Full Day Shivapuri Hiking

Overview

Escape the city for a day in the forest on the northern rim of the valley. The Full Day Shivapuri Hiking tour takes you into Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park – Kathmandu’s main water source and a refuge for leopards, barking deer, monkeys and more than 300 species of birds – and up to Shivapuri Peak (2,732 m), the second-highest point on the Kathmandu Valley rim. From the top, on a clear day, the Himalaya stretches from Ganesh Himal and Langtang to the Jugal range, with an eagle’s-eye view over the whole valley.

After a 30–45 minute drive north via the sleeping Vishnu of Budhanilkantha, you start at Nagi Gompa, a peaceful Buddhist nunnery on the slopes of Shivapuri, where you can see the nuns at prayer and enjoy your first views. The trail then climbs continuously through oak, rhododendron and pine forest – carpeted with flowers in spring – to the summit, near Baghdwar, the pristine source of the sacred Bagmati River.

After enjoying the Himalayan scenery and a picnic at the top, you descend to Nagi Gompa and drive back to your hotel. A private vehicle, English-speaking guide, national park fee and mineral water are included.

The route at a glance

The hike starts at the Budhanilkantha temple and climbs through Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park via the nunnery of Nagi Gompa and Baghdwar to Shivapuri Peak (2,732 m), returning by a different trail. It is a full but rewarding day with forest, birdlife, Buddhist culture and, on clear days, Himalayan views – all without leaving the Kathmandu Valley.

Why choose this hike?

A real mountain hike starting only 30 minutes from Kathmandu.
Forest, monastery, river source and Himalayan views in one day.
Private transport, guide and park fee included.

Who is it for?

Active travellers, nature lovers, birdwatchers and trekkers wanting to warm up before a longer trek. Grade: moderate – about 5–6 hours of walking with roughly 400–700 m of ascent on forest trails.

ITINERARY IN BRIEF WITH LOCATION MAP

Trip Facts

Tour Code: PTT-NP-HK-01
Duration: 1 Day
Program Type: Day Hike
Maximum Altitude: 2732m
Minimum Pax: 1
Mode of Travel: Land Transport
Start Trip: Kathmandu Hotel
End Trip: Kathmandu Hotel
Program Grading: Easy

Trip at a Glance

Day 01: Full-day hike: Budhanilkantha – Nagi Gompa – Shivapuri Peak (2,732 m) – back to Kathmandu

Trip Highlights

Hike to Shivapuri Peak (2,732 m) on the Kathmandu Valley rim
Views of Ganesh Himal, Langtang and Jugal ranges
Nagi Gompa Buddhist nunnery
Forests and birdlife of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park
Baghdwar, the source of the sacred Bagmati River

Itinerary in Details

Day 01Full-day hike: Budhanilkantha – Nagi Gompa – Shivapuri Peak (2,732 m) – back to Kathmandu
Drive 45 minutes each way, hike 6–7 hours | Highest point: Shivapuri Peak 2,732 m | End of day in Kathmandu

Drive from your hotel to Budhanilkantha on the northern edge of the valley to see the famous statue of Lord Vishnu reclining on a bed of serpents in a sacred pond. Enter Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park at the gate just above and climb through cool forest of oak, pine and rhododendron to Nagi Gompa (about 2,350 m), a peaceful Buddhist nunnery with views over the whole Kathmandu Valley.

Continue climbing along the ridge past Baghdwar, the source of the sacred Bagmati River, to Shivapuri Peak (2,732 m), the highest point on the valley rim. On a clear day the Himalaya stretches from Annapurna and Ganesh Himal to Langtang and Dorje Lakpa. After a packed lunch, descend by a different trail back to Budhanilkantha and drive to your hotel.
- CountryNepal
- Highest PointShivapuri Peak
- Altitude2,732m / 8,963ft
- Travel ModeDrive: 15 km / 45 min · Trek: 9 km / 5 hr / 30 min · Drive: 15 km / 45 min
- Places VisitedKathmandu, Budhanilkantha Temple, Shivapuri National Park, Nagi Gompa, Shivapuri Peak, Kathmandu

