Balthali Namobuddha Scenic Hike

5 - Excellent
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Balthali Namobuddha Scenic Hike 5 Days in total | Easy

The Balthali Namobuddha Scenic Hike begins at Changunarayan and takes you through Nagarkot, Dhulikhel, Namobuddha, and Balthali. Enjoy stunning sunrise and sunset views, peaceful village trails, lush forests, green fields, and refreshing riverside walks before ending the hike in the historic town of Panauti and returning to Kathmandu.


Is this Balthali Namobuddha Scenic Hike for me?

Physical Grading: Easy

Easy to moderate, depending on walking pace and trail conditions

Max Elevation: 2300 Mtrs

Accommodation: Hotel/Rsort

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trip Route:

Kathmandu - Changu Narayan - Nagarkot - Dhulikhel - Banobuddha - Balthali - Kathmandu


Balthali Namobuddha Scenic Hike Overview

We start the Balthali Namobuddha Scenic Hike from the eastern rim of Kathmandu valley at Changunarayan. We reach Nagarkot for an excellent sunset view in the evening and exquisite sunrise in the morning. Then we make a wonderful hike to Dhulikhel, a beautiful town to the east of Kathmandu. From Dhulikhel, we move deeper into scenic rural areas, hitting Namobuddha and Balthali. Then stop for a day in Balthali, exploring the areas around. A short hike from Balthali brings us to a river with crystal clear water. Stroll along the riverbank for a while, and enjoy the pleasant murmur of the river under the canopy of tall trees. All around, we see green fields and villages, small and big mountains, forests, and fertile lands. After a day here, we move on to Panauti, an ancient town, through this picturesque rural area. Finally, our hike ends here and we return to Kathmandu.

Balthali Namobuddha Scenic Hike Highlights

  • Ancient Cultural Heritage: Explore Changunarayan Temple, renowned for its historic architecture, intricate woodcarvings, and stone sculptures.
  • Spectacular Himalayan Sunrises: Enjoy panoramic mountain views from Nagarkot, weather permitting.
  • Authentic Village Experiences: Walk through traditional settlements, terraced farmland, forests, and peaceful countryside.
  • Spiritual Discovery at Namobuddha: Visit one of Nepal’s most revered Buddhist pilgrimage destinations and experience its serene monastery surroundings.
  • Peaceful Balthali Countryside: Discover rural life, traditional homes, green hills, riverbanks, and beautiful walking trails.
  • Historic Panauti: Explore traditional Newari architecture and the magnificent Indreshwar Mahadev Temple.
  • Private and Flexible Travel: Enjoy a personalized hiking experience with a dedicated guide and porter.
  • Comfortable Stays: Relax in carefully selected hotels and countryside resorts after each day of exploration.
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Balthali Namobuddha Scenic Hike Outline Itinerary

Day 01: Drive from Kathmandu to Changunarayan and Hike to Nagarkot

Overnight: Club Himalaya or a similar hotel in Nagarkot
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Highlight: Discover ancient Nepalese heritage and finish the day overlooking the Himalayan landscape.

Day 02: Hike from Nagarkot to Dhulikhel

Overnight: Gaia Holiday Home or a similar hotel in Dhulikhel
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Highlight: Enjoy a Himalayan sunrise followed by a refreshing walk through traditional villages and beautiful countryside.

Day 03: Hike from Dhulikhel to Namobuddha and then to Balthali

Overnight: Balthali Mountain Resort or a similar countryside resort
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Highlight: Combine a meaningful visit to a sacred Buddhist pilgrimage site with a beautiful hike into the peaceful countryside of Balthali.

Day 04: Balthali Exploration

Overnight: Balthali Mountain Resort or a similar countryside resort
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Highlight: Experience authentic village life and enjoy a relaxing day surrounded by nature, green hills, and traditional farmland.

Day 05: Hike from Balthali to Panauti and drive to Kathmandu

Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Highlight: Finish your journey with a cultural exploration of Panauti before returning to Kathmandu.

STANDARD SERVICE INCLUSION

Accommodation

  • One night at Club Himalaya or a similar hotel in Nagarkot.
  • One night at Gaia Holiday Home or a similar hotel in Dhulikhel.
  • Two nights at Balthali Mountain Resort or a similar countryside resort.
  • Accommodation upgrades in Nagarkot and Dhulikhel can be arranged at an additional cost, subject to availability.

Meals

  • Breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout the itinerary, as specified in the daily program.
  • Tea and coffee with meals.
  • Meals selected from the available menus at the accommodation or designated dining establishments.

Private Transportation

  • Private vehicle from your hotel in Kathmandu to Changunarayan.
  • Private vehicle from Panauti to Kathmandu at the end of the journey.

