Things to do in Kathmandu Valley

See the sights of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal on a 6-hour tour of an area that covers 218 square miles (350 kilometers). Kathmandu Valley contains 3 fabulous cities of great historic, religious, and cultural interest: Kathmandu (Kantipur), Patan (Lalitpur), and Bhadgaon (Bhaktapur). The Kathmandu Valley has often been described as an open-air art gallery with thousands of sacred shrines in brick, stone, metal, and wood scattered throughout it. On your tour, you will not be able to see the entire valley, but you will be taken to some of the most important and monumental sites. Many of these are squares or temples that are also designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Kathmandu Durbar Square This square is home to a house full of woodcarvings of different gods and goddesses. In this 3-story palace you will also find the living Goddess Kumari. Both Hindus and Buddhists venerate her, and she serves as an illustration of the harmony between the Hindu and Buddhist people. One of the popular temples of Kathmandu Durbar Square is Kashamandap, locally known as Maru Sattal. It is believed that the name of Kathmandu City is derived from the name of this temple, and it is said that this temple is built by one single Sal (sorea robusta) tree. At the center of this temple, one can see the statue of a Hindu god Gorakhnath and in the 4 corners of the temple one can see Ganesh statues. The most visited temple of Kathmandu is Maru Ganesh. The people of Kathmandu Valley believe that the 4 Ganesh statues in the 4 corners of Kathmandu Valley protect the people living in Kathmandu. Every day people go to worship this temple, and especially on Tuesdays, you can see a long line of people waiting for hours to worship. Other interesting things to see here are Mahadev Temple, Shiva Parvati Temple, Bhagwati Temple, Old Palace, Saraswoti Temple, Krishna Octangular Temple, Big Drums, Kal Bhairav, Jagannath Temple, and Tal. Swayambhunath/Monkey Temple Swayambhunath / Monkey Temple is a 2,500-year-old Stupa situated overlooking Kathmandu Valley. Its name comes from the holy monkey living in part of the complex. The painted eyes on 4 sides symbolize the all-seeing eyes of Buddha, and the site is one of the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites. Pashupatinath Temple Pashupatinath is a temple of Lord Shiva and the most sacred of the 275 Shiva temples worldwide. It is also the oldest temple in Kathmandu. The Bagmati River runs alongside the temple, and is the site not only of pilgrims who bathe in the river, but also contains a special area where members of the royal family are cremated. Boudhanath Stupa Boudhanath Stupa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and also one of the biggest in the world. It is the most important pilgrimage site for Tibetan Buddhists, who come here by the thousands during the winter festival to pay their respect. Patan Durbar Square Patan Durbar Square is home to the former Patan Royal Family. The most photographed of Kathmandu’s 3 Durbar Squares, it features a remarkable display of Newari architecture. Its main attractions include the Krishna Temple, with its 21 golden pinnacles, Rudra Varna Mahavihar, a Buddhist Monastery that houses local treasures, and the central courtyard of Mul Chowk.

Jeep Safari is one of the great options to see the wildlife of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park. Being the fastest medium for a safari tour, it offers tourists a swift and close exploration of the floras and faunas of the park. The jeep safari is considered an exciting ride that takes your through the grasslands, towering trees and pine forest. Housing more than 318 species of birds, the safari ride is also a perfect bird watching trip. It is the best way to cover larger areas of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park including the mountain view at Jmacho. From Jamacho, you can see the beautiful himalayan range like Mahalangur, Rolwaling, Langtang, Ganesh, Manaslu and Annapurna ranges. While passing through the dense forests and diverse wildlife animals. You also have a great chance to get some good pictures to take back home. You can relish the sightings of Common Leopard, Sambar deer, Barking deer, Assamese Monkey and several other species sitting on top of an open jeep. While on this safari, you are bound to experience a one of a kind wildlife experience. Amongst animals and birds sighting will make indulging in an adventure like never before.

