Swayambhunath and Kathmandu Durbar Square Day Tour
The hilltop stupa and the old royal square of Kathmandu, in one easy day
From US$70 per person
Duration
1 day
Grade
Easy
Highest point
About 1,400 m / 4,590 ft
Group size
1 to 20
Starts and ends
Kathmandu
Best time
Sep to Nov and Feb to May
Govt RegdTAAN #1586300+ ★ reviews
Three generations of family guides in the Himalayas, independent since 2016
Government-licensed Nepal trekking company (Reg 147653)
TAAN Member #1586
300+ reviews
Secure payment via Himalayan Bank
Four-time TripAdvisor award winner (Travellers' Choice 2020, 2023, 2024 and Certificate of Excellence 2019)
Overview
From US$70Updated Oct 6, 2026
Swayambhunath sits on a hill above the city, and Kathmandu Durbar Square is the old royal heart of it. Together they make the classic first day in Kathmandu, with a licensed heritage guide who explains who built what and why it matters to the people who still use it.
It is a short day, about five hours with lunch. There are 365 stone steps up to the stupa on the main approach (a road also reaches the top), and cobbled lanes in the old city.
Why book with The Everest Holiday
Three generations of family guidesFamily-run since 2016 with three generations of guiding heritage. Not an agency — the family that runs the company leads your trek personally.
Private group, no strangersEvery trek we run is private. Your group only. We never combine bookings or add strangers to your party. If you book solo, you walk with a guide; if you book as four friends, your group stays four.
Nagarjun Learning Center givebackA fixed share of every booking funds the Nagarjun Learning Center — 70 children, 7 community centres, 3 full-time teachers, 600+ medical interventions, 275+ women supported. You can visit the centre before or after your trip; we arrange the visit separately.
Government registered, TAAN memberGovt Regd. No. 147653/072/073. Trekking Agency Licence 2090/072, Travel Agency Licence 2838/072. TAAN Member #1586. Over 300 reviews on TripAdvisor, Google and Trustpilot. We are a real, audited Nepal company — not a booking-platform middleman.
Day by day
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The Swayambhunath and Kathmandu Durbar Square Day Tour with The Everest Holiday costs $70 (Budget), $105 (Standard), or $125 (Luxury) per person for the 1-day trip. Book with a 10% deposit; the balance is payable in Kathmandu.
Budget price by group size
Travellers in your group
Price per person
1
US$110
2 to 4
US$70
5 to 8
US$35
9 to 12
US$30
13 to 20
US$25
Discounts are determined exclusively by the size of your group. We do not add additional members to your group.
Senior guide, in your language where we have one (English otherwise; ask us before you book)
Private luxury vehicle with driver, sized to your group, from and back to your hotel
Food and drink
Lunch at a good restaurant, with tea, coffee and soft drinks carried by your guide for you to use during the day (any other drinks you buy, alcoholic or not, are not included)
Entrance fees and taxes
Entrance fees for Swayambhunath and Kathmandu Durbar Square
Government taxes and our service charge
Complimentary
First aid kit with pulse oximeter
All the mineral water you can drink
Not included
Not included
Alcohol, and any other drinks you buy on the trail or in the teahouses
Tips for the guide and driver
Personal expenses and shopping
Travel insurance (buy at home)
Hotel accommodation
Wifi, hot showers, charging, heated blankets and anything else outside the room price, paid by you directly to the teahouse or hotel.
Dates
Your trek, your choice, your price. Choose the style that suits you. Book a private departure on any date with just your party, or join a fixed group departure and trek with fellow adventurers from around the world. Same routes, same guides, same quality — 3 comfort tiers on both options. Per-person price follows our group-discount tiers based on YOUR party size (a couple pays less per pax than a solo trekker, 5+ pays less again) — the same tiers apply on both booking types.
Private departure
Any date you choose
Just your party + dedicated guide
3 comfort tiers (Budget, Standard, Luxury)
Per-pax price tier set by YOUR party size
Fixed group departure
Scheduled dates (see below)
Join other trekkers from around the world
3 comfort tiers (Budget, Standard, Luxury)
Per-pax price tier set by YOUR party size (same tier as Private)
Prefer email? Send a question and we will reply within a few hours.
Peak season (Sep–Nov) — our guides book up fast. Get in touch 6–8 weeks ahead to secure your preferred dates.
Other dates
Need a different date? Other dates are available on request.Contact us or message Shreejan on WhatsApp.
Fixed departures are dates we have already committed to run. Your party still treks as its own private group with its own guide; we never merge bookings or add strangers, and solo trekkers are welcome on any date. Private departures on any other date you choose are also available. On both, the per-person price is set by the size of your own party.
Shreejan and Shamjhana plan every trek personally
Your hosts since 2016. Ask us anything; we reply within hours.
Swayambhunath and Kathmandu Durbar Square. Both are UNESCO World Heritage monument zones of the Kathmandu Valley.
Are the entrance fees included?
Yes. The fees for both sites are in your price. The official entrance fees for foreign visitors are set by the Nepal Tourism Board and are paid for you.
Are there monkeys at Swayambhunath?
Yes, many. They are used to visitors but will take food and loose items, so keep snacks and sunglasses in a bag.
How is this different from the seven-site Kathmandu day tour?
That day visits seven sites and is long. This one visits two and takes about five hours, so you have time at each.
Is this private?
Yes. Your guide is for your party only, so the sightseeing itself is private, and we never merge separate private bookings. Transport follows your tier: a local shared vehicle on Budget, a shared tourist vehicle on Standard and a private luxury vehicle on Luxury.
What is the difference between Budget, Standard and Luxury?
The sightseeing is the same on all three. Budget gives you a local shared vehicle, an English-speaking heritage guide and the entrance fees, with no meals. Standard adds a shared tourist vehicle, lunch with tea or coffee and a guide who speaks your language where we have one. Luxury gives you a private luxury vehicle, a senior heritage guide and lunch with all non-alcoholic drinks.
Do children pay less?
No. A child pays the same as an adult, because permits, hotels, a seat in the vehicle and taxes cost us the same for a child. Tell us the age of each child when you book so we can plan the days around them.
What happens if I need to cancel, or you cannot run the trip?
If we cannot run your trip, we refund what you have paid, less taxes, bank or card charges and any money already spent on your behalf, or move you to another date. If your plans change, you can reschedule free to any date within one year with at least 72 hours' notice. The deposit itself is not refunded if you cancel.
Do I need travel insurance?
Yes. Buy travel insurance at home, before you travel, and check that it covers medical care and the dates of your trip. We do not recommend insurance bought in Nepal.
How do I pay?
You pay a 10% deposit to book and the balance before the trip. We take US dollars or euros, in cash or by card. We cover the card fee on the deposit. Paying the balance by card carries a 3.5% bank charge, and cash in Kathmandu has no fee.
How much does the Swayambhunath and Kathmandu Durbar Square Day Tour cost?
It is USD 70 per person for 2 to 4 people on Budget, USD 105 on Standard and USD 125 on Luxury. On your own it is USD 110, 150 or 185 because the guide and transport are not shared. Larger groups pay less per person, and every price is on this page.
When is the best time for the Swayambhunath and Kathmandu Durbar Square Day Tour?
September to November and February to May give the clearest, driest days. The tour runs all year; in the summer monsoon expect some rain, mostly in the afternoons.
Secure payment by Himalayan Bank.
