Nagarkot to Dhulikhel Hike

Introduction
The Nagarkot to Dhulikhel hike is a 5-hour journey covering a distance of 15.6 km that is filled with the beauty of nature of two hill stations, Nagarkot and Dhulikhel. Since this hike lasts for about 5 hours, it is suitable for those visitors that are pressed on time. This trail is also famous among families with children who want to get closer to nature, and for acclimatization among trekkers who want to conquer the Himalayas. Moving away from the chaos of Kathmandu, this hike will take you to the peripheries of the valley located on the base of the Himalayas. We begin from Nagarkot (2100m) and reach Dhulikhel (1500m) after we pass the 800 m drop in altitude. The scenic vista of the central and eastern Himalayas surround us throughout the hike. This hike is ideal for the winter as well since the region lies below 3000m.


Hiking Trail
We begin the hike early in the morning after breakfast from Nagarkot. We carry plenty of water and fruits for the way. This trail is a part of the cultural trekking trail of Kathmandu Valley. The first 10km of the trail consists of a hike across jungles filled with pine accompanied by the sound of birds singing serenades. The last 8km of the hike consists of sights of villages filled with local vegetables, and terraced fields. After we arrive at Dhulikhel, we can either choose to stay there or move to the Namobuddha monastery for the night. The monastery sits on the peak of a hill which is at a distance of 12km from Dhulikhel.
During the hike, we are mesmerized by the stunning collection of mountains. Some of the highest mountains include Shishapangma (8000m), Dhaulagiri (8176m), Annapurna (8010m), Manaslu (8156m), Cho Oyu (8000m), and Everest (8848m). We also get the view of mountains below the range of 6000m and 7000m. From Nagarkot, the trail is filled with views of mountain ranges ranging from 50km (Jugal range to 150km. Some of the famous ones here are Gyaltzen peak (6705m), Gur Karpo Ri (6874), Himal Chuli (7900m), Ganesh Himal (7422m), Phurbi Chyachu (6772), Langtang Ri (7205m), Dorjee lkpa (6966m), Gauri Shanker (7134m), Melungtse (7200m), Numbur Peak (6958m), and many more.