Bandipur to Ramkot Hike: An Easy Half-Day Hike
LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON THE BANDIPUR TO RAMKOT HIKE?
I have heard a lot about Ramkot village so when I visited Bandipur, I definitely wanted to check it out. I went on a solo hike to Ramkot and here is everything you need to know about the Bandipur to Ramkot hike.
The Bandipur to Ramkot hike is an easy and short half-day hike. The hike from Bandipur to Ramkot Village is about 6 km one-way (12 km round trip). It is possible to hike one-way in about 1.5 hours, spend some time in Ramkot and then hike back to Bandipur in another 1.5 hours.
The village of Ramkot is really worth visiting if you would like to experience authentic Nepali village life. It is an easy hike, although it can get very hot and sunny on the trail.
Ramkot also has beautiful views of the Himalayas, so the best time to hike to Ramkot is when the weather is clear.
Bandipur to Ramkot Hike: A Quick Guide
Don’t have much time? No worries, here is a quick guide on the hike to Ramkot:
✅ Bandipur to Ramkot distance: 6 km one-way (12 km two-ways)
✅ Bandipur to Ramkot hike time: 1.5 hours one-way (3 hours hike total return)
✅ Bandipur to Ramkot hike difficulty: easy
✅ Can I hike it solo? Yes, the trail is easy to follow and can be hiked solo
✅ Offline maps for the hike: Maps.me (Google Play, Apple Store), Mapy.cz (Google Play, Apple Store)
✅ Ramkot Village Guide: check out here my travel guide to Ramkot Village
Bandipur to Ramkot Hike
Bandipur to Ramkot Hike Difficulty
Easy! The Bandipur to Ramkot hike is an easy hike. Most of the trail follows the Ramkot Road, which is a jeep road. It is easy to follow the Ramkot Road and it is mostly flat so it is easy on the legs/knees.
The only thing to keep in mind is that there is not much shade during the hike, so it is best to leave early when the sun is not too hot yet. Nevertheless, make sure to pack sunscreen so that you can apply it on your hike back to Bandipur.
Bandipur to Ramkot Distance
Ramkot is 6 km from Bandipur and it takes around 1.5 hours to hike it one-way. In total, the round trip hike is 12 km and takes 3 hours to complete.
Most people spend some time in Ramkot after arriving, so you can add 1-2 hours of staying in Ramkot. The views of the Himalayas are really beautiful from the far edge of the village so make sure to check it out.
Bandipur to Ramkot Hiking Trail
The trail starts at the Ramkot Road, just a few minutes walk from Bandipur Bazaar. After you pass Bandipur Bazaar (in the direction of Thani Mai), continue to go straight towards the direction where the buses to and from Dumre stop.
After you pass by the “bus stop”, you will see the sign to turn left to get on the road towards Ramkot.
First Section of the Trail
- Duration: approximately 1 hour of walk
The first part of the path is basically the Ramkot Road connecting Ramkot and Bandipur. I expected that it would be a proper hiking trail but it is more just like a dirt road.
Luckily the road is very quiet and barely has any traffic. When I went, it was very quite, mostly school kids on their way to school. However, it can get a bit dusty on the odd chance that a car drives by.
On the bright side, you get nice views of the mountains and hills along the way.
➡️ Don’t want to hike solo? Book a one-day hiking trip from Bandipur to Ramkot here!
The Second Section of the Trail: The “Upper Hiking Trail”
- Duration: Approximately 30 minutes of walk
After about 1 hour of walk on the Ramkot Road, you have two choices:
- Continue the walk on the Ramkot Road or
- To go on the “upper trail” which is more like an actual hiking trail.
How to Locate the “Upper Hiking Trail”?
It is easy to miss the path towards the upper trail – or at least it was easy for me to miss. I found it was not well marked on maps.me.
In case you miss the trail and keep walking on the dirt road, no worries, as you will still end up in Ramkot. If this happens, you can take the upper trail on the way back to Bandipur – it is much easier to get on the upper hiking trail coming from Ramkot.
If you follow maps.me, this is the point where you will have to get on the upper hiking trail:
There are no signs but the path to the right is the one you will have to take to get on the hiking trail. There are not much landmarks to go by, other than a big tree and a tiny little creek as you start going up.
I preferred much more the upper hiking trail. I felt more in the nature and although it is an easy hike, it was more adventurous than just walking on the road.
Bandipur to Ramkot Hike: Navigation
Maps.me or Mapy.cz are two of the best maps you can use offline for hiking or trekking in Nepal. Make sure to download the map for the Bandipur-Ramkot area so that you can follow the trail even if you are offline.
Maps.me:
Mapy.cz:
Can I Complete the Bandipur to Ramkot Hike Solo?
Yes, it is totally safe to hike to Ramkot on your own. The jeep road (Ramkot Road) leading to Ramkot is easy to follow and not possible to get lost.
The path is also marked by bright pink circles and arrows to mark the path towards Ramkot.
Bandipur to Ramkot Hike Tips
- Take plenty of water and a packed lunch with you.
- Take sunscreen with you. For most part of the trail, you will be walking in areas that are not covered by any shade and you will be directly in the sun.
- The trail to Ramkot can also be reached from the Great Mini Wall near the Thani Mai Mai in Bandipur. I suggest that if you go to see the sunrise in Thani Mai, it is possible to hike down the Great Mini Wall and then get on the path towards Ramkot. If you choose to do this, just make sure you have food and water with you as there are no restaurants or tea houses on the way to Ramkot.
☀️ Grab your Nalgene water bottle + sunscreen for your hike here!
Things to Do in Ramkot Nepal
- See the views of the Himalayas
- Check out the last remaining circular house in Ramkot
- Refresh with some food and drinks at the Culture Home Restaurant
Ramkot is a small village and is mostly visited to see authentic village life.
The main ethnic group in Ramkot belongs to the Magar ethnic group and traditionally Magar people used to build circular houses. However, as of today, only one circular house remains in Ramkot.
🏔️ Check out my complete guide to Ramkot Village here!
FAQs: Bandipur to Ramkot Hike
What is the Bandipur to Ramkot Hike Distance?
Ramkot Village is 6 km away from Bandipur. Most of the trail follows the Ramkot Road and it can be completed in 1.5 hours one-way. It is a great half-day activity, if you leave early morning, you can be back to Bandipur by lunch time.
What is the Bandipur to Ramkot Hike Difficulty?
The hike from Bandipur to Ramkot is an easy one. It can be completed by complete beginners and also if you have a low fitness level. The route is mostly flat and can be completed even solo.
Can I hike solo from Bandipur to Ramkot?
Yes, the hike from Bandipur to Ramkot is totally safe to hike solo. The road is easy to follow and it is also an easy level hike.
What should I take with me for the Bandipur to Ramkot hike?
There are no restaurants on the way, so it is best to pack plenty or water, some snacks and sunscreen with you. Once you get to Ramkot, you can buy food and drinks at the Culture Home Restaurant.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Bandipur to Ramkot hike is an easy, half-day hike. Most of the trail follows the Ramkot Road, which is a jeep road from Bandipur to Ramkot.
The distance from Bandipur to Ramkot is 6 km and can be hiked in about 1.5 hours one-way. The hike is easy and can also be completed solo.
Once you get to Ramkot, you will have beautiful views of the Himalayas (especially, from the far, back end of the town!).
Ramkot is a small town inhabited mainly by the Magar ethnic group. Magar people traditionally built circular houses, of which by now, only one circular house remains in Ramkot. Make sure to check it out.