Discover 4 different UNESCO-listed World Heritage Sites of Kathmandu Valley including the Pashupathinath Temple, Bouddhanath Stupa, Swyambhunath Stupa, and Kathmandu Durbar Square. Learn the history from an English-speaking guide and embark on a 6-hour sightseeing tour of Kathmandu Valley. Kathmandu Durbar Square Begin the tour at Kathmandu Durbar Square, one of the royal palaces and known as one of the cultural and political hubs of Nepal. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kathmandu Durbar Square is also one of three Durbar Squares in Kathmandu Valley. Though a few buildings collapsed after the devastating earthquake on April 25th, 2015, you can observe the spectacular art and architecture of the ancient Malla and Shah dynasties. Swayambhunath Temple Continue the tour and head to the Swayambhunath Temple, also known as the “Monkey temple”. Situated on a small hillock on the west of Kathmandu city, it is a sacred place for Buddhist pilgrimages from all over the world. The painted eyes on the 4 sides of the main stupa represent wisdom and compassion. One can still observe the art and architecture at Swayambhunath which is believed to date back to the beginning of the 5th century. Boudhanath Stupa Boudhanath Stupa is one of the biggest UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world and a sacred site for Buddhist pilgrimages. Boudhanath is located on the ancient trade route between Nepal and Tibet. The Stupa is said to entomb the remains of the Kassapa Buddha. Pashupatinath Temple On the last stop of the tour, you will visit the Pashupatinath Temple. The sacred Hindu shrine Pashupatinath is located on the bank of the Bagmati River on the eastern side of Kathmandu. The main temple of Pashupatinath was built using Pagoda-style architecture with four main doors. Though some of the buildings in the Pashupati area were damaged, the main building remained intact during the 2015 earthquake.

Kirtipur, located on a hill to the southwest of central Kathmandu is one of several ancient kingdoms in the Kathmandu Valley that were once independent, but now make up part of greater Kathmandu. Kirtipur is thought to be one of the oldest settlements in the valley. It’s a prime destination to learn about the Newar people, who are one of Nepal’s many distinct ethnic groups and the original inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley. Come to Kirtipur for exquisite architecture, hilltop temples, and sweeping city views. Wandering around its winding streets feels like walking through a traditional Nepali village, yet Kirtipur also offers some of the finest views of sprawling Kathmandu and the hills and mountains beyond. It’s full of cobblestone streets, old brick houses with elaborately carved door and window frames, and multitiered pagodas. During this tour, you will visit Bagh Bhairab temple, Chilancho Stupa shrine, Uma Maheshwar temple, and a Theravada Buddhist monastery. Enjoy a Newari lunch, before you return to your hotel.

