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7 Day Kathmandu Valley Trek

7 Day Kathmandu Valley Trek Overview:

The Kathmandu Valley Trek is a one of a kind experience that takes you through ancient cities, agricultural villages, and Buddhist monasteries. You’ll get to experience Newari culture which is dominant within the Kathmandu Valley, and try local dishes like the famous samay baji and king curd yogurt. Witness Newari architecture which is known for its intricate wood carvings. Walk through terrace style farms which cover the hillsides with mustard flowers, orange trees, and vegetables.

Days: 7
Nights: 6
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Travel Style: Comfortable

Why you’ll love this trip:

  • You’ll get to experience three ancient cities that developed under the Malla Dynasty which is known as the “Golden Age” of the Kathmandu Valley. Three brothers ruled the Kathmandu Valley and competed to have the most beautiful city. You can see the results of this in the Bhaktapur District which includes Bhaktapur, Dhulikhel, and Panauti. Evidence of this sibling rivalry can be seen in the finest of details since a huge emphasis was placed on craftsmanship like wood carving, stone carving, painting, and pottery making.
  • This trip highlights Newari culture which is the dominant ethnicity in the Kathmandu Valley. You’ll get to learn the history of this caste within the region, see the architecture, and try wonderful Newari cuisine.
  • See a variety of farming along the hillsides where terrace farming is popular. Different parts of this trek are famous for different types of agriculture. One day, you’ll walk through mustard farms and the next you’ll be among orange trees. The food we eat will be locally grown, making it even tastier.
  • Visit one of the largest Buddhist Monasteries in Nepal which acts as a school for novice monks. See several shrines and learn the history of the ancient temple which was built on the site where a young boy sacrificed himself to save a starving tiger.
  • The people of Nepal are known for their hospitality and friendly nature, and are often referred to as the friendliest people in the world.

Kathmandu Valley Trek Itinerary

Kathmandu Valley Trek Map

Namaste! Welcome to Nepal! Our adventure will begin in the beautiful, chaotic, and dusty city of Kathmandu. We’ll start bright and early as we head to Bhaktapur in a private vehicle. After a two-hour ride, we’ll arrive in the beautiful city of Bhaktapur. This city is a cultural gem and is a must see for any visitor coming to Nepal. Your guide will take you for a tour of the four squares of the city including Durbar Square, Pottery Square, Taumadhi Square, and Dattatreya Square. We’ll get to taste a famous Newari dish (samay baji) followed by the delicious king curd yogurt.
Accommodation: Hotel
Included Activities: Private Transport to Bhaktapur, Historical City Tour, Bhaktapur Durbar Square Permit
Meals Included: None

We’ll start with breakfast at our hotel and then begin the long walk to Nagarkot. It takes about 7 hours to get there with one stop along the way. We’ll be stopping in Changu Narayan to visit the oldest known temple in Nepal. Although no one knows it’s definite age, there is an inscription from 464 AD. We’ll have a small lunch in town, and then work our way to Nagarkot by following local walking trails.
Accommodation: Hotel
Included Activities: Guided Trek, Tour of Changu Narayan Temple, Nagarkot Permit
Meals Included: Breakfast

Today, we’ll wake early to see the sunrise over the mountains. On a clear day, you can see from the Annapurnas all the way to Everest. The main attraction is Langtang which is featured prominently at 7,234m. Tea and breakfast will be served shortly after the sun has risen. This will allow us to get to Dhulikhel by lunch. The path there goes through small villages and farms which grow mustard seeds. If they are in season, we’ll stop along the way to see how they’re grown. Once in Dhulikhel, we’ll visit the Kali Temple which is situated on top of a hill with a great view point.
Accommodation: Hotel
Included Activities: Guided Trek, Guided Walk to Kali Temple
Meals Included: Breakfast

The walk from Dhulikhel to Namo Buddha is a short one. We’ll leave after breakfast and follow a quiet road up to the monastery. If we arrive on time, we can catch the monks doing their morning chant. There are several shrines in the monastery as well as a few pagodas with beautiful views. We’ll learn the history of the temple and the story of Great Being who sacrificed his life to save a tiger. This evening, we’ll spend a night in the monastery guest house.
Accommodation: Monastery
Included Activities: Guided Trek, Guided Monastery Tour, Namo Buddha Entry Permit
Meals Included: Breakfast

One of the best trekking trails around the Kathmandu Valley runs between Namo Buddha and Balthali. This area is off the beaten path and rarely visited by tourists. It’s very difficult to get here by car making it the perfect place to visit. We’ll walk through orange farms and down river valleys. This is the trail locals take while carrying fruits and vegetables to trade with nearby villages. Before reaching Balthali, we’ll get to see a large community farm which is lush with vegetation in the spring.
Accommodation: Hotel
Included Activities: Guided Trek
Meals Included: Breakfast

We leave Balthali after breakfast and cross another river valley. Today’s walk is fairly easy as we make our way through flat farmlands to the historical town of Panauti. Here we’ll walk through the alleyways and back streets of the old town and stop in Durbar Square where the old palace lays in ruin. If there’s time, we’ll see a few of the popular temples before having dinner.
Accommodation: Homestay
Included Activities: Guided Trek, City Tour
Meals Included: Breakfast

You’ll have some free time in Panauti after breakfast. You can walk around and explore or take some time to relax. In the afternoon, we’ll take a bus to Kathmandu and have an optional farewell dinner before parting ways.
Accommodation: None
Included Activities: Private Transport to Kathmandu
Meals Included: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner

Is this trip right for you?

  • Roads in Nepal are notorious for always being under construction. You’ll need a little extra patience getting from point A to point B on days when we travel by car.
  • Besides bad roads, Nepal is infamous for its dust. While we try to stay on quiet trails for the majority of the trip, there are a few days where we have to follow dusty roads. This may cause problems for people with asthma.
  • If you are worried about acclimating to altitude, then this trek is perfect. We never go above 2,000m so acclimating shouldn’t be a problem. Most people don’t experience altitude sickness below 3,500m.
  • While this trip is great for beginners, there are a few days where we will walk between 6 and 7 hours. Being in moderately good shape is helpful to enjoy this trip.
  • The hotels we have chosen are categorized as “Comfort Hotels.” This means that the rooms have private bathrooms and are in nice establishments that are well taken care of and clean. We try to choose the best hotels within the price range. Some days, the rooms will have beautiful mountain views. But, it’s important to note that most rooms in Nepal do not have heat or air conditioning and these are not “Luxury Hotels.” If you would like a luxury experience, please ask us about our luxury tour package.
  • We’ll be eating a variety of local cuisine. If you have any food allergies, please let our staff know prior to booking. Most of the places we are visiting offer a variety of western dishes as well.
  • Power outages are still fairly common in Nepal. Most hotels have generators, however it’s important to note that things like wifi, cell data, and hot water are not always guaranteed.
  • Looking for a shorter trek? We also offer a 5 Day Kathmandu Valley Trek!

Included

Meals – 6 Breakfasts, Farewell Dinner
Transportation – Private transportation from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur and from Panauti to Kathmandu 
Accommodation – 6 nights 
Permits – Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Nagarkot Entry, and Namo Buddha Entry 

Not included

International airfare to Nepal and back. Your hotel on evenings not mentioned in the itinerary. Tips. 

For further information please contact us at +977 9841 446 020 or bluetaratoursandtravels@gmail.com.