1 Day Treks in Nepal

Nepal is famous for trekking and there are a variety of treks to choose, from high altitude to low altitude treks.

And if your stay in Nepal is short but you do not want to miss out on trekking, there are some popular treks you can choose from.

1 day treks in Nepal are short, fun-filled and perfect for a blissful experience.

Away from the crowd of city life, 1-day treks are a great way to be with nature.

These one-day treks reward you with majestic mountain views amidst the diverse lifestyle of the Nepalese people.

The treks are easy and are at low altitude region with no risk of altitude sickness. This makes it a perfect trip with your family and friends.

Now allow us to give an overview of some of the best 1-day treks in Nepal.

Nagarkot to Changu Narayan Trek

Grade: Easy

Starting point: Kathmandu

Max elevation: 1800m

Nagarkot to Changu Narayan is a wonderful trek in the Kathmandu valley which is just a four-hour trek. It is a great way to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The trek starts at the hill station at Nagarkot and descends gradually through rice terraces to the nearby Tamang village.

The latter part of the trek includes the scenic valley itself and the great views of the high mountains of the Himalayas. It includes the view of Langtang, Gauri Shankar, Mt. Everest and more.

This trek is easy as it is mostly downhill to the ancient Hindu Temple site at Changunarayan. You can take this trek any time of the year. Moreover, anyone with average physical fitness can easily make it to the end.

The ancient Hindu Temple at the end of the trail lies on a hilltop. It is lower in altitude than the hill at Nagarkot. The temple is one of the oldest standing temples in the history of Nepal.

Ranikot Village Trek

Grade: Easy

Starting Point: Kathmandu

Max elevation:1917m

Ranikot village one day trek takes you to the vantage point of Ranikot pass. Here you can enjoy a spectacular view of the Kathmandu valley and of high hilly folds to the snow-capped mountains.

This day hiking is in off the beaten route. Hence the trail along the route is peaceful and passes through beautiful nature. The day hiking starts from Surya Vinayak in Bhaktapur after driving for about 22 km from Kathmandu.

The trail then starts winding uphill towards Ranikot pass through a peaceful and pristine forest. As you slowly proceed towards Ranikot, you will get an amazing view of the Kathmandu valley.

The hike continues further towards Panauti which a beautiful and traditional Newari town. The walking journey for the day ends here in this beautiful town from where you will take a vehicle back to Kathmandu.

Ranikot village one-day trek will give you an experience of jungle walk and a great view of the Kathmandu Valley.

Phulchowki Trek

Grade: Easy

Starting Point: Kathmandu

Max. Elevation: 2760m

Phulchowki trek is a day hike to the nearest 2760m high mountain with 1-hour drive followed by 4 to 5 hours of trek.

Phulchowki, the garden of flowers lies 14 km southeast of Kathmandu and is widely famous for flora and bird watching.

The hills consist of 570 species of flowering plants and 1 third of bird species in Nepal. During Spring, the rhododendron flower completely covers the hill presenting the trail at its best.

Once you reach the top of the hill, you will see the Phulchowki Mai Shrine with Tibetan prayer flags giving the spot a religious touch.

Besides the natural beauty, the top point offers the panoramic mountain view of Annapurna to Gaurishankar range.

Ideally, the itinerary takes you to Godawari on the private car at the distant of 14km to start the hike. Trekking to Phulchowki is a mild hike for 4 to 5 hours through the subtropical forest.

This trek from Kathmandu is a great trek to take with friends, family, and kids having a limited amount of time. And seeking some peaceful time from the hustle of Kathmandu.

Champadevi Hill Trek

Grade: Easy

Starting point: Kathmandu

Max. Elevation: 2278m

Champadevi hill lies in the southern part of Kathmandu city. This hill is an ideal hill for one-day trekking around the Kathmandu valley.

There are two ways to reach to Champadevi hill summit. You can either go from the Pharping or climb directly from the Machhegaun.

