Overview
This Hattiban camping and rock climbing trip turns the popular day at the crags into an overnight on the ridge, an hour south of Kathmandu. You leave the city after lunch, drive up into the forested hills above Pharping and pitch camp on the ridge for the night, with a bonfire and dinner at camp. Come morning there is sunrise over the hills, then a full day climbing real rock on a top rope with a climbing guide, with lunch included, before you drive back to the city. A licensed tour guide is with you for the whole trip and stays at camp overnight. It needs no climbing experience, just a head for a night under canvas and a willingness to get on the rock.
The itinerary
- Pickup from your hotel after lunch and drive south to the Hattiban and Pharping hills, about an hour from the city
- Arrive on the forested Hattiban ridge
- Set up camp on the ridge with your tour guide, who stays at camp with you, and settle in before dark
- Bonfire and dinner at camp, then a night in your tent
- Sunrise over the valley from the ridge, then breakfast at camp
- Break camp, then a warm-up and safety briefing with your climbing guide and assistant guide at the crag
- Guided rock climbing on natural rock, with routes for all levels and a break for lunch
- Drive back down to your hotel in Kathmandu
What the price covers
Your price covers the private drop and pickup between Kathmandu and Hattiban, your climbing guide for both days, who brings the ropes, the site charges at the crag, the night at camp in a tent, dinner at camp and breakfast.
Things to carry
- Comfortable, flexible clothes you can move in
- Climbing shoes, harness and helmet (or bring your own)We provide
- A warm layer and a hat for the ridge after dark
- A head torch, water and snacks
- Sun protection and a small daypack
- Trainers for the walk in
Good to know
Complete guide
Most people climb at Pharping as a day trip and drive home by dark. This trip keeps you on the ridge for the night instead, so you get the climbing and a camp under the stars an hour from the city. It is a small change that makes a big difference: a drive out after lunch, a bonfire and a night under canvas, then sunrise from the hills and a full day on the rock. Here is how the overnight works.
What Hattiban camping and rock climbing involves
The trip is built around a night of camping followed by a full day of guided climbing. You drive up into the forested Hattiban and Pharping hills after lunch and pitch camp on the ridge, then on day two you climb on natural rock with a guide who sets up the ropes. Everything is guided for first-timers, so no experience is needed. If you would rather just climb and be home the same evening, the day-trip version, Hattiban rock climbing, covers the crags without the overnight.
A night and a day on the ridge
You leave Kathmandu after lunch, and after the drive up you set up camp on the ridge while there is still light. As the light goes you light a bonfire and have dinner at camp. Morning brings sunrise over the hills and breakfast at camp, then the climbing day: working up routes on a top rope and swapping with the group between climbs, with a break for lunch, before the drive back to the city. It is an easy, absorbing escape from the city.
Climbing, safety and equipment
Climbing outdoors is safe when it is set up properly, and that is what the guide is for. You climb on a top rope, wear a harness and helmet throughout, and the guide checks the anchors and your knots before every climb. Your guide brings the ropes, and your tent at camp is included. Your personal climbing gear, shoes, a harness and a helmet, is included and hired for you, or you can bring your own. Beyond that, bring warm clothes and a torch.
Who this trip suits and when to go
This is for active travellers, groups of friends and couples after something different, plus older children and teenagers who are up for a night out; it is less suited to very young kids. October to April gives the best mix of dry rock and clear nights, while the monsoon is avoided. For a bigger multi-day hit of adrenaline, pair it with the Nepal super adventure tour, which strings bungee, canyoning and rafting together.
