"Reach one of the fascinating hill points near Kathmandu valley, feeling serenity at its finest, and get surrounded by almost 10 iconic mountains with an insight into ethnic Gurung and Tamang culture. This is a day hike to Suryachaur that passes by several hamlets of locals, trout fish farms, and strawberry cultivation that showcases the diversity of Nepal just within a day, perfect for those who have a limited timeframe but still want to feel the beauty of the land of the Himalayas
Overview:
Kakani Suryachaur Day Hike is one of the top-notch short hikes near Kathmandu valley that ascends to the Suryachaur Hill Point (2070 meters) and reveals the panoramic vista of iconic highlands such as Langtang Lirung, Manaslu, Annapurna, Dorje Lakpa, and the holy Gaurishankar in just a day. The hike is relatively easy, so you can enjoy nature at its finest with your kids, family, friends, or even alone without worrying about a long expedition and going out of budget.
This Suryachaur Hike starts with a drive from Kathmandu to Kakani via private vehicle, bypassing rolling valleys, green hills, and local villages in between, a scenic drive that only lasts for 1.5 to 2 hours, being just 24 km away from the northwest to Kathmandu. Right from the start, this hike starts through the "Nagarjun Shivapuri National Park", bypassing dense forested areas of diverse Himalayan flora and fauna, and transports you to the villages of Gurung and Tamang locals, and agricultural cultivated area, letting you gain an in-depth knowledge of Himalayan people sustain their life in just a day.
Then, it finally ascends to the Suryachaur View Point that shows the entire Likhu valley underneath with the admirable views of the mountains, then descends to Jhor, touching 2 districts of Kathmandu and Nuwakot. After an exploration and immersion at Jhor Waterfall and the Baruneshwar Gufa (cave), we'll drive back to Kathmandu, ending our short yet enchanting Kakani Hike of 1 day.
All in all, this one-day journey is a perfect blend of adventure, nature, and a rich tapestry of culture, and we at Destination Himalaya Treks offer this package in a low price with the company of the best tour guides that explain every detail about what each highlighted spots enriches, making the trip even more.
Top Attractions of the Kakani Suryachaur Day Hike
Breathtaking Himalayan Experience
Well, any journey without the mountain views would be incomplete. This Suryachaur viewpoint stands out to be one of the best hill points demonstrating the Himalayan Range in a 360 degree panoramic view of iconic mountains such as Mt Manaslu (8163 m), Langtang Lirung, Langtang Himalayas, the holy treasure of Gaurishankar, Ganesh Himal, and even the entire Likhu Valley underneath the vantage point can be seen. Besides, you can glimpse Mt. Annapurna (8091 m) and Dorje Lakpa sweeping away the whole Likhu valley, making the short day hike truly remarkable.
A wander at Shivapuri National Park
Short hikes are simply done to enjoy and relish in nature far away from the crowded life, where serenity lies, right? During this Suryachaur Day Hike, the trail passes by the protected area of Shivapuri National Park, which is simply an astonishing walk through the diverse flora and fauna. Spanning 159 square kilometers, just 12 km away from Kathmandu, it also serves as the route trailhead to other famous destinations such as Langtang, Gosaikunda, and Nagarkot, touching the four major districts in Nepal: Kathmandu, Nuwakot, Sindhupalchok, and Dhading.
If you are a birdwatcher, then this 1-day hike is a haven for you as it is home to almost 320 birds, rare mammals, such as the Himalayan Black Bear and the Leopard, with over 2000 plant species. To simplify, you get to relish in the tropical forest, small river streams, along with the chirping sound of birds having a peaceful time where tranquility meets adventure.
Diverse Cultural Encounters: Gurung and Tamang locals
While opting for this Surya Chaur Day Hike, it offers a perfect blend of Nepalese culture and lifestyle as the hiking trail passes by the small villages and historical places such as Tokha, where you can get an insight into Gurung and Tamang culture and customs more in depth. These indigenous locals still preserve their culture in the middle of the city area, where their houses are built with slatted roofs and stones, transporting visitors to an ancient era. And the best of all? You can even try their local delicacies, stopping by their shops or house, such as Dhido (made with millet and served with vegetables or any non-veg curry), and do not miss out! Savoring the local chicken soup made with warm love by locals.
Trout Farming: Kakani Village
During the Surya Chaur Hike, soon after the walking trail begins from Kakani, to the Suryachaur route, you will see the scenery of freshwater trout fish farming, as the Kakani region is popularly known for freshwater trout and also the strawberry cultivation. While passing by, you can see the locals engaging in cultivation farming and local practices and to make your day hike even more delightful, you can try your catching fresh trout at the fish farms by paying additional money to farms and it will be prepared by the locals or if you want then you can do BBQ by yourself as well or pick strawberries straight (with permission) from the fields, adding a memorable touch to the hike with your loved ones.
Jhor: Waterfall and Spiritual Retreat
To conclude, this route to Suryachaur Hike, the route leads to Jhor Waterfall, fed by the streams originating in Shivapuri National Park, where the huge water falls down the huge rock cliff, offering serenity and the sound of a calm waterfall- a perfect way to conclude our adventure. Just a few distances ahead, there sits a Jhor Mahankal Temple and a cave dedicated to Lord Shiva, a Hindu deity. After a long hike, it stands out as an ideal endpoint with the fast-flowing sound of cascading water and spiritual ambience rewarding you with unique insights.