Pharping is one typical village of Newari ethnic people where you will get to witness Newari people’s way of life and culture.

Moreover, you can also visit Buddhist monastery in Pharping before climbing the Champadevi Hill.

And you want a direct ascent to the summit, you can ascend through Machhegaun. You will reach there within three hours.

Champadevi Hill Day Hike route, however, is not well developed. The trails are too narrow and difficult to ascend esp in the summer season.

On the top of the Champadevi hill, there is a sacred statue of Champadevi. Champadevi summit offers a beautiful view of the whole Kathmandu valley. And the stunning glimpse of mountains such as Gaurishankar, Langtang range, and Dorje Lakpa.

After enjoying on the top of the hill, you will descend easily down to Kirtipur and finally return to Kathmandu.

Chandragiri Trek

Grade: Easy

Starting point: Kathmandu

Max. Elevation: 2551m

Of all the hiking trails that are near Kathmandu, Chandragiri trek is height based and takes you through an evergreen hill.

Walking via Hattiban resort and starting off from an elevation of 1650m Chandragiri trek becomes a memorable and unforgettable experience.

During this trek, you will see an astonishing view of the mountains. It includes Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Langtang ranges, Gaurishankar and Everest.

In front of these mountains are the hill, which is pristine. So what could possibly be more delightful than this?

Talking about the impact of the trail, Chandragiri trek is a stressless trek. It takes 7 hours to complete the Chandragiri one day trek.

Also, there is a cable car to the top about 2.5km from Godam, Thankot. On the top, there is a Hindu temple called Bhaleshwar.

Chandragiri is one of the highest points in Kathmandu valley. Thousands of people visit this place after the establishment of the cable car.

Shivapuri Peak Trek

Grade: Easy

Starting point: Kathmandu

Max. Elevation: 2729m

Shivapuri Peak is 2732 m in height. It is an outstanding one day trek closest to the Kathmandu city. It is a clean and eco-friendly green forest natural trails.

The trek to Shivapuri peak includes driving to the Nagi gompa which is 13.4 km far from Thamel. Later you will walk for about 3 hours to Shivapuri Peak.

Shivapuri National Park covers 159 km-61 sq mi. The area includes Nagarjuna Hill( Raniban). It is a dense forest which conserves oaks, rhododendron, pines, Moss, and variety of grasses. Inside the park, there are many wild animals such as wild boars, tigers, monkey, deer and many species of birds.

From Shivapuri peak, you will get a glimpse of the beautiful mountain and the Kathmandu valley. There are almost 37 white Himalayan peaks. They include Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Langtang range, Dorje Lakpa, Mt. Everest and Annapurna range.

The total time to complete this trek is about 6 to 7 hours. This trek serves as a beautiful short getaway which you can take either with family or friends.

Sarangkot Trek

Grade: Easy

Starting point: Pokhara

Max.elevation: 1590m

Sarangkot is one of the most popular hill stations in Pokhara and also the best viewpoint nearby Pokhara city. It lies at an elevation of 1590m and just above the Pokhara city.

The one day trek to Sarangkot is popular in Pokhara and it is a walk of about 3 hours including uphill walk. There is a view tower at the top and a few shops for refreshment.

From the top, you will get a spectacular sunrise and sunset views. Moreover, you can enjoy the view of the Pokhara valley, Fewa lake, and unlimited green hills. And the magnificent 360-degree view of mountains from Dhaulagiri and across the Annapurna to Manaslu.

Moreover, it is also a great paragliding spot for all those who are willing to take paragliding. So all these reasons make Sarangkot one of the best trekking spot in Pokhara valley.

And like most one day treks, this is a soothing trek which is suitable for people of all age group due to its low elevation. Also, you can take this year all year round.

Peace Stupa Trek

Grade: Easy

Starting point: Pokhara

Max Elevation: 1100m

Peace Stupa is locally known as the Bishwa Shanti Stupa or World Peace Pagoda. The stupa lies at the height of around 1100m at top of a hill above the Phewa lake of Pokhara.

