Most visitors rush the Kathmandu Valley in a single day. This four-day programme gives the seven UNESCO World Heritage sites room to breathe, with a guide who explains what you are looking at and a vehicle that waits for you.
You see Swayambhunath, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Patan Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square and Changunarayan, with three nights in a Kathmandu hotel.
There is no altitude to worry about. Expect cobbled squares, steps up to the temples and a fair amount of walking. Some monuments are still being restored after the 2015 earthquake, so part of a square may be screened off on the day.
Who it suits. This is for people who want to understand Kathmandu, not tick it off. It suits first-time visitors to Nepal, travellers with a few extra days before or after a trek, and families with older children who enjoy history. There is no altitude to worry about, but you should be happy to walk on cobbles and climb steps.
What the four days feel like. Day 1 is gentle. We meet you at the airport, let you rest, and in the afternoon go up to Swayambhunath, where pilgrims walk round the stupa clockwise and monkeys live on the slopes, then walk through Kathmandu Durbar Square. Day 2 puts two faiths side by side: Pashupatinath, the holiest Shiva temple in Nepal, on the bank of the Bagmati, and Boudhanath, where we walk the kora with local people and take tea on a rooftop. The afternoon is free. Day 3 is Bhaktapur, with the five-storey Nyatapola temple and the potters' square, and then Changunarayan on its ridge. Day 4 is Patan, the city of metalworkers, and then the airport for your onward flight.
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.
What is included, tier by tier. Every tier includes three nights in a Kathmandu hotel, airport pick-up and drop-off, a vehicle for all sightseeing (a local shared vehicle on Budget, a shared tourist vehicle on Standard and a private luxury vehicle on Luxury), entrance fees for all seven heritage sites, a licensed guide, and a first aid kit with a pulse oximeter. Budget gives you a simple, clean hotel, twin share, with breakfast; lunch and dinner are not included. Standard gives you a 3-star hotel with a private room and breakfast, lunch and dinner from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 4, with a guide who speaks your language where we have one. Luxury gives you a deluxe hotel with a private ensuite room, the same meals, a heritage specialist guide and a private luxury vehicle for the airport transfers. Tips, insurance, flights, visa and alcohol are not included.
Honest notes. Expect other visitors at the big squares, especially in the October and November peak. Distances inside the valley are short, but traffic can be slow, so we keep each day to a few sites rather than rushing between them. Some monuments are still being restored after the 2015 earthquake, so part of a square may be screened off on the day. Only Hindus may enter the main Pashupatinath temple, and cremations take place on the riverside ghats; your guide explains what you are seeing before you get there. Cover your shoulders and knees at temples, and expect to take your shoes off at some entrances. If your flight lands late, we move the afternoon visits into the following days, and if your flight out is early we do Patan on day 3 and tell you before you book.
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.
