Jamacho Day Hike - 1 Day

Day Hike

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  • Transparent Price
  • No hidden fees
  • Experience of a More than a decade
  • Personal Touch & Professional Service

US$ 85 P/P

Trip Info

  • Duration

    1 Day

  • Max. Altitude

    2100 m

  • Difficulty

    easy

  • Starts From

    Kathmandu

  • Trip Ends At

    Kathmandu

  • Transport

    Private Drive

  • Region/Type

    Day Hike Around In Kathmandu
  • Best Season:

    • All Year Round

Jamacho Day Hike Overview

To take a quick break from the bustling city and to walk in the wonders of nature, Jamacho Day Hike is one of the best choices on the outskirts of Kathmandu valley, at an altitude of 2100 meters. 

The Jamacho hike is named after the Jamacho Monastery, which is located on Nagarjun Hill, also known as Vindya Mountain. Jamacho Gumba (monastery) is a renowned Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage where we will find a small statue of Nagarjuna Buddha. Two roots of statues of Buddhist gods and goddesses can be seen lining the east side of the stupa. 

Jamacho day hike is one of the most popular short hikes easily accessible from Kathmandu Valley. It takes about a half-hour drive to reach the spot from the hike starting point. Hiking begins near the Balaju bypass, also known as the Phulbari gate. After getting the entry ticket at the gate, one can start hiking. 

As part of Shivapuri National Park (which is the youngest National park and the only National park that is in Kathmandu Valley), Nagarjun-Jamacho hiking can be a perfect hike for nature lovers. It goes through the wilderness of the woods protected by the Nepalese Army. While walking through the woods you could hear the melodious chirping of birds as well as may encounter wildlife. The major reward of this walk is the spectacular views of Kathmandu as well as the Annapurna, Manaslu, Jugal, and Langtang mountain ranges in the distance on a clear day from the top of the hill. 

What could be better than experiencing nature where the birds sing, trees dance and the smiley Himalayas cheer them?

The Jamacho Hiking trails are easy and there are also cemented steps that are developed for hiking. A motorable road also leads to Jamacho Gumba but the hiking path is the best choice for those nature wanderers. The hiking path is about 5 km from the bottom to the top of the hill. It takes 3-4 hours to reach the top according to the walking pace of a person.

For enthusiastic travelers who are very interested in wildlife and bird watching, the Jamacho Day hike could be the best option that can be accomplished in a short timeframe. 

Hiking in Nagarjun-Jamacho is also noted for its spiritual benefits and as a great spot to meditate. You can click photos, read a book, and meditate in addition to enjoying the mesmerizing views of the surroundings once you reach the summit of Nagarjun Hill. 

As it is a day hike, you can add it to your existing trekking journeys or any other Nepal tour packages. Himalayan Trekkers always grant different hiking options for travelers to enjoy their short leisure.

Jamacho Day Hike Highlights

  • A peaceful nature walk in the woods 
  • A panoramic view of the stunning Kathmandu Valley
  • Beautiful vistas of the Himalayas such as Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Jugal, Dorje Lakpa, and the Langtang ranges
  • Sight some of the unique flora, fauna, and birds en route 
  • Sacred Jamacho stupa Monastery and an ancient cave

How difficult is Jamacho Day Hike?

Jamacho Peak Hike is a moderately difficult hike that takes about 6-7 hours to accomplish. Because this location is so close to Kathmandu, anyone visiting Kathmandu for a short period of time can take this hike. No prior experience, preparations, and hard exercise are required for the trip. This journey is easily completed by travelers with modest physical fitness. 

Best Time to do Jamacho Day Hike

Jamacho Day Hiking is possible throughout the year. However, the spring and autumn seasons are the optimum time for hiking and trekking journeys in Nepal. The spring and autumn months provide the best views with the best hiking experiences. The days are clear and warm with pleasant weather and an easy trail through the shades of different trees inside the woods.

The Jamacho Hike can also be done in the winter as it is not high-altitude trekking and it takes less than 7 hours to complete the journey. The days are sunny and warm but it might be a little cold as you should walk inside the jungle. However, the vista of the Himalayas is at its best because the Himalayas are blanketed with fresh snow.

Summer/monsoon is for those who have a strong enthusiasm and wants to experience different from others. The heavy downpour inside the forest can be very hard for easy hikers. The rainfall might bring leeches with it in addition to the slick trail. On the other hand, the surrounding view as well as Himalayan views are most clear after the rainfall washes away the dirt and dust of Kathmandu Valley. 

Things to be noted while doing Jamacho Day Hike

  1. Some instruments such as Speakers, knives, matchboxes, lighters, and other fire-producing instruments are prohibited.
  2. It is not permitted to make a loud noise and disturb the habitat. 
  3. There are no teahouses or lunch stops along the way. So we should carry packed lunch, water, and some snacks.

