Nagarkot Sunrise & Changu Narayan Hike from Kathmandu

Catch the sunrise over Langtang and Everest, then walk down through villages to a UNESCO temple.

This is an 8-hour day tour from Kathmandu to Nagarkot for sunrise viewing and a 3-hour downhill hike to Changu Narayan Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You depart before dawn, watch the Himalayan peaks light up, then walk through forests, terraced fields and rural villages with an English-speaking guide. Hotel pickup and drop-off, air-conditioned transport, and a lunch box are included. Breakfast at Club Himalaya is optional and paid separately. The tour suits all fitness levels.

Options for this experience

5 options

From US$ 7.60 per person, depending on the option and date you choose.See dates & book

Shared tour to Nagarkot for sunrise 04:30 Guide in English or Hindi Scenic sunrise trip to Nagarkot with pickup from your hotel, Himalayan views, and a driver who speaks English. Nagarkot Sunrise Tour: a standard group tour with shared transportation; no hike, and a guide is included. Duration: about 3.5 to 4 hours, including the drive and sunrise viewing. Breakfast Box: a light lunch box with 500ml bottled water, a muffin, a donut, a banana, seasonal fruit, and juice. Route: hotel in Kathmandu, drive to the Nagarkot Viewpoint, watch the sunrise, drive back to the hotel in Kathmandu. Vehicle: shared air-conditioned tourist vehicle. Pickup is included.

Private Nagarkot and Changu hike 04:30 Guide in English or Hindi Private hiking tour offering personalized service, a dedicated guide, and a luxury air-conditioned vehicle. Duration: about 6 to 7 hours, including the drive, sunrise view, hike, and return. Breakfast Box: a light lunch box with bottled water, a muffin, a donut, a banana, seasonal fruit, and juice. Route: hotel in Kathmandu, drive to Nagarkot, Sunrise Viewpoint, optional breakfast, hike to Changu Narayan, drive back to the hotel. Private vehicles: a private air-conditioned luxury vehicle for the round trip. Pickup is included.

Shared Nagarkot sunrise and hike 05:00 Guide in English or Hindi Small group or shared hiking tour with a guide for sunrise viewing and a scenic hike, with shared transportation and basic inclusions. Duration: about 6 to 7 hours, including the drive, sunrise view, hike, and return. Breakfast Box: a light lunch box with bottled water, a muffin, a donut, a banana, seasonal fruit, and juice. Route: hotel in Kathmandu, drive to Nagarkot, Sunrise Viewpoint, optional breakfast, hike to Changu Narayan, drive back to the hotel. Air-conditioned vehicle: a comfortable air-conditioned tourist vehicle shared by the group. Pickup is included.

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Private hike with suspension bridge 04:30 Guide in English or Hindi Hike with suspension bridge: a private sunrise tour that includes Nagarkot View Tower, a scenic downhill hike, a suspension bridge crossing, and Changu Narayan Temple. Private hiking tour: a private guided hike with comfortable transportation, hotel pickup and drop-off, and a scenic suspension bridge walk. Duration: about 6 to 7 hours, including the drive, sunrise view, hike, and return. Breakfast Box: a light lunch box with bottled water, a muffin, a donut, a banana, seasonal fruit, and juice. Route: Kathmandu hotel, drive to Nagarkot, Sunrise Viewpoint, hike across the suspension bridge, hike to Changu Narayan, drive back to the hotel. Private vehicles: a private air-conditioned luxury vehicle for the round trip. Pickup is included.

Sunset hike from Changu to Nagarkot 12:30, 12:45, 13:00 and 13:15 Guide in English or Hindi Private hike and sunset view: explore Changu Narayan Temple and hike through scenic villages to Nagarkot for Himalayan views and sunset. Private hiking and sunset tour: a private guided sunset hike with comfortable transportation, hotel pickup and drop-off, and scenic Himalayan views. Duration: about 6 hours, including the drive, sunrise view, hike, and return. Lunch Box: a light lunch box with bottled water, a muffin, a donut, a banana, seasonal fruit, and juice. Route: pickup from a Kathmandu hotel, Changu Narayan Temple, scenic uphill hike to Nagarkot, sunset viewpoint, return to the Kathmandu hotel. Private vehicle: a private air-conditioned luxury vehicle for the round trip. Pickup is included.

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What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off within Kathmandu Valley.
• air-conditioned transport to and from Nagarkot.
• English-speaking hiking guide (on the shared and private hiking options).
• lunch box with water, fruit, muffin, donut and juice.
• all government taxes and service charges.

Times

• Every day 04:30 05:00 12:30 12:45 13:00 13:15

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Before you book

Group Private 1 group tour ›

Live guide English and Hindi Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included.

Book up to 7h before

Ages Adult (5 to 80 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

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

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Luxury Holidays Nepal Pvt. Ltd.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Traveler reviews

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The experience

The day starts in the dark. A driver picks you up at your Kathmandu hotel and drives you to Nagarkot, a hill station about an hour away. You arrive before sunrise and wait on the ridge as the light comes. On clear mornings, the view stretches across Langtang, Ganesh Himal, and Mount Everest. The moment the first rays hit the peaks is why people wake up this early.

After sunrise, the hike begins. It's a 3-hour downhill walk from Nagarkot to Changu Narayan Temple, so the effort is mostly gravity. The route passes through forests and past terraced fields where locals work. You walk through small villages where life moves at a pace the city doesn't have. If you've booked the guide option, they explain what you're seeing: the crops, the temple architecture, the way the land is organized. The temple itself is ancient, built in the 4th century and now a UNESCO site. You don't have to pay the entrance fee unless you choose to enter. The hike ends near it either way.

The drive back to Kathmandu takes the afternoon. You'll have eaten the lunch box (water, fruit, a muffin, a donut, juice) somewhere along the way, usually partway through the hike. By evening you're back at your hotel. The whole day is eight hours from pickup to drop-off.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Hindi.

Can I do just the sunrise without the hike?

Yes. The 4-Hour Shared Sunrise Tour takes you to Nagarkot for sunrise and breakfast, then returns you to Kathmandu without the hike to Changu Narayan. The longer options include the full 3-hour downhill walk.

What's included in the lunch box?

The lunch box contains 500ml bottled water, a muffin, a donut, a banana, seasonal fruit, and juice. It's packed and ready. You eat it during or after the hike.

Is the guide included in all options?

The guide is included in the Sunrise & Hiking Shared Tour and the Private Nagarkot Changu Hike. The 4-Hour Shared Sunrise Tour does not include a guide.

What's the difference between the shared and private options?

The shared tours run on a set schedule with other travelers. The private option is just your group, with a dedicated guide and driver, and costs more. Both include hotel pickup, transport, and lunch.

Do I need to be fit to do this hike?

The hike is downhill for 3 hours, so it's low-intensity. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The main challenge is the early wake-up, not the walking.

What if the sunrise is cloudy?

The tour runs regardless of weather. On cloudy mornings, the view may be limited, but the hike and the temple visit proceed as planned. The drive and the walk are the core of the day.