Nagarkot Chisapani Trek

How does our trip start?

The Nagarkot Chisapani Trek starts in Kathmandu. On your first day of the trek, you will be taken to Nagarkot, via a 2-hour car/jeep ride. If your group fits in a jeep we will go on a jeep, if there are more people in the group then we will opt for a bus instead. Once we reach Nagarkot, the guide will take you to your accommodation for the night where we will check in and leave our luggage to explore the viewpoint.

The next day, we will hike to Chisapani, a calm and relaxing village sitting at an elevation of 2165 meters above sea level. We just have to hike about 5 hours to reach this village and the views from there are worth every step you take along the way. We will spend the 2nd night of the Nagarkot Chisapani Trek in Chisapani enjoying the authentic countryside vibe and if you are lucky, you might get to see a cultural program late at night.

On the third day of the Nagarkot Chisapani Trek, we will trek down to Sundarijal to see the beautiful waterfalls and temples. After we are done with the sightseeing, we will get on a ride to Kathmandu.

Difficulty

As previously stated, this Nagarkot Chisapani Trek is one of the easiest trekking destinations in all of Nepal and you will feel the difference if you have been to other trekking destinations within Nepal. Basically, you just have to hike for about 5 hours on day 2 and on day 3 you will descend down. Anybody with average physical fitness can pull this off which is why the Nagarkot Chisapani Trek is meant for everyone regardless of experience and fitness.

On a scale of 10, this trek is a mere 4. You can basically do this trek out of the blue. Unlike the Annapurna circuit trek, Manaslu circuit trek, Everest Base Cano trek, etc, this easy trek does not require months of planning and preparation to be a successful journey.

In addition to that, the Nagarkot Chisapani Trek reaches a maximum altitude of 2165 meters above sea level. This means that we are not prone to altitude-related issues at all. Altitude up to 3,000 meters is considered very safe and people very rarely feel the effects of altitude at such low levels.

As the altitude increases the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere also goes down which makes it harder for people to trek even the easiest paths. Since we do not have to face this issue at all, we will have 100% of our energy to exert.

Best seasons

October, November, and December are considered the best seasons for this Nagarkot Chisapani Trek since these months offer the best weather. The season of autumn provides mild temperatures and clean landscape views that are sure to end up on your gallery for a lifetime. Autumn in Nepal comes right after the monsoon which means that you are very unlikely to get rained on.

Another good thing about the autumn season is the fact that it is the festive season in Nepal. You will get to experience a bunch of festival celebrations on the streets of Kathmandu. Festivals in Nepal are really vibrant and incompleted without any sort of dance/song performance. During the festive celebrations, the streets of Kathmandu come to life and leave a trail of smiles and joy.

Another best season for the Nagarkot Chisapani Trek is March to May (Spring). This time of the year possesses the same qualities as autumn but it is a lot greener as new buds and leaves start growing on trees and flowers. Since it’s the time nature comes to life, the landscape scenes appear more vibrant and lush. However, while trekking you might face some rain since spring is closely followed by the monsoon season in Nepal.

This Nagarkot Chisapani Trek can practically be done all year round. You can go on this journey in summer but it can get a little too hot for some trekkers. However, the scenes in summer are no less beautiful than the ones in spring and autumn. On top of that, animals and birds are more active in summer.

You can also do this trek in winter but we recommend you not to since the views will not be that great and it can be a bit too cold. Winter in Kathmandu is gloomy but the highlands are not that gloomy. However, the landscapes dry out and the views will not be that beautiful.

Can a beginner join this trip?

Yes, a beginner can join this Nagarkot Chisapani Trek. This trek is meant for everyone regardless of their trekking experience; in fact, it is a perfect trek for first-timers and beginners. This very short 3-day trek can be done with minimal effort and you just have to hike up to Chisapani for about 5 hours. From there, you will descend down to Sundari Jal which is an easy and scenic walk.

You can bring along your young kids and old parents as well. The Nagarkot Chisapani Trek is a perfect family gateway from the everyday hustle.

Altitude Sickness

The Nagarkot Chisapani Trek is a lowland trekking experience that offers a glimpse of the highlands, the countryside life of Nepal, and the beautiful nature surrounding the Kathmandu valley. There has never been a case of altitude sickness while trekking this short and easy journey. So, you are more than safe from altitude sickness.

The maximum altitude you will get to during this trek is 2165 meters at Chisapani village which is not an altitude sickness-prone region in any circumstance. Altitude sickness usually starts at an altitude of 3500 meters above sea level.

