Shivapuri Day hike in Kathmandu

Autumn (September to November) and spring (March to May) are the best seasons for the Shivapuri hike. Both windows give dry trails, clear skies and the strongest views of Langtang Lirung (7,234 m) and the surrounding Langtang range from the summit. October and November are considered the clearest months of the year in Nepal, and the rhododendrons on the upper ridge of Shivapuri peak in late March and April.

Winter (December to February) is cold and occasionally frosty on the upper trail above 2,000 m, but the forest is quiet and the views are sharp on clear days. The monsoon (June to August) brings slippery trails, leeches in the forest and low summit visibility, but the park is deeply green and the Sundarijal waterfall runs at full volume. January is the least visited month and tends to have the most frost above 2,000 m.

Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park charges a per-person entry fee of NPR 250 for foreign nationals (approximately USD 2 as of 2025). The fee covers both the Budanilkantha entry gate and the Sundarijal gate; no separate exit fee is charged. Swotah includes the park entry fee in the package cost and arranges the entry card at the gate.

No TIMS (Trekkers' Information Management System) card is required for a day hike within the national park. Nepalese citizens pay NPR 25. If you plan to visit the Nagi Gompa monastery inside the park, modest dress is expected but no separate admission fee applies. Bring your passport or a copy to the gate.

Accommodation on the Shivapuri Day Hike package is 3-star hotel in Kathmandu for all three nights, with private bathrooms, hot water, Wi-Fi and daily breakfast. Because the hike is a full day trip returning to the city, you do not sleep inside the park or in a trail-side teahouse.

Hotels are located in or near Thamel, the main tourist district, which puts you close to restaurants, ATMs and the central sightseeing sites. Upgrades to boutique or 4-star properties are available on request. We book rooms in advance to secure availability around Nepal's peak festival season in October and November.

Food during the Shivapuri hike is a hotel breakfast before departure and a packed lunch on the trail, which Swotah prepares in advance. There are no teahouses or restaurants between the Budanilkantha gate and the Sundarijal exit, so carrying enough food and water from the city is essential.

Water on the trail should be treated or bottled; there are natural springs on the route but the water is not safe to drink untreated. Carry at least 2 litres per person for the day. A reusable bottle with purification tablets or a filter keeps the load light. The park restricts single-use plastic inside its boundaries, so a refillable bottle is both practical and required.

The Budanilkantha trailhead is 8 km north of Thamel and takes about 20 to 30 minutes by private car, depending on Kathmandu traffic. Swotah drives you from the hotel directly to the park gate. The Sundarijal exit, where the hike ends, is on the eastern side of the park, about 13 km from the city centre, and Swotah picks you up there for the return.

The Budanilkantha area also contains the famous Budanilkantha Temple, a 5th-century reclining Vishnu statue carved from a single black stone, which you can visit briefly at the start of the day before entering the park. The drive back from Sundarijal passes through Gokarna Forest and gives a view of the valley from the eastern rim.

Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park is one of the most species-rich protected areas in the Kathmandu Valley. 318 bird species have been recorded, including the spiny babbler (Nepal's only endemic bird), various pheasants, laughingthrushes and raptors. The park also holds leopard, wild boar, barking deer, rhesus and langur monkey, and the Himalayan porcupine.

The forest cover changes with altitude: subtropical broadleaf forest below about 1,800 m gives way to oak, rhododendron and pine on the upper slopes approaching Shivapuri Peak. The rhododendrons above 2,000 m flower red and pink from late March through April. Leeches are active on the trail during and after the monsoon (June to September); wear long socks and carry salt or repellent.

All Shivapuri Day Hike packages include an English-speaking, Ministry of Tourism-licensed guide. Because the hike is a full day out-and-back with a crossing exit at Sundarijal, your guide handles the park entry card, manages the pace and coordinates vehicle logistics at both ends. Porters are not normally needed for a day hike, but one can be arranged on request.

Swotah guides know the bird and plant species along the route and can point out wildlife signs. Groups are capped at 14 people, which keeps the pace flexible. The guide carries a basic first-aid kit. If you have a pre-existing medical condition that might be affected by a sustained day of moderate uphill walking, let Swotah know before the trip.

Mobile coverage on the Shivapuri trail is variable. 4G from Nepal Telecom (NTC) and Ncell reaches the lower sections of the park and the Budanilkantha gate, but drops off on the upper ridge and near the summit. Do not count on calls or data above about 2,200 m. The descent toward Sundarijal picks up signal again as you drop back toward the valley.

Charging is straightforward because you sleep in Kathmandu hotels throughout the package. Bring a power bank for the hike day itself if you need the camera or navigation apps running. A universal travel adapter works in Nepal's standard Type C, D and M sockets.

Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park bans single-use plastic inside its gates, so carry a reusable water bottle and avoid bringing disposable packaging onto the trail. Pack out all waste; the park does not provide bins on the upper route. Stay on the marked trail to protect the forest floor and avoid disturbing the bird habitat, which is the main reason the park was gazetted.

Tipping is customary in Nepal. A common guideline is 10 to 15% of the trip cost, split between the guide and the driver. On a day hike like this, USD 10 to 15 for the guide per group per day is a reasonable reference. Tips go directly to the staff who run the hike, and they are a meaningful part of daily income for seasonal workers.