A Chandragiri Hills half-day tour takes you by cable car to a viewpoint at 2,551 metres on the Kathmandu Valley’s south-western rim. From the top, on a clear day, you see the Himalaya from the Annapurna range to Langtang. On the way back you can stop at Swayambhunath. The tour takes 4 to 5 hours. The price is per vehicle: USD 65 for up to 3 people, USD 85 for up to 7, and USD 110 for up to 12.
It is one of the easiest things to do in Kathmandu when you only have a morning free. There is no hiking, no guide needed and no long drive. You ride up, look around, ride down and are back in Thamel by early afternoon.
What’s Inside This Guide
- Chandragiri Hills Tour at a Glance
- Who Is This Half-Day Tour For?
- How the Morning Works
- The Chandragiri Cable Car
- What You Can See from the Top
- Optional Stop at Swayambhunath
- Price and What Is Included
- Why Choose This Half-Day Tour with Us?
- Chandragiri or Nagarkot?
- Best Time and Practical Tips
- Three Days in Kathmandu
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related Planning Guides
Chandragiri Hills Tour at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Start and end | Your hotel in Thamel |
| Pickup time | 7:30 am recommended, or a time you choose |
| Duration | 4 to 5 hours |
| Cable car | About 2.5 km, a ride of about 9 to 12 minutes each way |
| Top of the hill | 2,551 m |
| Transport | Private car, jeep or HiAce van with driver, by group size |
| Guide | Not needed |
| Optional stop | Swayambhunath, at no extra vehicle cost |
| Price (per vehicle) | USD 65 (1–3 people), USD 85 (4–7), USD 110 (8–12) |
| Not included | Cable car ticket, Swayambhunath entrance fee, food and drinks |
Who Is This Half-Day Tour For?
This tour fits into a morning, which makes it useful in more situations than a full-day trip.
Travellers with a last-minute free morning
If your plans change, or a domestic flight is delayed, this is easy to arrange at short notice. Message us the evening before and we confirm the vehicle.
Anyone with a short stay in Kathmandu
If you have only a day or two in Nepal, the cable car gives you a Himalayan view without trekking. Add Swayambhunath and you also see one of the valley’s best-known heritage sites in the same morning.
Bucket-list mountain views without trekking
Many visitors want to see the Himalaya at least once, but do not have time for a trek. Chandragiri is one of the quickest ways to do that from Kathmandu.
Families, children and older travellers
There is no climb to the viewpoint. The cable car does the work, and the top has paths, cafés and a children’s play area. It suits travellers who cannot manage a long walk.
Trekkers with a spare day
If you have a buffer day before or after a trek, this is a relaxed way to use it without tiring yourself.
Who it may not suit
If you want sunrise over the mountains, the cable car opens too late for it. Our Nagarkot sunrise trip is the better choice. If you are afraid of heights, the ride is steep and high above the forest, so think about it before you book.
How the Morning Works
We recommend a 7:30 am pickup. You reach the cable car around opening time, before the queues build and while the morning air is usually clearest. If you prefer a different time, tell us and we plan around it.
| Time | Stop |
|---|---|
| 7:30 am | Pickup from your hotel in Thamel |
| About 8:30 am | Arrive at the cable car base station |
| 8:30 – 10:30 am | Ride up, time at the top, ride down |
| About 11:00 am | Swayambhunath (optional) |
| About 12:00 – 12:30 pm | Drop-off at your hotel in Thamel |
The drive from Thamel to the base station takes about an hour, depending on traffic. The driver drops you at the station, and you buy your ticket at the counter and ride up. The driver waits for you at the base.
Without the Swayambhunath stop, the tour takes about 4 hours. With it, plan on about 5 hours. Kathmandu traffic can add time, especially later in the morning.
The Chandragiri Cable Car
The Chandragiri cable car opened in December 2016 and runs from the base station near Thankot to the top of Chandragiri Hills. The line is about 2.5 km long, and the ride takes about 9 to 12 minutes each way. Each cabin carries up to 8 people.
The ride climbs steeply over forest, with the Kathmandu Valley opening up behind you. It is a smooth ride, and most people find it comfortable.
The current return fare for foreign visitors is about USD 23. SAARC nationals and Nepali citizens pay lower fares. You buy the ticket yourself at the counter, and it is not included in our price. Fares change, so check the rate at the counter on the day.
The cable car usually opens at 8 am, and earlier on some weekends and holidays. On some days it pauses around midday, which is another reason to go in the morning.
What You Can See from the Top
On a clear day the view from the top runs along much of the central Himalaya. Looking north, you can see the Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal and Langtang ranges. Below you is the whole Kathmandu Valley.
Haze is common, especially in spring and in the middle of the day. On hazy mornings, the mountains may be faint or hidden, even when the sky above looks clear. No one can promise a clear view.
The top has the Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple, a Shiva shrine visited by pilgrims. There is also a viewing tower, walking paths, cafés and restaurants. Most visitors spend 1 to 1.5 hours at the top.
Optional Stop at Swayambhunath
Swayambhunath sits on a hilltop on the western edge of Kathmandu, close to the road back into the city. The stop costs nothing extra for the vehicle. You pay only the entrance fee, which is not included.
The stupa, with the painted eyes of the Buddha on each side, is one of the best-known sights in Nepal. It is part of the Kathmandu Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many visitors call it the Monkey Temple, after the monkeys that live on the hill.