Accommodation, Food, and Drink

You will be staying at hotels in Kathmandu and Nagarkot. These hotels will offer all the basic facilities along with some additional facilities. While at Chisapani, you will have to option to stay at homestays or small lodges. We recommend you stay at homestays since you will be catered by a local family and live in their authentic countryside home for the night. This is a far better experience than staying at lodges.

Homestays are also better in the sense that they provide homemade food and whatever the house members are having for the night, you will have the same food, it’s not a restaurant where you order food. Getting to stay with a village family and have their homemade food is a memorable experience in itself. All your accommodation will be covered by the Nagarkot Chisapani Trek package.

During your stay in Kathmandu and Nagarkot, you can try the traditional Nepalese dishes or you can just opt for something more continental. You can try pasta, sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, pancakes for breakfast, etc. but we recommend you try the Nepalese food while you are in Nepal. Staple food like rice and lentils with a side of veggies or meat and chutney is something that almost every traveler likes.

While you are in Chisapani, you should try the local village food. Edibles like dhedo, gundruk, sel roti, fried corn, roti, bara, potato curry, meat curry, etc. are some of the best food you will taste in Nepal. These dishes are made from locally grown crops which makes it even more authentic traditional food.

The Nagarkot Chisapani Trek package covers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, every day of the trek. Anything more than that is considered an extra expense which you will have to pay for yourself.

During this trek, any kind of drink that you get is not a part of the trek package. Water, soda, energy drinks, alcohol, etc., and drinks of any kind in general are not covered by the Nagarkot Chisapani Trek package. While at Chispani you can try the locally brewed alcohol which you will not find in the grocery stores or liquor shops anywhere. The alcohol is made from fermented millet and is not mass-produced which means that the quality is superb.

Transportation

On the first day of the Nagarkot Chisapani Trek, we will transport you to Nagarkot. This ride will last for 2 hours at max and is covered by the trek package. Next up, at the end of the trek, we will pick you up from Sundarijal and transport you to Kathmandu via a 4-hour jeep ride. All of the transportation that is required by the nature of the itinerary is covered by the trek package. You do not have to pay extra for them unless you want to tip the driver.

Permit

Since we will be going through the Shivapuri National Park, we will need the Shivapuri National Park entry permit. This permit can only be obtained on-site, unlike some permits that can be brought to Kathmandu for convenience. We will get the Shivapuri National Park entry permit at the entrance gate.

This permit costs NRs. 1000 for international tourists excluding those from SAARC nations. Travelers coming from SAARC nations are discounted on the permit, they just have to pay NRs. 600. The cost of the permit will be covered by the Nagarkot Chisapani Trek package.

Trip preparation and fitness

You do not really have to prepare for this trek but if you do that is always a plus point. The Nagarkot Chisapani Trek is very easy, the maximum you will have to ascend is 5 hours which everyone can do unless they are extremely obese or with bad physicality.

However, getting on a 5-hour trek unprepared may cause your muscles to strain at the end of the day or the following day. To avoid this you can hit the gym for a week or two before the start of the trek. You do not have to do anything heavy, you just have to walk for a couple of hours to get used to trekking. If you can trek some small hills, that would be the best way to prepare for this trek.

Alternative routes

You can also do this trek the opposite way, on day 1 you will get on a ride to Sundarijal followed by a trek to Chisapani and on day 2 you will trek to Nagarkot. In addition to this, you can also add a couple more destinations to make the trek more lengthy. This will also increase the number of days which results in the increment of trek package pricing.

Cost & Budget

Our Nagarkot Chisapani Trek is priced at USD __________ per person. You will have to pay 20% of the total price upfront so we can start working on the planning and execution of the trek. You can pay the rest of the price after arriving in Nepal or before your flight to Nepal. Our Nagarkot Chisapani Trek package will cover all your accommodation expenses, provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day, cover the permit fees, handle your transport requirements, provide you with a guide and porters based on the number of trekkers in the group, and more.

Gadgets charging & Internet

Charging your gadgets during this Nagarkot Chisapani Trek will not be a problem at all. This is a well-developed trekking destination and you will also get to enjoy high-speed WiFi except in the village of Chisapani. This village is a bit far away from the main city and not very accessible which makes it harder to develop the infrastructure.

Your Extra expenses

Expenditures like visa fees, flight tickets, travel insurance, tips for the guide, porters, and drivers, extra accommodation due to unforeseen circumstances, extra meals, and anything that is not included in the package are your extra expenses.