Altitude Chart of Full Day Shivapuri Hiking

Total Hiking Time: 5h 30m

Highest point: 8,963 ft / 2,732 m — Day 01 · Full-day hike: Budhanilkantha – Nagi Gompa – Shivapuri Peak (2,732 m) – back to Kathmandu

Services Included

Pick up/ Drop by private vehicle
English speaking guide
Shivapuri National Park Fee
Mineral water during the hike.
All taxes, fuel surcharges and service fees included

Services Excluded

Extra Personal Expenses.
Lunch
Travel insurance
Extra Transport services
Tips & Gratuities

Trip Notes

Notes for this trek

Grade and fitness: moderate – a continuous climb of about 2.5–3 hours on forest trails, then the descent.
Altitude: the maximum altitude is 2,732 m – no altitude concerns, but carry plenty of water.
Teahouses: this is a day hike; lunch is a picnic or snack at the top (own cost).
Permits: the Shivapuri National Park entry fee is included. Inside the park it is forbidden to disturb wildlife, light fires, cut plants or leave litter.
Best seasons: all year; October–April gives the clearest mountain views, and spring brings rhododendron flowers.
Flexibility: the itinerary may be adjusted for weather, trail conditions, flight delays or the health of the group; your guide's decisions on safety are final.

F0llowing activities are completely prohibited Inside the park:

Chase, tease, or disturb wild animals.
Construction of houses, huts, shelter or any other structures inside the park.
Occupy, clear, reclaim, or cultivate inside the park.
Graze and drink domestic animals, birds and pet animals.
Digging mines, stones, boulders and remove other materials.
Carry arms, ammunition, poisons and use of such things.
Take domestic and pet animals.
Block, divert, or disturb water channels and ponds.
Destroy, dismantle, disfigure, remove or otherwise obstruct the park boundaries, structures, trekking routes, sign boards

Equipment List

Trekking boots
Warm layers and a down jacket
Waterproof outer shell
Trekking poles
Headlamp with spare batteries
Sleeping bag (seasonal)
Sunglasses and sun hat
Basic first-aid kit
Water bottle / purification tablets
Basic toiletries

FAQ

1 days. It starts in Kathmandu Hotel and ends there. It is a day trip with hotel pick-up and drop-off. The day-by-day itinerary above shows travel times, places visited and meals for each day.

The best seasons are March to May (rhododendrons in bloom) and late September to November (clearest mountain views). Winter is cold but possible at lower altitudes; the monsoon (June–August) brings rain, leeches and cloud.

The grade is easy, with a maximum altitude of about 2,732 m. You will walk several hours a day on mountain trails, so good fitness is needed; no technical climbing is involved. Your guide sets a steady pace and watches for signs of altitude sickness.

No technical skills are needed, but you should be in good health and able to walk for several hours a day on uneven mountain trails. Regular walking, hiking and cardio exercise in the weeks before your trip will make it much more enjoyable.

Yes. Travel insurance covering trekking at the maximum altitude of your itinerary, including emergency helicopter evacuation and medical treatment, is mandatory for all trekkers.

Yes, porters are included as stated in the package (normally one porter for two trekkers, carrying up to about 20–25 kg in total). You carry only a small daypack with water, camera, snacks and a warm layer. Extra luggage can be left safely at your hotel.

Pick up/ Drop by private vehicle; English speaking guide; Shivapuri National Park Fee; Mineral water during the hike; All taxes, fuel surcharges and service fees included.

Extra Personal Expenses; Lunch; Travel insurance; Extra Transport services; Tips & Gratuities.

Yes. We run this trek privately for your group on the dates you choose, and we can tailor it – add extra nights, change or upgrade hotels, add activities, flights or a guide in your language (Russian, German, French, Spanish, Chinese or Hindi on request). Just send us your wishes.

A deposit of 20–30% of the total tour cost is required to confirm your booking. The remaining balance is payable on arrival in Kathmandu, unless otherwise agreed in writing. Your booking is confirmed once the deposit and the completed booking details are received and we send you a written confirmation. You can enquire through this page, email pigeontravel@gmail.com or contact us on WhatsApp, and we will confirm availability and send a booking confirmation.

