2-day Kalinchowk guided tour from Kathmandu: Hike to the temple

Walk to a Himalayan temple through stone stupas built by Sherpa and Tamang ancestors

A 2-day private guided tour from Kathmandu takes you on foot from Kuri village to Kalinchowk Bhagwati temple, where you'll see snow-capped mountains including Langtang Himal, Dorje Lakpa, Ganesh Himal, Jugal Himal and Gauri Shankar. You spend the night in Kuri village, pass through stone memorial stupas built by local people, and stop in Charikot for lunch and in Bhaktapur, the ancient Newa kingdom city. Private transportation, meals and the Gauri Shankar Conservation Area entry permit are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hike and sightseeing around Kalinchowk

• Hike from Kuri village to Kalinchowk temple
• View snow-capped mountains from temple
• Pass stone stupa commemorative structures
• Stay and have lunch at Charikot
• Pass by Bhaktapur ancient city

The experience

How do you get to see the Himalayan peaks without fighting crowds near Kathmandu? This 2-day tour answers that by taking you on foot from Kuri village up to Kalinchowk Bhagwati temple, where the views open onto Langtang Himal, Dorje Lakpa, Ganesh Himal, Jugal Himal and Gauri Shankar. The hike itself is the point: no cable car, just the route that passes through stone stupas the local Sherpa, Tamang and Brahmin communities built in memory of their ancestors. The walk is most rewarding during the last week of December through the last week of February, when snow sits on the peaks and the chance of snowfall is high.

Your guide meets you in Kathmandu and drives you in an air-conditioned vehicle to Kuri village, where the hike begins. You'll stop in Charikot for lunch on the way, then continue to the temple. The overnight stay happens in Kuri village itself, so you're already positioned for an early start or a second day of exploration. Breakfast, lunch and dinner follow the itinerary, and the Gauri Shankar Conservation Area entry permit is arranged for you. On the return, you pass through Bhaktapur, the ancient Newa kingdom city about 8 miles from Kathmandu, before heading back.

The tour runs as a private booking, so the pace and the stops are yours to shape with your guide. The driver handles all transport, fuel and parking. You bring only what you need for the walk and the night.

What’s included

• Private transportation from Kathmandu in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• driver's salary, fuel, parking and allowance.
• breakfast, lunch and dinner as outlined in the itinerary.
• entry permit for Gauri Shankar Conservation Area.
• English-speaking guide throughout the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (10 to 70 years) · Under 10: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Altitude Himalaya

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're traveling as a couple or small group and want a private pace through the mountains without the logistics of arranging your own transport and permits. The overnight in Kuri village means you're not rushing the hike or the views. You can start early and take the walk at your own rhythm with your guide.

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Top questions

What mountains can you actually see from the top of Kalinchowk Bhagwati temple?

From the summit you'll see Langtang Himal, Dorje Lakpa, Ganesh Himal, Jugal Himal and Gauri Shankar. The views are clearest during the snow season, from late December through late February, when the peaks are covered and the air is sharp.

Is the hike to Kalinchowk difficult compared to other trails near Kathmandu?

The walk from Kuri village to Kalinchowk stands apart from other hiking near the valley. It's the route the operator highlights as uniquely rewarding. The tour is marked as suitable for all physical fitness levels, though the overnight stay and mountain altitude mean you should be comfortable walking uphill for several hours.

What are the stone stupas you pass on the way up?

The stupas are commemorative structures built by the local Sherpa, Tamang and Brahmin communities of Kuri village in memory of their ancestors. You'll walk past them as you climb toward the temple.

Where do you sleep on this 2-day tour?

You spend the night in Kuri village, the starting point for the hike. This puts you in the right place for the walk to Kalinchowk and lets you experience the village itself.

Does the tour include stops anywhere else besides Kalinchowk and Kuri village?

Yes. You stop in Charikot for lunch on the way up, and on the return you pass through Bhaktapur, the ancient Newa kingdom city located about 8 miles east of Kathmandu in the valley.