Short escapes · Kathmandu Valley & the middle hills
Bandipur ridge & village trails
- 3 daysDuration
- 1,650 mHighest point
- EasyDifficulty
- ★ 4.764 reviews
A preserved Newar hill town with a car-free main street, walking trails to Magar villages, and the Annapurnas on the skyline.
Bandipur was a wealthy trading town on the India–Tibet route until the highway bypassed it in the 1970s, which is precisely why its eighteenth-century main street is still standing. It is now pedestrianised, restored and unusually pleasant.
This trip uses it as a base for three unhurried days: short walks to Magar villages and a limestone cave, a sunrise ridge above the town, and two nights in a restored townhouse. It works beautifully as a stop between Kathmandu and Pokhara.
- A car-free eighteenth-century Newar main street
- Sunrise from Thani Mai with the Annapurnas and Manaslu on show
- Siddha Gufa, one of the largest caves in Nepal
- Magar village trails with almost no other visitors
The essentials
- Duration
- 3 days
- Highest point
- 1,650 m
- Group size
- Max 10
- Style
- Village walking
- Starts and ends
- Kathmandu to Pokhara
- Best season
- Sep–May
- Accommodation
- 2 nights in a restored Newar townhouse
- Meals
- All breakfasts and dinners, one packed lunch
- Transport
- Private vehicle Kathmandu–Bandipur–Pokhara
- Permits
- Heritage-site tickets only; no trekking permit needed
The shape of the journey
- 1
- 2
- 3
When to walk it
Comfortable most of the year. October to March is dry and clear; May is hot and hazy.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
- Prime
- Shoulder
- Closed
Day by day
3 days, as they are actually walked. Your guide may reorder a day for weather — that is the point of having one.
-
1
Kathmandu to Bandipur
Five hours west along the Prithvi Highway, then the climb to the ridge. An afternoon walk around the old town and dinner on a terrace.
- 1,030 m
- 5 hr drive
- Restored townhouse
- Dinner
-
2
Thani Mai sunrise and Siddha Gufa
A pre-dawn walk to the temple on the ridge for the Annapurna panorama, then down through forest to the cave and back via Magar hamlets.
- 1,650 m
- 12 km
- 6 hr
- Restored townhouse
- All meals
-
3
Ramkot walk, then Pokhara
A short morning loop to a traditional Magar village, then the drive west to the lake, arriving mid-afternoon.
- 820 m
- 7 km
- 3 hr walk, 3 hr drive
- Breakfast
Is this trip for you?
Two to four hours of walking a day on village paths. The easiest trip Aroha runs.
What is included
Included
- Licensed guide for all three days
- Private vehicle from Kathmandu and on to Pokhara
- Two nights in a restored Newar townhouse
- All breakfasts and dinners, and the day-two packed lunch
- Siddha Gufa entry and local guide inside the cave
Not included
- Accommodation in Kathmandu or Pokhara
- Travel insurance
- Lunches on days 1 and 3, and all drinks
- Tips for the guide and driver
What to bring
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Headtorch for the cave and the sunrise walk
- Light warm layer for evenings on the ridge
- Sun hat
- 20 litre daypack
Demo photography, from the region rather than this departure. Every image is CC0 or public domain.
Departures
20% deposit confirms your place. Balance due 45 days before departure.
| Dates | Availability | Price | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Sep – 7 Sep 2026 | Places open | $380 | |
| 11 Oct – 13 Oct 2026 | Places open | $380 | |
| 15 Nov – 17 Nov 2026 | Few places left · 3 left | $380 | |
| 20 Feb – 22 Feb 2027 | Places open | $360 |
Your guide
Guide profiles are fictional. The photographs beside them show the terrain each guide works in — they do not depict the people described.
What travellers said
★ 4.7 from 64 fictional demo reviews.
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★★★★★
Better than a transfer day
We were going to drive Kathmandu to Pokhara in one hit. Three days in Bandipur instead was the best decision of the trip.
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★★★★★
Lovely, gentle, a bit short
Would happily have stayed another night. The sunrise from Thani Mai is the real thing.
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★★★★★
The main street at dusk
No cars, everybody outside, lamps coming on. Sat there for two hours.
Things to know
Does this work as a stop between Kathmandu and Pokhara?
That is exactly how most people book it. Bandipur is on the highway between the two, so the trip replaces a long transfer day with three good ones.
How demanding is it really?
The least demanding trip we run. Two to four hours of walking a day on well-made paths, with a maximum altitude of 1,650 m. Suitable across a wide range of fitness.
Is the cave claustrophobic?
Siddha Gufa is large — the main chamber is around 50 m high — but the entrance passage is a scramble. It is optional and there is a good ridge walk for anyone who would rather skip it.
Is the town actually car-free?
The main bazaar street is, which is what makes it feel like nowhere else in Nepal. Vehicles stop at the edge of town.
You might also consider
Close relatives.
Same region or same spirit, different commitment.
Not quite right?
We will build it around you.
Different dates, a shorter version, a family pace or a route that is not on this site. Private departures start at the same price as scheduled ones.