Built as a symbol of peace, the shrine has become a famous tourist attraction.

To reach the stupa you can cross the Phewa lake after a relaxing ride on a boat for about 30 minutes. Once you reach the other side of the lake, you will trek through the forest on stepping stone stairs.

As you reach the top, you will spend time at the top admiring the views. You will also feel the peaceful ambiance of the place. And see a massive white stupa with idols of Buddha in meditation poses.

There is also a monastery inside the premise where monks involve in prayers and chanting. Later, after all that, you will trek down to the lake by visiting typical settlements on the way. You will then reach the boat boarding point. And return back to the other side of the lake towards the town area.

This trek can be of half or full day as per your liking. Overall, Peace Stupa is an easy one day trek which you should definitely not miss out on while in Pokhara.

Thulakot Hill Trek

Grade: Easy

Starting Point: Pokhara

Max. Elevation: 1450m

Around Pokhara, there are many places to hike for a day and one of them is Thulakot. Thulakot is in Kalika VDC of Kaski and falls in the Royal trek region of Pokhara.

The journey starts with a scenic drive for about an hour from Pokhara to Kalikasthan (17 km northeast). You will see the beautiful landscapes, villages and picture-perfect scenery.

From Kalikasthan you need to walk through the village path for about 25 minutes. During this walk, you will pass through several village houses where you will witness the lifestyle of the local people living there.

You will then walk up to Thulakot about 15 km. From this region, one can see the mountain range and eight lakes out of nine lakes of Pokhara.

Annapurna, Macchapucchre, Dhaulagiri, and Manaslu are some of the mountain ranges to witness.

Thulakot trek is a beautiful one day trek in Pokhara. And if you want a better view than from Sarangkot, you should definitely take this trek.

Kahun Danda Trek

Grade: Easy

Starting point: Pokhara

Max. Elevation: 1444m

Kahun Danda trek is another enchanting hill north of Pokhara. And is only about two and a half hours from Mahendrapool downtown.

To see the mountain areas of Pokhara, walking on your feet is the only option. And it is also the best way to see the surrounding and explore the villages that are rich in cultural diversity.

Located in the northeast of Pokhara at 1444m, it lies lower than Sarangkot. The trail starts just after crossing the newly built bridge at Seti Powerhouse. And goes by the army barracks at Phulbari across Mahendrapool before climbing slowly up a slope.

You will then enjoy a panoramic view of the Annapurna range and wide Pokhara valley from Kahun Danda.

Once you reach there, you can witness the dramatic change of colors after the sunrise on the Annapurna which will be a heart-lifting experience.

Those who do not have climbing skills also can join the Kahun Danda trek. In this trek, there is also a view tower wherein the north side of Kahun Danda you can see amazing Rhododendron forest.

Overall, it is a great trek to take while in Pokhara and is suitable for anyone.

Best Time for 1-day treks in Nepal

The one-day treks in Nepal are possible all year round. However, Spring from March to May and Autumn from September to November are the best time to take any trek.

During Spring, the weather is pleasant with flowers blooming along the trails offering a visual treat to the trekkers. Autumn is also a great time with clear blue skies and favorable weather condition.

As for Summer, it rains quite a lot. So, the trails can be slippery and muddy. Yet if you don’t mind the rain, you can still take the one-day treks with proper gear.

During winter, the temperature in the lower regions are as low as 18 degrees and as such, cold is not really an issue.

Conclusion

Everyone can trek here in Nepal. All you need to do is choose the one that best suits you. There are long treks that last from a week to a month and there are one-day treks in Nepal. Both Kathmandu and Pokhara offers plenty of one-day treks for you to choose from.

The one-day treks are relaxing treks. There is pretty much nothing to worry about during these treks. You begin in the morning and return by the end of the day.

Altitude problem is rarely an issue as almost all treks are in the lower altitude and rarely above 2500m.

For further question or queries, please feel free to contact us. It is our pleasure to guide and assist you with the best of our knowledge.