Explore Kathmandu

Detail Itinerary

• Day 1Kathmandu sightseeing – Thamel, Durbar Square, Swayambhunath StupaIt’s the first day of our sightseeing around Kathmandu today. After a leasurely breakfast you will be heading off from your hotel through Thamel and through some of the local areas on the way to Durbar Square. The old quarter here is full of local life, culture, markets and so on. I’ts a great opportunity to see and experience the life of the local people and the traditions of the area. The Kathmandu Durbar Square is located here and features many narrow roads, temples, museums etc. This entire area is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Even though parts are quite badly damaged from the earthquake it’s still full of interesting and historical places. After this we can stop for some lunch before heading off to Swayambhunath Stupa. Located within walking distance from Thamel to the northwest of Kathmandu Durbar Square and Thamel it is situated on a hill overlooking the city. Also known as the “Monkey Temple” because of the hundreds of monkeys in the area it is a very sacred place for Buddhists and also for Hindus because of the Hindu Temple there as well. In the late afternoon the golden hues of the sun shine on the stark white of the stupa bathing it in golden light. The sunset over the valley from here is also very beautiful. In the early evening the stupa is often lit up with lights giving it a magical appearance. We stay here to watch the sunset before returning to your hotel. In the evening we will be having a traditional Nepali meal and enjoying a cultural show which is a great introduction to Nepali cuisine and traditional dance. Included meals – breakfast, dinner.
• Day 2Bhaktapur sightseeing – Nagarkot This morning we will be travelling to Bhaktapur by private vehicle. Bhaktapur is one of the 3 ancient cities of Kathmandu and is located just to the east of Kathmandu. Bhaktapur is also a UNESCO World Heritage site and is probably the most original in the Kathmandu valley. This is most likely due to the limited vehicle access in the area. Bhaktapur features cobbled streets devoid of traffic, narrow alleys, temple squares and palaces. One feature of Bhaktapur is the large pottery square where you can watch the potters at work making local pottery. Our sightseeing tour of Bhaktapur will take most of the day as there is so much to see here. We may even have the opportunity to taste some of the local yoghurt which is famous in the area. In the afternoon we will be leaving Bhaktapur and driving to Nagarkot which is just to the north and on the outskirts of the valley. The drive to Nagarkot is through green farmland and fields as well as local villages. Nagarkot is an enchanting serene location with amazing views of the Himalayas to the north as well as the Kathmandu Valley to the south. We can spend the rest of the day relaxing and enjoying the atmosphere or we can explore some of the small villages and sights around Nagarkot. Included meals - breakfast
• Day 3Nagarkot sunrise – Kathmandu sightseeing – Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Patan This morning we will travel before sunrise to the lookout tower in Nagarkot. From here we can watch the sunrise over the majestic Langtang Himalaya to the north. On a clear day from here we can see many huge snow capped peaks. After sunrise we travel back to our hotel for breakfast before heading back to Kathmandu. On return from Nagarkot we explore the ancient city of Patan, this is another UNESCO site and the third of the ancient cities of Kathmandu. It is filled with temples, history and architecture and is particularly well known for the artisans of the area that produce many locally made handicrafts. After lunch we go to Pashupatinath Temple located on the Bagmati River. This is one of the most sacred Hindu pilgrimage places in Nepal. The Temples here are dedicated to Lord Shiva and this is the place that Hindu cremations take place. A feature here is the many sadhu’s (holy men) that can be photographed by tourists and are quite a delight with their painted faces and colourful clothing. From Pashpatinath we head to Boudhanath Stupa which is nearby. This is one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage places in Nepal. With rich Tibetan culture and tradition predominating in the area. The stupa is the largest and is surrounded by monasteries and gift shops selling buddhist items. We can enjoy watching the sunset from one of the rooftop café’s here and watch the stupa lighting up at nightfall.