Overview
Kakani camping is an easy overnight in the hills northwest of Kathmandu, trading the city for a ridge at around 2,030 metres with a wall of mountains on the horizon. It is a short drive of about an hour and a half up to Kakani, a quiet hill known for its trout farms, strawberry fields and long views, where on a clear day you can pick out the Ganesh Himal, Langtang, Manaslu and Annapurna ranges. You spend the afternoon on short walks around the view point and the pine forest, pitch camp for the night with a bonfire, and wake for sunrise over the peaks before heading back. It is a gentle, family-friendly camp rather than a hard trek, and it needs no experience.
The itinerary
- Late-morning drive northwest from Kathmandu up to Kakani, about an hour and a half
- Short walks to the Kakani view point, the pine forest and the Thai Memorial Park
- Pitch camp on the ridge with views towards the Ganesh Himal and Langtang
- Sunset over the mountains, then a bonfire and dinner at camp
- Wake early for sunrise over the Ganesh Himal, Langtang and Manaslu ranges
- Morning tea at camp, then a short hill walk through the forest or towards Suryachaur
- Break camp and pack up the gear
- Drive back down to your hotel in Kathmandu
Things to carry
- Comfortable walking clothes and trainers or light boots
- A warm layer, a hat and gloves for the evening and morning
- A head torch and a refillable water bottle
- Sun protection and a hat for the day
- A small daypack and a camera for the mountain views
Good to know
Complete guide
You do not have to trek for days to sleep under the Himalaya. An hour and a half northwest of Kathmandu, the hill at Kakani rises to just over 2,000 metres and looks straight out at the Ganesh Himal and Langtang. It is one of the easiest places near the city to swap traffic for a tent, a bonfire and a mountain sunrise. Here is what an overnight there is like.
What Kakani camping involves
The trip is a gentle overnight rather than a trek: a short drive up, an afternoon of easy walks around the view point and forest, a night under canvas on the ridge, and sunrise over the peaks before you head down. The crew pitches the tents and cooks, so no experience is needed and families are welcome. If you would rather do a longer day walk with a big mountain view on the other side of the valley, the Shivapuri Peak hike climbs to a high point above Kathmandu.
The views and the short walks
Kakani's draw is the horizon. On a clear day the Ganesh Himal, Langtang, Manaslu and Annapurna ranges line up across the north, best in the soft light of sunset and sunrise. The walking is easy: a stroll to the Kakani view point, a wander through the pines, a look at the Thai Memorial Park, and, if you want more, a short hill walk towards Suryachaur. The area is also known for its trout farms and, in spring, its strawberries.
A night on the ridge
As the light drops you set up camp on the ridge, with the mountains ahead and the valley behind. A bonfire and a cooked dinner make the evening, and the clear nights bring out the stars well away from the city glow. It is cold once the sun is down, so warm layers and a good sleeping bag matter, but that same clear, cold air is what gives you the crisp sunrise the next morning.
Who this trip suits and when to go
This is for anyone who wants the mountains and a camp without a hard walk: couples, groups of friends, and families with children who are new to camping. October to April gives the clearest skies and the best views, while the monsoon is avoided for cloud and rain. For a more physical overnight near the city instead, Hattiban rock climbing adds real rock to a night on the ridge south of the valley.