DAY 1 ARRIVAL On this day, with the first sight of Nepal, our team will pick you up from the airport, escort you to the hotel where a warm welcome will be waiting for us to devour, and then discuss the trek, its requirements, and precautions briefly. DAY 2 KATHMANDU SIGHTSEEING Kathmandu is the place where you witness modernization, tradition, culture, history, and monumental perseverance co-existing. The hospitality and richness of the diversity of Kathmandu are unmatched by other cities. We will try and visit as many UNESCO world heritage sites as possible before the sun goes down. DAY 3 KATHMANDU TO SYABRU BESI Our day starts with breakfast then we prepare and leave the chaos of Kathmandu behind and head to Syabrubesi surrounded by picturesque views all along. DAY 4 SYABRU BESI TO LAMA HOTEL Once we reach the Lama hotel and have breakfast, you will start exploring attractions nearby, like Ghopcha Khola, a dense forest of oaks, maple, etc. The trek further consists of crossing a suspension bridge above Langtang river, with astonishing waterfalls. In case you are a lucky fellow Himalayan white langur monkey, yellow-throated martin, and red panda might also come into sight. We return back to Lama hotel to spend the night. DAY 5 LAMA HOTELTO LANGTANG VILLAGE The trail of this day’s Langtang valley trek is steeper and ascends up. We start trekking after breakfast. First, Langtang Lirung greets you, which is situated at an altitude of 3140 m. Then, you pass through Ghoda Tabela and Thangshyap and finally arrive at Langtang village, which offers 180 degrees view of glorious mountains. You will spend the night in a teahouse. DAY 6 LANGTANG VILLAGE TO KYANGJING GOMPA After breakfast, we trek through Mundu village and Singdunanda's wide green pastures, where Yaks graze. Before arriving at Kyagjing Gompa, you climb through mountain passes. The village has Buddhist Gompa, a cheese factory famous for Yak cheese, and beautiful scenery. The accommodation will be arranged at a teahouse. DAY 7 A DAY REST IN KYANGJING GOMPA The day will be for acclimatization to get our body used to weather conditions, thinner air, and lesser atmospheric pressure. It is good to do light physical activity while acclimatizing, so on this day of the Langtang valley trek, we explore the destinations around. You will get to visit the monastery and cheese factory, and if you want to, then climb the Kyangjing Ri ( viewpoint) at 4350 m and behold a panoramic view of the Himalayas. Then you can march forward to see Mountain ridges and glaciers from the moraine. We return back to the hotel and rest overnight. DAY 8 KYANGJING GOMPA TO LAMA HOTEL On this day, we trek to the Lama hotel once again, following the downhill trail. Enjoying the view around and walking for a few hours through an easy path, you will reach the Lama hotel to spend the night at a teahouse. DAY 9 LAMA HOTEL TO THULO SYABRU Thulo syabru lies between Lama hotel and Gosaikunda ( holy lake), so we first trek to Thulo syabru. Through a few small but colorful villages, you arrive here before sunset and stay overnight at a teahouse. DAY 10 THULOSYABRU TO SING GOMPA After breakfast, the Langtang valley trek leads us to Sing gompa, which is an uphill walk through a forest of Rhododendrons, bamboo, oak, and pine trees. Small villages and green hills beautify the trail. By the end of the day, you reach Chandan Bari, Sing Gompa. At night we rest in a Sing Gompa (teahouse). DAY 11 SING GOMPA TO GOSAIKUNDA We visit the most famous attraction of the Langtang valley trek on this day, Gosaikunda lake, which is an uphill trek via Lauribinayek with a magical view of Mt.Ganesh, Mt. Langtang Lirung, Manaslu range, Him Chuli, and the Tibetan peak’s vista and forest of pine and rhododendron. On this night, you will stay beside the Gosaikunda lake. DAY 12 GOSAIKUNDA TO THAREPATI Today we trek through the highest point of the Langtang valley trek, Surya Kunda lake ( 4500 m ). To reach Tharepati, you pass another beautiful lake called Bhairav Kunda and walk across Juniper, pine, and rhododendron forest. Ascending through mesmerizing views, Tharepati greets us, and you spend the night there in a teahouse. DAY 13 THAREPATI TO KUTUMSANG After breakfast, we begin an easy trek to Kutumsang of Helambu district. The path to Kutumsang has green meadows, beautiful fields, and stunning views of Langtang mountain. Through a scenic trail, we arrive at Kutumsang village and stay in a teahouse for the night. DAY 14 KUTUMSANG TO CHISOPANI After breakfast first, the Langtang valley trek takes us to a pass situated at an altitude of (2470 m) in a large beautiful Tamang village called Pati Bhanjyang, we walk for approximately 2 hours to reach Chisapani. You will accommodate at a teahouse. DAY 15 TREK TO SUNDARIJAL ( DRIVE TO KATHMANDU ) The day starts with the golden sunrise of Chisapani trek leads us to Sundarijal, then you pass through Shivapuri National Park and walk for about 2 hours to reach Kathmandu. Our team will transfer you to a hotel in Kathmandu for an overnight stay. DAY 16 DEPARTURE On the last day of the Langtang valley trek, our team will look after all the necessary requirements for your departure from hotel check-in to airport check-out.

Kathmandu valley one day tour world heritage site Kathmandu valley is a small valley with three different district each of them packed with famous cultural and historical sights. Some of them are unesco-listed too. This valley is full of Hindu temples, Stupas and Monasteries which makes Kathmandu valley an open museum of arts and architecture. These sites spread throughout the valley in sprawling city which makes it difficult for most tourists to find these places. So, we offer a guided Kathmandu valley tour with an experienced tour guide around those sites to understand it in better way. Pashupatinath Temple This is one of the most famous temple for Hindus which is located on the banks of the holy river Bagmati. It was inscribed on the unescoWorld Heritage Site’s list in 1979. On the occasion of Maha Shivaratri over 1 million devotees visit here. This two-storied temple is built in pagoda style. Boudhanath stupa One of largest stupas in the world, Boudhanath is located in Kathmandu. It is ancient and holiest for both Hindus and Buddhists from all over the world. With diameter of about 100m and 40m high Buddhist stupa Boudhanath dominates the skyline. It is a unesco World Heritage Site. Patan Durbar Square Patan is the oldest of all the three cities of Kathmandu Valley. Once a western lady writer has to say that “Patan means eternity itself and Patan Durbar Square is the spectacular sight of Asia indeed”. Patan Durbar Square is one of the famous visiting sites in Patan. This place is full of ancient Temples, Palaces and, monuments with wonderful carving of woods and stones. Patan is also known as Lalitpur. swyambhunath (monkey Temple) swyambhunath is located in the hillock, the northwest inside Kathmandu valley. It is also famous as Monkey temple among foreigners. It is believed that this stupa is built when the Kathmandu valley was created of a lake more than 2,000 years ago. This is one of the best places to take a panoramic views of Kathmandu valley.

