Chandragiri Cable Car Tour: Himalayan Views, No Hiking

Ride above the jungle to Himalayan views and a mountaintop temple

A half-day cable car tour from Kathmandu to the summit of Chandragiri Hill, 16 kilometers southwest of the city. Your guide picks you up at your hotel and drives you to the cable car station, where you board a gondola that climbs 2,551 meters above dense forest. At the top, you visit a sacred Hindu temple, watch pilgrims at worship, and look out at five of the world's 14 highest peaks, including Mt. Everest on clear days: before descending and returning to your hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Chandragiri Cable Car and Hilltop Visit

• Pick up from hotel in Kathmandu
• Drive to Chandragiri cable car station
• Ride cable car to Chandragiri Hill summit
• Visit sacred Hindu temple and watch puja
• Enjoy lunch at hilltop restaurant
• Descend by cable car to base station
• Drive back to hotel in Kathmandu

The experience

The cable car itself is the draw here. Opened in 2016, it runs on large glass windows on all four sides, so the climb unfolds around you: the Kathmandu Valley spreads below, then the snowcapped Himalayan ranges come into view as you rise. The ranges visible from the top (Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, and Langtang) shift and sharpen as the altitude changes. On clear days, Mt. Everest sits among them.

At the summit, a short walk leads to the temple, where Hindu pilgrims make daily offerings and perform puja. The amphitheater sometimes hosts free programs you can sit in on. A restaurant at the top serves lunch (not included), and the views from a table there are the main reason most people linger. The whole trip runs about four hours from hotel to hotel, with the cable car ride itself taking roughly 10 minutes each way.

Your guide handles the route and the cable car logistics. The private vehicle pickup means you travel on your own schedule, not a group departure, and you see different neighborhoods of Kathmandu on the drive out. The cable car is wheelchair accessible, and infants can ride in a pram or stroller, though small children must sit on an adult's lap during the ascent.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• a professional guide speaking English or Hindi.
• both cable car tickets (up and down).
• private vehicle transport to and from the cable car station.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30, 12:00 and 14:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (11 to 65 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Hindi

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Himalayan Advisor Pvt. Ltd.

Is this one for you?The cable car does the climbing for you, so this suits anyone who wants high-altitude Himalayan views without a trek. The morning departure and four-hour round trip fit easily into a day in Kathmandu, and the route works well paired with other valley sightseeing.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Hindi.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How high is Chandragiri Hill and what can you see from the top?

Chandragiri Hill sits at 2,551 meters (8,366 feet), one of the highest points ringing the Kathmandu Valley. On clear days, you can see five of the world's 14 highest peaks, including Mt. Everest, plus the ranges of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, and Langtang. The Kathmandu Valley spreads out below.

What is the cable car ride like?

The Chandragiri Cable Car has large glass windows on all four sides, so you see the landscape shift as you ascend. The gondola glides upward over dense jungle, and the Himalayan peaks become visible as you climb. The ride takes about 10 minutes each way.

Is there a temple at the top, and what happens there?

Yes, a sacred Hindu temple sits at the summit. Chandragiri is a Hindu holy site, and pilgrims visit daily to perform puja (worship). An amphitheater nearby sometimes hosts free programs you can attend.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs approximately four hours from your hotel pickup to your return, including the drive to the cable car station, the cable car ride up and down, time at the summit, and the drive back to your hotel.

Can you eat at the top?

A restaurant operates at the summit with views of the Himalayan peaks. Lunch and drinks are not included in the tour price, so you pay separately if you eat there.