Luxury Balthali village Trek from Nagarkot

Arrival in Kathmandu (1,400 m / 4,600 ft)

Upon your arrival in Kathmandu, our representative from Namaste Nepal Trekking & Research Hub will pick you up from the airport. He will be displaying a NNTR sideboard outside the airport terminal. Transfer to the selected hotel. In the afternoon the pre-trip meeting will be holding at your Hotel. During this meeting we will introduce your trek and or tour leader/guide, so please make sure that you ask all the questions and concerns. 

Once you've settled in, head out and explore the city. Kathmandu Durbar Square is a great place to start your exploration, where you'll walk through narrow alleyways teeming with small shops, ancient temples, and local restaurants. If you want to stretch your legs, Swayambhunath Stupa/Monkey temple rising above the valley is the perfect spot to catch the sunset over the valley.

In the evening, the tourist hub of Thamel is a good place to grab your first meal, with a variety of restaurants to chose from offering both Western and local Nepali dishes.

Drive to Changu Narayan, and Trek to Nagarkot ( 2,175m / 7,135 ft)

After breakfast, meet your trekking guide in Kathmandu and take a car out to the edge of the Kathmandu Valley, The vintage Changu Narayan Temple was constructed in the 323 AD by King Hari Dutta and is renowned for its artistic stone, wood, and metal architecture. The double-roofed temple of Changu Narayan is devoted to Lord Vishnu in his incarnation as Narayan. A UNESCO world heritage site. From where you will begin your trek of the Kathmandu Valley rim to the stunning Balthali village.

After visiting Changu Narayan temple you will trek up to Nagarkot. Perched on the edge of the Kathmandu Valley, this mountain getaway town offers views to the north of the Himalaya and includes a sprawling landscape of rural scenery: terraced fields and farmhouses.

Trek to Dhulikhel (1,450m / 5,085 ft)

Enjoy the breakfast with a Himalayan view before heading out along the ridgeline to the southeast of Nagarkot. Today, you'll pass through community forests and open landscapes with small villages that rely not only on farming and livestock but also on the forest for their daily needs, with the beautiful view of the Himalaya in the north side and the valley of Kathmandu in the south. This is an excellent chance to get close to the daily life activities of the local people in the villages. It is totally different from Kathmandu, which is so walkable in terms of distance, but a world apart in terms of lifestyle.

Trek to Namo Buddha (1,750m / 5,741 ft)

This morning, you'll hike to Namo Buddha, which is an easy few hours walk. The tour takes you to the Buddhist pilgrimage site situated on the hilltop of Panauti in Kavre District. The main attraction of your tour at Namo Buddha is the Thrangu Tashi Yangtse monastery where young monks from different parts of Nepal study Buddhism. This is a great chance to get close to the Buddhist monks and learn about their daily life, participate in the ceremony and have lunch with them.

Trek to Balthali Village (1,730m / 5,675 ft)

After breakfast with a nice setting overlooking the mountains, take the morning to explore Tamang Buddhist culture and compare it with Tibetan Buddhism. Taking a short stroll down the hillside you can visit the little stupa at Namo Buddha. This stupa commemorates Siddhartha Gautam’s selfless act of offering his body to a hungry tigress, which is said to have contributed to his ability to achieve enlightenment and, ultimately, Buddha-hood. Learn about the significance of the place and its place in local Tamang culture, before climbing a short distance up to the newly built Tibetan Buddhist monastery perched on the hilltop above the Stupa.

From here, you'll continue on through fields and orchards to the quiet village of Balthali, having a picnic lunch along the way. Here, you'll also have amazing views of the mountains and can enjoy the charm of village life. Even though it’s a steep hike back down into the village after you have dropped your pack in the hotel, it’s worth the effort.

Trek to Panauti, Drive to Kathmandu (1,400 m / 4,600 ft)

Enjoy breakfast with great views over the valley. Most of today’s trail is on a dirt road, passing beautiful small villages, terraced fields and with those amazing views off to the distance in the north. You finish the trek in the lovely Newari village of Panauti. Enjoy a local meal for lunch and take the time to explore your surroundings.

In the 13th century, Panauti was the capital of the autonomous kingdom of Banepa and today remains an important historic village in the area. The quiet town is built in the signature Newar style, with pink brick and carved wood, and comes alive every year in September with the Carriages Festival. The old town is wedged between two small rivers with a cluster of important temples at the confluence which is regarded as an ancient place of power as there is an invisible third stream that connects here. Cremations are held at the confluence and a festival is held here once a year in January with every 12 years being of major significance as the third stream is said to be seen at this time. 

After lunch, you'll be picked up and driven back to Kathmandu.

Final Departure

Your adventure to Nepal comes to the end today! It’s time to say goodbye to Nepal until the Next Time! Enjoy your last moments in Kathmandu, a city stroll, and-or souvenir shopping. NNTR representative will meet you at your hotel and drive you to the airport for your return flight home. On the way to your home, you have plenty of time to plan your next adventure in the wonderful land of the mystic Himalayas.