Kathmandu's temples are the first half of this tour, and the hills on the rim of the valley are the second. You spend two nights in Kathmandu with a licensed heritage guide, then one at Nagarkot for sunrise on the Himalayan skyline and one in Dhulikhel, an old Newar town with the Namobuddha pilgrimage site on its ridge.
It suits people who want culture and mountain views without trekking. There is no high altitude, but expect cobbled squares and steps, and cool nights on the ridge.
Who it suits. This tour suits people who want culture and mountain views without trekking: first-time visitors, couples, and families with older children. There is no high altitude, but you will walk on cobbles and steps, and the nights on the ridge are cool. If you want a Kathmandu-only programme that includes Patan, our four-day Kathmandu Valley Heritage Tour is the better fit, because Patan is not on this one.
What the five days feel like. Days 1 and 2 are Kathmandu: Swayambhunath and Kathmandu Durbar Square on arrival, then Pashupatinath and Boudhanath, where we walk the kora with local people and take tea on a rooftop. On day 3 we walk Bhaktapur, one of the best preserved of the old Malla cities, with the Nyatapola temple and the potters' square, and drive up in the afternoon to Nagarkot, at about 2,175 m, in time for the evening light. On day 4 we watch the sun come up over the Himalayan skyline with hot tea, then visit Changunarayan, one of the oldest temples in the valley, and drive east to Dhulikhel, an old Newar town on the road to Tibet, at about 1,500 m. Day 5 is Namobuddha, a Buddhist pilgrimage site on a ridge in Kavre district, and Panauti, an old Newar town of temples built where two rivers meet, before the drive back to Kathmandu and the airport.
Best months. September to November and February to May are the best times. Summer is hot and wet, and winter mornings are cool and often hazy, which can hide the mountains.
What is included, tier by tier. Every tier includes four nights (Kathmandu 2, Nagarkot 1, Dhulikhel 1), a licensed heritage guide, airport pick-up and drop-off, a vehicle for all sightseeing and transfers (a local shared vehicle on Budget, a shared tourist vehicle on Standard and a private luxury vehicle on Luxury), entrance fees for Swayambhunath, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Bhaktapur Durbar Square and Changunarayan, and a first aid kit with a pulse oximeter. Budget gives you simple, clean hotels, twin share, with breakfast; lunch and dinner are not included. Standard gives you a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu and the best standard hotels in Nagarkot and Dhulikhel, all with private rooms, and breakfast, lunch and dinner from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 5. Luxury gives you a deluxe hotel in Kathmandu and the best hotels in Nagarkot and Dhulikhel, private ensuite rooms, all meals with non-alcoholic drinks and a senior heritage guide. Tips, insurance, flights, visa and alcohol are not included.
Honest notes. We cannot promise the mountains. If the morning is cloudy we still go up, because the ridge walk is worth it, but the view depends on the weather. The hotel at Nagarkot is simple and the air is cool, so bring a warm layer. Roads out of the valley can be slow, so the transfer days are longer than the distance suggests. Some buildings in Bhaktapur are still being restored after the 2015 earthquake, so part of a square may be screened off. Cover your shoulders and knees at temples, and expect to take your shoes off at some entrances. If your flight out is early in the morning, tell us when you book and we will change the order of the last day.
Starting dates for 2027. There is no fixed calendar. Tell us the date you want in 2027 and we run it privately for you, even for one guest, with groups of up to 20 welcome.
Next step. Message me on WhatsApp on +977 9810351300 with your dates and how many of you are travelling, and I will reply with the plan for your tier.
