The Kathmandu Valley Tour is an introduction to Nepalese culture, religion, traditions and natural beauty. The journey takes us through historic sites in and around Kathmandu as we follow in the footsteps of the Newar merchants who traded with Tibet on the silk route.

The Kathmandu Valley Tour is an introduction to Nepalese culture, religion, traditions, and natural beauty. The journey takes us through the historical sites in and around Kathmandu as we follow in the footsteps of the Lhasa Newars. They were traders who exported finished products from Nepal and India to Tibet and brought back goods from Tibet.

Kathmandu Valley Tour

Among the many cultural sites, we visit the monkey temple (a.k.a Swayambhu), Pashupatinath and Bhaktapur. All three are UNESCO world heritage sites and are well preserved. While Swayambhu and Bhaktapur sustained damages from the 7.8 magnitude earthquake of 2015, renovations are underway and are projected to complete by 2021.

The Buddhist stupa in Swayambhu is surrounded by shrines of Hindu deities and is worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists. Pashupatinath temple, on the other hand, is worshipped only by Hindus. Bhaktapur is one of the best-preserved Newar city and is famed for its master artisans. The temples in Bhaktapur have articulate wood carvings depicting gods, devils and other religious insignia.

Leaving the city we then visit Nagarkot, a small village atop a ridge. Nagarkot is a favorite of both locals and foreigners. As a vantage point, it offers panoramic sunrise and sunset views over the Eastern Himalayan Range.

Further on, we drive to Namo Buddha village. The village has a monastery school and is also a famous pilgrimage site where Buddha is said to have offered his flesh to a hungry tigress.  If time permits, we can even take part in the afternoon ritual ceremony.

We then hike to Balthali, a quaint little village among the soaring hills of the country. The village seems almost lost in time with its traditional houses and way of life.

The trip ends back in Kathmandu as we the visit Boudhanath stupa. It is also a UNESCO world heritage site and an important pilgrimage for Tibetian Buddhists. The stupa was also damaged by the 2015 earthquake but has since been fully renovated.

The Kathmandu valley tour is a well-planned and leisurely family tour suitable for all. The hike is easy enough for all ages and the sights are interesting enough to invoke your curiosity.

This program is a part of our cultural tours in Nepal. If you are looking for a more-in-depth package, we suggest our 11-day Cultural Encounter Tour.

Trip Highlights

• Visit the UNESCO world heritage sites in Kathmandu Valley; Pashuapti, Boudhanath, Swayambhunath, Bhaktapur and Changunarayan Temple
• Visit Namo Buddha, a Buddhist pilgriamge destination shrouded by legends and stories, and take part in Puja ceremony if possible
• Hike to Balthali, a quiet country-side Newari town

Trip Grade - Easy

Trip Summary

• Day 1 :Arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to hotel.
• Day 2 :Guided tour of Swayambu (monkey temple) and Pashupatinath. Afternoon drive to Bhaktapur.
• Day 3 :Guided morning tour of Bhaktapur. Early afternoon drive via Changu Narayan to Nagarkot.
• Day 4 :Sunrise view and drive to Namo Buddha Monastery.
• Day 5 :Short hike to Balthali (5 hrs).
• Day 6 :Visit Khyaku village around Balthali (3 - 4 hrs).
• Day 7 :Hike to Khopsai and (2 hrs) drive to Kathmandu. Visit Boudhanath Stupa.
• Day 8 :Departure.

Daily Movements

Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to hotel.

Our representative will pick you up at Kathmandu International Airport and drive you to your hotel. Depending upon what time you arrive, you can enjoy a full day at leisure.

Look out for the KEEP WALKING NEPAL board behind the railing once you exit the airport terminal.

Overnight in Kathmandu

 

Day 2: Guided tour of Swayambu (monkey temple) and Pashupatinath. Afternoon drive to Bhaktapur.

After breakfast, you drive to Swayambhu, a stupa atop a hillock. Swayambhu means “self-existent one” and is one of the holiest Buddhist pilgrimages in Nepal. The stupa is a symbol of faith and harmony and is worshipped by Buddhists and Hindus alike.