Best 1-day Suryachaur Hike Itinerary from Kathmandu
- Right in the early morning, after having your breakfast, the tour guide will come to pick you up at 7:00 AM, at the hotel or any place you are in a comfortable private car or any private vehicle, depending on the number of hikers that your group (comfort at its finest)
- Soon after, the road drive to Kakani begins toward the northwest, with the spectacular view of diverse landscapes along the rural villages, local spots, lush green valley, and fish zones. The drive lasts for almost 1.5 to 2 hours, from Kathmandu to Kakani - the hike to Suryachaur begins.
- Registering our permits, Gurje Bhanjyang, we will enter the "Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park", through the blooming rhododendron dense forest (if it's spring) and crusty dried brown forest (if it's Autumn), bypassing cascading waterfall with a gaze over wild flora and fauna.
- In between, we will traverse through several local hamlets of diverse ethnic groups, such as Gurung and Tamang, along with the trout fish farm and strawberry farming.
- By 11:00 AM, we'll reach Suryachaur Hill station (2030 meters), immersing in the best panoramic views of the mountain ranges
- Then, we will have our lunch, enjoying the village lifestyle, mountains surrounding the valley, with the warm hospitality and local delicacies prepared by them.
- Then, we'll take another hike for an hour towards Jhor, traversing through several smaller streams and cascading waterfalls, paying a visit to the ancient "Jhor Mahankal Temple" in between the high waterfall.
- This 1-day hike to Suryachaur ends with a drive back to Kathmandu or the hotel where you are staying.
Suryachaur Day Hike Cost for 2025 and 2026
This 1-day Hike to Suryachaur costs from USD 50 to USD 99, covering an experienced tour guide, private vehicle (car, jeep, van), entry fee, and all the requirements for the tour guide as well. The pricing depends on the number of pax your group holds, for instance, the more no. of hikers in the group, the lower the price gets. To make you understand in detail, here is the overview of pricing based on the group.
| No. of hikers | Standard Price |
| 1-1 | USD 115 |
| 2-4 | USD 85 |
| 5-6 | USD 65 |
| 7-12 | USD 50 |
Can I combine this hike to Suryachaur with any other trek and tour?
YES! If you are looking forward to combining this Suryachaur Hike package with any other treks and tours by extending for 3-5 days, then you can easily stretch this tour with no hassle, that way you get to even cover any other popular expedition nearby. Well! To make it simpler to understand, here are some recommendations that is popular amongst the hikers and can be simply lengthened up the hike, touching another hiking trailhead as well.
Extend Itinerary 3 Nights and 2 days
If you have 2-3 days extra, then you can add additional days to enrich your adventure even more, where the first half (first day) remains the same, and you will be settled at a cozy lodge near Suryachaur. Then, afterwards, on the second day, we can explore the Suryachaur village and take a hike to Chisapani, which stands to be another trending hike in Nepal, with an exploration of diverse ethnic communities such as Newari, Magar, Gurung, and Tamang hamlets. Then, on the third day, we can hike to Sundarijal, visiting an ancient temple, "Gokarneshwor Mahadev Mandir" that has a huge waterfall in between, highlighting the Hindu mythology. Afterwards, we can conclude this hike to Suryachaur by driving back to Kathmandu. To enrich the trip even more, you can do the UNESCO Site Seeing Tour as well, visiting 7 heritage sites.
Merge with short treks nearby
To make this trip even more meaningful and adventurous, you can combine it with other popular short treks nearby by following the route to Langtang Valley, as it is near Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park and Kathmandu, you can complete this trek just within a week but including the Kakani Suryachaur Hike as well. Or else, you can just get back to Kathmandu and start the trekking journey ahead that can be completed within just 4-5 days starting from Kathmandu such as Poon Hill and Mardi Himal Trek.
Whatever you choose, every journey provides something unique, fresh, and out of the city's crowded life, connecting you more with nature. Apart from that, if you want to customize it, as per your route, budget, and itinerary, as we believe that it is never enough to explore the Himalayas.
Why choose Destination Himalaya Treks and Expedition?
With a service of more than 15+ years, we carry expertise in making your journey a bit more meaningful and fascinating at the same time, with great safety as well. From adventurous to short hikes of just 1 day, we organize all the expeditions, making sure that your journey gets completed, despite the limited timeframe. Besides, you can even do private elusive trip and luxurious journey, to level up the odyssey 1 step more.
Our trekking and tour guides are licensed and highly experienced as well, they know how to handle any emergency properly as they are medically trained. English-speaking guides are trustworthy and also explain the meaning of the trailhead, so you can deeply understand what you are gazing over. Hence, with a motto of 3S, Safety, Satisfaction, and Success of any journey ahead, we look forward to making your footprints in the Himalayas a complete, hassle-free, and memorable expedition. If you have further queries, feel free to either email us at info(a)destinationhimalayatreks.com or just WhatsApp or call us at +977 9851016814.