Itinerary in Details

Day 1: Drive to Bypass/Phulbari Gate & Hike to Jamacho Monastery

🕑 6/7 Hours Trip

Max Altitude: 2100 M

Soon after your breakfast time, we will pick you up at the pick up point and drive for 15-30 minutes to Phulbari Gate near Balaju Bypass. We start the hike after we obtain the national park permit. The trail leads us upwards through the dense forest of pines. We might spot different species of birds en route. 

Once we reach the top of the hill, we will see the famous Jamacho Monastery and an ancient old cave decorated with colorful prayer flags. We will enjoy the best view of Kathmandu Valley and magnificent mountains such as Annapurna Range, Manaslu Range, Ganesh Himal Range, Langtang Lirung, Dorje Lakpa, etc. on a clear day. 
After our picnic lunch at the top of the hill with a cool breeze and serene environment, we will descend back to the hiking starting point where we will hop onto our vehicle and drive to the drop-off point/hotel. 

Meals: Snacks & Lunch

Includes

Private Transportation (Thamel-Bypass- FulBari Gate - Thamel)

Experience English Speaking Hiking Guide

Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park Entry Fee

Bottled/Mineral water

Packed lunch & snacks 

Applicable government taxes 

Excludes

  • Breakfast and Dinner
  • Personal expenses, Tips and etc.
  • Hiking gear
  • Travel, Medical insurance, and first aid kit
  • Anything not mentioned in the inclusion 

Accommodation

Since day hikes are single-day trips, it doesn’t require accommodations so it is not included in the package. However, we offer 3-star category accommodation with breakfast on a twin/double sharing basis. But the accommodation can be modified as per the traveler’s interest, budget and availability. Luxurious resorts, standard hotels to comfortable guesthouses, lodges, and homestays are available in Kathmandu.  

Meals While on Jamacho Hike 

Generally, if the location we are hiking towards consists of restaurants or cafes then we will have our meals and tea/coffee in those local restaurants/cafes. But if the destination doesn’t have any restaurants then our guide will take a packed lunchbox both veg and non-veg as per the traveler's choice, and a water bottle with him/her. We will enjoy the hygienically packed lunch overlooking the mesmerizing scenery seen from the hilltop.

GearList

Clothing/Equipment/Gear for Jamacho Day Hike 

Kathmandu Valley is surrounded by beautiful hill stations around its perimeter. So it is of no surprise that Kathmandu is really popular for day hikes. Phulchowki is the highest hill surrounding Kathmandu Valley located at an altitude of 2750 meters above sea level. To help you pack efficiently, we have prepared a gear list for Phulchowki Hike based on seasons. Nepal has four primary seasons:-

Winter: Winter in Nepal falls in January and February. It starts getting cooler after Christmas. The temperature is usually 0-4°C in the morning, 10-12°C at noon, and -1 to 0°C at night. So if you are planning to hike here any time after Christmas to the end of February then we suggest you wear long-sleeved t-shirts, hoodies or sweater/fleece, windproof and preferably waterproof jackets because Phulchowki has temporary snowfall during winter. Similarly, we suggest wearing beanies/hats, gloves, trousers, sports shoes/hiking hoots, and thermals if you prefer an extra layer of warmth. Carrying a water bottle, sunglasses, sunscreen, and hiking poles would be ideal. 

Spring: March to May are spring in Nepal. The temperature in these months during the morning ranges from 10-12°C, 22-24°C at noon, and 14-16°C at night. Since the weather is pleasant during spring, apart from the basic essentials mentioned below, all you need is some casual shirts, shorts or trousers, a couple of long sleeves, sports shoes/hiking boots, a water bottle, sunscreen, sun hat/cap, sunglasses, and an overall/light jacket because it might get a bit chilly at the top. 

Summer/Monsoon: June, July, August, and September are summer months in Nepal. But we have a summer monsoon that occurs from Mid-June to Mid-September. The temperature of Kathmandu ranges from 18-20 °C in the morning, 28-32°C at noon, and 16-18°C at night. We do not suggest you hike while raining but apart that that, Summer Hiking in Phulchowki is ideal too.  So, besides the regular items mentioned below, casual cotton wears, sunglasses, a sun hat/cap, an umbrella, or a raincoat are some essentials for the summer. Because this hike takes place in a lush forest, there might be some leeches if it rains the previous night. These leeches aren’t harmful but might cause nuisance so the trick is to carry salt and if leeches try and stick to your body then you could sprinkle salt.  

Autumn/Fall: October, November, and December are autumn in Nepal. It is the best time for the Phulchowki hike due to the delightful weather and visibility of beautiful vistas seen along the way and from the hilltop. The temperature of Phulchowki during fall ranges from 8-10 °C in the morning, 22-25°C at noon, and 5-7°C at night. December is comparatively cooler than the other two months. While hiking around Kathmandu during fall, you would be good to go with fleece/sweater or hoodies, hat/beanie, shawl/scarf, trousers, long-sleeved shirts, light jackets, or overalls, a water bottle, sunglasses, sunscreen, and hiking boots or sports shoes. 

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