Kathmandu Heritage Tour

The Kathmandu valley holds seven UNESCO World Heritage sites within an hour of each other: medieval palace squares, the great stupas of Boudhanath and Swayambhunath, and the sacred riverside temple complex of Pashupatinath.

This is not a museum circuit — the squares are working marketplaces, the temples are in daily use, and festivals spill into the streets. Our guides grew up here; they walk you through the living city, not just past its monuments.

It is the densest cultural experience in Nepal — you can stand in a 12th-century square in the morning and circle Asia's largest stupa with pilgrims at dusk.

Everything is close: short drives, easy walking, and flexible pacing make it ideal before or after a trek, or as a complete short trip in itself.

A local guide changes everything here. The carvings, the caste of craftsmen who made them, the festivals each shrine anchors — the stories are the tour.

• ✓Kathmandu Durbar Square and the old royal palace
• ✓Swayambhunath, the hilltop 'Monkey Temple'
• ✓Boudhanath Stupa at evening prayer time
• ✓Pashupatinath, Nepal's holiest Hindu temple
• ✓Backstreet markets, courtyards, and craft workshops
• ✓Traditional Newari food and a local lunch stop

1. Day 1

   Durbar Square & Swayambhunath

   Morning among the palaces and pagodas of the old city, afternoon climb to the all-seeing eyes of Swayambhunath.

2. Day 2

   Boudhanath & Pashupatinath

   Circle the great stupa with morning pilgrims, then walk the sacred Bagmati riverside at Pashupatinath.

3. Day 3

   Markets, crafts & hidden courtyards

   Asan bazaar, thangka and woodcarving workshops, and an optional monastery visit to finish.

• ✓First-time visitors
• ✓Culture travelers
• ✓Buddhist travelers
• ✓Photography lovers
• ✓Short-stay travelers

An easy walking tour: expect 2–4 relaxed hours on foot each day, with vehicle transfers between sites.

Some sites involve stairs — Swayambhunath's famous staircase has 365 steps — but everything can be paced gently or driven around.

Comfortable shoes, modest dress for temple visits, and sun protection are all you need.

• ✓October–March: crisp air and the clearest mountain backdrops.
• ✓April–June: warmer, with major festivals frequently underway.
• ✓Monsoon (June–September): perfectly doable — mornings are quieter and the squares shine after rain.

• ✓Condense to a single full day for layovers and short stays
• ✓Add Bhaktapur or Patan for a three-city valley circuit
• ✓Focus the route on Buddhist or Hindu sites
• ✓Add a Nagarkot sunrise drive for Himalayan views
• ✓Combine with any trek as pre- or post-trip days

• ✓Airport or hotel pickup and all ground transport
• ✓Licensed, English-speaking city guide
• ✓All heritage-site entry fees
• ✓Local lunch each touring day
• ✓24/7 local support during your stay

• ✕International flights and Nepal entry visa
• ✕Kathmandu accommodation (we can arrange it)
• ✕Travel insurance
• ✕Personal expenses, drinks, and tips