
- Included: Twin-sharing or double accommodation in a 2 or 3-star hotel in Nagarkot for 1 night including breakfast
- Included: Twin-sharing or double accommodation in a 2 or 3-star hotel in Budhanilkantha, Namobuddha, Balthali and Panauti village including breakfast
- Included: Twin-sharing or double tourist standard guesthouse accommodation in Chisapani including breakfast
- Included: A farewell dinner on the last night in Nepal
- Included: Purified drinking water throughout, using a filter or purification tablets
- Included: All international and domestic airport transfers by tourist vehicle
- Included: All ground transportation by private tourist vehicle
- Included: Entry permits and fees for all temples, parks, monasteries and cultural or historical sites
- Included: Experienced, wilderness first-aid trained, government licensed English speaking guide. The number of guides and assistant guides depends on group size
- Included: Wages, accommodation, meals, gear, insurance and medication for all staff
- Included: Mountain bike for the number of riding days, hardtail or full suspension depending on your choice
- Included: 1 duffel or kit bag, route map, sun hat and neck gaiter
- Included: All government taxes, permits and service charges
Not included
- Not included: International airfare and the Nepal entry visa
- Not included: Travel insurance
- Not included: Meals not specified in the itinerary
- Not included: All drinks, including bottled water, alcohol and soft drinks
- Not included: Personal shopping, laundry, phone calls and internet
- Not included: Entry fees to any site not named in the itinerary
- Not included: Tips for the guide and driver
- Not included: Extra costs caused by road closures, strikes, illness or any other event beyond our control
- Not included: Anything not listed under what is included
Know before you go
Suitability & requirements
This is a riding trip, not a walking one. You should be comfortable on a mountain bike for several hours a day on jeep track and rough trail, and reasonably fit for the climbs. Tell us your height and what you ride at home so the bike is set up before you arrive. We do not run it in the monsoon, June to August.
Your team
Led by a licensed guide
Every route is led by a government-licensed guide from our team. Licences are on record with us before departure, and you'll meet your guide once your trip is confirmed.
Guide language(s): English, Nepali
Group-size pricing
Walk together, pay less
Every trip is private, so the guide, permits and transfers cost the same however many walk. Sharing them is why the per-person price falls: arithmetic, not a sale.
| Group size | per person | You save each |
|---|---|---|
| 1 traveller | $1,250.00 | base rate |
| 2 to 3 travellers | $1,040.00 | $210.00 |
| 4 to 6 travellers | $980.00 | $270.00 |
| 7 or more | $915.00 | $335.00 |
Per person, including permits, park fees and taxes. Nothing is added at checkout.
Weather
What to expect, month by month
- Autumn (Sep–Nov)The most reliable trekking season: clear air, stable weather and cold nights, right after the monsoon clears.
- Spring (Mar–May)Warmer than autumn, with rhododendron forests in flower and slightly hazier mountain views as the season goes on.
- Winter (Dec–Feb)Cold and quiet, with the clearest skies of the year at lower altitude. High passes and very high routes are best avoided.
Traveller reviews
What travellers say
Why book with us
Every trail, one licensed team
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