Permits and Entrance Fees

  • Required trekking permits, if applicable, and specified sightseeing entrance fees.

Professional Trekking Team

  • One experienced, English-speaking trekking guide throughout the journey.
  • One porter for every two trekkers, carrying up to 25 kg in total per porter.
  • Guide and porter wages, meals, accommodation, transportation, insurance, and applicable expenses.

Taxes and Service Charges

  • Applicable government taxes and service charges included in the package price.
  • Transparent pricing with no hidden charges for services specified as included.

Emergency Assistance

  • Assistance and coordination in the event of an emergency, including help arranging appropriate medical or rescue services when required.

Important insurance requirement: Comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory. Your policy must cover emergency medical treatment and helicopter evacuation in Nepal, where applicable. Please provide your insurance details before departure and ensure your coverage is appropriate for the activities and maximum altitude of your trip.

What's not included?

  • International airfare and Nepal entry visa fees.
  • Personal travel and medical insurance.
  • Bottled or mineral water and cold drinks.
  • Alcoholic beverages.
  • Personal expenses, including laundry, telephone calls, internet, and other personal services.
  • Tips for the guide and porter. Tipping is customary but entirely at your discretion.
  • Accommodation upgrades or additional services not specified in the package.
  • Additional expenses resulting from itinerary changes, delays, or circumstances beyond the agreed arrangements.
  • Any services or expenses not specifically mentioned under “What Is Included?”

Balthali Namobuddha Scenic Hike Reviews

5 - Excellent


Balthali Namobuddha Scenic Hike Day by Day Itinerary

Day 01 Drive from Kathmandu to Changunarayan and Hike to Nagarkot

Have a delicious breakfast in the morning, and drive to Changunarayan, a magnificent pagoda temple in the eastern corner of Kathmandu valley. The temple and its premises are in the Unesco Heritage List, because of the extraordinary artworks of the temple. After you are done with exploring the majestic art of the temple, we start our climb towards Nagarkot. We stop for lunch in the way and continue towards our destination. On the way, we pass farm terraces finely cut farm terraces and villages. Appreciate a broad view of the entire valley, which is available at almost every step from the trekking route. But we should reach Nagarkot before sunset, and view the ethereal glow of the wide expanse of the Himalayas from here. Then we retire to our hotel for dinner and accommodation.

Day 02 Hike from Nagarkot to Dhulikhel

Wake up early in the morning to see an incomparable sunrise view from Nagarkot. The sun’s rays touch the tip of the Himalayan peaks at first, emitting an ethereal glow. If the weather is fine, it is all the more exciting to view the peaks glimmering in the light, while the lower areas are still dark. The light gradually gives different shades to the snow-filled slopes. By the time it arrives at you, the play of light and darkness will almost be over, with light winning over the darkness. You can experience only a few of such sublime moments in your life. Then we have breakfast here head towards Dhulikhel. It will be a good hiking day after all.

Day 03 Hike from Dhulikhel to Namobuddha and then to Balthali

Build a perfect picture of an idyllic countryside before you start your hike today. You get yourself very surprised in the evening to have done a very good hike in your lifetime. Touchy view of fertile farms and villages lie on the way as we move ahead of Dhulikhel. This part of the countryside to the east of Kathmandu is at its best, with streams and rivers, forests and farmlands, hills and plateaus — all spread out before you like the pictures in a painter’s canvass. When you stand on the premises of a grand monastery in Namo Buddha, you will simply be bowled over by its magnificence. Lift your eyes from it and see around, you will see enjoy equally good views, down from the stream-basins to the mountaintops. In the evening, stay at Balthali Village Resort, built atop a beautiful hillock with best surrounding scenes.

Day 04 Balthali Exploration

Take short hikes in the village around during the day. Go down the resort to the secluded banks of a small river and take a short stroll along the river-bank. You can unwind yourself in the perfectly serene environment here, in the middle of imposing hills. The river runs with a faint murmur deep down the gorge cut between the mountains. You feel a different world with lush green trees on its side and birds singing from their branches. The best way to spend the day is to hike to a beautiful village sitting atop a small plateau at the junction of two rivers and to go to the aforesaid river in the afternoon after lunch.

Day 05 Hike from Balthali to Panauti and drive to Kathmandu

The last day of the hike is equally refreshing, equally exciting. We move through the heart of rural life on this day as well. We reach Panauti for our overnight stay. This ancient town displays typical Newar culture and a few magnificent pagoda temples. Especially imposing among them is the temple of Indreswar Mahadev. After appreciating all this, we wind up our tour driving back to Kathmandu.

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