Late morning, you drive to Pashupatinath, a temple dedicated to lord shiva which lies on the banks of Bagmati river. Pashupatinath literally means “lord of all that’s living”. In Hinduism Lord Shiva is the supreme of all gods – the creator and destroyer. Many pilgrims from India and abroad visit Pashupatinath temple during the festival of Maha-Shivaratri, a major Hindu festival. As such, the temple is revered by Hindus all over the hold.

The main temple complex is only accessible to Hindus but the rest of the temples is accessible to everyone. The temple-side of the riverbank is reserved for cremation. Unlike the west where funerals are private, the deceased are cremated publicly along riverbanks.

Early afternoon, you drive to the historic city of Bhaktapur. It is an ancient Newar town and famed for its artists and way-of-life preservation.

Since you would have had a long day by the time you reach Bhaktapur, there will be no additional guided tours. After lunch, you can either wander about the city, visit one of the many souvenir shops or just call it a day and relax at your hotel.

Overnight in Bhaktapur (B)

 

Day 3: Guided morning tour of Bhaktapur. Early afternoon drive via Changu Narayan to Nagarkot.

Late morning, we will go on a guided tour of Bhaktpur Dubar Square. The courtyard has a 55 windows palace,  an art gallery with antiques, stone temples with wood-carved beams and balusters, and a golden gate.

Bhaktapur also has a few other must-visit sites. The famous five-story Nyatapola Temple and the Dattatreya Square with its famous peacock window, a woodcarving museum and brass & bronze museum.

Bhaktapur city was badly damaged by the 2015 earthquake but renovations are in full gear. Almost 40% of the rebuilding has been completed. During the tour, you may even see artists crafting wood for temples and other buildings.

Early afternoon, you drive to Changu Narayan temple – another UNESCO world heritage site. The temple complex also houses a museum full of ancient artefacts. It was also damaged by the earthquake and is undergoing renovation.

You then drive to Nagarkot – a small hill station town famed for beautiful panoramic views of mountains up north. You can enjoy a splendid sunset from your hotel or for an even better view hike to the viewpoint.

Overnight in Nagarkot (B,L,D)

 

Day 4: Sunrise view and drive to Namo Buddha Monastery.

We suggest you rise early and watch the sunlight up the Himalaya range. It is a grand view as the sun rises over the Himalayas in an orange hue and shines atop snow-clad mountains.

After breakfast, you drive to Namo Buddha, a small Tamang village on the outskirts of the Kathmandu valley. Since you would have had an early start, we suggest you rest for a while after you check-in at the Namo Buddha Resort.

Later afternoon you drive towards the local monastery where you can attend the evening Puja and visit the key places of interest. The monastery complex also houses a monastic boarding school. The majority of the students are from poor families, with some as young as 6. After attending the puja, you drive back to your accommodation.

Overnight at Namo Buddha Resort (B,L,D)

 

Day 5: Short hike to Balthali (5 hrs).

Taking a break from all the sightseeing, the program offers a wonderful hike to the quaint village of Balthali. The captivating trial with terraced hillside greenery and the orange farms make the journey rewarding. The hike is relatively easy and takes around 4-5 hours at a leisurely pace.

Once at Balthali you can spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure or wander around the village.

Overnight at Balthali (B,L,D)

 

Day 6: Visit Khyaku village around Balthali (3 - 4 hrs).

After a leisurely breakfast, we will visit the small settlement of Khyaku – a run of the mill Newari town dotted with small houses and farms and return back to our lodge.

Rest of the afternoon is at leisure.

Overnight at Balthali (B,L,D)

 

Day 7: Hike to Khopsai and (2 hrs) drive to Kathmandu. Visit Boudhanath Stupa.

The tour is almost at an end.

After a short hike, you will be driven to Boudha, another historical UNESCO site in Kathmandu, just in time for lunch.

After a guided tour, you can either visit the Shechen Gumba and attend an evening puja or just call it a day.

Later in the evening, we will sit together for a farewell diner commemorating a successful trip.

Overnight at Kathmandu (B)

 

Day 8: Departure.

An office representative will drive you to the Kathmandu International Airport 3 hrs prior to the scheduled flight time.

(B)

Cost Includes:

Cost Excludes: