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The Kathmandu valley is surrounded by four major peaks – Shivapuri (2,800 m/9,200 ft), Fulchowki (2,795 m/9,170 ft), Nagarjun (2,825 m/9,268 ft) and Chandragiri (2,551 m/8,369 ft). It is possible to day-hike to all these peaks and other minor ones too. These day hikes are perfect for those who do not wish to embark on multiple day trek and/or those who do not wish to sleep in local lodges. On a clear day, it is possible to get views of the Langtang, Ganesh and Manaslu ranges from the tops of these peaks. Below are descriptions of some of the hikes:
CHISAPANI hike (Shivapuri):
Start early and drive from your hotel to Sundarijal. The hike begins with a steep ascent for about 30-45 minutes on staircases to the Sundarijal water reserve. The uphill eases as we slowly hike past a Tamang village and then an army camp after which we enter the Shivapuri forest. Most of the trees at Shivapuri are pine, oak and rhododendron and this area is a bird lover’s paradise. After 3-4 hours of uphill hiking, we come to a small pass from where we descend for around 25 minutes to the village of Chisapani. After lunch at Chisapani, a 4 x 4 will drive you back to your hotel in Kathmandu.
NAGI GOMPA hike (Shivapuri):
Start early and drive from your hotel to Budanilkantha – north of Kathmandu city. Quick visit of Budanilkantha temple which is revered by both Hindus and Buddhists. The temple is dedicated to lord Vishnu who lays on a bed of serpents. Continue on your jeep past the temple to the entrance of the Shivapuri National Park. From the park, we begin our ascent to Nagi Gompa nunnery. The hike through the forest should take anywhere between 2-3 hours. At the gompa, visit the nunnery. You can continue further past the Nagi Gompa temple and you may opt to either take the 4 x 4 back from the nunnery or hike down to the entrance of the park.
JAMACHO hike (Nagarjun):
Start early and drive from your hotel to the entrance of the Nagarjun National park. This area is guarded by the army. It is a 4 hour hike to the top where there is a small temple.
Per person price (valid until December 31, 2020)
1 persons: US$150 per person
2 persons: US$105 per person
3 or more persons: US$90 per person
Payment policy:
Cancellation policy:
4 x 4 transportation to the hike start point and return, National park permit, English speaking guide and lunch.
Your international airfare, Nepal Visa, Meals not indicated in the itinerary, Tips and gratuities, Personal equipment (a suggested list will be mailed to you), Travel insurance (Required), Other expenses of a personal nature
Activity: Cultural Tour
Destination: Thimpu / Punakha / Paro
Country: Bhutan
Glimpse into the heart of the tranquil kingdom of Bhutan with an experience of the lifestyle that is famously measured as “Gross National Happiness.” Get introduced to Bhutan with handicrafts, costumes and ancient weapons in the National Museum near Paro. Hike to the legendary Taktshang Monastery, also called Tiger’s Nest. The trail is through pine trees festooned with Spanish moss and the occasional fluttering prayer flags.
The capital city of Bhutan, Thimphu, is a gallery of traditional Bhutanese culture. Understand more of the culture through visits to a traditional painting school and the Bhutanese Indigenous Hospital. Explore the Thimphu market to shop for handicrafts and immerse with locals in their daily routines.
See panoramic views of the Himalayas from Dochula Pass on the way to Punakha. A short hike to Chimi La Khang, also known as the Fertility Temple, goes on trails through scenic forests. The marriage of scenery, unique Bhutanese culture and engaging people complete this inspiring journey to Bhutan.
If you wish to embark on a more comprehensive and longer journey in Bhutan, check out our Enchanted Journeys of the Thunder Dragon program.
All our Essence of Bhutan programs are private journeys for a minimum of two participants for a date of your choosing. We do NOT nickel-and-dime on services – all inclusions and exclusions are clearly listed in cost details. Some companies will advertise trips for very low prices but they have a lot of exclusions that is usually not clear. Most of our trekkers are either repeat clients or referrals. We have been in business for over 30 years and we employ only the most professional and friendly staff.
We are also proud to give back to our community through 3 Summits For Nepal managed by Crystal Mountain Treks staff. Contact us to learn more…
Activity: Trekking
Destination: Kanchenjunga
Country: Nepal
Our Kanchenjunga trek is a lodge-to-lodge trek which visits both the North and South Base Camps. Check out our Kanchenjunga Base Camp Tent trek if you are interested in a longer camping (tent) trek. On our Kanchenjunga lodge trek, we carry extra food to supplement what’s available in the local lodges. We will also carry tents so you may opt to sleep in tents in some of the places. A shorter program which visits the North Kanchenjunga Base Camp only is also possible.
Kangchenjunga is a sacred mountain and the word Kanchenjunga literally translates to “Five Great Treasures in the Snow.” There are five peaks within the Kangchenjunga range. And each peak is believed to be a repository of different treasures: gold, silver, gems, grains and sacred texts. Consequently, in due reverence, the first summiteers stopped a few meters short of the summit in 1955. However, today’s climbers no longer follow this practice. On the Kanchenjunga trek, we will be trekking through a Beyul. The purpose of beyuls is to provide sanctuaries for people seeking refuge from social and religious persecution. Read some facts about the Kanchenjunga region here.
We have built five schools in the region through our giving arm 3 Summits for Nepal. We’d be glad to organize a visit for you to these schools.
Begin the trek with an hour-long flight to eastern Nepal. At Bhadrapur, board a jeep/bus for a 9 hour drive (over two days) to Taplejung and then to Sekathum where the trek begins. Begin trekking and ascend through the Ghunsa river valley to the North Base Camp. Return to Ghunsa and cross Sinion La to the Kabeli river valley. Hike up to the South Base Camp and descend to Yamphudin. Drive back to Bhadrapur for a flight back to Kathmandu. Also, check out P. Russell’s GAIA tracks from his trek to Kanchenjunga in Nov 2022.
“Being only two people in the group was a massive advantage we had — it was easier to get helicopters with a smaller group, easier to change where we’d stay on a given day, easier to ask to push further when we felt good, etc. In fact, because of this flexibility, we beat many big groups to EBC, who took many hours longer than us because they had to wait for stragglers, and they ended up missing the views because the clouds had already come in. Basically this helped us get in/out of Lukla more easily, move faster, and adapt the schedule to the changing weather.”
Luke L., Chicago IL, USA
The Kanchenjunga Trek is a lodge trek. This means you will sleep and eat meals in local lodges along the trail. The lodges on this trek are quite basic. Meals are not as varied as on the Everest or the Annapurna treks but options do include rice with veggies, noodles, local breads etc. On this trek, we will carry some food to supplement what’s available at the local lodges. Read update from a recent lodge trek to the North and South Kanchenjunga Base Camps with explanation on the lodge facilities etc.
The best seasons for the Kanchenjunga trek are Spring (April-May) and Autumn (October-November). It is also possible to trek to Kanchenjunga Base Camp in December but it will be very cold with temperatures dipping to -20 C/, -4 F or slightly lower.
The Kanchenjunga trek is “CHALLENGING”. It is rated 5 on a rating scale from 1 (easy) to 5 (challenging). Highest overnight altitude reached is at Lhonak (4,790 m/15,700ft) and the highest elevation reached is at Pangpema (5,140m/16,900ft). There are two acclimatization days to allow for proper acclimatization. Trekking to Kanchenjunga Base Camp involves average daily hiking of around 6 hours with a few longer days of around 7-8 hours. Also, this is a relatively long trek in a remote area. Regardless of the rating, it is important to prepare for any trek in Nepal. Read our advice on training for treks.
