4 Day Kathmandu City Tour

Upon your arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, we will meet you with a private car to take you to your downtown hotel and help you check in. You will have the rest of the day free to rest and relax at your hotel, or you can walk around the nearby Durbar Marg area and the tourist hub of Thamel on your own.

Accommodation: Overnight in Kathmandu

Early this morning you will have the option of taking a scenic mountain flight to see some of the highest mountain peaks in the world, including Mount Everest. We would take you to the airport to board your sightseeing flight early in the morning, with the flight lasting around one hour. You would get an up-close look at some of the world’s highest peaks in the Himalayan mountain range as well as the many glaciers on the mountains. After your flight, we would take you back to the hotel for breakfast. (Optional)

After breakfast at the hotel, we will begin exploring some of the most iconic sites of Kathmandu. First up is Kathmandu Durbar Square, one of three royal palace squares in the Kathmandu Valley, and the royal residence for Nepalese rulers until the 19th century. This was also the site for important ceremonies such as the coronation of Nepalese monarchs for centuries. One interesting feature at the south end of Kathmandu Durbar Square is the Kumari Chowk – a gilded cage that holds the Kumari, a young girl chosen through an ancient and mystical selection process to become the human incarnation of the Hindu mother goddess, Durga. This “living goddess” is worshipped during religions festivals and makes public appearances at other times when the appropriate fees are paid to her guards.

From Kathmandu Durbar Square, we will move on to Swayambhunath Temple, also known as the Monkey Temple due to the swarms of monkeys that inhabit the area. The Buddhist stupa at Swayambhunath is at least 1,500 years old and may be as many as 2,000 years old. It has a gilded spire and huge white dome located under thousands of multicolored prayer flags, with the spire having four faces of the Buddha looking out in all 4 directions. This religious complex consists of the ancient stupa and a variety of shrines and temples that are revered by both Buddhists and Hindus.

After Swayambhunath, we will travel about 14 kilometers (9 miles) on to the city of Bhaktapur, an ancient village notable for the best preserved palace courtyards and old city center in Nepal and its rich culture, temples, and wood, metal and stone works of art. After exploring Bhaktapur, we we will travel back into Kathmandu to spend the night.

Accommodation: Overnight in Kathmandu

We will start off tomorrow’s sightseeing with a visit to Patan Durbar Square. We will drive about 5 kilometers (3 miles) southeast of Kathmandu to the city of Lalitpur to explore Patan – another former royal complex filled with ancient architectural masterpieces such as dozens of Buddhist and Hindu temples, pagodas, stone and wood carvings and the former royal palace buildings. The city of Patan is believed to have been established around 2,300 years ago by the Kirat Dynasty. From Patan, we will move on to Pashupatinath Temple, a pagoda-style Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Pashuptinath is the oldest Hindu temple in Nepal, with its origins dating back to around 400 B.C.

After visiting Pashuptinath, we will travel on to Boudhanath, a massive Buddhist stupa that dates back to the 5th or 6th century A.D. The Boudhanath stupa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is where thousands of pilgrims make a ritual circumnavigation of the massive dome. The stupa is surrounded by many monasteries and other supporting religious architecture.

In the evening we will have a farewell dinner with the small group together at a traditional local restaurant.

Accommodation: Overnight in Kathmandu

Today will be free for you until we escort you to the Kathmandu airport about 3 hours before your departing flight. Checkout time at the hotel is 12 p.m.

Accommodation: None