Nagarkot Sunrise and Bhaktapur Day Hike: Explore UNESCO Heritage Sites and the Himalayas
3.0
1 Rating
Nagarkot
Experience the breathtaking sunrise over the Himalayas from Nagarkot and embark on a cultural hike to Bhaktapur, visiting UNESCO World Heritage sites along the way.
Duration: 6 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Nagarkot - The Nagarkot Sunrise is undoubtedly a highlight of the journey, especially during Autumn and Winter when the Himalayas are often visible in their full glory. Following the sunrise, guests will enjoy breakfast on an open terrace with magnificent mountain views.
  • Changu Narayan - The trek concludes at the Changu Narayan temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is a 4-hour, 15 km journey from Nagarkot.
  • Bhaktapur Durbar Square - Typically, at the journey’s end, we arrange for our guests to take a local bus to Bhaktapur, which is a mere 30-minute ride. Should guests choose to extend their stay, Bhaktapur offers a charming overnight experience. This cultural town, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is renowned for its exquisite woodcarvings and celebrated yogurt.
What's Included
  • Private transportation
  • Breakfast
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
  • All fees and/or taxes
  • Alcoholic Beverages
Additional Information

Embark on a cultural exploration and observe two UNESCO World Heritage sites in the Kathmandu valley via the Nagarkot Sunrise and Bhaktapur day hike.

Begin your journey early with a drive to Nagarkot, the second highest point in the Kathmandu valley, providing the opportunity to witness the sunrise over the towering Himalayas (if weather allows). After observing the sunrise, relish your breakfast against the backdrop of the mountains before setting off on our trek to Bhaktapur via the Changu Narayan temple, another coveted UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Although the hike typically takes 4 hours, it can be abbreviated upon your request. Trailing through the villagers and forests, we eventually reach the Changu Narayan temple where a lunch break provides an opportunity to regroup.

You have the choice to either marvel at the wonders of Bhaktapur a little longer by spending the night there or return to Kathmandu to bring an ecstatic day to a close.

Location
Nagarkot
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
3.0
(1 Rating)
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Sidney_c
Aug 15, 2022
Good experience and beautiful views, but unclear itinerary and some added expenses - The taxi and guide were very punctual picking us up right at 4:30, however, there were some navigation issues and we missed the sunrise by about twenty minutes, so the pick up time should have been earlier. After going to the viewpoint, we were taken to a hotel with a very scenic view overlooking Kathmandu valley. We arrived at the hotel around 6am and were given coffee, but then sat for about 30 minutes before being offered breakfast. We were asked when we wanted to start our hike and we said 7am, but we didn't end up leaving the hotel until 7:30am. There was a lot of sitting around and waiting and confusion about what was happening or what the plan was. We then drove another 30 minutes to the start of the hiking trail and began to hike at 8:00am. It took us about 90 minutes to reach the temple, maybe longer if you have a slower pace. However, it was more of a walk than a hike. The first half was in a forest and was very pretty. The second half was through some smaller villages, which was also interesting, but not a nature hike if that's what you are looking for. It was nice however that there were stores for water or snacks along the way if you need. Once we reached the temple, we had to pay 350 rupees each (as of August 2022) to get inside, which was not included in the tour price. The temple itself was interesting to see, but is currently under construction and supposedly will be for the next 4 to 5 years, according to the guide, so there was a lot of scaffolding that somewhat obstructed the building. You can probably only spend 5-10 minutes walking around the temple, but there are also some small tourist and souvenir shops in the town if you want to browse. At this point it was just before 10am and we waited a bit before taking the 10:30am local bus back to Bhaktapur. It didn't bother us and we quite liked getting an authentic experience of Nepali public transport, but good for others to know that it's quite crowded and not the most comfortable ride. We arrived in Bhaktapur around 11:00am and then our guide lead us to the Durbar Square at which point we parted ways. Also good to know that if you want to go into the Durbar Square, the entry fee for foreigners is $15 which was also not included in the tour price. Lastly, we got our own taxi back to our hotel, which was another 1000 rupees. Overall, it was a fun experience and the views were amazing, however you're mainly paying for the transport from your hotel to the view point, and a guide to lead you from the hotel to the temple, without any additional commentary. This would be ideal for people that are more independent and just need someone to show them the way. But also good to note that this might explain the cheaper price for this tour compared to others that offer similar experiences, as well as the fact that transportation back is not included. Everyone was kind and respectful and despite our not fully understanding the itinerary, we had a great time.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 8 guests
1
Adult
May 2024
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