Buddhist Heritage Tours

Buddhist Heritage Tours are pilgrimages and cultural journeys to the places where the Buddha was born, found enlightenment, taught, and passed away, so you can learn about his life and teachings. In Nepal you visit the great stupas of Boudhanath and Swayambhunath in Kathmandu Valley and Lumbini, the Buddha’s birthplace. One tour also reaches the Gurung villages of the Annapurna foothills, and our longest tour crosses into India to Bodhgaya and Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first sermon. On every trip you stay in comfortable hotels, travel by private vehicle, and have an English speaking guide with you. On some trips you also spend a night in a monastery guest house or a mountain lodge.

Pick the trip that fits your time, and learn something new on each one. The 7 day Kathmandu Buddhist Heritage Tour covers the valley’s stupas, Pharping, a night at Namobuddha monastery, walks to Balthali and Panauti, and a Newari cooking class in Patan where you learn to cook local dishes. The 7 day Nepal Buddhist Heritage Tour also includes a night at Namobuddha and adds a flight to Lumbini and a visit to Tilaurakot. If you want some mountain views, the 10 day Lumbini Tour with Poon Hill Trek adds a thangka workshop where you learn how Buddhist scroll paintings are made, plus a two day village walk with a sunrise at Poon Hill. For the full Buddhist circuit, the 15 day Delhi to Kathmandu Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour visits Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar, and Lumbini.

From your first message, we give you clear advice and honest information, so there are no unnecessary surprises. Each tour shows what is included and what is not, so you know exactly what you are paying for. Our local team knows these monasteries, routes, villages, and seasons well, and our guides share that knowledge with you along the way. With careful arrangements and one team you can rely on until your last day, you can slow down, meditate, and go beyond the highlights to feel the culture and character of each place. Browse the tours below, check the best seasons to travel, or get in touch to change the pace, dates, or route to fit your trip.

What Makes These Buddhist Heritage Tours Special

• A Night at Namobuddha Monastery
  You will stay in the Namobuddha Monastery Guest House on the hill where the Buddha, in a past life, is said to have fed a starving tigress and her cubs. 

• Butter Lamps at Boudhanath
  As dusk falls, join the pilgrims and monks at Boudhanath Stupa, walk around the great dome, and light a butter lamp yourself.

• Follow the Buddha’s Life, Place by Place
  Our 15 day Delhi tour covers the four places that mark his life: Lumbini, where he was born, Bodhgaya, where he reached enlightenment, Sarnath, where he gave his first sermon, and Kushinagar, where he passed away.

• Meditate Where the Buddha Was Born
  Meditate in Lumbini’s Sacred Garden beside Maya Devi Temple and the Ashoka Pillar. 

• Learn the Craft Behind the Faith
  Learn how Buddhist scroll paintings are made at a thangka workshop in Boudhanath, or cook Newari food at a hands on class in Patan.

Package Highlights