The entrance fee for foreign visitors is about NPR 200, though it is reported to be rising. Check the rate at the gate. The driver can drop you near the top, so you do not need to climb the long stairway.
If you want a guided day at Swayambhunath and the valley’s other heritage sites, see our Kathmandu heritage day tour.
Price and What Is Included
The price is per vehicle, not per person. The more people share the vehicle, the less each person pays.
| Group size | Vehicle | Price per vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 people | Car | USD 65 |
| 4 to 7 people | Jeep | USD 85 |
| 8 to 12 people | HiAce van | USD 110 |
Included
- Pickup from your hotel in Thamel and drop-off back at your hotel
- Private car, jeep or HiAce van with driver, depending on group size
- Driver waits at the cable car station while you are at the top
- Optional stop at Swayambhunath on the way back, at no extra vehicle cost
Not included
- Chandragiri cable car ticket
- Swayambhunath entrance fee
- Food, drinks and snacks
- Personal expenses
- Tips for the driver (optional)
Why Choose This Half-Day Tour with Us?
- Priced per vehicle. One price covers the whole group, so the cost per person drops as more people share.
- Private, not shared. Only your group is in the vehicle, and you leave the top when you are ready.
- Swayambhunath at no extra vehicle cost. You pay only the entrance fee.
- Easy to book at short notice. A good choice for a free morning that comes up last minute.
- Your choice of start time. We recommend 7:30 am, but we can plan around the time that suits you.
- Clear about costs. We tell you what is not included, so the cable car ticket and entrance fee are no surprise.
- Direct contact. You plan the tour with us on WhatsApp, with no booking platform in between.
Chandragiri or Nagarkot?
Both trips give you a Himalayan view from the rim of the Kathmandu Valley, at the same vehicle price. They suit different plans.
| Chandragiri Hills | Nagarkot | |
|---|---|---|
| Main reason to go | Cable car ride and wide mountain view | Sunrise over the mountains |
| Start time | 7:30 am | 4 or 5 am, by season |
| Duration | 4 to 5 hours | 4 to 6 hours |
| Mountains | Annapurna to Langtang, on clear days | Langtang, Ganesh Himal, Jugal; Everest on the clearest days |
| Extra cost | Cable car ticket, Swayambhunath fee | Bhaktapur fee, if you stop |
| Heritage stop | Swayambhunath | Bhaktapur Durbar Square |
Choose Chandragiri if you want a later start and a cable car ride. Choose Nagarkot if sunrise is the point and you do not mind an early alarm.
Best Time and Practical Tips
The best months are October to December, when the air is usually clearest after the monsoon. September and March to May also work, though spring haze often softens the view. In the monsoon, from June to August, cloud usually hides the mountains.
- Go early. The view is usually clearest in the morning, and the queues are shorter.
- Bring a warm layer. The top is much higher than Kathmandu and often windy and cold.
- Carry your passport or a copy. Fares differ by nationality, and you may be asked for ID at the ticket counter.
- Carry cash. You need it for the Swayambhunath fee and small purchases.
- Check the weather the night before. If heavy cloud is expected, ask us about another day.
Three Days in Kathmandu
With three days in Kathmandu, you can see the valley at a slow pace: its temples and old cities, a mountain sunrise and the Chandragiri cable car. Chandragiri makes a relaxed final day.
| Day | Plan | What you see |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Kathmandu heritage day tour: Swayambhunath, Patan, Pashupatinath and Boudhanath | Culture and heritage |
| Day 2 | Nagarkot sunrise and Bhaktapur Durbar Square, afternoon free | Mountain view and a medieval city |
| Day 3 | Chandragiri cable car and the hilltop, afternoon free | Mountain view and a cable car ride |
We build the three days as one package, with a guide on every day in English or your own language. We quote it for your group size, dates and the guide language you need, so ask us for a price on WhatsApp. You can also change the order, swap a day or add something else. The full plan is in our 3 days in Kathmandu guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
About 4 to 5 hours from Thamel and back. Without the Swayambhunath stop, it takes about 4 hours. Traffic can add some time.
The ride takes about 9 to 12 minutes each way. The line is about 2.5 km long and climbs to 2,551 m.
No. You buy the ticket yourself at the station counter. The current return fare for foreign visitors is about USD 23, but check the rate on the day.
No. The driver takes you to the cable car station and waits for you. You buy your ticket and ride up on your own.
The view from Chandragiri covers the Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal and Langtang ranges. For a chance to see Everest near Kathmandu, Nagarkot is the better choice.
Usually yes. Message us the evening before with your hotel and group size, and we confirm the vehicle and pickup time.
Related Planning Guides
- Nagarkot Sunrise Trip from Kathmandu — sunrise over the Himalaya, with an optional Bhaktapur stop
- Kathmandu Heritage Day Tour — a guided day at Swayambhunath, Patan, Pashupatinath and Boudhanath
- Champadevi Day Hike — a guided day hike on the southern rim of the valley
- Nepal Hiking Tours — short guided hikes and day hikes around Kathmandu
- Nepal Tour Packages — private day and multi-day tours across Nepal
The Chandragiri Hills half-day tour costs USD 65 to USD 110 per vehicle, depending on group size. The cable car ticket and Swayambhunath fee are paid on the day. Send us your hotel, date and group size on WhatsApp, and we will confirm your pickup.