If cancel 72 hour before , 100 % will be refund. If cancel 48 hour before, 75 % will be refund. If cancel 24 hour before, 50 % will be refund. If cancel in less than 24 hour before, no refund. Please see the Cancellation Policy section for full details.

We welcome families, and children are very welcome on our Nepal tours. Under 5 years: free of charge when sharing their parents' room and bed (no extra bed). 5 to 12 years: discounted child rate – please ask us for the exact price for your dates and hotel. Above 12 years: charged the full adult rate. An extra bed or a separate room for children is charged as per the hotel's policy; domestic flights are charged at the airline's child fare.

Cancellation Policy

If cancel 72 hour before , 100 % will be refund
If cancel 48 hour before, 75 % will be refund
If cancel 24 hour before, 50 % will be refund
If cancel in less than 24 hour before, no refund

Booking Policy

Booking your Nepal tour with Pigeon Travel & Tours is easy:

Book online with the Book Now button when it is active, or send us the enquiry form / email with your dates, number of travellers and hotel preference.
A deposit of 20–30% of the total tour cost is required to confirm your booking.
The remaining balance is payable on arrival in Kathmandu, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
Domestic flight tickets, permits and other non-refundable items included in the package are paid at the time of confirmation.
Please send a copy of your passport and your arrival/departure flight details so that we can arrange pick-up, hotels and tickets.
Your booking is confirmed once the deposit and the completed booking details are received and we send you a written confirmation.

Child Policy

We welcome families, and children are very welcome on our Nepal tours.

Under 5 years: free of charge when sharing their parents' room and bed (no extra bed).
5 to 12 years: discounted child rate – please ask us for the exact price for your dates and hotel.
Above 12 years: charged the full adult rate.
An extra bed or a separate room for children is charged as per the hotel's policy; domestic flights are charged at the airline's child fare.
Children under 10 years receive a free (gratis) Nepal tourist visa on arrival.

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Pigeon Travel is easily one of the best travel companies I have dealt with! I don’t know how busy Mr Min Katri is, but i think he has many clients on the go, but he made me feel like I was his only customer. He was so conscientious. The guides he organised for my travels in Nepal: Pokhara, Kathmandu, and the Everest flight, Lumbini and then in India at Kushinara for a few days, was well organised with excellent guides, good drivers and cars and a good choice of hotels. They accommodated me with the places I wanted to visit and were very flexible and everything went smoothly, including navigating across the Sunoli border to India, which is chaos at another level. These guys are really excellent. Totally recommend Pigeon Travel. 👍👍

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We spent 4 days in Nepal, visiting different places with the Pingeon Travel Agency, Mr. Min Khatri was very friendly, helpful and was attentive to us at all times, with 24-hour service. for anything we needed and was attentive to us via WhatsApp every day. We booked everything from Spain, they picked us up at the airport and at the end they took us, including a driver, guide in Spanish, visits and hotels, and we had no problem, they complied with everything agreed and we were able to visit everything. The driver (Mr. Pawan) is a very good driver, friendly and kind, and the guide (Mr. Giri) is friendly and helpful. Punctual, helpful and attentive. We were in 2 different hotels, and both were very good, highlighting the one in Kathmandu, Hotel Hyatt Place Kathmandu, a new hotel, excellent service and very friendly. The Pingeon Travel agency is highly recommended and they have everything from tours to complete packages. We were happy with the services.

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Pigeon Travel has been an exceptional ressource for me in both travel support to and from Nepal, India, and Bhutan. Min Katri is simply always there onnecway or another, checking fright and other arrangements, hotel schedules and in Bhutan excellent ( required) tour guides. As well, he and Pigeon Travel are exceptional in meeting last minute changes to my plans and really are “there” 24/7. I thinking now about next trips and highly recommend Min and Pigeon travel for your trips— as in planning my next trip to India and Nepal and am using Pigeon Travel the whole way. Highly recommend!

Jay Luboff

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It was a well organised trip. The guides were very hospitable and cooperative.Overall it was a wonderful and memorable trip.

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Full Day Shivapuri Hiking