Champadevi is a hiss hill 2285m south of Kathmandu. It is getting more popular to the nature hikers with its quiet environment, beautiful downtown view and less human activities. The hiking starts with pick up from your hotel and drive 45m to the starting point. Walk through the ridge (4-5 hrs) to the top and walk down to the Puspalal park the pick up point. Drive 10m to a lunch place. We will provide a authentic Nepali lunch. After lunch, drive to your hotel and trip will end. This hiking is getting more and more popular to the nature hikers as there are no villages and human activities in between.

Kathmandu Day Tour‘ begins at 09:00 AM in the morning from your hotel and will take you to a full 7 hours day tour in the capital city of Nepal. The tour takes you to explore the historical civilization of Kathmandu Valley, get an insight into Unesco listed World Heritage Sites including Kathmandu Durbar Square with the living Goddess Kumari’s House, Swayambhunath ‘Mahachaitya’, the famous ‘Monkey Temple’, Pashupatinath Temple, a highly esteemed pilgrimage site for Hindus, Boudhanath and Patan Durbar Square among others. Outline Itinerary 09:00 AM: Tour begins from your hotel The tour begins early in the morning with a Tour Guide picking you up from your hotel. 09:15 AM: Kathmandu Durbar Square Kathmandu Durbar Square is located in front of the old royal palace of the former Kathmandu Kingdom and is one of three Durbar (Royal Palace) Squares in the Kathmandu Valley. 11:00 AM: Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) Swayambhunath is an ancient religious complex atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley, probably the most sacred among Buddhist pilgrimage sites. The complex consists of a stupa, a variety of shrines and temples, some dating back to c. 450–c. to 750 ce. The stupa has Buddha’s eyes and eyebrows painted on. The site has two access points: a long staircase leading directly to the main platform of the temple, which is from the top of the hill to the east; and a car road around the hill from the south leading to the south-west entrance. 12:30 PM: Pashupatinath Temple Pashupatinath Temple is a Hindu temple of Lord Shiva on the banks of the sacred Bagmati River. This “extensive Hindu temple precinct” is a “sprawling collection of temples, ashrams, images and inscriptions raised over the centuries built on an area of 246 hectares (2,460,000 m²) and includes 518 mini-temples and a main pagoda house. 02:00 PM: Boudhanath Boudhanath, also known as Khasti Chaitya is a stupa with a massive mandala that makes it one of the largest spherical stupas in Nepal and the world. The stupa is on the ancient trade route from Tibet which enters the Kathmandu Valley by the village of Sankhu in the northeast corner and continues to the ancient and smaller stupa of Chabahil named Charumati Stupa (often called “Little Boudhanath”) 03:30 PM: Patan Durbar Square Patan Durbar Square in Lalitpur has the ancient royal palace where the Malla Kings of Lalitpur resided. The Durbar Square is a marvel of Newar architecture. The square floor is tiled with red bricks. There are many temples and statues in the area including the most famous Krishna Mandir. 05:00 PM: Drop back to your hotel

Enjoy a 15-day trek to Everest Base Camp - the ultimate trekking experience which combines everything Nepal is famous for including culture, scenery, and the world's best mountain views. Depart from Kathmandu and head into the Kathmandu Valley where it is possible on a clear day to view Everest as a small speck in the distance.  Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu at Tribhuvan International Airport. Meet at the airport and transfer to your hotel in Kathmandu for an overnight stay. Day 2: Take an early morning flight to Lukla (2840m), admiring views of Mt Nupla, Kusum Kanguru and the Kwongde Range along the way. Take an easy 4-hour trek to Phakding Village (2,610m). Stay overnight at the tea house with time to relax and explore the village. Day 3: Follow the Namche Bazaar trail for 6 hours up the Dudh Koshi Valley, hiking through pine forest, crossing the river twice via small suspension bridges before reaching the village of Monjo (3,440m). Stay overnight at the tea house there. Day 4:  Spend a day acclimatizing to the altitude at Namche Bazaar (3,440m). Enjoy the afternoon walking around town - set in a beautiful natural amphitheater. Stay overnight at the tea house.  Day 5: Follow an interesting path that traverses around the hillside high above the Dudh Kosi River to Tengboche (3,860m). After walking for around 1 hour, arrive at Phungithanga. Stay overnight at a tea house.  Day 6: Spend an additional day and night here to aid the acclimatization process. Stay overnight at the tea house.  Day 7: Enjoy a rest day in Dingboche (4,410m) and spend the afternoon walking around. Follow another steep descent over the terminal moraine of Khumbu glacier. Admire great views of Mount Tawache, Ama Dablam and to the north-Pokalde, Kongma-Tse and the great wall of Nuptse. Stay overnight at the tea house.  Day 8: Trek to Lobuche, walking around 4.5 hours. Stay overnight at the tea house.  Day 9:  From Lobuche, follow the narrow gap between the glacial moraine and the mountain walls. Make a detour to the edge of the moraine to look over the Khumbu glacier. Arrive at Gorak Shep (5,140m) and take an afternoon visit to Everest Base Camp (5,364m). Stay overnight at the tea house.  Day 10: In the early morning, climb 2km to Kalapatthar, hoping for a clear day. Then, trek to Pheriche (4,270m), walking for a total of around 5 hours. Stay overnight at the tea house.  Day 11: Enjoy a lovely relaxing day of downhill trekking when you are fully acclimatized. Arrive in Tengboche (3,860m) after about 5 hours of walking. Stay overnight at the tea house.  Day 12:  Trek To Namche (3,440m), walking for around 5 hours. Stay overnight at the tea house.  Day 13:  Trek To Lukla (2,840m) walking for around 6 hours. Stay overnight at the tea house.  Day 14: Take a 40-minute scenic flight to Kathmandu. Stay overnight at the hotel. Day 15: Depart Kathmandu where your tour ends.

Take in breathtaking views of the Himalayas while exploring the fertile landscapes of Shivapuri National Park. Watch the sunrise over Nargarkot, marvel at the terraces en route to the Changu Narayan Temple, and keep an eye out for interesting local flora and fauna.  Travel hassle free with full board and private transfers from Kathmandu and learn about local traditions from a professional, English- speaking guide.     Day 1: Drive to Sundarijal and Trek to Chisapani (2,300 meters/ 7,545 feet). 5-6 hours Head on a short drive towards the northern outskirts of the valley to Sundarijal. From here traversing across the thick woodlands of the Shivapuri National Park crossing lush sections of forest reach mulkhara. From here ascending a series of stone paved stairs covered by deep wilderness reach the village of Chisapani. Upon reaching the village explore around and soak in the grand views of the region. Rows of endless snowcapped peaks to the north and never-ending series of rolling hills in other directions. Also, witness grand views during the sunset. Day 2: Trek to Nagarkot (2,175 meters/ 7,135 feet). 4-5 hours Wake up before dawn and head towards any vantage point and soak in the grand views of the sunrise. After breakfast starts the trek. Traversing through the lush deep wilderness of the region. As you progress on the trail for about 2.5 hours you will reach the village of chauki bhanjag. After a brief rest and stop for lunch with grand views of the Himalayas head on the trail. Next progress on a descending trail towards Nagarkot. After about 2 hours, you will finally reach Nagarkot. Upon arriving at Nagarkot head towards your accommodation. Later head out to witness grand views during the sunset. If the weather clears you will be witnessing views of eight different Himalayan ranges. Day 3: Trek to Changunarayan 3-4 hours. And Drive to Kathmandu Wake up early and witness grand views of the sunrise. After soaking in the vibrant views have your breakfast. Then head on a short hike towards Changunarayan. Today's trail is mostly on downward section and takes you past several settlements and lush sections of woodlands. Following the ascending dirt tracks for about three to four hours eventually reach Changunarayan Temple a UNESCO world heritage site. Built-in 323 AD by King Hari Datta Varma, Changunarayan is richly decorated with sculptures and carvings and is said to be the oldest temple in the valley. From the temple, take in views of the village of Sankhu and the Bhaktapur. After exploring around the temple head towards the Kathmandu valley and finally to your accommodation. Which marks the end of the trek.